Ch#11
“It really feels like the pain is easing a bit.”
“Right? Shall I apply some to your back and shoulders too?”
“Ah, n-no, I’ll apply it myself.”
“But it seems like your hands won’t reach well? We’re both girls, don’t be shy.”
Daisy grinned cheekily and urged Edel on.
She felt swept along by her, but strangely it didn’t feel bad, so Edel untied the drawstring of her nightgown and bared her back.
“Wow… Your back is so pretty. It’s the first time I’ve seen one like this.”
Embarrassingly, Daisy let out a small gasp of admiration.
But the admiration didn’t drag on rudely. She soon skillfully applied the ointment to Edel’s shoulder blades and below the wing bones, as well as the muscles on both sides of her spine.
Applied thinly and broadly, it wasn’t sticky at all and gave a cool sensation.
*Spoils of war
*Even at such a young age, knowing painful spots so well must mean she suffered a lot from an even younger age.*
Duchess
Feeling pity in her heart, Edel smiled as brightly as she could.
“Thank you, Miss Daisy.”
“Just call me Daisy.”
“Then you call me Edel too.”
“Th-that’s a bit much… Can I call you ‘sister’ instead?”
Hearing the word ‘sister’ after so long felt a little awkward, but Edel nodded.
“It feels like I’ve gained a cute little sister.”
“C-cute? No way!”
Daisy waved her hands dismissively, but her cheeks flushed pink as she giggled, then wrapped the shawl around Edel again.
“It’s not just Celia. Laila and Daisy are the same. Especially Daisy—she’s in the room next to Edel’s, so they seem pretty close.”
“Then I’ll be going now, Edel sister. Get some rest.”
“She thinks she can defy me just because she trusts her father. Cheeky wench.”
“She’s still just a coachman’s daughter at the end of the day. They’re just playing among themselves.”
It was a shame she left so soon, but Edel couldn’t hold Daisy back.
She had hard work too, and for those doing grueling labor, sleep time was precious.
But such words were no comfort to Marsha. The fact that servants defying her were increasing was never good news.
“Good night, Daisy.”
“Insolent fools need to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, they’ll climb all over you.”
“What are you going to do?”
Unlike her earlier wariness, Edel saw her off to the door, waving her hand.
If this were her noble days, she’d have pulled out her diary right away and started an entry with ‘Today I made a new friend.’
The room fell silent again after Daisy left, but the lingering minty scent and the faint noises from the thin-walled next room warmed her heart.
Mina asked Marsha with eyes full of anticipation.
“Just watch. Within three months, I’ll make that Edel and all her little followers crawl before me. 100 ringtons in tribute? Not even close!”
Mina chuckled along with her.
“Mrs. Bohen! The bath is ready.”
“Good work, Mina.”
“No trouble at all. Hehe.”
There was an unspoken rule here: to live comfortably in many ways, you had to pay Marsha 100 ringtons a month. Five servants gladly followed it.
Among them, Mina flattered Marsha the most eagerly. Not only the 100 ringtons, but whenever she got something good, she brought it to Marsha.
Thanks to that, she lived more comfortably than any other servant in the mansion and sometimes stole from the count’s household with Marsha’s tacit approval.
Marsha sank into the warm bathtub Mina had prepared.
‘The money from selling stolen goods is far more than 100 ringtons. Plus, I get to live as comfortably as the head maid.’
Mina quickly lathered soft soap on a towel and began rubbing Marsha’s shoulders.
In this mansion, the only ones who could bathe in hot water besides the family were Marsha and Mina.
“You’ve had a lot on your mind lately, haven’t you?”
“Ahh, that wench Edel?”
“But ma’am, some of the servants are complaining that bathing in cold water is tough.”
“What? Did you go spreading rumors that we’re using hot water?”
Marsha deliberately sighed loudly and shook her head.
“Of course not! I shut that down tight. But a few sharp ones seem suspicious.”
“She’s no ordinary vixen. What the hell did she do to get even that Celia on her side?”
Mina pouted her lips.
“Celia’s got a weird personality too. No manners at all.”
Marsha bathed first, then Mina used the remaining warm water, but they kept it secret from the other servants.
“Exactly! She acts like she doesn’t even know who’s above her. Tsk.”
But as winter deepened, while others grew grubby, the two always had pristine, pale skin—it was impossible to hide.
Marsha fell silent for a moment, then glared venomously and said,
Mina soothed her while washing her arms as irritation creased Marsha’s brow.
“Tell them not to talk out of turn. Since when did the likes of them start bathing in hot water?”
