"You better apologize properly! Got it?" Early in the morning, Rebecca heard Laura’s scolding voice outside her room.

"Oh…" Lilia replied timidly.

"Lilia, I’ve always thought you should quit magic and train as a swordsman under Laura. Your roughness disgraces noble mages. Look what you did last night—you knocked Rebecca out cold! And hurt her. She bled so much from her nose!" Kami said sharply.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I didn’t know it’d turn out like this!" Lilia said helplessly.

Inside her room, Rebecca stared at the door with mixed feelings. Yesterday had been humiliating… utterly so! Caught off guard, she’d been yanked by Lilia into the hot spring. Then—*splat*—her face buried deep in Lilia’s ample bosom. Her left hand landed on Kami’s chest; her right on Laura’s…

Rebecca could swear it was all accidental. No scheming. All Lilia’s fault! If she hadn’t joked around, things wouldn’t have gotten this mortifying.

Sure, she’d enjoyed snuggling in Lilia’s soft embrace before. But that was nothing compared to zero-distance contact—especially touching both Laura and Kami’s breasts at once! For an innocent like her, the shock was overwhelming. Her nose bled uncontrollably. Realizing how embarrassing it was, she’d faked fainting…

So humiliating! Rebecca wished she could vanish into a crack. Thankfully, the girls thought she’d just been injured falling in. That small comfort eased her shame slightly.

"Rebecca… Rebecca… Are you awake?" Lilia’s voice called from outside.

Sigh. She couldn’t hide forever. Even if they didn’t know the real reason, Rebecca couldn’t face them.

She got up, opened the door, and met four pairs of worried eyes.

"Rebecca, are you okay? Any pain?" Lilia asked anxiously.

"No… no… I’m fine…" Rebecca mumbled awkwardly.

Lilia looked guilt-ridden. "I’m sorry. Yesterday was my fault. I shouldn’t have joked…"

"I… I’m alright…" Rebecca felt terrible—she’d actually enjoyed the accidental groping.

"It’s my fault. I won’t joke recklessly again." Lilia took Rebecca’s hand.

"Really… I’m… fine…"

"Rebecca, you should’ve hit her. Lilia always jokes past limits and causes accidents. If you don’t teach her a lesson, she’ll repeat it!" Laura glared sternly at Lilia.

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry…"

"Hmph. Rebecca’s too kind to punish you. Otherwise, I’d have beaten you myself! Don’t test me!" Laura asserted her captain’s authority.

"Oh…" Lilia meekly replied, then turned to Rebecca. "To apologize, after we teleport to Rucadan today, I’ll take you shopping for clothes~ That black robe wastes your beauty!"

"Huh? Huh??" Rebecca froze. Apology? Now dresses? No way—I won’t be forced into frilly outfits!

Rebecca had lived sixteen years as a girl but rarely wore dresses. Only as a child, when parents dressed her in cute outfits she couldn’t refuse. Older, she’d fiercely rejected feminine wear. She always wore a simple robe over plain shirt and pants, with dowdy black shoes.

Now Lilia’s sudden offer made the other girls eye Rebecca eagerly, already picturing her in lovely gowns…

"No… no… no!" Rebecca shook her head and waved her hands.

"Huh? Why not? My family’s rich. It’s an apology gift. Don’t you accept my apology?" Lilia’s face fell sadly.

"No… no clothes… I want… books… books…" Goodness, dresses? Never!

Hearing this, the four girls were stunned. They knew beautiful clothes tempted every woman. Yet Rebecca refused them—despite her beauty hidden under that ugly robe. And she chose books over jewelry or pets?

Lilia felt deeply moved. What a noble girl! Orphaned by the Dark Lord, trapped in the Demon Race’s terror, yet she craved knowledge. She’d abandoned vanity and base desires. Lilia, the empire’s genius mage, realized she’d lost her way—unable to resist clothes like Rebecca, who said "no clothes, just books" with pure eyes.

"Books? Rucadan has the Kasmo Empire’s largest library. I’ll get you a library card—you can read freely!" Lilia dropped the clothes idea. Offering dresses now felt like desecration.

Laura and Kami exchanged silent glances, agreeing.

The fuss ended. The group headed for Rucadan, capital of the Kasmo Empire!

Teleportation arrays held no novelty for Rebecca—she’d used them often, even casting the magic herself.

After the dizzying teleportation fade, Rebecca Mi—the Demonic Princess—stepped onto Rucadan’s soil.

Silently. No bloodshed, no corpses as legends claimed. She arrived like any ordinary traveler in the magnificent metropolis.

Exiting the array, Rebecca spotted a golden structure piercing the clouds. Massive as a sheer mountain, it radiated oppressive grandeur. Golden rings circled it—magical defense barriers. Trespassing meant annihilation. Such height required magic; mortal architecture couldn’t achieve it.

"That’s the Imperial Palace, Karen!" Laura explained, seeing Rebecca gaze at it.

Rebecca nodded faintly and followed Laura onto the broad avenue.

Unlike bustling but petty Lisang City, Rucadan’s roads were vast. Rebecca saw primitive lane divisions and traffic officers directing orderly flows of pedestrians, horses, and carriages. This glimpse confirmed Rucadan’s disciplined prosperity.

Near the array stood a carriage rental. The group hired one and boarded.

Inside, they debated Rebecca’s lodging.

"Rebecca, stay at my place. My house is huge~" Lilia held her hand.

"Uh…?"

"Your house? Your uncles are feuding over inheritance. Rebecca might get caught in the chaos," Laura said.

Lilia frowned but relaxed. Truth stung—her home was unstable now.

"My place… no, my family’s too strict. Guests are fine, but long-term? They’d refuse. Emily’s house is too small. Kami, take her to the church for now. I’ll search for Rebecca’s family."

"Only option. The church is safe. Kami, care for her well," Lilia said reluctantly.

"Don’t worry~ I’ll take excellent care of her~" Kami gave Rebecca a meaningful look, a sly smile curling her lips.