Chapter 361 – Temporary Closure on an Autumn Day

Well. While our assault on the Blazing Fortress ended up being interrupted, since Ignatius made it out of the Labyrinth, you could say we achieved half our objective.

Since we cut our Exploration short, even after finishing our discussion at the ritual site, the sun was still high and we had time to spare. But perhaps it’s better to think of this as having half a day’s schedule suddenly freed up.

“Since we have the chance, why don’t we just go home today and spend the time doing nothing?” I suggested in the carriage on our way back.

Grace smiled and nodded. “Yes. Then once we’re home, I’ll make some snacks. Let’s all relax together.”

“I’m looking forward to Grace’s homemade treats,” Sheila agreed.

“Today’s turn is… Claudia-sama’s bath day, wasn’t it?”

“I believe… that’s right,” Ashley said, recalling the schedule. Claudia maintained her composure at these words, though her cheeks seemed slightly flushed.

Marlene took Ashley’s hand and looked at me with a cheerful expression. Tonight, she and Ashley would be sleeping beside me. That meant Grace and Rosemary would likely be responsible for the living room.

“Oh, that’s right. Well then… how about you take your bath first while I’m baking the sweets?”

“That does seem like it would allow everyone to relax more comfortably.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll help Grace too.”

“Thank you, Marie-sama.”

We could take our time with the bath too… We improvised a loose plan to just relax until we got sleepy, arriving home with this casual schedule. Once home, we immediately started heating the bath and preparing for bathing.

Claudia, who entered the bathroom, did seem somewhat embarrassed, but when she turned her back to me to wash her hair, she appeared to regain some composure. Still, her cheeks remained slightly flushed.

Taking Claudia’s hair in my hands as she moved to cover her chest, I dissolved the Savona Tree shampoo in lukewarm water, working it into her hair and building up a lather.

“When I wash it myself, I just use Life Magic to get it done… but you’re quite thorough, Theodore.”

“You think so? Well, I do try to be careful not to damage the hair.”

Claudia’s hair was glossy, long black hair that reached her knees. The shine was truly beautiful.

Her slender frame and translucent white skin. Dressed in a clean white bath robe, the contrast with her black hair stood out all the more. It was a unique beauty, as if the space around Claudia alone had been rendered in monochrome. Her golden eyes, like full moons, seemed to add an element of mystery to it all.

After quietly rinsing out the shampoo as carefully as possible with water, I told Claudia, “All done.”

“Well then, it’s my turn now.”

“Right.”

We switched places, and after washing her back and body, we soaked in the bathtub.

Claudia, having parted her wet hair into two sections from her shoulders and tied them like pigtails, came to sit beside me, leaning close.

The bright bathroom. Light and wind entered through the wide-open window. Combined with autumn’s pleasant weather, it was an incredibly comfortable space. Stretching out my legs, leaning back in the tub, I slowly warmed my body and sighed. Using Circulating Ki to reinforce Claudia’s Magical Power, I relaxed.

After relaxing like that for a while, Claudia spoke as if letting the words escape.

“…Theodore.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Thank you… for everything. I… can only watch everyone fight, and it weighs on my heart.”

“It’s fine. As long as Claudia prepares the Teleportation Magic, I can focus on fighting. I think everyone else can fight with peace of mind too, not just me.”

“I hope so. Ashley seemed to be worrying about something similar not long ago,” Claudia said. She seemed concerned about Ashley too.

“Ah… she did mention that. I told Ashley then too, but it’s about division of roles. Charging in is my job. I find it easier to think that way than to put someone else on the front lines.”

“Mmm…”

Claudia closed her eyes with a smile playing on her lips, then tilted her head slightly and leaned her body against me.

Taking our time, we eventually left the bath. Next, it seemed Sheila and Irmhild would take their turn, followed by Seraphina.

“Irmhilt will use her tail to help me slide around.”

“We have plenty of time today, after all,” Seraphina said happily as she headed to the bathroom with Irmhild.

When others besides me took baths, sometimes they went alone in turns, and other times they went together with someone like that. But today, with our unexpected day off leaving us with extra time, there was room to play and relax in the bathroom.

Ashley and Marlene also… seemed to be taking a bath together today, and it appeared they decided to wash Lavigne too. Before their bath, the two of them were brushing Lavigne together.

Though Lavigne is properly a wolf, racially closer to a dog… according to Kagehisa’s memories, bathing her too frequently isn’t good. So we’ve settled on a rule of bathing her regularly with appropriate intervals… well, thanks to that, her coat always stays shiny and beautiful.

“The bath was wonderful,” Ashley and Marlene said as they emerged from the bath just as Grace and Rosemary were putting the baked goods into the oven.

“Why don’t you two go in next? We’ll all keep an eye on the oven.”

“Thank you. Then we’ll leave it to you,” Grace and Rosemary said as they left the kitchen.

Tilting my teacup while watching the baked goods in the kitchen, a fragrant, sweet aroma began to fill the air.

“They seem about ready,” Claudia said, standing up. Just as I was taking the baked goods out of the oven and arranging them on plates, Grace and the others emerged from the bath too.

Moving to the Japanese-style room, I relaxed with the still-damp-haired Grace and Rosemary flanking me.

“Hmm…” Rosemary closed her feather fan, resting the tip against her chin as she pondered.

“Hm? Something wrong?”

“No… I just remembered Mother sometimes massaging Father’s shoulders… I wondered if that’s something people do.”

I see… Well, between married couples, I suppose that kind of thing happens… maybe? That it happens even among royalty might be quite surprising.

My shoulders aren’t particularly stiff… but massages still feel nice, so I decided to take her up on the offer.

“Then, I’ll take the calves.”

“Of course.”

Rosemary massaged my shoulders while Grace worked on my calves. I couldn’t see Rosemary’s expression from behind me, but Grace seemed to be enjoying herself. Getting a massage after a bath felt incredibly luxurious.

“How is it?”

“Hmm. Quite nice. Should we switch after this?”

“…I don’t particularly mind either way.”

“But it feels odd to only receive.”

“Then… I’ll accept,” Grace said with a smile and a nod, which decided that Rosemary would receive one too in that moment.

And so we switched roles. I spent time massaging both their shoulders while performing Circulating Ki.

After enjoying the baked goods and tea in the living room, we prepared to turn in early and moved to the bedroom. In the bedroom, I decided to play with everyone after they changed into their nightwear.

“Ah… this is fun,” Floria said with a smile. Being a card game beginner, she couldn’t win much, but she seemed to be enjoying herself nonetheless.

This time, we called Floria, and had servants like Cecilia, Mihaela, Claire, and Cyrille take breaks in turns to play cards with us, allowing us to spend a relaxed time together.

Eventually, when Marlene began rubbing her sleepy eyes with a small yawn, we decided to call it a night, and everyone lay down in their beds.

Ashley and Marlene were beside me. Marlene, like a cat nuzzling, pressed her cheek against my chest area, closing her eyes with a happy smile.

Seeing this, Ashley did the same, nuzzling her cheek against me. When our eyes met, Ashley smiled as if her mischief had been discovered.

“…Goodnight, Theodore-sama.”

“Yeah. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Turning off the bedroom lights, I gently stroked Ashley and Marlene’s hair—closing my eyes while performing Circulating Ki.

Yeah… Today’s plans fell through, but we managed to relax instead. I feel like I can give it my all starting tomorrow too. Enveloped in the Circulating Ki, everyone’s body heat, the warmth and comfort, I slowly drifted off to sleep.