The Pantyless Panic
Marian's bedroom, feeling empty without her teacher, was lined with several books. Among them, the one she'd read the most was a 927-page scripture distributed by the church. That tome, compiled with the sayings of the Supreme God and the angels, had become one of Marian's toys for killing time. She'd flip to a random page when bored and read without looking, or since there was so much content, it never felt stale no matter how much she read. She'd started reading it for all sorts of impure reasons, but after nearly ten years out of her twelve-year life, she'd somehow become a devout believer.
"P-page... one hundred twenty-seven...."
"Yes?"
"Th-third paragraph.... The Supreme God said, 'Those who venture outside without proper attire shall receive divine punishment...'."
Plunged into panic, Marian began trembling uncontrollably. It was the most natural reaction. It felt like half a day had passed since they'd left the bedroom. And during that half day, hadn't she been prancing around without panties? She'd gone beyond half a day into the outside world without the proper panties....
"Divine punishment...!"
For the young, innocent Marian to be gripped by fear was only natural. Chloe let out a soft phew of a sigh, took Marian's hand, and led her toward the back alleys.
The narrow back alley was so hemmed in by overhanging roofs from the buildings on either side that the sky was completely blocked from view.
"There, now even the Supreme God won't see you here, miss."
"L-lie.... God isn't a fool...."
"The Supreme God only punishes those who act under the open sky. We're under a roof, aren't we?"
"B-but I already walked around the city without panties. I'm a harlot now, Chloe...."
Harlot.... The refined term, oddly mature for her age, showed that Marian hadn't been skimming the scripture lightly. But still.
"That's strange. If so, why hasn't divine punishment fallen on you yet, miss?"
"Th-that's...."
"Maybe the Supreme God hasn't seen you yet? The scripture clearly says punishment falls immediately on the sinner's head...."
"I-is that it.... He hasn't seen me yet...."
Calming a child wasn't so hard. Point out the logical flaws one by one, and her guard would drop....
"B-but if I go out from under the roof like this again.... Divine punishment...!"
She latched onto another point, her voice on the verge of tears. Marian had a sharp side in these unexpected moments. Unless Chloe convinced her thoroughly, she wouldn't step a foot outside this alley.
In the end, she had to solve the root cause.... Though the solution was... tricky in all sorts of ways.
Anything besides putting mine on her...?
If not, she'd have to sneak into some house and grab laundry off the line, but she couldn't leave Marian alone in the alley. Who knew what might happen?
"Haa...."
Chloe sighed faintly and thought about her own outfit. She was wearing the Evergreen Guard's uniform. It was short, but not that short—no groin exposure—and though it had side slits, they didn't go high enough to show panty strings.
Won't show even without them.
That was a small mercy. At least she wasn't in skin-tight leggings that would reveal the mound if she skipped underwear.
"Miss, could you close your eyes for a bit?"
"Wh-why eyes...?"
"I've got something for you."
"O-okay, fine...."
When Chloe asked her to close her eyes, Marian hesitated a little before covering them with both hands.
And Chloe...
I'm insane, really.... What the hell is this situation...?
Slipped her hand under her skirt and slowly pulled down the lacy panties Viola had brought her. She'd seen plenty of women in lacy panties like this, but never dreamed she'd wear them herself... and now she was handing them off to someone else.
"Haa...."
"Eek...!"
"It's fine. I'm not going anywhere."
It was a situation that drew sighs naturally, but she couldn't sigh freely. Marian, eyes covered, flinched at Chloe's every tiny movement, scared half to death.
"Lift your feet a bit. There you go."
Gathering her scattered wits, Chloe slipped both of Marian's feet into the panties. Now, if she reached under the dress hem, slid them up along her thighs...
"Eh...?"
The unfamiliar fabric brushing her groin.
"Truth is, I have a little sister? She forgets her panties a lot, so I always carry two."
"R-really?"
"Really. Would I lie about that?"
Startled, Marian opened her eyes, and Chloe soothed her with a convenient fib.
"Thank you, Chloe!"
Was it relief at dodging divine punishment? Marian hugged Chloe tightly, as if rescued from doom.
And Chloe...
Ugh, the breeze keeps slipping in....
Now she had to walk pantyless through the city back to the Grand Duke's castle for the first time in her life.
"Chloe?"
"N-nothing. Really."
On the stairs, she habitually pressed down the hem at her butt. Uphill, she kept glancing back to check if anyone was coming.
Why are they staring? Why...?
Plenty of people glanced her way meaninglessly on the way back, but she couldn't brush off their gazes lightly like before. It felt like they were seeing right through her.
After enduring that ordeal, they finally returned to the castle. How much longer did she walk glued to Marian's side?
"Uuu...."
The Supreme God might not have seen, but Marian knew she'd committed an unforgivable sin. Her head drooped under the weight of this unspeakable guilt, and as her eyes lowered...
"Eh...?"
Something she absolutely shouldn't see came into view.
"Ch-Chloe?"
"Yes?"
It was the view under Chloe's skirt, perfectly reflected on the Grand Duke's castle's fine marble floor. And there, what should have been there... wasn't.
"Uh, e-eh...?"
"Miss?"
"N-no, nothing...."
"You got startled."
"S-sorry...."
This meant Chloe had committed the same grave sin of being treated as a harlot.
Liar....
Chloe had said she carried two because of her sister, but a moment's thought showed that didn't add up. Which meant...
She gave me her own underwear, prepared to take divine punishment in my place...!
It was Chloe's sacrifice. A one-sided offering, ready to bear the punishment that should have fallen on clumsy her.
The moment she realized it, a swell of emotion bubbled in Marian's chest—admiration, awe, that sort of thing.
"Chloe...!"
"Yes? What's wrong, miss?"
"Come to my room every day from now on. Not a single day missed."
"Pardon?"
"I'll, I'll play with you.... Super fun...."
Of course, even feeling those emotions, the best gratitude young Marian could offer was a "top-tier doll play show"....
But neither Chloe nor Marian knew what direction that play would evolve into later.
"Pfft, so cute."
Just for accompanying her on one outing, she wants me in her room every day? No tantrum like a kid's tantrum.
She's just saying come play every day because it's fun with me, Chloe thought.
"But what do I do about those bitches?"
But before playing with Marian daily, there was a problem that had to be solved. Those maids who looked down on Marian and wouldn't even help her dress—clueless wenches who needed to be rooted out and crushed so they'd never pull that shit again.
"Should I ask Viola for help?"
The first person who came to mind was Viola. Their relationship started with that near-miss dagger toss on day one—a weird bad blood—but Viola was a highly professional maid. She'd been sweet even to Chloe, who pulled that stunt on her first day as exclusive maid, and despite the guard uniform not needing help dressing, she'd always chime in with "Let me help you into it."
"Yeah, Viola would..."
She was reliable. Telling Haksen directly might blow up into a bloodbath, and Chloe had no other trustworthy connections...
Deciding to owe Viola one, she bent over to rummage in the drawer for a spare pair of panties to change into.
"Teacher, something from the 'Alchemy Workshop'?"
Clank—the bedroom door opened, and startled, Chloe whipped around, covering her butt first...
"Ah...."
"Saw it...?"
"Well...."
Viola's face was already beet red.
"S-sorry!"
"Ah...."
She wanted to die.