The Evil Woman's Tea Party -4-
After enjoying the lavish dinner prepared by Malik, the special chef we'd gone to great lengths to invite for this late evening, I headed up to the third floor of the mansion where the bathhouse awaited. My belly was full. I'd had my fill of conversation. And with the tea party wrapping up far more successfully than expected, I was in the mood for a good soak. With eager anticipation that a dip in hot water would melt away my fatigue like slime dissolving, I made my way slowly toward the door draped in red cloth.
"Young Lady."
"Yeah?"
"Was dinner to your liking?"
The Young Lady, perched in Fairy Unit 1, spread her fingers wide and delivered her solemn verdict.
"Nine out of ten."
"Why nine? Where'd that one point go?"
"One point's for Ricardo. His cooking's the best."
"That's a perfect hundred out of a hundred."
I ruffled her hair and pushed the wheelchair forward. She truly was an evil woman whose beauty made even her words sound sweet.
"Shall we get to bathing, then?"
"Heehee, yay!"
"Tonight, I'll give you a massage with my aura."
"Ooooh...! Useful!"
"That's why I learned aura in the first place."
I flashed a pleased smile and opened the bathhouse door.
And then.
*Tap.*
A presumptuous hand blocked the path of a Sword Master. I turned, offering a small smile.
"Something wrong, Mr. Malik...?"
"You know damn well."
"No idea."
"You should."
I responded to his pointed question with genuine ignorance—because I truly had none.
"Is there a problem?"
"..."
Malik pointed with his finger at the blue-clothed door beside the red one, his face as grave as Yama himself proclaiming that my destination wasn't heaven, but hell.
"I understand your feelings fully, Ricardo."
"..."
"I get it. I'm a man too."
Malik's expression was deadly serious.
"But I can't allow it."
I nodded at his profound reply, placing a hand over my heart in a plea for a chance to defend myself.
"I've been waiting for this moment."
"Ricardo, I get it, but no means no."
"Why not...?"
Malik gripped my shoulder and let out a deep sigh. That's not a place for you.
"Isn't that the women's bath?"
"..."
"You're a man, Ricardo."
I gave a wry smile at the hand lingering on my shoulder and brushed it off. No matter that he was the boss who'd done me favors—some lines couldn't be crossed. What was the big deal about a possessor striding confidently into the women's bath? I wasn't peeping; this was my bathhouse, built with my money. Gritting my teeth, I presented a fitting counterargument to his meddling.
"I'm the Young Lady's butler. I must attend to her. It's a butler's duty—his fate. Don't other nobles do the same? Keep someone for bath service."
"The Histania family doesn't."
"Make it a thing. You've got the money."
"No."
"Ah... come on!"
*Shake, shake.*
Malik wouldn't budge. I'd thought it natural, never expecting this variable here. With over ten years as a butler, I figured no one would question tending to the Young Lady... but Malik's stubbornness, thicker than any Confucian zealot's, had me biting my nails and racking my brain.
Think, Ricardo.
You've prepared too long to back down now. Go all in. No shame here. Push forward boldly, and surely...
As I surrendered to desire after much deliberation—
*Tap.*
"...?"
A woman's arrival stole my excuse away as I gripped the wheelchair handles. I shut my mouth.
"Duchess."
Rosanna smiled faintly and addressed the Young Lady.
"Shall we bathe together after so long, just you and Mom?"
"Mommy?"
"Mom."
"Eek...!"
"Mommy'll wash you up after all this time."
The Young Lady grinned "heehee" and plunged straight into the women's bath. Rosanna's smirking eyes said Too soon as she shot me a knowing glance. I bowed my head and accepted my fate.
"..."
*Tap.*
Malik patted my shoulder in consolation. It wasn't just for today, he said—offering the ultimate male comfort. With slumped shoulders, I trudged toward the blue-draped men's bath.
"Haa..."
My wistful gaze lingered on the women's bath. Yuria entered carrying a bath basket.
"Well... see you later!"
Hanna shot me a reluctant smile.
"Butler...! Should I follow?"
"No."
And Shartia, face weary like a zombie, muttering she'd never seen a tea party like this, shuffled in.
"..."
They faded achingly from my heart.
*Gom.*
"Hm?"
I eyed Gomtang ambling over.
"Why're you going in there?"
*Gooom.*
Ah. Right—Gomtang was female too.
I gave a bitter smile and headed to the men's bath, vowing to build an outdoor hot spring next time as I dragged my feet.
*
*Rustle.*
White skin hidden beneath clothes began emerging, wafting a subtle floral scent. Yuria.
"Ah... this is embarrassing."
Hanna.
"Have I lost more weight?"
Olivia.
"Eeeeeek!! It won't come off!"
The women with their smooth skin exchanged awkward smiles as they stowed their clothes in baskets. Yuria, wrapped in a towel, grinned sheepishly and slipped into the bath. Shartia followed, towel-clad, with demure steps.
And then.
"Yay!"
"Eeeeeek!!!"
With Rosanna's help, Olivia struggled to peel off her clothes caught on her face.
"Eeeeeek! Ricardo!"
The bathhouse in our mansion, filled with beauties fit to grace the empire, brimmed with the scent of spring.
*
At that moment, in the men's changing room.
Darbarb stripped with a bold pose and a grin. His youthful body belied his middle age.
"First time seeing something like this. Refined, yet with an exotic Eastern flair..."
Satisfied with the bathhouse interior rare in this world, Darbarb beamed.
"Inspired by Eastern baths?"
As I removed my top at his question, I smiled faintly.
"Yes. I blended Eastern and Western styles from books for the design."
"Nice. I like it."
Darbarb nodded, wrapping a towel around his waist.
"Let's go."
Kyle followed his confident stride. Despite being a mage, Kyle's physique drew an approving smile as he too wrapped his towel.
Seeing his father's bravado, Kyle snickered "pfft" and declared haughtily.
"I win, Father."
"Not sure if I should laugh or cry."
Darbarb wryly acknowledged there'd be no worries for Desmont's future generations.
And then.
*Step. Step.*
Kyle fell silent at the sight of Malik's impressive muscles trailing behind. Glancing at the towel-clad Malik, he bowed his head with a mutter of "...damn" and headed in.
Malik, victorious over the lad's ego, grinned proudly at me as I finished undressing.
"Now, in you go."
I smiled faintly at their childish rivalry and nodded.
They're all kids.
And then.
"..."""
All three went quiet.
*
At that moment, in the women's bath.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Every woman held her tongue, eyes on one.
"Heehee. Boing boing."
A woman playing with her massive peaks. Hanna clenched her fists, swallowing tears.
...Mine aren't small.
Still, the world irked her. Yuria cursed the northern chill. Rosanna smiled pleasantly.
"Olivia."
"Yeah."
"Stop playing with your breasts."
"Heehee..."
Rosanna chuckled at her daughter's antics, tossing a floating duck toy her way.
"This is nice."
Weary from noble squabbles, Rosanna savored the rare peace, turning languidly to Yuria.
"Yuria."
"Yes...!"
"How was your day? Uncomfortable at all?"
At Rosanna's kindness, Yuria smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"It was fun."
"Good."
Rosanna had much to say but saved it for later. She didn't want to shatter this languor with heavy talk, so she tucked it away and surrendered to the warm water.
And then.
-Ricardo! Don't stick to the wall!
-Let go!
Amid the men's shouts from across the way, she let out a soft laugh and nodded.
Really.
Incorrigible bunch. Rosanna adored him for it. And she was grateful to Ricardo for staying by her side to the end. Smiling, she wished her oblivious daughter would one day see it.
*
And at that moment.
Shartia, tucked in a corner of the bath, eyed the submerged Gomtang cautiously.
"Hand."
*Gom.*
"So cute..."
For the first time, Shartia found herself enjoying a tea party.