The Saintess and the Temptress

“Mmm…”

    In a secluded room, the horsewoman turns around me, scrutinising me down to the last detail. Her fingers trace the curve of my hips, her thumb brushes the fabric over my belly, along my navel…

    I blush, my eye twitching.

“Errr… What are you doing, exactly, Miss…?” I trail off at the last moment, remembering I’m not supposed to know her name.

    Slowly straightening up, she flashes me a smile lacking gentleness, chasing away a chestnut strand of hair from her features.

“Isn’t this obvious? I’m checking your mensurations to know which clothes would suit you.”

“You could have asked me!!” I protest.

“Huum? Know that I only believe what I see, girl. Oh, and call me Miss Somnuma.”

    She reaches out her hand to inspect the elastic holding in place one my twin buns, brushing the star adorning it.

    After a while, she walks away until a wooden chest, fumbling around inside of it.

“I see no reason to change clothes, though.”

“No reason?” She scolds, taking a look at a translucent dress before discarding it. “There’s no way you work for us in such clothing.”

“Work… for you?”

    Ard Ramalia is known for the beauty of its women. No one can resist their natural charm, no one can be oblivious to their seductive nature.

“It is as I said. After her return, our ruler expressed the wish to see you become an active part of the community. It is my task to find you a place to work, and I’ll make you sure you won’t sully our reputation.” She finally returns near me, extending folded clothes. “Take these.”

    I glance at them. I knew I was the first one earlier to emit the wish to find some work just like Tyffeon, but if some places the women work at here are suitable even in my world, the fact Somnuma takes care of me isn’t reassuring in the slightest bit.

    Known in the whole Makhtubi, she is among the most popular Beastwomen making use of their charms to earn a living. After having attracted a fair number of clients, she has been promoted. Now in charge of the most lewd parts of the city.

“And if I refuse?” I ask cautiously.

    Somnuma raises her eyebrows.

“Refuse? If you want to stay in Ard Ramalia, you’ll have to follow our rules. You can still leave but…” A grim smile passes over her features. “Do you even have any other place to go?”

    I remain silent.

    A place to go?

“Don’t overthink it, though. Kitsune may have seen in you some charm, but all I see is a lost child. You lack the confidence of a true lady of the night. I’ll give you an easy task. For now, at least.”

    The last words make me shiver.

    Well, I’ve never been so happy to lack said confidence.

“What about Tyffeon?”

“The Daoine Sidhe which has been accompanying you? He’ll be given a place to stay. Just like you, from now on.”

    Will he really be safe? I can’t help but worry a bit about him. He’s much more capable to defend himself than I am, though. For now, he’ll be fine. But if the emissary takes over this kingdom… I have to keep focused. This may be an opportunity for me to infiltrate this place and gather hints. If I stay among them, I’m sure I’ll be able to figure out which sub-scenario we’re in.

    After a moment of hesitation, I reach out to take the given clothes.

“Better.” Somnuma comments. “Now you need to take a bath.”

“Huuh?”

    Before I can protest a bunch of Beastwomen surround me, and I am taken to another room. Letting out an ignored scream of despair.

***

    Adjusting my clothes, I have the reflex to pull down my top but, of course, this won’t help covering my belly.

“This feels so weird…” I wince, annoyed.

    Resolving to face my disgraceful fate, I step out of the windscreen I’ve hidden behind to dress up. Cyan, mostly translucent pants I am floating in if not for the tight, large belt. A matching sleeveless top. Well, the belt itself is kind of fancy with all the stars it appears to be made of.

    Embarrassed, I grip my arm from behind my back, averting my gaze. Luckily so, my top is a tad less translucent than my pants.

    Taking my chin between her fingers, Somnuma observes me, making me then turn around.

“That’s more convincing. I guess you have some sort of refreshing charm. There are always eccentric clients to appreciate that. This said…”

    She reaches out to grasp the pendant I kept around my neck.

“Get rid of that.”

    My eyes widen at the second she utters these words. Snapping back the pendant from her fingers, I make a step back.

“Don’t touch it!” I exclaim more rudely than I intended to. My grip tightens on the pendant. “Just this… Let me keep that.”

    For a long moment, the horsewoman merely observes me without saying a word, a serious expression over her features. Does she plan to rob and destroy it because I protested? I won’t let her have it…

“Girl, I did my best to make a seducing woman out of you.” She simply states. “Rage has nothing to do over your features.”

    I blink. Taken aback, my animosity disappears as quickly as it has manifested. I… guess I overreacted.

    Finally, she lets me more space to breathe, nearing the door as if she was taking her leave.

“Where are you going?”

    She glances back at me.

“I have my own tasks to attend to. Just wait here. Someone will come for you.”

    And on these words she’s gone.

    Letting out a sigh, I let myself fall to the ground.

    As I lean against my hands, I glance at my pendant, swaying back and forth.

    Slowly, I reach out my hand to take it in my palm, pressing the button on top of it. The golden-brown pocket watch opens then, revealing a picture hidden inside it. His short, slick black hair, his sky-blue eyes,… So it has stayed intact even in this world. I brush a finger over Shinji’s picture.

    My teeth clench.

“Hoo, hoo!” A little owl appears before my eyes, making me release a bit of the pressure.

“Finally awoke, huhh?” I whisper at Awa.

    Letting go of the pendant, I reach out my fingers to stroke her cream coloured feathers. So Soft… It’s kind of soothing. But, still, many thoughts wander through my mind.

“To think that I would have my place in this world if I simply stayed the gentle Saintess who dies by the time the prologue comes to an end. But now? For them I am merely a flawed Saintess. Somnuma is right, I have nowhere to go. Nobody wants me there. Not that it was ever different, though… At least, in the world I come from, I had my flat I could stay in. Away from the commotion. But here? I have no such place to go. I can’t hide under my warm blankets any more.”

    As I keep stroking Awa, she begins to hoot regularly, softly. It makes me chuckle.

“Silly Awa… Are you some sort of cat?” I pause before musing aloud. “…I am the Saintess, but I’m not the lucky charm they wished for. Then,.. what can I be in this world?”

“Isn’t being yourself enough?” A voice utters, making me jump.

    How haven’t I heard any enclosing footsteps?? I raise my eyes, catching sight of a pretty pair of fluffy violet cat ears. They are adorned with golden accessories at their base. Confused golden eyes gaze at me, a finger pressed against her cheek. Short hair frames her features. So far, she’s the only Beastwoman here not giving me the feeling that my chest is undergrown.

“Are you okay?” She asks. “Oh. Have you forgotten to eat, perhaps?”

“Uh-huh. Umm… Maybe?” I mutter. “Are you…?”

“Mira! My name is Mira. I will show you around since you’ll seemingly be working with us. At least this is what Miss Somnuma told me. That a Saintess is waiting for me. Ohh, this means I am gonna be your elder, heheh. I guess this is you she was talking about, am I wrong?”

“You’re not mistaken.” I show her a smile and stand up, taking Awa in my arms. “My name is Amako.”

“Amako, you say? That’s a pretty name.” She steps closer to me, a spark of curiosity in her gaze. “You really have no ears!”

“Huhh? What, no, I do. They’re just hidden by my locks.” I put a few strands of my hair away, amused.

“Oh! True. So small! Can I touch them?” She beams.

“Suure?” I offer, raising an eyebrow. Damn… That is the first time someone asks me such a thing, I’m not even certain how to react.

    As soon as the offer is made, Mira reaches out her hands to brush my ears with her fingertips. I glance at them. Unlike Somnuma, her complexion is closer to the Beastmen’s.

“Heeeh. They’re not even pointy. No fur, no scales… You must get easily cold like that.”

    I let out a few embarrassed chuckles. I guess it’s only natural to think so when your folks have ears always kept warm by fur… soft fur… ‘Have to hold back the urge to touch hers…

“Oh! But we should go, work awaits us!”

    As Mira grabs my hand, I follow her as she runs out of the room. Thinking that maybe, just maybe, I might be a tad lucky.

    After all, since my first night at Ard Ramalia, I just encountered one of the characters who may turn into this kingdom’s emissary of the Taint.