This chapter switches perspectives from Ly to Liliana.
H29.11.26 Title correction
①episode23-2 Thorns of Remembrance and Meddling①→…Thorns of…
Just now, under Hal’s lead, a “trial in absentia” was held for Sophie, and her punishment was decided should she commit any improper acts.
I, Ly, could only let out a sigh.
After all, Sophie is a distant relative of mine…
Moreover, Sophie is older than me.
Still, the outcome of the “trial in absentia” was satisfactory.
Sophie always kept her hair short, except for during her childhood.
I always thought she was strange, considering hair is a maiden’s pride, but I never imagined she thought of herself as a man…
There are too many things that come to mind.
First, to make her realize that her body is that of a maiden, we will have her wear a wig with rich, flowing hair that catches the wind like a girl’s, and then dress her in a frilly, lacy dress that screams girlishness.
The material is good, so I’m sure it will look striking.
When I met Sophie in the social circles of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, she was proudly clad in a custom-made military-like outfit, accompanied by female imperial guards.
To think she had taken captive a female imperial guard from a high-ranking noble family… she deserves heavenly punishment.
Also, it’s very interesting that if Sophie commits any improper acts towards the “Princess Harem” party members, Kirika’s summoned beast, Mimic Slime, which is disguised as Sophie’s arms, will slap both of Sophie’s cheeks.
Furthermore, according to Kirika, Hal seems to be preparing something… I’m looking forward to its unveiling as well.
That said, since Sophie is a distant relative of mine and Liliana’s, she needs to be reformed quickly.
We must wash away the shame of our kin.
After the “trial in absentia” concluded, I saw Liliana leave the living room with a dejected look.
Liliana is a beautiful girl known as the “Melancholy Blue Moon Princess,” and she’s renowned for her sorrowful expression, but right now, she wore a look of utter desolation, as if she had fallen to rock bottom.
Liliana is also a distant relative of Sophie, so perhaps she was shocked to learn about Sophie’s sexual proclivities.
“Tirna, could I have a moment?”
“What is it? Ly, madam.”
“Liliana seems dispirited… do you know the reason why?”
“Th-that is… it seems Liliana has not yet experienced the ‘First Night Ritual’…”
“Oh, so that’s what it was. Tirna, please help Liliana achieve her desires.”
“Yes, Ly, madam. Specifically, what should I do?”
“W-well, that is——”
And so, a secret plan between me and Tirna began.
◇ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◇
“I can’t help but feel a little down…”
I, Liliana, was feeling down.
In the social circles of the former Wahl Imperial Kingdom, I was, along with Ly, a beauty of devastating charm, pursued by countless men, yet I have not yet offered my virginity to Hal.
The “Princess Harem” is teeming with formidable rivals.
Strictly speaking, my hymen has been broken twice, but both times it was by fingertips, so-called “finger-hanchin,” and my vagina opening has yet to be penetrated by a man’s robust member.
Moreover, both times my hymen was broken, it was healed by precious “Healing Magic,” restoring me to a virgin.
Frankly, my pride as a beauty of devastating charm is—shattered.
Upon returning to my room on the second floor, I lay on my bed and dozed off.
And then, before I knew it, my thoughts had traveled to the past.
That day, the bloodthirsty beasts of the barbaric Espana Imperial Army attacked my homeland, the former Yangas Kingdom.
Perhaps it is the sorrow of a small country, but to the Espana Imperial Army, which was advancing with unstoppable momentum, the Yangas Kingdom Army was no more formidable than a newborn’s neck.
The Wahl Imperial Kingdom’s army, our liege, had been dispatched to the border, but the Espana Imperial Army, superior in numbers and training, shockingly launched a surprise night attack.
Arrows and magical fire projectiles flew, barracks housing border guards and soldiers were instantly engulfed in flames, and the Espana Imperial Army, cutting into the chaos, mercilessly slaughtered the soldiers of the Yangas Kingdom and the Wahl Imperial Kingdom.
In this battle, the Yangas Kingdom Army’s elite units were annihilated, and the enemy forces, advancing like a wild beast across an empty plain, reached the royal castle, leading to a siege.
As the first princess and heir, I was spirited away before being surrounded.
My father, the King, tasked me with going to our liege, the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, to plead for our dire situation and request the deployment of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom’s army.
Meanwhile, Henry Johan Espana, who had expanded the territory of the Kingdom of Espana during his reign, changed his title from “King” to “Imperial King” and then changed the country’s name from “Kingdom of Espana” to “Espana Imperial Kingdom,” thus openly challenging the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, the leader of the Western nations.
Imperial King Henry likely held the fierce belief that “two kings cannot coexist,” but I wished he had considered the tragedy of small countries caught in the crossfire.
Originally, the former Wahl Imperial Kingdom, as the leader of the Western nations, had many subordinate small countries.
It is said that the Yangas Royal Family, from which I was born, traces its origins back to the Yangas Margrave who was once in the service of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom.
They gained independence for their achievements in repelling the demonkin invasion that erupted hundreds of years ago, and founded the Yangas Royal Family.
On the other hand, the Yver Duchy, the homeland of Sophie, Elder Sister, is said to have originated from the Yver Ducal House, founded by a brother of the Wahl Imperial King six generations ago, who swore fealty.
Geographically, the Yver Duchy served as a buffer zone between the Espana Imperial Kingdom and the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, and thus it fell before the Yangas Kingdom.
Then, the Espana Imperial Army set its sights on the Yangas Kingdom, which was located near the Wahl Imperial Kingdom.
The cunning Espana Imperial Kingdom first conquered the dependent nations of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, and it is a recent memory that they eventually annexed the Wahl Imperial Kingdom itself.
It is through such circumstances that Ly, Sophie, Elder Sister, and I were driven from our homelands.
Of course, Ly, renowned as a master of the rapier, and Sophie, a wielder of the knight’s sword and known as the “Princess Knight,” fought bravely, but they were overwhelmed by superior numbers and either defeated or taken captive.
As for me, I had no talent for swordsmanship and escaped the royal castle with the help of imperial guards, but the pursuit was fierce, and one after another, those who protected me fell.
And when I realized it, I was fleeing alone on foot through a mountain pass.
“Young lady, traveling alone is dangerous.”
As I rested, exhausted, under a large tree, a man who appeared to be a traveling merchant approached me.
“I am but a merchant as you can see. I’ll rest beside you, miss.”
The self-proclaimed merchant, with a gaunt face and unkind eyes, approached me rudely without my permission.
At that moment, I had lost my ability to judge calmly or be wary due to exhaustion.
“Behave yourself! You brat!!”
“Eek—! Ugh…!”
The man who called himself a merchant approached me and suddenly brandished a piece of cloth he was holding, lunging at me.
I desperately tried to resist when a cloth, presumably soaked with a sleeping drug, was pressed against my face, but it was like a “mantis trying to stop a chariot.”
And then, my consciousness went dark.
“Now, this is a top-quality item, rarely seen.”
“May I have a little taste? Big brother~”
“If you lay a hand on the merchandise, the boss will kill you!”
“O-okay, Big brother~”
When I came to, I was bound by restraints and could not move, and a gag was stuffed in my mouth.
The man from before seemed to be a robber or a kidnapper, but he apparently saw commercial value in my beauty.
Is this what is called “a blessing in disguise”?
And then, I was transported as cargo, but midway, I felt the urge to urinate.
I held on as long as I could, but alas…
“What’s that smell? It reeks. You’re peeing yourself. I’ve never seen such undisciplined behavior, I’d like to meet your parents! Think about the person who’ll have to clean this up later!!”
The man who had spoken so flippantly earlier, wanting to “taste” me, cursed at me foully.
It was my first experience with incontinence, and although I felt like I wanted to “disappear into the ground,” it was impossible as a captive bound and unable to move.
Before long, the carriage seemed to be running on cobblestones, leaving the rough country roads behind.
It was a new discovery that I could notice such a difference from the vibrations of the carriage, but I could hardly be happy in this situation.
As a result of being restrained for what felt like an eternity, my consciousness became hazy.
Where am I being taken? My heart is about to burst with anxiety.
Thank you for reading.
episode23-3 Thorns of Remembrance and Meddling② △
is scheduled to be posted at 0:00 on September 26th.
