Chapter 7: Two Choices
Charles stood by an outdoor fountain, icy water dripping down his chest.
The sun was just peeking up, painting the sky a pale gray, and the crisp morning air bit at his skin.
'Damn... so cold...'
Around him, other male servants bathed in silence, scrubbing their skin with rough rags and buckets of frigid water.
No one spoke to him, but their looks were sharp as knives—cold, hostile, or dripping with disdain.
Some snuck sideways glances, others glared outright, but Charles didn't care about that.
What he couldn't ignore, what was really killing him, was the cold.
'This is torture!' he thought, shivering as he dumped another bucket over his head.
The freezing water ran down his back, and he clenched his teeth to keep from yelping.
In real life, he always showered with hot water, cranking the heater until steam fogged up the bathroom.
It was one of his little luxuries after a long day of exams or an all-night gaming session.