Present time...
Lady Jenna ducked, burying her head back inside the water. She was too shocked that she had stayed naked in front of the young man for so many seconds before she understood what was happening.
"Anne, what are you doing there?!" Jenna asked, trying to keep her face afloat while hiding her body.
Rhane blinked, raising the wine jar he still held onto. "Percy asked me to come here and drink." He raised the jar innocently.
"Percy! That—" Jenna gritted her teeth. "Doesn't he know you're still a—"
Jenna paused. That was it! Anne was like a child. And mothers can be naked in front of their children. If they act sneaky, the child would be curious. It happens- children walking in on their mother while bathing or dressing.
Yet when Jenna glanced at the young man, all she saw was a full-grown man. She shook her head. She couldn't do this! But how would she leave when those adulterers had taken her clothes?
"Is master okay?" Rhane asked. He could see the distress in her eyes and how she was struggling to stay afloat.
Jenna bit her lower lip. "Um... Anne, can you do something for master?"
Rhane nodded. Of course, he would give his life even for her. "Yes, master, whatever master wants."
It made Jenna smile and shake her head. The young man was too cute.
"Um... please come over here." Jenna pointed. She needed to be calm in this situation. If the young man was actually like a child, he wouldn't react when he saw her body. But if he did, then that was all Jenna needed to know.
If Percy was right or wrong about this strange young man he brought home.
With a relaxed strut, Rhane walked over to the side that was closer to Jenna, his eyes giving nothing away.
"So... can you, um..." Jenna needed to think. Asking Rhane to return to the inn and get her clothes might attract attention, especially Percy. What was she to do—
Rhane removed his shirt, his body wrapped in the white pieces that Jenna had used earlier to cover his wounds.
"Master, you're cold." He handed the shirt to Jenna, his eyes still on her.
Jenna closed her eyes, ever so grateful. "Thank you so much, Anne. You just saved me from thinking so much. Thank you... thank you." She grabbed the shirt and raised it up, smiling.
"Turn around, Anne."
Rhane nodded and turned. Jenna stepped out of the water and wiggled her body since she had nothing to dry herself with before sliding into Rhane's shirt. It was just a shirt, yet it covered- rather swallowed Jenna's body.
And because her body was still wet, the shirt soaked up and clung to her body, her nipples exposed as they tipped behind the shirt.
"Ahh," Jenna cried, trying to stroke her nipple to get it to relax. "Get down!!"
Rhane got down on his knees, thinking the instruction was for him.
"Not you, not you," Jenna sighed. "I'm talking about these!" Jenna cried, shaking her body in the hope that her nipple would settle. She didn't want the few men that would be awake ogling her.
Rhane turned. "What is bothering master?" When he turned, Jenna's hands were on her breasts as she massaged her nipples to relax.
"Oh— I—" Jenna stuttered, looking at his face, waiting to see the usual male reaction.
Rhane blinked. "Does master's chest hurt because of the cold?" he asked calmly, then touched his trouser.
"I should give these to master—"
"No! No!! Don't!" Jenna cried. "You're really so innocent, oh heavens."
Rhane tilted his head. "Is master angry?"
"No, Anne," Jenna smiled. "Master is happy to have Anne beside her. But master can't leave because... um... so you see, these two things on my chest shouldn't be seen, so master can't leave until they hide, or people will look at me."
Rhane nodded. "Then master can hide behind me." He turned, showing Jenna his back.
"Why didn't I think of that!" Jenna snapped her fingers. "You're so smart, Anne. I don't deserve you." She ran to hide behind him.
"Let's go, Anne," Jenna tapped his back gently as they left the spring quietly.
Jenna turned to look at the spring once more. She hadn't enjoyed it, but she was going to come back for it. Maybe next time, she would keep her clothes in a hidden place where adulterers wouldn't use them as a makeshift mat.
As they walked silently, Rhane could hear the soft breathing of his master, and he smiled. Just being around her was satisfying enough for the young man.
Once they got to the inn, Jenna noticed that most people awake were either drinking or talking, so they barely noticed their presence, especially with the young man's body covering even her shadow.
Rhane got to his master's room and opened the door first. He waited for Jenna to enter before he did.
"We did it!" Jenna jumped up happily, throwing herself into his arms.
"Anne! We did it! Nobody saw us!"
Jenna jumped up, hugging him closely, her arms around his neck and her eyes closed with excitement.
"You're so smart, Anne."
Rhane leaned in and returned the hug. "If master is happy, then I'm happy."
Jenna finally moved away from the hug, a bright smile on her lips. How little things were the things that made her cry.
Just a little help from this young man, and she was so excited. Maybe it was because she never received help from people without them asking for something in return.
Yet, more than twice since she brought this young man home, he had tried to help her.
"Why are you helping me? Why are you being so kind to me?" Jenna asked, her eyes glistening as she tried to stop her tears.
"Because master is kind to me," Rhane replied calmly.
Jenna touched her face and looked away. "Am I? If I'm so kind... why didn't I—" her voice cracked.
No matter what, she would always punish herself for leaving her marriage, and at the same time, for staying. The memories of the time she spent there still haunted her even now.
She never had little moments when she laughed for little reasons. Jenna kept asking herself why she had endured such to start with. And also why she had left when she was already enduring it.
It was like two sides of her were opposing all her actions. She was also an enemy of her own self.
"Hm," Jenna exhaled, looking down at her feet. Lost in thought, she felt a hand on her hair.
When Jenna looked up, the young man was patting her hair like she was a child.
"Anne..."
"Master, don't be sad. When master is sad, I am sad too," he said, petting her hair gently.
Jenna inhaled deeply, then touched his hand. "Thank you for your kind words, Anne. Thank you so much." She patted his hand.
"Now go and rest. I'll introduce you to the other workers tomorrow," Jenna said, touching his back. "And also find out why Percy made you drink tonight. That boy..." she sighed.
As Rhane left the room, he gave Jenna a bow. "Goodnight, Master."
Jenna held the door and smiled. "Goodnight, Anne." She gave him a little wave before closing her door.