#18. Night of Soothing Each Other's Wounds
Steam rose languidly into the late-night air, filling the small bathroom with a soft, milky haze. Unlike the garden outside, this secluded space on the third floor of the mansion was wrapped in profound silence. Long unused but meticulously maintained, not a speck of grime marred its surfaces.
At the center of the room, Isel sat blankly in a wooden tub that reached up to her chest, the water warm around her. She seemed lost in a daze, yet no trace of sorrow or despair clouded her expression.
…
It felt as if hell had flashed by in an instant—like it had only just begun and then abruptly ended. Those sixty-five days in the underground dungeon had stretched on endlessly. And so, she felt no sadness, no resentment, no misery.
Of course, two more days of the banquet lay ahead. She had no idea what fresh hell might unfold, yet strangely, she wasn't gripped by fear. Was it because her faith in her master had grown even stronger? If it was him—Duke Rosel—she believed he could prove his promise to protect her wasn't empty words.
She had seen it all with her own eyes.
Roden, deliberately tripping in front of Countess Lubran in the frozen garden, as if time itself had paused.
And Rosel, blocking the almighty tyrant Brikal, sacrificing his own hand to shield Roden.
Isel had witnessed every moment. Especially the image of Rosel crushing the wine bottle with raw grip strength just before it struck Roden's head—that scene was etched indelibly into her mind. Blood had dripped from the deep gash in his palm, yet he had given it without hesitation to save Roden.
…I never knew my master could wield mana too.
She also understood why he had gripped Roden's shoulder: forcing mana into a body unaccustomed to channeling it could cause blackout. She had glimpsed it—a flicker of black mana blooming in Rosel's hand.
It was shocking in every way. The sight of Rosel sacrificing himself even for Roden, a mere commoner and one of the mansion's ordinary servants.
That was how Isel realized his every word rang true—not mere bravado. She had come to trust him utterly, enough to face death itself on his say-so.
He's incredible…
That fresh shock had canceled out her anguish, leaving her immersed in the warm tub, lost in thought. It was all thanks to that child. And to her master as well. She was profoundly grateful.
They had sacrificed for a worthless slave like her, filling her with overwhelming emotion.
…I want to thank them properly.
Resolved to express her gratitude to Roden and her master, Isel reached for the floating washcloth.
—Knock knock, knock knock knock.
A familiar knock echoed, and the door swung open as Silia slipped inside.
"Hero lady~ I snuck out! Heehee."
"L-Lady Silia."
Startled by the sudden visit, Isel jolted upright in the tub. Splash—her heavy breasts swayed dramatically, and Silia's pupils dilated just as wide.
It was the first time Silia had seen a mature woman's naked body. Clap clap—she couldn't help but applaud in awe. Isel's figure reaffirmed that heroes were indeed something special.
Silia's gaze drifted naturally downward, landing on the lush golden thicket that grew like fresh sprouts under sunlight. She gasped again.
"W-Wow… amazing."
"Kyaa… S-Sorry…!"
Only then realizing she was completely bare, Isel sank back down hastily. Splash—warm water sloshed over the tub's edge this time. The flush on her cheeks, warmed by the steamy air, deepened further.
It was the first time anyone had seen her naked since arriving in this world. At least the scars were gone now—no risk of shocking Silia, who idolized her.
Averting her eyes from Silia's curious stare, Isel apologized.
"…S-Sorry. I didn't realize…"
"N-No, it's fine. But… seeing them for real, they're huge…"
"W-What is?"
"Your breasts, Hero lady. And so pretty, like water droplets."
Isel's face burned hotter at the blunt compliment. When was the last time she'd been praised? Maybe Daltan's curt "Good work" after slaying the demon king—though that barely counted.
"Th-Thank you…"
"First time I've seen them. Other women's, I mean—especially a grown woman's."
Silia glanced down at her own chest, then back at Isel from the shallow mounds just beginning to rise. …Can I grow that big someday?
"F-First time…?"
"Yeah. I wash alone now, and even when maids helped, I was always dressed… so I never saw."
"Oh…"
Isel had unwittingly become the first for her master's adopted daughter. Then she noticed a flicker of melancholy on Silia's face.
Was something wrong with her breasts? No—soon she understood. Duke Rosel was unmarried. Silia was his adopted daughter and never spoke of her parents for some reason. Her own chest had inadvertently stirred memories of Silia's lost "mother."
…Poor thing.
Feeling guilty, Isel made an offer. She could never compare to Silia's real mother, but perhaps she could let her borrow this warmth for a moment.
"L-Lady Silia…"
"Yes?"
"…W-Would you like to… touch them? My breasts…"
It was an utterly absurd suggestion.
Squish squish.
How had it come to this?
The narrow tub was clearly meant for one, yet the water level had risen from below her breasts to midway up them. Had they added more water? No—the submerged volume had simply increased.
Because of… squish squish.
The bare Silia had plunged into the cramped tub wearing only her bathrobe.
Isel hadn't intended this. But she couldn't refuse Silia's "mixed bath proposal."
She had protested at first—who bathes with a slave? Anyone seeing it might punish her severely.
But Silia's words left her no choice.
—I have no memory of bathing with Mom… I want to feel what it's like, that joy of bathing together…
And so now, squish squish.
Silia, clad only in her bathrobe, fiddled with Isel's breasts while soaking in the tub.
"Whoa… so this is a mature woman's breast… amazing. So soft…"
Poking, squeezing—Silia explored with fascination. In the bizarre situation, Isel simply blushed and offered them up.
If it made Silia happy, that was enough.
"…"
"Hee… thanks. I was so curious. But I couldn't ask the maids…"
At this age, curiosity peaked. Isel remembered satisfying her own childish questions with her mother—that's why she'd offered.
After freely groping to her heart's content, Silia grinned and turned, resting her head against Isel's breasts.
"…Lady Silia."
"It feels just like Mom's embrace. So cozy…"
"…R-Really…?"
Silia's words, heavy with longing, made Isel's chest ache. But she offered no comfort or encouragement—what right did she have? If her embrace could ease Silia's grief even a little, that sufficed.
"But what happened earlier? Dad's hand was hurt. He seemed angry too."
"Ah…"
Isel paused to steady her breath. She couldn't tell the truth—her master wouldn't want that.
"Oh… he dropped a bottle and it shattered, cutting him."
"I see. But why were you there? Did Dad call you?"
"N-No… the king…"
"Got it… nothing bad happened, right?"
Isel nodded at Silia's worried question. Sincerely. After surviving hell, that was no big deal—thanks to Roden and Rosel, really.
"Yeah, nothing much."
"Good… really. Oh, I brought some skewers to your room. Eat them after. Jichel made them herself—super tasty!"
"Thank you. For looking after me."
"Hee, no biggie."
"No, really… thank you. For everything."
Though just a 13-year-old lady, Silia had helped Isel immensely from their first meeting. Especially that line: "The hero lady didn't do anything wrong!" It still warmed her heart. Born of innocence, youth, purity—that faith had been a lifeline when she needed it most.
Isel thanked her again.
Then Silia turned her head slightly.
"If you want to thank me that much… could you hug me once?"
"Y-Yes?"
Isel's emerald eyes widened.
"…I wonder what it feels like to be hugged by Mom. Jichel hugged me when I was little, but I'm bigger now… and only Dad does anymore."
"…"
At Silia's confession, Isel gazed down pityingly. She seemed so bright and cheerful, yet bore wounds like her own. Heart aching, Isel didn't hesitate—she wrapped her arms around Silia from behind.
Even if scolded for overstepping as a slave, she wanted to soothe the girl who had soothed her.
The small, delicate Silia fit perfectly into Isel's embrace.
"Eeee… this is too good… just like being held by Mom…"
"…Use it anytime you need. My embrace."
"Heehee, really?"
"Yes. For you, Lady Silia, anytime."
"Hero lady's the best! Hee, hold me like this a bit longer. Feels amazing. Because your breasts are big? Mom must've had big ones too, to make an embrace this nice."
"Y-Yeah? D-Does that… matter…?"
Silia craned her head back with a grin, and Isel smiled in return. In this moment, today's humiliations, shames, and tomorrow's anxieties faded away.
"Heehee, probably!"
And so Silia and Isel continued their late-night bath, steam curling around them as they healed each other's wounds.
…Goodness, where did she go?
Meanwhile, Jichel knocked on Silia's door. No response. Glancing down the hallway, she frowned. It hadn't been ten minutes since Silia returned to her room—she couldn't be asleep.
Hmm… so quiet.
Unlikely she'd gone downstairs at this hour. Must be somewhere on the third floor…
Then she spotted light leaking from the bathroom. The third floor, used by Silia and Rosel, had private baths per bedroom, but the one across from the end room was for emergencies—like if a personal one was out of order.
Today, per the family head's orders, slave Isel was using it.
No way she went there…
Jichel knew Silia favored Isel. But getting too close didn't seem wise. She headed there at once.
It was past bedtime anyway—time to tuck Silia in.
Yet…
"Eeee… this is too good… just like being held by Mom…"
"…Use it anytime you need. My embrace."
"Heehee, really?"
"Yes. For you, Lady Silia, anytime."
"Hero lady's the best! Hee, hold me like this a bit longer. Feels amazing. Because your breasts are big? Mom must've had big ones too, to make an embrace this nice."
"Y-Yeah? D-Does that… matter…?"
About to open the door, Jichel froze at their words. Overhearing master and slave? Her heart sank—fearing for Silia's safety, she cracked it open.
What she saw made her doubt her eyes: Silia nestled happily in Isel's arms in the tiny tub.
…L-Lady Silia…
She'd thought the young lady so mature lately, yet here she was, giggling like any little girl.
Ah…
She had planned to report it to the family head—too close for comfort. But Silia, laughing and splashing carefree in Isel's arms, looked utterly blissful.
Right—thirteen was still so young. She'd forgotten. Little Lady Silia needed embracing too.
"Heehee! Big breasts are the best after all!"
"N-No, too big isn't good…"
"Like yours, Hero lady?"
"…Mine are… fine…"
Jichel smiled unwittingly at Silia's joyful face. And thought: though divided by status, the sight was beautiful.
Pocketing her needless worries, Jichel quietly closed the door—careful not to interrupt Silia's laughter.
She decided to keep tonight's events buried in her heart.