Bathing in This World. Soap Is Ash
After parting with Captain Luke, I went to take a bath.
Just like today, I was with Ari. Since we’re four and three, we still bathe together. Boys and girls start bathing separately once one of them turns five.
“Ari, hey, hey.”
Ari turned around, and my index finger poked into her cute little cheek.
“Bweh!”
Wait~ Ari, you had water in your mouth?!
Big brother just got blasted by a water gun from Ari’s mouth! It hit me right in the face~ ugh, gross~
“That’s dirty!”
Even if it’s water that came from my beloved little sister’s mouth… yeah, no thanks.
“Geez, Onii~chama, don’t be mean. It’s Onii~chama’s fault.”
Even the way Ari puffed up angrily was adorable.
“Sorry.”
Did she forgive me? Ari gave a goofy grin. Yep, she’s an angel after all.
Alright then, bath time’s over~
The maid led us to the dressing room. Go, go~ I didn’t even care about my little “me” swinging around while I walked.
After Marle helped wash me up, Maaya dried my hair as usual.
While she was drying it with a gentle breeze, I thought about things.
In our house, we basically use poured bathwater.
It seemed that only high-ranking nobles could bathe every day.
I’m really glad our family is a margrave house.
We get to bathe every day.
Still, even if it’s not daily, some people only bathe every few days… and some have never bathed at all. They just use cold water or wipe their bodies down. Maybe it can’t be helped, but I wonder if something could be done about it?
Marle told me about it the other day.
This is how baths work in this world:
There are two large jars.
A maid carries hot water into one jar.
Another jar is filled with cold water.
Then there’s a middle-sized jar, where water and hot water are mixed from the two big jars until it reaches a comfortable temperature.
After that, they scoop the warm water using a small jar with a handle and pour it over the body.
There isn’t any soap.
Instead… it’s probably ash? They dissolve it in water and turn it into a creamy paste to wash with.
“Hey, Marle, by the way… what’s that powder?”
“That powder? The one used during baths? Those are remains from firewood or plants dissolved in water. It removes dirt. It’s called ash.”
“So it’s ash.”
That’s literally just ash.
“Ash, indeed.”
She replied ash to “ash.”
Okay, that’s kinda funny.
Still… baths, and soap too… I want to figure out something about those.
“Well then, Young Master Kaito. You’re all dressed now. Let’s go see your Mother.”
“Okay.”
Knock knock!
“It’s Kaito. Mama, may I come in?”
When I entered the room, Mama welcomed me with a hug. It smelled different from Ari… Mama’s scent. Mama’s smell is calming. And Mama is soft too. The best! ♡♡
“Alright, Kai-kun. It’s gotten a bit late, but today you’re going to teach me, okay? About how fish bones can be used as fertilizer.”
“Okay.”
But Mama… your eyes have turned into ¥¥ again.
“First, tell me how to make it so it becomes fertilizer.”
Mama placed both hands on my shoulders.
Please loosen your grip a little!
And stop shaking me back and forth too!
“Mama, stop for a second. I’m starting to feel sick.”
Ugh~ blegh.
Worst timing ever.
“Ahhh! Kai-kun, I’m sorry!”
It’s okay, Mama
Mama really is amazing.
I threw up a little, and she caught it with her hands without hesitation.
“I’m okay.”
Mama relaxed when she heard me say that.
Mama… holding my puke in her hands.
Well, she is Mama after all.
“I’m sorry. Mama is going to go pick some flowers for a moment.”
Gracefully… ah, wait, maybe not. She’s walking a bit faster than usual.
“Okaaay.”
After a while, Mama came back from picking flowers.
Did she actually pick flowers though?
Huh? Wait… is that her trying to cover something up?
The hibiscus in that vase Mama is holding right now… that was in the hallway earlier, wasn’t it?
“That’s a beautiful hibiscus.”
“Yes, it is.”
Mama’s smiling.
So I smile too. Grin!
What do you think about this chapter?
