Chapter 9 - Mochi vs. Zen

A noble looking young man entered the room. His hair was the colour of Nao’s eyes; a deep but vibrant purple, and his eyes matched her hair; a brilliant pink. They were twins after all, but compared to Nao’s kind and serious nature, Zen gave the air of cold and aloof. Dressed to the nines in his royal guard uniform, an ornate cape fluttered behind him and he stood with a hand on his hip, turning his attention to Mochi.

“So the vampire queen princess Evuli is a ghost? You don’t look like a ghost.”

“D-don’t call me that! Why are you always like this, only listening to half of what someone says!”

His stern gaze turned towards the translucent puppy.

“Jeez, look at you. What have you gotten yourself into this time?”

Milly felt her face flush.

“Yes fine, make your jokes. The princess messed up again. Haha.”

Zen gave an annoyed look.

“I didn’t say it was funny, why are you always so negative?”

The two bickered back and forth until Zen realized Mochi was sniffing his rear, and he quickly twisted himself around, blushing with surprise.

“W-what the heck are you doing?!”

“You smell like Nao, I like you.”

Mochi grabbed Zen’s hand and began to lick it. Zen’s face turned an even brighter shade of pink to match his eyes, and he turned with a horrified look towards Milly, who smugly laughed into her paw.

“I’ve never seen you look so flustered Zen, what’s wrong?”

“S-shut up! You’re licking- SHE’S licking-!”

Zen jerked his hand away and Mochi winced. Once Milly had stopped snickering to herself and Zen had regained his composure, she explained everything that had happened since the day before, and what they were going to do now.

“So I just have to escort you-, her. Around town like normal. And how do you figure people will react to seeing a ghost dog?”

“She can just hide under that flashy cape of yours.”

Nao had returned and gave the thumbs up to indicate she had completed her task. She called Mochi over to her at the wardrobe, and without thinking started to strip off the under-dress from her. Milly frantically screamed and flew in front of Zen’s face, failing her arms, but Zen had already slapped his hands over his eyes and whipped his head away from their direction.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”

“Calm down Zen, she’s just a dog.”

“SHE’S IN THE PRINCESS’S BODY. TH-THAT’S EVULI’S-”

If Milly hadn’t have been mortified herself and pulling her ears over her eyes, she might have noticed Zen blushing and clutching at his chest.

“Alright, everyone can calm down, I’m done.”

The two were hesitant and mistrustful, but slowly looked over at Mochi, who had been splendidly dressed in one of the princess’s favourite outfits. She wore a black and white frilled dress with purple ribbons, white knee-high stockings with a black speckled pattern, and the petite crown that her father had gifted her for her birthday last year. Somehow, in the short amount of time their eyes had been closed, Nao had also managed to brush and tie up Mochi’s hair into layered twin tails with black and purple ribbons.

“H-how did you do all that so fast?”

“I’ve had to get you ready last minute more than a few times if you’ll recall, Princess.”

“You managed to make her look like the dog too. I’m impressed.”

“Thank you, Zen. I thought it would be cute for them to have a coordinated look.”

“I look so good! Praise me more!”

Pulling her into a hug and petting her head, Nao cooed about how beautiful Mochi was, and Mochi wagged her bottom back and forth as though she had a tail and nuzzled into Nao’s chest.

“Ahh~ This is bliss. The real princess would never let me get this close!”

Milly whispered to herself.

“...Only friends hug like that…”

Nao wiped a spot of drool forming at the corner of her cheek and cleared her throat, asking what Milly had just said.

“N-Nothing! Let’s go already.”

The group made their way out of the room and into the hallway, and quietly walked for a moment before Zen broke the silence.

“If the royal physician said the princess was sick, won’t everyone be suspicious to see her walking around like normal?”

“Worry not dear brother, I have already taken measures for this.”

Gesturing back to Mochi, the group turned to see her covered in a dark and mysterious cloak. She smiled and her fangs flashed in the shadow of the hood.

“When did-?! Then what was the point of dressing her so fancy before?!”

Nao was pensive for just a moment before retorting;

“She looked cute.”

Milly couldn’t help but cross her arms and nod along in agreement before remembering that was her own body she was complimenting, becoming flustered. Nao simply smiled at her kindly.

"L-Let's keep moving! The main gate is still on the other side of the castle!"

"Actually princess, I think it would be better for us to avoid staff and leave through the side door near the kitchen. We can procure a snack for Miss Mochi before we leave."

Mochi's robe swayed back and forth, making it obvious she was wagging her bottom again. It kept swaying the whole time they walked, causing Mochi to stumble on occasion, and Milly couldn't help but let a small grin creep across her muzzle at how silly the sight was.

Arriving at the more discreet side entrance to the castle Zen hesitated again before opening the door.

“Well what about the rest of us? Ghost pup vampire queen princess can hide in my cape, but won’t it look weird having a member of the royal guard and the princess’s attendant walking the streets in uniform with a hooded figure?”

“My Zen, you’re so sharp today. Rest assured though, a maid is always prepared.”

Pulling two more cloaks out from within her dress, they were robed up in an instant.

“Where did these-?!”

“Now now, let’s be off. Princess if you wouldn’t mind hiding in Zen’s robe.”

Without thinking, Milly complied and the group set off into the city to meet with Velho.

Mochi: 1
Zen: 0
Nao: 1000