Chapter 23: Let the Wicked Deal with the Wicked

In the palace, within the Great Sage’s magic tower—

Everett was conducting experiments on curses.
This morning, the queen had tasked him with brewing every potentially useful potion, with costs covered by the treasury. Someone would collect them later.

He hadn’t known what curse warranted such effort until the door was knocked open. A girl in a wheelchair and a silver-haired maid stood silently outside.
Everett instinctively ignored the latter, now called Isha.

“I think I know who these potions are for.”

“Hehe.” Tina grinned sheepishly.

“So, even you, miss, have no solution?”

“If I did, I wouldn’t be in this wheelchair.”

Everett rubbed his forehead. “Sigh, I just hope Her Majesty doesn’t go down some extreme path because of this.”

“She won’t. I’d stop her before it came to that. If it really gets bad, I’ll just disappear so she doesn’t keep worrying.”

“That’s pretty harsh…”

“Maybe, but I’m prepared for it.” Tina paused, forcibly changing the subject. “Enough about me. I’m not here for that.”

“Then what?” Everett had a bad feeling.

“Guess. Someone got ‘fixed’ by you, tossed into the maids’ attic, and then ignored. Don’t you feel guilty?” Tina’s jab was sharp, clearly speaking for someone.

“You were part of it too—why’s it all on me?”

“Come on, she cares more about you. Her world’s empty without you.”

“Don’t make it sound so sappy. We’re still bros.”

“Are you sure?” Tina stepped aside, letting the two lock eyes.

Everett glanced at the maid, then looked away within seconds.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Just because I’m in a new body, you won’t even look at me?” Isha sounded annoyed, her tone carrying a girlish pout.

“It’s not like that, ugh—”

“Then what? Are you some pervert who only liked my old male body?”

“No.”

“Or what, a shy, single grand mage who blushes at my new one?”

“…” Everett went silent.

“Looks like I hit the mark.” Isha, now smug, grinned. “What a weakling, old man~.”

Tina, the mastermind behind this, stifled a laugh, thinking of certain tropes. “Where’d you learn that? It’s dangerous.”

“Oh, the maids taught me. Said it’d spark a guy’s protective instincts.”

“P-Protective instincts?” Tina held back from spilling the truth.

God, those maids are trouble, leading her astray.

“Why’re you quiet, Everett? Did I expose your heart with a few words, leaving you speechless? Too weak, too weak~.” Isha kept poking, seeing no response.

“Uh, well, I’m off. Look after her, alright?” Tina tactfully closed the door.

“Hey, don’t go!”

Isha spun around, but only the shut door answered.
Bang—Bang—

“Let me out!”

Tina, outside, pressed her ear to the door.
“Why’d you stop teasing him?”

“I… was just joking. You’re not mad, right?”

“Haha, I liked your feisty side better.”

“Eek—don’t touch me! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Tina heard nothing more—Everett must’ve cast a silencing spell.
Well, good luck to her.

Having stirred the pot, Tina hummed a tune, leaving the tower and touring the palace before dark.
But when she headed back for dinner, Althea blocked the doorway.

Every step Tina took, Althea mirrored, until Tina, a bit guilty, asked, “W-what’s up? Something on your mind, Althea?”

“You were at the attic with the maids all day behind my back, weren’t you?”

“Let me explain! I was… finding an assistant for Everett!”

Tina had promised not to spill the secret, so she scrambled for an excuse.
“I’m not saying you can’t flirt. I’m not a tyrant.

But playing with maids? What’s wrong with your sense of love? It’s only our first day together! At this rate, you’ll flirt twice tomorrow, four times the day after, and turn the attic into a brothel.

As your king and lover, I might have to rein you in.”

Althea scooped Tina up from the wheelchair, leaving her no chance to resist.
“Wait, where are you taking me?”

Althea, silent, slung Tina over her shoulder, heading for the king’s private bath.
“Here we are.”

Splash— Tina was tossed into the pool.
Gurgle—

Gasping, she surfaced, clothes soaked.
“Althea, you’re already in a bathrobe?”

“Be good and strip.”

“Fine.”

Tina knew resistance would make things worse.
Splash, splash— Althea waded in barefoot, her figure tantalizing under the sheer robe.

Tina turned away, not daring to look.
“I spent all day working for you, and this is how you treat me?”

Althea wrapped her arms around Tina’s waist, resting her head on her shoulder, her warm breath making Tina’s ears burn.
“I wasn’t at the attic the whole time, really.”

“I know.”

“Huh? I thought you were mad and dragged me here.”

“How could I be mad at you? Okay, maybe a little, but I just wanted to soak with you.”

Tina sighed in relief.
She’d thought a blackened Althea was about to devour her.

“Today in the library, I searched with others and found an ancient tome in a corner,” Althea said, unprompted.

“You found a way?”

“Maybe. The cost might be high, and I’m not sure it’s real, but I want to try.”

“It doesn’t involve lives or anything, right?” Tina wanted to dissuade her, knowing it was likely fake.

But this was Althea’s only hope, and she couldn’t just crush it.
“No, just some mineral resources.”

Althea’s tone was low but carried a glimmer of hope.
“Among countless paths, one must lead to the right answer.

I will cure you, Tina.”

——————————————Chapter 23.1: Pajama Party, Part 1———————————————-

“By the way, the clothes we ordered in the city yesterday morning have been rushed over.”

Althea’s gaze landed on the pajamas by the poolside. They had simple designs with no intricate patterns, so they’d been finished in just a day and a half.

“Huh?” Tina noticed the pajamas were a matching set—one with a wolf on the chest, the other with a sheep.

“Which one are you wearing, Althea?” she asked curiously.

“Which do you think I’d pick?” Althea countered with a question, sidestepping an answer.

“Um, do I really have to say?”

The sheep gets eaten by the wolf. In a couple’s set, the sheep would be the submissive one, while the wolf was the dominant one.
Tina felt she’d be the dominant one, so: “You wear the sheep one, Althea.”

“Congrats, you got it wrong.”

Althea playfully nipped Tina’s slippery shoulder, the warm sensation sending a shiver through her. “A glutton like me is obviously the wolf. You’re the gentle sheep I’ll gobble up.”

“Ugh—stop eating me!” Blushing, Tina wriggled out of Althea’s arms, clambering to the pool’s edge and sitting on the shore.

“We rarely get time to relax. To celebrate, why not invite Everett and the others?”

Tina had a great idea.
“He’ll probably bring that maid along, so the four of us can have a pajama party in the room. How’s that?”

“Pajama party? What’s that?” Living in the palace, Althea rarely encountered such games, especially lively multiplayer ones.

“It’s like… pillow fights, truth or dare, maybe some recording crystal movies. Great for bonding and unwinding.”

Of course, Tina didn’t say it aloud, but it’d probably bond two pairs specifically.
“Anyway, Althea, go invite them. I’ll prep the props here!”

“Alright.”

Althea swam up, slipped into the white pajamas with the black wolf, threw on a robe, and headed out.
Tina donned her black sheep pajamas and instructed a waiting maid to gather the palace’s most interesting recording crystals.

Notably, this world had people using crystals to film movies, tapping into their commercial value.
After much deliberation, Tina picked two familiar ones.

One was Kellivir Holiday, a romantic tale of a princess and a journalist.
The other, The Dwarf Nick, chronicled a love story between a poor painter and a noblewoman.

People here didn’t appreciate recording crystals, too focused on magic and money. These films would be masterpieces in the modern world.
“Gotta recommend these to the three of them.”

After prepping cotton-stuffed pillows, Tina wheeled back to the room, awaiting her friends.
About fifteen minutes later, Althea returned with a bleary-eyed Everett and Isha.

Perfect—the Great Sage hadn’t slept yet. Four people, just right.
“Ugh, what’s this about?” Everett yawned. He’d been about to sleep when the queen dragged him out of bed.

“You’re not tired, right? You shouldn’t be!” Tina’s enthusiasm was hard to refuse. “It’s the last day of the festival—of course we’re partying with friends all night!”

“Fine, fine, I’m here already.” Everett knew refusing would earn the queen’s wrath.

Tina cleared her throat dramatically. “Ahem, follow my lead. Tonight, I’m hosting Kellivir’s first pajama party—probably the only one ever, but that’s fine.

Here’s the plan: first, truth or dare, then pillow fights, and finally, movie time. Any objections?”

Althea nodded.
Isha gave an affirming look.
Everett didn’t react—since Isha agreed, it was three to one, and he had no say. “I’m fine with it.”

“Great! Truth or dare it is.”

Tina set a spinner on the table, explaining, “We take turns spinning. Whoever it points to takes the challenge: answer a truth question honestly or do a dare. If you skip both, well… hehe.”

She held up a bottle of aged white vinegar, scavenged from a kitchen corner.
“If you can’t do either, drink a small cup of this.”

“Sounds fun.” Althea was intrigued by the novel game.

Everett, thoughtful, grabbed a stool. Isha sat to his left, the four forming a square.
“I’ll go first, then we go clockwise.”

He flicked the spinner, which whirled before slowing near him and Isha. A breeze from the window nudged it to land on him.
“?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“Pfft—” Isha, who’d been tense, burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Everett snapped. “Fine, I’ll pick truth…”

“Alright!” The other three huddled, whispering for a minute, making Everett uneasy.
“Hurry up already!” he urged.

“Since it’s truth,” Tina said, eyeing him, “as Great Sage, have you really never been interested in anyone, same-sex or otherwise, all these years?”

“…” He went quiet, glancing at Isha briefly. “I have, but only one person.”

“Oh~” Tina nodded, satisfied. “You pass. My turn.”

Tina spun, and it landed on Althea.
“Dare,” Althea said, wary of revealing certain secrets.

Tina let the other two decide the dare, sitting it out.
After deliberation, Everett and Isha smirked conspiratorially. “Have Her Majesty kiss Tina.”

“What? Isn’t this supposed to be a punishment, not a reward?”

Before Tina finished, Althea pulled her in, peppering her face with kisses, leaving it covered in lip marks.
“You two are ridiculous… Alright, Althea’s turn.” Tina covered her face.

This time, the spinner pointed to Isha, who’d been keeping a low profile.
“Truth.”

Tina leaned to Althea, whispering something sneakily.
Althea smiled knowingly and asked, “Like Everett’s question—any guys you’ve been interested in?”

Isha stammered, face red. “Forget it, I’ll drink!”

“Lame! Why can’t you just be honest?”

—————————Chapter 23.2: Pajama Party, Part 2——————————–

Tina understood.
You can’t expect someone who’s kept their feelings hidden for years to suddenly confess. Maybe they just see you as a friend, but you’re dreaming of a lifelong partner—what if you get rejected and end up looking like a fool?

“But just giving a vague answer won’t kill you.”

Tina poured half a cup of white vinegar and handed it over. “Here, enjoy.”

“Ugh—” Isha downed it in one go, hiccupped, and her face turned off.

“Huh? Tina, are you sure that’s vinegar?” Althea stared at Isha’s flushed cheeks, then at the bottle in Tina’s hand.

“Y-yeah, it should be, right?”

Tina sniffed it, confirming the vinegar smell.
Was Isha pretending to be drunk?

Everett stepped forward, voice low. “Let me see that bottle.”

He inspected it closely, spotting a small transformation array at the bottom. Breaking it released a potent aroma of liquor.
“…Someone hid alcohol in the kitchen, disguised as aged vinegar so no one would touch it.”

The three fell silent, while outside, the eavesdropping head chef slinked away, muttering, “Oh no, my job!”
Realizing his prized liquor had been swiped, he knew trouble was coming—especially since it landed with the queen.

Ruined. All ruined.

“So, do we keep going?”

Tina noticed Isha was out of it, slumping on the table, barely able to sit up.
But Isha suddenly backed away, grabbing a pillow.

“Wait, you’re—” Before Everett could finish, a cotton-stuffed pillow smacked him in the face.

“Whoops, couldn’t hold back.” Isha stuck out her tongue playfully.

“You—little—!” Cotton clinging to his hair, Everett fumed. He’d been worried about her, and she hit him with a pillow? “You’re not getting away!”

The two chased each other around the room, swinging pillows.
Compared to their chaos, Tina’s side was calmer. “So, we’re already on the second phase? I thought we’d at least finish one round.”

“Ready?” Althea brandished two pillows, raising them threateningly.

“Hey, I’m in a wheelchair—don’t bully me!”

Whack— A pillow hit Tina square in the head, stars bursting in her vision.

“Didn’t you say to go all out?” Althea grinned, as if awakening some odd trait.

“Fine, don’t underestimate me—I can fight back!”

Thus began their chase, though Tina had her wheelchair, one hand steering, one wielding a pillow, turning it into a vehicular duel.

…

After who-knows-how-long, the last pillow was spent, cotton floating everywhere, blanketing the exhausted quartet sprawled on the floor.

“Ugh—I’m done. Let’s pop in a recording crystal and watch a movie like this.”

Tina crawled to the table, randomly picking a crystal that projected Kellivir Holiday.
“Althea, carry me over~” Tina called in a cutesy tone.

She was too tired to move. The short distance to the floor cushions felt like a chasm.
“Hm? Oh!” Althea, puzzled at first, smiled and lifted Tina, settling by the bed.

Althea loved when Tina acted spoiled—it was so adorable she could hug her all day.
“I can sit beside you, you know. You don’t have to hold me so tight…”

The scene was intimate: Althea on the cushions, Tina in her lap, looking very much like a couple.
It made Tina, a self-proclaimed tough guy, blush at being cradled by a girl.

“Just for tonight, okay?”

Althea whispered in Tina’s ear, then added, “Look at those two. They’re doing it too—why can’t we?”

Tina slowly raised a mental question mark.
What do you mean, ‘those two’ are doing it?

She turned to see Isha sitting in front of Everett, scooting back until the stoic mage froze.
Bro, is this okay? Fake booze is dangerous!

“Hm? Something’s poking my back.” Isha, still woozy, felt something hard.

“Don’t turn around. It’s me, Everett.”

You two… Tina couldn’t look.

“Stop staring at them. Look at me instead.” Althea blocked Tina’s view, pinching her cheeks.

“Ow—Althea, that hurts!” Tina’s face was nearly stretched out of shape.

“Focus on the movie.” Althea turned to the playing film.

It was a romantic tale of a duchy’s princess and a Valencian journalist in Kellivir over one day.
The princess, on her final continental tour stop, was refused public appearances by her attendants and sedated due to her high status.

But before the drug took effect, she pretended to sleep, snuck out a window, wandered briefly, and passed out on a bench near the square.
A Valencian journalist, mistaking her for a drunk partygoer, rented a carriage to take her home. She was too out of it, so he brought her to his place.

The next day, he saw in the papers she was a princess and, thrilled, planned an exclusive scoop. She woke, believed his explanation, borrowed money, and kept exploring.

He alerted his photographer friend to snap pictures, trailed her, and “bumped into” her at the square, offering to guide her around Kellivir on horseback. His friend recorded precious moments with a crystal, unnoticed by the princess.

The king’s undercover agents searched for her, spotting them at a riverside restaurant’s ball. They tried to retrieve her, but she refused. The journalist, his friend, and the princess fought off the agents, escaping in the chaos.

The agents were arrested by local guards. A day later, the princess had to return to the palace, but she and the journalist had fallen in love.
Alas, a princess is a princess, and a commoner a commoner—they parted reluctantly.

The journalist’s friend gave up fame, gifting the photos to the princess as a memento.
In a final, longing gaze, she softly said goodbye…

“So, what do you think? The story ends here—kind of a bittersweet ending, right?” Tina was eager for Althea’s reaction.

“Yeah, their time was short, but it was the happiest day of their lives, yet they had to part because of their statuses.”

Althea’s tone was heavy, reflecting on herself and the girl before her.
Weren’t they similar? A brief meeting, shared hardships and joys, divided by rank.
Would they, too, part unwillingly like in the movie?

“Don’t overthink it, Althea.”

Tina switched to the next film, muttering, “By the way, the spinner never landed on me during truth or dare, huh?”

“Mm,” Althea replied. “You got lucky.”

“Hehe, I wasn’t punished, but I’ll take the challenge anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“First, my truth—pretty obvious, right? Every day with you, Althea, is joyful, and I want to stay with you forever.”

“Tina, saying such sappy stuff now? I’m not buying it.”

“Doesn’t matter—it’s my truth, so you can believe it.”

Tina turned, planting a soft kiss on Althea’s neck, leaving a red lip mark.
“That’s my dare—your punishment for kissing me on their orders.”

“If that’s punishment, I want more.”

Althea hugged tighter, showering Tina with kisses until she forgot about the second movie.
“Come on, at least watch a bit!”

“You’re enough.”

The film hit a familiar scene, mirroring the protagonists’ romantic shipboard talk.
“You jump, I jump?” Althea recalled the line from the start, feeling different at the end.

“That translation’s too basic. It doesn’t capture the original’s depth.”

Tina relaxed fully, nestling in Althea’s arms, turning to murmur, “It should be: I’ll follow you through life and death.”

“Is that just you quoting the line, Tina, or…?”

“Guess, Your Majesty.”

“No guessing. I’ll take it as you saying it to me.”

Althea leaned down for a kiss. Following through life and death? Let’s make tonight count.

(Pajama Party, End)