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Chapter 12
“Ah, yes! Please come in!”
Baeksa hurriedly rose from her seat. Although she was a princess, she was not accustomed to remaining seated while receiving visitors.
When she lived in the Imperial Palace, she always had to stand whenever someone entered her room. If she failed to do so, “bad things” would happen.
So she simply stood up in a panic.
Creak.
The moment the door opened, Sirang’s eyes met Baeksa’s.
“…Miss!”
With eyes as wide as a startled rabbit’s, Sirang rushed over and gently seated Baeksa back down.
“Ah.”
“You don’t need to stand up, Miss. You can simply remain seated and say, ‘Come in.’ That’s perfectly fine.”
“Ah, um, but…”
Baeksa swallowed nervously.
She was a guest of this family, and simply staying seated felt somewhat rude.
As if she understood Baeksa’s feelings completely, Sirang gently comforted her.
“It’s alright, Miss. No one will criticize you for something like that.”
“Yes… thank you.”
“Our young miss is so kind. Now then, shall we treat those injuries?”
Sirang carefully stepped aside, revealing the physician who had been hidden behind her.
Smiling brightly, she introduced him to Baeksa.
“This is Physician Son. He takes care of all the patients within the Vermilion Bird Clan.”
“Hoho, hello there. It seems a very small and adorable young lady has arrived.”
Physician Son set the leather bag he had brought onto the floor and chuckled warmly.
He was an elderly crane beastman with snow-white hair, much like Baeksa’s.
However, it was impossible to tell whether his hair had always been white or had turned that way with age.
He seems like a very kind person too.
Baeksa thought to herself.
Since entering the room, the elderly physician had been looking at her with nothing but warmth in his eyes.
Before coming to the Southern Lands, Baeksa had never once received such gentle and affectionate gazes, so she could recognize them immediately.
Because it was something she had desired more than anything else, she had become especially sensitive to it.
Realizing that the old physician was a good person, Baeksa secretly relaxed a little.
Meanwhile, Physician Son, who had swept back his long hair and secured it with a simple wooden hairpin, approached and sat before her.
“I brought medicine to strengthen your body, little miss, but it seems I can use fewer ingredients than expected. You’re so small and thin…”
His wrinkled hand gently took hold of Baeksa’s scarred hand.
Having been left in the cold for so long, her hands and feet had become stiff and rough.
Clicking his tongue softly, he released her hand.
“This is not something that can be solved simply by applying medicine. Sirang, the young miss will need a medicinal bath.”
“Of course! When it comes to medicinal baths, this Sirang is practically an expert! Leave it to me!”
“Mhm, yes. I’ll provide the herbs, so go fetch them and prepare a bath. In the meantime, I’ll prepare medicines to strengthen her body and ointments for her injuries.”
“Yes! I’ll go right away!”
“Take your time, you reckless child. You’ll trip again!”
“Oh, Physician, you make it sound like I’m a little kid.”
Chuckling awkwardly, Sirang turned toward Baeksa.
“Miss, I’ll prepare the medicinal bath as quickly as possible. Please wait just a little while.”
Then, as though she had suddenly remembered something, she let out a small gasp.
“If you’re afraid of being alone, perhaps I could bring another maid—”
“Ah, no! It’s alright. I can stay by myself!”
Baeksa shook her head vigorously.
She still felt uncomfortable meeting anyone other than Sirang.
This place had the incredibly kind Clan Head of the Vermilion Bird Clan, the gentle crane physician, and the caring Sirang, so surely everyone else here would be kind as well.
But I’m still a little scared…
The memory of the guards escorting her carriage when she left the Imperial Palace—cursing and threatening her—still lingered in her heart.
As Baeksa hurriedly shook her head, Sirang nodded.
“Very well, Miss. Then I’ll be back soon. Please chat with Physician Son while I’m gone. He has six grandchildren, so he’s extremely good with children.”
“At this rate, you’ll be telling the young miss how many spoons we own before long.”
“Hehe, I don’t know that much yet. I’ll be back!”
Answering cheerfully, Sirang slipped out of the room.
The elderly physician watched her retreating figure with warm eyes before speaking.
“That child may seem a bit scatterbrained, but she’s very capable. She’ll take good care of little Snake Miss.”
“Sirang is… already kind enough.”
Glancing cautiously at the physician, Baeksa spoke softly.
“She’s very kind, and she cares about my feelings. Sirang is a really good beastman.”
“Hoho, I’m very glad that you like Sirang, Miss.”
The physician smiled happily.
Since it was the first time Baeksa had ever praised someone, she felt a little embarrassed.
Until now, she had never really had the opportunity to say such things.
Seeing the child smile shyly, the physician smiled along with her.
And as the two chatted quietly together and her tension gradually eased…
Sirang returned, announcing that the medicinal bath was ready, and gently lifted Baeksa into her arms.
“Miss, if the water feels too hot, you must tell me, alright?”
Inside the large bathing tub, Baeksa nodded carefully.
Perhaps because it contained so many precious medicinal herbs, the water was cloudy in color and carried a strong herbal scent.
But she had no intention of complaining.
Miss, look at this! This medicinal bath was made by steeping a whole handful of precious herbs!
This Sirang worked hard together with the other maids to prepare it. The smell may be a little unpleasant, but the effects will definitely be worth it! A medicinal bath is the best thing for restoring an exhausted body!
Because she knew that Physician Son and Sirang had prepared this bath specifically for her.
It must have been a lot of work…
Even at a glance, it was obvious that a great deal of medicinal ingredients had been used.
Yet Sirang had not uttered a single complaint about how difficult the preparations had been. Instead, she had eagerly encouraged Baeksa to get in and carefully lowered her into the bath.
And even aside from Sirang’s warm intentions, Baeksa loved the bath.
This is my first time bathing in warm water…
Up until now, regardless of whether it was the dead of winter or the height of summer, Baeksa had always washed herself with freezing cold water in her residence.
After soaking in water as cold as ice, she would shiver for a long time.
Sometimes no one would even properly dry her off, forcing her to return to her room and dry herself with a thin blanket.
Compared to those days, this medicinal bath felt luxurious beyond measure.
Baeksa wiggled her fingers beneath the water.
Why is everyone treating me so well…?
Were all the beastmen of the Vermilion Bird Clan this kind and gentle?
As Baeksa sat in the bath with only her head peeking above the water, lost in thought, Sirang suddenly held something out in front of her.
“Miss, here!”
“Yes…?”
“It’s a sweet candy. If you keep it in your mouth, the smell of the medicine won’t bother you as much. I specially asked the kitchen for it.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sirang popped a round candy into Baeksa’s mouth.
The candy, made from richly boiled sugar, melted the instant it touched her tongue, filling her mouth with sweetness.
Having never tasted candy before in her life, Baeksa’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Hehe, it’s very sweet, isn’t it? It’s a truly precious candy.”
“B-but something this precious…”
“Oh, goodness! Since you’ve become an honored guest of the Vermilion Bird Clan, all precious things should be given to you! The Clan Head specifically ordered us to provide you with only the very best, so please don’t worry.”
Answering proudly, Sirang gently washed Baeksa’s hair.
The tangled, knotted strands loosened smoothly beneath her fingertips.
“There’s another one, so let me know when you finish that one!”
Leaning close until her face hovered right above Baeksa’s, Sirang spoke cheerfully.
“And if your hair pulls or hurts at all, you must tell me!”
Meeting Sirang’s gaze, Baeksa smiled softly.
“Yes…”
The corners of her round eyes curved gently upward.
With her cheeks flushed, she sank half her face into the medicinal bath, from which a bitter herbal scent drifted upward.
Blub, blub.
Tiny bubbles rose to the surface of the water and popped softly.
The fingers and toes that had once seemed frozen solid, as though they would never thaw, wriggled contentedly in the warmth.
