So here’s the situation. After I saved Cindy from a car accident yesterday, she is now before me. And on top of it, she’s requesting me to make her a ‘proper woman’. I’m lost.

Both of us were standing at the library’s rooftop with the two of us only locked eyes to each other.

Are you saying that she wants me to take her virginity right here and now? I don’t remember this story being for ages eighteen and above?

“Uhmm... Cindy. The truth is... I’m completely lost now. Can you please elaborate on what you meant?” I asked in a serious expression as I tried my best to not get embarrassed by the situation.

“I’m sorry about that. I’ve gotten straight to the point. But I need to ask you something first before I can explain my request,” Cindy said in a serious look.

“I see. Then... what is it?”

“Can you promise me that no matter what happens, you won’t lust for my body or try anything indecent towards me?”

“...”

“...”

“Pardon?” I asked, even much confused than before.

“Okay, let’s summarize everything she said to you. So this princess wants to become a woman by not copulating? Is that what she wants to say?” Pixie mumbled, puzzled inside my breast pocket.

Don’t worry, Pixie. I’m much more confused than you.

“So... can you promise me?” she continued with innocent, upturned eyes.

Ughh... now she’s looking at me like that. I only need to agree, right?

“Then, I promise,” I replied as seriously as I could.

After she heard my response, she immediately smiled and said, “Thank you very much, Prince.”

Now, let’s hear what you want, princess.

With that decided, we sat down at a bench, slightly closer compared to yesterday.

“I… have androphobia,” Cindy started while she stared at me with a hint of sadness.

“You mean you fear... men?”

Now that she mentioned it...

“But it’s not that severe. It started when my late father told me some stories when I was still young.”

“Like what?”

“He said to never trust a male because they are just... after the female’s body...” she followed in a shy expression. “That they only want to get close to us so they can have se... copulate and fulfill their libido.”

Now my face is getting red because of this conversation.

“B-but I now know that it’s not the case for everyone. But because I believed those ideas for years, I am now having trouble dealing with boys,” Cindy explained and became sad again.

“But you can talk to me, you know. I mean, if you look at my perspective, it’s hard to believe that you have androphobia.”

“That’s the reason!” she interjected in enthusiasm and slid closer to me in a split second. “I don’t know why too but I can get close to you, unlike every boy I’ve met in my life.”

“I... see,” I responded, stunned because of how close our faces were, only a few inches apart.

But what’s up with this floral scent? She smells very nice that I’m getting nervous!

She then sat straight and looked down with a blushed face.

“And... I’m fine when you held my hand yesterday,” she whispered with a fidget.

“So you ask me ‘that’ question to make sure I’m not one of the typical ‘men’ that you’re referring to, huh?”

“Sorry about that, but I have to ask you that question. That’s the only way I could have peace of mind before I share my problem with you,” she explained in an apologetic tone.

So it was the right choice to agree, even though I don’t understand what she was saying earlier.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind that,” I followed with a smile. “So in short, you want me to help you conquer that phobia, right? So you could deal with anyone like a proper woman.”

Didn’t she realize that there are much better words compared to that? Her words earlier are beyond misleading.

“So can you help me? I promise that I’ll do anything you want in exchange... as long as I can do it with my ability,” she begged with a bow.

Anything? That’s a heavy word.

“Then, I only have one wish,” I muttered and stood up.

“What is it?”

“Can we become friends? We need to become one so I could help you, right?” I asked with a smile.

“That’s... all?” Cindy asked, a little astonished.

“Yeah. So... is that a deal?” I said and drew out my hand.

When she perceived that, she looked at me while lost for words. Soon after, she smiled in joy.

“I’ll be happy to!”

Then, she held my hand, but when it touched mine, she immediately jumped away with a bewildered look.

“S-sorry about that. I think... I still have to prepare more before I could touch you,” Cindy muttered nervously.

“You have so much work to do, Prince,” Pixie commented and let out a deep sigh.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, Thursday, we ate lunch again together, but this time, to cure her androphobia. We planned to do that every day so the treatment would be effective. Also, Cindy made lunch for me once again. I told her she can stop cooking one for me, but she insisted to make it. According to her, that’s her way to show gratitude, so I agreed soon enough. But to be honest, I was happy that she was doing it. That’s how delicious her cooking was.

Anyway, today’s lunch is Salisbury Steak with mushrooms and sauce on top of rice. There are also some green vegetables as side dishes. She’s placing our food inside a special container, so it’s still hot by the time of our lunch.

After we finished our meal at the usual bench, Cindy asked me a question.

“Prince, can I have a question?”

“What is it?”

“Why are you... wearing a crown?”

I forgot about the fact that all cursed princesses can see this thing.

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“It’s a fashion sense, don’t worry about it,” I replied with a poker face.

“I see...” Cindy reacted, somewhat still not convinced.

“Anyway, last night, I thought of different ways on how to cure your fear of men.”

“So what can I do, Doctor,” Cindy asked, also serious.

“No need to call me like that. I’m not into that kind of role play.”

“I’m sorry about that,” she replied without a change in expression. “Please continue.”

“Well, for starters, be always close to me at least one meter when we’re together.”

“What?” she reacted, astounded.

Hey. That’s only the first step, and that’s how you reacted?

“Look at the distance between us. It’s more than a meter, right?”

“That’s...” she followed and looked at the space in the middle of us. “You’re right.”

“So with that said... come a little closer, Cindy,” I followed, still with a serious face. “And don’t run or jump away.”

“Ughh...” she groaned in protest. She gave me the eyes of an abandoned puppy.

“Don’t you want to become a proper woman?”

“That’s...” she reacted with blushed cheeks. “I want to become one!”

“Then... come!” I shouted with open arms.

With determination, she shut her eyes and slid closer to me in slow motion.

“Closer... closer.... just a little more...” I whispered with squinted eyes.

Cindy continued to lessen the distance between us. Finally...

“You can stop now. Open your eyes,” I announced with a smile.

She opened her eyes, and a beam appeared on her face.

“I... I did it!”

“Look how much you’ve grown, hotshot. I have nothing to teach you anymore!” I said in sarcasm.

We high-fived each other, but after she realized what she did, she immediately slid back a meter away from me.

“I take that back...” I muttered with furrowed eyebrows.

“I’m sorry! Please let me try it once again!” she pleaded while on the verge of tears.

After more practice, she finally succeeded in her task. With that, the lunch break ended, and we said our goodbyes to each other.

“But why didn’t you invite her to go home with you? That will deepen your relationship more, right?” Pixie asked as I sit on my seat while I waited for the afternoon class to start. She was also out of my pocket, seated on my desk.

“Well, she always takes the bus to go home so we’ll only spend a little time together if I do that. And...” I explained in a serious face.

“And?” Pixie repeated, curious about my next words.

“I’ve been away from the library for six straight days already. I need to get back to that place or I’ll suffer from withdrawal syndrome!”

“I already forgot that you’re like that,” Pixie commented with squinted eyes.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, Friday, Cindy and I met once again on the rooftop and ate lunch there. After we ate, we continued the so-called ‘treatment’ for the day.

“So now that you can get close to me, did you improve in the ways you deal with your male classmates?”

“Yes,” Cindy answered in a good mood. “I can now listen to them without sliding three meters away. Also, if they approach me without a notice, I can now jump 1 meter away instead of the usual 3-5 meters.”

Uhmm... what kind of report is that? So this is a bigger problem than I first thought.

“Wait. So usually, you can’t listen to them and always jump away if they tried to talk to you?”

“Yes, that’s what usually happens before I met you,” she answered like that was the most natural thing to do. “But I still can’t do any request from them.”

Request?

“I see. Then, paw,” I said and draw out my palm towards her.

“Woof!” she responded and placed a fist on top. After that, her face turned red, but she didn’t remove it until I said so.

“See? You have no problems with doing a request from a boy,” I said after she pulled her hand out.

“I think you’re an exception though. But I haven’t failed to do a single request from other girls since I was young,” she explained. “Maybe I need to become friends with them first before I could treat them like the girls. Like in your situation.”

Wait. She revealed an unbelievable fact out of the blue that I would have missed it if I’m not paying attention.

“Did you say that you always do any request from others as long as she’s a girl?” I asked for confirmation.

“Yes, that’s right,” she answered with a smile.

“Anything?”

“Don’t you believe me?” she asked with a sudden pout.

How cute... I mean, is she serious?

“Then how about dangerous requests?” I asked nervously.

“Dangerous?” she repeated with a puzzled look.

“I mean something that will bring harm to others. Like... what if someone told you to hurt others or steal something,” I continued with a serious expression.

Then, she chuckled and responded, “No one will do something horrible like that.”

I have a bad feeling about this.

“Then, what if I told you to steal bread in the cafeteria? I’m an exception, right? Will you do it?” I asked with crossed fingers.

“I’ll do it. I’m sure that you have a good reason to request something like that, right?” she answered with a smile.

“Hey, Prince...” Pixie whispered while inside my breast pocket. “Is this... related to her curse?”

I don’t know. But I need to do something first before this goes out of hand.

“Cindy, will you promise me something?” I asked and looked straight into her eyes.

Because of that, she got anxious.

“Uhmm... I can, but what is it?”

“Can you promise me not to do any request if you have a bad feeling about it?”

“Bad feeling?” she repeated, confused.

“Like if you have a feeling that what you’re gonna do will bring harm to others.”

“Sure, I promise,” she replied while still worried.

“Then it’s all good,” I said and smiled at her.

When she saw that, she also smiled back with a nod.

“Should we go back to the classroom now? The class will start soon,” she asked me.

“We can, but I’ve got a proposal first,” I said with a poker face and stood up. “Will you go out on a date with me tomorrow?”

“...”

“...”

After the silence, her face became red in an instant.

“D-d-d-d-d-d-d-date? You mean... date... with me? Tomorrow?” she reacted, flustered.

“Well, it is better for you to spend time with me more to overcome your fear much sooner. That’s only a suggestion though,” I continued with a forced smile.

I did it! I said it as natural as possible!

“It looks like practicing in front of the mirror was the right decision all along,” Pixie muttered in a teasing tone.

“So that’s what you mean,” Cindy whispered with a sudden sigh of relief. Then, she made a sad face and replied, “I can, but I have some household chores to do tomorrow. I need to get permission first.”

“Now that you mentioned it, are you a maid of that mansion?”

“Well... more or less...” she replied and looked down with sudden much sadder eyes.

“Don’t mind it. We can always do it in another day,” I said with a smile to reassure her.

“Can I get your cell phone number?” she asked with seriousness.

“My... cell phone?” I repeated, stunned.

“Yes. I’ll contact you if they’ll allow me to.”

“S-Sure,” I followed and brought out my smartphone. We exchanged numbers and went back to our respective classes right after.

“Is her curse perhaps the inability to disobey requests?” I asked Pixie, who was floating right beside me while I was on my seat.

“That’s a possibility, but the curse only appeared last week, right? According to her, she’s been like that since she was young,” Pixie responded in a serious expression. “But a curse is not powerful enough to influence past events.”

“Then, that might be the reason her late father let her suffer from androphobia at a young age. If she didn’t have that fear of men, she could’ve done something bad for the sake of boys with ill motives to her. But if that’s not her curse, what kind did she receive?” I whispered to myself while in a thinking pose.

“All we can do is to watch her until we discovered it,” Pixie answered in a sad look.

I hope that she’ll convince the ones in her workplace.

✿ Cindy’s Point-of-View ✿

When the class for the day ended, I immediately went home by bus. And after I changed into my maid uniform, in my room I walked towards the second floor to ask Amilia about my concern.

“Uhmm... Amilia,” I called after I spotted the gentle-looking middle-aged woman. She was wearing the same outfit as me.

“What is it?” she asked with a smile after she noticed me.

“Mo... Auntie is on a business trip and won’t be back until Sunday night, right?” I asked anxiously.

“Yes, that’s right. Do you have something to tell her?”

“Well… I have a meeting with a friend tomorrow so I’m wondering if I can go,” I explained in a sad look.

“I don’t think that will be an issue. You can go,” Amilia replied with a smile.

“Really?” I asked with sudden excitement.

“Yes,” Amilia followed and chuckled.

“I don’t think so, Amilia,” someone disagreed after her arrival. She was a short, chubby girl in a violet fancy dress designed with frills. She was no other than my step-sister, Anna, one year younger than me. “I won’t allow her in my mother’s place.”

After I heard that, my expression turned into a solemn one.

“B-but... Cindy needs to take a break once in a while,” Amilia explained, anxious.

“Silence!” Anna interrupted in a foul mood. “My decision is final.”

“What’s happening here?” the beautiful girl asked after her sudden entrance. She was wearing a simple yellow one-piece dress. But despite in simple clothing, her image was still alluring to look at. That girl was Rizelle, my older step-sister one year older than me. 

“Sister, this girl wants to have fun tomorrow and leave her chores,” Anna said with a point of a finger to me. “Can’t you find that unbelievable?”

“What’s wrong about that? Allow her to,” Rizelle said with a charming smile.

“B-but...” Anna followed and became speechless.

“It’s been a while since you went out for an entire day, right?” Rizelle said to me with a wink.

“But...” I whispered and looked at Anna with a worried face.

“Do what you want. I don’t care anymore,” Anna said and walked out in anger.

“Don’t worry about her, Cindy. Have fun tomorrow,” Rizelle continued in a gentle tone.

“Thank you very much, Rizelle,” I replied happily.