Chapter 4: I’ve already said I’m not interested in girls

Tina turned and walked away, as if she had made up her mind about something.

Watching her gradually receding figure, a strange emotion welled up in Princess Lia’s heart.

“So is this service really that good?”

The young girl fell into deep thought.

“I should go check on her, just in case something happens. It’s definitely not out of curiosity, nor concern.”

As Lia passed by a certain room on the second floor, the sounds of chatter and laughter floated out.

The door wasn’t even closed, showing how anxious the guests inside were.

She peeked her head in and immediately saw two flamboyantly dressed, stunning Elf women, with a black-haired girl sandwiched between them.

Sharp-eyed Lia instantly recognized her—it was Tina.

She was already lost in the gentle embrace of her elder sisters, oblivious to everything else.

“Alright, I guess worrying about her was really unnecessary.”

Lia kindly helped close the door for the three inside, and before leaving, she noticed Tina seemed like she wanted to say something to her, but it was too far away to hear clearly.

Never mind, she didn’t want to listen anyway.

She planned to rest in her room for a while first, then come find Tina once she was done having fun.

“There’s an important matter tomorrow. I need to conserve my energy.” Lia lay back on her pink bedspread, closing her eyes as sleepiness gradually took over.

For some reason, this sleep felt very strange.

The warmer she got, the sleepier she became, as if her energy was being drained into a bottomless black hole.

“No, this isn’t right.”

Lia suddenly sat up, realizing her body was covered in cold sweat, and her vision was unusually blurred, as if overlaid with a dreamy filter.

…A dream?

Vaguely, she saw a figure slowly approaching from the doorway.

Somehow familiar, but uncertain. She looked again.

“Tina? Weren’t you still out having fun? Why… are you dressed like that?”

The girl before her wore a mysterious smile, clad only in a black camisole dress that barely covered the tops of her thighs.

Though her figure wasn’t as voluptuous as the native Elves’, this alluring outfit combined with her blossoming curves—caught between innocence and awakening—created a subtle balance that rivaled any top-ranked hostess.

Like this.

“Hmph hmph.”

“What are you laughing at?”

The girl didn’t answer but gently pushed her back onto the pillow.

“Hey, I already told you, I’m not interested in girls.” Lia was a little annoyed but knew this had to be a dream. The real Tina wouldn’t…

“Really? I’m not so sure. You won’t know if you don’t try.”

In this dream, the girl seemed to have endless energy, one hand swiftly capturing Lia’s wrists.

The other playfully lifted her chin, gradually lowering her head.

“You!”

The air around them grew hot.

After struggling multiple times in vain, Lia finally resigned herself, closing her eyes and turning her head aside.

But the expected touch never came—only the girl’s triumphant chuckle: “What, really not interested? Then what are you waiting for?”

“I—!”

Lia felt like she was suffocating.

Before she could explain, the scene in front of her shattered.

Dream, wake up.

“Ugh—ha—ah—” she gasped for air.

“How was it? The Elf’s special Dream Infiltration Service—pretty good, huh?” Tina smiled knowingly at Lia’s flushed cheeks, sure the effect was excellent.

“You! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to use this on me??” Lia shouted.

“Oh, I told you when you left the room. I was going to prepare a service for you to relax and restore your body. Eh, didn’t you hear?”

Lia suddenly let out a relieved laugh.

“So what did you dream about? Seeing you like this, it must’ve been pretty intense.”

“That’s a secret.” Lia clammed up, not wanting to say more.

This Miss Tina really was good at playing innocent.

But it didn’t matter—she still wasn’t interested in girls. Yeah.

No matter what tricks were used, it wouldn’t sway her.

From that moment on, a certain thought took root in Lia’s heart.

-Even if she did become interested in girls, she would be the one on top!

“Fine, if you won’t say, I won’t ask. But staring at me like that is kind of scary.” Tina, not understanding Lia’s strong reaction, said this as if she was just trying to care.

The two walked in silence and took a carriage home after leaving the tavern.

The next meeting was the following morning, on the way to the Underground Black Market.

“Good morning, Your Highness.” Tina greeted as warmly as always.

But today, Lia was unusually cold.

“Mm, morning.”

What was going on? Was she angry?

From Tina’s past life’s rich experience as a clueless straight man, this was exactly the time to…

Lie to her? She didn’t know what to do, which was probably why she had been single all eighteen years of her life.

In the end, Lia couldn’t hold back and started the conversation first:

“Miss Tina, are you familiar with the place we’re about to visit?”

“Hmm…”

[Note: The Underground Black Market is a crucial information exchange hub throughout the Keliweier Kingdom. From top-level secrets of the nobility to commoner gossip, everything can be found here.

Of course, information is acquired through various methods—usually by monetary transaction, sometimes by completing commissions as rewards, and occasionally through contests to earn the right to participate.]

Tina relayed the system-supplied worldview in full detail to Lia, who was soon lost in thought.

“There are so many channels. Which one should we choose?”

Just as the two exchanged glances, the carriage stopped.

Ahead was the entrance to the Underground Black Market.

“Let’s go in and have a look around first.”

Tina got out of the carriage, deliberately greeting Lia at the front with knightly etiquette, taking her hand and leading her forward.

“What are you doing?”

“My dear Highness, though I don’t know why you’re upset, I want to make amends and satisfy you as much as possible.” Tina was speaking honestly.

“Just so you know, if your fragile self falls down in front of me, I won’t be able to save you if something happens.”

“Is that concern? I’m not as fragile as the rumors say~” Seeing Lia willing to speak more, Tina finally relaxed.

“I’m not concerned about you. But losing an ally from a powerful Household would be bad for my Reclaim the Kingdom journey.”

As she spoke, Lia pulled Tina back beside her and sighed softly, low enough that only she could hear, “A knight, huh… It’s been a long time since someone treated me like that.”

Unexpectedly, Tina seemed to hear the sigh and playfully said, “If Your Highness wants me to bow like this for a lifetime, I might consider it just a little bit.”

“Ugh, smooth talker.”

Lia stepped into the underground tunnel ahead, unnoticed as a barely perceptible smile flickered at the corner of her lips before vanishing.

After a few minutes walking through the roughly two-person-high tunnel, they arrived at their destination.

It was less a black market and more a grand underground city.

Though Lia had lived nearly twenty years in the kingdom, she had never set foot in this place, nor realized the underground world was so vast.

Here, there was an Adventurers’ Tavern—not the kind of elven tavern with its frivolous atmosphere.

More striking were the countless shops, gambling halls, and arenas lining the streets.

These buildings represented the culture of the Underground Black Market: trade, competition, and acquiring desired resources.

The open competition here was far more tangible than the scheming and political infighting above ground.

“Bang—!!!”

Sounds of crashing and shouting came from nearby, as if an intense battle was underway.

“Tina, let’s go take a look.”