Chapter 18

"Haa..."

I let out a sigh as I soak in the bathtub. After returning from the Adventurers' Guild, I immediately started the bath. I placed a magic stone in the wall's indentation to raise the temperature, and added water from the tap to cool it down, adjusting it accordingly.

Today, I made the water a bit hotter.

Whether it's the first time or the first in a long time, I'm not sure, but I feel the tension and fatigue from delving into the labyrinth melting away in the water.

--It's hard to explain. I understand the logic, but my mind is still a bit preoccupied.

Ah, that's right. I got so caught up that I forgot to get the alchemist's information. Really, I need to be more careful.

Next time I go to the guild, I'll make sure to confirm it. I have to get the furniture and tidy up the garden. There's a lot to do, and I can't forget anything.

"Theodor-sama"

As I gaze up at the ceiling, lost in thought, a gentle knock sounds from the changing room.

I take a deep breath and try to shift my mindset.

It's okay. It's fine. I can take this in stride and move forward.

"Hmm, is something wrong?"

"I have your change of clothes ready."

We converse through the door.

"...Thank you. I know, but Grace, you should use the bath too."

If I don't say this, she might go out and just take a quick rinse, even though we have a bath and magic stones at home.

In a noble household... some people would say it's unthinkable for servants to use the same bath as their masters, or for servants to eat at the same table. People like the butler or Catherine would say such things.

It might be correct as a general rule, but I don't want to live such a stiff life even here, and there's no one to say such things now. As long as it's necessary for external or face-saving reasons, that's enough. When I lived with my mother, we didn't have such rules.

"Thank you. But is it alright?"

"...It's fine. When I lived with my mother, we did it this way."

"Yes, that's right. It's nostalgic."

From the other side of the door, she seemed to smile a little.

"In the past, we even took baths together sometimes."

"...Did we? I don't really remember."

"You were very young then. It's not surprising that you don't remember."

That was before I was five.

What I remember is not so much taking baths together, but having Grace help me bathe. That was only for a short time after I was taken in by the noble family.

In the noble household, it was customary for servants to help their employers' children with bathing and changing clothes, and Grace followed this custom... but after a while, I told her I didn't need it anymore.

The reason is obvious. I didn't want her to see the bruises and scars that never went away.

But when I told her I could do it myself and didn't need help, I remember Grace looking sad.

"Ah, if you'd like, I can wash your back like in the old days?"

That... how about it? Grace's voice sounds like she's had a good idea.

...I'm not a child who needs help bathing anymore.

But the first reason for refusing is no longer there. If it made Grace feel lonely, maybe it's okay today.

"After a long time... that might be nice."

I take the cloth from my head and wrap it around my waist, then sit on the edge of the bathtub and answer.

"Then I'll come in."

Looking over my shoulder, I see Grace roll up her maid's sleeves and enter the bathroom.

She wets the cloth with water, drips liquid soap on it, and lathers it up, then carefully washes my back.

The liquid soap, or rather, something similar to soap, is something I bought at the market on my way back.

From around the 20th floor underground, you can reach the Twilight Forest, where the Sabona Tree grows. The sap from this tree is quite excellent, and when mixed with preferred fragrances or medicines, it can be used like soap.

"There's a scar on your back."

"It's from the past."

The new bruises should be gone by now.

There is a scar where Grace is touching, and I know where it came from.

Her slender fingers trace the scar.

"Grace... it's a bit ticklish."

"...I'm sorry."

She apologizes, but then, for some reason, she wraps her arm around me from behind and gives me a light hug.

"...Grace?"

"---I'm sorry. This is the same as in the past. Today, the backlash from the curse release is coming back from time to time... I know that this helps me calm down. Please let me stay like this for a little longer."

The same as in the past. When Grace came back from hunting, she used to hug me and we would sleep together.

Those memories are quite vague, but I remember Grace. I was anxious, but with Grace, I could sleep soundly at night.

This was during the time after my mother died and before my father found out. My father was in Termwillis at the time and wasn't there... so he found out about my mother's death quite late.

Anyway, I didn't rely on anyone. Grace was trying to imitate my mother. She went into the forest in a released state to hunt monsters and animals... to survive.

That's why I was hugged by Grace and slept. I understood that Grace was anxious... and that she was concerned about me.

"Besides... recently, Theodor-sama seems to be running ahead on your own. If I don't do this, you might go somewhere and never come back. Please... don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

Is the anxiety... connected to the backlash of the bloodlust? Am I putting too much pressure on Grace?

Or is it that Grace is doing this because she thinks I'm suffering from today's events?

"I'm not pushing myself. ...Grace, you came with me to the labyrinth. If you don't want to, just say so."

I know she doesn't approve of me going to the labyrinth alone. I understand that.

That's why I want to hear her true feelings.

"Lisa-sama also fought monsters to make a living, didn't she? I think that's fine too. I have no complaints about going into the labyrinth. This time, I can go with Theodor-sama. I feel much more... satisfied than when I was in that house."

"Then... that's good."

I was hugged from behind for a while, but eventually, Grace let go and said this.

"Thank you. I feel calmer."

"Hmm. I feel calmer too."

"...Were you worried?"

"...Not that worried. Grace, you feel the same, right?"

"Yes. I don't think I was wrong."

That's... the same as Grace. We shouldn't ask each other how much we feel inside, and it's not something we should touch on.

It's better to move forward with this understanding. I don't want to be taken, and I don't want to take. I don't want to fall to the same level as those people.

Warm water is poured over my shoulders, washing away the soap from my back.

"...Shall I wash your hair too?"

"Ah... Sure, go ahead."

Today... I'll really try to spend time with Grace as if we've gone back to the past.

While Grace washes my hair, I think about this.

After this, Grace will take a bath too. After that... we'll cook together. That's different from the past when I relied on Grace for everything.