Chapter 20: Hidden Desires

Lost in thought, Sayo walked alongside Euru, realizing they had arrived back at the fountain. Euru’s voice startled her.

“Ah, I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Hmm, I took time out of my busy schedule to hang out with you, and you’re lost in your thoughts. Surely lunch and a play aren’t all you had planned?”

“…Of course not. I apologize for spacing out.”

There wasn’t anything Sayo could do for Euru or the other girls right now, anyway. Her immediate concern was their current situation.

‘…Nothing’s coming to mind.’

Her mind was blank. Further thought would be pointless. She started scanning her surroundings, hoping for inspiration. A bakery… a bank… a magic shop… a bathhouse…? …Wait, why was she even considering that? Focus.

Her gaze landed on a sign. A place Euru might be interested in.

“Shall we get something to drink?”

Sayo pointed towards a reading cafe, a place where you could enjoy tea and read books.

Euru’s hobby was reading. She devoured anything that piqued her interest, from novels to academic texts. And both versions of ‘her’ enjoyed reading as well. They could quench their thirst after the play and enjoy some reading. Moreover, for an extra fee, they could relax in a private room with beds, cushions, and beanbag chairs. It seemed like a perfect choice, given her lack of planning.

…But Euru’s expression was…unreadable. She’d expected her to be more enthusiastic.

“Euru, don’t you like reading?”

“Well, I do.” Euru picked up a book and flipped through it, continuing, “But reading is something I can do anytime, anywhere.”

“I see…”

While this world was technologically similar to modern times, printing technology seemed less developed. Books were expensive compared to her world and not always readily available, even if you had the money.

In that sense, the reading cafe, with its vast collection and comfortable seating, was quite popular, despite its high prices. Unlike a library, you could enjoy tea and snacks while lounging and reading.

But Euru, as a princess, had access to a vast royal library. Acquiring any book she desired wouldn’t be difficult. There was no reason for her to come here specifically… Especially considering the cost. This seemed like a failure… Sayo felt a pang of disappointment.

“I don’t mind being here, though. Don’t look so glum.”

“I’m not.”

Sayo touched her face, wondering if her disappointment was showing.

Hiding her emotions was supposed to be second nature to her.

“I was just thinking out loud. I can’t read as freely in the palace, so this is a nice change of pace.”

“Thank you.”

Euru, waving her hand dismissively, headed towards a private room with a stack of novels. Sayo watched her for a moment before choosing a novel and a magic textbook for herself and following Euru.

Inside the room, Euru was already comfortably settled in a beanbag chair, engrossed in her book. Sayo called for a waiter, ordered some refreshments, and sank into the beanbag chair next to Euru.

Only the sound of turning pages filled the room.

‘How long has it been?’

Sayo closed her novel and checked the time. An hour had passed. Stretching her stiff limbs, she glanced at Euru. This didn’t feel like a ‘friend’ outing, and she was curious about what Euru thought.

Their eyes met. Euru quickly looked away, her face flushed.

‘?’

Euru wasn’t the type to blush and avoid eye contact. She usually stared intently until the other person looked away, or offered a playful smile.

Something was off. Should she try starting a conversation? Sitting apart, reading in silence, didn’t feel like they were spending time together.

“What are you reading, Euru?”

“Huh?! J-just a light novel. What about you?” Euru replied, flustered, immediately deflecting the question. She’d been acting strange since they arrived. Sayo felt a flicker of suspicion, but brushed it aside, telling Euru she was reading a novel.

“I see…” Euru turned slightly, her back to Sayo, and resumed reading.

“Hmm.”

Sayo was curious about what Euru was reading, sensing she was hiding something, but she respected her privacy. She ate a cookie, sipped her tea, and opened her textbook.

“I wonder what Miss is doing?” Ahrin, having finished her chores, was relaxing in her room with a snack, worrying about Miss and her poorly planned outing. And…

She felt a pang of… something, thinking about Miss having fun with someone else without her. Was it… jealousy?

Ahrin pushed the unfamiliar feeling aside and lay down for a nap.

…
……
………

‘Mmm… did I fall asleep?’

She had apparently drifted off while reading her textbook in a reclined position. As she lay there, eyes closed, she felt a presence beside her. Euru?

‘?!’

A gentle caress against her cheek. She barely suppressed a gasp. The hand moved from her cheek to her lips, tracing their outline. What was going on?

Rustle

She felt Euru’s face draw closer, then felt her breath against her neck. …Euru was inhaling her scent. Ah. Too stimulating… I have to… wake up.

Sayo squeezed her eyes shut tighter and forced her body to relax, resisting the urge to open her eyes.

‘If I wake up now, Euru might die of embarrassment.’ That was Sayoreinne—Sayo’s reasoning.

“Th-this is… wrong…” Euru muttered, her voice barely audible, though Sayo heard it clearly. Even as she spoke, Euru’s hand continued to caress Sayo’s face.

“Just like in the book… soft… and smells nice…”

‘What book is she talking about?’

Euru had said she brought novels. Had she been reading an erotic novel with a sleeping girl? Bringing such a book to a private room with a friend… It didn’t seem like something Euru would do.

“…You’re not awake, are you?”

Euru’s voice was a whisper, but with their faces so close, Sayo heard it clearly. Their lips were almost touching.

‘I am awake.’

Despite feigning sleep, Sayo’s heart pounded. While she wanted to experience the touch of a beautiful girl, this was new to her as well.

‘This happened before, didn’t it? With reversed roles.’

The incident in the infirmary came to mind. Had Euru been awake back then? She hadn’t been asleep; she’d been unconscious.

Thinking Sayo was deeply asleep, Euru’s touch grew bolder.

Her right hand moved from Sayo’s shoulder down her arm, then took her hand. Euru’s hand was hot. Her left hand moved from Sayo’s hair to her ear, her eye, her nose, her cheek, and then stopped at her lips, tracing their outline.

“Mmm…”

Euru’s face moved closer.

Sayo felt the light brush of Euru’s nose against hers.

‘Does she… want to kiss me?’

Euru’s face was so close. Sayo felt herself getting hot, her face flushing. She hoped Euru couldn’t see it.

Her heart raced. Could Euru hear it? She tried to calm down, but to no avail.

She felt torn between the impropriety of the situation and the desire to feel Euru’s soft lips against hers. They hadn’t actually kissed ‘that’ time.

“Sigh…”

Euru sighed softly, her arms moving to Sayo’s shoulders and waist, then nuzzled her neck, holding her gently. After a moment, she pulled away and returned to her seat.

‘Ah…’

Relief… right? She hadn’t had her first kiss stolen while she was asleep.

Sayo, hiding her disappointment, relaxed her tense body. After pretending to sleep for a while longer, her heart still fluttering, she stretched and feigned waking up, then left the reading cafe with Euru.

They had an awkward, early dinner and then parted ways almost hastily.

‘~~~~~~~!’

Back in her room at the palace, Euru buried her face in her pillow and screamed internally.

If only she hadn’t seen that play…! While it was just a play, seeing two women whispering sweet nothings and caressing each other had stirred something within her. She had been fine until then…

If only she hadn’t read that book…! She’d thought it was a lighthearted coming-of-age story about girls, but it had taken an unexpectedly erotic turn. Yes, that was the problem. She had been curious, wondering what it would be like, if it would feel as good as described in the book. It was only natural. It was the book’s fault.

Back at the dormitory, Sayo wordlessly hugged Ahrin.

“Did it not go well today, Miss?”

“…It’s not that.”

Ahrin hugged Sayo back, feeling a secret thrill, despite knowing it was wrong, that she was the closest(?) person to Miss.

‘Hee hee.’