It started just like any other morning.
“I’ve said countless times already. Can’t you take better care of your appearance? There are knots in your hair because you didn’t brush it properly.” [Louise]
One day, Louise absentmindedly let out a certain complaint while she was teaching Ava some manners.
“Huh? That’s weird. It looked fine to me.” [Ava]
“As a woman, maintaining one’s beauty is essential. Once you’re my age, you’ll start to worry about dry and frizzy hair. Like when I woke up today…” [Louise]
The queen inadvertently voiced her recent worries as she put a hand on her cheek while her free hand grabbed a lock of her blonde hair that was losing its shine.
“If you’re worried, then try pouring some honey on your head. It’ll help. Probably.” [Ava]
Ava said offhandedly as she focused on slowly walking around the room while keeping the ten books stacked on top of her head balanced.
“Honey, helps?” [Louise]
Louise raised an eyebrow in interest and latched onto those uttered words.
“Is that some sort of secret knowledge from the elves that are known for their otherworldly fair features?” [Louise]
“No, it’s a trick I learned. Honey makes hair shinier, and softer, and… Stronger was it?” [Ava]
“… Really…?” [Louise]
“Ugh, the books are killing my neck. Can I take a break? Maybe skip all lessons for the day?” [Ava]
“… If you insist.” [Louise]
“Wait, what?” [Ava]
That was the beginning of it all.
For afterwards, lessons on manners were cancelled and Ava was half-dragged to the kitchen where she was forced by women with glowing eyes to prove the veracity of her words. It wasn’t just the queen, but her four attendants who were listening to their conversation. They were all eyeing Ava like eagles, subduing the flustered cooks who were disturbed by their sudden visit with a single glare.
Under their scrutiny, the black-haired maid had the cooks take out the items that she listed. They had met her before when Dreck had, at one time, asked her to cook a meal for him. The half-elf had engraved herself in their hearts not because of her foreign origins, but because of how they had witnessed her create charcoal out of their ingredients.
The cooks obediently lined up on the table everything she asked for before stepping away.
“Water, honey, eggs, lime, olive oil, coffee…? No, no coffee. Do we have aloe vera juice?” [Ava]
“What sort of juice is that?” [Cook]
“Do we have amla fruit powder?” [Ava]
“What sort of powder is that?” [Cook]
“Do we have coconut milk?” [Ava]
“What sort of milk is that?” [Cook]
“… D’we have tea leaves?” [Ava]
“Of course we do.” [Cook]
After some back and forth with the cooks, Ava gathered up all of the items she needed and began working. She didn’t feel like making Louise, or her servants, wait too long. There was an odd sense of intimidation coming from them that was similar to the swirling bloodlust that hung on a battlefield.
“Why am I doing this again?” [Ava]
But, even so, as someone who did not have much fondness for royalty, she needed to wave the flag of defiance a bit.
“Because you told me how honey could make a person’s hair more beautiful by working as something called a rinse and that other items provided different but beneficial results such as egg yolk and lime but frankly it is hard to believe such claims about ingredients used for cooking which is why we are here in the kitchen instead of giving you lessons so that you can create this miraculous rinse now please go ahead and keep working without minding us for we will only stand here and quietly watch over you.” [Louise]
“… Uh… Yeah… Right…” [Ava]
Her defiance didn’t last too long after being crushed by the queen’s deluge of words and flattened by her silently glittering eyes.
However, the main reason had happened just before they headed to the kitchen…
“If it really does work, then I’ll cancel the rest of your lessons tomorrow as well.” [Louise]
“Five days.” [Ava]
“Two.” [Louise]
“Three.” [Ava]
“Fine.” [Louise]
“Leave it to me, your majesty!” [Ava]
A rather enticing reward had been offered to dampen her defiance and motivate her.
So, after mixing some of the ingredients together, Ava delivered what the women were waiting for and everyone curiously stared at the finished product, including the cooks. Their reaction was expected since it was rare for her to not create charcoal or a weird mess while working in the kitchen.
“This is a rinse?” [Louise]
“Yeah. It’s different from the soap used to wash the hair and body. This thing was made to maintain beauty.” [Ava]
It was a yellowish, viscous mixture that was contained in a bowl.
“After taking a bath, just rub this on your hair and scalp. Leave it for about ten minutes and rinse it all out. Do it once a week. You can use lime diluted in water to get rid of the egg smell, but I recommend a blend with these tea leaves here instead.” [Ava]
“Tea leaves… Why so?” [Louise]
“They’re good for blonde hair. Makes it shiny.” [Ava]
“Fascinating… I never thought the day would come where I would wash my hair with tea, eggs and honey.” [Louise]
Louise stared at the bowl’s content, intrigued that ingredients found in the kitchen could help her care for her beauty.
“Of course, you understand that if this is all but an elaborate hoax to have me make a fool of myself…” [Louise]
Suddenly, the queen narrowed her eyes at the half-elf and smiled rather wickedly.
“Let’s see, I believe I’ll test out my new punishment on you for five hours.” [Louise]
“The hell do you plan on making me do for five hours? Ouch! Where did you hide that whip?!” [Ava]
“Language.” [Louise]
Ava rubbed her sore back while Louise slapped the familiar black horse riding whip on the palm of her hand.
“If you don’t trust me, you could just have me test it first.” [Ava]
“True, but it is not that I don’t trust you. I merely doubt you.” [Louise]
“What’s the difference again?” [Ava]
“The difference is that I wish to trust you, so do not let me down.” [Louise]
“Do I have to? Earning trust is a huge pain in the a-ouch!” [Ava]
Afterwards, Ava wasn’t punished and she was safely allowed to skip her lessons for the next three days. Louise, having tested the mixture in the bathroom that night, saw immediate results. Skeptic at first, the queen was pleasantly surprised that her blonde hair had become shiny and silky just like Ava had told her.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Later on, her son complimented her increased charm.
Her daughter asked her what the secret was with sparkling eyes.
Lastly, her husband’s craving for thighs increased, so she was forced to indulge him while blushing and sighing exasperatedly.
Word about the rinse that was created in the castle’s kitchen spread among the nobles and the servants alike. As a result, many, mostly women, took a significant interest in acquiring it. So, they began targeting Ava, the one who made it in the first place. However, Louise masterfully restrained them all and promised to handle their requests. Thanks to the queen’s actions, Ava avoided getting swarmed.
Having been freed of her lessons for the next couple of days, the half-elf spent her increased free time wisely.
Ava went straight to the castle’s training ground and sparred against the knights present.
“This, this is incredible!” [Gary]
Dueling Gary, the blonde-haired knight that adored women, Ava parried his sword, grabbed his wrist and threw him over her shoulder. However, he managed to drag her down to the ground with him. After a scuffle, the half-elf caught him in an arm lock.
“Give up?” [Ava]
Ava asked as she laid on her back with her legs on the knight’s torso and with his left arm trapped in her grasp.
“I never knew such a technique existed!” [Gary]
“Now you do, so give up?” [Ava]
“Your fleshy thighs are on my chest!” [Gary]
“FIGHT, YOU BRAT!” [Ava]
“““WUUOOOAAAAAAHHH!!!””” [Knights]
“STOP CHEERING!” [Ava]
“And the back of my hand is touching something warm and soft!” [Gary]
“FIGHT, YOU BRAT!!” [Ava]
“““WUUOOOAAAAAAHHH!!!””” [Knights]
“STOP CHEERING!!!” [Ava]
Although she was straining the joints and muscles in his arm by pulling his wrist towards her chest, he didn’t seem to be in pain at all. The gallery was also growing more and more envious of his position.
“They’re not large, but still bigger than average! They can’t compare to a well-equipped lady I know, but this is definitely worth groping!” [Gary]
“FIGHT, YOU…! A well-equipped lady?! Can you introduce her to me?” [Ava]
“Sure! If possible, please hug her when you meet. The sight of two women’s bosoms generously deforming against each other is a sight for sore e-.” [Gary]
“What are you two doing exactly?” [Dreck]
Suddenly, just as the tension between the two fighters was getting more and more heated, in a strange way, a cold yet polite voice chilled the air.
Standing right next to them was a smiling Dreck whose mood was obviously negative. The knights that were cheering on the fight, and envying Gary, went completely quiet and slowly took their distance.
“I came to check up on Ava and this is what I find. Well, what are you two doing on the ground like that?” [Dreck]
Moving only their necks, Ava and Gary stared at Dreck, then at each other and, coming to a silent understanding, returned their gazes to the smiling brown-haired man.
““Nothing.”” [Ava and Gary]
They said in unison. Unfortunately, their words were ineffective for Dreck didn’t break his smile at all and continued to loom over them like a grim reaper.
“Is that so? For now, could you stop doing that improper technique?” [Dreck]
“The hell do you mean improper? You making an enemy of professional wrestlers everywhere? Even if it’s fake, they train hard to look tough.” [Ava]
“In any other day I would be happy to listen to your nonsense, but not today. Gary, would you kindly cease feeling her chest? It is an inappropriate action for a knight.” [Dreck]
“Y-yeah. I will. I definitely will. So don’t kill me.” [Gary]
“Kill you? Why on earth would I do something so horrible?” [Dreck]
“Your smile says it all!” [Gary]
“I gotta agree with the womanizer. You’re really not hiding your anger well, straight-laced prince.” [Ava]
“… Ava, we need to talk. In private.” [Dreck]
And so, Ava was dragged away without a chance to refuse.
----------------------------------------
Inside Dreck’s bedroom…
“Are you not aware?” [Dreck]
Once it was just the two of them standing face-to-face, the grim-faced prince began his lecture to the carefree half-elf.
“Wait a sec. You didn’t give me time to put on my clothes properly.” [Ava]
But, Ava didn’t show much sign of listening to him seriously and busily buttoned up the collar of her black dress.
“Didn’t button this up right. Gotta tighten the damn apron too. If that strict mom of yours saw me, she’d start nagging again. Ah, but thanks to her, I’m making quite a bit of money. That rinse is really popular and she decided to sell it, with a part of the profits going to me. Normally, it’d take some time, effort and paperwork for me to sell it myself, but with the queen taking care of it all, I-.” [Ava]
“Enough, Ava. Don’t try to change the subject.” [Dreck]
Dreck cut off her carefree rabbling in a stern voice. He was in no mood for her usual jokes or easygoing attitude.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Shouldn’t you be more aware that you are a woman?” [Dreck]
“Yeah, I am. Every time I go to the bathroom.” [Ava]
Ava said nonchalantly as she adjusted the headdress that tilted a bit to the left.
“Ava, please be serious. Gary has his quirks, but he is a good man. I could tell the fault lay with you and how you were sticking your body too closely to him in that fight. In anyone’s eyes, it was an inappropriate thing for a lady to do.” [Dreck]
“Lighten up, you straight-laced prince. Where’s this excessive concern coming from? Grappling can look weird to those watching, but if you’re fighting for your life, you don’t have time to worry about stuff like that.” [Ava]
“Being straight-laced or fighting for your life has nothing to do with this. You are much too careless around men. Remember when we first met?” [Dreck]
“You saw me naked.” [Ava]
“Not that. You were being ganged up on by scumbags.” [Dreck]
Dreck said as his expression became heavier. He could still vividly recall how Ava, how the girl he liked, was being beaten by bandits in that forest where they first met.
“Be more aware that there are men like them who’d approach you. At that time, if I hadn’t been there, can you imagine what would have happened? What they would have done?” [Dreck]
“Oh yeah. I guess they would have raped me.” [Ava]
The moment Ava calmly affirmed so, Dreck’s body went tense.
“So I’d probably puke on their faces, and then find a way to kill them. Well, I’ll make it work somehow.” [Ava]
“… Are you being serious?” [Dreck]
Moreover, the blood in his veins ran cold.
“So long as I’m alive, I’ll find a way to win.” [Ava]
“You… Do you hear yourself talking? Why don’t you value yourself more? Why are you speaking as if you wouldn’t mind being scarred for life?” [Dreck]
Something snapped in his head.
“Of course I’d mind, idiot. It’d definitely join my nightmares. But, all sorts of crap can happen in life, and scars can’t kill me.” [Ava]
Ava’s carefree, sleepy expression told him that she would simply shrug off her misfortunes as if they were a common thing. Looking at her attitude, Dreck felt, for the first time, anger rising from the depth of his body. It was anger directed at her. He didn’t think about the reason for the sudden burst of rage much or how irrational it made him. All he knew was that he was furious at her.
“… It seems that there is a need to teach this disobedient maid a lesson on fear.” [Dreck]
The voice that left his mouth was lower and heavier than usual.
“Really? Fear?” [Ava]
Ava huffed and the corner of her lips rose slightly.
“What the hell can you teach me, brat?” [Ava]
In response to her provoking tone, Dreck grabbed her right wrist with his left hand.
“Something along the lines of ‘All men are wolves’.” [Dreck]
He then pulled her arm upward as he dragged her towards him, forcing her on her tiptoes and closing the distance between them.
“Already knew that.” [Ava]
Undaunted, Ava slammed the palm of her free hand into his chest to push him away and knock the air out of his lungs, but Dreck, who now sported an expressionless face, quickly blocked it, though not without lowering her arm. In the space between the two that had increased by two feet, their free hands began to flurry about as the half-elf attacked while the prince parried her blows. Their movements became faster and faster until their scuffle devolved into a fight.
Changing tactics, Ava spun around, which caused Dreck to lose his grip on her wrist. Following that split second when he was taken by surprise, the black-haired maid grabbed his left arm and proceeded to throw him over her shoulder. However, the brown-haired prince didn’t fall on the floor, but reacted instantly and caught ahold of her waist with his free hand. Then, twisting his body, he shoved Ava and himself onto the bed and managed to land on top of her. However, since he didn’t completely control their fall, he ended up squishing her under his weight with their bodies glued together.
As a result…
“Ogabuwah!” [Ava]
Ava let out a weird yell and shivered because of the sensation attacking her. Dreck, hearing that strange noise, hurriedly got up and looked at her worriedly, concerned for her wellbeing as his anger cooled down.
Or, at least, that was how he would have normally moved.
However, the man was currently frozen stiff from the outcome that was out of his expectations. Since he was thinking straight again, he understood just how bad the situation was.
Two people, male and female, prince and maid, were alone in a closed room, and lying on the bed. Moreover, the guy was on top of the girl, pressing her down with his body as she laid on her stomach. The long skirt of her dress was rolled up from the tussle, revealing her slender legs up to her thighs. It was a peculiar situation that would make anyone who saw it spread rumors through the castle at an alarming rate.
Moreover, Dreck’s chest was glued to Ava’s small back and he could feel her warmth through the clothes as well as smell her gentle, sweet scent. His left hand was pinned under her bosom and from the soft sensation transmitted through his fingers, he could tell that he was groping one of her breasts. Lastly, in his mouth was a certain something that was warm, soft, and possessed a rather milky taste.
It was one of the half-elf’s long, pointy ears.
“Mmgh!?” [Dreck]
When Dreck’s mind finally rebooted, he groaned from shock while still having her ear in his mouth before pulling away. The vibration was transmitted to Ava’s ear and rippled through the rest of her body which resulted in her senses being assaulted by an unbearable feeling. Gritting her teeth, she kept her voice from leaking out and clenched her hands as she waited for the sensation to pass.
It was like a swarm of ants was travelling inside her body from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. Moreover, these ants numbed her senses and shocked her nerves as they tickled everything in their paths with fluffy feathers. Strength seeped out of her limbs that shook from the tingling and ticklish experience.
It was a sensation that was certainly not painful, but wasn’t exactly pleasant either for Ava who wasn’t used to it.
“Time out, time out! Give me a sec before we start fighting again!” [Ava]
The half-elf said as intense shivers still ran up and down her spine.
“I, I apologize.” [Dreck]
Dreck voiced his apologies while getting off of her and back on his feet. His face was contorted with regret, though quickly changed to an awkward expression when he saw her disheveled appearance on his bed. He looked away, pretending not to notice her slender legs, and focused on calming down his heart that was beating furiously.
“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Please believe me when I say that I didn’t plan on actually doing anyth-.” [Dreck]
“I know, I know. Just let me rest a bit. That was worse than I thought.” [Ava]
Ava waved away his worries as he began to explain himself and languidly laid face down on the cozy bed.
“Did I hurt you by any chance?” [Dreck]
“It’d be better if it was pain. I can handle it, but not this. Never trained for it.” [Ava]
She groaned in the bedsheets, having been made to realize for the second time how her ears could be a fatal weakness. Her thoughts naturally recalled Mel, the grinning therianthrope, who was the first to have exposed and attacked her oversensitive ears.
“If… You don’t mind my asking, what is ‘it’?” [Dreck]
“A feeling of being itchy and ticklish, while shocking and numbing, traveling everywhere like lightning. Maybe it’s because you bit, but the feeling was stron-no, nothing.” [Ava]
“… Ava?” [Dreck]
“No, I didn’t say anything.” [Ava]
“… Could it be…?” [Dreck]
“No it’s not.” [Ava]
“That tale about an elf’s ears…” [Dreck]
“… Crap.” [Ava]