Unfamiliarity

Because my clothes were very dirty, I had to wear the clothes Princess-nim gave me. Leaving aside whether the size fit or not… my lower body felt chilly, so I couldn’t get used to it. Even if it was a skirt, it was a dress that came down to my ankles, so it was safe to say this was the first time I’d worn a skirt that exposed my thighs.

…And on top of that, I’d just done *that* kind of thing… No, not *that* kind of thing-

“Shaa-yang?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Puhuhu… You seem even more nervous than before, somehow?”

“Ah, no, I’m not. It’s just… I’m wearing clothes like this for the first time….”

“Is that so?”

Princess-nim, who nodded as if surprised, tilted the teapot. As expected of an expensive Passenger Cabin, it seemed to be a Magic Tool, and a warm, sunset-colored liquid, steaming, poured out with a trickling sound. Once it was adequately filled, Princess-nim pushed a Teacup towards me.

…It was mine.

“Th-thank you.”

“Please make yourself comfortable.”

It would be great if I could drink comfortably, but… I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Still, it seemed to be good tea leaves, as the taste was excellent. I thought I’d like to brew it a bit stronger and make Milk Tea.

As I was warming myself up, I saw Princess-nim staring intently at me. When our eyes met, her blue eyes curved gently.

“You… are strange after all.”

“Pardon?”

“You… aren’t perhaps hiding your identity from me, are you?”

“…That’s not the case.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Princess-nim sip her tea with a dignified gesture, I realized what mistake I had made. It seemed to be due to my habitual gestures. Princess-nim, who had put down her Teacup, gazed at me intently, then curved her lips into a smile.

“Well, if you say so, I understand. Rather than that, let’s talk about the Potion. You… seem to already know about the Potion, don’t you?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering. Because I had found a suitable excuse.

“I… heard it from Be, Caltz Young-ae. It seems as if I hid it because it only just came to mind… Jeonha.”

“Hmm… Yes, that’s a suitable excuse.”

“…”

Cold sweat ran down my back. Barely managing to pull up the corners of my mouth that wanted to drop like a crashing stock graph, I averted my gaze, and a laugh was heard.

“Kukuk… Don’t be too scared, it was a joke. Your reaction was so cute that I couldn’t help but play a prank.”

“…I-is that so?”

…This is why those high-ranking people are like this. Fearing that my disrespectful thoughts might show, I pinched my wrist.

It hurt.

As I hid my wrist and rubbed it slightly, I heard the trickling sound of my Teacup being filled.

“This request might sound a bit sensitive and rude, but… Could you tell me what you know?”

Princess-nim, who smiled gently, dropped a sugar cube into her Teacup with a plop. She leisurely enjoyed her tea, as if she would wait as long as it took, and awaited my answer.

…I felt a little depressed. Of course, I knew the ingredients, but… I didn’t even know why it turned out that way. I felt pathetic. For some reason, my eyes felt damp. When I wiped them with my finger, tears were seeping out.

Oh? Why, why am I like this? While I was flustered by the tears that were freely flowing, Princess-nim stood up from her seat and came to sit beside me. I felt the soft touch of cloth gently pressing against my eyes.

“I don’t know what happened, but it seems I asked something unnecessary.”

“Th-that’s not it, I, I also don’t know why, why I’m suddenly like this.”

The sudden burst of tears was uncontrollable. It was fortunate that I was small and tears suited my appearance, but if I had shed tears in my previous form… it would have been unsightly.

But I really don’t know why the tears are pouring out… I certainly felt depressed and helpless, but I never knew it would burst out like this immediately.

The feeling of being swayed by emotions like this was extremely embarrassing… and unpleasant.

…Is it because my body changed?

Probably… that’s it.

After calming down with Princess-nim’s touch, I opened my mouth in a small voice. Perhaps because I had cried, my voice was a little hoarse.

“I… apologize for showing such an unsightly display.”

“I’m fine. Rather… perhaps I pushed you too hard… So, I should be the one more sorry.”

“Ah, no, it’s not.”

“Huhu… If you say so.”

After that, when I apologized to Princess-nim for not having found anything, she smiled and shook her head. At her words to drink the tea, calm down, and then return, I obediently sipped my tea. Her gaze, as if looking at a cute creature, was a little burdensome, but it was better than a displeased look.

Only after eating all the snacks she pushed towards me in between, did the atmosphere become one for departure. Princess-nim placed a badge engraved with the Royal Crest into my hand and spoke.

“If you find out anything, I’d like you to come to the Palace. And…”

Princess-nim paused for a moment before continuing.

“If any problems arise from what happened today, you can come to me anytime. You can also come to visit if you’re bored.”

“…I am deeply honored.”

I’m absolutely not going.

“For the time being, I’ll be confined to the Palace, so come visit anytime.”

“…Is that so?”

Princess-nim chuckled and said.

“Actually, it was I who stopped the Train. It’s… a small tantrum, you could say, to arrive at the Palace a little later.”

…No wonder the things she brought, saying she was sorry, were so luxurious. As expected of someone high-ranking, the scale of her tantrum is truly… generous.

“D-did I… interfere?”

“You don’t need to worry about it. Thanks to it, I made an excuse to meet you, so it’s a gain if anything.”

“…”

I fiddled with the badge in my hand. I had been careful, avoiding getting involved, but I never dreamed it would turn out like this… If it were other nobles, they would probably be overjoyed, but… I have no interest in such things. Of course, it could be an opportunity to make a lot of Money.

However, more than that, getting entangled in politics, making enemies regardless of my will, and having to care about what others think was something I detested.

…For now, since I received it secretly as Shaa, it should be fine.

Princess-nim, who was fiddling with her Teacup, spoke as if she had forgotten something.

“Ah, and to your Master, Lord Astaroth, could you tell him that I hope to see him soon? It’s… not a demand… but personally, I hope you convey it.”

He’s right in front of you. Unfortunately.

“…If I meet him, I will convey that.”

“Yes, I ask this of you.”

Only then did I leave Princess-nim’s Room and reunite with Claudia. It seemed she had been waiting for me to come out, as when I opened the door I had entered through, Claudia was immediately visible. She had been standing with her arms crossed and eyes closed, but as soon as the door opened, our eyes met.

Since I had already paid my respects to Princess-nim before the door opened, I immediately moved to return to the Passenger Cabin with Claudia.

Claudia spoke in a worried voice.

“Shaa. You weren’t subjected to anything strange, were you?”

“…Nothing happened.”

“Your eyes seem a little red, though….”

“…The tea given by the person inside was so delicious that it made my eyes well up a little.”

“Haha, you’re joking.”

Claudia, who had been chuckling, whispered softly once Princess-nim’s escorts moved away.

“So who was the person inside that it was so heavily guarded?”

At that question, I looked around. I thought there might be ears listening from somewhere. Princess-nim knew that Astarote Asha was not at the Workshop.

So, there’s no harm in being careful.

Of course… Princess-nim wouldn’t mind, but I felt uneasy.

“…You’ll get hurt if you know.”

“Hmph…”

“Later…”

“Okay.”

Claudia, who understood what I was saying, readily backed down.

“By the way… Shaa.”

“Yes?”

“What are those clothes?”

“Ah… The clothes I was wearing got dirty.”

I had forgotten, but when Claudia pointed it out, my thighs felt chilly. Even though the weather was a bit warm. It must be my imagination, but….

“Well… it is pretty. It suits you well.”

“…Thank you.”

It was a compliment, but I felt strange. As I scratched my head, Claudia’s second question hit me.

“By the way, I have one more question.”

“Yes?”

Claudia smiled faintly. Somehow… it was a subtle smile.

“Your breasts seem to have shrunk a lot compared to when you went in… Are you sure nothing happened?”

“…I-it must be a misunderstanding. Th-they’re the same, aren’t they?”

Claudia’s rough hand, which had been walking while looking down at me, came up through my armpit and kneaded my breast.

“Wh-what are you doing!”

“…It seems they really did get smaller. You even put on underwear?”

“…I-it’s definitely a misunderstanding! L-let’s go back quickly. Our Companions must be worried….”

“Okay, okay, I get it.”

Leaving Claudia, who was joking around as if she’d only fall for it this time, behind, I scurried towards the Passenger Cabin. Claudia chased after me and grabbed my pelvis.

“Shaa… I know you’re in a hurry, but if you run like that, your underwear will show.”

“…”

“It’s fortunate that no one is around, but it’s better to be careful.”

Claudia, who let out a small laugh, opened the Passenger Cabin door and smiled with a slightly lewd expression.

“That color suits you well.”

“…”

Fuck.

There was a small commotion about the person I met being Princess-nim, but since the Companions moving together weren’t the type to go around blabbing, nothing much happened. Especially those two… they wouldn’t have anyone to blab to anyway.

However, my Companions seemed more interested in the clothes I was wearing and my shrunken breasts.

…It was a bit awkward trying to gloss over that, but the Train that departed arrived at its destination without any issues. Of course, who repaired it? How could there be any problems?

And so… I arrived at the Capital, ‘Haven,’ for the first time since graduating from the Academy.

Perhaps because there were so many people, my stomach felt a little queasy.