Seeing Belle hesitate, the woman immediately struck while the iron was hot.
"You two young ladies look exhausted from your travels. This one is sleeping so soundly; she must be worn out."
"With the Harvest Festival approaching, other inns are likely full as well. If you keep looking, you might not even find a room with a double bed."
Hearing this, Luna Belle finally compromised. After all, the temptation to lie down and rest immediately was simply too great. She nodded and said, "Alright, a double bed it is then. Sorry for the trouble."
"Great! No problem at all!"
A wide smile broke across the woman's face as she briskly took down the key and handed it to Luna Belle.
"The rate is fifteen copper coins per day, which includes a simple breakfast. If you need hot water for a bath, it's an extra five copper coins, and I'll have it sent to your room."
Luna Belle took a silver coin from the pouch Captain Roy had given her, handed it to the woman, and said, "Please prepare some hot water, thank you."
"Coming right up! I'll have the hot water sent up in a bit. The room is at the very end of the second floor; just turn right at the top of the stairs."
The woman took the money, handed eighty copper coins in change to Luna Belle, and enthusiastically pointed out the way. Luna Belle thanked her and, carrying the still "soundly asleep" Ellen on her back, climbed the creaking wooden stairs to the second floor. She found the corresponding room and opened the door with the key.
The room was indeed spacious and tidy, just as the woman had said. A large bed with plain cotton sheets occupied almost the center of the room, looking soft and comfortable. There was a wooden table and two chairs by the window, and a simple clothes rack in the corner. Though the furnishings were simple, it was spotlessly clean, and the window was cracked open slightly to let in fresh air.
Luna Belle walked carefully to the bedside, bent her knees slightly, and gently laid Ellen down on the bed. The moment Ellen touched the soft bedding, she let out a small, animal-like grunt, naturally rolled over to find the most comfortable position, hugged a pillow, and continued to sleep deeply.
Standing by the bed, Luna Belle looked at Ellen's defenseless sleeping face and listened to her steady breathing. The slight awkwardness and shyness she had felt about "sharing a bed" were gradually replaced by a soft emotion. She tucked a few stray strands of black hair behind Ellen's ear and gently pulled a corner of the quilt over her waist.
"Sleep well."
Straightening up, Luna Belle stretched her somewhat numb shoulders and arms. Just then, a knock came from the door; it was the inn's maid bringing the hot water. A large wooden tub was carried in and placed behind a screen in the corner of the room. Steaming vapor quickly filled the air, carrying a faint, clean scent of soapberry.
After the attendant left, Luna Belle looked at the tub of hot water and then at Ellen, who was sleeping soundly. She decided to wash up briefly first and let Ellen sleep a little longer. She walked behind the screen, took off her dusty outer clothes, and carefully wiped her cheeks and arms with a damp towel. The warm water washed away her fatigue and the dust, making her feel much more refreshed.
Just as she finished wiping down and was about to change into clean pajamas, a rustling sound came from outside the screen, followed by Ellen's voice.
"Belle... where are you?"
Luna Belle poked her head out to see that Ellen had sat up at some point. She was rubbing her eyes and looking toward the screen with a sleepy expression, her large shark tail drooping listlessly off the edge of the bed, swaying slowly.
"The inn sent up hot water. Do you want to wash up?" Luna Belle asked.
Ellen nodded and gave a huge yawn. She stood up unsteadily and walked toward the screen like a sleepwalker.
"Mmh... better wash before sleeping... feels gross..."
She reached the edge of the screen and naturally began to untie the laces at the back of her maid outfit, her movements so fluid it was as if Luna Belle weren't even there.
"Wait... wait!"
Luna Belle's face turned beet red instantly. She scrambled to grab the outer clothes she had just taken off to block her view, stammering incoherently. "I... I'll go out first! Take your time!"
With that, she practically stumbled out from behind the screen in an escape, her heart pounding wildly. Ellen's confused mumble came from behind her.
"...What's wrong? Is Belle... shy?..."
"I'm... I'm not! Who's shy!" Luna Belle retorted stubbornly to the air in a small voice, though her tone lacked conviction.
She leaned against the screen, the slight sound of fabric rubbing together reaching her ears and making her cheeks burn. She forced herself to walk to the window and push it open, letting the cool night air blow against her hot face in an attempt to dispel those thoughts.
"Does Ellen... have no sense of self-protection at all..." she muttered under her breath.
Hearing her words, Ellen's calm voice came from behind the screen. "So that's what Belle is wondering about?"
Ellen let out a light chuckle. Luna Belle scratched her cheek and said, "You can hear me even when I'm being this quiet?"
"Of course... As for that question... it's only for you..."
"Me...?"
"Yeah... I'm only defenseless around you ♡."
"!"
Before long, the sound of water stopped. Ellen, wrapped in a slightly oversized white bathrobe, slowly sauntered out from behind the screen while drying her short black hair with a towel. The bathrobe's belt was tied loosely, revealing a small patch of her collarbone and neck, which were flushed a faint pink from the hot water. Her shark tail had also become moist and sleek from the bath, swaying gently behind her.
"Whew... much better..."
She sighed vaguely, a look of post-bath laziness on her face. She naturally walked to the bed, flopped into the soft bedding, rolled over, and wrapped herself in the quilt.
"Snap out of it, Belle!"
She reached out toward Luna Belle, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, and waved a hand in front of her eyes. Right then, that familiar, crisp female voice with a hint of electronic texture rang out perfectly in the room.
"Abnormal rise in Master's core temperature detected. Significant dilation of facial capillaries observed, accompanied by transient downtime of the linguistic function module and logic processing delays. Cross-referencing with behavioral pattern database..."
Fairy's voice was as steady as ever, as if she were merely stating objective facts, but the content made Luna Belle wish she could crawl into a hole.
"Analysis complete. Based on results learned from the Inter-Knot, Master's current physiological and psychological state highly matches a phenomenon known as a 'Steaming Maiden.' Characteristics include steam rising from the head due to overheating, typically triggered by intense emotions such as extreme shyness, embarrassment, or romantic excitement."
Fairy even thoughtfully added, "Would Master like Fairy to play cooling, soothing music, or provide tips on how to calm your mood?"
"Fairy! Shut... shut up!"
Luna Belle finally broke out of her petrified state. She could even feel the heat on her head rising another level—steam might actually start coming out at this rate!