Chapter 8: A Cow! There’s a Cow!

Become… her person!

Was this an invitation to start something?

Cecilia’s fingertip, circling the spot on Rita’s lower back where her tail would be, seemed to hint at something, conjuring countless mosaic-covered images in Rita’s mind.

She’d already been pinned once—closing her eyes and kicking her legs would get her through it. Besides, it didn’t matter who took the lead; a succubus could feed either way. Just think of it as a meal.

Did she even have the option to refuse?

Still, Rita couldn’t just agree outright. She had to show some restraint.

“Your Highness, this isn’t appropriate…”

“If you comply, I’ll overlook your past actions. And the Holy Knight exam? I’m the chief examiner. Or haven’t you considered the consequences of refusing me?”

Threats and bribes, huh? Not even pretending anymore!

If she agreed, would she be a Holy Knight or a bed-warming maid?

“Hm?” Cecilia let out a soft hum, her small hand patting Rita’s shoulder like a final ultimatum.

“Eek—” Rita squeaked, then steeled herself, eyes shut tight. “Fine, I agree! Let’s… let’s do it!”

Cecilia’s hand lifted from Rita’s body, followed by a faint rustling. But after a long wait, the expected touch never came.

Rita peeked through a slit in her eyes, only to find Cecilia back in her seat across from her.

“Not… coming? Or, uh, should I go to the bed?” Rita asked weakly.

“To the bed?”

“Didn’t you say you want me to be your person?”

“Exactly.”

Cecilia answered smoothly, but the follow-up seemed stuck in her throat. Her delicate face visibly flushed, and her usual confident tone faltered. “W-W-W-What?! Who said anything about that?!”

Her reaction left Rita baffled.

But it was the first time she’d seen Cecilia flustered.

What’s this? She always seemed like a perfect doll, but she’s got a weak, adorable side too?

Cecilia cleared her throat, trying to mask her embarrassment, though a faint blush lingered.

“Someone’s plotting against me. The guards who let you in, the city lord, even Dorothy, my mage escort—they’re all untrustworthy.”

Dorothy—probably the mage, right?

But Rita’s confusion only grew.

“And I’m trustworthy?”

Cecilia regained her composure and gave a light laugh, soft as a feather brushing the heart. “Yes.”

Under Rita’s puzzled gaze, Cecilia continued.

“Someone who entered my room, took nothing, and didn’t harm me showed up at the exam. Either you didn’t know my identity, or you planned it. Your attempt to leave the square gave me the answer.”

She did notice!

“So, your departure triggered the assassination. As the spark, you chose to stay, showing you can read a situation and have enough courage.”

“As for courage, you slept soundly despite an uncertain fate, proving you know panic and anxiety solve nothing. Yet, from the moment I entered, you’ve never had the upper hand. Whether I made outrageous demands, exposed your lies, or asked you to serve me, your first thought was… cough.”

Yeah, weak and adorable.

Cecilia’s reaction also convinced Rita that she didn’t remember pinning her to the bed last night.

So, she likely didn’t know Rita was a succubus.

“You willingly changed into your ‘work’ clothes, showing you carried no weapons and weren’t resisting. And you’re swayed by my every topic, proving you’re not overthinking. There are many such details. Either you have the power to overcome your clumsiness, or you have no other choice.”

It was both. Rita didn’t escape demon territory on looks alone, but she really didn’t want to flip the table here.

Cecilia let out a long breath. “So, someone with no background, no employer, not too bright, genuinely wanting to be a Holy Knight, and capable of bypassing guards to enter my room—that’s exactly who I need.”

A Deal Struck

In the end, Rita agreed to Cecilia’s terms.

She had no reason to refuse. Rejecting her would mean burning bridges with the Princess. Agreeing bought her time.

Before leaving, Cecilia lifted Rita’s chin, pecked her cheek like a bird, and left a parting remark.

“Rita, I understand your desire for me and your difficult circumstances, but as you aim to be a Holy Knight, avoid such reputation-damaging work in the future.”

She really thought Rita was an escort!

She should’ve just said she was an adventurer, fighting monsters by day and working nights.

Though, to be fair, Rita was broke. The money scavenged from that wrecked carriage, alongside the permit, was nearly spent on gear she barely needed.

Since Cecilia had her room searched, it was natural she’d assume as much.

As for why Rita was dressed like that in her bed last night, Cecilia didn’t ask further.

It concerned Cecilia’s reputation and helped Rita hide her succubus identity. Both tacitly left some secrets unprobed.

While Cecilia tested Rita, Rita picked up on some of Cecilia’s traits.

Looking back, much of Cecilia’s composure was likely for show.

If everything was under control, she wouldn’t need Rita as an ally or be so distrustful of others.

A Princess with no one to trust—reality was far more complex than Rita had imagined.

Due to the assassination attempt, Cecilia couldn’t stay at the inn and moved to another guest room in the city lord’s mansion.

Once a suspect, now cleared by Cecilia’s favor, Rita was officially granted use of the guest room she’d been confined to.

Her surrendered items were returned, along with delicious food and a soft bed.

Maybe working with the Princess wasn’t so bad…

As if!

Agreeing was just a stalling tactic. It was late, quiet—perfect for escape.

Like a shadow, Rita slipped out the window, flapping her small wings to climb vertically onto the mansion’s roof.

The outer patrols couldn’t see the sky, right?

As she prepared to scout her surroundings, a gust of wind rushed past.

Without thinking, Rita rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a massive horn that grazed by.

Now she saw what attacked her.

On the mansion’s roof—a cow! A cow!