Chapter 154: The Captured Princess — Part One

Chapter 154:
The Captured Princess
Part One

 

YUNA LEFT ME, her round bear tail wiggling into the distance.

Why had things turned out this way?

Maybe it had all started when Yuna asked me to butcher the black tiger. It was tough, and I couldn’t skin it with my knife.

See, when living monsters die, the tough mana covering their bodies disappears. The supply from their mana gems goes away, their hide goes soft, and I can get to work. But the black tiger’s pelt was too tough for me to butcher even with my knife! I guess it didn’t help that I’m not very strong, but for the most part, greater monsters just need to be butchered with better tools.

I told Yuna so too, and Yuna suddenly said we were going to go buy a knife that could butcher the black tiger.

I was pretty sure a steel knife would have worked, but Yuna got set on a mithril knife. Those things are way expensive. Obviously, I said no, thank you, but she wouldn’t listen! Yuna said we might need one next time. What was that supposed to even mean? What was Yuna going to have me butcher next?

It was terrifying just thinking about it!

Mr. Gold’s blacksmith shop in Crimonia didn’t have mithril knives to sell, but Yuna didn’t stop there. She said that she would take me with her to the capital. Most people can’t do that, but Yuna has this crazy bear door in her house. When you go through, you appear in the capital suddenly—it’s so weird! I couldn’t believe Yuna had something so amazing!

 

We went to the Merchant Guild and asked where the blacksmith was. On the way, um, we ran into Noa’s sister—you know, Shia? Shia took us to the blacksmith, because she’d gone before.

We made it to the blacksmith without any problems, but we still couldn’t get a mithril knife. There were monsters in the mines, so they couldn’t get any ore.

But Yuna didn’t give up. Next up, we had to go to the Adventurer Guild. When the adventurers saw Yuna, they were up in arms. I admit, I was so scared that I hid behind Yuna…

I thought we would get in a fight, but Sanya the guild master came over and told the adventurers off for us. You bet they got real quiet then. Sanya was so cool!

Sanya told us what had happened in the mines. It looked like we couldn’t get a mithril knife. Kinda sad, but it wasn’t like I really needed one yet.

Right when we were about to give up and go home, Lady Ellelaura came in. She asked Yuna to slay the golems that had appeared in the mines. Yuna said no at first, but she really did want that mithril knife…so she took the job.

Since Yuna was going away for work, I guess I had to just go home and wait in Crimonia? Since I could use the bear door, I could go home right away. But then Lady Ellelaura said the unthinkable.

“Well then, I’ll take Fina to my house while you’re out.”

Lady Ellelaura grabbed me. I looked at Yuna, begging her to save me. She looked just as fidgety as I felt.

We couldn’t say anything about the mystery bear door that went to Crimonia. Yuna didn’t look like she knew what to do either. If she went on the job by herself, then I’d be alone. That was the last thing I wanted.

But then Yuna told Lady Ellelaura, “Please take care of her.”

Yuna! I shouted at her inside my head.

Because the bear door was our secret, I couldn’t just say I could go home to Crimonia, not by myself. And I couldn’t go with Yuna if she was going to be slaying monsters either. There wasn’t a choice at all, really. I ended up staying behind in the capital.

Even thinking about staying at a noble’s house as a commoner made me sick to my stomach. I asked if I could stay by myself in Yuna’s bear house, but Yuna and Lady Ellelaura both said no.

But—but I’m fine being alone! No fair…

 

Yuna stayed over for just a night before leaving me behind to slay golems. I was worried about her, but I also had to worry about myself. If I messed up, I’d never live it down.

I decided to keep out of the way and stay in my room like a good girl…but I still didn’t get any peace. Lady Ellelaura and the maid, Surilina, came in, even though I was trying to be good! I had a bad feeling about this.

Surilina was carrying a ton of pretty dresses on hangers. Were these from when Lady Shia was small? Or were they Lady Noa’s clothes? And who was going to wear them?

“I wonder which one will look best,” said Lady Ellelaura.

“M’lady, what do you think of this one?”

“Very nice, but don’t you think this is better?”

“Yes, I think that will look lovely!”

On Lady Noa or on Lady Shia? Or…or…oh, who was I kidding? They kept looking at me. Just thinking about it gave me a nervous stomach ache.

What I knew right now was that I was in danger.

Lady Ellelaura picked up an outfit and looked at me. “Fina, how about we get you changed?”

She started to approach me. Her smile scared me. Yuna wasn’t here to save me. I had to say no to her myself. Just thinking about what would happen if I got those clothes dirty or did anything to them made me shudder.

“I already have clothes on, so I’m okay,” I tried really hard to tell her, No, thank you.

“Tssk, tssk. No, my dear, those clothes simply will not do. and haven’t you been wearing those since yesterday?”

“They’re not that dirty,” I said, taking a quick step back…but Lady Ellelaura and Surilina took two steps toward me.

“That’s no good. A girl like you needs to dress nicely.”

Yuna, save me...

Lady Ellelaura and Surilina started coming over to me again. I wished I could ask Lady Shia to save me, but she was at the academy. There wasn no one here to come to my aid.

I took another step back and bumped into the bed that was behind me. I was stuck. The two of them still kept walking toward me.

I had nowhere else to run.

“I can’t wear such nice clothes. I wouldn’t look right in them.”

“Oh pish, that’s not true. I’m sure you’ll look adorable.”

“Yes, I do agree. You’re already so adorable.”

It was no use. They had me surrounded on both sides. I couldn’t escape.

“But what if I got them dirty? They look like such expensive clothes.” Maybe that would work

“It’s fine. I won’t get angry,” said Lady Ellelaura.

“Oh, and don’t worry about getting them dirty. I’ll wash them, so it’ll be fine.”

“But...” But what? What could I say to escape?

Yuna, save me…

But she was far away, out of reach of my pleas.

“...”

 

In the end, I lost the clothes war.

The outfit did have cute frills, and it felt nice, too. The fabric was really fine. Surilina promised to take care of it if I got anything dirty, but what if I accidentally tore it?

One word was on my mind: compensation. I absolutely could not tear these clothes or get any dirt on them. My stomach ached with how scared I was, but I soldiered on. I’d stay as motionless as a doll in my room until Yuna came back.Yup, that seemed like a good plan.

“Well, Fina, let’s head out.”

“Wha—” What a move! It was over in seconds…but I couldn’t give up yet. “I’ll stay home and watch the house. I can wait for Yuna to come back.”

“You’re a guest; we could never ask that of you. If Miss Yuna returns, I shall notify you.”

“And Yuna already left,” said Ellelaura. “As talented as she is, she won’t be back that quickly.”

That was true, I guess. In the end, I couldn’t figure out how to say no, and I had to go out with Lady Ellelaura.

But where were we going?

Wait, was that the castle?

Mom… if I get sentenced to death, I’m sorry.

Or maybe not…? No, I could make it. If I saw nobles in the castle, I had to do my very absolute best not to do anything rude…

That is, if I wanted to make it home alive!