A Princess’s Plight and a Sister’s Sacrifice

I might very well be the first princess to be drenched by her own magic.

“Achoo—!”

A princess who caught a cold after being soaked by her own magic—I doubted even I would believe it if I told someone.

Who said a dark princess couldn’t catch a cold?

At that moment, the Senior Sister, a pair of yuri girls, and I were huddled in a cave, warming ourselves by a fire.

“I told you to take off your wet clothes, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ve caught a cold, haven’t you!”

Faein stood before me, her long, slender legs spread slightly, hands on her hips as she spoke.

“I won’t.” My face flushed crimson.

The Senior Sister was one thing; I had, after all, seen her body before. But with outsiders present, and yuri girls at that, how could I possibly undress?

Yet, I couldn’t voice such a thought aloud.

“You stubborn princess, why are you so willful! If your condition truly worsens and the Human Empire comes seeking revenge, what then? Quickly, take off your clothes!”

Faein forcibly moved to strip me of my garments.

“Sister, no! There are, there are outsiders!”

Asta and Leona, witnessing Faein and me bickering and wrestling, exchanged knowing smiles.

Hmph! What was there to smile knowingly about?

Don’t think I didn’t see you, even with Faein pinning me down!

Faein, stop trying to strip me! I didn’t want to be seen naked by others!

“Um…” Asta pulled Leona to her feet, offering a wry smile. “Perhaps we should step outside and give them some privacy.”

****

As night descended, for us women from the dungeon, it brought a renewed sense of vigor and freedom, as if we were just awakening.

Following Rodis’s intelligence, we arrived at an ancient, dilapidated stone circle deep within the dense forest. This was a hidden, unknown entrance to a dungeon.

Asta and Leona surveyed the stone circle, their expressions growing heavy.

“It’s finally time, isn’t it?” Asta asked Leona.

“Sister, what must come, always comes. As long as you are saved, I will have no regrets. Now, it is time for me to fulfill my promise. This stone circle must be for extracting my soul.”

“Leona… no, let me take your place, Sister! My soul, wouldn’t that work?”

“But, the Demon Princess desires the soul of a virgin…”

“…Why must it be like this… Sister is truly pathetic, unable to even save her own sibling. If only I hadn’t been fostered by our uncle at thirteen and…嗚嗚嗚…”

“Poor Sister. Sister, after I’m gone, you must take good care of yourself…嗚嗚嗚嗚嗚.”

Under the moonlight, the two girls wept in each other’s arms at the center of the stone circle.

Faein and I had been attempting to sense the teleportation fluctuations, but now we could only stare blankly at the two sisters.

“Hey, what exactly are you two doing?” I asked, bewildered.

“Take it! My soul!” Leona unclasped her red breastplate, casting it to the ground. She pulled open her short white undershirt, revealing the rounded curves of her chest.

I turned my head away, embarrassed. “Don’t undress like that. You have a girlfriend…”

“Eh? Princess, what are you saying? Didn’t you bring us here to fulfill the price of summoning you, to extract my soul?” Leona asked, still baring her chest.

“Ah-ha!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands in sudden realization. ‘There was that detail!’

“Eh? What’s wrong? Do you mean you won’t even spare my sister’s soul?”

“…Well, forget it. I don’t want either of your souls.” I slapped my forehead.

“Eh? No, this won’t do! This was my promise, the price of our contract!”

“What of a promise? Have you forgotten that demons are not bound by their word?” I lightly poked Leona’s chest, countering her statement.

“Eh? Then, Princess, what do you want? Is it my…” Leona’s small face flushed crimson. She instinctively recoiled two steps, shyly covering her chest. “Body?”

I suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion.

Fortunately, Faein stepped in front of me, saving me from having to respond. “What nonsense are you spouting, you little hussy? How could a noble Dark Princess ever fancy an ordinary human woman like you? Dare to flirt with the princess again, and I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Leona’s face burned scarlet from Faein’s words, and she picked up her armor, hiding behind Asta.

“I apologize, my sister…” Asta, far more mature, offered an apology to Faein.

“It’s nothing, really. Who doesn’t have an immature younger sibling?” Faein waved her hand dismissively, indicating understanding.

Hmph! Faein, who are you talking about?

I watched her retreating back, a flicker of dissatisfaction in my heart.

But just then, in the moonlight, her tall, graceful silhouette, clad in tight black, her rounded, perky buttocks, her full, long, and powerful thighs, that lithe, serpentine waist, her fragrant, flowing hair…

A sudden tremor ran through my heart.

‘Her sister?’

‘Could I truly be her sister?’

‘It didn’t sound so bad, after all…’

I stepped forward, quietly leaning beside Faein. Even in front of outsiders, I didn’t feel embarrassed. I always felt safe by her side, just as she had protected me in battle today. Despite my calm demeanor then, I had been terrified. Although I had recalled some powerful magic, I hadn’t remembered anything about close combat, making me no different from an ordinary human girl. Perhaps Princess Coolie herself was a pure mage, not adept at combat to begin with.

I tugged on Faein’s sleeve, then addressed Asta and Leona. “Well, now that you’re safe and our mission is complete, we’re returning to the dungeon. In fact, this is the entrance to the teleportation array. What are your plans?”

“Eh? Plans, you ask…”

“Why don’t you come back to the dungeon with us?” I suggested. “Though monsters roam the dungeon, under my rule, I can certainly arrange a peaceful place for you to live.”

Asta and Leona gazed at each other, sharing a knowing smile. Asta wrapped her arm around Leona’s waist and said, “Princess Coolie, we can never repay your kindness. Thank you for your offer, but Leona and I had already made a pact before our capture: we would go to the Valley of Witches, the place where I lived and studied as a child. There, the study of magic and love between girls are both free. We wish to return there to live.”

“Yes, the first time Sister told me about that paradise for witches, I was incredibly curious and longed to go. After experiencing this life-and-death ordeal, I feel the preciousness of life even more. I want to go there and see it, no matter what,” Leona said, her heart full of yearning.

“Oh, is that so…” For some reason, after spending time together, the thought of parting suddenly made me sad. Wouldn’t it be better to live together in the dungeon?

At that moment, Faein extended her arm and wrapped it around my waist, making me feel an irresistible tenderness. Being held like this, wasn’t it just like Asta and Leona, who were true lovers?

This would surely lead to misunderstandings…

But, it truly felt so warm. To be casually held by the Senior Sister around the waist, it was such a submissive feeling.

“I understand.” Faein seemed to know I couldn’t speak at that moment, so she replied, “Since you already have a destination in mind, we won’t force you. However, the world of light remains perilous. You must both be extremely careful.”

“Yes, we understand!” Asta affirmed. “We must walk our own path. I will protect my sister myself; I won’t be weak anymore.”

“Princess Coolie…” Leona looked at me, also showing reluctance to part.

I looked at her, but couldn’t open my mouth, fearing I would cry if I did.

“Thank you! Princess, I know that, given your status, my sister and I have nothing to repay you with. But, should you ever need it, my soul, my everything, I am willing to sacrifice for you at any time,” Leona said with genuine sincerity.

I turned my head, burying my face against the Senior Sister’s side, and nodded. I didn’t expect their repayment, but at this moment, there was no need for more words.

“Farewell, Princess! Farewell, Sword Maiden!”

****

Below the stone circle, after seeing off the Asta sisters, I could no longer hold back and began to sob.

The sadness of parting, coupled with the regret of my weakness in succumbing to this tearful constitution of a girl, overwhelmed me.

I knew that boys shouldn’t cry at farewells, yet I couldn’t stop my tears.

I threw myself into Faein’s embrace, burying my face in her soft chest, and wept freely.

When I had cried my fill, Faein took a white handkerchief from the pocket of her leggings to wipe my tears. It still carried her unique scent.

‘Why did Faein carry a handkerchief? And why were you so gentle with me now, when I was so vulnerable?’

Wiping away my tear stains, Faein cupped my small face. At this moment, the Senior Sister was as tender as water, her bright eyes like the moon, making it impossible for me to resist. At most, I could only half-heartedly comply.

She seemed to understand my thoughts. She leaned down, pouted her cherry lips, and pressed them against mine.

My third kiss was imminent. I remembered my unspoken promise: to be kissed three times by the same girl might mean falling in love with her. Soon, I would know the outcome.

“Princess—” Leona’s voice suddenly broke through.

Faein and I reflexively sprang apart, both of us flushing with embarrassment.

“Ah, I’m sorry, we, we didn’t mean to interrupt…” Asta’s knowing look only served to deepen their misunderstanding. The Senior Sister and I weren’t that kind of couple!

So, why had they returned?

“Um… because so much happened today, I completely forgot something important. Um, Sword Maiden, is your name Faein?” Asta inquired.

“Hm? Yes.”

“Please tell me, is your full name Heavenly Glow Kiori! Although I don’t know why you’ve joined the dungeon forces, you are human, aren’t you? You’re the Human Empire’s renowned genius female knight!” Asta pressed.

Faein grew somewhat wary but didn’t deny it, as Asta likely meant no harm. “Yes, that’s me. How do you know? I don’t recall ever seeing you before.”

“Well, it’s like this.” Asta recalled, speaking, “Miss Faein, do you know a female adventurer named Yukino?”

“Yukino?!” Faein let out an unimaginably undignified and high-pitched gasp.

I distinctly felt Faein’s entire body tremble. The warmth she had been radiating and transmitting to me seemed to instantly drop a few degrees. What truly saddened me was that her hand instinctively released mine…