Chapter 39 (1/2)
“Ahhh, I’m coming back to life.”
Who’s that in the bath, sighing deep enough for his soul to come out with it? This guy.
The warmth seeping into my submerged body, and the sensation of the grime on my limbs falling away — I don’t have the words to describe just how nice it felt.
The baths in the fortress were surprisingly high-cla.s.s. s.p.a.cious, too. They were usually used by the soldiers, probably. Although the design was completely devoted to practicality, fortunately, there were proper baths to soak in.
Early afternoon. I imagine that a little later, this room will be packed with the rough soldiers who regularly used it.
That’s why they prepared the baths ahead of time for our use, it seems.
“Ahhhh… This is bliss.”
“……”
Yeah, ‘our use’.
I expected as much, but though the baths are reserved right now, we didn’t have the luxury of going in one at a time. Plus, Leon and the Elite Guard needed to use it too. So no taking our sweet time in here either.
As a result, all three of us went in at once.
Of course, this meant that they’d be exposing their bodies before me, but first off, they didn’t seem to be concerned about it at all, and I myself didn’t feel particularly awkward or excited. I wasn’t embarra.s.sed either, so we happily went in together without incident.
Aira was more developed than her age would suggest — if I were a sleaze, I’d comment on her huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s, which floated to the surface as she soaked. Her pose left nothing to the imagination. Her carefree, childishly naïve face exposed to the air, she was busy enjoying the bath to the fullest. Palmira being Palmira, her flushed face was half-hidden underwater, maybe because of the depth of the pool. She turned her half-submerged face to me.
I’m sure she’s relaxing in her own way. Probably.
But this was actually my first time taking a bath with two other people.
On Leon’s estate, the maids were there, but the three of us entered separately. I’m sure that at that time, in the very awkward event that we all went in together, I might’ve been a little concerned too.
Even so, the three of us have already shared the same s.p.a.ce, already spent several days together. We’re past the stage where we’d care about that stuff. Or rather, at this point, it’s caring that would be embarra.s.sing.
“Hey, so, I wonder we should do about the banquet.”
Relaxed, I decided to consult them about my current troubles.
Right, the banquet.
Maybe if I were attending as a man, I would cut loose and enjoy myself, but because Leon’s already implicitly set things in motion, wouldn’t I have to play a n.o.ble lady? Doubts gnawed at me.
I probably should, I think. But it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I know too little to act the part.
Though I managed to get past Gary earlier, I won’t be able to keep up a perfect facade this time.
What’s more, the entire Elite Guard usually takes part in the recognition ceremony. They might call me ‘Princess’ and stuff, but I’ve been pretty much acting like myself in front of them until now.
It’s going to be really embarra.s.sing to put on such a weird show in front of those guys. I get the feeling that it might even send Rupert into hysterics.
“Ah, how fussy. We seemed to get along with everyone, so it’ll generally be fine, won’t it?”
“gurgle gurgle”
I understand. I was an idiot to ask these two. Palmira and Aira obviously weren’t worried about it either way.
But Aira’s ambivalent response had some merit to it.
I wonder if it’d be alright. Wouldn’t it put Leon on the spot…?
Nah, screw him. Not like it’s my problem.
“Well, I’ll act as appropriate?”
Arriving at a conclusion, I stood up from the bath. It seemed to be gradually coming to a boil.
“Even so, Big Sister. Isn’t your body lovely? I’m jealous… there isn’t a single blemish.”
Aira, still lazily immersed in the water, said something disturbing.
…But then, she wasn’t wrong.
I looked at my hands. They had smooth skin so pale it seemed translucent; ‘alabaster’ captured its essence perfectly.
Although I traced my fingers along my arms to my fingertips, I wasn’t sucked in at all. This is just my opinion, but they’re like a finely-crafted doll’s.
But this is just temporary. Even if it’s pretty much perfect, I’m going cut my ties and abandon it. Being an object of admiration did nothing but complicate my feelings.
“Ei — ”
“Dwahh!”
While I was agonizing, something suddenly leaned on me from behind.
By which I mean Aira. That remarkable duo I mentioned earlier was pushed up against my back. At the same time, two hands circled around to my front, and I found myself being hugged tightly from behind.
“Wah–h–hey! What’re you doing! Let go of me!”
“Heehee, but Big Sister, you’re so pretty. Hey, this is what you do when someone’s troubled, right? Just like when you were with Lord Leon — !”
The terrible two glued to my back pressed against me softly. Though it would be natural, I wasn’t the least bit happy. Just embarra.s.sed. Wait, Aira should be the embarra.s.sed one, not me.
No, I’m still embarra.s.sed. When she reminded me that I did the same thing to Leon, I thought, ‘Quit s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around’ and my eyes saw red.
“Aahhh, just as smooth as I thought… oh, I can’t take it anymore…”
“~~~~–!!”
Stupid Aira’s sigh brushed across my ear.
A fearful s.h.i.+ver ran through me. I fought tooth and nail to break out of Aira’s hold, but I knew I was weaker than her. That was simple fact. It was still gut-wrenching, but it wasn’t as bad as it used to be.
That’s right. I completely forgot, but she pulled something similar back in the slave wagon. Too much happened after that, and it completely slipped my mind.
The hands around me slid along as if tracing the contours of my stomach, before they gradually trailed their way up to my chest.
“Big Sister, your b.r.e.a.s.t.s are nicely shaped, aren’t they~”
“–! Idiot–! You’ve — got a pair — of your own, go rub them — ! — !”
No matter how you slice it, Aira’s indecent hands were doing a fine job of violating me. Something I didn’t want to identify knocked against my brain. Every time I was just about to release my voice along with my strange breathing, I grit my teeth and fought it back.
As this exchange of offense and defense unfolded, I didn’t notice Palmira until her expressionless — or rather, still half-submerged face appeared before my eyes.
For a moment, I tried to get out a cry for help, but when I saw her eyes, more focused than usual, and her face, flushed a deep red that was difficult to explain by the bath alone, I swallowed back my words.
“gurgle gurgle”
‘More of this — !?’
I retorted, growing desperate.
Suddenly, Palmira’s hands lunged straight from the bathtub at me. As I shook, seized by a dark premonition, those two palms made for my che —
“Owowowow! They’re gonna come off! Palmira! They’re gonna — ! Uwah!”
–
–
“I am never getting into a bath with you guys again! You’ll have to drag in my cold, dead body!”
After they toyed with me sufficiently, I raged at them in the dressing room without stopping to take a breath.
As they directly bore the brunt of my fury… they both had satisfied looks on their faces. Aira’s face was strangely bright. And it was obvious that Palmira wasn’t reflecting on her behavior either.
“Whaaaat, but, as your personal maid, from now on, my job is to wash you down to the nooks and crannies, then I’ll take these two hands, and in this place and that — eheheheheowowowowowowowowowi’msorryyyyy–”