Company in the Name of Making It Up

Author: Iwashi-zukushi
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3388fm/54/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“Eh, so the Demon King sulked?”
“Yes, that is so. Honestly, when it comes to Lady Grace she is like this…”

Dorothea let out a sigh as if exasperated, fuu.
Stark naked.

We were at a public bathing facility, the two of us.
The other day: the “making it up” for forcibly ending the Demon King’s rampage.
When I showed my face at the castle I asked Dorothea what would be good, and she said this would be.
Apparently having me wash her hair before had been very good.
She is always looking after the Demon King, so the sensation of being looked after by someone may have been pleasant.

And so, while I washed Dorothea’s hair, I was listening to the complaints of castle service.
Apparently Lady Grace is too earnest about writing, so the Demon King is sulking that she is not attended to.
…How strange, where did that charismatic beauty go…?

Even I want to say it; Dorothea, who is at her side day by day, must have various thoughts.
If it serves as a change of pace for Dorothea, that is well.

“Even so, the Demon King… my impression has changed considerably from when I first met her.”
“She is certainly a solid person in her usual hours, and I cannot imagine serving anyone but her.
But… toward those inside she is, in various senses, soft, or rather, she comes to lean on one.”
“…But your face says you do not dislike that either, you know?”
“…You see through it, Asha. It cannot be helped.”

I put my fingers into Dorothea’s long pale-violet hair as she laughed small, kneaded her scalp with the pads of my fingers, and worked the dirt out.
That her scalp felt a little hard—is it stress~?
But as I kneaded it out, Dorothea’s expression gradually softened as well.
Yes, yes, she is a beauty for once; I want her not to store up stress and the like.

When I finished washing her hair I gathered it in a towel, and this time washed her back.
As always, a fleshy, erotic back and rear.
I put on a taut expression so as not to let that show on my face.

“Nn… after all, being washed by you, Asha, feels the best.”
“Ahaha, is that so? Well, I would be the most used to it~”

I answered brightly, while in my heart worldly desire and reason were fighting a fierce battle.
No, because, you see. I can do as I like with this smooth skin, if limited to the meaning of washing.
Then one might say one’s hand slipped, and… so, I said no.

But there was a little something that bothered me.

“Dorothea, have you been tired of late? Your back and shoulders seem slightly tight.”
“…You really do see through everything, Asha.
Lately Your Majesty’s work has increased, so as a result I as well, that is the form.”

Dorothea answering so made a slightly troubled face.
…Wait, I have a bad feeling?

“…Of that increase, about what portion is related to me?”
“…Seeing through too much is a troubling thing as well, Asha.”

Y-yes, as I thought…
Lately the projects I have proposed are many, and most of them large-scale.
No, before I know it they go large-scale on their own… I want to claim that is not my fault.

Looking at me like that, Dorothea laughed, kusu kusu.

“It is all right. I do not resent you, Asha.
And the undertakings you propose are all useful, and stimulating.
It is true I am busy, but one can also say I am fulfilled.”

Being told so is grateful on my side as well.
But that is so~; it is without mistake because the Demon King and the others process it that way that I can do as I like.
If I could return something.

Thinking that, I finished rinsing Dorothea’s washed back, when.

“Fuu, thank you.
Then, Asha, next I will wash you, so please turn your back this way.”
“Heh? N-no, today is the day I serve you, Dorothea.”
“It is true I asked you to ‘make it up,’ but I did not say I wanted to be looked after, you know?
I did want to be looked after as well, but I want to look after you too.”

Ah, honestly, at the root that is her temperament, Dorothea.
There are people like that, people who like looking after others. People for whom that is as much as a reason to live.
If Dorothea is so as well, refusing forcibly might be rather more unkind.

“I-I understand. Then, since we have the chance, please.”
“Yes. …It is unfair that only my rear is seen as well.”
“…You noticed.”

At a mischievous laugh I found myself shrinking small.
Come to think of it, Dorothea is the owner of an ability that can tell a pulse without contact.
What is that, I wonder; perhaps she can see vibration, that sort of thing.
At any rate, if it is Dorothea like that, even with my back turned she may know my gaze.

“I am sorry, my eyes went there despite myself…”
“I do not particularly mind. If it is you, you see.”

Over my back, a kusu kusu of laughter.
Uu, is it my imagination, it sounds slightly meaningful.
Now that I have given her my back, I can only be washed meekly.

For a while, with nothing-in-particular chatter, I had my back washed.
As expected of Dorothea, an exquisite control of force. At this rate I would want to be washed every da… no, wait. Surely this is not a scheme?

“…? Asha, is something the matter?”
“No~, nothing~. I was thinking the control of force is really good~”
“Fufu, thank you. If you like, shall I wash you every day?”

I am being read, my inside is being read!

“Ah, ahaha, that would be, as one would expect, I would feel sorry…”
“I would not mind, you know.”

At my slightly flustered voice Dorothea answered laughing as she rinsed my back.
…As expected of an adult woman, I even feel something like composure.
No, I have lived a fair age if one adds my previous life, have I not!?
And yet I have no feeling I can match Dorothea at all.

At any rate, I had my back rinsed and my hair washed as well.
We soaked in the tub and stretched our limbs at leisure.
…That one’s eyes go to the splendid parts cannot be helped, I think, yes.
And watching Dorothea stretching, u~n, I suddenly thought of something.

“Dorothea, if you like, shall I massage you after this?”
“A massage? That would be more than I could ask, but…”

In fact this bathing facility has massage tables attached as well.
There are of course no professional masseuses, but one often sees guests massaging each other.
Incidentally, skill apparently shows, and skilled people are often invited to the bath.

“Then, please lie face-down here.”
“I understand. Like this?”

Nodding, Dorothea lay face-down on the massage table as told.
…A generous part was crushed and changed shape, and her rear was turned this way in a form different from when she had been sitting.
Bad. This is worse than I imagined, bad.
No, no, it is not an ulterior motive; this is purely a return for the trouble I cause and the care I receive day by day.
Telling myself so, I touched Dorothea’s back with my fingers.

“Ah… I, see… Asha, you are good…”
“Ehehe, apothecaries are used to touching people’s bodies~”

It is odd to say it myself, but I am on the good side at massage.
Well, in university I memorized the names of every muscle and bone, and their connections as well, so there is no way I would not put that to use in massage.
Kira and Gerda, and Nora as well, ask me for it now and then.
Especially Nora, because her work is her work, is often knotted…

At any rate, once in such hands of mine, Dorothea did not last either.

“Suu… suu…”

And before I knew it she was making sleeping breaths.
Feeling a little sense of achievement inside, I continued the massage, careful not to wake her.
Did I massage more than thirty minutes? When I thought I had worked her out in outline, I called to her.

“Dorothea, the massage is finished~”
“…Eh, y-yes… eh!? W-was I asleep…?”

Dorothea, whose consciousness had returned, hurriedly sat up.
I had a feeling it was the first time I had seen her this flustered.

“Yes already, soundly. You had fatigue stored up after all.”
“Th-that may, be so… that I, of all people…”

Perhaps falling asleep had been that embarrassing; Dorothea’s face was bright red.
I do not think she needs to mind it that much.

“There, there, it happens now and then, if it feels too good.”
“That is, so, but… haa… I cannot match you, Asha.”

She sighed and turned a troubled sort of smile on me.
Perhaps it is that: that she, of all people, the Demon King’s aide, let her guard down, that sort of thing??
But there is probably that sort of stress as well.

“Now then, after a rest, let us dry our hair and change.
I have a meeting with Kira and Gerda at Elma’s shop.”
“Yes. We have already taken our time quite a bit; let us do so.”

Saying such things we dried each other’s hair as well, and enjoyed the bath pleasantly.

In fact, from the talk at this time I ended up wanting to do still more things… later that came out, and I was turned a troubled sort of smile by Dorothea.