[Kai] "*sigh~*"
How did this happen? Let's go over it real quick because I'm having a hard time getting my head around it. So I got captured as cattle, killed three vampires, became their blood factory and now this. Standing in front of the most influential vampires in the castle with Verren standing on my right having introduced me to them as his new left hand.
...
How the hell did this happen!?
- before the banquet.
[Seyird] "you are to first have a bath to get rid of that pungent human odour of yours. After that, I will supply you with the appropriate attire and lastly, you will follow me out to the banquet hall where you will stand to the left of Lord Verren. Understood?"
[Kai] "bath, clothing, follow, left. Got it. Though did you have to be so mean about my "odour"? It's not my fault I haven't been allowed to leave this room."
[Seyird] "do not speak to me until you have cleaned yourself. You truly smell, as does your breath."
[Kai] "fine, fine, I get it! Direct me to the bath."
We began to walk out of the room. This being the first time for me leaving that room in over a week, it feels a little strange. Like a shut in who's seeing the outside world for the first time. I've been so absorbed in creating blood and training myself and my abilities that I almost forgot about this place. Almost. Since a few moments ago, when I asked to be allowed entry into the library I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.
[Seyird] "we're here. Enter through this door, take off your clothes, head in and wash yourself."
[Kai] "right."
[Seyird] "I will return in twenty minutes."
[Kai] "alright, see you then. Oh, just one question. There's not going to be someone else in there is there?"
[Seyird] "what are you hoping for?"
[Kai] "e-eh? Nothing."
Right. This is real life, not a light novel, as much as it seems otherwise sometimes. Taking in a deep breath in and out to calm myself down I follow Seyirds instructions and head in through the doorway.
Just through the door there is a small room with box shelves on either side which I assume are where I'm supposed to place my clothes after disrobing. After placing my clothes on one of the shelves I quickly looked around for a towel before noticing a pile of them in a box in the corner by the door. I made sure to wrap one around my waist for the purpose of avoiding any unnecessary misunderstandings. You can never be too careful I figure. All that's left to do now is step through the doorway on the other side with an opaque sheet blocking the view of the bathroom.
After stepping out into the "bath" room, I couldn't help but be astonished and let out a small "woah" at the large hot spring emanating a small amount of steam that I currently had private access to. After all, Not being from Japan and being sick all the time, I never really had the chance to go to one in my past life. Since I constantly saw them in the manga and anime that took up the majority of my time I couldn't help but want to experience it myself and honestly, I'm looking forward to this, not to mention the fact that I haven't washed myself since that day at the lake.
Once I reached the edge of the spring I leant over before dipping my fingers in with my first reaction being.
[Kai] "So warm~"
I allowed a childish smile to appear on my face as I looked around quickly, making sure once again that no one was here before taking off my towel and placing it on the edge of the hot spring as I slowly sank into the water till I found myself sitting there and breathing out in a way in which it seemed that for this moment all my worries had escaped my body in that single breath. 15 minutes later however, things became a little less relaxing.
*creak*
A creaking noise woke me from my trance, taking me about two minutes to fully remember where I was and regain my focus, I turned around to see where the noise had come from. There I found, standing in front of me, the figure of a golden eyed, silver haired girl wrapped tightly in a towel.
[Kai] "ga-mmph!"
As I unintentionally released a noise from my mouth in surprise I quickly muffled it with my hand before thinking to myself.
[Kai] "*thoughts* please notice the towel, please notice the towel, please notice the towel and leave."
[Lucile] "hm? A towel? Did someone forget it here?"
Why is that the first thing you think of! Tch, guess this means I'll have to make myself known sooner rather than later if I want to avoid any misunderstandings.
[Kai] "is someone there!?"
[Lucile] "eh?!"
Alright, with this she should have realised that there is someone here... hopefully.
[Lucile] "Kai?"
Uh oh.
[Lucile] "it is you Kai! It has been so long since I've seen you!"
I suppose I have no choice but to reply, though I'll make sure not to turn around.
[Kai] "hello, Miss Feyren"
[Lucile] "please, just call me Lucile."
[Kai] "Very well... Lucile."
[Lucile] "th-thank you, um, so what brings you here?"
A bath?
[Kai] "I was informed by lord Verren that this place would be empty for the time being and that I should use it in preparations for the banquet tonight."
[Lucile] "father did? I-I hadn't realised that you were so close with him."
[Kai] "not necessarily. He seems to value the work I do here and for that reason, I was told to join them tonight."
Not a lie.
[Lucile] "I-I see, and, what kind of work is that exactly?"
Nosy one aren't you. Unfortunately for you I was told to keep quiet about what I do sooo, not telling!
[Kai] "before any of that, my time here is finished and I must be going."
[Lucile] "oh... okay..."
She's just standing there... does she not realise I'm a man or that I'm naked? is she just an airhead? Or is she like her father so she doesn't care about things like nudity, though, if that were the case she probably would have just gotten in the water with me.... stop thinking stuff like that! Wait, why am I thinking about something like that? *sigh* I'll ponder the thought later.
[Kai] "um, Lucile?"
[Lucile] "...yes?"
[Kai] "as I am currently nude, I would deeply appreciate it if you could look away, at least until I am wearing my towel."
Her facial expressions changed so many times in the span of a few seconds. First was the sad, dejected look of someone who had been rejected, then was the curious look of someone being asked a question, the realisation of what I was talking about, the ensuing embarrassment and reddening cheeks, finally finishing with an apologetic yet still rather red look.
[Lucile] "I-I-I-I'm s-so sorry!"
She immediately ran behind a nearby rock and out of sight. Following this, I sighed before getting out of the water and fixing my towel around my waist.
[Kai] "you can come out now."
[Lucile] "r-right..."
She walked out from behind the large rock whilst looking towards the ground. Is she still upset? Perhaps I should do something to cheer her up. Purely for the purpose of not getting on hers or her fathers bad sides.
[Kai] "will you be attending the banquet?"
[Lucile] "F-father informed me that there would be something I do not wish to miss out on... so... I suppose?"
[Kai] "you suppose? Are you unsure?"
[Lucile] "I am... nervous... around people I am not entirely familiar with.."
[Kai] "you seem to be alright speaking to me though."
[Lucile] "I..don't know why that is.."
[Kai] "well, would it help calm you down if I were to be seated next to you? I assume your father will be on your other side so you wouldn't be next to anyone you feel uncomfortable around."
[Lucile] "yes?"
[Kai] "a question?"
[Lucile] "I-I mean, that would be lovely... thank you."
[Kai] "of course. Oh, and about that thing your father was talking about, if it's what I think it is, you'll probably enjoy it. See you at the banquet then."
I waved back without looking behind me as I walked out of the hot spring.