The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

---

I tried not to breathe through my nose, but the smell of grass was suffocating. While my body was brimming with magic power, resolving the unpleasant air issue was a different challenge altogether.

Could this be a dream? I hoped that there might be a dish overly packed with grass that could be overridden by the aroma of meat, but no such luck. Grass here, grass there, and even where I turned my eyes in disappointment, there was grass. I couldn’t bear the torture of keeping my eyes open, so I squeezed them shut.

This is not right. This cannot be real.

Dokan, noticing my gloomy mood, called out to me excitedly after spotting some food.

“…Princess! How about coming over here to check this out? They call it plant-based meat, and it really looks like meat—so much so that you won’t recognize it!”

I understood he was trying to brighten my spirits. At least he seemed to think that, with human senses, one couldn’t distinguish it from real meat. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for me.

There was an awful smell of grass that was hard to erase even with various seasonings and cooking methods. I appreciated Dokan’s efforts, but it seemed futile. I quietly shook my head.

“…It may look like meat to you, but to me, it’s nothing but grass. I appreciate what you did for me, but I guess I’ll either starve or have to find something else.”

In what might be the last scrap of conscience of the grass-eaters, there were some tofu-like things or jelly. At the very least, I could eat those if I wanted, so I’d have to fill my stomach with these.

Ugh, I wondered if there was any meat dish around. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, a bit of magic power flowed out of my body. After all, it was something that wouldn’t come in even if I tried to draw it in, so it wasn’t strange for it to flow out.

As I dejectedly headed to my seat, an irresistible, enchanting scent wafted up to my nose.

Was there a table like that? Even if it was tucked away in a corner with no one around and poorly lit, my nose would have caught on to it.

With a smell so rich in meat, it was impossible not to notice it. How strange it all was, yet my feet were already moving in that direction.

The table was barely enough to hold a single plate, and on that plate lay a serving of meat that could barely satisfy a human’s appetite.

This wouldn’t be enough to fill me, but… meat is still meat. It’s far better than having nothing. Just the fact that it wasn’t surrounded by grass and its byproducts made me feel a sense of happiness.

“…Princess? Where have you been? What are you doing here? There’s nothing there. Just staring at the wall won’t make meat appear… huh?”

Dokan seemed to think I was looking at the wall. When he tried to call me over, he was utterly shocked to see me actually bringing back meat.

“It’s not a wall. Look, there’s a table right there! From now on, make sure to eat carrots or animal liver often; it’s good for night blindness, you know?”

Dokan didn’t spot the table until I kindly pointed it out with my finger.

“…That definitely wasn’t there…? What is this…?”

He denied having seen it. I had my doubts too, but I didn’t have the mental luxury to ponder over such things.

I was just happy about the sheer fact that there was meat.

“What are you standing around like an idiot for? Let’s get to the table quickly; the meat will get cold.”

Although it seemed the meat was already cold, there was still a faint heat beneath the plate, as if it was just about to cool down. I knew Dokan was surprised, but there was no time to chat.

“Ah, yeah. Where could… there be an invisibility-type magic circle…?”

He was really chatty. I gave him a thump with my tail as a hint to hurry up and follow me. Only then did Dokan reluctantly trail behind me.

Isn’t it better to just enjoy the good moments? While Dokan might not think so, I certainly would.

The taste couldn’t compare to what I’d eaten at the Academy. Still, considering it was a proper dish found in a place filled with nothing but grass, it tasted far better.

“…Is it good?”

“It’s sweet. I was feeling down at the thought of munching on grass pieces. You should eat plenty too. I’m not sure if those grass pieces will help you gain strength, but you need to stay strong, right?”

“Haha… right.”

No matter how I looked at it, there was no way that kind of food would give a person even an ounce of energy. I’d have to get him some pills or something. Quick-acting ones, though they have a bit of a hangover; I thought Dokan would be fine.

Above all, I needed to gain my strength back, didn’t I?

—

As soon as I regained consciousness, I tried to sit up, but a strange heaviness and dizziness prevented me from doing so. I glanced outside to gauge the time, and it seemed dawn had just begun to break.

What on earth is weighing down my chest? Relying on the faint morning light, I looked down and saw soft hair intertwined with dark strands.

Oh. Right. It’s Ho-Yeon.

That’s what they said—the side effects of the medicine might cause some confusion right after awakening. Looking blissfully happy in her natural state, she snuggled against my chest, as if she were sleeping soundly.

It seemed we had fallen asleep in that position, chest to chest. As I tried to move, a sudden wave of pain made me groan softly.

“Ugh, ah…!”

I couldn’t tell if it was rotting away or being crushed, but thankfully the pain subsided as I stayed silent, unable to continue talking.

I squeezed my unmoving limbs, forcing them to move, and she seemed to nestle closer to me as if not wanting to let go. She scratched with her nails, but I couldn’t care less about that.

Attempting to rise made it feel like my waist would snap. The agony was so horrendous that it felt like I had shards of glass embedded in my muscles, piercing my flesh.

Even after healing with magic, the pain remained excruciating.

Still, it seemed that Ho-Yeon really did care for me. In the beginning, I thought I was going to die for sure. My vision darkened, and each of her movements felt like fire coursing through my body.

Comparatively, my condition was much better now. Back then, like this, I woke before her, tried to move a finger, only to crumple back down again.

I carefully pushed her away to lay her on the bed, then headed to the bathroom to wash up. When I turned on the light, the reflection in the mirror was absolutely ghastly.

Scratches everywhere, bites, and dried fluids. I had no idea if there was a cleaning lady, but if there was, she must have had quite the hassle.

With me looking like this, it was a given that the bed would be in shambles as well. Fortunately, the only mess on the bed was my own, which was a small comfort.

After healing the minor wounds with magic, I splashed cold water on my face to snap back to reality. I wondered what one would have to do to create a shower room here, but the muscle pain quickly ground those thoughts to a halt.

Upon a closer look, the water comes from mana, but I wondered where the drain leads.

I was too sore and hurt everywhere to ponder further.

Even after I bathed, she was still fast asleep. Should I wait for her to wake up after a while? Maybe she’d come looking for me when she woke.

No, let’s wake her up.

Seeing her up close while she was deeply asleep made her look truly beautiful. She lacked a bit in consideration for others and had higher standards than most, but that barely mattered.

As though she were dreaming sweetly, smiling, I whispered her name in her ear.

“Ho-Yeon…?”

As if moved by my call or perhaps feeling ticklish, she shivered her ears and slowly blinked awake.

Seemingly still drowsy, she remained still for a moment before—

Ho-Yeon swept her hair back and, spotting me, smiled faintly.

“Ha… am I up first? You woke up early… haah. Yawn…”

The blanket she had covered me with slipped down, revealing her bare form, and with a sultry yawn, I felt as though my lower half might snap again.

“Ugh… oh. I woke up first… are you okay…?”

Showing herself off like that made it hard to contain myself. But I had to hold back. My eagerness was immense, yet my body couldn’t keep pace.

“I… yeah, I feel refreshed.”

So Ho-Yeon really did take care of me. If she felt refreshed while I felt like dying, it was certain. The anxiety for the future only grew.

I wasn’t sure if this was the most suitable way to describe her, but isn’t this what a succubus is? Utterly enchanting, yet to associate with her seemed to invite ruin.

I hadn’t met my doom, nor did she intend for me to fall, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I were to die, it would be beneath her not withering age but in her embrace.

“Well… it’s probably best to wash up first. The warm water doesn’t come out well, so keep that in mind.”

Got it. She said that and walked straight toward the bathroom, simply wearing her underwear. I didn’t feel scared of her anymore, but that stamina of hers was still intimidating.

While she washed up, I tidied things up a bit by changing the sheets and making the bed chaotic once more. While I did that, I moved my body a little to snap back to my senses.

My lower half felt like it was about to break, but my upper body, aside from the scratches she left, was relatively fine, so I could clean up easily.

I applied the ointment I’d set aside for the next day if she was in pain, or at least got some water while she emerged soon after, clad only in her underwear.

Naturally, she sat next to me, her tail resting on my thigh as she sent signals, but if I continued like this, it felt like today would skip right over, so I stroked her tail while gently brushing it away.

“…Do you not like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, but my body can’t take it. By the way, did you take the medicine?”

“Ah, right. Almost forgot…”

Ho-Yeon. If you forget that, I have no idea what will become of me with your father. I’d appreciate it if you could keep that in mind.

Either way, seeing Ho-Yeon’s dissatisfied expression didn’t provide any comfort, but I could only think of one thing to suggest that we could do together.

“…Ho-Yeon. Want to go for a walk together?”