CHAPTER 05…………………………………………
Not long after returning to her family home, Rosnelli headed to Voltamir herself.
It took a full two days just to get there by carriage. Aside from brief stops to rest along the way, the constant rattling and rough movement made it feel like her backside wouldn’t survive the journey.
Even though it was a high-end carriage, the unpaved roads and relentless shaking made motion sickness inevitable for Rosnelli.
The reason she insisted on going all the way to Voltamir herself, despite the hardship, was simple: no one else was willing to run errands there. More importantly, she wanted to see the hot springs with her own eyes—and experience them firsthand. That was her true goal.
Natasha and another maid, who insisted on accompanying her despite her saying it was unnecessary, looked half-dead from exhaustion. Meanwhile, Rosnelli felt like she was on a picnic. The luggage cart trailing behind them carried a portable partition, a small cylindrical bath, a change of clothes, some food, and a tea set.
“Milady, they say we’re almost there. But the mountain is so steep that we’ll have to walk the rest of the way. Will you be alright?”
After speaking briefly with the coachman, Natasha relayed the message. Rosnelli nodded as if nothing could bother her.
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
Soon, the carriage stopped. Rosnelli got down with her maids and began climbing first. The workers from the supply cart followed behind, carrying the luggage.
Before long, a rotten egg smell began to creep into the air. Natasha and Jane, the two personal maids, instinctively covered their noses as the stench grew stronger.
“What is that smell…? Milady, I think this place is too dangerous…”
“This is normal near sulfur springs, so don’t worry.”
The foul smell pierced her senses, yet Rosnelli inhaled deeply with excitement.
Judging by the scent, this was definitely a sulfur hot spring.
As they climbed higher, thick steam began to fill the air. One of the servants started whining nervously, saying they must have reached the pits of hell.
Soon, they could hear the bubbling of water. A little further up, the steam cleared—and before them appeared a magnificent hot spring, steaming and reeking of sulfur, yet almost sacred, as if immortals might dwell there.
“Found it!”
Rosnelli shouted in excitement without realizing it. But the servants turned pale the moment they saw it.
“Milady, it’s too dangerous! Boiling water just flowing like that?! This smell, this steam—this must be water from hell!”
“What are you talking about, Natasha? I told you, this is a gift from nature. Seeing is believing. The smell might be bad, but the benefits are incredible.”
Rosnelli turned and handed a hefty pouch to the workers who had carried the heavy loads.
“You’ve all worked hard. Go down and rest. I’ll send word when it’s time to leave.”
“Oh no, milady! We’ll wait on standby! Though… thank you very much! We are loyal to the Ferdi family!”
Their loyalty grew as heavy as the pouch they received.
Once the workers left, they had a simple meal, and Rosnelli finally began her real task.
She removed her heavy dress, leaving only a lace chemise and drawers, and approached the spring.
Even for someone who loved sulfur baths, the strong smell was overwhelming. So Rosnelli and the two maids stuffed cloth into their noses and began surveying the area.
As she watched the bubbling spring, Rosnelli could already envision how to channel the water and construct the bathhouse. Her parents had always proudly explained the mechanics of drawing underground water—she had learned well.
After finishing the inspection, the long-awaited moment arrived: testing the spring.
The maids quickly set up the partition and placed the bath behind it. Then they carefully carried water from the spring.
Once the water cooled slightly, Rosnelli cautiously dipped in, starting with her toes.
“Milady… are you really okay?”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
The maids hovered nervously, worried she might get cooked alive.
The heat spread from her toes upward—just dipping her feet made her whole body feel alive. Slowly, she submerged herself completely.
“Oh my goodness… this is heaven.”
After two days of hardship, her rough skin was now embraced by sulfur-rich water. She carefully splashed some on her face, avoiding her eyes, and soaked for a while.
After finishing her bath, she patted herself dry with a towel and extended her arm toward her maid—clearly asking them to touch her skin.
Natasha hesitated, then gently touched it.
It was unbelievably smooth—almost slippery.
“Your skin was always nice, but this is… on another level…”
The other maid touched it too, shocked at how soft it had become.
“This is the power of sulfur springs! Hahaha!”
Their reactions confirmed it—others would react the same way.
Now all that remained was building the bathhouse.
Her goal was clear: within a year, she would create a hot spring empire here—and cleanse this filthy world.
Time passed quickly.
A year and five months later, Voltamir had been steadily developed.
Descending slightly from the sulfur mountain, there was land where plants could grow. Not large, but enough for a small village. Rosnelli decided to cultivate it all and build a public hot spring bathhouse.
To create the perfect bathhouse, dozens of architects and hundreds of workers were mobilized—made possible by the near-limitless support of the ducal family.
Meanwhile, rumors spread wildly:
That Lady Rosnelli had gone mad and was building a giant bathhouse.
That she was traumatized after being cast out of the palace.
That she was trying to spread disease out of revenge.
All nonsense—but like a brick house, firmly built, it wouldn’t collapse under such weak winds.
Rosnelli had one strong goal:
To make a lot of money doing something she personally enjoyed.
Though her family told her money wasn’t important, her dream didn’t end with just a bathhouse.
What was the point of being clean alone?
Everyone in this romance fantasy world needed to wash regularly—at least once a day, or at worst every three days—before dreaming of romance.
Dreams should be big.
And half that dream—the bathhouse—was already complete.
Her hot spring resort consisted of three main buildings:
- A central hall that could accommodate the most people
- A private annex for those who preferred solitude
- Lodging facilities
The annex featured ten large private baths, each paired with personal accommodations. They were spaced far apart, so soundproofing wasn’t even necessary.
The central hall had a domed wooden roof designed to evoke emotion—beautiful in rain, magical in snow, and charming in any weather. From below, the sky could be seen between the layered wooden panels, creating a breathtaking view.
Under the dome was the largest hall, designed as a mixed-gender bath. Everyone would wear white linen tunics.
The reason was simple: current clothing—corsets, panniers—was too restrictive.
The bath itself was designed like a shallow stream, allowing water to flow while only reaching up to the calves. This area would offer massages, food, and desserts.
From the central hall, separate women’s and men’s baths were positioned on opposite sides.
Hot spring water was directly channeled from the volcanic area into the facility, ensuring a constant natural flow and warmth.
The buildings were single-story for safety, with stone foundations for durability.
Behind the annex were lodging areas for visitors traveling from far away.
The entire complex was enclosed by a low wall, inside which gardens of flowers and trees were planted.
And its grand name:
Silentium de Rose
“Silentium” meaning rest and healing in the ancient language of the Rovea Empire, combined with Rosnelli’s name.
