The bathroom in the inn where Fritz and the others were staying was located at the back of the first floor. The tub was roughly the size of two tatami mats—large enough for four people to soak comfortably.
"…It’s warm."
After rinsing off their bodies, Gloria and Rita soaked in the hot water side by side. Little by little, Rita had begun to open up and speak.
"Hehe, isn't it? I hear people don't have much of a habit of bathing in the Liebus Region."
"Yes. But... baths feel wonderful."
Due to the dry climate of the Liebus Region, water was a precious resource in many areas, which had hindered the development of a bathing culture.
"Right? Alright, I'll wash your hair next."
"Eh? Oh, no... I... I wouldn't dream of it."
"Don't be silly. You and I are both human, Rita."
Gloria had Rita sit in the washing area and poured hot water over her head.
"Keep your eyes closed."
"Y-Yes."
Soap did not yet exist in this world. Methods varied by region, but here in the Celuroa Kingdom, they used the crushed roots of a plant called sapon.
When Gloria washed Rita's hair with the sapon extract, the first pass produced no lather at all.
"It’s quite dirty."
"I... I'm sorry."
Perhaps taking Gloria’s muttered observation as a rebuke, Rita shrank into herself. Gloria continued to wash the girl's hair with gentle motions.
"I’m not angry, so don't worry.…See? It’s clean now."
On the second wash, the extract lathered up, and the grime was thoroughly rinsed away. Her hair, which had been a dull grayish-yellow, was revealed to be a bright, clear yellow.
The hair had been cut unevenly at the shoulders and lacked luster, but it was a vast improvement over how it had looked before.
"T-Thank you very much..."
"Alright, now you wash mine."
"Y-Yes!"
Since Gloria’s hair was short, the task was finished in no time.
They returned to the tub together. Soaking opposite the girl this time, Gloria found herself looking directly at Rita’s front.
A black choker was wrapped around the girl’s neck, and what looked like a tattooed script was etched across her chest. She was painfully thin; her ribs were visible beneath her skin.
"Say, Rita. Were you... sold?"
"Yes..."
Rita cast her gaze downward.
"Rita, neither I nor Fritz-dono—the man who brought you here—are from this country. So, if you're willing, why not tell me what happened? I might be able to help."
"Yes..."
Rita’s wariness hadn't vanished, but Gloria's kindness seemed to have reached her. She began to speak in a halting voice.
"I am from a village called Lario in the Liebus Region. I have... no family."
"I see..."
"We couldn't pay the additional taxes that were imposed, and to make up the difference... I was sold."
"...That is a heavy burden."
Even Gloria could only offer a conventional response to such a stark reality.
"Were there other children sold as well?"
"Ah, yes....Besides me, there were ten others..."
"That many...?"
Gloria felt a chill at the sheer depth of the darkness within the Celuroa Kingdom.
"Well, shall we get out?"
As Gloria climbed out of the tub, Rita followed close behind.
"Ah, wear those clothes there. They’re mine, so you’ll have to roll up the sleeves and such."
It was unavoidable that the clothes wouldn't fit, given the difference between the 168-centimeter, 58-kilogram Gloria and the 155-centimeter, skeletal Rita.
"Eh, but..."
"The underwear might be large too, but it’s brand new. Please bear with it for tonight."
"It’s not that..."
Gloria smiled at the still-hesitant Rita.
"Listen, Rita. Neither I nor Fritz-dono are saints. But we do want to help you. For now, could you just be a good girl and do as we say?"
"..."
Rita remained silent with her head bowed, but eventually, a tear or two escaped her eyes.
"...Why... why are you being so kind to someone like me?"
Gloria’s answer was perfectly candid.
"You've got me there. Is 'because I want to help' not enough of a reason?"
"..."
Faced with the question, Rita couldn't find an answer.
"Oh, Gloria-dono, thanks. Rita’s looking clean, too."
When they returned to the room, Fritz was there alone, drinking.
Rita jumped at the sight of him. Gloria gently put an arm around the girl's shoulders to reassure her.
"Rita, aren't you hungry? We only have this, but you can have some if you like."
Fritz pointed to a mountain of jerky he had ordered as a snack for his drinks. At the sight of the food, Rita's stomach gave a small, audible growl.
"Haha, you can eat it all."
Fritz spoke as gently as possible to the blushing Rita.
"See? Fritz-dono says so too. Go ahead and eat."
"Y-Yes, thank you very much..."
Kneeling on the floor, Rita tentatively reached for the jerky and took a bite, then another.
"It’s delicious...!"
The jerky was seasoned with both salt and spices. For Rita, who had likely only ever eaten flavorless dried meat, it was a revelation.
"U-Um, may I have another piece...?"
"Yeah, didn't I say you could eat the whole lot?"
Fritz pushed the plate toward her.
"Thank you very much..."
Uttering her thanks for the umpteenth time, Rita devoured the jerky as if famished. When she nearly choked partway through, Fritz handed her a cup of water.
Once she had finished the generous portion of jerky, Rita bowed her head to Fritz again. Seeing this, Gloria spoke up.
"We should probably get some rest now....Fritz-dono, you as well."
At those words, Rita's body went rigid.
"Yeah, I'm going to drink a bit more, so you two can go ahead and sleep....Oh right, Rita can sleep in my room."
Rita’s face went pale, her posture stiffening further.
Gloria caught the reaction and understood immediately. Rita was likely terrified that Fritz intended to take advantage of her. Since Gloria hadn't fully grasped Fritz’s true intentions herself yet, she spoke up as a test.
"...Fritz-dono, I was thinking I would sleep with Rita tonight. Would you mind?"
But Fritz, oblivious to the concerns of both women, replied casually.
"Oh, that's fine, but won't the bed be a bit cramped? I can always sleep on the sofa here."
Gloria let out a mental sigh of relief.
"Rita will likely feel anxious alone. I’ll stay with her tonight."
Leaving it at that, Gloria led Rita into her own bedroom.
"U-Um, Gloria-sama? Is it... really alright for us to be together?"
After getting into bed, Rita asked with a hint of fluster.
"Yes. It might be a bit tight, but please bear with it. Tomorrow we should be able to get another room... I think."
"That's not what I meant..." Rita murmured softly, finally letting the tension drain from her body.
"Don't worry for now. The night is for sleeping and resting."
Gloria patted the head of the girl lying right beside her and closed her eyes.
I didn't realize I had such a motherly streak, she thought to herself.