Case 20: In the center of a nerve war.
*****
''Whew...''
Damp, breezy, refreshed.
That was what Rachael felt at the moment. Having just come out of the shower, the urge to dive right into her bed and forget about everything was overwhelming.
Yet, she still had work to do. Being a princess, helping to manage territories and trades was an excellent way to prove her worth.
Walking along the hallway that was painted in the moonlight, Rachael's thoughts drifted.
Lately, she hadn't been seeing that peculiar woman.
That petite, fragile lady whose charm was hardly resistible even for the stoic princess. In a way that no one could have expected, Cecilia de Orleans decisively seized Rachael's heart.
If constantly thinking about her and wanting to see wasn't love, then what was?
She wasn't sure.
Soon, she arrived at the office.
''Welcome back, Your Highness.''
Kyrie, her maid, tripling as her bodyguard and assistant, was waiting inside... together with piles of paperwork. A wish of hers and that of many office workers was to digitalize their work for better efficiency eventually, but that would be impossible for now.
Flopping down the chair, Rachael began to shift through the documents almost absentmindedly. In reality, a good portion of the work had already been done by the people below. Those papers merely needed Rachael's signature.
Time passed.
At some point, the hour hand of the clock had already been pointing to the number eleven. Fortunately, the work was done, and she could go to sleep now. Not that she could a lot of the time anyway.
''Congratulations, Your Highness.'' Kyrie politely said. ''Would you like to rest right away?''
''...Bring me the other documents.''
''Understood.''
There were no 'other' documents. Rachael was the type of person who would clear her work entirely before resting, so there was no way she would leave something behind.
Instead, what Kyrie took out was a file containing information about a certain woman.
Cecilia de Orleans.
Everything about this person was bizarre. No one knew where she was born, where she lived, where she was last seen before coming to the Libre empire.
No one knew her.
This extended to her mother, Lily de Orleans, as well. Realistically, someone should have remembered such a beautiful pair of mother and daughter, yet there was none.
Moreover, at this point, Rachael was confident that Cecilia and the hooded woman in the alleyway were the same person. If so, many more questions would arise.
Presumably, Cecilia beat the gang members to obtain a specific magical item that allowed her to move more easily undercover. This was confirmed as the item was missing from the gang leader's body.
Ignoring the 'why,' the real problem was:
How did she do it?
Cecilia claimed to be a novice mage whose combat capability was close to zero. When considering her physique together with that, it was certainly convincing. However, she still defeated more than a dozen men.
Did she feign her condition?
''...''
Clutching her head, Rachael knitted her brows, eyes fixed on the picture of a softly smiling woman. Sky-blue hair dancing amidst the clouds. Cresent eyes, puffed cheeks.
She wanted to believe that Cecilia was genuine. She really did.
'But Cecilia... why do I always smell blood from you?'
That terribly sweet scent of blood that always clung to her mouth. Rachael even tasted it once. It was undoubtedly Cecilia's. At least, it wasn't others' blood that Rachael could smell from her.
Still, there was something going on with this woman. She knew that, yet she couldn't help but want to take care of her. The desire to take that woman as her own and shield her from every danger took over Rachael's mind.
''Hah...''
'What's wrong with me?'
Flipping to the next page, the princess's brows furrowed even further.
Looking at her master tapping the desk in annoyance, Kyrie curiously took a glance at what Rachael was reading.
''Oh, my...''
Respectively, the pictures of two women were shown, one with silver and one with black hair.
Penelope de Bourbon and Kiara d'Anjou.
Like Rachael, these two also visited the Orleans mansion for marriage talks—likely with Lyra de Orleans. She knew and understood that, however... there was this irky throb in her heart every time she thought about them conversing with Cecilia, who would definitely come to aid her little sister.
Wait.
Cecilia's words that day...
''Then... you'll just need to conquer me before anyone else does... ♥''
''...''
The table, reinforced with an advanced spell to withstand an explosion in case of emergency, cracked as a result of Rachael's grip.
''...Kyrie.''
''Y-Yes, Your Highness.''
''Prepare suitable gifts. I shall visit the Orleans mansion this Sunday.''
''Your Highness, according to the schedule, you have an appointment with Her Highness, the second princess—''
''Cancel it.''
''...Understood.''
*****
''Ugh...''
Planting my face into the bed, I silently contemplated my life choices.
Penelope just left.
In the end, she didn't do anything further despite her thing almost bursting out of her pants. No, I knew she was probably just shy and wasn't actually prepared for the real thing, but I was more worried about her words at the end.
A girlfriend? Me?
Would she really take anyone as her lover as long as they were hot?
No, she had certainly met numerous sexy ladies. Did she like something about me specifically?
''...''
Then, I turned my head to the side and saw the bra I had taken off lying pitifully on the bedsheet. Belatedly, it clicked.
The keyword wasn't 'hot' but... 'perverted.'
She wanted a pervert.
Was I a pervert?
...I might be. No, I probably was.
This was such a mess. Somehow, I managed to seduce all three primary love interests.
[See? You had the talent, after all.]
''...Shut up, Lucy.''
[Heh.]
It filled me with confidence, yet I was equally as scared. What kind of horror would ensue if all three of them were to meet each other?
I wouldn't even want to imagine it.
Turned out, I would have to taste that very horror just a few days later.
''W-Wow~! This lemon cake is so good. Want a bite, Lyra?''
''...I can eat myself.''
L-Lyra?! Please don't abandon me...!
Shoving the piece of lemon cake that didn't taste much of anything into my mouth, I feigned innocence and turned away from the battlefield in front of me.
How in the hell did all three of them decide to visit unannounced today??
''Cecilia.''
I flinced.
''Y-Yes...?''
Somehow, Rachael was smiling at me.
It was scary. No, please. It's scary.
With her orange eyes, which used to be burning like an immortal flame, as cold as ice, Rachael annoyedly tapped the armrest.
''The promised dinner.'' She uttered. ''Would you happen to be free on Wednesday?''
''Eh? A-Ah... um...''
Wednesday...? Wednesday of the following week? But I already had—
''Lady Cecilia already had an appointment made with me on Wednesday,'' Penelope interjected coldly, her bottomless eyes clashing with Rachael's. ''It shall be a romantic ferry date between us.''
''Hoh, a ferry?'' The princess sneered. ''You must have lots of money to be flaunting around, don't you?''
By this time, the tension between the two was so high I nearly suffocated. What I didn't expect was Penelope's unhinged response afterward.
''I do.'' She said. ''Money is the last thing I would lack.''
S-Such a cool line...!
Being an ordinary worker before coming here, I was obviously conscious about money. To have someone like Penelope, who would slap stacks of money into my face with a nonchalant expression...
I was ovulating in real-time.
Perhaps noticing my melted face, the other princess in the room finally spoke up.
''To blush at that kind of statement... Cecilia is such an indecent girl.~☆''
Two index fingers playfully pointing at me.
Kiara delivered that 'joke' without a change in her expression.
''Right? Right?''
'''' ... ''''
Anyone could see her desperate attempt to ease the mood. However, something like that was nearly impossible with Rachael and Penelope.
So, for some time, only a heavy silence was left in the room.
Amidst all this, Lyra was still somehow comfortably eating the snack these three brought; her little cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. Then, our eyes met.
Save me, Lyra...!
''Wednesday is not possible.''
''Huh?''
As if reading my thoughts, my adorable little sister declared.
''Big sis will be with me on Wednesday.'' She said flatly. ''No exception.''
'''' ... ''''
Somehow, Lyra actually ended up saving me from having to deal with the fight between Rachael and Penelope. From that day on, I decided to establish a new religion.
The goddess we would serve?
Lyra, of course.