Chapter 4: I Already Said I’m Not Interested in Girls

Tina turned and walked away, as if she’d made up her mind about something.
Watching her figure fade into the distance, an odd feeling stirred in Althea’s heart.

“So, is the service really that good?”
The princess fell into deep thought.

“I should check on her, just in case something happens.”
It wasn’t curiosity or concern—definitely not.

But as Althea passed a room on the second floor, the sound of giggles and chatter spilled out.
The door wasn’t even closed, a clear sign of the guest’s impatience.

She peeked inside and immediately spotted two flamboyantly dressed, stunning elves flanking a black-haired girl.
With one glance, Althea knew it was Tina.

She was utterly lost in the elves’ charms, oblivious to the world around her.
“Well, guess my concern was unnecessary.”

Althea kindly closed the door for the trio, noticing as she left that Tina seemed to want to say something, but the distance muffled her words.
Whatever. She didn’t want to hear it anyway.

She decided to head back to her room to rest, figuring she’d find Tina once she’d had her fill.
“Tomorrow’s important. I need to be sharp.”

Althea flopped onto the pink bed, closed her eyes, and let sleep take over.
But something about this sleep felt… off.

The longer she slept, the hotter she felt, and the more exhausted she became, as if her energy was being sucked into a bottomless void.
“Something’s wrong.”

Althea jolted upright, drenched in sweat, her vision hazy, like a dreamlike filter had been slapped over her eyes.
‘Is this… a dream?’

Vaguely, she saw a figure approaching slowly from the doorway.
It looked familiar, but she wasn’t sure. She squinted to see better.

“Tina? Weren’t you still… enjoying yourself? And why are you dressed like that?”
The girl before her wore a sly smile, clad only in a black camisole dress that barely reached her thighs.

Though her figure wasn’t as curvaceous as the local elves, the provocative outfit paired with her delicate, budding charm—a perfect balance of innocence and allure—rivaled any top-tier tavern worker.

“Hmm~”
“What’s so funny?”

The girl didn’t answer, instead pushing Althea back onto the pillow with a single motion.
“Hey, I already said I’m not interested in girls!” Althea snapped, though she knew this had to be a dream—real Tina wouldn’t act like this.

“Really? I’m not so sure. You won’t know until you try.”
In the dream, the girl seemed to have endless strength, pinning Althea’s wrists with one hand.

Her other hand playfully lifted Althea’s chin, her face inching closer.
“You!”

The air around them grew scorching.
After several failed attempts to break free, Althea gave up, closing her eyes and turning her head aside.

But the expected touch never came. Instead, the girl’s smug chuckle rang out.
“What’s that? Not interested? Then why do you look so expectant?”

“I—”
Althea felt like she might suffocate.

Before she could explain, the scene shattered.
The dream broke.

“Ugh—ha—ah—” She gasped for air.

“How was it? The Elf Dreamweave service—pretty great, right?”
Tina’s voice came, smug as she noted Althea’s flushed cheeks.

“You! Why didn’t you tell me you were using that thing?!” Althea demanded loudly.

“Oh, I did! When you left the room, I said I’d get you a service to relax. Didn’t you hear me?”

“Hmph…”
Althea let out a sudden, relieved laugh.

“So, what’d you dream about? Looks like it was thrilling.”

“None of your business.” Althea clammed up, refusing to elaborate.

‘This noble girl’s got a knack for playing innocent.’
But no matter. She was still not interested in girls. Nope.

No trick like that could shake her resolve.
From that moment, a new determination took root in Althea’s heart—
‘If I were interested in girls, I’d be the one on top!’

“Fine, keep your secrets. No need to stare at me like that—it’s creepy.”
Tina had no idea why Althea was so worked up, especially since she’d been nothing but concerned since returning.

The two rode back to the mansion in silence.
Their next meeting came the following morning, en route to the underground black market.

“Morning, Your Highness!” Tina greeted with her usual enthusiasm.
But Althea was unusually cold. “Morning.”

‘What’s with her? Is she mad?’
Drawing on her past life’s extensive experience as a perpetually single straight guy, Tina figured this was the moment to—

Kidding. She had no clue what to do. How else would she have stayed single for eighteen years?
In the end, it was Althea who broke the silence.

“Lady Tina, are you familiar with the place we’re headed to?”

“Uh…”
[Prompt: The underground black market is a key hub for intelligence in the Kingdom of Kellivir. From noble secrets to common gossip, it’s all traded here.
Information can be bought with coin, earned through completing tasks, or even won through competitive events.]

Tina relayed the system’s lore dump to Althea, who fell into thought.
“With so many channels, which one should we pursue?”

As they exchanged puzzled looks, the carriage came to a stop.
They’d reached the entrance to the black market.

“Let’s scope it out first.”

Tina stepped out, making a show of chivalrously offering her hand to Althea, escorting her forward like a knight.
“What are you doing?”

“My dear Highness, I don’t know why you’re upset, but I want to make it right and ensure you’re satisfied.” Tina spoke earnestly.

“Let’s be clear—your frail little self walking ahead of me won’t help if trouble comes. I can’t save you.”

“Is that concern I hear? I’m not as weak as the rumors say, you know~”
Tina relaxed, glad Althea was talking more.

“It’s not concern. Losing a noble family’s support would be a setback for my restoration.”
Althea pulled Tina back to her side, muttering so only she could hear, “A knight, huh… It’s been a long time since anyone treated me like that.”

As if catching her whisper, Tina teased with mock formality, “If Your Highness wishes, I could keep up this knightly act for life. Maybe just a little consideration~”

“Tch, smooth talker.”

Althea stepped into the underground passage first, unaware that a fleeting, barely-there smile crossed her lips, gone in an instant.

After a few minutes navigating the roughly two-person-high tunnel, they reached their destination.
Calling it a black market didn’t do it justice—it was a sprawling underground city.

Even after nearly twenty years in the kingdom, Althea had never set foot here, unaware of the vibrant world thriving beneath the surface.

There were taverns for adventurers—not the risqué kind like the Elf Tavern.
More striking were the streets lined with trading houses, gambling dens, and arenas, embodying the black market’s culture—

Trade, compete, seize what you want.
Open competition felt far more honest than the kingdom’s scheming politics.

Bang—!!
The sound of relentless clashes and shouts echoed nearby, signaling a fierce fight.

“Tina, let’s check it out.”