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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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“Excuse me, but would it be possible to use the bath now?”
“The bath? Let me check if it’s available.”
The inn employee, about to go check, suddenly paused and asked,
“Will your younger brother be joining you?”
‘Younger brother?’
I glanced down at Elsie.
Her hair, a dull blonde, was still slightly grimy despite the rain having washed away some of the dirt.
Now that I thought about it, it was a similar shade to mine.
‘I suppose she could pass for my younger brother.’
When my response was delayed, the employee, as if in a hurry, quickly left to check on the bath.
“The fee for two people is separate, just so you know.”
That left Elsie and me alone.
I felt her sharp gaze on me.
“Younger brother?”
“Hey, he didn’t give me a chance to explain.”
“You definitely hesitated, though?”
I sighed.
It was true, I had hesitated.
Because…
“Then how else am I supposed to explain our relationship?”
Elsie’s face turned red.
I was curious to hear her brilliant alternative.
But after much hemming and hawing, she finally mumbled,
“I…I guess you’re right. Just…let’s just go with younger brother.”
It was then that the employee returned after checking the bath.
“I’ve started warming the bathwater. It should be ready in about ten minutes.”
“Thank you.”
“The fee is five copper coins per person.”
It was a rather steep price just to heat the water.
Then again, considering even the inn I stayed at didn’t have a bath, it probably wasn’t a common service.
Regardless, I had to make sure she got cleaned up.
As I pulled out the coins, determined to pay,
“Are…are you really going to pay for the bath?”
Elsie tugged at my sleeve.
But I firmly nodded.
“Yes.”
Even now, her odor was assaulting my nostrils.
I handed the coins to the employee.
“B-but I…”
“Only he will be using it. Just one person, please.”
The employee looked disappointed for a moment before accepting the coins.
Come to think of it, what was Elsie about to say?
Turning to her, I saw she had her head lowered.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s…it’s nothing.”
I thought maybe she was allergic to something.
Speaking of allergies…
“You don’t have any allergies, do you?”
“Allergies? No, why?”
“Just checking. Do you happen to have any fragrances? I’d like to add some to the bath.”
It occurred to me that simply washing wouldn’t be enough to eliminate that stench.
“We do, but it’ll be an extra three copper coins.”
A small price to pay to get rid of that smell.
I promptly handed over three more copper coins.
The employee’s face finally lit up with satisfaction.
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“I’ll be out here, so stay in there and soak until the smell is gone.”
“I don’t smell that bad.”
“Go smell the back of your hand.”
Elsie hesitantly brought her hand to her nose and immediately gagged.
“Don’t just sit in the water. Make sure you scrub every nook and cranny.”
“O-of course…cough, cough…!”
A sudden thought struck me.
“You…you do know how to bathe, right?”
“What do you take me for?”
A stray cat…no, a princess might not actually know how to bathe, come to think of it.
After all, the princesses in those Western dramas I’d seen always had servants to wash them.
I was relieved to see she wasn’t completely clueless. It’s not like I could wash her myself.
“Then hurry up and get in. There’s a time limit on the bath.”
With that, Elsie reluctantly opened the door to the bathroom.
Then, she turned back to me.
‘What now?’
As I stared at her, waiting, she cautiously asked,
“You…you’re really not coming in, right?”
I was pretty sure I’d said it at least ten times already.
“I’m not going in.”
“Promise?”
How could I convince her…
Lost in thought, I ended up pushing her in and shutting the door.
Physical solutions were always the most effective.
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‘What in the world…’
Erciara, the princess who now called herself Elsie, sat submerged in the tub, staring at the door.
The warmth of the water, a luxury she hadn’t experienced in a while, and the subtle fragrance wafting around her were relaxing her tense muscles.
However, she couldn’t seem to quiet her mind.
‘Who is that guy?’
The nameless man waiting outside the door.
Come to think of it, she realized she still didn’t know his name.
Not that it mattered. She’d escape when the opportunity presented itself.
‘But…should I at least thank him before I make a run for it?’
She didn’t understand why, but this man had helped her tremendously.
He had provided her with her first proper meal in days, a warm bed to sleep in…
If it weren’t for him, she would have spent the night cold, hungry, and drenched in the rain. He was practically her lifesaver.
And now, here she was, soaking in a hot bath.
She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so comfortable and at ease.
In fact, the only reason she was able to enjoy this bath was that he was out there, guarding the door.
…Right?
“Um, hello? Are you still out there?”
“Yeah.”
For some reason, his response brought a wave of relief.
But then he said,
“If my presence makes you uncomfortable, I can pretend I’m not here.”
“No! Please, keep pretending you’re there!”
She immediately realized how strange that sounded.
But she decided not to dwell on it.
She had already resigned herself to the fact that she was acting bizarre, and had been since yesterday.
‘It’s all because of my patron.’
She glanced upward.
Words materialized in the empty air, visible only to her.
[Your patron watches over you with amusement.]
‘What’s so amusing…’
She didn’t know much about this “patron” except that it was a being only she could perceive.
All she knew was that its assistance had been crucial in getting her this far.
She hadn’t believed in her patron at first.
But after witnessing her ancestor’s dying words with its help, she had started paying attention.
Then, when the coup actually transpired, exactly as her patron had forewarned, she had no choice but to place her trust in it.
Throughout her escape, her patron had provided her with guidance and various means to survive.
She had no choice but to follow its instructions if she wanted to live.
Though not always successful, even in the most precarious situations, she had somehow managed to pull through, thanks to sheer luck, or perhaps, her patron’s intervention.
And that was how she had arrived here, in Basilium.
Her patron had given her a destination, and this city was a mandatory stop along the way.
However, everything had become too overwhelming. The cumulative fatigue and stress from her arduous journey had finally caught up with her.
She knew, deep down, that she wouldn’t have survived last night without help.
And then, as if by some miracle, this man appeared.
The timing had been too perfect. Initially, she was suspicious.
But her patron had told her:
[Your patron commands you to trust the man.]
She had no choice but to obey.
It had always been this way.
So, she chose to trust the man, even if it meant letting down her guard.
It’s not like she had another option if she wanted to survive, right?
She still remembered how her sisters had died.
She would rather die on the streets than suffer the same fate at the hands of a stranger.
And so far, the man had proven himself worthy of her trust.
‘But I can’t let my guard down completely.’
She knew, better than anyone, how deceitful humans could be, especially when they had something to gain.
The captain of the Royal Knights was a prime example.
He, who had always addressed her with a stoic face and unwavering loyalty, had been the mastermind behind her father’s downfall.
The betrayal she felt upon learning the truth was something she would never forget.
‘So I can’t fully trust this man either.’
She knew that much.
Yet, somehow, her body wouldn’t cooperate.
She glanced at the small window near the ceiling of the bathroom.
‘It’s only the second floor, I won’t get hurt.’
If she could find something to give her a boost, she could escape through the window.
And then, it would be goodbye to this man and all this confusion.
But something, deep down, was stopping her.
‘No, it’s not that my body won’t move.’
Let’s rephrase that. She didn’t want to leave.
The bathwater was still warm, the scent soothing her senses.
She wanted to savor this feeling of comfort and peace for a little while longer.
‘Why am I…’
As steam filled the room, her mind grew hazy.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
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“Excuse me, sir. The bath time is up.”
Lost in thought, I looked up at the sound of the employee’s voice.
“Has it been that long already?”
“Yes. Could you please let your younger brother know?”
“Of course.”
After initially checking my whereabouts repeatedly, Elsie had gone quiet.
She seemed to be enjoying her bath.
I didn’t want to interrupt her, so I hadn’t said anything.
However, she couldn’t stay in there past the time limit.
“Elsie. Time’s up. Get dressed and come out.”
But there was no answer.
I called out again.
“Elsie, Elsie?”
Was she sleeping?
I knocked on the door, calling her name louder this time.
“Elsie!”
Still no response.
A wave of unease washed over me.
‘Don’t tell me…’
I threw open the bathroom door and rushed in.
Elsie was still in the tub, which was a relief.
But it was too early to feel reassured.
‘Please, be okay!’
All sorts of possibilities flooded my mind.
She was already in a weakened state.
What if she was allergic to the fragrance?
Driven by a surge of anxiety, I activated the Power of the Wind, rushing to her side and immediately checking for a pulse.
‘It should be around here…’
Thanks to the CPR training I received as part of the track and field club, I knew where to check.
I found it.
‘Thank goodness.’
It was faint, but she was alive.
In that case…
“Elsie, wake up.”
She remained unresponsive despite having a pulse.
‘Did she faint?’
She must have finally succumbed to exhaustion after letting her guard down.
I couldn’t just leave her like this.
‘I guess I have no choice.’
After making sure the bathroom door was securely shut, I pulled out my spare clothes from my inventory.
Then, I issued a command, unsure if it would even work. It was my first time trying this.
‘Forget everything you saw for the next five minutes.’
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Rustle.
I turned to see Elsie sitting up.
Her skin, washed clean for the first time in days, was fair and smooth.
The stench had been completely neutralized by the fragrant oils, replaced by a pleasant, lingering aroma.
But that wasn’t my main concern right now.
“Are you alright?”
Elsie, who always seemed to wear a vacant expression, somehow looked even more bewildered.
“Huh?”
“Don’t you remember? You fainted in the bath.”
“U-um…?”
Her eyes darted around as if she’d forgotten how to speak. Then, as if recalling something, she muttered,
“I was enjoying the bath, and then…”
Her ears turned crimson.
“…I fainted?”
Her eyes pleaded for the truth.
‘It seems like she doesn’t remember anything after she fainted…’
So I lied.
“Don’t worry, you were fully clothed when I found you.”
Elsie placed a hand over her chest, sighing in relief.
But then she seemed to notice something.
“Whose clothes are these?”
I hadn’t considered that.
‘Now even I’m not sure.’
Well, this was a good discovery.
Now I knew that [Absolute Obedience] didn’t affect memory, probably because it only worked on physical actions.
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