I strip down naked and wrap a towel around me for modesty purposes until I get close enough to get in. The bathing room is ginormous and kind of reminds me of a giant hot tub. Bigger than the hot springs in Seoul, Korea, when I visited briefly for a military deployment. If you would call it a military deployment. It was more of a paid vacation if I am being honest. They had an artificial hot spring in their international airport that was pretty big for a hot tub. They even had a separate pool inside the hot spring that was a cold spring. Though getting in cold water willingly doesn't sound fun to me. BRRRR!
As I approach, I notice the princess in the baths too. I wonder if Nat planned for us to be here together, and that's why she pulled me from the library. I'm not sure, but it doesn't bother me, at least for now. I reach the water's edge, remove my towel, fold it, and slide into the water, dunking my head immediately. I keep plenty of space between Princess Riviera and myself. Now naked, I greet her: "Evening, Princess Riviera." She gives me a slight smirk and replies, "Evening, Zoe," her gaze growing more lustful.
I try to ignore her and wash, but exhaustion catches up to me in the hot water, making me yawn. It's my first bath in this body, so I push through the yawns to clean myself well. I notice I have no underarm hair—no stubble at all. On Earth, I rarely shaved, usually leaving my underarms hairy. I wonder if this is another goddess thing.
I wonder if she made it so I won't grow underarm hair for 'beauty' reasons, as part of my face upgrade? Or maybe the goddess knew what was expected in this world and didn't want me to be an oddity. The same goes for my legs, which are silky smooth. I rarely shaved in my first life—sometimes for swimming or massages, but often not at all. The longer I stay in this body, the less it feels like mine and more like a fleshy avatar in a high-stakes video game.
I sigh, thinking about it. I miss my old face and body. I think this, and my chest tightens, and I grip it suddenly, and I start sweating. I immediately think about how I do not miss the achy joints from injuries. That is one thing I am currently thankful for. I think this, and I get a warm buzz in my chest, and I stop sweating. I feel like this face of mine will cause problems for me. Tighten. Dudes would catcall me on Earth with my old face, and now I have this face? Tightening some more in my chest, I am sweating even more profusely. I gripped harder with my hand. Sometimes I think the goddess had a little too much fun making this body for me. This tightening keeps happening. It stopped earlier when I thought about my joints. I think about the tour and these new, improved knees, and the tightening in my chest eases some of its grip.
I don't understand what's happening, but I have to do something to ease this pain in my chest. I whisper, "I like my knees. I like my knees." Would I be in a good position if I had my old face? That shifts my perspective. Maybe being less attractive would mean I'd be dead now. Royal families are often petty with executions. I've read stories of people dying for the dumbest reasons—none as odd as arriving in the throne room via a conspicuous spell. They had every reason to be suspicious when I arrived.
I sigh again and try to focus on washing, but the princess notices and says, "Now that is two sighs in a short time. What is it? Is it me?" Her question jolts me from my thoughts, making me realise how obvious my mood has become. I quickly shake my head, "No, Princess." The sigh escapes me again as I struggle to put my feelings into words. "It's just that bathing like this makes me really miss my old body. Sometimes, I even miss that dull knee pain. If dealing with that pain meant I could see my wife again, I would gladly take it on." As my emotions swell, I try to contain them, not wanting to fall apart, but a few tears still escape. I am caught between nostalgia and aching loss, which surfaces despite my efforts to hide it.
Princess Riviera, wanting to comfort me but not really sure how, decides to ask a question instead: "What kind of woman was your wife like?" I giggle and wipe a tear away, "She was a very beautiful and strong-willed person. She might not have been physically strong like me, but her strength was in character. She was stronger than I was in that regard. She was also very silly, and we often just were, having moments when we lost ourselves and laughed uncontrollably because we cracked ourselves up. We had these things called video games where you can control things on a tv screen with a remote device, and she would often play those with friends around the world using something we had called the internet."
She perks up. "Can you tell me more about this internet?" she asks. I shake my head, and she sighs in disappointment. I explain the best I can, "I do not know exactly how the internet works, but it was a vital part of our society back home, and it allowed us to communicate instantly with people across the world. My wife would use that technology to play games together with her friends, and some were literally on the other side of the planet, separated by whole oceans. The technology is really fascinating, and I wish I could teach you all how to create it and implement it, but I am not that smart. My wife loved these games. I used to love to hear her giggle and laugh across the house as she played with her friends. That is what I miss second most."
The princess then asks inquisitively, raising an eyebrow, "What do you miss most?" I then reply, knowing this is probably going to get her all hot and bothered, but it is the truth, "I miss the feeling of her lips upon my own. Every time we kissed, it felt magical. My whole body lit up with electrical energy, exploding like fireworks. When we first kissed, I did a happy dance afterwards, and she thought it was the cutest thing. I have kissed many different people in the life I lived before coming here, and no one made me feel the way I felt when I kissed her." I clutch my chest, but not in the painful way that has been ailing me since arriving, but in a hollow way from missing my beloved.
Princess Riviera squeals in excitement, "Ooooh, I just knew you were going to say something like that! That is so romantic! I wish I could find love like that, but being a princess, I will most likely be put in an arranged marriage with a neighbouring country for diplomatic relations." I then say, feeling dumb, forgetting who I was talking to for a moment, "I am sorry, princess." I say as I look away to continue washing myself, but also not look at her. I am so heartless, talking of love in front of royalty like that; it must be hard on her. She interrupts my train of thought, "There is no need to be sorry, Zoe. It is what it is. There is no changing the circumstance."
I then reply, feeling very dejected, "It was heartless of me to talk about my love in your presence. I am fully aware of the complications of love and the royal family from my knowledge back home. I was lucky enough to have found love once in my first life. I am fully aware I will probably never find love again in this life here in Gaos, and I am ok with that. Some people go their whole lives without knowing the feeling of true love, while I got to be blessed enough to experience it first-hand."
Princess Riviera interjects as she lathers her long, light brown hair. "Even if I don't marry out of love, it doesn't mean I can't have a concubine that I do love. Most noble men and women have concubines in their relationships here in Gaos." I reply honestly, "I do not know if I could share to be honest if I were truly in love. I would want them to be mine and mine alone. My lips to be the only lips upon their lips. To be touched by my hands alone. Orgasms that are only brought by me and me alone. The sheer idea of possibly sharing seems impossible. Not saying that your system is wrong or doesn't work because polyamorous relationships do work for some people." Princess Riviera counters, "Just not you, right?" I answer matter-of-factly, "Well, here in this world, it is different. I know I probably will not find love, so being possessive won't matter. I could be a 'side piece' as we called them back on Earth. I actually was a side piece at one point in time during my ho phase."
The princess giggles in fascination and rinses the soap from her hair, "Oooooh! You must tell me of this 'ho phase' you speak of. You cannot stop now." Once her hair is sud-free, she stares at me, excited for my story. I begin my story, "So I met this girl on a dating application. A thing, using the internet thing I told you about, made to connect people romantically across varying distances. In these applications, you can adjust how far they are, so you can get someone really close or really far away, depending on what you are looking for. This girl was smoking hot, but married." She gasped, "Did her spouse know that you were courting his wife?"
I chuckle and nod, "Yes, her husband knew we were seeing each other, and we even hung out a few times together before I got intimate with his wife. He did join us once, but it was very awkward. I told him at the beginning that I did not want him to penetrate me at all, and he was ok with that. Even though his wife told me it was ok and I reassured them that I did not want penetration. It was going well until they got really turned on, and then they just forgot about me and started hardcore fucking in front of me. Not making love tenderly and affectionately. This shit was HARDCORE."
She asks with carnal curiosity, "How was it hardcore?" I stand in the bath and use the side of the bath as if it were the wife in my story while I play the husband. I place my hands on the side and say, "She had her legs up over her head while he held her legs there like so, and he was just-" I quickly pump my hips to the side of the bath in demonstration. She giggles, completely amused, blushes adorably, and responds, "How was it again?" I snicker and sit back down, not falling for that, while she laughs.
I continue with the story, "Back to the story, I didn't even orgasm, and afterwards I went late at night with her to a restaurant where she mentions like it is nothing that she stabbed her husband intentionally, not once but twice, putting him in the hospital on two separate occasions. After that night, I snuck out of her house and never went back, and that was the end of my ho phase. It was very brief, but I learned my lesson quickly. WAIT! I lied! An accident, of course. Before her, there was a one-night stand I had with another girl."
The princess, now intrigued, asked, "What is a 'one-night stand'?" I reply, "Sleeping with a stranger and not seeing them again afterwards." The princess looks at me, "Ooooh, how bold of you! After what you said earlier, I didn't think you had it in you." I replied, shrugging, "Well, all of this was before I found my wife, obviously. I didn't love those girls." The princess then says, looking serious, "I hope I can find something like you two had." She then breaks eye contact and dunks her head in the bath and stands up, showing her full naked body. She is very beautiful, though I make it a point not to stare because, obviously, I am not a creeper.
She then, using magic, immediately dries off without a towel. I say in amazement, "You must be really good at water magic to be able to use that type of control to dry yourself." Princess Riviera replies, "I am one of the best, but still nowhere near as good as my mother. Hopefully, one day I can catch up to her, surpass her, and be the best. That will take many years of devotion to the craft of water magic." I reply after I rinse the lather out of my own hair, "I can tell your hard work by the fine motor skill function you displayed by removing each individual drop of water while not stripping your hair of necessary moisture for healthy, silky looking hair." Princess Riviera smirks, "Oh, so you noticed that, huh? Most people think I take ALL the moisture out when it is a lot more delicate than that." I replied after a light chuckle, "Well, I am sure you don't want to go around with a frizzy mess on your head by sucking all the moisture out of your hair." Princess laughs while she puts her clothes on, "It is funny you say that because when I was practising this spell at first, that happened very frequently." I laugh as well, "Now I am trying to picture it." She stops laughing, "Don't." When she sees me stop laughing, she starts laughing again, "I am just joking with you. It was pretty funny. My brothers came up with the nickname Frizziera. I used to hate it so much. Looking back, it was pretty funny. If I were them, I probably would have joked around too." She wipes a happy tear from the side of her eye.
I confide in the princess, "I had a few embarrassing nicknames too. My parents called me 'messy-bit' growing up because my room was always a mess. When I moved out of my parents' house and got my own place. Having my stuff spread across multiple rooms felt like I went from a mess to having my shit together in a flash. It was then I realised I just had too much stuff for a single room." Princess giggles, "Messy-bit. I like that, it is cute. Though, since I guess it doesn't apply to you now, I can't use it, can I?" I replied, "I guess I could say the same for your nickname, Frizziera, princess."
We giggle a little, and she then looks around to make sure no one else is in earshot, "I was really hoping to have some time to play with Ash tomorrow, but it seems my mother is putting a damper on those plans. I was going to use the tea party as an excuse to come visit you in your quarters." Look at me not messing up someone's intent for once! I reply, "You know you do not need an excuse, right? You are the princess, and I am still technically your detainee. Why don't you just come outside of the time of the tea party, and we can just talk and hang out while you spend time with both of us?" Princess then shrugs and says, "Well, I guess you are right. I won't think too hard about it and just stay after my mom leaves. I was mainly trying to care about your image, but it sounds like you are ok with it." She says as she flings a drop of water at a bell near the door to summon a few maids.
I replied, waving my hand in a manner to non-verbally say that it is trivial as the maids quickly start dressing her, "I appreciate the consideration, but what other people think happens behind closed doors is none of my concern. We know what happens, and that is all that matters. They can say what they want. I can't control what other people think." The princess says, smiling a bit mischievously, "If that is the case, then I won't hold back." She says this as the maids finish putting on her clothes, and she looks at her reflection to make sure everything is perfect and turns back to me, "I will see you tomorrow then, Zoe. Have a good night." I replied, "Good night, Princess Riviera." She smiles at me with that spunky smile of hers, then gracefully walks away, looking as if she is ethereally floating just above the floor with the floor-length dress she is wearing.
They call me an oxi-moron, this bitch right here spunky AND graceful. Yet she is proof that a woman like that can exist. I stayed in the bath a little longer. This is the first time I have had a moment to be by myself while I have been here. I sit in this hot bath and think. Think about what a crazy day it has been. All of the new things I have experienced and felt. My core values are shifting. The idea that I could use magic, but I just haven't unlocked the ability yet, is really exciting. I still have a lot to think about what the goddess said to me today. I won't think too hard about it for now because it will be hard to fall asleep, even though I am exhausted. I will actively start analysing myself and the possibilities of magic tomorrow.
I start to get a little dizzy from the bath, so I decide to get out before I pass out. I dry off with my towel and wrap it around myself once I've gotten most of the water off. On the bright side of having short hair, I can rub a towel in my hair a few times, and it gets most of the water out. I go to the area where I left my clothes and put them back on. I looked at my reflection, and the princess's initial assessment was spot on. I look like a fucking concubine. Even more so with this prettier face. Not that I really care because it isn't like it would necessarily be a bad thing, because I might be able to use a position like that to help the royal family help the people of this country, helping the goddess with her mission. If the goddess needs me to whore myself out for the greater good, it shouldn't be that bad. It already seems like the princess is interested in taking me on as a concubine, and if it were her, I guess it would be ok.
After talking with her, I am getting to know her better, and I would rather be her concubine than the queen's since she already knows of Ash's existence. Without being super committed to marriage, I could leave to continue my mission when the time comes. Speaking of Ash, let me hurry up and get back to my room. I finish fixing my hair, making it presentable, and find Nat in the hallway waiting patiently for me, saying, "Let me escort you back to your room, Zoe." As we walked away.
Arriving in the room, I am beat. I resist all urges to plop down on my bed because Ash might be under there. Once the door is shut and I am alone, I call out to Ash. He pops his little head out and runs to me, "Zoe! I missed you! You were gone for so long!" Oh, my fucking goodness. This cute, adorable little guy is like a puppy. I take him in my arms and hug him gently and pet him, "I missed you too, Ash. The princess and the queen are both going to visit us tomorrow. The queen doesn't know about you yet, so you will have to hide while she is here. When the queen leaves, we will call you out so we can spend time together. Sound like a plan?"
Ash looks excited, "Yay! I get to see the princess again! Did you learn her name yet?" I responded back, smiling, "I sure did, buddy. Her name is Riviera Von Trapp, and she can use water magic. I saw her dry herself off after her bath in an instant. It was truly a sight to behold." Ash replies, perking up his ears and tail in excitement, "I can do that too with my wind magic!"
I replied in astonishment while petting him, "That is amazing! You must be so good at your magic. I would love to see you dry yourself off sometime. Oh! While I am thinking about it, yesterday was their laundry day, so in five days, you will have to find another spot to hide or temporarily leave the room and go to the tree outside. Actually, that might be a better spot for you tomorrow during the tea party by the tree outside. That way, if we migrate to the bed for a friendly, comfortable girl time chat, we don't accidentally risk sitting on you."
Ash replies, folding his ears down, "Yeah… Humans are really big. I would not want one of you to sit on me. That would probably kill me. You don't have to tell me twice. I'll just hang out by the tree during the tea party. That is fine with me." I tell Ash, "Once we know if we can trust the queen, we can bring her into the circle of trust about you. I do not want to tell her unless I have no choice or until I feel like I can trust her. Then you won't have to hide for future tea parties, and we can all be together. Don't you worry either. I will be saving you some snacks. Celery and nutbutter to be precise. I think you would love it."
Ash sighs dreamily, "That sounds nice." I wish I could take him everywhere with me. That would require coming clean about part of my abilities to the rest of the royal family, and I do not want to risk it when I do not know their intentions toward the local wildlife. Mainly, I don't want Prince Julio to learn of my ability. He gives me the creeps. I am terrified of what he might try to do to Ash if he finds out about him. I remove my loincloth and top, then crawl into bed in just my underwear. I normally wear a shirt without a bra, but since my top is basically a bra, we are going topless for now. I lift up the covers for Ash so he can join me underneath. I say to him, "Ash, I am really glad I met you today." I say as I pet him. He replies, "I am really glad I met you, too, Zoe." "Good night, Ash. I love you." "Night, night, Zoe. I love you too." He is my very first friend in this world. He is my first family here.
Before I could doze off, the door opened, and the creepy prince entered. I immediately sit up, keeping Ash covered with the comforter. "How can I help you, your highness?" I get out of bed on the opposite side and bow, wrapping myself in a smaller blanket for modesty. He approaches even though I got out on that side intentionally for space and says, "I was instantly captivated by you the moment I laid eyes on you. I feel attracted to you like a magnet, and I do not know why. There is something about you that draws me in. It is very faint, but I have never felt that way toward a person before. Will you become my wife? You will have wealth and power all at your fingertips by my side."
Without any hesitation, "I must humbly decline your proposal, your highness." I say, wanting to back away more, but needing to stand my ground now. He scoffs, "What woman would turn down a proposal from a prince?" This woman. I reply while glaring at him, "If you would like reasons why I do not want to marry you, I can list them out for you." He scoffs, "Fine, let us hear this list of yours." As he continues to approach me.
I reply, standing firm while continuing to look at him with disdain, while slightly shivering in fear at the situation, "First, your highness, I have no desire to become a princess. It is actually a personal nightmare of mine. Second, I am here on a mission, and being tied down in a royal marriage would prevent me from completing my mission. Third and most important, I do not find you or any man, for that matter, attractive in a romantic sense. I only like women. Lastly, I just don't like you, your highness."
His face contorted with anger, and he grabbed me. I want to fight back right now, but I am scared of the repercussions if I do, since he is of royal blood. He says forcefully, almost spitting in anger, "What if I just forced you to stay by my side? You don't have to be my wife. You could just be my slave. It is all the same to me. I could just bed you here and put my royal seed in you to make you mine."
He takes his hand to stroke my face while I turn my head away from his touch, but he touches me just the same, stroking it against my will. My heart is beating a mile a minute in fear. It is beating so loudly that it is hard for me to hear my own thoughts. I say loud enough for the guards on the outside to hear, "Please do not force yourself on me, your highness." He smiles creepily, "How dare you think you have any say in the matter. I can have whatever or whoever I want, you insolent wench." He goes to slap me, but the strong, burly, stone-faced guard from outside grabs his wrist before he can strike me and says, "That is enough, your highness. The princess has stated that she is to be protected while she is here, and that means from you as well."
He retorts, "How dare you defy me, the prince? You filthy commoner!" The guard replies, "I only serve the princess. I would never take orders from anyone other than her, your highness. Now you must leave before I make you leave, your highness." The prince, now red in anger, scoffs and leaves. The guard asks if I am ok, and I nod. He then says, "Don't worry, he will not be permitted entry anymore because of this incident. Rest easy. We will protect you, Zoe."
I replied, sighing a sigh of relief, "Thank you so much. If it isn't too much to ask, could you guys maybe flag down Nat or someone else to brew me a cup of tea to calm down? I don't think I will be able to go back to sleep without it." He nods, turns, and immediately leaves, and I just realised I didn't get his name, but I can get that later. I hear the other guard talking to others as if giving a shift-change report, but I don't see them through the door. I go back to bed, carefully sliding in to make sure I don't smoosh a precious squirrel.
Ash then asks with those adorably big eyes of his, folding his ears back in worry, "Are you ok? That guy was really scary." I reply, obviously still very shaken, "Yeah, I am a little worked up, and I am not sure if I can go to sleep right away. I was really scared because I couldn't even fight back since he is royalty. It would be a death sentence for me, and I have things I need to do in this world. Someone should be coming soon, hopefully with some tea for me to help me calm down. Do you know what I need right now?" He adorably shrugged, and I continued while nuzzling up to him, "Ash cuddles."
His eyes do the cute big thing, and he comes over and cuddles with me until I finally can relax a tad. By this point, Nat arrives with a pot of tea, wearing a serious face, "They told me what happened. You must be very rattled. Here, drink this tea." Nat then pours me out a cup of tea and brings it to where I am now sitting up in bed. I put the blanket I had been using earlier as a wrap under my arms to hold it up for modesty while I drink my tea. You know, so my tatas aren't hanging out.
I sip the tea that Nat brewed for me, and I moan with pleasure, "This is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much, Nat." Nat sits down on the bed and looks at me with what I assume is a worried face while I finish my tea. When I am done, she takes my cup and says, "Just let me know if you need anything, Zoe." I wave as she takes the teapot and cup out, "Will do. Good night, Nat. I know I already said this, but thank you again." She says, "Mmmmhmm" while curtsying towards me, then leaves. I lower myself back into the bed and keep this small blanket where it is, just in case someone else comes in. Ash comes to snuggle with me, and soon the effects of the tea, plus the calmness I feel with Ash, combine with the exhaustion from everything. I just have to not think of that terrifying encounter. Focus on my friend here. The strong guard outside said the guards wouldn't let him in here anymore. I take solace in these facts and fall asleep.