A Shared Chamber

"You'll need to change before going to bed... Shall I assist you, Mother?"

Carmel did not answer. Casting a brief, displeased glance in my direction, she turned her back to me and began changing into her nightgown. Even so, she made no effort to shield herself from my view. Perhaps she figured that acting nonchalant was better than openly acknowledging my blatant, dark desires. Well, either way suited me just fine.

I stood in silence, thoroughly appreciating the sight of Carmel undressing. Her undergarments, adorned with a black garter belt, were of a rather scandalous design. With every slight sway of her body, the luscious curve of her hips moved in tandem, utterly captivating my gaze.

Carmel stripped off everything except for her panties before slipping into a sheer silk nightgown. From now on, I would be treated to this delicious spectacle every single day. My heart fluttered at the very prospect. For the next three weeks, I would share the same space, breathe the same air, and remain by her side from the moment we woke until we closed our eyes. I felt as though I would truly feel alive every single second.

Once dressed, Carmel headed straight for the bed without sparing me so much as a glance. Did she intend to ignore me entirely? To act as if I weren't even in the room? That wasn't a particularly wise idea.

I, too, retrieved a nightgown from the luggage the maids had brought over and changed. It was a pale pink, semi-translucent piece. Once dressed, I slipped into the bed where Carmel lay. Her bed carried her distinct scent. From now on, my own scent would mingle with hers. The thought sent a strange, intoxicating thrill through me.

Lying on my side, I quietly studied Carmel's face as she kept her eyes closed. Her profile was almost unbearably captivating. With her eyelids shut and the usual venom drained from her expression, she looked like an entirely different kind of beauty. I felt an involuntary urge to reach out and touch her. I barely managed to suppress the twitching of my fingers.

Laying hands on her so soon was not part of my plan. It was unwise to prioritize immediate desire and make reckless physical contact. Yet, the temptation was far stronger than I had anticipated. It seemed I had vastly underestimated the sheer, destructive impact of sharing a bed with Carmel.

Before I knew it, I was drawing closer to her. But the nearer I got, the harder the impulse was to control. Carmel's scent, which filled the air around me, and her elegant yet erotic face made me lose all restraint. Finally, just as I reached out beneath the covers to drape my arm over her body, Carmel spoke in a tiny whisper.

"...Don't..."

It was a fragile voice, devoid of the confidence and ferocity she had displayed during the day. It sounded almost like a desperate plea. Like the fleeting hope of a prey begging not to be devoured. At the sound of that voice, my reaching arm froze.

In truth, my urge to ravish Carmel had grown even more intense than before. But now, I could endure it. My desire to truly possess Carmel was far greater than my mere urge to violate her. I withdrew my arm and pulled back. Inhaling the deep scent of Carmel that clung to the bedding, I drifted off to sleep, thinking that this fragrance would surely bring about wanton dreams.

The next morning. Upon opening my eyes, a blissful scene unfolded before me. Carmel, who had turned toward me at some point during the night, lay there with a completely defenseless expression. As I quietly watched her, her eyes suddenly snapped open. Spotting my face, a brief look of shock crossed her features.

"Sera? What are you doing... Ah, right..."

"Did you sleep well, Mother?"

"...Yes."

Carmel gave a curt reply and got out of bed as if nothing had happened. She rang the bedside bell, and a flock of maids filed into the room. These were the maids tasked with assisting the Queen with her morning toilet. Today, my own personal attendants were among them. No matter how confined I was, the dignity of a princess could not be compromised. Naturally, Shinia was among them.

Carmel glared at poor Shinia with terrifying eyes, as if the maid were the sole cause of this entire predicament. I smoothly stepped between the two of them.

"Come, let us begin quickly. Mother has a busy schedule ahead of her today."

This was another reason I had decided to stay in Carmel's room. Though I couldn't immediately reassign Shinia to my palace, Carmel wouldn't be able to easily lay a hand on her as long as I was present. Maids specialized in various tasks set to work on both Carmel and me. In no time at all, we were groomed to perfection, looking every bit the Queen and Princess.

Once our preparations were complete, a simple breakfast followed. Carmel and I sat across from each other at the table in the room and began our meal. It was a light spread consisting of bread, various spreads, and fruit. Spreading butter in a smooth circle over my bread, I questioned Carmel.

"What is your first appointment today, Mother?"

"Today, I meet with Archbishop Glengory... Wait, why should I tell you any of this?"

"Eating in absolute silence is rather dull, isn't it? Archbishop Glengory, you say... What sort of conspiracy are you plotting this time?"

"Ha, conspiracy? I am merely attending a prayer meeting in my capacity as Queen. Though listening to those hypocritical flatteries directed at the Goddess is nothing but tedious."

"Hmm. In any case, have a safe trip, Mother."

"Hmph..."

She was back to her usual self. Was her behavior last night merely a sleep-induced lapse? After finishing our light meal, Carmel left the room. Waving goodbye to her as she departed for her duties, I felt an odd sensation, almost as if we were a married couple.

Only a few maids and I remained in the room. I immediately went to work. I penned a quick note, folded it several times, and handed it to Shinia.

"Deliver this to Sir Filgret. I am counting on you, Shinia."

"Y-Yes? Ah, yes, Your Highness!"

While under house arrest, I was forbidden from interfering in state affairs. However, that only applied to official channels. They couldn't possibly stop me from acting covertly through unofficial means. It was a slap on the wrist to begin with, but at this rate, it felt more like a reward than a punishment. After all, I had essentially been granted a three-week free pass to Carmel.

Shinia left the room with the note. I had instructed Filgret to prepare to move at a moment's notice and to report any suspicious noble activity regarding Carmel immediately. He likely already had a headache dealing with the selection of the Royal Guard Captain, but I hoped he would endure a little hardship for the sake of his master's happiness.

Now then, next...

Ever since I awakened my eyes to perceive mana, things that were once invisible had begun to reveal themselves. In a corner of Carmel's room, there was an object shrouded in a dark aura that had been nagging at my attention. I approached the large chest. As I did, one of the maids waiting in the room hastily called out to stop me.

"U-Um! Your Highness!"

"Yes?"

"T-That... Her Majesty strictly forbade anyone from touching that chest... She flies into a terrible rage if we even go near it... She would likely do the same to Your Highness..."

Her voice carried genuine concern that I might face Carmel's wrath. Every single one of my maids was truly endearing. Of course, that wasn't going to stop me.

"It is quite alright. Mother and I are practically of one body now. She won't mind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the least."

Offering a reassuring smile to the still-anxious maid, I approached the chest once more. On the outside, it looked like an ordinary wooden box. There wasn't even a keyhole in sight. It didn't appear to be locked.

In the original novel, Carmel had acquired the Book of Enekra quite early on. Consequently, I didn't know much about how Carmel cast magic without it. Come to think of it, she had used magic during the early chapters when torturing Jubaca. A horrific spell that inflicted excruciating pain without leaving a single mark on the physical body. This ominous energy... This chest undoubtedly contained the tools for that kind of dark sorcery.

With a slight flutter of tension, I gripped the lid of the chest. Steeling myself not to be shocked by whatever grotesque sight might lie within, I went to fling it open. Or rather, I attempted to.

...It won't open...

It didn't feel locked in the traditional sense. The lid didn't even rattle, remaining completely fused to the base as if it were never meant to open in the first place. Although Princess Sera's physical strength was meager, this level of rigidity suggested that no amount of brute force would budge it. Then again, it wouldn't be that easy. If she kept such a critical item in her room, Carmel would have opposed my moving in far more vehemently. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The fact that she hadn't meant she was confident I wouldn't be able to lay eyes on whatever was inside. It was only natural that she had such security measures in place.

In that case, there was no point in me struggling with it alone. I would have to extract the secret of its contents and how to open it directly from Carmel herself. Leaving the chest as it was, I sat at the tea table and requested the maids to brew some tea. The remaining two maids left the room to fulfill my request.

Of course, this didn't mean I could escape. Two knights stood guard right outside the door. My sole purpose in sending the maids away was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to search the room. There might be some other important item Carmel had failed to hide. A diary, perhaps, or correspondence exchanged with someone. I began to thoroughly ransack the room.