3. The First Request...
Aria and Sierra stepped into the tent. Aria strode in boldly, while Sierra followed behind with polite deference.
"Hmm... This tent is surprisingly cozy. Back when I was training at the Imperial Knight Academy, we could never pitch one this well even with a whole group."
"Yes, it's quite nice. I was worried when you insisted on doing it alone... but this is far better than what several soldiers could manage."
Ju Cheong-ah had suspected that Aria might not be the real princess, that perhaps Sierra was the true royal and the two had swapped roles for some ruse... but that hunch, as reasonable as it seemed, missed the mark entirely. And who could blame her? As someone from Yuldo, not Tronen Kingdom, her suspicion was a logical guess based on her own experiences. If anyone from another nation had heard her theory, they might have nodded along, finding it plausible.
But unfortunately for her, Princess Aria was a peculiar figure well-known to every citizen of Tronen. A tomboy who idolized the knights from fairy tales. How deeply did she admire them? Enough that she, a firstborn legitimate daughter, tossed aside any claim to the throne for her half-brother and even went abroad to study.
"Anyway, this is getting stuffy."
"Pardon? Wait, Princess—!"
Before Sierra could finish, Aria yanked off her hood. Her radiant beauty was laid bare. Strands of blue hair, slightly damp with sweat, framed eyes of the same striking azure. The glamorous beauty carried an air as vibrant as a blooming blue rose.
"Haha! Finally free of this stifling robe."
Sierra gazed at her, resigned that it was already off, and extended her hand gracefully to take it.
"Sigh... Princess Aria, please give me the robe."
"Hmm...?"
Aria stared blankly at her, puffing out her cheeks a bit.
"Why?"
"Sierra, aren't you being too stiff? It's just us—relax and talk like you normally do."
"But—"
"No buts. I'm allowing it, aren't I? Are you defying your lord's command?"
"Fine, I'll do that..."
"Good!"
Aria beamed as if the stiffness had never happened. She stepped forward and pulled Sierra into a tight embrace. Sierra, petite even for a woman, vanished completely into Aria's arms—tall for a girl herself. Sierra showed no surprise, as if this were routine.
Aria looked down at her with warm eyes, her hand slowly tracing Sierra's waist. Blushing, she whispered,
"My dear Sierra... It must be so hard on you, when you're not even a knight."
"No, it's fine."
"I'm not fine with it."
That was the truth. Princess Aria was, in fact, a lesbian.
"Eek... Aria. Wait. Not there."
"No."
Sierra wasn't thrilled by Aria's advances but, as her lord, couldn't muster a strong refusal. She simply stayed put in the embrace.
"Sorry about earlier, slapping your cheek. I didn't mean to, but it hurt my heart."
"...It's okay. You already apologized ages ago. And honestly, it wasn't a bad way to handle it."
"But will this really confuse our pursuers?"
"Yeah. They think you're some arrogant noble lady with no manners, not a princess. No one will spot you right away."
"Mm. True. But Sierra... it's just us now."
"Uh, um...?"
The subtle, smoldering gaze full of heated longing made Sierra uneasy. She quickly changed the subject.
"A-Anyway, Aria."
"What?"
"I've been wondering... Why go to the Adventurer's Guild instead of the Mercenary Guild? Aren't escorts usually their thing?"
"Oh, that? Well..."
Aria paused before answering Sierra's question.
"That damn fallen bitch from the Mercenary Guild."
"Fallen... Oh, you mean Princess Bellatrix?"
"Princess? Please. The wretch who lost her throne to her uncle and got chased out—lost an arm and an eye to boot. What kind of princess is that?"
"...Mm."
"Whatever. Forget that loser. More importantly..."
Sierra felt Aria's arms tighten around her, hands slyly sliding downward to lift her robe.
'Oh no...'
Sierra hesitated. She knew Aria's feelings better than anyone. They'd been inseparable since childhood—maid and mistress, after all. Their bond was tender, protective. But Sierra was straight; what she felt was friendship, nothing more.
Yet her precious friend and lord yearned for more. Sierra had never outright refused, letting years slip by in awkward limbo. Now Aria treated her like a lover, her desires accelerating faster than a downhill rollercoaster.
'...What do I do?'
She didn't hate Aria. But romance? Impossible. Desperate to pivot, Sierra racked her brain. Then she remembered their companions—the couple who'd introduced themselves as husband and wife.
"Oh, uh, y'know... Ian and Ju Cheong-ah. Isn't it wild they're married?"
"...What about it?"
"I mean, Ju Cheong-ah's drop-dead gorgeous, right?"
"Hmm... True. For someone from eastern Yuldo, she's stunning. Like a noble lady I know."
Aria's gaze turned longing toward Sierra. Sweat beaded down Sierra's back. That predatory stare—like she was about to devour her. No, not that! She rushed on.
"B-But why marry someone like Ian?"
"Huh...?"
"Think about it. Three years as an adventurer and still Iron Badge? He's gotta lack talent. Not even that handsome. Tall, sure, but no real standout qualities."
"His tent-pitching and camp-setting skills were top-notch, though."
"Yeah, and his cooking was good."
"Besides, love doesn't need reasons. They say it transcends borders, age, and..."
Aria trailed off, hugging Sierra tighter.
"...gender."
"...H-Hngh."
"I can't hold back anymore, Sierra."
Oh no...!
Aria's desire erupted. Her hands stripped away Sierra's robe, exposing her fully in the tent's dim light.
Swish—
Her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall in sunlight, a single braid wrapped tiara-like around her head, falling to her armpits in a shimmering mid-length cut. Aquamarine eyes sparkled transparently at Aria. Her pure pink lips bore a scab from the earlier slap.
"Mm..."
Aria's face darkened fiercely at the sight. She gently caressed Sierra's cheek, thumb tenderly brushing the scabbed lip.
"Eek... Don't, it hurts."
"Sorry."
Aria pulled back in alarm at Sierra's wince. Seizing the moment, Sierra slipped free.
"...N-No, this won't do. Hold on."
"Sierra?"
"I'll ask Ian if there's any medicine in the carriage..."
"I have some too—"
"No. Yours is that royal alchemist's secret elixir. Save it for yourself. Too extravagant for a busted lip."
"...Fine. Hurry back."
"Got it."
Leaving a reluctant Aria behind, Sierra fled the tent. She planned to kill time until Aria dozed off, but first headed to the campfire to check for medicine.
There sat Ian's back by the flames, Ju Cheong-ah's head resting on his shoulder.
'...They really are married.'
Standing watch together like loving spouses... A twinge of envy. As she approached—
Ju Cheong-ah's head slid slowly downward from his shoulder.
'What? What's happening?'
Before she could wonder, suspicious sounds began.
Slurp— smack— kiss— smooch—
"Mmm... lick. Haa... How's that, dear?"
"Hoo. Good, you're getting much better. Huge improvement from the first time."
"Hehe. Well, we've been practicing every day for three months now."
Ju Cheong-ah smiled seductively. Sierra finally grasped it, ducking behind the carriage and clapping a hand over her gaping mouth to stifle a cry.
'Wha—what the—?!'
What the hell is going on?!