Chapter 31: Terms Between Women

The bath was not, as it turned out, entirely uneventful.

Trish had prepared everything with the efficiency of someone who’d trained for this her entire life rather than a single evening.

Water temperature perfect. Towels arranged. A fresh change of clothes laid out with military precision on a nearby rack.

But when it came time for me to actually undress, she didn’t excuse herself.

"You’re staying?"

I asked, one hand already on the buttons of my sleepwear.

"Well, I..."

Trish’s cheeks colored, but she held her ground.

"Well, my own maids do the same for me, so I thought..."

Probably because she and her maid are the same gender. But I wasn’t about to point that out.

"As long as you’re comfortable, do what you want."

"I-I am. If you hadn’t helped me, I’d probably be a lowborn maid serving some more lecherous lord by now. So yes, I’m staying."

The daughter of a viscount, now serving as a maid, determined to excel at a role she’d never imagined occupying. There was something admirable in that determination.

And something attractive too, though that hardly needed saying aloud.

"Suit yourself."

I unbuttoned my sleepwear and let it fall. The air in the bathing chamber was warm and humid, steam rising from the prepared bath in lazy curls.

Trish’s professional demeanor lasted approximately three seconds.

Her eyes, which had been fixed on a point somewhere over my shoulder, drifted downward. And stopped. And widened.

"Oh..."

The sound escaped her before she could stop it. Her hand flew to her mouth, but the damage was done.

"Something wrong?"

"N-No! Nothing is wrong. Nothing at all."

But she wasn’t looking away. Her violet eyes traced the lines of my chest and arms with an expression that had nothing to do with professional assessment.

A month of Nicholas’s brutal training had done more than improve my stamina. The body I’d inherited had shed its softness completely, replaced by definition that would have made my old self nod in approval.

The tight undershirt during the duel had hinted at it. This was confirmation.

"Lord Reyn, your body is..."

She trailed off, seeming to realize she’d been staring for an inappropriate length of time.

"Yes?"

"...Impressive."

She managed the word with considerable effort, her blush now extending to the tips of her ears.

"I had heard rumors about your physical transformation, but I never saw them this close before. Most mages don’t... that is, they focus on magical development rather than..."

She gestured vaguely at my torso, then immediately looked like she regretted the gesture.

"Thank you."

I said, deciding to take mercy on her.

"I’ve been training."

"Clearly."

She swallowed, visibly collecting herself.

"Shall I... assist you with the bath, Lord Reyn?"

"Just the basics. I can handle the rest myself."

"Of course. That’s... that’s probably for the best."

She turned to retrieve a washing cloth, and I caught her stealing one more glance in the mirror’s reflection before she could stop herself.

Once again, progress.

Gratitude was one thing. But gratitude combined with attraction? That was a much stronger foundation.

I stepped into the bath, letting the hot water ease the residual soreness from yesterday’s duels. Trish stationed herself nearby, her back mostly turned, though I noticed she’d positioned herself where the mirror still gave her a partial view.

"If you’re going to look at me through the mirror, I’d prefer it directly."

"N-No, it’s fine. From this angle, I can still see, and I’m far enough away that my uniform won’t get wet."

"So you don’t deny looking?"

"Lord Reyn, I don’t even think I can lie in a situation like this..."

I smiled.

Good.

Looks like she hadn’t suddenly developed boundaries and maid etiquette overnight.

"Then I’ll take that as a yes. But maybe next time, don’t change into your academy uniform yet if you want to help me bathe again. Gives you more freedom, don’t you think?"

"I-I’ll keep that in mind."

✧ ✦ ✧

By the time I emerged from the bath, dressed in the uniform Trish had prepared, the rain outside had softened to a gentle drizzle. The academy rankings would be posted within the hour, and I intended to be there when they went up.

Trish walked beside me as we left the estate, holding an umbrella over both of us despite my insistence that I could manage it myself.

"A maid who lets her master hold the umbrella is a failure as a maid."

She said, and I decided not to argue.

"Reyn!"

As always, Anna was waiting just outside the gate, umbrella in hand. Then she noticed Trish beside me.

"Lady Trish? What are you doing at the Brimstone estate this early?"

"She’s my new maid."

I answered for her as the servants opened the gate and the three of us began walking toward the academy.

"A maid? I’m actually quite jealous of that position, to think you’d be beside Reyn for most of the day..."

Anna’s response didn’t really surprise me, and Trish seemed to feel the same way. Anna wasn’t trying to hide her affection from anyone anymore.

"Lady Annabele, you’re already quite close with Lord Reyn. You don’t really need my position anymore."

Then, to my surprise, Trish tapped my shoulder and gestured for me to hold the umbrella for a moment.

"Lord Reyn, may I have a word with Lady Annabele?"

"Of course. Don’t let me stop you."

I took the umbrella from her hand, already directing some of my mana toward my ears to sharpen my hearing. It wasn’t a real spell, so the effect was limited.

But with enough mana, it was enough.

"Lady Annabele, I know this is sudden."

Trish’s voice reached me as the two women stood side by side.

"But... I am aware of your... feelings toward Lord Reyn, and even with that..."

She hesitated, then quickly recovered.

"I hope you will continue to allow me to be close to him."

The moment I heard that, I poured more mana into my ears without thinking. I didn’t even need to be conscious to know this was important.

Even if it used most of my mana reserves, I needed to hear it.

Then...

A small giggle followed, meant only for Trish.

"Why wouldn’t I allow that? Of course I’d let you. I know the gist of your family’s situation and how Reyn helped out, y’know? And I’m not one to gatekeep someone else’s savior."

Anna placed a hand over her chest.

"I know how you feel. But... I do have one condition."

Her smile shifted, becoming more scheming and mischievous, or, more simply, more villainous.

"If you want to be close to him while I’m already in the picture. Make sure that Reyn—"