Selena stepped into Eveline's room, and the first thing she saw was Eveline, clad only in her underwear, touching herself—specifically, her own vagina.
Unaware that someone had entered her room, Eveline continued masturbating, moaning Selena's name over and over.
Selena stood frozen, her face flushed bright red like a ripe tomato.
"E-Eveline?"
"Huh?.."
The moment Selena called out her name, Eveline realized she had been caught—masturbating, and by the very person she was fantasizing about!
"S-S-Selena?! What are you d-doing here?!"
Embarrassed and shocked at being caught in the act, Eveline hurriedly got off the bed and reached for the dress she had discarded.
Eveline was a young woman with golden blonde hair that flowed down to her lower back. Her appearance and figure reflected someone in her early twenties.
"W-What do you mean? Didn't you ask me to come here yesterday?"
Selena turned her gaze away, waiting patiently as Eveline put her dress back on. Her eyes scanned the room, now noticing all the photographs and paintings featuring herself and Eveline as children.
What caught her attention the most was a large 2x2 meter portrait showing the two of them. It was the first time she had seen it. The last time she visited Eveline's room, that picture hadn't been there.
Still flustered, Eveline took a deep breath and looked at Selena.
"I'm sorry, Selena. Do you hate me now… after seeing that?"
"Well, I was surprised, but… it's not like I hate you or got angry over it..."
Selena's voice dropped into a near-whisper, but in the silence of the room, Eveline heard it clearly.
"Huh?"
Surprised that Selena wasn't disgusted or upset by what she saw, especially since it involved fantasizing about her...
"I-I mean, it's not disgusting or anything. Actually… I'm kind of glad to know someone desires me that way."
"Wait, you're really not mad at me?!"
"Y-Yeah. Isn't it normal for someone to fantasize about the person they love while, um, doing that? If anything, I'm happy to know that you love me… and want me."
"Selena..."
Without warning, Eveline threw herself into Selena's arms and hugged her tightly.
"Ahh, Selena, it's true. I love you. I love you so, so much."
As she said that, she pressed her head against Selena's shoulder, inhaling her scent with small, affectionate sniffs.
"Y-Yeah, I love you too, Eveline. But… let's set that aside for now. How about we talk about why you called me here in the first place?"
Overwhelmed by Eveline's intense love, Selena gently redirected the topic to something more pressing.
"Right. Then let's go to the garden and have some tea."
"Mhm."
Agreeing with Eveline's suggestion, Selena followed her to the flower garden. It was breathtaking—filled with various types of flowers in all kinds of colors.
The two of them strolled along a stone path until they reached a pavilion at the center of the garden. Selena sat across from Eveline.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For taking the time to come all the way here just because I asked."
"Oh, that? Don't worry about it. I also wanted a change of scenery after all this time."
Selena was on the verge of burnout from her ever-growing mountain of paperwork. It felt like the documents would never end. Wanting to escape the mind-numbing workload, she had traveled to the capital and reunited with Eveline.
"So, what did you want to talk about? I doubt this is just a friendly reunion."
Selena spoke casually while sipping the tea served by the maids. Eveline stared at her seriously—the gaze of a royal princess.
"You're right. I'll get straight to the point. Selena—no, Duchess Selena Everthrone—I want you to join me… and take the Velmoria throne with me."
Eveline's voice became firm and formal. This wasn't childhood Eveline speaking anymore—this was the royal princess addressing the Duchess of House Everthrone.
"I see."
Selena set her teacup down and met Eveline's gaze with the dignified eyes of a noblewoman.
"But Princess Eveline, aren't you aware that House Everthrone has always been a neutral faction? Why are you asking this of me? Don't tell me it's just because we're childhood friends and you want to try your luck?"
"Well… that is part of the reason..."
"..."
"But I also truly believe that you're the only one who can help me take the throne!"
"Princess Eveline, even if I did want to support you, I couldn't just make that decision lightly. And besides, I remember… as a child, you never cared about the throne. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Surprised that Selena remembered her childhood views, Eveline let out a sigh and spoke again.
"I suppose it's fine if I tell you now."
"?"
"You know the First Prince, right? He's obsessed with military power. If he becomes king, Velmoria will turn into a militaristic state. That kind of system would hurt a lot of people."
By "militaristic state," Eveline meant mandatory military service for all citizens.
"Then there's the Second Prince. Rumor has it… he sold his soul to a demon in exchange for the healthy body he has now. Though it's just a rumor, only those in the palace seem to know about it."
Unlike his siblings, the Second Prince was born with a frail body. He couldn't even properly lift a sword. But just a month ago, he miraculously recovered and now moves with a strength that defies his past condition—as if his weakness had never existed.
"And lastly, the Third Prince. You know how cunning he is. I just can't let someone like him take the throne."
Eveline raised her voice, but quickly covered her mouth, afraid someone might have overheard and report her. It wasn't fear of the prince himself, but a desire to avoid unnecessary conflict.
"But… those are just assumptions, aren't they?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, I understand your desire to keep the throne out of the wrong hands. But they're just rumors and your personal judgments, aren't they?"
After a short pause, Selena continued.
"Yes, the First Prince may be obsessed with military power, but that doesn't mean he can single-handedly change national policy."
"True…"
"And yes, the Second Prince's case is suspicious. But if it's only a rumor, it can't serve as proof to disqualify him."
Eveline clenched her fists in frustration.
"As for the Third Prince… I don't mind cunning, as long as it's used to improve Velmoria. But even I wouldn't stand idly by if he strays from that path."
Selena took another sip of her tea. Eveline opened her mouth to speak again.
"Then… won't you please—"
(Clink)
Before Eveline could finish, Selena set her teacup down firmly on the table.
"Now let me ask you this, Princess Eveline Velmoria. If you were to become Queen of Velmoria… could you guarantee this kingdom's prosperity and stability?"
Selena asked with piercing eyes, her chin resting on the back of her hand.
"...."
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It was quite difficult to make the characters more alive, and it gave me a lot of headaches.
Donate power stones and comments so I can be more enthusiastic about doing it! :D