The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Sauna and Post-Bath Ale

Descending to the lower floor and entering through the door next to the kitchen, heated air enveloped my body.

The relatively new door led to a short hallway that doubled as a changing room, and I was told to undress here.

The room was considerably warmer compared to the outside, possibly due to a fireplace using magic stones. As instructed, I undressed and put on a bathrobe.

There was something resembling a bathtub filled with water, but there was no steam, and it remained cold.

“Hot water comes from this tap. After rinsing your body, please warm yourself in the sauna at the back.”

“And what is a sauna?”

“It’s a steam bath. Once you’re thoroughly warmed up there, you can pour water over yourself here.”

“But that would cool down the body I just heated up.”

“We thought the same at first, but if you pour water over your thoroughly warmed body, you’ll become so hot that you’ll break into a sweat immediately. According to Lady Melfina, alternating between warming and cooling the body is beneficial.”

Looking towards the back, I noticed another door. When I glanced at August, the guard knight understood his lord’s intention and opened the door.

Inside was a small stone chamber.

Extending in a U-shape from the mansion, it resembled a stone conservatory. Wooden benches were set up facing each other along the walls. The ceiling wasn’t high enough to bump your head, and a small magic stone lamp was lit.

At the back was something like a metal basket filled tightly with small stones, emitting a constant heat.

It was cramped and so hot that just standing there made me sweat.

“This is the bath?”

“Yes. Sitting on the bench or lying down when alone feels nice. If you want to make it even hotter, pour water from this bucket onto that stone pillar over there. The temperature will rise along with the steam.”

“That would make me sweat a lot.”

Warming up is good, but getting cold is considered to let in bad air into the body. It makes no sense to pour water on yourself just when you’ve warmed up.

“When you sweat, dirt and grime come off as well, so when you feel it’s enough, go to the washing area and pour water over your head.”

“Water there, huh…”

“Yes, strangely, your body gets pleasantly hot, and you’ll sweat a lot there too. You can go back into the sauna again or finish your bath. Rubbing your skin with a towel removes any excess grime and leaves you feeling refreshed.”

Though I didn’t quite understand the benefit of it, the servant’s face, who had apparently used it many times, was cheerful. He didn’t seem like the kind of simple, honest man who would lie.

“…I’ll give it a try.”

“Shall I wash your back for you? If it’s not too forward of me…”

“It might be safer than leaving it to the clumsy guard knight.”

“That’s harsh. Well, I haven’t learned the proper etiquette of bathing assistance, so I can’t deny it.”

“Then, to help you appreciate the sauna’s benefits, I’ll do my best to wash you!”

The man with straw-colored hair typical of a commoner smiled brightly and said.

*　*　*

At first, I was skeptical, but as I sat down on the bench and began to sweat little by little, I started to feel a pleasant floating sensation.

In the north, the temperature doesn’t get too high even in summer, so sweating all over only happens when doing intense training or during prolonged battles with monsters.

“Indeed…not bad.”

“Would you like me to raise the temperature? We usually go in at a slightly hotter temperature.”

Nodding while staying seated, I watched as the servant, dressed lightly in a shirt and linen trousers, poured water from a bucket onto the stone pillar. The sound of water vaporizing violently echoed, and the temperature in the stone room rose even further.

By the time I was sweating profusely, I was encouraged to lie down on the bench. My back was scrubbed with a coarse linen towel, and my whole body was washed.

It’s common for servants to assist with baths, and they are experienced in washing. Compared to them, the servant seemed less practiced in washing someone, but it was still quite comfortable.

“Excuse me, I’ll wash your hair as well.”

“Ah… What is this heat source?”

“We use charcoal. That heat also allows us to use the stone oven.”

“A stone oven… Does this mansion have an oven?”

“Yes. A village hunter just brought in some mountain pheasants, so they will be the main course for tonight’s dinner.”

He washed my hair and rinsed it with lukewarm water. Even though it was lukewarm, it felt somewhat cold due to how heated my body had become.

“My Lord, please try pouring water over yourself soon.”

“Ah—”

Since my whole body was heated, getting up felt incredibly sluggish. Following the servant’s instruction and pouring water over my head, the shock felt like a bolt of lightning striking my entire body.

“This is… incredible.”

“Yes. If it’s too hot, you can rest a bit in the changing room, or re-enter the sauna until your body warms up again.”

Following the servant’s suggestion, I stayed in the sauna until I was soaked with sweat again, poured water over my head one more time, and then left the bath. As I wiped my body and put on a gown, I felt thoroughly warm and slightly languid, but in a pleasant way.

Indeed, it felt as if all the grime had been removed from my body, and even the sensation of air on my skin felt different from before the bath.

When I opened the door and stepped outside, another servant was standing next to August, who was on watch at the entrance. This new servant, still young enough to be called a boy, was holding a silver tray with both hands, on which a wooden mug was placed.

“My Lord Duke, would you care for some ale?”

For a noble, “alcohol” usually means wine; ale is considered the drink of commoners. While I was accustomed to drinking it for hydration during expeditions, being served it in a noble’s mansion could be seen as an insult if not handled carefully.

When I glanced at August, he nodded with a truly pleasant smile.

“It’s already been tested for poison.”

“…I see.”

When this attendant makes that face, it usually means he’s planning to surprise me. Despite being reprimanded by the butler Rufus many times, this tendency of his seems unlikely to change.

Grasping the mug, its coolness made me acutely aware of my intense thirst. I took a deep gulp, and my eyes widened sharply.

“…What is this?”

The first thing that hit me was the powerful burst of carbonation, so strong it was almost painful. By the time I realized it was carbonation, a rich aroma akin to ripe fruit filled my nose, followed by an intense bitterness spreading through my mouth. Startled, I felt the liquid with its strong carbonation trickle down my throat, widening my eyes in surprise.

“It’s homemade ale. Lady Melfina wanted to brew it before the onset of the full winter season.”

Contrary to the innocent young servant who announced this, August, who had likely tasted it earlier, was smirking broadly.

“We think it’s quite delicious; did it please you?”

“Ah, yes, this is… remarkable.”

“Thank you!”

It felt like something entirely different, yet the distinct aftertaste lingering in my mouth unmistakably confirmed it was ale.

Some prestigious monasteries are known for producing ale with a fruity aftertaste. The bitterness probably comes from the herbs mixed into the brew.

—But how did they achieve this intense carbonation?

The carbonation that occurs naturally during brewing shouldn’t result in such a strong sensation. Even if they used magic to add it later, wizards are rare and valuable. Even with Enkar thriving, it’s hard to believe they would hire a wizard just to brew ale. And even if they did, I can’t imagine how they’d create such a sharp ale.

“This ale is really delicious, isn’t it? I was surprised too. I asked about the brewing method, but he didn’t know much.”

“The ale was brewed under the directions of Lady Melfina and Miss Marie, with a few craftsmen, so I’m not really familiar with the details.”

The servant’s expression was untroubled, which gave me a chilly feeling. August must understand this, which is why he acted the way he did.

“Did the lady say it was fine to serve this ale to me?”

“Uh, no, um, this is ale that the servants are allowed to drink freely. Lady Melfina drinks it too, and it tastes especially good after the sauna, so I thought the Duke might enjoy it, and brought it for you.”

“I see…”

This young servant, like the man who guided me to the sauna, likely did this out of a genuine desire to be hospitable.

I could sense that at the heart of this was a desire to leave a good impression of Melfina.

“Uh, was it improper to serve ale to you after all, Your Grace?”

“No, I appreciate the gesture. …The master who creates something like this is a splendid lord.”

“Thank you so much!”

His cheeks flushed, and he expressed his joy with his whole body as I handed back the mug. In noble households, servants are trained not to show emotions, so seeing such an overt reaction made me feel a bit suspicious.

“Dinner will be in an hour. We can’t provide much of a feast, but we’ll prepare to the best of our ability!”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it. August, let’s rest in the room until then.”

“I will accompany you.”

In contrast to the many times more cunning servants of this household, my companion, who could barely hide his enthusiasm, cheerfully greeted the attendants and followed behind me.

“Dinner should be interesting. I hope there will be some for me as well.”

If there’s an unwelcome guest, one of the subtle ways nobles show their disdain is by “forgetting” to provide meals for their servants or companions. Even if the master doesn’t explicitly order it, the staff often take it upon themselves to act this way out of consideration.

“…The residents here wouldn’t do something so spiteful.”

“Right? There seems to be a general atmosphere of welcoming outsiders here.”

“Let’s head to the room.”

To August, who often visited Enkar Village for inspections, Melfina’s unusual habits must have become something he’s used to by now.

However, Alexis couldn’t quite share his bodyguard’s buoyant mood.