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CHAPTER 8 - PEACH FAIRY BATH
Staying still and feeling like she was looking at a work of art, Sango looked at the scene, but when she heard a clicking sound, she came back to her senses.
“Well, Sango-sama, it is Konkon.”
Sango poked her head into the living room, she saw a figure in deep blue hugging her clothes.
She closed the bedroom door gently.
"What's up?"
"I want to show you to the bathroom.''
There were three bathrooms in Peony Palace.
Peach Hot Spring was exclusively for Princess Hoshi.
Ume-no-Yu was exclusively for internal and imperial officials.
Lotus Bath was exclusively for the Ministry of the Interior.
“Well, it seems that Minister Wang takes a bath without a set time, so I was wondering if you could take a bath at the same time as me, if you like.”
“Konkon, you mean, take a bath?”
"Yes, it is"
Konkon's family was rich and that was why she was given preferential treatment among the court ladies.
Other court ladies took their baths together at the same time. However, Konkon had special time to take a bath by herself.
After listening to her several times, Sango finally understood what she meant.
To express her gratitude, she thanked her from the bottom of her heart. She took Konkon's hand and kissed her fingertips.
“I will kiss your filthy hands full of chips!”
"It's so dirty! I've been doing a lot of laundry lately!"
“That’s not true at all, Konkon.”
Sango remembered her nanny at home.
When she was little, she used to play around with her older brothers and get her clothes covered in mud. At times like that, her mother would get angry if she found out, so her nanny secretly cleaned it for her.
Her hands were chapped and chapped.
When Sango apologized, thinking that it was her fault, the nanny gently held her hand and said that it was best for children to play happily.
“Mr. Sango?”
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Sango once again thanked Konkon.
“Konkon, thank you so much.”
"No. The large donation to the inner palace was something that my father did without my permission, so he sometimes gets jealous of me, but I'm glad that I was able to help you in this way."
The two smiled at each other.
Since she didn't have much time, she immediately moved to the bathhouse to take a bath.
Sango wore something like a thick cloak. She covered her head with a cloth. She would be in trouble if someone saw her in the women's bath, so Konkon had prepared it for her.
"Walk quickly down the hallway without anyone seeing you."
However, Konkon said that the other court ladies were currently eating, so they wouldn't be found.
"Lotus Bath" was a large bathing area exclusively for the Ministry of the Interior.
It was designed to be used by a large number of female officials, so it was widely designed.
While taking off her clothes in the changing room, Konkon spoke to her.
"There's a hot spring here. It's called Peach Fairy Bath."
“Hot spring?”
"Yes"
It's something that didn't exist in Sango's homeland, so she had a question ready in her mind.
Unable to convey the meaning of the hot springs, Konkon hurriedly provided an additional explanation.
“Eh, uh, hot springs. It means hot water from underground!”
"The benefits of hot springs include curing stiff shoulders, sensitivity to cold, recovery from fatigue, and bruises."
"The hot spring water dissolves the dead skin cells on your skin, making it smooth and smoother. It will make you more beautiful!"
“That’s why my skin is so beautiful.”
“No, no, that’s outrageous!!”
Konkon took off her clothes and wrapped a towel around her body so as not to expose her naked body.
"Well, Sango-sama is more beautiful..."
She was about to say that but she held her breath.
Sango looked back, wondering why Konkon had suddenly become quiet.
“Konkon?”
“Sango-sama, your back!!”
“My back, what's wrong with it?”
After a pause, she realized why Konkon was surprised.
From her shoulders to her back. Pictures of flowers, leaves, and vines were painted on her. The flower symbolized the second prince, Mericle. It was the honor of the knights who served him.
The flowers were painted on her when she was 18 years old and was chosen as a knight of the royal guard.
Surprisingly, Sango's mother didn't understand that and it became a problem later on.
Originally, Sango's mother did not want Sango, a woman, to be chosen as a knight. She did not know that it was an honor to be a knight, and when she saw the rose on her back, she screamed thinking that it was a scar. She fell bedridden for three days.
Her mother was a young lady, Ikuchi. She didn't know about the rules of knighthood.
Her father was also a knight, he served the royal family, but because he had sensitive skin, he was unable to get tattoos. He only drew flowers with pigments during festivals. So, Sango's mother only learned about her knight tattoo when she saw her daughter's body.
Because of the rose tattoo, she became reluctant to fulfill her role as a woman.
Therefore, her only purpose in life was work.
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It's been a few years since she drew the rose flower, and Sango had completely stopped worrying about the tattoo. There were days when the bright red roses hurt, but she was used to it.
Because of that, she had completely forgotten about them.
"Konkon, I'm sorry. Are you startled?"
"Ah, no, I think it is very beautiful."
“Beautiful?”
"Yes. This is a flower that is considered auspicious in this country."
"Hmm? Konkon, is that true!"
"Ah, it's true!"
It was cold, so she invited her into the bathroom. She stepped through the bamboo door and walked inside.
"Wow, that's amazing.!"
Amidst the rising steam, there was a cloudy white hot spring flowing directly from the water.
The bathtub was made of marble and the floor was covered with polished black stones.
It's for a large number of people, so it's quite spacious.
“White hot water?”
"When it comes into contact with air, it oxidizes and becomes this color."
Usually, the milky white water had a strong sulfur smell. However, the hot spring only had a faint sweet smell.
“It has a faint peach scent, which is why the hot water is named after peach.”
"Huh..."
Peach Fairy Hot Spring only flowed within the area of Botangu Shrine. It was said that it was sometimes envied by other ladies serving in the inner palace.
"Now, let's pour some hot water on you."
"Ah, Konkon, I--"
"No, don't worry, I'll take care of you."
Konkon poured hot water on Sango and a soft, sweet scent filled the air.
"By the way, Wang Hongyu says he doesn't like this scent, so he uses regular hot springs from other sources.''
"It's a waste, isn't it?"
“Yes, absolutely.”
She lathered the powdered soap in the palm of her hand and applied it to a soft towel.
Konkon rubbed Sango's body with the towel.
"It's a little embarrassing."
"I-I'm sorry."
"It was the first time I had had my body washed since I was a child."
On the other hand, Konkon also confessed that she was embarrassed to tell the truth.
"The person who is allowed to stand by the Queen will take care of the Queen's bath, so the court ladies know about various things..."
The newly arrived court ladies practiced by washing the bodies of the members of the Shogi Club.
“Actually, I didn’t pass the exam…”
Because Konkon acted timidly, she was branded as unsuitable.
"So, sorry, I'm not very good at it..."
"It's okay, you're very good."
"Ah, thank you. Those are such wasteful words."
After washing her body, she rinsed off the bubbles with hot water.
This time, he poured hot water over her head and picked up a different powder. She lathered it in the palm of her hand.
"Wash your head by massaging it and rinse with hot water. To finish, add diluted essential oil and spread it out with a hand comb."
She rinsed her body with hot water once more and suggested that she soak in the bathtub.
"Thank you, Konkon."
“It hurts.”
Sango dipped her fingertips into the bathtub to check the temperature. It was quite hot.
When he was a member of the Knights' Corps, he often returned home late at night, and all he needed to do was take a bath. So, he was naturally excited at the thought of being immersed in hot water for the first time in a while.
"Submerge your feet first and move in slowly."
Her body was aching from the heat of the water, but it gradually started to feel better.
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When she scooped some hot water into the palm of her hand, it was thick.
It smelled very nice and made her feel relieved.
It was the first time her heart would calm down since she had arrived at Karetsu.
There was a pounding on the door of the bathroom changing room. Sango and Konkon looked at each other.
It seemed like someone was coming and was shouting from outside.
“Konkon, you are too slow!! How long will it take you to take a bath gracefully!?”
'What on earth is going on?' Sango looked at Konkon's face.
"Ah, um, it's cleaning time after this. But, it's about two hours away, so why..."
Konkon seemed to be upset, she spoke rapidly.
"I'm not sure why, but it seems like I'm in trouble."
Sango grabbed a towel and roughly wiped her body. She put on the matching clothes she had prepared for night wear, tied them around her waist, and opened the doorway to the changing room slightly.
"Konkon, you finally came out...huh!?"
Sango showed only her face and smiled.
Suddenly, someone who looked like a man with blond hair and blue eyes appeared, and the ladies eyes were wide open.
In front of the door, there was a court lady with a bun-haired head and slanted eyes like that of a tall cat. About her age, she looked younger than Konkon. She was speechless in front of Sango, she opened her mouth wide.
"Sorry?"
When Sango asked in her awkward language if she could borrow her for a little longer, Kokkuri and the court lady nodded.
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She also told her that it was a secret between them, she replied, "Okay," in a quiet voice.
"Okay, Mata."
The court lady grabbed the door that was about to close. She was quite powerful.
“May I ask your name?”
Sango could only hear the word 'name' so she introduced herself.
"I am Pearl Sango."
“Sango-sama…”
She said "See you again,"
But the court lady grabbed the door once again.
“What?”
"My name is Reimi"
"Reimi"
"Yes! If you have any trouble, please contact me!"
Sango didn't understand much, but she would like to thank her anyway.
"Yeah? Thanks."
At that point, she finally said goodbye to the court lady, Reimi.
Sango looked back and saw that Konkon's expression had turned pale.
"Konkon, what's up?"
“I-Isn’t that Reimi-san right now?”
Sango nodded, Konkon held her own head.
"She is the court lady who serves Princess Hoshi Kihime."
After all, it wouldn't have been a good idea to take a bath together.
Sango felt sorry.
"Konkon. Reimi won't talk, I am very sure."
“I-I’m sorry, I’m not really liked by many people."
"Don't worry."
Apparently, Konkon and Reimi's relationship wasn't very good. Sango guessed from the words she picked up.
In order to avoid any backlash from Konsuke, from now on, she would have to take a bath at the bathroom reserved for internal and royal officials.
She had to make sure she didn't have time conflicts with Hongyu. She would talk to him later.
Although the situation had turned into a difficult situation, there were people like Konkon who would be kind to her. There were also hot springs elsewhere where she could relax.
Once again, she was determined to try her best.
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