If something really had happened between Cecilia and me last night, then every place on my body that could’ve been seen would’ve been seen by now.
It’s just changing clothes here, right? Then so be it!
Rita steeled herself, gritting her teeth as she lifted the rebellious hand and unbuttoned the first button at her collar.
The act was far more humiliating than she had imagined.
Even though it was just the two of them, Rita felt as if she were an actor performing a one-person play on this simple stage, every move being scrutinized by the sole audience member.
Though the amount of clothing on her was shrinking, a strange heat welled up inside Rita, as if it would burn away all her reason and resistance.
“Why did you stop?” Cecilia asked softly, looking at Rita as if she were a connoisseur examining a piece of art.
Rita’s throat bobbed a few times before she continued.
Each second as she shed the few remaining layers of clothing felt unbearably long.
Even when she was completely naked, Cecilia maintained the same expression, showing no ripple of emotion.
Rustle, rustle.
Rustle, rustle.
When the familiar touch wrapped around Rita’s entire body again, a faint blush already stained the sweat-dampened skin.
“Sit down,” Cecilia said, unusually gentle, seeming quite satisfied with Rita’s cooperation.
Rita protected her body as she sat down.
This outfit had accompanied her across half the continent, but it was the first time she felt so embarrassed.
“Now, let’s start over and have a proper talk,” Cecilia said without praise or mockery, cutting straight to the point while taking advantage of Rita’s shame. “What is your name?”
“Rita.”
“Is that your real name?”
Of course not, but if Rita gave her true name, the other wouldn’t believe her anyway.
“Forget it. Names are just codes. Where are you from?”
“Peropero Village.”
“Do you really want to become a Holy Knight?”
“Absolutely!”
“Then why do you want to become a Holy Knight?”
I got this one!
Rita had memorized countless reasons for wanting to be a Holy Knight even before the exam started, and the feeling of having the exact question come up gave her a slight relief.
“A Holy Knight represents protection, honor, and courage…”
“Lies.” Cecilia raised a finger, pointing to the clothes on Rita’s body. “You have no loyalty to the Royal Family, nor are you the kind to die defending your honor. As for courage—that much is commendable.”
Was she mocking me?
Definitely! No doubt about it!
“And you’ve already lied to me twice.”
Cecilia added this at just the right moment, her tone sounding more like a threat.
How much did she know about me?
What was her true purpose?
Now my mission wasn’t about how to become a Holy Knight anymore, but how to survive.
Using the same answers as in the interview was useless.
“I want a comfortable life,” Rita gritted her teeth and squeezed out the truth. “Holy Knights don’t have titles or fiefs, but their status is higher than most. You just need to pass the exam to achieve that.”
“Hm, understandable. Holy Knights only obey the Royal Family. Even Generals and the Prime Minister give them three steps of courtesy. Ordinary people would never dare disobey them. And their job is quite easy.” The princess nodded slightly, then shifted her tone: “But that perfection is precisely the cheese that worms love to gnaw on. Today’s Holy Knights have almost become a gathering place for spoiled nobles. So, where did this proof you have come from?”
“Picked up.” Rita answered immediately.
It was true.
When she fled the demon territory, she passed by a horse carriage that had fallen off a cliff.
While she was thankful for nature’s gift and scavenging the loot, she found this proof.
“Picked up? The proof is anonymous. High-ranking nobles only need to pay some money to get one, and the price is far cheaper than a princess’s life. But for ordinary people, obtaining one is like climbing to the heavens. And you just found one?”
If a town is granted three proofs, it’s common for two to be sold through underhanded deals.
Perhaps the anonymity of the proof was the Royal Family’s tacit approval of such behavior.
Rita had agonized over whether to sell it or keep it.
In the end, she decided to keep it for herself.
“Exactly.” Rita insisted firmly.
“Hm.” Cecilia stopped pressing the issue. “Alright, let’s talk about the main point. Do you remember the question I asked when I just came in? Why am I willing to be alone with you?”
Cecilia stood up from the chair, her footsteps on the floor so light in the dead silent room that they sounded quieter than Rita’s own breathing.
Rita swallowed hard, watching helplessly as the princess circled behind her and placed a cool finger on her shoulder.
Was she finally going to start groping me?
“You’re brave. You dare to take a picked-up Holy Knight’s proof and come to the exam.”
Cecilia’s fingertip lightly brushed from Rita’s shoulder to the delicate nape of her neck.
The faint itch, like an insect crawling over her skin, made Rita emit a soft hum.
“Mm-hmm…”
“You’re not after my life. If you wanted to harm me, I doubt you’d still be sitting here.” Cecilia’s finger twirled a silver strand of hair that had fallen behind Rita’s head, bringing it close to her nose.
Rita could feel Cecilia’s warm breath on her neck, the awkwardness making her shrink her neck.
Her voice grew softer: “How could I dare harm Your Highness?”
“Exactly. You don’t dare hurt me, but you dared to climb into my bed.”
Thump.
Rita’s heart felt like it had stopped beating.
Her voice trembled: “W-what are you talking about?”
The princess took a gentle breath through Rita’s hair, the chill making Rita pull her neck in tighter.
“The scent on your clothes, the scent in your hair—it’s the incense only found on my bed. Though faint, I can’t mistake it.”
So that’s why the princess said my clothes were the evidence?
“With so many Guards watching, you were able to enter my room and leave safely, didn’t try to kill me, didn’t do anything to me, and there’s no sign of my things being searched.”
I was the one pinned to the bed! Of course I didn’t do anything to you!
Wait, hold on.
Guards? Where were the Guards?
From when I snuck in last night until I left this morning, besides the princess herself, I didn’t see a single mouse.
From the lack of guards last night to the assassination attempt today, Cecilia’s situation seems complicated.
“You’re here again, telling me flawed lies, completely different from the smart and powerful person I expected. I don’t understand you at all. That’s why I want to get to know you myself.”
“Rita.”
Cecilia’s fingers continued down her back, skimming over her spine, then lower to the small of her back, stopping at the spot where she had grabbed Rita’s tail last night.
Though empty now, Cecilia’s nails still grazed that patch of skin lightly.
“Become mine.”