Chapter 3 Part 1

Washing the body was simple. Rumpel used magic to change the water in the bathtub to fresh, and Irina rinsed her body in the clean water.

Rumpel magically became clean without even having to wash. All the bodily fluids and water that had soaked his body were gone, and his wet clothes were as dry as they had been before.

While Irina was bathing, Rumpel said he would wait outside the bathroom. 

Irina, feeling anxious, hurriedly washed her body, fearing that Rumpel might suddenly disappear again while she was washing up.

So Irina hurriedly washed herself, focusing all her attention on Rumpel, who was outside the door.

“Rumpel…!” 

Irina, wearing the pajamas Olga had prepared, rushed out of the bathroom with a nightgown draped hastily over her shoulders. Her voice calling Rumpel was more urgent than she intended. 

“What’s wrong, Irina?” 

Rumpel asked, looking puzzled. He was sitting at the table, leisurely drinking tea, as if he had used some magic again.

Steam was rising from the teacup. The tea Olga had prepared for her couldn’t possibly still be warm, since Irina had been in the bathroom for quite a while. Yet, the fact that steam was still rising meant that Rumpel had done something to keep it warm. 

“No, it’s nothing…” 

Irina shook her head, unable to bear to tell Rumpel, ‘I called you because I was worried you might disappear without saying a word.’

Rumpel looked at Irina with suspicious eyes and held out the teacup he was drinking from.

“Would you like some?” 

“Ah, no… I’m fine.” 

It felt quite absurd. After doing all sorts of embarrassing things with him, she now found it awkward to share a single cup of tea with him. 

Irina bit her lips, feeling the contradiction in her own thoughts. 

“Lady Irina, we have something to discuss.” 

Irina nodded lightly. She had to finish the conversation they had started earlier. 

For helping Irina with her rebellion, Rumpel had asked for her help in return. Irina had thought of it as some sort of deal, but she didn’t even know what it was. 

She was worried that the terms of the deal might be something she couldn’t fulfill. 

After all, Rumpel had already asked her to bear his child, a request that no ordinary person could even imagine. So, it was only natural for Irina to be worried when Rumpel now said he needed her help.

Still, part of her wondered if there could be any request more demanding than asking her to bear a child. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad after all.

“What can I do for you?” 

Rumpel was silent for a while at her question. 

The longer he remained silent, the more Irina’s unease grew, wondering if he was trying to ask for such a difficult favor. Her nervousness was swelling beyond her limits..

Finally, Rumpel seemed to brace himself, taking a short and deep breath before speaking. 

“…Find my name.” 

“Your name…? Rumpel… Isn’t that your name?” 

Irina opened her eyes at the unexpected words.

Irina had assumed that his name was Rumpel, since that was how he had introduced himself. So, hearing him ask her to find his name was completely unexpected, and her eyes narrowed in confusion.

“No, that’s not my real name. My name is something else.” 

“…”

Irina still couldn’t understand. How could someone know that their true name was different but not know what that name was? Rumpel smiled bitterly, as if he had read her thoughts.

“I don’t remember… my real name.” 

“…”

“I need you to find it. Only then…” 

“Only then?” 

Irina repeated his words. Then, Rumpel kept his mouth shut. Irina waited patiently for him to continue, but his lips remained tightly shut, not giving a clue.

“What were you going to say after ‘only then’? Rumpel, what are you hiding?” 

“…”

“You asked for my help, but I can’t just help you without knowing anything. I need to know something in order to help you.”

Irina said, her voice sharp with frustration. Then, Rumpel seemed to hesitate for a moment and took a long, deep breath.

“It can’t be helped. You’re right, Lady.”

At Rumpel’s acknowledging response, Irina’s face brightened. The fact that she would be able to find out something from the mysterious Rumpel brought her quite a bit of comfort and strength.

However, his next words led to another mystery.

“That’s the only way to get myself back.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

It was a puzzling statement. Faced with an even bigger mystery, Irina tilted her head. But Rumpel seemed unwilling to explain further, as he closed his mouth again.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Wait, Rumpel! Is that all? Don’t you have anything more to say? That’s not enough! I don’t understand what you mean at all!”

“For now, this is the best I can do.”

Rumpel firmly drew the line. As always, there was strength in his words, and that strength played its part even at this moment. Because of that, Irina couldn’t press him any further.

Moreover, Rumpel put down the teacup as if he wanted to end the conversation. Irina knew it was a sign that he was about to leave.

“Don’t go, Rumpel.”

Irina said in a quiet voice. Didn’t she already know that he suddenly disappeared last night after their intimate moment? The sadness of facing the moment of dawn alone was indescribable.

It may seem childish, and even if he sneeringly said they were nothing to each other, she still wanted to hold on to him, at least once.

“Do you want me to stay longer?”

“Not forever… but for just now. At least for now, I hope you stay by my side.”

Irina answered honestly to his question. She didn’t know how long he could stay by her side or how much longer she wanted him to be by her side, but for now, she wanted him to stay. It was a truth without any lies.

“Did you feel sad?”

“Huh? No, that’s not…!”

“You must have felt sad when I left so suddenly, Lady Irina.”

Rumpel’s teasing question left Irina speechless. Admitting it would hurt her pride, and her conscience would prick her if she said no.

At that moment, resentment towards Rumpel suddenly rose within her. His attitude of asking questions, even though knowing full well how she felt, seemed irritating. It felt like he was testing her, and for a brief moment, she wanted to say, ‘Just go away!’. The words rose to her throat.

But knowing she would be the one regretting it, Irina couldn’t say anything in the end. Instead, she glanced at Rumpel with a sullen expression.

“I’ll stay until sunrise.”

“…”

“I can’t stay longer.”

Perhaps it would have been better if he had answered coldly that he couldn’t stay. His words, apologetic yet seemingly helpless, made the situation even more pitiful. No matter how lonely she felt being alone, she thought that would still be better than this feeling of despair.

Irina shook her head.

“No, don’t worry about it. You can go. I was just saying it.”

“Lady Irina.”

“I mean it. Go on.”

Irina spoke, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground. She was worried that if she looked at Rumpel’s face, the sorrow might overwhelm her, and she might cry.

At that moment, she felt the cold touch of his hand on the top of her head. Irina raised her head in surprise.

“It’s not that I don’t like you. Really, it’s true, Irina.”

His voice, gentle as if comforting a child, and the way he used just ‘Irina’ instead of ‘Lady Irina’ made Irina’s feelings of sorrow melt away like snow.

“Really… …?”

Irina asked cautiously. Although she felt relieved, she wanted to hear a little more confirmation.

As the one who had given herself to him, and who would bear his child, she couldn’t bear the thought that he might dislike her. It would be unbearable.

Anyone would feel the same. It wasn’t that she wanted to win his favor or that she liked him. It was a simple issue.

She hoped that the person she had been intimate with didn’t hate her, and she wished he hadn’t been with her solely for physical relationship or for a purpose.

“Really.”

Rumpel replied firmly. Only after hearing his brief answer, Irina truly felt relieved.

She was thankful that he hadn’t wanted her just for her body. Although it was a simple relief, she couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed by how much she was overthinking it. But she pretended not to care.

“Shall we lie down? You must be tired.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie. Because lies like that don’t work on me.”

Rumpel spoke sternly, poking fun at her. Irina hesitated, but eventually gave in and took his outstretched hand, allowing him to lead her to the bed.

Truthfully, she was exhausted. She couldn’t even remember the last time she slept properly.

Ever since she was trapped in the tower, as well as when she was worried about her father’s safety, Irina couldn’t sleep every night.

Not to mention, after being intimate with Rumpel and the bath, her body felt languid. She wanted nothing more than to lie down right away and fall into a deep sleep.

However, the thought that he might be gone when she woke up made her anxious. Because of this, Irina, uncharacteristically, even lied and pretended that she wasn’t tired.

But Rumpel saw through her. He knew exactly how tired she was and she was lying.

Feeling caught, Irina pouted her lips in embarrassment.

“Come on, Lady Irina, lie down.”

“But…”

“Hurry up.”

She had no choice but to come to the bed, but Irina still had lingering regrets. She trailed off, watching Rumpel carefully to gauge his reaction.

Rumpel shook his head, seeming resigned to the situation.

“Lady Irina, you’re such a spoiled person.”

“I am not!”

“Come on, I’ve already lied down. So you lie down next to me.”

Rumpel first laid down on his side on the bed and called her over like he would comfort a whining child. Irina had no more words to argue.

In the end, she carefully laid next to him.