Gate of Dimensions

[Act 1] Chapter 16: Two Worlds

Back in the estate, Werner took a break from entertaining the elven girls and instead dedicated his time to relaxing in hot bathwater. He would be enjoying the peace and quiet if not for the fact all ten maids - three light elves, two dark elves, two feline catgirls, one dwarven girl, one medusa lady, and a single human - were standing in the room with him, completely ruining his idea of peace and quiet.

All of the maids enjoyed taking turns with the sponge to wash the parts that were sticking out, not daring to go into the bath with Werner's glare. The next one was a red-furred feline girl, who took the sponge and mainly concentrated on his torso and arms.

"Is there something wrong, Master Werner?" the feline maid asked. "Do you need another sponge wash?"

"I would prefer it if I weren't having a bath without the eyes of ten women leering over me," Werner said, grinding his teeth.

"Do German nobility take their baths alone?"

Werner's glare as he stared up made the medusa's bright smile turn to fear, and she stepped back. 

"It's something called privacy. Do you girls have a single shred of decency towards men?"

Before the quivering maids could think of an answer, the door suddenly burst open and Vera came through, much to the shock of everyone present.

"Lord Werner," Vera called, standing right next to the bath. "I have come to speak to you on matters that are on a high level."

"Does any woman here have any sort of shame?" Werner yelled. "Why did you barge in here instead of knocking on the door?"

"I was waiting outside the door for an hour since you got in, so I decided to just talk to you as you have your bath."

"No need," Werner groaned, grabbing the towel. "I have had enough."

As he got up, the not-so-subtle giggles of each of the ten maids rung around the bathroom, much to Werner's deep annoyance, especially when Vera seemed to be sweating a little while maintaining her female-warrior demeanour. I have to remind myself not to take my clothes off again, especially in front of this world's women, Werner thought.

As Werner put on the last of his clothes, he demanded, "What is it you want to discuss, Vera, unless you were just faking it to see me in the bathtub?"

"Well, I came here to ask you for information about your own country. Seeing as I told you about our world, it is time you tell me something about yours."

"Do I look like a historian?" Werner asked, buttoning up his coat. "Did the Empress send you to probe me about my own country to get an edge in the meetings?"

"N-No, I just-"

"The stuttering just confirmed it," Werner laughed. "If she wanted to gain information from me, why didn't she just hire a courtesan to spy on me? With the alcohol still in my system, I would have told anyone anything."

"Because that would have been an insult, Werner," Vera declared. "Mordred would have definitely tried that with you, but we have a completely different story. Mordred managed to convince most of the traitorous nobles to join him by using that same tactic, a disgusting display of man's inability to reject carnal pleasures, but we prefer the more reasonable and direct approach."

"Well, clearly, she sent the wrong person for the job. You didn't even sit me down, offer me wine, or start a conversation that led to the topic. Instead, we are standing in a bathroom with ten maids staring at us. I'm only twenty-one, and yet I know the basics of socialization compared to a medieval knight."

"I'm the same age, Lord Werner, believe it or not. I spent most of my time training with the sword, then indulged in the pleasures of life. I guess we are both young commanders of stern leaders who trained for war, except your training makes all the years I spent with a sword completely wasted."