After hurriedly bringing the water back home, Regina set the bucket down and glanced at its contents. It was not much, but it would be enough for the day. She would go again the next day, waking even earlier!
Without wasting another moment, she went to the small bathing corner of the room separated by a wall to the living room, where a large wooden tub stood. She poured in only enough water for herself, warmed it, and slipped inside.
Taking a sponge, she quickly but carefully scrubbed away the dirt and sweat clinging to her skin.
"Do you have a special skincare routine for having such luminous skin? Even noble ladies would be jealous of this texture."
At the sudden memory of Lumiel's words, and of the tender way his fingers had brushed her skin in that bath, Regina blushed shyly.
She scrubbed herself harder than necessary, using more of the perfumed soap than she should have. It was a new soap she had bought at the market, one of the few small indulgences she allowed herself.
