Chapter 55 Roman Baths
◎Elena turned her head and greeted him with a soft kiss.◎
After being in Rome for so long, it was the first time for Melia to see the world's "Roman Baths".
After all, people usually swim in their own bathhouses and don’t need to go to public bathhouses - if everyone is crowded in one pool of water, what if they get infected with a disease?
There was no copper sulfate disinfectant back then, and who knows how often the hot water needed to be changed. If even a few regulars had an infectious disease, no one else could escape.
Her concept of a bathhouse was still that of a huge bathhouse: since it was a bathhouse, it must be a square pool of water with a group of people soaking in it, similar to a modern swimming pool, except that the water was warm.
However, when she walked into the snow-white spire-roofed building, Melia realized that she was a little wrong: no wonder it looked like two or three stories high from the outside, it turned out that the bathtub inside was stepped.
The water temperature inside ranges from hot to cold. The bottom of the pool is paved with a structure similar to a kang, and there are rows of palm-sized heating stones buried in the water.
There are no hot springs in Rome. The hot water relies on slaves to constantly add firewood to maintain the water temperature. Perhaps they came too early, and only the small pool on the far left, which is prepared for distinguished guests, is kept heated and can be used for bathing.
There were no extra slaves to serve in the bathhouse, though perhaps someone would offer additional services for a fee. After changing clothes, only Taffy followed.
Elena walked faster, and she lifted the curtain casually, and a wave of hot air hit her face.
"Ahem, Melia...you've never been here before."
Melia could hear the questioning tone, but she simply tilted her head. "I'm in a good mood today, isn't that okay?"
"……sure."
They both took off their slippers at the same time and walked barefoot on the edge of the rough rock.
In order to prevent guests from breaking their hands and feet, the bathtub is paved with thick cotton and linen anti-slip material all around, and only the center circle is polished into an uneven stone surface, which is specifically used for massaging the soles of the feet.
Before arriving, I was worried about the water being too clean, but as I got closer, I could smell a pleasant sulphurous scent. Rose petals were floating in the warm water, and the scent of essential oils was subtle, almost imperceptible.
Stone couches were placed in a U-shape beside the pool, and cushions were reserved for private slaves to rest and watch.
Melia glanced at the couch. Surprisingly, there were fresh apples and grapes placed beside it, separated from the toiletries on a plate. No wonder the public baths were free, but the small ones charged extra. It turned out there was a service fee besides the quietness.
"Taffy, we have something to talk about. Please sit here and eat some grapes."
"...Yes, miss." Taffy squatted down beside the cushion, looking back every few steps. She picked up a grape, peeled it, and put the peeled flesh and grape seeds back into the fruit bowl, her eyes glancing at the pool from time to time.
…
With her feet submerged in the water, Elena couldn't help but sigh in comfort. Oh... I really wanted to forget all my troubles.
Unfortunately, the most annoying thing is following behind me, splashing in the water.
"Wait for me~ Ouch!" Melia slipped and bumped into the front with a plop, her head hitting the water. Fortunately, Elena was much stronger than her, so she didn't fall down after the collision and pulled her out of the water with one hand.
"Be careful. It's been three years since a noble drowned in the baths."
"So someone drowned in the bathtub three years ago? How did he drown? Did he fall..."
"...Is this the point?"
With a splash, the water line parted behind them, and the two people walked in the pool, one in front and one behind.
The pool is about half the size of a living room and is square, with many raised heated rocks underfoot that are easy to trip over.
The general way to soak is to find a place close to the shore to lean your back against the water, try to submerge yourself in the water, with your chest and above exposed above the water surface, and have the slave watch over you carefully to make sure you don't pass out from the soak.
However, they circled the water three times with great thought and stopped in the middle.
Elena sighed and slowly sank. She was exhausted. Lately, she's been busy with social events from morning till night. No matter what happens, let her talk first...
Brush and pull - the soft texture brushes across your shoulders, leaving behind a sweet scent.
Elena shuddered suddenly and turned her head to see Melia rubbing her body with something carved into the shape of a cat. The honey-colored cat's head melted in water, but after just a few rubs, the cat's nose was already rubbed.
"What's this?" She belatedly scooped up water with her hands and rinsed the residue off her shoulders. It felt a bit like dirt, but not dirty. Perhaps it was the delicate scent of the spices that made her feel clean after rinsing.
"It's soap~ Have you noticed recently that the toiletries in the bathtub and the powder room nearby have been replaced? Ilit and I have a great collaboration, right?" Melia waved the soap proudly. Elena looked at the low cabinet beside the sink in the direction she pointed: Hey, there really are two boxes, one gold and one silver, containing similar things.
I remember when I used to bathe here, the cleaning supplies they provided were wood ash mixed with oil. The ones in the small pools were more upscale, mixed with spices and rose water. It felt a bit greasy when applied to the skin, not as comfortable as soap, and the fragrance was more pungent.
"It's really amazing." She understood the huge profits in a flash.
By collaborating with Ilit, this little thing called soap would not only dominate Roman baths but also become very popular in Egypt. If combined with the multifunctional makeup box that had been heavily promoted before, it would definitely make a lot of money - maybe it had already made a lot of money.
"Hey, now it's your turn to help me wipe it." The soap was thrown into her hand.
Why should I rub your back? Don't you have a slave with you?
But Melia had turned around, her thick black hair wet with water, covering her smooth back like seaweed.
Ha... there's really no way to deal with this guy. She was the one who started it anyway, so it's not really humiliating.
Elena comforted herself by raising her hand and gently rubbing her shoulder.
"Elena, I'm very rich."
"I know."
"I'll be richer in the future."
"Yes, I do."
Amid the sound of splashing water, the girl quietly turned around and took her wrist: "Then~ Can I take care of you?"
Bang!
Before Elena could react, a slap hit Melia on the forehead.
"Wow, I was wrong, I was wrong. What I meant was that I can support you too!" Melia hugged her head and half-knelt down, her mouth gurgling with bubbles in the water.
"You support me... Think carefully, don't joke around." Elena wanted to sound more serious, but seeing Melia's aggrieved look, she couldn't help but curl her lips. She coughed and lifted Melia out of the water.
Her emerald eyes were watery, and tears were about to fall.
Elena had no choice but to soften her voice: "Give it another ten years. Father is young and strong now. Anyone who jumps out is a fool."
Melia curled her lips in dissatisfaction. "Indeed, if she hadn't seen The Rose Princess, she would have thought so too. How happy it is to hold a watermelon and watch the prince and princess beat the dog's brains out."
The problem is that Caesar will only live until the year after next at most. By then, everyone will be busy taking sides, and those who stay on the shore will be fools.
Elena in the novel enjoys taking revenge and never seems to be humiliated, but "taking revenge" itself means both gratitude and hatred. Every person who is slapped in the face exists in reality and wants to get up and bite you at any time.
Unfortunately, these words can only be thought of in my heart. Elena and her father have a good relationship. If I curse Caesar to death in front of her, I might be thrown out of the window naked.
Melia groaned and leaned over, her shoulders visibly shaking under her cheek, but she didn't push her away.
One hand placed on her head and patted it gently: "You..."
"Titus is a good choice. He's greedy and reckless, but he's more considerate of his own people." The words lingered on the tip of his tongue, trembling.
"Elena, I..."
They raised their eyelids at the same moment, Elena lowered her head, and Melia raised her face.
In an instant, the only thing left in the world they saw was each other, and even the incense was replaced by the lingering scent.
His throat moved uncontrollably, and the abundant emotions finally suppressed his rationality and jumped out from the depths of his soul.
She—likes Melia.
I don't know where love originates, nor do I care where it will end. My long eyelashes flutter like butterfly wings, and as my lips draw closer, my heart feels as if it were being grasped by Anubis and placed on the scales, weighing and questioning the final decision.
Boom, boom, boom, boom...
Snap!
Someone stepped into the inner room!
Elena raised her head suddenly and blocked Melia behind her.
The sound of quick footsteps echoed one after another, and about eleven or twelve ragged young men rushed into the inner room. The leader had brilliant golden hair and looked like a citizen of the Sea Region.
These men were armed, their ankles clad in broken chains. At first glance, they looked like runaway slaves, but Elena noticed something was wrong: the chains were only a short section, and the iron rings were incredibly thin. A slave owner who liked to chain his slaves wouldn't use such rubbish.
"Whose slaves are you?" Elena stood firmly on her legs. There was a decorative sword next to the clothes hanger on the far left, and it was enough to use it.
The people on the opposite side were even more panicked than Melia. They seemed not to have expected that there would be someone in the water at this time.
While they were hesitating, Taffy had already quickly approached the pool, ready to guard the shore and kill anyone who dared to approach the lady.
Finally, the blond man stamped his foot and made a decision: "The one in the water must be a noble. Kill him!"
Oh, who will be killed by you?
Elena raised her lips sarcastically and leaped from the water. The slaves frantically waved their weapons in an attempt to stop them, but the wind-driven calf directly kicked two of them into the stone pillar, leaving them dead or alive.
She gripped her ceremonial sword, weighed it, and formed a pincer attack with Taffy, ready to strangle him at any moment. Elena's expression was relaxed, even with a hint of sweet nostalgia: That kiss... when should it continue?
The assassins were so frightened that they retreated one after another, and no one dared to risk their lives.
After a few seconds of standoff, an obviously overweight man wielding a hammer came out from behind the crowd and said, "Ahhhhh, get out of the way, let me do it."
His brothers and sisters stepped out of the way, and the man spun around, throwing the hammer like a shot put.
It's a good idea. Knowing that you will die if you get close, you might as well take a chance and break the encirclement... But this will only delay death.
Elena saw the trajectory of the hammer's movement at a glance. She stood still without avoiding or giving way, ready to respond to the second attack at any time.
Bang!
The hammer seemed to hit something hard, making a loud shattering sound and splashing a large amount of water.
"Oh oh oh oh, look!" the man who threw the hammer shouted loudly, pointing behind her in surprise.
Elena didn't move: Are you crazy? How could I fall for such a trick?
The blond man's face flushed with excitement and he pulled out his machete: "Well, there are only two of them left now!"
Two people...what does that mean?
"Miss—" Taffy killed the woman who was standing in front of her, rushed to the pool and jumped in.
A strong sense of uneasiness made Elena turn around——
Scarlet blood seethed in the hot water, and a huge crystal candlestick smashed into it, embedding deeply into the blurred flesh.
"What are you standing there for? Go and kill them!" The blond man took the lead and sprinted on the rocks, and suddenly he felt a pain in his chest.
What the hell… He was staring at this person, but he didn’t swing his sword…
The sharp claws scratched across the chest, tearing out a piece of flesh. When he looked up, he could only see the dark blue vertical pupils.
"Don't even think about dying... that easily."
…
Melia opened her eyes and saw Elena taking off her sandals.
The rock tiles on the ground made a crisp sound as her feet stepped on them. "Ah, Melia...you've never been here before."
The memory of death flashed by, and without taking off her shoes, Melia caught up with the figure in front of her in a few steps, standing on tiptoe.
"What's wrong?"
Elena turned her head and greeted him with a soft kiss.
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