Kays Translations

Chapter 338: Getting Lightheaded

When Fabienne's attendants began helping her wash, I retreated to the far side of the bath and deliberately faced away.

They were only following their ordinary routine, but today was not an ordinary situation. I needed to respect Fabienne's privacy and avoid making either of us uncomfortable.

“Lord Julius, is something wrong?”

I heard several people enter the water behind me. Fabienne's attendants had evidently joined her.

Should I turn around? I could hardly conduct a conversation with my back to everyone forever.

“I was merely thinking.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“…”

I turned only after confirming that everyone was settled and properly concealed by the water. Then I fixed my eyes on Fabienne's face.

Neutral topics. I needed neutral topics.

“I was considering a way to make the compounding-room door close automatically.”

“Can that be done?”

“I will not know until I test it, but perhaps with a spring or counterweight…”

I moved to sit beside Fabienne, where we could talk without awkwardly facing the entire bath.

“The door could close by itself,” I explained. “To protect people's fingers, it should slow down when the gap becomes this wide.”

I held my thumb and forefinger about five centimetres apart. If the final movement were gentle, the chance of injury would be small. A spring might work better than a hanging weight.

“You are already considering safety. As expected of you.”

Fabienne smiled.

“Sharing a bath like this is pleasant,” I said carefully. “But what would Father and Mother say if they found us here?”

I hoped she would understand that we should probably avoid repeating the arrangement. Instead, she tilted her head.

“Sister-in-law Daniela said there was no problem. No one has ever forbidden it.”

So Brother Alex and Sister-in-law Daniela apparently bathed together from time to time. Did Brother Cain and Sister-in-law Meeka do the same?

If that was considered normal within House Heine, perhaps refusing Fabienne would seem stranger than accepting.

“So it is acceptable for us to bathe together?”

“Yes. There is no problem.”

The women of House Heine did tend to take the initiative. Perhaps that truly was a family tradition.

After that, we spoke about places we might visit once the snow melted and the books we had been reading.

I realised that most of my conversations with Fabienne concerned potions. Perhaps she had invited me because she wanted ordinary time together.

I needed to reflect on that. Magic pharmacy was important, but I could not allow it to become the only subject I shared with my fiancée.

I asked Fabienne to leave the bath first so that we would not emerge together. By the time Nero reported that she had safely reached the salon, I had remained in the hot water too long and become lightheaded.

“Lord Julius, you should not force yourself,” Nero said. “If separating your departures is this difficult, it may be safer to leave together next time.”

“I understand, but it is not that simple.”

“I understand your feelings. Becoming ill would still be worse.”

“Very well. I will be more careful.”

The simplest solution was not to share the bath at all, but I did not know how to say that without hurting Fabienne.

If only we could enter the bath fully clothed…

Fully clothed?

“A swimsuit! That would solve the problem.”

“Lord Julius?”

“Nero, swimsuits! I need swimsuits.”

“…What?”

Nero stared at me in confusion, but the idea was obvious. This was exactly the sort of situation in which my Sewing and Thread Creation skills could be useful.

I tried to walk back to my room, but the heat had left me unsteady. Nero caught me and took me to the salon instead, where Fabienne was waiting.

“Lord Julius! What happened?”

“I stayed in the bath too long and became lightheaded.”

Nero explained while supporting me. I probably looked considerably older and frailer than I was.

“Oh no. Was it my fault?”

“No, Fabienne. I became absorbed in thought. Please do not blame yourself.”

Tears gathered in her eyes, and I hurried to reassure her. She was an honoured guest of House Heine and, more importantly, my precious fiancée.

“I was thinking that if we had special garments for bathing, we could share the bath without either of us feeling awkward.”

When I described swimsuits, Fabienne and Nero looked astonished.

In this world, bathing meant removing one's clothes. The idea of clothing designed specifically for water had never occurred to them.

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