Episode 43: An Older Brother’s Dignity
Bangwall Fort is so vast, it could practically be a fortress city all on its own.
It’s large enough to house tens of thousands of people, roughly the size of two Tokyo Domes.
As such, the facilities are substantial, and a proper bathhouse was prepared for the nobles.
Naia-san is really generous, providing such facilities for practically nothing.
…Ah, right, there was the damage I caused.
The repair seemed like it would take quite a while, and the foreman of the construction team had a troubled look on his face.
Well, what’s done is done; for now, it’s bath time.
Arriving at the bathhouse’s changing room, I leave everything to Nicoletta.
She pulls out my belt, and then removes my black jacket, the shirt underneath… until I’m completely naked.
I don’t have much resistance to being fully naked in front of others.
In the castle, middle-aged maids would scrub me meticulously with soap and towels.
A noble man must be dignified.
Under no circumstances should one scream or shyly hide their private parts.
“What’s wrong? Nicoletta.”
“Um, well, it’s… impressive.”
“Oh, okay.”
I wonder what exactly she’s referring to.
Nicoletta doesn’t change her expression, but her face is bright red.
Hmm.
Legally being able to sexually harass someone is a noble’s privilege, but at this rate, I can’t tell if I’m a perverted old man or if Nicoletta is just secretly horny.
I watch Nicoletta, wondering what she’ll do next.
“Could I have a moment to change?”
“Ah, sure.”
Nicoletta hurriedly began to take off her maid uniform.
It’s only natural, as entering the bath with the maid uniform on would make it soaking wet.
She removes the white apron, unbuttons the front of the dress, and it falls to the floor.
A Satella-Class woman’s lithe body, like that of a sporty girl, is revealed.
Her underwear is made of one hundred percent Ortenos cotton.
I feel a wonderful sense of local pride.
“Hmm.”
“Eh?!”
I unintentionally let out a groan.
It’s not that I dislike middle-aged maids, but young women are good too, after all.
“Um, if you stare too much, um…”
“Ah, don’t worry about it.”
“Um…”
She seems to be implying that she does mind.
Unfortunately, I’m the type who firmly watches and memorizes with my eyes.
Photographs are heretical.
“My body isn’t very interesting to look at, is it?”
“What are you saying? I never get tired of looking at Nicoletta’s body.”
“Oh, you’re teasing me.”
Although her figure isn’t particularly curvy, her gazelle-like legs are nice.
Of course, I’m not talking about the stocky Japanese kind, but the slender foreign kind.
And what really catches the eye is…
(Hmm, nice ass.)
The perfectly round curve, without any slack, feels like a unique representation of her honest and earnest nature.
As I observe, she covers herself with a thin, poncho-like bathing garment.
It seems she won’t be completely naked.
The color of her bare skin is visible through it, which is nice in its own way.
“Shall we go, then?”
“Yes.”
The bathhouse is a proper one made of marble.
Magic Lamps and incense are burning intensely, showing good preparation.
I sit on a wooden bath chair and turn my back to Nicoletta.
“I’ll leave it to you, then.”
“Yes.”
Nicoletta scoops hot water into a wooden bucket and soaks a towel in it.
She applies soap and begins to scrub my back.
Having a beautiful subordinate wash away the day’s grime is quite blissful.
“How is the temperature?”
“Aah, it’s good, just right.”
Nicoletta’s pressure is exquisite, and combined with the scent of the incense, it’s quite relaxing.
It’s probably a special treatment using Magical Power.
“Are all female Military Officials able to be maids like Nicoletta?”
“Yes, at Ortenatris Knight Academy, maid training is included in the general education.”
“This treatment too?”
“No, this is a general education practical exercise.”
“Practical exercise?”
“Yes, men and women pair up and perform the treatment on each other to improve their skills.”
“Men and women pair up?”
“Yes… well, that’s the custom.”
I see, so it’s like nursing practice.
Men and women practicing together, that sounds a bit suspicious.
“So, Nicoletta has performed this treatment on other male Military Officials?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Nicoletta answers hesitantly.
Hmm, unacceptable.
To think that my devotee has done such indecent things.
This calls for punishment.
“Shall we have you do the front next?”
“Huh?”
I suddenly stand up and turn around.
As if my Oinari-san was right in front of Nicoletta, who was kneeling on the floor.
And as for me, I grin at Nicoletta’s reaction.
“M-Minashiro-sama’s magnificent… thing…”
“…”
Nicoletta mutters, blushing.
She’s totally doing this on purpose, isn’t she?
“W-well then, excuse me.”
“Ah… Ooh, that’s good, keep it up.”
…Looking back, I was completely carried away at this moment.
Even though we were inside the fort, I had neglected my Magical Power Detection.
As a result, I didn’t notice at all that someone had suddenly entered the bathhouse.
“Brother!”
Standing in front of the opened door was—my beloved younger sister, Elmia.
Eh? Huh?
Why is Elmia here?
More importantly, isn’t this situation bad?
Nicoletta is also surprised by this and drops the towel.
Then, lo and behold, before Elmia’s eyes appeared her naked brother, being taken care of by a scantily clad maid.
This is bad! I have to hide my magnificent thing!
I instinctively cover it with both hands.
“Eep.”
A girly voice came out.
It seems that when people are extremely confused, a completely different side of them emerges.
The dignified figure of the noble man from before was nowhere to be seen.
“Disgusting…”
“N-no, it’s n-not like that! Elmia-tan!”
Elmia said that as if spitting it out, and left the bathhouse before hearing my explanation.
“I haven’t done anything wrong yet…”
I collapse to my knees.
The dignity I had cultivated as an older brother crumbled like a sandcastle.