Volume 9 Chapter 6 Sir Stefan Watching Clams, Bathing, And Salt Removal
We all came back to Lobelia, and while I was soaking the clams in saltwater to clean them, I boiled some water for a bath.
It felt familiar, just like after digging for bamboo shoots, but when you collect something outside, your clothes and body get dirty, so it can't be helped.
Especially after playing at the beach, there's sand all over your body, you feel sticky from the saltwater, and before you know it, there's sand in your hair too, making it quite a hassle to wash off.
I filled the basin with warm water, made lots of bubbles with soap and a sponge, and added Eir-Eir into it.
Ms. Famine and Nel-Nel were patiently waiting.
As I scrubbed my body in the bubbles, my slightly dirty skin became clean.
I grabbed the now clean Eir-Eir tightly and scrubbed my arms.
It felt really good, like a nice wash.
"Pumpkin pudding!"
Eir-Eir flailed and slipped from my hands, plopping into the tub with a splash.
Bubbles spread out in the tub, dissolving away.
Eir-Eir floated there, and when I gently patted it while saying "I'm sorry," it made a salty face like it had just tasted seawater.
"...pudding."
"Please don't be mad, it was just a moment of curiosity."
It really was just a moment of curiosity.
I couldn't resist. It felt so much like a sponge, and it had a sponge-like shape too.
"Tarte Tatin."
"Fried horse mackerel."
Ms. Famine stared at me with half-open eyes, while Nel-Nel blinked in confusion.
"I won't do it again, now it's Ms. Famine's turn."
I grabbed Ms. Famine, who looked reluctant, and scrubbed her.
Once I finished washing Nel-Nel too, I filled a larger basin──well, more like a tub──with water and put everyone in there.
The tub I was using was a bit too deep for them, so I prepared this one.
After checking that everyone was splashing around happily in the tub, I washed my own body.
Sir Roxas didn't join the bath, but Sir Stefan was all sticky, so I wondered if he would.
I told him to take a bath first, but he politely declined with such force.
I wonder if Sir Roxas and Sir Stefan dislike my house's bath.
Is it because it's small?
"Sure, it's definitely smaller than the palace or Duke Girard's house bath..."
Once, when Sir Roxas kidnapped me, I was made to take a bath at Duke Girard's villa.
And I've also bathed at Sir Roxas's family home.
It was spacious. Yeah, really spacious.
It was about 5 times bigger than Lobelia's bath.
And the maids took great care of me.
"...Oh. Maybe Sir Roxas and Sir Stefan can't take a bath without the maids' help..."
That might be true. After all, they are of noble status.
Mr. Lucian and Sir Ciel can manage on their own without anyone's help──though Sir Ciel is a bit suspicious, so maybe those 2 are the exceptions. Sir Rail is a mystery.
The suspicion about Sir Ciel comes from the fact that he seems uninterested in daily life, so I wonder if he even takes baths. I feel like he just uses purification magic.
Purification magic does make you clean enough, but still...
"Should I act as a substitute for the maids...?"
I imagine myself washing Sir Stefan's hair.
It seems doable. It's not impossible, and maybe Sir Stefan would appreciate it.
He looks like he's moved on, but sometimes he seems down, so I really want to do something nice for him.
"Tarte Tatin..."
Ms. Famine seemed to want to say something, tapping the edge of the basin.
I couldn't tell if it was encouragement or a warning to stop.
After getting out of the bath, I changed into new clothes and dried my hair while heading downstairs.
I had asked Sir Stefan to keep an eye on the clams, but when I got to the first floor, I found him intently staring at the bowl of clams placed on the counter.
"...Ah, um."
"Lydia, you're out. Ah, that's not good, your hair is still wet. You need to dry it properly, or you'll catch a cold."
"Mother... I mean, Sir Stefan. Have you been watching clam the whole time?"
"I have. Sometimes it opens its mouth, like *pop*, I wonder if it's spitting out sand. It's interesting."
"You didn't have to stare so much; just a casual glance now and then would have been fine."
"Is that so? I thought it would run away if I didn't watch it. But it was fun."
"Well, that's good, I guess..."
The always serious Sir Stefan comes closer and gently dries my hair with a towel.
I don't remember my mother ever drying my hair, but I feel like a mother.
"Sir Stefan, you should take a bath too. There are some clothes from Father Feldur."
They're not really from Father Feldur; they're actually from Dad Arjuna.
Mx. Margaret prepared them, saying, "You can't just go naked in front of Lyd-Lyd every time!" But I kept it a secret.
Dad is just a cute puppy in front of everyone, so I thought it's better to keep it under wraps.
"I see, thank you. Lord Feldur's clothes... I'm sorry for borrowing them."
"N-no, it's fine. Father just left them in case he ever stayed over."
It's just in case Dad can't turn back from his human form to a puppy.
"Thank you, Lydia."
"Sir Stefan, should I wash your hair? Are you okay doing it by yourself?"
"Wash my hair? You, Lydia?"
"Yes."
"That's not good. I'm fine by myself, Lydia. I appreciate the thought, but... do you perhaps not think I'm a man...?"
Sir Stefan hurriedly went upstairs, mumbling something to himself.
Dad also said he would "take a bath after Stefan" and followed after him.
I decided to take the clams, which had spit out a lot of sand, and put them in a strainer to soak in the seawater for salt removal.
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