If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 73
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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“Yes, I’ll have the servants heat some water.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience anyone with my presence. Don’t worry about it.”
“If the Miss falls ill, the servants will have an even harder time.”
Liana’s point wasn’t completely wrong. Agatha, having not been properly nourished during her growth years, was more fragile than most women. Plus, this was her first time traveling such a long distance. So it wouldn’t have been surprising if she was to fall ill.
It would be best to prevent it, as recovery would be challenging once she was already sick. Agatha understood what Liana was trying to say, but it posed a problem.
“But there’s nowhere suitable for a bath here.”
The idea of bathing in this camp of tents without a proper building seemed ludicrous.
“We can bring water into the tent.”
“Into the tent?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“That won’t work. It’s not just my tent, and what if Sir Cain returns unexpectedly?”
“I’ve already asked with the knights. Sir Cain is away inspecting beyond the hill and on such days, he doesn’t return until very late.”
“Even so…”
“I’ll stand guard outside the tent, Miss. If Sir Cain returns, I’ll explain everything and ask him to wait a moment.”
Given Liana’s insistence, Agatha found it hard to refuse. With a sigh of resignation, she agreed.
“If you fell ill, it would trouble Sir Cain even more.”
“Alright. Please prepare it quickly then.”
With permission granted, Liana quickly left to arrange for the water to be heated.
As Agatha waited, she was fighting off sleep. Laying down her body in a still place, after a month of constant travel, enveloped her in waves of fatigue.
If not for the bustling sounds of servants preparing a makeshift bath inside the tent, Agatha might have succumbed to deep sleep.
“Once the bath is ready, go outside and keep an eye out for Sir Cain.”
As Agatha instructed Liana to step outside, another maid stepped forward to assist her in undressing. The reluctant Liana repeated her instructions to the younger maid several times before exiting the tent.
Agatha removed her outer garments and then unlaced her corset, which had been constricting her waist uncomfortably throughout the journey. Liana had taken out the corset, that had been hidden away, for the entirety of the month, arguing that Agatha should look her best in a proper dress in front of her husband after two years.
Wearing the corset had been uncomfortable, to say the least, making it difficult to breathe during the long carriage rides.
Finally freed from the corset and undergarments, Agatha took a deep breath, savoring the sensation of liberation before carefully stepping into the bathing tub.
“How’s the water temperature, Madam? I hope it’s not too hot.”
“It’s perfect.”
The warmth of the water sent a shiver of relief from the top of her head to her toes, feeling as if it compensated for the hardships of the past month. Yet, indulging in such luxury alone brought a hint of guilt.
Especially considering Cain had been on the harsh frontiers for years without proper rest….
“I’ll add some more petals to the water.”
The carriage was surprisingly stocked with items intended solely for Agatha’s use, including dried petals for her bath. The thoughtfulness behind Liana’s preparations brought a smile to Agatha’s face. Who would have thought she could have the luxury of bathing in flower-infused water far from home.
“Your skin has roughened a bit, Madam. It used to be as soft as silk.”
“Well, after traveling this long distance, it’s bound to happen.”
“Still, a few days of rest should help you recover quickly.”
The maid said, gently pouring water over Agatha’s shoulders and arms that was not yet submerged.
Immersed in warm water and receiving a massage, Agatha felt the waves of sleepiness she had pushed away come crashing back. Sinking deeper into the tub and resting her head back made her feel much more comfortable.
After sitting in that state for some time, she couldn’t resist the encroaching sleep any longer and slowly closed her eyes. Even as she began to drift off, the maid continued to diligently massage her shoulders and arms.
She vaguely remembered hearing the maid offering to wash her hair, telling her to relax and keep her eyes closed. But whether she responded or not was a blur. As the warmth around her felt increasingly distant, Agatha slipped halfway into slumber.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Just as Agatha and her party had made the long journey from the capital, Cain had expedited his schedule more than usual.
Cain, who had been receiving reports from Ethan on what had transpired in the capital over the last two years, suggested he retire early to the tent out of concern for his fatigue.
“I’m fine, Commander. There’s still much I need to report.”
“There’s nothing urgent, is there?”
“No, but it’s better to discuss everything now while I’m reporting.”
“Enough. Go and get some rest for now. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
“But…”
