Chapter 33: Seriously, I'm Scared of the Dark—I Can't Even Look at the Blackboard!

"Klath, you're back?" Helle stood at the door, greeting the three of us.

"Yeah, back. I'm dead tired."

"Hmph!" Monaluna shot me a glare and stomped back to her room.

"..." Cindira also walked silently upstairs without a word.

"What's wrong with the young ladies?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. Is dinner ready?"

"Oh, yes. What happened to your arms?"

"Uh... I tripped and fell."

"You fell and hurt both shoulders?"

"Just bad luck... really bad luck..."

After dinner, I followed the Old Mage to his lab. I used Life Magic to heal my shoulders—those two girls really went all out.

"My second disciple is arriving soon."

"Oh! You mean the Imperial Princess?"

"Imperial Princess Komor Alagon."

"Master, why the sour face? Don't you like this disciple?"

"She's only my disciple in name. I have just one true disciple. And you're nominal too."

"Tch. Whatever. You haven't taught me much anyway. By the way, did you finish the homework I left you last time?"

"The Old Mage scowled. "I refuse to waste time on useless exercises." He tried to change the subject.

"If you don't know, just say so. It's not shameful..."

"Ahem! Anyway, as my nominal disciple, you'll handle welcoming your nominal senior sister."

"Huh? Me? No way. Princesses are impossible to please."

"It's too late. I've already shared your details with the officials hosting Princess Komor and the Silver Scale Guard captain."

"What? When did you do that?" You moved way too fast.

"While you were up the mountain, I casually activated a magic scroll. My hand slipped, and your info got sent out." The Old Mage looked utterly innocent.

"Ohhh, so it was an accident~"

"Yes, yes! I truly didn't mean to~"

"Ahahahahaha!"

"Ahahahahaha!"

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"Klath, what's that in your hand?" Monaluna came downstairs, sat on the sofa opposite me, and sipped Helle's juice-milk blend.

"Oh, the itinerary for the princess's visit. Martin just delivered it. His dad's the mayor—he's handling everything for Princess Komor's stay in Crescent Town. Also, it's late autumn. Why are you still wearing such a short skirt?"

"I like it. Mind your own business. And I wasn't asking about the scroll in your left hand—I mean the white hairs in your right. What are those?"

"Oh, these? Naturally shed beard hairs from a certain shameless legendary mage."

"You plucked Grandpa's beard?" Monaluna stood up abruptly, her skirt swaying in the breeze.

"I said they fell out naturally!" I grumbled. Yanking the Old Mage's beard hadn't cooled my anger. His expression confirmed this princess was trouble.

"By the way, does Komor come every year?"

"Whoa! How dare you call the princess by her first name?"

"I'm not her subject. Nobles and royals don't impress me." I'm no feudal relic—I grew up modern. Why bow to them?

"Princess Komor visits yearly. She's always kind to me, bringing gifts like clothes and jewelry. My Wingside Breeze was originally hers."

"Huh? I thought the Old Mage gave it to you."

"She gave it to me without magic engravings. Grandpa kept it for ages. When he returned it, it was like this."

"Anything else? What does she usually do here?"

"Not much. We just stroll around town or boat on the lake. She's here to relax~"

Relax in this dump? Sure, it's got mountains and water, but coming yearly? No special reason? Only sweet little Nana would believe that.

"How's the Old Mage's relationship with Komor?"

"Grandpa and the princess... they're master and disciple, but he always looks unhappy when she visits me."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Whenever she stays overnight, Grandpa gets furious. They even argued once."

"? Just an overnight stay? Wait—who does she sleep with?"

"Me, of course. Did you know? Though she's three years older, Princess Komor is scared of the dark."

"Scared of the dark?" I frowned, hoping my thoughts weren't what I suspected. "Nana, does Princess Komor have other... sleeping quirks?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"I've been assigned to host her. I need to know her habits, or we'll all suffer later."

"Oh, right. Nothing major. She likes hugging people at night. Her hands wander—apparently it's called sleep-fighting. Sometimes she giggles 'heh heh heh' in her sleep. That's all. Small stuff~"

That's a massive problem! You naive girl, letting her grope you and counting the coins? Damn it—I get why the Old Mage hates this disciple. Her real target is Monaluna!

"You! Don't you mind? She! She! She!" I choked. "She ruins your sleep!"

"Pfft, it's nothing. I mentioned it once, but the princess got so sad. She said I look exactly like my mother. Sleeping with me feels safe, like my mother's holding her. I softened and agreed. We're both girls—it's fine." Monaluna smiled brightly. "You know, though she's Grandpa's disciple, he barely taught her. Mother often stepped in. When lessons ran late, Mother would stay overnight in the princess's room. I used to envy her... Mother held her more than me..."

Monaluna mentioned her mother for the first time. Her expression grew somber. I watched her, worried.

"Sleeping with the princess... it helps me feel close to Mother's memory too..."

I moved beside Monaluna and gently put an arm around her trembling shoulders. "Nana, I have a secret to share."

"Huh? What secret?" She jumped slightly at my touch.

"I'm also scared of the dark. And you look a bit like my mother. How about tonight..."

"Die, you pervert!" Monaluna burst into tearful laughter, shoving me away before skipping upstairs. "That's sexual harassment! I'll tell Helle."

"I'm serious! I'm terrified of the dark. As a kid, I couldn't even look at the blackboard in class. Think it over? I promise I'll only sleep-fight—no talking!"

"Hmph! Dream on!" Monaluna bounced back to the second floor.

"Seriously, wearing black lace at your age. Who taught you that?" I shook my head. "That person must be a total creep."

"Yeah, such a creep!" Helle's icy voice cut in behind me.

"Oh? So Klath sleep-fights and talks in his sleep~ Why didn't I know?" Cindira's sickly sweet tone delivered a deadly question.

"Ahaha, fancy meeting you two here?"

"I asked Miss Cindira to help clean the yard. Turns out there's trash inside too." Helle stomped hard on my foot. I hopped around, clutching it in pain.

"If you're scared of the dark, Klath, just shout. I'll rush up to protect you!" Her sugary voice accompanied another stomp on my other foot.

I collapsed onto the sofa, watching Helle and Cindira storm off. Tears welled up. Today, my limbs suffered inhuman torture. At least my little five was safe.

After resting, I stood to head to my room. Just at the door, Bobo's voice rang out: "Brother, watch out! My ball's out of control!"

"Thud!" I curled like a shrimp, trembling on the floor.

"Bobo... you didn't do it on purpose, right?" I wheezed.

"What did you say, Brother? Bobo didn't hear~"

My little five...

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Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I pondered: So the princess is into women—and her target is Nana. Unbelievable. From what I gathered, Monaluna's mother acted like Komor's mom in daily life, making the princess a mother-fixated creep. Since Nana's mom taught her magic, she's also a teacher-fetishist. Through the Old Mage, Miss Misery is technically her senior sister—so she's into seniors too? Too many red flags. This isn't just trouble.

"Whatever. I have to visit the Imperial Capital anyway. Getting close to the princess might help my path. Plus, her 'vacation' seems... interesting. Mister Bai? Let's see your moves."

"Knock knock knock!" Someone tapped the window.

"Hah! Locked out? I sealed it with magic too!" I gloated at Cindira outside.

"Whimper..."

"Crying won't work. My mind's made up."

"Sniff... Achoo!"

"Even with a cold? No."

"..." Cindira gazed at me pitifully.

"Even if you stare like that..."

*Sigh.* I waved, undoing the seal. "Behave! And wear pajamas!"

"Yay!"

"Quiet! You'll get me killed!"