Maintaining Your Belongings Is an Owner's Duty

I always packed a change of clothes and overnight essentials whenever we traveled between cities.

Even when sending Azu and the others out on quests, I made sure they had a set, even for day trips.

You never knew what might happen in this world. A change of clothes, including undergarments and daily necessities, could go a long way.

That said, I hadn't planned on staying multiple nights, so tomorrow would mean laundry and a supply run.

Which was to say, today I could enjoy the bath without a care.

The water was properly hot, and citrus fruits had been placed in a net and set afloat, adding fragrance on top of the warmth.

I was nothing compared to Alexia, who had done the lion's share of the heavy lifting, but having worked alongside Azu and the others, the bath felt absolutely wonderful.

The amenities were impressive too, as expected of a place like this.

We'd come to Alsarm by portal on the way here, and since we hadn't prepared for an overnight stay, this was a real lifesaver.

With four people, whatever we'd brought in our packs would run out in no time.

If I'd planned on staying multiple nights, I'd have arranged something, but still.

Since I could normally supply these things myself, buying consumables while traveling always felt a little wasteful.

And local specialty products? I'd rather stock them in the shop than use them personally. Such was the merchant's curse.

Back in the room, I toweled off my still-damp hair.

Alexia hadn't returned yet, but women took their time in the bath.

Her hair was long and required considerable upkeep, so this was to be expected.

I polished the lens of my monocle and set it on the shelf beside my bed.

I'd been using it since I inherited it from my father along with the shop. Quality craftsmanship; it had lasted all this time.

Partly because I took good care of it, perhaps.

My memories of my father had grown hazy, but I could still clearly recall the way he'd look through this monocle and gaze gently at his merchandise.

Take care of your belongings, he'd always told me.

As a merchant, I believed I'd surpassed him by now.

But as a person, I still felt far behind.

I pulled a pen and stationery from my bag.

Letters required decent paper or they'd become illegible, so it was a bit costly, but I kept some on hand precisely for occasions like this.

I wrote out a letter explaining the situation to send back to the shop.

I'd told them I'd be right back before leaving, so this was just a precaution.

The people running the shop now were more than capable, so I wasn't particularly worried. But I understood the difference between relying on someone and simply being negligent.

I finished writing the key points and placed the letter under my monocle.

I couldn't turn out the lights until Alexia came back, so I stretched to help myself sleep better.

Just then, Alexia returned to the room.

A citrus scent trailed after her.

Given that others might see her, she'd thrown a bathrobe over her negligee.

The moment she was inside, she hung the bathrobe on the coat stand as if it were in her way.

The negligee was sheer, which was a bit much to look at.

"A proper bath really is wonderful. If there's one thing I'm genuinely grateful for, it's being able to soak in plenty of hot water."

"Back when you were a noble… no, never mind. Glad you enjoyed it."

Even nobles had it rough when money was tight, or so I'd heard.

And Alexia's family had been under considerable strain.

"Don't worry about it. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I do still regret not being able to stop my father, though. If I ever get the chance, I'll punch the bastard who set him up."

Alexia said that and sat on her bed.

Then she beckoned me over.

Wondering what she wanted, I approached and was handed a comb and a towel.

I recognized the comb. I'd bought it for her.

"Normally I have Azu or Elza do it, but since I'm sharing a room with Master tonight, I'll trouble you instead."

"Me?"

Honestly, it seemed like a bit of a hassle.

But I liked Alexia's hair. I didn't mind tending to it.

It had been one of the reasons I'd bought her in the first place.

"Oh? I'm your property, am I not? And here you are, a merchant who won't even maintain his own goods?"

"Hmph. Fair point."

With eyes that provocative, daring me to refuse, I couldn't exactly stay silent.

I moved behind Alexia and began blotting her hair dry with the towel.

Less wiping, more pressing. Gently, softly. As though handling a work of art.

I'd expected adventuring to have damaged it, but that wasn't the case at all. Under the lamplight, it was simply, purely beautiful.

Alexia sat still and let me work in silence.

Once the moisture was dealt with, Alexia conjured a warm breeze with magic to dry it the rest of the way.

"Couldn't you just dry it with that from the start?"

"It damages the hair."

Alexia slid both hands under her hair at the nape, lifted it once, and let it fall.

The fine strands settled back into place slowly.

It was completely dry.

From there, I began running the comb through.

This was only the second time I'd combed a woman's hair.

The first time, I'd been a boy, pulled too hard, caught a tangle, and gotten scolded for it.

The comb slid smoothly through.

"You're quite good at this."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

Alexia sounded genuinely impressed.

When I finished combing, she confiscated the comb and handed me a small jar instead.

Inside was a semi-transparent oil. I gave it a careful sniff, and it smelled sweet.

A scent I caught now and then when I was near Azu and the others.

"What's this?"

"It's an oil made from horse fat. This is what I use for upkeep. Elza found it, and it's quite good."

"Ah, so that's why it seemed familiar. We don't carry this in our shop, do we?"

"No. Ask Elza for the details later. Right now, I'd rather you use it to moisturize."

Alexia said that and slipped off her negligee, baring her skin.

She was right. She couldn't do this part alone.

"Just the back."

"That's fine."

I worked the oil into my hands and gently placed them on Alexia's soft skin.

Her normally fair complexion was tinged with a faint pink from the bath's warmth.