As Hina finally regained consciousness, she felt the lingering pain throughout her body, a reminder of the battles she had faced. Lying in the plush comfort of the bed, she attempted to rise, but her weakened state betrayed her efforts. The system, ever vigilant, intervened, noting the strain her body had endured from battling the elite infected orc and enduring the unwanted attention of the demonlord.
Hina's response was a mixture of annoyance and unease. "Yeah, yeah, I get it," she muttered, the memory of the demonlord's caress sending shivers down her spine. As she tried once more to sit up, her strength failed her, and she tumbled back onto the soft mattress. "Why am I still so weak?" she groaned, frustration evident in her voice.
The system's explanation was both a revelation and a gentle reminder. "You've just awakened after quite the ordeal," it explained. "It's only natural for your body to need time to recuperate. Remember, I did warn you that you'd need at least two weeks of rest after such intense exertion."
Hina's response was sheepish. "Oh, right... my bad," she admitted, her tongue poking out playfully. The system's response was unexpectedly endearing. "Think cute," it remarked, drawing a small smile from Hina despite her discomfort.
Outside of Hina's room, the head of the Tryni Elite Academy conversed with a maid, their voices hushed in the corridor. "Is the princess awake?" the head inquired, prompting Hina's curiosity from within her room.
Hina couldn't help but overhear the conversation, her interest piqued. "Princess?" she wondered aloud to herself. "Is there a princess enrolled in this academy?" The notion seemed surreal to her, but before she could dwell on it further, her room's door swung open, revealing a dazzling maid standing before her.
"Oh, Princess, you are awake," the maid exclaimed, her voice filled with reverence. Hina's confusion only deepened at the unexpected address. "Haaaaa, me?" she stammered in disbelief.
The maid nodded fervently, her demeanor one of utmost respect. "Yes, Princess," she confirmed, her tone unwavering.
Hina's incredulous response was swift. "What princess balderdash are you talking about?" she protested, her tone a mix of bewilderment and amusement. "I'm just a regular adventurer in this world. My parents died in a bandit raid while traveling. There's no princess here."
Feigning despair, Hina pretended to shed a few tears, playing the part of a hapless child. The maid, taken aback by Hina's emotional display, faltered slightly. "I'm sorry, Princess," she murmured, a hint of sadness in her voice as she sank to her knees. "I shall take my life if that makes you happy."
Horrified by the maid's drastic reaction, Hina quickly intervened. "No, no, no!" she exclaimed, waving her hands frantically. "I was just pretending to cry. You don't need to do anything like that."
Relieved, the maid lifted her head, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you for sparing my life, Princess," she said, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.
Once again, Hina reiterated her identity. "Seriously, I am not a princess," she insisted, hoping to dispel any further confusion. "My name is Hina."
Three days had passed since Hina began her recovery in her room, attended to by the diligent maid who brought her delicious meals each day. As her strength slowly returned and a fraction of her magical power restored, the maid assisted her in donning her uniform once more, its snug fit emphasizing every curve of her body, much to Hina's chagrin. "Oh no, I'm still not used to this outfit," she lamented, though she knew it was futile to protest.
Venturing outside her room, Hina was greeted by two guards stationed at her doorway. "Your Highness, we are your escorts to your history class," they declared, their stoic demeanor unwavering. Hina shook her head in exasperation. "I don't need any guards by my side," she insisted, but the guards remained resolute. "Negative, we must protect the Daughter of Celestia according to her will and the history book," they replied, citing their duty.
With a resigned pout, Hina acquiesced. "Ummm," she muttered, realizing there was no arguing with their determination. Proceeding down the school hallways, flanked by her guards, Hina made her way to her history class. Upon reaching the door, she was met with a chorus of greetings from both the students and the teacher, Hiku.
"Good morning, Your Highness," Hiku greeted, gesturing to a dazzling seat prepared specifically for Hina. Despite feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the attention, Hina couldn't help but appreciate the gesture. "Hmm," she thought to herself, "a bit too much show, but oh well."
As Hiku prepared to delve into the history lesson about the knights, Hina interrupted with a request. "Sir Hiku, I would like to hear about the history of this world and the Celestia business," she said, her curiosity piqued. Hiku chuckled softly. "Your Highness, please address your mother correctly," he gently reminded her. Hina's expression hardened slightly. "Sorry, but I am not her daughter," she protested, her voice tinged with defiance.
Hiku, unfazed by her protest, nodded understandingly. "Forgive me, Goddess Celestia," he said, acknowledging Hina's request. "It is better to start with how the Highness child was born." As Hiku began recounting the tale from the history book, the students' interest was piqued.
"In the original text of the history book," Hiku began, "Celestia prophesied the birth of a child named Hina, a thousand years ago in this world." He described the child as having blue eyes and silver-blue hair, with the ability to grow wings and a crest on her neck when using her powers excessively. "Always respect my daughter," Celestia had instructed, believing her to be the future queen of the world.
Finishing his narration, Hiku turned to Hina, his eyes filled with realization. "That is why your face and body look so much like her words," he remarked, his tone filled with regret. "At first, I did not believe you were Celestia's daughter because you had no crest, and I thought you were just a mere imitation." He paused, his expression somber. "If only I had examined you more closely, perhaps the tragedy that befell you could have been avoided, Your Highness."
The students listened intently, absorbing every word of Hiku's revelation. After he finished speaking, they bowed respectfully. "Welcome to our school, Hina," they chorused, acknowledging her true identity. Despite their sincerity, Hina remained skeptical. In her mind, she couldn't shake the feeling that Celestia had fabricated memories in the people of this world.
*To be continue *