NOVEL SIMPLE Bath
As esdeath went inside the hot spring room, Before her , a tableau unfolded, a mosaic of femininity and grace as the other bathers lounged in the warm waters, their laughter and conversation filling the air with a soothing melody.
The bathhouse itself was a marvel of architecture but not too luxury, Just fine type. Adorned with intricate carvings and embellishments that spoke of a rich cultural heritage.
A vast chamber filled with steaming hot spring water. The air was thick with the scent of fragrant herbs and flowers, adding to the ambiance of relaxation. The water itself was crystal clear, reflecting the soft glow of lanterns suspended from the ceiling.
Around the edges of the bath, stone benches and intricately carved pillars provided places for the bathers to sit and relax. Luxurious towels and robes were neatly folded nearby, inviting the guests to pamper themselves after their soak.
As for the bathers themselves, the scene was a vibrant tapestry of diversity. There were Nobles and commoners alike mingled freely, Many commoners were delighted to have access to such a large and beautiful hot spring, their faces glowing with happiness. On the other side, some nobles were clearly upset at having to share the space with commoners, their displeasure evident in their stiff postures and tight-lipped expressions. Yet, even among the nobles, there were a few who seemed to be getting along just fine with the commoners, their conversations light and easy.
But as soon as Esdeath entered, the entire room fell silent. The laughter and chatter came to an abrupt halt, and all eyes turned to her. For a moment, it was as if time had stopped
The reason for the sudden silence wasn't just Esdeath's presence—it was her appearance. She had stormed into the bath without a towel or robe,Completely naked. Like she owned the place, her confidence making it seem as though she'd forgotten the concept of modesty altogether. The roomful of women couldn't help but stare, their eyes wide as they took in the sight before them.
Esdeath's black hair already made her stand out, giving her a slightly ominous aura, but it was the tattoos that really caught everyone's attention. Her entire back was covered with an intricate design of twin dragons, their heads resting near her neck and their tails curling around to her sides and down to her belly. The tattoos gave her an undeniably badass look, a statement of strength and defiance that seemed to scream, Don't mess with me.
But there was something else that made the girl's jaws drop even further. Just below her abdomen, right above that intimate area, was another tattoo. Originally, Esdeath had the words "For Lortell only" inked there, complete with an arrow pointing suggestively downward. To cover it up, her maid Mary had crafted a heart-shaped tattoo over it. But this was no ordinary heart—oh no, it was the kind of heart tattoo you'd see on a succubus. Fantasy hearts like this were infamous, often associated with the runes that succubi used to enhance pleasure, for themselves and their partners.
Now, Esdeath's tattoo wasn't magical, but it sure looked like it. In this world, humans who sported such tattoos were usually making a bold statement about their, shall we say, sexually ctive lifestyles, cough..cough... So, naturally, the girls couldn't help but fixate on it, their minds running wild with all sorts of assumptions.
The thought racing through everyone's mind was: How on earth did a teenage girl end up with such an erotic, shameless tattoo? And yet, there Esdeath stood, as casual as if she'd just walked into a garden, completely unfazed by the scandalized and shocked looks she was getting.
A few of the nobles tried to hide their smirks, struggling not to burst into laughter, while others just blushed furiously, turning their heads away in embarrassment. The commoners, on the other hand, were a mix of confusion and awe, wondering if this girl was a warrior, a delinquent, or just incredibly bold—or maybe all three.
Esdeath, completely unfazed by the stares and whispers, made her way toward the water, her tattooed skin gleaming under the soft lantern light. However, as she tried to find a spot to relax, she quickly encountered a new problem—no one wanted her near them.
Every time she approached a group, she was met with the same reaction.
"Don't come near me! Go somewhere else! Who would take responsibility if something happens to me?" one girl snapped, even going so far as to splash water at her.
Esdeath felt her annoyance rising, her eyes narrowing at the thought of slapping each of them across the face. "Ughh... I want to slap every single one of them,"she fumed internally, "but I'm not in the mood for it right now."She scanned the room, looking for a peaceful spot where she could finally relax.
The bathhouse was large, so surely there was a place where she could soak in peace. It didn't take long for her to find it—a quiet corner where only one girl was bathing. The girl was clearly a loner, sitting by herself, away from the chattering groups.
Esdeath smirked as she took in the girl's appearance. She was tall but had short, Wavy Vermillion hair, browny skin coloured eyes, tanned skin, and a busty chest, but she was also chubby or more like very fat with a heavier build that wasn't considered conventionally attractive. but she also has red markings around her eyes, and like Leopold, she has one sharp, pronounced canine tooth, No doubt An Barbarian-Known for dumbheaded species.It was obvious why no one wanted to be near her. "An extra character " Esdeath thought with satisfaction. "Just like me. That's the perfect spot!".
Without hesitation, she walked over to the girl's area, a mischievous grin on her face. "Hello, piggy!" she called out before jumping into the steamy water, causing a small splash.
As she settled into the water, her body submerged up to just above her breasts, Esdeath let out a deep sigh of relief, closing her eyes. "Huff... These balloons on my chest... The hot water's making it feel like something's tickling my breasts. How do you all deal with this?" she complained, half-playful, half-irritated.
The girl, who had been minding her own business, looked at Esdeath in bewilderment. Unlike the others, she wasn't bothered by Esdeath's black hair or tattoos. What really confused her was the fact that Esdeath was actually talking to her.
"Are you talking to me?" the girl asked, her voice filled with surprise, like she couldn't believe someone was addressing her directly.
Esdeath opened one eye and glanced at the girl, noticing the shock and uncertainty in her expression. "Is there anyone else here?" she replied with a touch of amusement, her voice smooth but with an edge that made it clear she wasn't one for small talk.
The girl, still taken aback by the sudden interaction, blinked rapidly, her mind racing to catch up. "Oh, no... umm... okay, I guess..." she stammered, mentally kicking herself for the awkward response. It wasn't that she couldn't speak clearly; she was just thrown off by how fast everything was happening. She quickly tried to regain her composure, a nervous energy bubbling up as she added, "Umm... my name is Maruti. What's yours?" Her voice was a mix of hope and timidity, as if she was both eager and afraid to hear the answer.
Esdeath stared at her for a moment, her cold blooded red eyes piercing through the warm steam of the bath. After what felt like an eternity to Maruti, Esdeath finally spoke. "Esdeath... Esdeath Crimson," she said, her tone flat and uninterested, before closing her eyes again, signaling the end of the conversation.
A heavy silence hung between them, the only sound being the gentle ripple of water. Maruti fidgeted, unsure of what to do next. Just as she was about to try speaking again, Esdeath suddenly stood up, water cascading off her smooth, pale skin. Her long hair clung to her body, framing her face as a few strands fell in front of her eyes. A single droplet of water lingered on her full lips, giving her an almost intimate, erotic aura.
"I'm done," Esdeath declared, her voice cutting through the air as she turned to leave, her movements fluid and graceful.
Seeing her about to go, Maruti panicked. "Wait a minute... does that mean we're friends?" she blurted out, her words rushing out in a desperate attempt to hold onto this fleeting connection.
Esdeath paused, her back still turned, then slowly turned her head to look at Maruti. Her gaze was cold, analyzing the girl before her. For a few seconds, she didn't say anything, just stared, making Maruti feel smaller and more exposed with each passing moment. Finally, Esdeath spoke, her voice sharp and cutting. "No confidence, no willpower, no attitude... too lazy to do anything, and many other things," she listed, each word like a dagger, pointing out every flaw she saw in Maruti. "Don't even think of becoming my friend," she finished, her tone final and dismissive.
Without another word, Esdeath turned and walked away, leaving Maruti alone in the bath, staring after her, feeling a mix of shame, disappointment, and a strange, lingering hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different someday.
Esdeath dried off with a towel, feeling the warmth of the bath linger on her skin as she slipped back into her clothes. The sun had begun its descent, casting the world in a golden glow. She made her way back to the dorm room, the fading light of the evening following her.
When she arrived, the room was quiet and empty. Luna Cassia, her roommate, still hadn't returned. Esdeath glanced around, the silence almost echoing. She could sense the lingering tension, knowing Luna was still too afraid to come back and face her.
As the evening turned into night, Esdeath noticed how quickly time had passed. The room was now bathed in the soft light of the moon, yet Luna's side of the room remained untouched, the bed still neatly made.
Without waiting any longer, Esdeath threw herself onto her bed, her mind briefly wandering to the upcoming test. "Tomorrow's the test," she murmured to herself, closing her eyes. "I don't have much hope, but let's see what happens."