As the sound of rushing water filled the room, Iris stepped into the shower. While carefully washing herself, she called out toward the door.
"Sister Bai Ye, are you still there?"
"Don't worry, I'm here."
"Okay."
Perhaps not wanting the atmosphere to grow too heavy, Iris unexpectedly started a conversation with White Night.
"Sister Bai Ye, are you from the capital?"
"Yes."
"I heard the capital is very prosperous—is that true?"
"That's right. The capital is probably the most prosperous city in the world."
"It must be wonderful to live there."
"Indeed. So, have you ever thought of coming to the capital before?"
"I have... but I never imagined it would be Li Ke this."
"..."
For a moment, silence fell between them.
Of course—if Iris had come to the capital of her own free will, whether for travel or to settle down, she would have been happy.
But reality was different; she had been brought here as a slave, a "commodity" Li Ke intended to sell to the nobility.
Under these circumstances, no matter how splendid the capital, Iris could feel none of its allure.
To her, this journey was already steeped in despair and sorrow—what did the capital's splendor matter?
White Night didn't know how to comfort her. After a pause, she spoke slowly.
"Don't worry—the Empire's laws will punish those nobles who bullied you."
Iris said nothing. After a while, the sound of water in the bathroom gradually stopped.
"All done?"
"Mm."
Wrapped in a towel, Iris stepped out with damp hair and rosy cheeks, looking sweet and endearing.
"Sister Bai Ye, will you take a bath too?"
"Yes. Now that you're finished, it's my turn."
After drying Iris's hair with a towel, White Night undressed and entered the bathroom.
Although she hadn't sweated much today, the cheap perfume she'd picked up while passing through the Flower District clung to her skin, making her uncomfortable; she wanted to wash it off quickly.
"It's my own body, yet I'm still a little shy."
A large mirror hung on the bathroom wall. White Night gazed at the curvaceous girl reflected there and inexplicably blushed.
Though her current face resembled her original one by about sixty percent, everything below the neck belonged to an utterly unfamiliar, soft body.
Fair skin, perky breasts, a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand, and long, perfectly proportioned legs—any man would struggle to suppress his desire.
Even White Night herself felt her pulse quicken at the sight of such a figure.
"Forget it—better not look."
She turned on the shower, letting hot water cascade and steam cloud the mirror. Finding herself attracted to her reflection was just too strange.
After a quick rinse, she stepped into the bath.
Though the inn was small, it had everything—including a reasonably sized tub, which satisfied her.
At least after a long day, White Night could soak and relax.
"If I want to leave the capital with Iris, I'll need to hire a carriage."
Enjoying the warmth of the water, she closed her eyes and considered tomorrow's plans.
"Right—I also need to buy Iris some clothes first."
As she thought this, the bathroom door creaked open.
"Who's there?"
Startled, White Night quickly looked toward the entrance and saw Iris standing in the doorway.
"Oh, it's you, Iris..."
She pressed a hand to her racing heart—the scare had been real.
"What's wrong, Iris? Is something the matter?"
White Night sank lower, hiding her body in the water; being seen naked made her shy.
"I—I didn't take a soak earlier. Could I join you, Sister Bai Ye?" Iris blushed crimson, standing at the door with downcast eyes Li Ke a child who'd done something wrong, sneaking glances at White Night's expression.
"Together... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
At White Night's answer, Iris trembled, her gaze dimming.
"Right... someone Li Ke me daring to imagine being with Sister Bai Ye..."
"No, that's not what I meant!"
Seeing Iris's reaction, White Night waved her hands hastily.
"It's just that the tub's a bit cramped—but if you don't mind, of course you can join me."
"R—really?"
"Of course."
"That's wonderful."
With White Night's permission, Iris hurried to the tub, casually dropping her towel before stepping in.
"Wait—why did you take the towel off?!"
At White Night's question, Iris tilted her head.
"Taking a bath while wrapped in a towel? That's kind of weird."
"Ah… r-right."
White Night quietly pulled back the hand reaching for the towel, turned her face away, and tried not to look at Iris's body, even shifting her own body to keep some distance.
But while White Night wanted space, Iris showed no such awareness—she actually leaned in, resting her head on White Night's shoulder.
"I-Iris?"
The sudden physical contact made White Night jump.
"Is it not allowed?"
Iris's voice was timid; though shy, White Night couldn't bear to refuse her.
"…It's fine."
"Thank you, Sister Bai Ye."
Iris pressed even closer, but White Night said nothing more.
Perhaps Iris simply needed more comfort from her; out of sympathy, White Night couldn't bring herself to say no.
"Sister Bai Ye, will those nobles really be punished?"
"They will."
"But they're nobles, aren't nobles really powerful?"
White Night reached out and gently rubbed Iris's head.
"I promise you, they won't escape the Empire's justice."
"Mm, I believe you, Sister Bai Ye."
Iris snuggled even nearer, finally nestling into White Night's embrace.
She slipped her arms around White Night's slender waist and rested her head against White Night's chest.
"Iris, are you still scared?"
White Night didn't push Iris away; she let the girl hold her.
The poor child had endured something so terrifying—if holding her could bring comfort, White Night didn't mind.
"A little, but as long as I'm with Sister Bai Ye, I'm not afraid."
"It's all right, it's over now," White Night soothed. "Tomorrow at first light I'll buy you some clothes, then take you home."
"Sister Bai Ye, thank you…"
White Night gently pinched Iris's cheek and said,
"No need to thank me; I'm heading to Nuokan Territory anyway, so dropping you off is just on the way."
"Speaking of which, aren't you from the capital, Sister Bai Ye? Why leave?"
Iris blinked her big eyes, looking puzzled.
The capital was the Empire's most prosperous city; countless people fought tooth and nail to settle there, yet White Night wanted to leave—it made no sense to her.
"Because of someone very important to me."
"V-very important…"
Iris froze, then lowered her lashes; for some reason her voice sounded flustered.
"C-could it be… your lover, Sister Bai Ye?"
"My lover?"
White Night gave a helpless smile at the question.
"How could that be? Where did you get that idea?"
"Eh~ not a lover…"
"Of course not."
White Night tweaked Iris's little nose.
"But I won't go into details tonight; I'll tell you when there's time. Dry yourself off—it's bedtime."
Iris nodded obediently.
"Mm."
…Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one for Angelie.
Though it was already deep into the night, Angelie remained on her throne awaiting her subordinate's report.
"Your Majesty, there may not be results for a while; why not rest? Your subordinate will inform you the moment there is news."
A nearby maid tried to persuade Angelie to sleep; by the usual schedule, it was long past the queen's bedtime.
"Do I look Li Ke I could sleep right now?"
Angelie propped her head on her hand; though exhausted, her mind was restless—sleep was impossible.
"Pass the order: until we have answers, no one is to sleep. I'll wait right here for their findings!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When traces of the array had been found in White Night's room, someone had speculated it was a teleportation array—but how could an ordinary one breach the palace?
So Angelie had people comb through every tome on arrays to learn its effects, never expecting the search to last an entire day.
Useless trash, every last one of them—she should have them all dismissed!
They couldn't find a person, and they couldn't even decipher an array—trash, all of them!
As Angelie brooded, someone suddenly reported that the array traces in White Night's room had finally been identified.
The winters in the Holy Radiance Empire were bitter, especially in the north; back when slavery had yet to be abolished, the Empire's winters felt even colder.
"Slave No. 103, it's mealtime!"