“Your Highness, you’re awake. You’re already a proper young lady now～”
!?
The voice at her ear was as gentle as a spring breeze, yet carried a sly undertone.
That sentence acted like a switch, instantly jolting Mu Xuan awake, and she shot upright in bed.
The cowlick on her head seemed to be electrified, sticking up stiffly and spinning atop Mu Xuan’s little head like a propeller.
Wait, no!
Realizing the meaning behind those words, Mu Xuan quickly reached her hand down below, but then froze again.
Her head turned stiffly to the side, like a rusty machine.
There, she was met by a smiling, delicate face.
“Who are you!”
Mu Xuan scooted back in alarm, her voice flustered, the cowlick atop her head stopping its spin and sticking up like an angry cat.
It was only now that Mu Xuan noticed she was in a bright, white room. The furnishings were simple, but exquisitely crafted.
Beneath her was a wide, soft bed.
“Ah~? Your Highness, haven’t you recognized me yet～”
Mu Xuan stared, a little dumbfounded, at the girl in front of her wearing a wide-brimmed Lolita Dress hat, clad in a black-and-white Lolita Dress.
That face… was so familiar.
“Silvermoon Knight?”
Except for not wearing her soft armor, she had the same flowing golden hair, that dignified face even when not smiling, and the ever-present soft sword at her waist.
Hiss… she’s too beautiful!
“It’s me～Your Highness～”
“My name is Cysteline, your personal knight, Your Highness～”
“Ah?” Mu Xuan looked at Cysteline’s teasingly amused smile.
Mu Xuan’s little head was filled with big confusion.
What do you mean, my personal knight!
And shouldn’t you call me Your Holiness? Why are you calling me Your Highness!
Could it be… she thinks I’m the Saintess?
“Your Highness～ you are the Saintess personally chosen by the Goddess～”
Seeing Mu Xuan’s wide-eyed, adorably confused face, Cysteline couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“What do you mean? I’m the Pope! The Church hasn’t even selected a Saintess yet!”
Mu Xuan put on a pouty-yet-fierce expression, trying to correct Cysteline’s words, but the next second, a soft hand reached out to gently pat her head.
“And I’m not a child! Don’t pat my head!” Mu Xuan swatted Cysteline’s hand away, crossed her arms, and puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
But when she met Cysteline’s gaze, seeing that motherly, understanding smile on her face, Mu Xuan couldn’t help but shudder.
Damn it! She really does think I’m a kid!
I’ve lived twenty years in my past life, how could I be a child!
No, wait, wasn’t Cysteline one of those who survived since before the calamity… She must be way older than me…
Hiss… maybe I really am just a loli in front of her?
Watching Mu Xuan sink into deep self-doubt, Cysteline only smiled, then reached out with both hands to tidy Mu Xuan’s clothes.
“You just woke up, so your clothes are a mess. Next time, be sure to mind your appearance～”
It was then Mu Xuan realized she was already dressed in a black-and-white Lolita Dress.
Her top was a pale blue-gray lace blouse, with a small black bow and pearl necklace at the collar, and sleeves trimmed with star-patterned white lace.
Below, she wore a long black skirt edged with white lace, and white lace-trimmed stockings tightly hugged her slender legs. Even a slight movement sent a strange, unfamiliar sensation through her legs.
But the most striking thing was the faint feeling of tightness at her chest, making Mu Xuan’s cheeks flush bright red.
I never thought there’d come a day I’d wear something like this…
?
A sudden realization struck Mu Xuan—she’d been unconscious, so how did she end up in these clothes?
Catching the scrutinizing, questioning look from Mu Xuan, Cysteline merely smiled, then leaned forward and pressed Mu Xuan back down onto the bed.
“You… you… what are you doing!”
Cysteline’s sudden movement threw Mu Xuan into panic. Feeling Cysteline’s legs pressed between her own, that mysterious sensation sent Mu Xuan’s blood rushing, and the flush on her face only deepened.
Her eyes spun in confusion, and her mind turned fuzzy and strange.
Cysteline’s hand gently stroked Mu Xuan’s cheek, her smile growing even warmer.
Her fingers traced the curve of Mu Xuan’s face, sliding down and finally lifting her chin ever so slightly, amusement sparkling in her eyes.
“Your Highness～ As your personal knight, of course I’m the one to help you change clothes～”
Watching Mu Xuan’s increasingly dazed gaze, Cysteline reached out her other hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Then she leaned in close, whispering by Mu Xuan’s ear, “Your body, Your Highness Mu Xuan, is developing very nicely～”
Her gentle breath carried a sly undertone as it drifted by Mu Xuan’s ear.
In that instant, Mu Xuan’s mind short-circuited, going completely blank.
After a long silence, a shriek finally burst from Mu Xuan’s lips.
“Ahhhh——”
Feeling the force pushing against her, Cysteline revealed a triumphant smile, then slowly got off the bed.
The push wasn’t strong, but it showed just how flustered Mu Xuan was.
Teasing her like a little kitten—what a delightful feeling.
Recalling the softness of Mu Xuan’s cheeks, Cysteline finally reined in her smile, no longer planning to tease her.
There were more important things to attend to, after all. This place was only temporarily safe. And… she hadn’t noticed it yet?
Your Highness really is a bit slow～
With Cysteline off the bed, Mu Xuan’s frantic heart slowly calmed, and her cowlick began to sway gently once again.
Wait a minute… why is Cysteline also calling me Mu Xuan?
(#ﾟДﾟ)
The delayed reaction finally registered in her mind, and Mu Xuan froze again, her cowlick halting its movement.
“Do you know Milly?”
Mu Xuan blurted out.
Honestly, Mu Xuan looked cute in this silly, confused state, but… was she perhaps a little too dense?
She clearly remembered the Goddess had said the Saintess would be extremely intelligent, right? Could it be the Goddess accidentally passed on her own questionable intellect to the Saintess?
With a helpless sigh, Cysteline picked up a black ribbon beside her and began to wrap it around her eyes.
“Now, Your Highness, can you guess who I really am～”
Ah?
Looking at Cysteline with her eyes covered, Milly’s figure slowly overlapped with Cysteline’s in Mu Xuan’s mind.
Mu Xuan’s single-core processor of a brain crashed all at once.
Very quickly, Mu Xuan hopped down from the bed, not even bothering to put on her shoes. Her white-stockinged feet landed straight on the cold floor as she ran over to Cysteline.
Then she hugged Cysteline tightly, her voice trembling with joy and excitement.
“Milly… is it you?”