Promotion…?

The blonde woman, Selina de Havenia.

She waved her hand to her younger sister, Cordelia de Havenia, who was beyond the carriage window.

Cordelia’s schoolmates standing beside her were smiling as if nothing was wrong, but cold sweat was pouring down their backs.

Even if they were to be friends with Cordelia within the Academy, there wouldn’t be anyone bold enough to treat Her Highness the Princess, who was riding in the carriage and deeply favored by the Emperor, like a friend’s older sister.  

Selina chuckled at their stiff smiles and looked at the pink-haired girl sitting opposite her, who had her eyes lowered.

Her eyes, fixed on the floor, trembled restlessly.

When the window closed with a *thump!*, the girl’s shoulders flinched! and trembled.

Seeing her appearance, as if she knew her own sin, the Princess let out a satisfied laugh.

Upon receiving intelligence that Astarote Asha had appeared, she had come to the Academic Society to commend her younger sister, but what a surprise.

Wasn’t there a familiar face next to her sister?

Moreover, according to the intelligence that came with it, Astarote Asha’s changed appearance was said to have light pink hair and emerald eyes.

There was even the Saint’s confirmation, wasn’t there?

Upon hearing the news, the Princess first strictly warned that it should not leak out anywhere else.

She had thought it was suspicious ever since she heard that the Train had been repaired.

But she had never dreamed that the gender would have changed, so she had been completely fooled.

That fact was amusing, and yet, her interest in him… no, in her, surged.

Selina smiled faintly and opened her mouth.

“You… we meet again.”

“It is an honor, Her Highness the Princess.”

“Indeed. Have you been well since then?”

“Thanks to your concern, I have been well.”

“I wasn’t looking for such flattering words… but still, hearing it from you makes me feel quite good.”

At the Princess’s playful remark, the pink-haired girl, Asha, forced a stiff smile.

“By the way, were you attending the Academy?”

“Ah… that….”

Cold sweat ran down Asha’s back.

Various assumptions popped into her head.

What if she said she was currently enrolled in the Academy? It would be a lie that would quickly be exposed, as she was already involved with Cordelia.

If she said no… she would have to explain why she was wearing the Academy Uniform.

It was already known that she had some kind of relationship with Veronica, so it might be okay to say she borrowed it for a moment, but.

‘…What if Her Highness the Princess came knowing my true identity?’

All the previous assumptions would be shattered.

She would have already told a lie.

It was like she had walked onto the execution grounds herself.

What was a free drink compared to this?

Watching Asha’s face change moment by moment, the Princess smiled inwardly.

She thought it was understandable that she hadn’t recognized her.

During her Academy days, she… no, he was somehow like a block of wood. Even when observed from afar, that was the case.

For some reason, no matter what he did, his expression barely changed.

His family name, attached to his own, might have played a part in his lonely Academy days, but his own bluntness was also not without fault.

‘…And yet, there were those who approached him.’

Lady Kaltz and… Saint Claire, who had now become a Saint and renounced her family.

A tomboyish young lady who ran away to the Academy because she didn’t want to get married, and a novice nun.

Well, that didn’t matter.

“Is there some kind of problem?”

“Uh, that… it’s just.”

It was enjoyable to ponder what to do with the girl in front of her right now.

Just a little poke would elicit a lively reaction.

That’s why she hadn’t thought they were the same person.

After enjoying Asha’s cute, puppy-like appearance for a moment, Selina decided to lighten Asha’s burden a little.

“I shall give you a chance to reintroduce yourself.”

“….”

Asha instinctively knew her identity had been exposed.

She couldn’t believe the news traveled so fast.

There must definitely be someone from Her Highness the Princess at the Academic Society.

Or… no, what did it matter now?

Asha sighed inwardly and managed to open her mouth.

“…I did not intend to deceive you.”

“Hmm… that’s a fifty-point answer.”

“…I failed to meet your expectations─”

“Hmm, that’s enough.”

When she lightened the burden, Asha became even stiffer.

‘This way… it’s no fun, is it?’

Selina grabbed Asha’s stiff hand and pulled her towards herself.

The frail body couldn’t resist and was pulled into Selina’s embrace.

“Your, Your Highness?!”

Selina chuckled silently, holding the girl whose face was flushed crimson in her arms.

Her squirming, unable to do this or that, reminded her of what had happened on the previous Train.

Now… it was like something that hadn’t been running was standing erect, perhaps.

Selina stroked Asha’s light pink hair and continued speaking.

“The wrong you committed against me… you know it well, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Then… what punishment should I bestow upon you?”

Asha’s slender body trembled slightly.

Selina’s hand touched the soft hair tied like a horse’s tail.

Selina’s hand, stroking as if feeling the texture, caressed Asha’s pale white nape.

Asha trembled, unable to do this or that.

“Yes, I’ve decided.”

Selina said with a sly smile.

“You shall commute to my Palace for the time being.”

“Nyeh-heh?”

“Heheheh….”

Selina’s meaningful laughter echoed inside the carriage.

Asha’s head spun, unsure how to interpret the meaning of that laughter.

‘Still, it’s not the worst, is it…?’

Having caressed Asha’s body to her satisfaction, Selina straightened Asha’s posture.

Asha scrambled to her feet and clung to the opposite seat.

Selina chuckled at her frightened, puppy-like appearance and opened her mouth.

“You still have the token I gave you, don’t you?”

“…Of course.”

The token she thought she would never need to use.

Asha had never expected to use it like this. After all, it was an accident to begin with.

“Starting tomorrow, my Palace… no, the Palace would be too conspicuous….”

Selina took out a notebook from her pocket and began to scribble something.

Considering it was a luxurious carriage, the handwriting looked neat despite being written in a moving vehicle.

After finishing her memo, Selina folded it neatly and placed it in Asha’s hand.

“Starting tomorrow, you will commute there for the time being. Show the token to the guard, and they will let you in.”

“…Understood.”

Selina smiled at her docile acceptance.

“But, aren’t you going to ask what kind of work I’ll make you do?”

“…Even if I wanted to avoid it, it’s not something I can, is it? And… you said ‘for the time being’.”

Asha put the memo into her uniform pocket.

“…It’ll be fine.”

“That’s a good attitude.”

Selina smiled contentedly and grasped the carriage handle.

“We’ve circled back to the Academic Society… so you should go back as if nothing happened.”

*Click.* The carriage door opened.

“Today… you see.”

The Princess whispered to Asha, who was getting out of the carriage with stiff movements.

“I’ll provide the attire… so you may come in comfortable clothes.”

“…I will.”

As the carriage door closed, the window lowered, revealing Selina’s face.

Selina waved to Asha and said,

“Then I shall see you tomorrow, Lord Astaroth.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The carriage Selina was in glided away.

Asha let out a sigh that rose from deep within her.

“…How did it come to this?”

Asha, who had buried her face in her hands in distress, suddenly snapped back to reality.

‘…Being forgiven for lying to Her Highness the Princess.’

Wouldn’t this be a gain if she was forgiven to this extent?

She didn’t know what Her Highness the Princess would make her do, but.

She wouldn’t be imprisoned in an underground dungeon or sent to the execution grounds, would she? 

…Of course, she wouldn’t be sent to the execution grounds no matter what, but Asha’s delusions had stretched that far… so she considered this a good outcome.

“Asha!”

At the sound of her name, Asha turned her head. Veronica was running towards her from afar.

Veronica, panting as if out of breath, scolded Asha.

“Where did you go? I’ve been looking for you for ages.”

“….”

I’ve really been through a lot.

As she hesitated, wondering how to explain, Veronica sniffed.

“…What’s this smell?”

“Huh?”

“Did you go somewhere and spray perfume?”

“Ah… no, not really….”

‘I was… held in Her Highness the Princess’s arms for a bit.’

Asha swallowed the words she couldn’t bring herself to say aloud and sniffed her nose.

Then she noticed a fragrant scent clinging to her body. It was a scent she hadn’t noticed while in the carriage, perhaps due to being too nervous.

Over Veronica’s shoulder, who was tilting her head, Ariel’s figure came into view.

Asha waved her hand to Ariel and said,

“…Let’s buy some clothes first, then talk.”

Veronica looked at Asha with a questioning gaze.

The subtle citrus scent that had been on Selina’s body was faintly rising.