[TKOSINM] 161 - Hot Springs

“I will have to tell them to redecorate our room like this when I get back to the Grand Duchy.” He muttered.

“For now, why don’t you take a bath to wash off all the fatigue from travelling?”

Irene nodded at Noel’s suggestion as she looked around the room once again before leaving for a bath. It was her first trip, so she was beyond excited and happy, she was ecstatic. Still, she could not help but be exhausted after the long carriage ride which felt like an eternity.

When Irene was about to call a maid to help her wash up, Noel made an unexpected offer.

“This place is famous for its hot springs. Since you are here, you should take this chance to try a hot spring bath.”

“Hot spring?”

Irene’s eyes widened.

A hot spring...

She heard that a bath filled with heated groundwater was called a hot spring. It was good for skin care, so aristocrats often used it, but Irene had never been to a hot spring before.

But aren’t men and women supposed to go into the hot spring together?

Back when she went to the Academy, one of the young ladies of the same class as her bragged about enjoying a hot spring bath with a young master who she was having a secret affair with.

I’m sure she did say that they went in together though…

Did that mean she ought to go into the hot spring with Noel? Did Noel know that but still suggest it? Irene was confused

“By any chance…are we going in there together?” she asked cautiously.

“Pardon?” Noel asked back, bewildered by the out of the blue question.

Irene’s face was burning to the point that she felt like it was about to burst.

Is she referring to a mixed bath?

There were not many cases of mixed bathing between lovers or couples, but he never imagined Irene would ask for such a thing.

Perhaps, she is asking because she does not know.

If one was an ordinary noble, they would have known that baths for men and women were separated, but for Irene, who grew up in a confined home, there was a chance that she was unaware. No, it was most likely this way.

...I wonder how she would react if I said yes.

 He suddenly became curious. If he said that mixed bathing was alright for him, how would she react? Would she run away saying she did not prefer that way, or...

...Nevermind.

For a minute there, Noel had some mischievous thoughts but soon erased them from his head. It was because he had pulled a similar prank before, and it was rather embarrassing.

“Mixed bathing is also possible, but essentially, there are also separate baths for men and women.”

“Oh, I see.”

Thank god.

Irene’s expression brightened noticeably. Noel did not know whether to be happy or sad to see her obvious relief about the fact that she was separated from him.

What a pity.

Feeling himself being unreasonably selfish, Noel sighed deeply and said to Irene, pretending nothing was wrong.

“Shall we go? We have to come back before dinner.”

“Yes.”

As the worries disappeared, expectations for the hot springs arose. Irene nodded earnestly and left the room with Noel.

“Are you two going somewhere?”

Louiselle, who had been guarding at the front door as soon as they arrived at the castle, asked. Irene was momentarily astounded, she did not think that Louiselle would have proceeded with guarding duty right after such an arduous journey, but Noel, who was already aware of it, calmly gave her a slight nod.

“We are going to the hot springs.”

“I will accompany you.”

“No, there is no need...”

Noel, who was about to say she did not have to, pressed his lips together for a split second as if he was reconsidering something, then he nodded as a sign of acceptance.

“Alright then, follow us.”

“Yes!”

For some reason, when Noel allowed Louiselle to go along, she responded with a bright voice and stuck right behind them.

Just like that, the three of them headed to the hot springs. The hot springs were located in the innermost part of the castle where outsiders were not allowed to enter. It was divided into two sections from the entrance.

“Irene, you can go in through that way.”

“Yes, see you later.”

“Okay, Louiselle, please take good care of my wife.”

“I will protect her with my life.”

Louiselle answered resolutely. Irene smiled awkwardly at that firm look.

Noel entered first, and Irene and Louiselle also went inside not long after that. Inside, there were towels, robes prepared by the servants in advance and a new dress for a change.

As Irene took off her clothes, she saw Louiselle standing with her upright back turned, staring straight at the entrance.

“Are you not going to wash up, Louiselle?”

“My first duty is to protect the Madame.”

“But you have already come all the way here, it would be a shame to just stand around like that.”

“It is unacceptable to disarm.”

“Is that so?”

At Louiselle’s solemn attitude, Irene nodded helplessly. It was not like Irene could force her if she did not want to.

Irene put on a robe and immediately entered the hot spring bath. Even though no one saw her, she was ashamed of her complete nudity.

“Ohh…”

As she stepped into the warm water, a groan automatically leaked out. Her body grew tired, and her eyelids became heavy as the warm steam brushed against her skin.

With her back leaned against the tub, Irene raised her head. Additionally, the hot spring had an open ceiling, so one could admire the sky while enjoying the satisfying bath.

...magnificent.

The sun was setting, and the sky was dyed with a multitude of colours. It was the same sky, but it felt different from the sky she saw in the capital.

It feels nice…

Irene looked up at the sky and closed her eyes. Burying herself until the water level reached her ears. She gurgled. Air bubbles continuously rose to the surface and burst seconds later. Maybe it was because of the warm temperature of the hot springs, but Irene’s face was abnormally red.

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