The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 1.8
I was in the large public bath of the Ichijo family.
It seems that people in the Far East have a habit of taking a bath every day.
Moreover, it is said that they fill the bathtub with water and soak in it.
On the western continent, taking a shower or using a sauna was the norm.
The unique culture of soaking in a hot bath.
At first, I was confused… but then, once I got in, I didn’t care about that anymore…
“It feels good…”
I’m the only one soaking in such a magnificent bath that it could be mistaken for a castle’s grand bathhouse.
The very pleasant scent of wood wafting from the wooden bathtub.
In the bathtub, there was grass floating.
“How about a herbal bath…?”
The servant, Akino, is waiting by the side of the bathtub.
I am rolling up the sleeves of my black kimono.
But underneath, they were wearing something that looked like a white undershirt?
Stubbornly, they don’t expose their skin.
Could there be some reason for it?
“It’s very comfortable.”
“That’s good to hear. Please take your time soaking. After all… I heard you fell into the sea.”
I see. Before coming here to the Far East, I was attacked by the demon, Umibozu.
At that time, I fell into the sea.
After that, I borrowed a towel and dried off, but both my hair and clothes got dirty with saltwater.
“I’m really sorry. My guys just have no delicacy…”
Satoru-sama and Sojiro-kun didn’t say anything in particular to me, even though I was covered in seawater.
On the other hand, Akino Akino-san immediately said, “I’ll prepare the bath!” and filled it with water as soon as she saw me.
Even if I don’t offer, it is.
A good person…
“I’m sorry, Miss. Your hair has become rough and frizzy because of the saltwater and sea breeze…”
“Oh, no. My hair was originally like this… right? I hardly ever took baths…”
“Huh…?”
Akino Akino is standing there with her mouth agape…
“Wha… what do you mean by that?”
“Um… actually…”
I told Akino Akino that I was oppressed without any magical power.
As someone of a status lower than that of a servant, I was not allowed to take a bath (only a shower).
“So, so how did you always… purify yourself?”
“Oh, at the nearby river…”
“R-r-river…!?”
Akino Akino-san fell on her butt.
Did I say something surprising…?
“Miss… I can’t help but wonder, could it be that… even in winter…?”
“Yes. Whether it’s winter or summer.”
Ms. Akino Ake sighs heavily and deeply, “Haa~…”
“How dare you…!”
Goo…! Red flames burst forth from Akino Akino’s body.
Could it be… an ability?
Such a… beautiful flame…
“Are the people at Saiga’s house idiots!? Making a girl wash her body in the river! Are you kidding me…? To such a frail-looking child! What a terrible thing to do!”
“Are you getting angry for my sake…?”
“Of course!”
The supernatural flames unleashed with that anger.
It was just too beautiful.
It felt to me like it was reflecting the color of her heart.
Seriously, you’re getting angry for my sake…
“…I’m happy.”
Before I knew it, I was smiling.
The flames of Akino Akino subside.
“Are you happy?”
“Yes. I was happy that you got angry for my sake… ah…”
Tears fell from my eyes.
N-no… Satoru-sama will say it’s not something to cry about…
“Miss…”
Akino Akino-san crouches down and gently strokes my head with her hand.
“You’ve done well up until now. It must have been tough for a girl your age, not being allowed to dress up or properly take care of yourself… it must have been hard, right?”
Akino Akino’s words resonate deeply in my heart.
“Miss. From now on, let’s dress up a lot. You are a rough diamond that will shine when polished!”
“Raw stone… is it?”
“Okay! Now, get out of the bath and come here! To the mirror, hurry up!”
With Akino Akino-san guiding me, I get out of the hot spring.
There was a large mirror against the wall.
Looking at the person sitting in front of me…
“W-who…?”
Yes, there’s a girl with hair so beautiful I’ve never seen before sitting there…
Originally, my hair is a purplish-black color.
With its frizzy, unkempt hair, it looked like a ghost from a distance.
But… things are different now.
Her hair is smooth and free of any frizz.
The fur has regained its luster, sparkling like a clear night sky…
“This is… me? Why is this happening…?”
“This shampoo and conditioner, specially formulated by the Ichijo family’s personal herbalist! And thanks to the herbal bath!”
In Akino Akino’s hand, there is a tube that she was holding while soaking in the bath earlier, before she got washed.
“Thanks to these medicinal properties, the nutrients have reached Lady Rei’s hair, and as a result! We were able to restore her beautiful hair to its former glory!”
！？ You mean you got it back…?
“This shampoo? Or something like that, isn’t it what made you beautiful?”
“Yes! My hair was originally beautiful, but it got damaged because of the environment!”
I see…
But, I never imagined… you had such beautiful hair…
Oh, right.
“Your mother’s hair was also… so beautiful like this…”
But it had been fading year by year.
At the moment of death, it was all dry and…
“Um, Miss? What’s wrong?”
“N-no… it’s nothing…”
Thinking about my deceased mother and crying, really… I’m such a weak child…
Then, Akino Akino-san hugged me tightly from behind.
Warm and soft…
“Oh! M-my clothes are getting wet!”
“Does it matter?”
Squeeze… gently, but firmly… Akino Shuno-san hugs me.
“You’re okay now. There’s no one here who will bully you.”
“From now on, we’ll be here for you. If you ever have a hard time, please don’t hesitate to tell us. We’ll be your strength.”
Akino Akino’s face is wrapped in cloth, so her expression is not clearly visible.
But… from that voice, I can tell that you really care about me.
Ah, kind person.
A person as kind as this will be my bodyguard from now on…
“Is it really okay for someone like me to have such a kind and wonderful woman like you by my side?”
“Of course!”
I was so happy that I ended up crying again.
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