The Tight Squeeze and the Steamy Bath
“Huh? You’re gonna break the window?”
Charlotte’s eyes went wide like a rabbit’s as she asked again.
Her gaze darted back and forth between the annex’s rickety window and my fist.
She genuinely seemed to think I was about to smash it.
“Just kidding. Kidding.”
I chuckled and ruffled her hair lightly.
“Oh… yeah… I guess so?”
Charlotte let out a sigh of relief.
“So we have to go back through there?”
Her eyes flicked toward the small hole hidden behind the vines.
My face hardened as I followed her gaze.
The nightmare from earlier flashed back.
That suffocating pressure where I couldn’t move forward or back.
And Charlotte’s hand grabbing my chest in that mortifying moment.
Haa… I really don’t wanna.
But there were no other options.
We couldn’t spend the night out here, and the main gate was locked.
“No other way in? Like a back door?”
“Sebastian always locks the back door.”
“Windows?”
“Those are locked too.”
We were surrounded.
The only way back was that damn hole.
“Sis, this time I won’t hurt you.”
That sounded way too suggestive.
“Yeah. Let’s go. I’ve got the trick now, so it’ll be easier.”
I stood resolutely in front of the hole.
“Should I go first again?”
“No. I’ll go first.”
Structurally, it’d be way easier to push from behind.
“If I get stuck inside, push from back there.”
“Got it! Leave it to me!”
Charlotte clenched her fists, brimming with determination.
I took a deep breath and shoved my head in first.
Dark, cramped tunnel.
The musty smell of dirt and dust assaulted my nose.
Shoulders cleared, no problem.
Then came the issue.
Scraaaape.
“Nngh.”
I sucked in as much air as possible, flattening my chest, but physics didn’t care about effort.
Thud.
Sure enough. Stuck at the exact same spot as before.
Rough bricks pressed against my chest.
“Ughhh…”
“Sis! Stuck again?”
Charlotte’s urgent voice came from behind.
“Ugh… why does it feel even tighter coming back?”
“I’ll push!”
With her determined shout, a heavy pressure hit my back.
Squiiiish.
“Hngh…!”
A weird moan slipped out before I could stop it.
Charlotte’s small palms were pressing hard right between my butt and thighs— that awkward, sensitive line.
Her body heat seeped through the thin dress.
Her soft little hands kneading like they were digging into my skin sent chills racing over me.
“W-wait…! Charlotte! Your hands—!”
“No choice! This is the best spot for leverage!”
She threw her full weight into shoving me forward.
The problem? The harder she pushed, the more friction crushed my chest.
“Ow, it hurts! Gentle! Not so hard…!”
“Just a bit more!”
Her hands kneaded my ass like dough.
The sensation of my soft flesh yielding burned raw into my brain.
“Eeeeeek… hup!”
Finally, my stuck body popped out like a cork.
Momentum betrayed me, pitching forward.
“Wha— whoa?!”
I lost balance and tumbled face-first toward the floor.
Crash!
“Ow!”
I face-planted into a dust pit.
Pent-up dust exploded upward like smoke.
“Cough, cough!”
“Sis! You okay?”
Charlotte slipped through nimbly and rushed over, startled at my sprawled form.
“Ugh… my back…”
I groaned, pushing my upper body up.
My whole body throbbed like I’d been beaten.
But worse was my appearance.
The white dress was a gray rag; spiderwebs and dry leaves tangled in my hair like decorations.
My face was caked in dirt.
“Hahaha!”
Suddenly, Charlotte burst out laughing.
“Why’re you laughing? I’m dying here.”
I pretended to be mad, but she kept beaming innocently.
“Sis’s face… you look like a total raccoon!”
“What?”
I rubbed my face.
Black soot smeared my hand.
Probably chimney residue on the floor behind the fireplace.
If a light rub did this, I must’ve been charcoal-dark.
“You’re not looking so hot yourself.”
I pointed at Charlotte.
Her white dress was filthy too, black dust on her nose tip— pure stray cat vibes.
“Huh?”
She looked down, eyes widening.
“Whoa… hehe.”
We stared at each other’s grimy messes.
The absurdity hit me, and a helpless laugh bubbled up.
“Pfft.”
“Ahahaha!”
We laughed face-to-face for ages.
Laughing till my stomach hurt strangely cleared the air.
But as the laughter faded, the grimy reality crashed back.
“Let’s dust off first. This is bad.”
I patted Charlotte’s back— poof, dust rose like smoke.
“Cough! Sis, let me do yours!”
She came around and started brushing my dress.
We were basically feeding each other dust, but better than nothing.
“Haa… now what?”
After shaking off what we could, reality sank in.
“If Marie sees us like this, she’ll faint.”
“Yeah… we need a bath…”
Charlotte muttered, picking cobwebs from her hair.
Then—
Click.
A door opened in the living room.
“Miss? Where are you?”
Marie’s voice.
“Gasp.”
Charlotte and I froze.
Perfect timing.
We were in a corner room, door open— fully visible from the living room.
Marie’s footsteps approached.
“Wh-what do we do, sis?”
Charlotte stomped anxiously, tugging my sleeve.
Too late to hide.
Screw it. I stood up.
“Here, Marie.”
“Ah, there you are! No lights on, what were you— KYAAAH!!!”
Marie shrieked and collapsed entering the room.
Her eyes bulged.
“M-Miss! What happened?! Even Miss Charlotte?!”
She panicked, staring between our filthy selves.
“B-blood?! Any broken bones?!”
She rushed over, groping me frantically.
“Calm down, Marie. I’m fine. No injuries.”
“But your state…!”
She grimaced, trying to brush my dress.
“Gotta wash up first. I’m filthy.”
“Yes! I’ll prepare the bath right away! Nice and hot, full tub!”
Marie bolted to the bathroom.
“Phew. She bought it, sorta.”
“Wow… sis, you’re amazing.”
Charlotte gazed up with sparkling eyes.
“You need a bath too. Go home like that, and you’re toast.”
“Oh…”
Her sunny face clouded instantly.
“Yeah… guess so? Sebastian’s… strict…”
She drooped her head.
Shoulders slumping like a rain-soaked puppy.
The thought of returning alone to that vast, silent main house depressed her.
I couldn’t just send her off like that.
“Wanna bathe together?”
Her head snapped up at my casual toss.
“Huh? T-together?”
“Tub’s big enough. Separate baths are a hassle. Wash here and go— Sebastian won’t know.”
Truth was, less hassle and I worried about sending her alone.
Filthy like this, she’d get grilled, and the hole might get found out.
“I-I’d love that! Bathing with sis…!”
Her cheeks flushed pink.
No trace of gloom— eyes shining with excitement.
Moments later, Marie’s voice echoed from the bathroom.
“Miss! It’s ready!”
///
The annex bathroom was way nicer than expected.
A massive tub in the center could fit two adults easily.
Steamy warmth filled the air, laced with faint lavender.
Marie had been generous with the bath salts.
“Put clothes in the basket. I’ll launder them right away.”
Handing us towels, Marie scurried out.
Just me and Charlotte now.
“…”
Awkward silence fell.
I’d suggested it, but undressing felt weird.
Charlotte seemed the same.
Tomato-red, she fidgeted with her hem.
After hemming and hawing, she spoke in a trembling voice, like she’d made up her mind.
“Um… s-so… should we take them off?”