TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 230
Late evening.
After eating the dinner prepared by the specially invited chef, Malik, I went up to the third floor of the estate where the bathhouse was located.
My stomach was full.
We had talked to our heart’s content.
Perhaps because the tea party had been more successful than expected, I felt a strong urge to take a bath.
With an anticipation that soaking in hot water would melt away my fatigue like a slime, I naturally moved my footsteps slowly toward the door covered with a red cloth.
“Young Lady.”
“Mm.”
“Did you enjoy your dinner?”
The Young Lady sitting in Fairy Unit 1 spread her fingers and gave a serious evaluation.
“9 out of 10.”
“Why 9? Where did the 1 point go?”
“That 1 point is for Ricardo. I think the food Ricardo makes is the best.”
“100 out of 100.”
I tousled the Young Lady’s hair as I pushed her wheelchair. As expected, she was a Villainess who spoke so well, perhaps because she was so beautiful.
“Shall we go for a bath now?”
“Hehe, sure.”
“Today, I will give you an aura massage.”
“Hooo…! Useful!”
“That’s exactly why I learned aura.”
I opened the door to the bathhouse with a pleasant smile.
And then.
-Tap.
At the impudent hand blocking the Sword Master’s path, I turned my eyes and smiled faintly.
“What is it, Malik…?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
“I don’t know.”
“You really shouldn’t not know.”
At Malik’s meaningful question, I replied in a tone that truly conveyed my ignorance. Because I really didn’t know.
“Is there some sort of problem?”
“…”
Malik pointed with his finger at the blue cloth door next to the red one. Like the King of the Underworld informing me that my destination was hell, not heaven, Malik wore a serious expression.
“I understand your feelings, Ricardo.”
“…”
“As a man, I can understand.”
Malik spoke with a serious expression.
“But I cannot allow it.”
Nodding at Malik’s profound response, I placed my hand over my chest and spoke earnestly, asking for a chance to argue my case.
“I have been waiting for this moment.”
“Ricardo, I understand your feelings, but no means no.”
“Why…?”
Gripping my shoulders, Malik let out a deep sigh and spoke. That place is not where you should go, he said.
“Isn’t that the women’s bath?”
“…”
“You are The Man, Ricardo.”
At Malik’s hand resting on my shoulder, I gave a bitter smile and brushed his hand away. No matter how much the Proprietress had shown me grace, there were limits to what could be touched.
Claiming that a Possessor confidently entering the women’s bath wasn’t spying, and arguing that entering a bathhouse I built with my own money shouldn’t be a problem, I clenched my teeth and presented a reasonable justification for Malik’s interference.
“I am the Young Lady’s Butler. I must attend to her. That is the duty and destiny of a Butler. Don’t other nobles also have at least one attendant for bathing?”
“Histania doesn’t.”
“Then make it so. You have plenty of money.”
“No.”
“Ah… Why are you doing this!”
-Shake shake.
Malik did not back down easily.
I thought it was natural, but I didn’t expect to encounter a variable here. With over ten years of experience as a Butler, I thought no one would question me attending to the Young Lady during a bath… no, assisting her. But faced with Malik’s stubbornness, more deeply rooted than even the most conservative of Confucian beliefs, I bit my nails and quickly racked my brain.
‘Think, Ricardo.’
‘Isn’t it a waste to give up after all the time you’ve prepared for this? Just act shamelessly. Yes, I have nothing to be ashamed of. If I push forward confidently, surely…’
Just as I was about to abandon reason and give in to my desires.
-Tap.
“…?”
The Lady’s sudden appearance, her hand gripping the handle of the wheelchair, robbed me of any excuses and left me speechless.
“Duchess Madam.”
Rosanna smiled faintly and spoke to the Young Lady.
“Shall we take a bath together for the first time in a while, Mother and daughter?”
“Mother?”
“I mean Mother.”
“Ack…!”
“It’s been a while since Mother bathed you.”
The Young Lady chuckled and went straight into the women’s bath. The Duke’s Wife gave me an eye smile, as if to say, ‘Not yet,’ and I bowed my head deeply, accepting my fate.
“…”
-Tap.
Malik patted my shoulder, offering comfort. Saying that today wasn’t the only chance, Malik, as The Man, extended the best consolation he could. With slumped shoulders, I walked toward the men’s bath marked with the blue cloth.
“Sigh…”
My wistful gaze lingered on the women’s bath.
Yuria entered, holding a bath basket.
“Then…! See you in a bit!”
Hanna gave me a regretful smile as she looked back at me.
“Butler…! Shall I follow you then?”
“No.”
Even Chartia, who had never seen such a tea party before, entered the bath with a zombie-like expression, her face weary.
“…”
They all left my heart wistful.
-Goom.
“Hm?”
I spoke, watching Gomtangi amble over.
“Why are you going in there?”
-Goom.
Ah.
Gomtangi was female too.
With a bitter smile, I turned and headed to the men’s bath. As I walked, I resolved to build an outdoor hot spring next time.
*
-Slide.
The white skin hidden beneath the garments began to reveal itself, emitting a subtle floral fragrance.
Yuria.
-Ah… I’m embarrassed.
Hanna.
-Have I lost more weight?
Olivia.
-Eeeek!! It’s stuck!
The Ladies, with their smooth skin, awkwardly smiled as they placed their clothes into the basket.
Covering her body with a towel, Yuria smiled awkwardly as she entered the bath, while Chartia, also wrapped in a towel, walked modestly toward the bath.
And then.
“Hurray.”
“Eeeek!!!”
With Rosanna’s help, Olivia was struggling to remove her clothes, as they got caught on her face and wouldn’t come off easily.
“Eeeek! Ricardo!”
The bathhouse of the estate, where the most renowned beauties of the Empire had gathered, was filled with the fragrant scent of spring.
*
At that moment.
In the men’s bath locker room.
Stripping off his clothes, Darbav struck a confident pose, smiling. Despite being a Middle-Aged Man, Darbav had the physique of a Young Man.
“It’s a sight I’ve never seen before. Sleek and oddly reminiscent of Eastern style…”
Satisfied with the bathhouse’s interior, which was rare to see in this world, Darbav wore a Satisfied Smile.
“Did you take inspiration from Eastern bathhouses?”
At Darbav’s question, as I removed my upper garment, I replied with a small smile.
“That’s correct. I referred to books and designed it by combining Eastern and Western styles.”
“I like it.”
Nodding in approval, Darbav wrapped a towel around his waist.
“Shall we go in?”
Following behind the confident footsteps of Darbav, Kyle began to trail after him.
Despite being a Wizard, Kyle, who had an excellent physique, smiled with satisfaction as he tied a towel around his waist.
And seeing his Father’s confident demeanor, Kyle chuckled softly and spoke to Darbav in a haughty Voice.
“I won, Father.”
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this.”
Thinking there was no need to worry about Desmond’s descendants, Darbav let out a Bitter Smile and nodded.
And then.
-Step step.
Kyle, noticing Malik’s impressive muscles as he walked in behind him with a towel around his waist, fell silent. Lowering his head slightly after glancing at Malik, Kyle muttered, “…Damn it,” and headed toward the bath.
Having claimed Victory in terms of confidence, Malik smiled proudly and spoke to me as he undressed.
“Let’s go in now.”
Smiling faintly at the childish rivalry among the three, I nodded.
‘They’re not kids.’
And then.
“””…”””
All three of them fell silent.
*
At that moment in the women’s bath.
“…”
“…”
“…”
All the Ladies were silent, observing one particular Lady.
“Hehe. Floating lightly.”
The Lady, who was playing with her enormous Mountain Peaks, caught Hanna’s attention, and Hanna clenched her Fist, holding back tears.
‘…I’m not small either.’
Even so, Hanna resented the world.
Yuria despised the Northern Chill.
Rosanna wore a Pleasant Smile.
“Olivia.”
“Yes.”
“Stop playing with your chest.”
“Hehe…”
Chuckling softly at her Daughter’s antics, Rosanna playfully tossed a Duck Doll floating in the bath toward Olivia.
“This is nice too.”
Exhausted from the nobles’ constant rivalries, Rosanna, relishing the long-awaited peace, smiled languidly and turned her gaze to Yuria.
“Miss Yuria.”
“Yes…!”
“How was your day? Were you uncomfortable at all?”
At Rosanna’s considerate question, Yuria gave an awkward smile and nodded.
“It was fun.”
“That’s a relief.”
Though Rosanna had much to say, she decided to save it for another time. Not wanting to disrupt the serenity of the moment, she buried her heavier thoughts deep in her heart and surrendered her body to the warm bath.
And then.
-Ricardo! Don’t cling to the wall!
-Please let go!
Hearing the commotion from the men’s side, Rosanna let out a small laugh and nodded.
‘Honestly.’
They were truly incorrigible.
Rosanna cherished him.
And she was grateful for Ricardo, who stayed by her side until the end.
Though she didn’t know when it would happen, Rosanna smiled, hoping her oblivious Daughter would eventually realize.
*
At that moment.
Chartia, hiding in a corner of the bath, cautiously spoke while looking at Gomtangi soaking in the water.
“Hand.”
-Goom.
“So cute…”
For the first time, Chartia found herself enjoying the Tea Party.