The Princess's bedchamber.
She stood before the full-length mirror, shedding her clothes. Her flawless body was revealed.
Her ample curves swayed slightly.
She stepped her bare feet into the bathtub.
She thought about many headache-inducing things. Like the annoying Church and their "faith," which seemed hard to suppress.
Then she thought about the mountain of work waiting for her in the Capital...
Glub, glub.
Frustration prompted her to bury her head underwater. When she emerged, she threw all those thoughts aside.
There were good things too.
She touched her soft lips. She hadn't expected to find such a huge surprise in a tiny border town.
She wasn't sure at first.
Until she intentionally left an abrasion and waited on the road he was bound to travel. At the time, she thought if he wasn't the one, she'd just kill him. Having someone with that face but none of the temperament would be disgusting.
But the way he bandaged her... it was very familiar.
Later, during their time on the road, although he acted like he didn't know her, his behavior, voice, speech... his abilities, his swordsmanship. They were all exactly as she remembered. No one could imitate him that perfectly.
More importantly...
"..."
The naked Princess closed her eyes in the tub, savoring the scent she had inhaled.
That faint, musky smell.
And that unique, intense sensation that could easily send a wave of heat through her lower abdomen.
More than just a personal knight?
He's quite bold. Just a little hint and he dared to push me down. If I hadn't run fast enough... was he really going to take my first time in a haystack?
What if it were a place where no one would ever come?
She unconsciously explored the space between her warming thighs. While it would be a shame if he didn't remember, at least he was right in front of her.
Squelch.
After satisfying herself, she slumped back into the tub.
Ah.
We've at least kissed.
What should I do next so it doesn't feel abrupt? How long will it take for him to earn merits and become a noble?
Maybe I should just go pressure the Lord again.
Tap, tap.
Without realizing it, she heard footsteps. She knew who it was through scent and didn't bother looking.
"I thought the Princess was very busy with official business, but she's just soaking in a bath?"
"Does the Saint not usually bathe?"
"..."
The visitor was the Sister.
Her patience had reached its limit.
Moreover, by the mirror outside, she had caught a whiff of saliva on the clothes the Princess had shed. Her rage had hit its peak.
"Indeed, I loathe the Church's gods and all that faith nonsense. I plan to further weaken the Church's power."
"But for the Saint to think she can come alone to kill me is a bit too condescending."
Facing the tentacles extending from the Sister's sleeves, the Princess's eyes flashed with a strange, eerie green light.
"I have no interest in your attitude toward the Church."
"But if you heard about him from somewhere, found out before me, and plan to use the person important to me..."
Dozens of pitch-black tentacles spread, almost filling the entire bathroom.
"?"
"Wait."
The green glow in the Princess's eyes vanished. She stared oddly at the Sister. "What have you been rambling about? Who is 'he'? What 'important person'? Found out before you?"
"Heh, isn't that why you came to Flores City? To use him to blackmail me. I can only say you've found the wrong person."
"I said, wait."
The Princess grabbed the tentacle closest to her. "When would I have the time for all that? Is the 'he' you're talking about... the groom?"
"..."
The Sister's tentacles gripped the Princess's slender but equally fruit-laden body.
"Then you've got it wrong. When you picked up my clothes just now to sniff them, I felt something was strange."
"As royalty, I have no hobby of offering my body to anyone who isn't the person I love."
"..."
The tentacles loosened and retracted into the Sister's body.
Splash.
The Princess stood up naked from the tub, water droplets trickling down her curves.
"So, can I assume the Saint has some shameful thoughts about my man?"
"If you want to pull some strings in this matter, feel free to try. I don't care if the conflict between the Church and my Royal Guards escalates further."
"..."
Rose was stunned.
Because she saw no trace of joking on the Princess's face. Come to think of it, with her status, if she wanted a man, she could just take him.
And there were never any rumors of her being close to any male.
"He is my husband," Rose stated.
"Hah?"
The Princess took half a step forward, standing right in front of Rose. "Then how come I've never heard him mention it? Or that he knew a monster like you."
"...Tomorrow, you will know. No matter what your goal is, it's useless."
The Sister left.
She was definitely going to strike.
But the saliva residue on the Princess's clothes made her... completely bewildered.
That's right.
She didn't know his past in this life. What if he really was an old acquaintance of the Princess?
She didn't dare ask more.
So, if a bad result appeared tomorrow... I'll use my body—no, I'll just take him away. I've already heard those confessions and mutterings; what else is there to fear?
"..."
After the Sister left, the Princess soaked in the tub again, but she was no longer in the mood for a bath.
Sia Rose. She had heard the name. Some nobles had knelt before her, trembling as they said one must never provoke that monster.
So, what connection did that monster have with the man she loved?
She also began to feel uneasy.
Should she just take him back to the Capital immediately? Once they were on her turf, everything would be settled.
"..."
No, that's not right.
He was a complete blank slate. But now... he kissed me. He touched my breasts.
Regardless of what's going on with the Sister, I've already done what needed to be done.
Thinking of this, she left the tub and searched for clothes in the wardrobe with her bare ass.
They were clothes she had bought separately after her stroll with Silas.
"How about a dress with a slit?"
"Forget it, it shows too much thigh."
"..."
After picking back and forth, she finally chose the simplest casual clothes. Her underwear remained simple as well.
She just wrapped her legs in a pair of thin white silk stockings.
"You can't buy these outside. After all, it's the craftsmanship and special materials you requested."
Tomorrow.
She had to find a way to give him the chance to make a move, to be impulsive. That way, she could find an excuse to take him back to the Capital.
Ah.
Really. Her only bit of brainpower was spent on this.
Fortunately, things were going smoothly.
It was just this suddenly appearing Sister... she'd have to investigate her thoroughly once they returned to the Capital.
He isn't that monster's husband; he's hers. The only man in her life so far who dared to forcefully pin her down.
But...
"..."
She extended her feet and pressed her toes together. She remembered the black stockings wrapped around the Sister's thighs.
So annoying.
She really didn't want to care why the Sister was also wearing stockings of a different color, yet which clearly catered to his fetish.
But she couldn't help but think about how firmly the Sister had said, "He is my husband." She said it like it was the truth.
Impossible!
She must be like the rumors said among the nobles—after losing her husband, she became a monster and couldn't tell who was who. With hypnosis and that swordsmanship, if the Sister really couldn't wake up, the Princess would just have to make her "wake up" physically.
After all, this matter was far more important to her than so-called power.