A Warm Cup of Tea
I'll treat you to some warm tea. As for those rag-like clothes, just toss them outside quick.
Twist the faucet, and water came gushing out. The bathtub slowly filled up, white steam beginning to fill the bathroom.
What's the principle behind this? Magic-powered, maybe? There was no way a fantasy world like this had hot water systems or that kind of tech.
It was a pointless curiosity for a fallen maid like me anyway.
"What a looong day..."
Soaking in the water, all the tension drained from my body. The fatigue built up over the day crashed over me like a tidal wave.
How long had it been since I'd had such a packed day?
"Haaah."
I let out a sigh, my body limp like konjac jelly.
Part of me wanted to skip washing and just crash like usual—stripping down to my underwear and diving into the fluffy bed. If Veronica hadn't roughed me up, I'd have done it ages ago...
"Egh... picking on a kid like that."
Tormenting me right up to the edge was fair game as revenge, but after that? Way over the line. Making me soil myself without any water...
Come to think of it, she'd hurled all sorts of nasty words at me too. Insulting the Lawrence Count she'd never even seen, even threatening to kill me...
"Hmmph..."
That sweet Veronica, twisted up like this. Must've been the shock from her first loop's failure. Being the protagonist sounded like a raw deal...
As her fan, it was heartbreaking. The Veronica I'd watched overcame every trial and smiled through a happy life. But the one I finally met? All gloomy clouds all day.
"Well... that'll end soon enough."
This loop wasn't ending in tragedy like the first. I was here as her secret ally!
Sure, she hated my guts now. But bit by bit, I'd build trust. Soon, I'd reveal my true self, clear up the misunderstandings. Then we'd strategize against the Demon King, share secrets no one else knew, stroll or picnic now and then—like best friends.
"That's basically dating... eek."
I was grinning to myself, picturing that bright future—
"Pffft?!"
The silhouette reflected on the water's surface, that nearly snow-white dizzying skin tone—it jolted my half-closed eyes wide open. I snapped my head up in shock.
"G-Gah!"
My morals were from modern society. Even if this body moved by my will now, ogling a healthy little Ellicia's naked form with a clear mind? My conscience poked at me hard.
Sure, no one would call me out on it, but still, the guilt...
"B-But... I gotta wash up...?"
Ignoring it didn't make it go away.
Not like I could just dunk in the tub and pull out. I had to scrub every dirty inch clean—touching my body felt even worse than peeking.
"..."
No dodging this. Act of God? Unavoidable force? Not handcuffs, right...?
Gurgle-gurgle. That profound dilemma lasted until the tub filled up.
"Hoo! Hoo... Alright!"
Slap! I smacked my chubby cheeks to steel myself.
Toughen up. Who knew when this life would end? Couldn't make a fuss every bath till then.
This wasn't the time to act shy like a girl. It was time to soak in the warmth and deeply reflect on my harsh reality and future ahead.
Look...? Actually looking?
Deep breath. Set aside the guilt toward Ellicia Lawrence for now.
I glared fiercely downward—
"Ellicia, you'll be scared alone, so let me wash you."
"Gyaack!"
An uninvited guest barged in—I flailed my arms in panic and slammed butt-first onto the bathroom floor.
Merhen was scrubbing every stain from Ellicia's soiled maid uniform, washing it spotless.
"...Haa."
She paused mid-scrub, gazing toward the bathroom with complicated eyes.
Ellicia Lawrence. The Lawrence Count's youngest daughter, seed of the calamity named by the goddess.
When she heard Ellicia was joining the mansion as a maid, Merhen's first reaction was natural revulsion.
The youngest flower of Lawrence shall proclaim the end of the world.
It was the goddess's oracle, breaking nearly a century of silence, delivered through the new Hero.
Most faithful believed Ellicia must die before she grew. An innocent child now, but a potential traitor who'd plunge the world into chaos later.
Merhen thought so too—until she met Ellicia in the hall. Not just because her tiny, cute look reminded her of a little sister.
-Not really.
Asked if she wanted to go back to the past, Ellicia gazed at the ceiling and answered flatly.
From her view, she'd lost everything through no fault of her own.
No trace of sorrow on her face. If anything, casual like talking about someone else.
Too young to grasp her situation? Thinking it was all a game, that she'd wake up to normalcy?
Otherwise, how could she grin like an idiot after losing status, wealth, even family?
Unable to fathom it, Merhen asked again, simply: Don't you miss your family?
-I...
A question any normal kid wouldn't hesitate on. But Ellicia just mouthed words silently till they reached her room, never answering.
Kids usually wail for mom after ten minutes apart. What had that cute face furrowed over so deeply?
"Haa, really."
With vacation looming, her mind was a mess.
Merhen hung the clean clothes on the line and headed to the bathroom. The Hero had taken her in personally, so the head maid looking after the new junior maid a bit shouldn't be an issue.
"Ellicia, you'll be scared alone, so let me wash you."
"Gyaack!"
She called brightly, but got a weird scream back. Awkwardly standing Ellicia flailed and thudded butt-first on the floor.
"E-Ellicia!"
Should've knocked?
Worried she was hurt, Merhen rushed forward—then froze.
"Ow ow..."
"..."
Rubbing her butt with a groan, Ellicia's bare skin gleamed dazzlingly white. Making the long, horrific scar snaking down her back all the more striking.
Slashed deep like by a sharp blade. Not from one accident—layer upon layer stacked over the long gash.
As if waiting for wounds to heal, then slashing anew, over and over...
"Eek."
Shamed by Merhen's stare, Ellicia covered herself with her slender arms. Curled small like a pillbug, cheeks flushed red.
"Ah..."
Merhen's eyes trembled. Scars like that didn't belong on a count's lady—or any child. What horror had carved those gruesome marks...?
"J-Just barging in like that...!"
"..."
"I said I'd wash alone..."
Ellicia buried her face between her knees, voice tiny.
Merhen's clear mistake. Only now realizing her gaze on the back was too blatant, she looked away.
"Well... no water sounds, so I thought you were trembling in fear of ghosts."
"...Ghosts don't scare me at all."
"Then who's the one who said they sprinted down the hall 'cause a ghost might appear?"
"Th-That was... I really heard ghost noises... like 'whooo...' "
Ellicia grumbled faintly.
Why the vague answer to going back? Why silence on family?
Now she dimly guessed the reasons...
"...Ellicia, stay like that and you'll catch a cold."
Merhen couldn't cling to her initial feelings. Apologizing inwardly for such harsh thoughts toward this pitiful girl.
"It's cold—hurry into the tub..."
The lady decided her fate; Merhen just had to care for the new junior maid. She reached to lead Ellicia to the tub—
"Um... y'know."
Glance. Ellicia peeked up slyly and spoke.
"Speak casually."
"It's nothing big, just a little question. Can I ask?"
"Puh. Of course."
Expecting maid life queries, Merhen relaxed—but
"...How do you win over someone who hates you?"
"Pardon? Who hates Ellicia—"
Merhen shut her mouth mid-frown.
Who hates her? She'd thought Ellicia distasteful herself. Believed kill her quick before she grew.
Kids sense others' feelings keenly. In her spot, feeling the whole world, Merhen included, hated her? Natural.
Ellicia's question was pure, but to Merhen, it crushed like a boulder on her heart.
"Ah! Not that someone hates me specifically! Just, y'know, hypothetically curious..."
"...Tricky one."
Unless the oracle changed, perceptions stayed. Harsh truth as answer.
Maybe tell Ellicia the cold reality. But anyone—even Merhen—would struggle crushing the girl's trembling voice. Gazing with pity, she cowardly lied kindly.
"I'd treat them to warm tea."
"Tea...?"
"Yeah. Brew it yourself. The warmth melts the body, softens the heart. Even someone hating Ellicia might cool off a bit?"
"Oh, yeah... hmm..."
Ellicia nodded her little head. Merhen smiled back, slipped hands under her armpits, and hoisted her up.
"Up you go."
"Eh? W-Wait?!"
Ellicia eyes bulged in surprise.
To spare her back-shame, Merhen faced her and plopped her in the tub.
"Eek?! Let...!"
"Remember well. A drop or two of this bath oil, and for hair, this soap..."
"Nooo! Got it! I'll wash alone! So...! Hic!"
"Ellicia... I won't hurt you, so no need to be so scared."
Ellicia's face froze, mouth agape.
"D-Don't... look..."
"Yes. I won't look at all, promise."
"Not that... ugh..."
Merhen smiled faintly at the cuteness, undid her hair tie. Golden locks spread over the water, floating before her torso. Ellicia stared fixedly, head bowed creakily.
"Melt in the water first, then apply this oil. I'll rub everywhere your hands can't reach, so you—"
"Eeeeek..."
"E-Ellicia?!"
Pfffrrt—Ellicia sank like submerging in the tub.
After the bath—no, being bathed—a cool glass of milk.
Gulp—gulp—
"Ellicia, can't you at least explain why you're sulking?"
...Gulp—
"Kids are tough... Sigh..."
I turned away from Merhen, who took my empty glass and shook her head.
Treating me like a kid! Sure, I looked the part!
Forcing the wash? Fine, forgiven. I didn't know the bath stuff or how to handle long hair anyway.
What tested my patience? The clothes she gave me to change into.
"...Hoo."
Cute undies and pajamas fit for a girl.
When I exploded asking why girl clothes, Merhen said:
Because they're for girls?
Duh, obvious. Brain-fried from bath trauma, I got dressed helplessly.
Mirror said it suited me fine... but this humiliation—who'd compensate?!
"...Sniff."
Still...
"Thanks for washing me."
At my bedroom door with Merhen, I bowed to her.
First reason: she helped me finish quick.
"Washing you...? Puh. Thanking me for that? Anytime..."
"It was my first tub bath ever. Felt great."
"...Ah."
Bucket list check—second reason. Never lived anywhere with a tub.
Watching stiff-faced Merhen leave, I thought:
"Hmm."
Pay her back. Hillia taught me tea-brewing during training. Practice for Veronica ops, bring her warm black tea tomorrow morning.
Hope she likes it.