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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
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My vision was hazy.
The luxurious bathroom, filled with steam, made me acutely aware of the kind of treatment royalty received at the academy.
And more than anything...
"Master Han Cheonseong, is the water temperature to your liking?"
"...Yes, it's fine."
My feelings were quite peculiar as I replied to the calm woman's words. I was currently experiencing 'that thing' which only ever appeared in novels.
—A maid's bath service.
My spirits felt light, as if floating, experiencing firsthand something I'd always thought, 'Where would such a thing exist?' while reading novels. Servants who attended to the nobility—butlers and ladies-in-waiting, or in other words, maids—actually existed. Of course, this world had a strict social hierarchy, so what I'd dismissed as absurd was, in fact, a perfectly natural existence.
And there was even a specific maid assigned to attend to me like this.
Right now... it was the maid gently scrubbing my back.
A soft sweep.
The touch gliding across my back felt peculiar. Perhaps it was just me, but honestly, how could I not feel this way? Who wouldn't be aware when a woman's hands, similar in age to me, were directly caressing my body?
Of course, the maid assisting me now wasn't the same one who had spoken with Dershen or Rachel. Once the dedicated maid conveyed the message, a different maid arrived to provide my bath service.
At first, I had tried to refuse, just like a protagonist in a novel. But when Dershen looked at me strangely and told me to accept it, I promptly did.
The result was that I was now receiving a maid's bath service.
A soft sweep.
A soft sweep...
The maid's hands continued to glide over my back, nape, and even my waist, feeling peculiar.
'...This isn't me being weird.'
Right, wouldn't it be stranger if I *didn't* feel peculiar while receiving a bath service? To put it bluntly, I'm not some kind of eunuch; how could I not feel something?
Of course, neither the maid nor I were completely naked. Even so, the entire atmosphere felt incredibly peculiar. The maid was covered in a light silk fabric, and I too had a towel wrapped around my lower body, so we were both covered where it mattered. Yet, that in itself had a peculiar intimacy.
"..."
"..."
Even the soft, shallow breaths were distinctly audible.
Inwardly, I tried to conjure other thoughts, anything but improper thoughts, but I endured.
A soft sweep...
Then, as the maid's soft hand moved up to my shoulder, I flinched for a moment.
"Master Han Cheonseong, it seems your muscles are a bit tense."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. And I imagine this is the result of your hard work. And as I've mentioned repeatedly, you don't need to speak so formally to me. You may speak comfortably."
She spoke so gently, clearly aiming to put me at ease, but it wasn't as easy as the maid made it sound. When one person interacts with another, how can they treat them casually and look down on them? For me, with my modern values, that was already a difficult task. Even though she was a maid, she was a woman of similar age to me.
"...I think I'm more comfortable this way."
"Master Han Cheonseong, you are very kind, aren't you?"
When I heard her soft chuckle at my words, I involuntarily felt my body heat up again.
'Endure. I have to endure somehow.'
This in itself was a luxury, if ever there was one, but my chest kept tingling. Though I found myself hesitating, a sudden happiness filled my chest, thinking that perhaps this moment was quite alright.
...And since I'd already accepted it, shouldn't I just enjoy this moment?
'Right, when else would I ever get to experience something like this?'
I was merely being treated as a guest, so it wasn't strange. I was just experiencing something rather pleasant.
A soft sweep...
Then, as her hand caressed my ear, I involuntarily shivered.
"There…"
"Ah, many people tend to neglect their ears, so I was trying to assist with this part as well, but are you perhaps uncomfortable? If so..."
"No... it's fine."
Even as I quickly accepted the maid's words, happiness welled up again. I didn't know how many luxuries one could enjoy in this world. But trying to avoid the maid's touch seemed foolish. As I stayed still, the maid slowly caressed my earlobe, then moved to my neck. Steam and warmth filled my vision.
The feeling of my body melting and relaxing in that floating sensation was truly wonderful. It felt like entrusting my body to a skilled masseuse.
...And receiving such service from a beautiful woman certainly filled me with happiness.
'I should enjoy it while I can.'
I wasn't foolish enough to refuse the happiness presented to me.
"Master Han Cheonseong? Excuse me for a moment."
"Yes."
I replied lightly, not knowing what she meant, then.
"...!"
The unique softness of a woman's body against my back involuntarily made my entire body stiffen. Even if I tried to endure this...
The direct physical sensation was too intense.
...
A soft glide, a soft glide.
With the sound of fabric gliding against my skin, I was even receiving dressing service from the maid. Clothes of a luxurious material, rarely seen. The texture of the garments, seemingly made of the finest silk, was incredibly soft. My student uniform had been cleaned separately by the mages staying in the inner chambers, but I didn't refuse the maid's suggestion that it would be better to change into different clothes when I left. The service I received from the maid made me feel that good.
A soft pat.
Finally, the maid, who lightly patted my body as if to smooth out the clothes, smiled faintly.
"Master Han Cheonseong. I shall take my leave then. I wish you only good things for the rest of your day."
"...Yes. Thank you."
As the maid, who had smiled faintly and gently at my words, slowly departed, my gaze involuntarily followed her retreating figure.
Gulp.
...I inadvertently realized there was a truly great advantage to this world.
'Nobility.'
While it was true that in Groa, one's status was determined from birth, that didn't mean one couldn't acquire a title. There were cases where commoners who graduated from the academy with excellent grades obtained noble titles, and anyone who greatly contributed to the empire or distinguished themselves on the battlefield had ample opportunity to gain a title. It meant that one could change their social status through effort.
And now, I felt I had set a new goal for myself to strive for in this world.
"...I must become a noble."
Having experienced everything firsthand today, from the maid's bath service to her dressing service... if this wasn't heaven, then what was? If I had never experienced it, perhaps I wouldn't know. But thinking that nobles lived such a life every single day filled my heart with envy.
'How happy would I be if every single day were like this?'
I felt as if my eyes had opened to a new world, and I resolved myself. I now had a clear motivation to work even harder.
A step.
As I took a step, a corner of my mind was still tinged with tension. Now, I would properly face them.
—Dershen and Rachel.
Whatever questions the two of them might ask me, I absolutely could not make a single mistake.
***
A soft click.
As Han Cheonseong carefully entered the inner chamber, Dershen and Rachel, who had been conversing amicably, instantly turned their gazes to him. And without exception, both of their eyes widened slightly.
"Well... he's even more striking than I imagined, isn't he?"
Dershen chuckled lightly as he spoke, and Rachel's eyes also sparkled for a moment as she looked at Cheonseong.
"He's quite impressive."
If just a moment ago he had appeared disheveled from his training, now, dressed neatly as if he were a completely different person, Cheonseong's appearance was more than enough to elicit admiration from them.
"Thank you for your kind words."
"Indeed. Please, sit comfortably. We were just itching to have a conversation."
As Dershen gave a slight nod, Cheonseong slowly took a seat at one side of the round table. As the three of them subtly formed a triangular arrangement, Rachel slowly turned her gaze to the maid standing nearby.
"Excuse us for a moment."
At her signal, their dedicated maid, who had been waiting, carefully began setting a teacup in front of Cheonseong, who accepted it calmly.
"Thank you."
"Not at all."
The maid, who replied calmly but not disrespectfully, stepped back to stand at a distance, and only then did Rachel smile and speak.
"Truthfully, I imagine this might be a somewhat burdensome situation for you. We suddenly called you here and requested this conversation. It occurred to me belatedly whether I might have imposed an uncomfortable situation on you."
As she spoke cautiously yet gently, Cheonseong nodded, as if grateful for her consideration.
"It is my honor. Am I not meeting two individuals who are difficult to encounter like this?"
"Thank you for saying that."
As Rachel accepted his words with a soft smile, Cheonseong immediately turned his gaze from her to Dershen, as if there was a certain decorum to observe.
"I appreciate you saying that. And from your replies, it seems we don't need formal introductions. It appears we all know each other."
"Yes. Introductions are not necessary."
As Cheonseong calmly accepted Dershen's words, Rachel's eyes involuntarily sparkled.
'What an interesting man.'
Usually, most people would freeze the moment they heard her brother speak. But this man, even considering various factors, maintained a calm demeanor.
A soft glide.
As she gently lifted her teacup to moisten her lips, his transformed appearance, thanks to the maid's ministrations, also caught her eye again. With his black hair neatly arranged and his face fully revealed, he possessed quite a handsome countenance. And more than anything, the confidence in his eyes drew her interest. Anyone else, considering their status, would try to appease them somehow, or adopt a deferential posture and utter flattering words.
'He's quite composed.'
He only says what needs to be said, without any superfluous remarks. More than anything else, that pleased her the most. She glanced sideways, seeing that her brother didn't seem to view Han Cheonseong unfavorably either. He had clearly only moved towards Han Cheonseong reluctantly at her urging, yet now he seemed more curious than she was, which struck her as amusing.
"Han Cheonseong."
As I softly called his name,
"Yes, Lady Rachel."
The man, who addressed me with an honorific, and I met each other's gaze for a moment. In his black eyes, like his hair, a peculiar reddish tint was discernible.
'Indeed.'
Even now, this man showed no hesitation in meeting my gaze.
"Could you tell us more about your spar with Leonhard? I've heard news about you several times, but honestly, many of the rumors are hard to believe."
"I concur. Could you tell us directly? How you managed to spar with Leonhard and achieve a draw."
"...My explanation might be lengthy, but would that be alright?"
"Of course it's alright."
As her brother accepted his words as if it were obvious, a laugh escaped her again.
'My brother really is very interested in spear mastery.'
I realized this while sparring with my brother in our childhood, but he had a strange fondness for the spear as a weapon. Even though his own unique abilities had nothing to do with spears.
"I'd like that too. If the conversation is longer, it just means more enjoyable time, doesn't it?"
"If you say so... then I shall slowly elaborate on the spar."
Even as I listened to his calm voice, a sudden curiosity welled up.
'When will that calm voice falter?'
His calm voice was comforting and pleasant to listen to. However, I also felt a strange curiosity about whether I would remain as composed as I was now, if that voice were to ever falter.