“I will wash Mina’s back.”
“I don’t need it. I can’t let you do that.”
Of course, she couldn’t let me do that! Even though they were naked together!
I begged, “Mina, won’t you let me?” but Mina’s guard was so ironclad that she quickly washed it herself. Tsk.
I felt sorry for taking too long, so I quickly climbed out of the tent and put on my clothes in the shade of the tent.
What was unfortunate was that all the knights were stationed around the hot spring. Although they all appeared to be heavy drinkers during the meal, everyone was gracious enough to continue their work without alcohol because they were on guard duty.
“Thank you very much, gentlemen. I am going to take a rest now, so please feel free to enter and enjoy the rest of the evening.”
When I said this to them, all the knights turned their backs to me and responded with a “Ha!… I apologize for everything.
We went into a tent that had been lent to us for sleeping and asked Mina to comb my hair. Even though we had to get off the carriage in a hurry upon arriving at the Forest People’s residence, Mina had made sure to bring with her the tools to take care of my hair and nails. It also contained a blue rose hair ornament and other valuables, so it was best to keep them on hand for that purpose.
I assumed that the bed would be a futon because I sat on a cushion on the floor while we ate, but it was a regular bed, albeit a small one.
And there was a nice scent from the pillow. It had a fresh scent, like lemongrass. It must be an insect repellent. Are the giant bees okay with this? Well, they did not enter the tent, so I guess it was okay.
The Forest People seemed to have a wealth of knowledge about aromas. Hopefully, this could also be put to good use in the future. I would like to maintain the forest and create a path for the Forest People to become economically powerful and to be able to live as they do, even if times were to change.
In my previous life, indigenous peoples from various countries experienced various hardships. I hoped that if this world developed as it did in my previous life, the Forest People would not have to go through such hardships.
Once in bed, Mina released the white pearl worm in the basket outside, just as Aurora had told her to do. Closing my eyes in the darkened tent, I soon fell asleep.
I wondered what time I had awakened.
It was bright outside the tent, but it felt as if it was midnight.
-I’m being called….
Oh, I have to go. I naturally thought so and got myself up.
After getting out of bed and putting on a shawl over my nightgown, I suddenly realized something was wrong.
Mina did not wake up.
Mina, who would wake up at the slightest sign of anything, was still lying on the other bed in the same tent and did not seem to be waking up.
Even so, I was not afraid. I had a feeling that I knew what was calling me.
I left the tent.
There was no one awake outside, not even Regina and the other hounds. They were all curled up and asleep.
Before I knew it, the moon had risen. It was a full moon, shining brightly. The stars that had filled the heavens were almost invisible in the overwhelming moonlight.
I looked down at my feet. A shadow was cast clearly by the moon towards me.
I lifted my gaze and saw someone sitting on the horseback.
The rider’s scythe gleamed in the moonlight.
Ekaterina gracefully took a ladylike pose.
“This is the first time we have met. My name is Ekaterina Yurinova. Maiden of Death, what business do you have with me?”
