Published at 12th of November 2020 10:19:23 AM
Tunica was a laughing woman . She was always smiling .
“Now, let’s wash and scrub your back first . ”
I sit in a low wooden chair . Tunica scoops hot water from a bathtub and pours it on my back .
“Is the water temperature okay?”
“Oh, okay . Just fine …”
“I’m glad . I’ll rub your back but let me know if it hurts . ”
“Yes, yes …”
I was quiet . Tunica lathered the soap with a soft cloth and began rubbing my back .
Wow … feels good . The foam seems to make me rest from the tiring trip and forget the unnecessary things . My back seems to become lighter .
The hot water makes me sleepy .
While rubbing with just the right force, Tunica screamed .
“A lot of dirt comes out!!! Mary, you never bathed before, did you? “
“Yeah, yeah . We’re poor … . and the baths are cold so we can’t live long if we bath frequently, only in the warm days we can bath . Cleaning my back may be awkward . ”
“Do you not use hot water to bath?”
“Sadly not… my family uses a small bathtub in turns, and I’m the last one . So I usually am left with cold water when it’s my turn . I usually clean myself in the well, as the water is cold anyways and there I have clean water . ”
“Well …?”
Tunica was lost in thoughts . I’m ashamed . I didn’t mean to be filthy, but it’s reality . Surely the Count doesn’t like people this dirty in his mansion .
I turn down my red face and utter excuses .
“Yesterday I washed before entering the royal capital, so I would not smell when visiting the Count . ”
“before entering… the royal capital … on the river?”
“Yeah, with soap . I scrubbed and washed myself truly . ”
“Wash your skin and hair with laundry soap?”
I nodded . Yup? What’s wrong?
“… I see . So that’s the reason… for such wonderful hair to be so mistreated…”
“I understood now . Marie, I’ll give you a full bath every day for now . Your skin is not used to irritation, so if we do the beauty treatment today, and it requires a full scrubbing, your skin will get damaged . So let’s start with your bathing every day until your skin becomes accustomed to it and then let’s rub it seriously . ”
I was sprayed with hot water from my shoulder . My arm is pulled and I am led to the bathtub .
It was a deep bath with water reaching until the base of my neck .
“Somehow this hot water smells good . What’s in it?”
“Salt, honey, and citrus fruit wine . ”
“Delicious”
“Ufufu, it’s very diluted . This is beauty hot water . ”
“Beauty … Does it make you beautiful just to take a bath?”
“Yeah, it’s a detergent formula and it’s irritating, so I’ll finish giving you a cream massage after this . Marie, turn your back, lean on the bathtub and look up . “
As I did as she said, Tunica began to wash my hair . What is that? It looks different from the soap we use . It’s like oil . She poured hot water on my hair many times, washed it twice with foam, and rub in some liquid medicine .
“… Mmm . Your hair has places where it’s tangled . ”
“Ah … um, sorry . It’s okay if you don’t want to touch it . You can cut it with scissors . ”
“Ah, you’re not a sheep . I have a solution for that . “
Sometimes I feel my hair pulled, but it doesn’t hurt, rather it feels good enough to make me sleepy . It is rolled up with a warm cloth and steamed .
“I’ll wash your face as it is . Please close your eyes . ”
“Yes, yes . ”
“Soak a little more and then we’ll wash your whole body again . ”
“Wash again?”
“Leave it to me . I’ll make you a new person . ”
“A new person …?”
Tunica winks while smiling .
“Thank you …”
I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, but it’s been a good time .
…… Reborn .
When this is over, will I be reborn?
–Me? Isn’t that impossible?
… Oh, no . I’m more and more sleepy . I can’t maintain myself awake…
In the distance, I can hear the voice of Tunica .
“… Ufufu . It’s interesting … I’m gonna make it shine as if polished …”
I fell asleep as she continued treating my hair .
Translated by Djurasico (dot) home (dot) blog