Chapter 5: Since It’s Come to This, Sleep First

Though the officer said the Princess requested her presence, Rita was nowhere near the Princess, nor had she been “invited.”

Officially, Rita was a guest at the city lord’s mansion, but any suspicious move could lead to house arrest—or worse, imprisonment.

This was the result of Rita willingly surrendering all her dangerous items. Otherwise, she might already be in shackles.

Along with her sword, she’d handed over her Holy Knight exam permit. Without it, she suspected she wouldn’t be sitting in the mansion’s guest room so comfortably but swinging from the city gates alongside the assassins.

Sure, she’d avoided the gallows, but being labeled an assassin, having her succubus identity exposed, or being caught with a stolen permit—any of these would be more than enough trouble.

‘Some dignity, but not much.’

This was, after all, a guest room in the city lord’s mansion. A massive bed carved with intricate patterns, a soft feather mattress, linen sheets, and a blanket embroidered with unfamiliar designs…

Maybe it was her succubus mindset or the exhaustion from her journey, but Rita’s eyes couldn’t leave the bed.

Still, it paled slightly compared to the Princess’s room.

No, the Princess’s room was outrageously lavish. The decorations, bedding, even the incense—those were definitely her personal touches!

Last night, Rita had been so focused on the Princess that she hadn’t noticed how out-of-place the room was for an inn. If she had, she’d never have dared sneak in for a “night raid.”

If only she’d noticed sooner and picked a different target, none of today’s mess would’ve happened.

Thinking back, Rita wanted to slap herself twice.

No one was coming for her now, so overthinking was pointless. Since it’s come to this, sleep first.

Rita unfastened her leather armor, kicked off her boots, and dove onto the bed.

The City Lord’s Mansion

In the reception room of the city lord’s mansion, a stream of mana flowed from a female mage’s hand, forming an image in the air.

The image showed Rita, sprawled belly-up on the bed, sleeping soundly in an unceremonious pose.

“She can sleep like that? Her nerve is something else. Does she not realize her situation, thinking we invited her as a guest?” The city lord crossed his arms, frowning. “Is she really unconnected to the assassins?”

“It’s hard to say. If she knew the assassins killed themselves before interrogation, she could sleep easy,” the Princess said, closing her eyes. “Or maybe she’s aware she’s being watched by magic and is putting on a show.”

“Her identity, like the assassins’, is untraceable, yet her exam permit is genuine. She didn’t act suspiciously during the chaos, and her attempt to leave out of fear seems reasonable. I think she’s unaware.”

“Anything’s possible. Today’s assassination was reckless and risky, doomed to fail with even slightly tighter security, yet they tried. Why? A warning to me? To complicate the situation? Or to make me lower my guard for something more dangerous?”

“Then, Your Highness, what do you mean?”

“She could be an innocent bystander caught up in this, or a cunning assassin pretending to be a fool to get close to me. Nothing’s certain until I meet her myself. But one thing I’m sure of: even if she’s unaware of the plot, she’s hiding something.”

The city lord started. “You just said she might be an assassin lying in wait. Meeting her directly might be…”

“I trust your loyalty, but there’s no proof your men—or even you—are uninvolved,” the Princess said, rising from her seat. “As for her innocence, I’ll judge for myself.”

A Dangerous Encounter

In her groggy state, Rita heard a grating creak that set her teeth on edge.

Her honed instincts and succubus senses snapped her awake. She curled into the corner of the bed like a startled cat, scanning her surroundings.

She didn’t need to search for the source. The root of all evil, Princess Cecilia, stood at the door.

Cecilia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before settling into a meaningful expression.

Rita’s face flushed. She scrambled off the bed, dropping to one knee in a hasty bow.

“Your Highness.”

Only then did Rita process what was happening.

“No need for formalities.” Cecilia waved a hand, pulled over a chair, lifted her skirt, and sat, looking up at Rita. “Sit.”

Rita stood slowly, her eyes cautiously scanning the room.

The door was closed. It was just her and the Princess, alone.

What was this about?

She was a suspected assassin. Wasn’t the Princess afraid she’d try something?

No, the real question was whether Cecilia recognized her. If she knew Rita had been in her room last night, even if Rita wasn’t tied to the assassination, other charges awaited.

With unease, Rita sat across from Cecilia.

Cecilia’s petite frame was undeniably that of a legal loli, sitting there like a doll placed on the chair.

But Rita wasn’t fooled by her appearance. The commanding presence from last night’s hazy memories and her composure after today’s assassination attempt reminded Rita that this Princess was no mere decorative vase.

At the square, Rita had also caught another intriguing term—“Cursed Princess.”

She’d planned to dig into it, but reality hadn’t given her the chance.

This wasn’t a late-night inn. Others might be watching this room. Unless absolutely necessary, she couldn’t reveal her succubus identity.

Of course, if they tried to hang her at the gates, she’d still run.

“Are you wondering why I’m alone with you?”

The Princess’s voice broke Rita’s thoughts.

Rita knew little of this world’s etiquette and had no experience dealing with such figures. Even walking beside her homeroom teacher made her uneasy.

It was exactly what she’d been thinking. The Princess wasn’t wrong. Rita answered honestly.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Then why do you think that is?” Cecilia asked.

Rita froze. She had to stay polite, come up with a legal and reasonable excuse, and make it convincing—hellish difficulty.

But Cecilia didn’t wait for an answer. She placed a bundle on the table.

“The reason is this.”

As Cecilia slowly opened the bundle, Rita gasped.

On the table lay the scandalously revealing clothes she’d worn last night when the Princess pinned her down.