Rita had been wearing this incredibly revealing black outfit ever since she crossed over into this world.
Ordinary clothes would be a hindrance whenever Rita extended her wings and tail, but this outfit, which covered only the essential parts with fabric, spared her those troubles.
Even now, when hunting, Rita would change into this outfit.
However, to avoid unnecessary attention, she would drape a cloak over it.
Without the cloak this morning, Rita would have been suspected by the innkeeper for her attire, which didn’t match the image of a Divine Knight at all.
Now, seeing this outfit right in front of her, Rita couldn’t help but feel dry-mouthed and at a loss for words.
Wasn’t the usual development to hide her identity for dozens of chapters, then have some slip-ups over the next dozens, followed by more hiding, and so on?
“As a suspect in the assassination attempt on the princess, it’s only natural to search your room,” the princess said, placing her hands on the table calmly, as if simply informing Rita of what had been done.
As a princess, Cecilia only needed to give a notification to end Rita’s life—it was the reality of a world ruled by absolute monarchy.
“There’s no money, no weapons, and no suspicious evidence of collusion in your room. Everything seems normal, except for two things—you claim you couldn’t find this Certificate, yet it was on you, and this outfit.”
The princess placed the Divine Knight Examination Certificate that Rita had handed over onto the table, lining it up with the black outfit.
“This.” The princess pointed at the pile of clothes floating in the air: “This keeps you alive at night.”
“This.” She pointed at the thin piece of paper beside it: “This keeps you alive in the royal city.”
The princess raised her eyelashes and glanced at Rita, then looked back at the two mismatched items on the table. “But these two together, I just don’t understand.”
What could Rita say? Lie that she was like one of those female knight protagonists in adult games—hunting monsters outdoors by day, working in a hotel by night?
Adult games didn’t need much logic! Rita was just a succubus; her brain hadn’t disappeared along with herself.
Although she knew she wasn’t very smart to begin with—otherwise she wouldn’t have ended up like this—she could still bluff the princess.
She just needed to come up with a flawless excuse.
“This… this… isn’t mine.”
Rita said, nervously averting her gaze.
Ah! What was she saying?
Wasn’t that a terrible lie?
“Oh.” The princess nodded.
No matter how ridiculous the lie was, Rita had to stubbornly stick to it now.
“Because today is the exam, I was so nervous I called a yuri Nightlife Service last night. But because we got too rough, she forgot her clothes here. Yes, that’s it, exactly.”
Cecilia really did look thoughtful, as if genuinely considering the credibility of Rita’s words.
“Is that so?”
Could it be… this princess wasn’t actually that smart after all?
Rita was partly gambling—she herself barely remembered what happened last night, and presumably, the princess’s memory wasn’t much better.
Rita’s charm aura did have the effect of clouding cognition and erasing memories.
Since the princess hadn’t sent someone to arrest the succubus who attacked her at night, and hadn’t shown any awkwardness in their recent interactions, maybe the situation wasn’t so bad.
Rita looked up at Cecilia, who seemed to have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
She extended a hand in a beckoning gesture: “I think this outfit suits you quite well.”
“Don’t you want to try it on?”
“Try it on? Now? Here?”
“Don’t worry. The Surveillance Magic has already been lifted by my command. No one knows what’s happening here besides us.”
Rita had seriously underestimated the princess before, thinking she was a dumb lolita!
She should’ve known last night—this Fourth Princess was a cunning schemer filled with dark intentions.
Still, Rita had to fight back a little.
After all, she didn’t know whether the princess was bluffing to get useful information or simply toying with her.
Rita stood up from the chair and knelt on one knee before the princess once more.
“Your Highness, I came to Solus City to become a Divine Knight. Please forgive my frankness, but to make a future Divine Knight do this kind of thing is an insult… Even if you are a princess, I find it hard to obey.”
“You’re right. Those qualified to hold the Divine Knight Examination Certificate are mostly wealthy or noble. It’s reasonable for such scoundrels to call the Nightlife Service, but you are not one of them.”
Cecilia’s slender finger tapped the Certificate: “One of these two things indeed does not belong to you. I was somewhat relieved when you confessed, but unfortunately, the answer you gave was not the one I wanted to hear.”
Did she already know the Certificate wasn’t hers?
But how could she tell?
The Divine Knight Examination Certificate was anonymous—anyone with it could take the exam.
It was something easy to obtain if you had money or influence.
Otherwise, Rita wouldn’t have dared to use a Certificate she acquired by chance to take the exam.
“You’ve already given me one answer I didn’t want to hear.”
Cecilia continued, her calm gaze making Rita shudder as she recalled last night’s events.
“So, how about it? Are you willing to change into that outfit now?”
This woman!
From the moment she entered the room, she’d been guiding Rita with wildly jumping topics, forcing her to answer before she could even catch up, exposing all her weak points.
Well, most of it was because Rita wasn’t very smart and was being led around by the nose.
What exactly was the princess’s purpose in making her do this?
Could it be that the princess was just addicted to probing?
Rita gritted her teeth in hatred.
If this weren’t the heavily guarded lord’s manor, she would’ve given the princess a good lesson by now!
Either flip the table or walk down the path laid out by her opponent.
Flipping the table wasn’t an option; Rita was sure the princess was prepared.
Tap.
Fingertips lightly drummed on the table again, as if urging Rita on.
Patience!
A moment’s endurance can save a grand plan!
Like the countless powerless heroines she had mocked before, Rita swallowed hard, grabbed the shameful outfit, and stood up, ready to move to a corner.
Just then, Cecilia’s voice sounded again.
“Change right here.”