Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 10: Bathing Together

Chapter 10: Bathing Together

As night fell and the estate grew quiet, I made my way to the bathhouse.

Soaking in the warm water was one of the few moments of peace I could enjoy in these busy days. The spacious bathhouse, filled with rising steam, felt calm and serene.

I sank into the water, closed my eyes, and let my thoughts drift to everything that had happened. Over the past year, since being reincarnated as a villainous noble, I had been working to change my circumstances.

Having Liese and Maria in the estate had undoubtedly made daily life livelier. Seeing their health restored was a source of great joy for me.

However, the work that came with being a noble and a lord was far more challenging than I had imagined. My days were consumed by administrative duties—setting taxes, reorganizing the military, managing trade tariffs, and resolving the problems of various people.

Tasks that had been neglected for years were now piling up on my desk.

With Arnaud presenting me with one job after another, I spent my days working through the backlog.

If I had continued acting like the selfish villain I was supposed to be, I wouldn’t have had to face these responsibilities. But to ensure the estate’s wealth and prosperity, I needed to establish proper governance.

Thankfully, the year ended without any major issues. That alone was a relief I could truly feel.

Just then, I heard the faint sound of a door opening in the distance.

“Lord Cerios, excuse us!”

I opened my eyes to see Liese and Maria peeking into the bathhouse. Liese’s cheeks were slightly flushed, but she had a bright smile, while Maria looked somewhat apologetic.

Both of them were completely naked, without even towels.

“What are you two doing?!”

Startled, I raised my voice. Liese cheerfully raised her hand in response, her small but growing figure briefly catching my eye before I hurriedly looked away.

“We’ve come to help you with your bath, Lord Cerios! It’s part of our duties as maids!”

“No, I can manage on my own just fine…”

I started to protest, but Maria interrupted with a soft smile.

“Lord Cerios, please allow us to assist you. You’ve done so much for us, and we want to repay your kindness. Besides, you’re still young, and Liese is young as well, so there’s no issue. If it’s uncomfortable, I could just—”

Maria’s words trailed off into something concerning.

“What are you?!”

“Think of it as another way to show affection. We could do this every day.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Fufu, don’t worry about it. Since we’re here, let’s just enjoy the evening together.”

I found myself at a loss for words, but I couldn’t think of a strong enough reason to refuse. Reluctantly, I gave a small nod.

“Now, let us wash your body.”

“Huh?”

“Lord Cerios, please step out of the bath.”

Before I could react, Liese took my hand and led me to the washing area, where Maria was waiting. Caught between this stunning mother and daughter, I found myself being washed from both sides.

As my body, transitioning from a boy to a young man, involuntarily reacted to their presence, Maria subtly positioned herself in front to shield me from Liese’s view.

“Lord Cerios, how’s the pressure?”

“It’s fine.”

“And me, how am I doing?”

“Yes, Liese, it feels nice too.”

Liese scrubbed my back with surprising strength. Her youthful innocence, paired with her efforts, left me feeling flustered. Was it really okay for the main heroine of an otome game to be washing my back? Meanwhile, Maria, exuding her mature charm, gently washed my hair with delicate hands.

With no way to escape their thorough care, I simply closed my eyes and endured it.

“Shall we return to the bath now?”

“Yes.”

After quickly rinsing themselves, they joined me in the bath, sitting on either side.

“Lord Cerios, you’ve been working so hard lately.”

“What?”

“Yes, seeing you dedicate yourself to your duties for everyone’s sake is truly admirable.”

It seemed the two had come to the bath to show their appreciation. Still, I couldn’t help but think that this mother and daughter were far too trusting.

If I were truly a villainous noble, I might have already taken advantage of their trust.

“Is there anything you’d like us to do?”

“No, I’m fine…”

I answered with a small smile, and Liese pouted slightly, her cheeks puffing up as she sat in the warm water.

“But it’s such a rare chance to take care of you!”

Maria, watching her, smiled gently and spoke.

“Liese, don’t overdo it. Lord Cerios, I apologize for her behavior.”

“No, it’s fine. Honestly, seeing both of you healthy again is a relief for me as well.”

In the bath, we talked about little things, nothing too serious.

Liese mentioned that she had recently started learning how to cook. Her abilities seemed to have no limits—she wasn’t just improving in her studies and maid duties but was also adding skills like cooking and sewing to her repertoire.

As she excitedly shared her progress, Maria added warm, gentle comments to fill in the gaps, her smile as radiant as ever.

While they spoke, my gaze kept wandering unintentionally toward their skin, only for me to quickly look away each time. I silently thanked the heavens for my young body. It was embarrassing but, at least, manageable. Although emotionally and physically, it was still a challenge.

Amid the rising steam, Liese suddenly looked up and spoke.

“Lord Cerios, you’re so kind. You saved us and made it possible for us to be here together like this. It’s all thanks to you!”

“I’m just happy that you’re both safe and well.”

At my words, Maria spoke in a soft, heartfelt tone.

“Lord Cerios, thank you so much. Being able to live these peaceful days is the greatest happiness for us.”

Feeling a little flustered by her sincerity, I adjusted my position in the bath and responded quietly.

“I just enjoy seeing you both smile. That’s more than enough for me.”

To be honest, I was ready to leave the bath.

Suddenly, Liese began to laugh softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she sat in the water.

“Lord Cerios, you’re really cool, aren’t you? Right, Mother?”

“Yes, I agree.”

Their words and expressions left me feeling oddly ticklish inside, and I let out a small sigh in the water.

“You’ll both get dizzy if you stay too long. Let’s get out now.”

As I stepped out of the bath, Liese and Maria hurried to follow.

While drying her face with a towel, Liese turned to me with a beaming smile.

“Let’s bathe together again sometime, Lord Cerios!”

I gave a wry smile and nodded.

“If I feel like it.”

And so, the lively and slightly unsettling bath time came to an end. Recently, Liese had become much more forward, and Maria seemed determined to pamper me at every opportunity.

Their closeness felt way too much! All I want is to protect them and ensure their happiness—not to end up in situations like this!

Flustered, I somehow managed to escape from the bath.

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[Afterword]

Hello, this is the author, Iko.

That’s all for today.

Starting tomorrow, I plan to move the story forward a bit. Thank you, as always, for your support (๑>◡<๑)!