As the group continued their absurd adventure, Ellustrya found herself facing a new and very real inconvenience. With her trousers still around her ankles as per the bet, every step she took was restricted, forcing her to shuffle awkwardly forward. Her usual grace and fluidity were hampered by the fabric pooled around her boots, and despite her best efforts to maintain her dignity, she found herself—much to her dismay—waddling.
The sensation was infuriating.
Ellustrya, who was used to commanding attention with her regal bearing and confident stride, now had to contend with the humiliating reality of her trousers flopping uselessly at her feet, causing her to take short, awkward steps. She tried to ignore the way her briefs kept slipping up her buttocks, revealing more of her skin than she would have liked.
It didn't help that she was still fully dressed above the waist, her tunic and cloak giving her the appearance of someone prepared for battle. Below, however, her gleaming white undies were on full display, and the trousers around her ankles made it impossible for her to walk with her usual pride. Instead, she was forced into a shuffle, her bare legs and hips exposed to the cool breeze.
Celdine, of course, was having no such problems. The adventurer strode ahead with ease, her trousers still down, her colorful briefs flapping in the breeze. She was clearly enjoying herself, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she glanced back at Ellustrya.
"You're looking a little stiff there, Ellustrya!" Celdine called from ahead, her own trousers also hanging loosely around her ankles. However, Celdine seemed to relish in the absurdity of the situation, moving with far more ease. She even turned to walk backward, grinning mischievously at Ellustrya's struggle.
Ellustrya gritted her teeth, refusing to give the adventurer the satisfaction of seeing her flustered. "I am perfectly fine," she replied, her voice tight. "I will not be bested by such a ridiculous challenge. I'm simply... adjusting to the situation,"
Celdine snorted. "Adjusting? You look like you're about to fall over, Princess."
"I am not!"
"Then why are you waddling?" Celdine asked, snickering. "You look like a duck, Princess. A very fancy duck."
Ellustrya glared at her. "I am not waddling. I am simply... taking small steps. So as not to trip."
"Why not pull up your pants, then?"
"Because I am not afraid of losing this bet."
Celdine laughed, shaking her head in amusement. "Whatever you say, Princess. But if you fall on your face, don't come crying to me. Remember, if you pull your pants up, you lose. But you can't completely remove them, either!"
Ellustrya huffed in frustration. "I know the rules of the bet! I am not going to lose to you, Celdine. I am a royal, after all."
"Now everyone can see what kind of panties royals wear!" Celdine replied, a smirk on her face. "I wonder what your subjects would think if they saw their princess parading around in her underwear like this?"
"I—I'm not parading! I'm walking!"
"It's a matter of perspective," Celdine said, shrugging.
Ellustrya clenched her fists, her ears flattening against her head. "Underwear is just.... fabric. Yes. That is all."
Celdine raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that, Princess? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like a whole lot more than just fabric. And if we're talking about perspective, I'd say your knickers are a pretty damn good view!"
Ellustrya felt her cheeks flush. She glanced over at Boldasarre, who was studiously looking anywhere but at her. She sighed, forcing herself to keep walking, despite the awkwardness of the situation.
"How romantic! The stoic Princess Ellustrya, the world renown hero and tomboy, dropping her pants for all to see for the one she loves! You're a lucky man, Boldy!" Celdine taunted with a laugh, teasing Ellustrya and Boldasarre, but Boldasarre just blushed harder.
Ellustrya shook her head, trying to ignore the taunting.
"I see London! I see France! I see Princess Ellustrya's underpants!" Celdine continued.
Ellustrya's blush deepened. Her ears burned with embarrassment as the words sank in. It was true, she was showing more skin than she ever had before. She never heard of any places called London or France before though.
Boldasarre, walking slightly behind, couldn't help but notice the awkward waddle Ellustrya had adopted. Her normally fluid movements were reduced to a shuffle, the soft fabric of her thin briefs flashing with every restricted step. He tried, once again, not to stare, but the combination of her regal upper half and the undignified sight below was hard to ignore.
"I—uh—Lady Ellustrya, are you sure you don't want some help with that?" he asked, offering a hesitant glance toward her ankles.
Ellustrya shot him a sharp look. "I'm fine, Boldasarre," she said, her tone clipped. "This is merely an inconvenience."
But as she continued to struggle down the path, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of frustration. How did Celdine make it look so easy? The blonde adventurer seemed to be practically skipping down the path, her trousers still pooled around her ankles, pink panties on display for all to see. Meanwhile, Ellustrya struggled to maintain even a semblance of dignity as she fought against the fabric wrapped around her boots.
Ellustrya cursed under her breath as she stumbled, nearly falling into Boldasarre.
"Careful, Princess, or Boldy will see your royal knickers in all their glory!" Celdine teased with a snicker.
Ellustrya glared at her, but said nothing, determined to focus on the path ahead. She knew that if she lost her cool, she would only end up losing the bet—and she couldn't let that happen.
"Pull your pants up, and admit you lost! You can't walk with your pants down like that, Ellustrya!"
The princess shook her head, refusing to back down. "No. I will not lose. I am a royal."
"A royal with her pants down! Oh, the scandal!"
"Celdine, enough!" Ellustrya snapped, her patience wearing thin.
Celdine laughed, unperturbed. "You can't deny it, Ellustrya! You're stuck in the mud here. Literally. And those knickers are a sight to behold! But I suppose we have to admire your persistence. It's impressive, really. I didn't think you had it in you!"
"You severely underestimated me," Ellustrya replied, her voice cold. "Did you think that I really wouldn't sacrifice everything for my Boldasarre, including all my dignity and pride?"
Celdine chuckled. "Well, no offense, but you did seem pretty uptight before. I didn't think you'd go this far for Boldy."
"I do not need your opinion on the matter," Ellustrya replied, her tone dismissive. "And besides, you're in the same boat as I am. I dropped my trousers, and you didn't expect that. So you had to do the same. Now, everyone knows you wear pink knickers."
Celdine smirked. "Oh, please. Like that's such a big secret. Everyone knows I wear pink knickers!"
Ellustrya rolled her eyes. "You are impossible."
The princess gritted her teeth, determined to keep up. But despite her best efforts, she found herself lagging further and further behind. Every time Ellustrya tried to take a normal step, her trousers would pull tighter around her ankles, forcing her to adopt an unnatural, restricted gait. She felt the fabric of her underwear shift slightly as she moved, clinging to her skin. It was infuriating.
The cool breeze only served to remind her of how much of her legs were currently on display, but she refused to acknowledge it, even as the stares of passersby grew more frequent.
Celdine, meanwhile, seemed to revel in the attention, flashing her pink panties at anyone who happened to glance her way.
"How embarrassing," Ellustrya muttered under her breath, her ears flattening against her head. But despite her best efforts to remain calm, her frustration continued to grow. She knew that if she lost her temper, she would lose the bet—and she couldn't let that happen.
She forced herself to take deep breaths, trying to focus on the path ahead.
Celdine, of course, was having a field day. "Come on, Ellustrya! Don't you think it's time to admit defeat? Just pull your trousers up already—it's not worth all this shuffling around!"
Ellustrya shot a glare over her shoulder. "No," she said, her voice firm. "I will never lose to you. No matter what."
"We'll see about that," Celdine replied, grinning.
The two women continued their journey through the forest, their trousers still around their ankles, pink and white panty-clad posteriors dominating the vista.
But as she continued to stumble down the path, Ellustrya couldn't help but wonder if she was making the right decision.
Despite her determination, the humiliation of having to "waddle" through the forest with her trousers around her ankles was undeniable. Ellustrya had always been a figure of grace and power, but today, she was reduced to a slow, awkward shuffle, her bare legs and underwear in clear view. Each step was a reminder of the bet, of the ridiculous situation she found herself in—and of the challenge that she refused to back down from.
Boldasarre, sensing her frustration, gave her a sympathetic smile. "You're handling this with incredible dignity, Lady Ellustrya."
Ellustrya gave a small, tired sigh, her patience running thin. "Thank you, Boldasarre," she replied, her voice tight. "But I must admit, this is... far more difficult than I anticipated."
Celdine laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she twirled in place, her own movements far less restricted, even as her trousers clung to her boots.
"Careful, Ellustrya," Celdine called, "don't trip over yourself now. Wouldn't want you falling face-first with your pantied butt sticking out!"
Ellustrya's eyes narrowed, but she held her tongue. Despite the discomfort, despite the absurdity, she wasn't about to let Celdine win. And so, she continued on, each waddle another testament to her resolve—even if it was an inconvenient, thoroughly undignified one.
"Just pull up your pants, and I'll give you a reward, Ellustrya. But you know that you're going to lose at this rate, right? Everyone can see your royal butt in your knickers!".
Ellustrya gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the taunting. She could do this. She just had to stay strong. She was a royal, after all—she would not be defeated so easily.
"And I think I look better in my knickers than you," Celdine teased, flashing a smirk at her rival.
Ellustrya rolled her eyes. "Please. As if that matters. We both know who the real winner will be at the end of the day."
As they walked, Ellustrya couldn't help but notice the way her briefs kept riding up, the thin fabric clinging to her skin. She tried to adjust them discreetly, but the movement only drew more attention to her exposed legs and underwear.
Boldasarre, for his part, did his best to keep his gaze fixed on the path ahead, but every time he stole a glance at the princess, he couldn't help but notice her struggles. The soft white fabric of her briefs, stretched tight across her buttocks, was a constant reminder of the bet—and of the consequences of failure.
"You know," Celdine said, a sly grin on her face, "if you need some help, I'm sure Boldy would be more than willing to assist you."
Ellustrya felt her cheeks flush, but she shook her head. "I am fine. And I do not need assistance from anyone."
Celdine shrugged. "Suit yourself. But if you change your mind..."
The princess huffed in frustration, refusing to give the adventurer the satisfaction of seeing her flustered. She was determined to remain dignified, no matter how difficult the situation became.
Celdine, on the other hand, appeared completely infazed by the whole thing. She skipped ahead, her colorful undies flashing with each step, and turned to face Ellustrya with a grin.
"I just have to ask, Ellusty: why do you wear such conservative knickers?" Celdine asked, winking at Ellustrya's undies. "Plain white. You could at least go with something more exciting, like pink or purple! But I guess you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself."
Ellustrya scoffed. "My underwear is none of your concern, Celdine."
"I think it is, as I've been seeing nothung but your undies for the last half a day or so," Celdine replied, chuckling at her own joke.
"It is a royal garment, designed to be both functional and attractive," Ellustrya explained, her tone clipped. "I wear them because I choose to. Because they are befitting of a royal. And because I look good in them."
Celdine raised an eyebrow. "You think you look good in them?"
Ellustrya nodded. "The high cut also allows my legs a generous amount of freedom of movement, well suited for adventuring. You're wearing the same cut that I am."
"That's because you made this style so popular, your highness," Celdine said, rolling her eyes. "Every girl and woman is wearing high-cut briefs now because of you."
"Well, perhaps that was my intention all along," Ellustrya replied, a hint of smugness creeping into her voice. "To start a trend. To set an example for the people. And it seems that I have succeeded."
Celdine snorted. "Whatever you say, Princess."
Ellustrya gave a small shrug, ignoring the adventurer's skepticism.
"You know, Princess, I have to admire your dedication," she said, her tone teasing. "I didn't think you had it in you to keep this up for so long."
The princess held her head high, refusing to let Celdine's taunts get to her. "I will see this bet through to the end," she replied, her voice firm. "No matter what."
"Even if it means waddling through the forest like a duck?" Celdine asked, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Even then," Ellustrya replied, her voice firm.
Boldasarre, who had been trying his best to keep his eyes averted, couldn't help but steal a glance at Ellustrya. The sight of her, regal and determined even with her trousers around her ankles, sent a strange mix of admiration and embarrassment coursing through him.
"Lady Ellustrya," he said, his voice soft, "are you sure you want to continue this? I mean, I appreciate your dedication, but..."
Ellustrya shook her head. "I am not about to back down. I will not lose to Celdine."
"It's not just about losing, you know," Boldasarre continued, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "I'm just... concerned about you."
"I appreciate your concern, Boldasarre, but I assure you, I am fine," Ellustrya replied. "This is merely an inconvenience. And besides, you think I look good in these knickers, don't you?"
Boldasarre blushed, caught off guard by her question. "I—Well, yes, of course. You always look beautiful, Lady Ellustrya."
Ellustrya smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. "Thank you, Boldasarre. That means a lot to me.
Celdine laughed. "I knew it! You're smitten, Boldy!"
Boldasarre felt his cheeks flush, and he quickly looked away, embarrassed. He couldn't deny that he found the princess attractive, but he also couldn't deny that this was an incredibly awkward situation for everyone involved.
"I'm doing this all for you, Boldasarre. To protect your chastity. From this... unsavoury woman."
Boldasarre blinked, surprised at the princess' words. He wasn't sure how to respond, but he found himself feeling a strange mix of gratitude and embarrassment at her declaration.
Celdine smirked.
"You hear that, Boldy? Your princess is willing to waddle through the forest for you! If that's not love, I don't know what is!"
Ellustrya shot her a glare, but said nothing. She simply continued on, each step a testament to her resolve, even as her briefs continued to ride up and her trousers continued to restrict her movements.
As they walked, the forest seemed to grow denser, the path narrowing and becoming more overgrown. Ellustrya found herself having to lift her feet higher to avoid tripping over roots and brambles, a task made infinitely more difficult by the fabric bunched around her ankles.
She cursed under her breath as she stumbled, nearly falling face-first into a patch of thorns. Boldasarre reached out to steady her, his hand brushing against her bare thigh for a brief moment before he quickly pulled away, his face flushing.
Ellustrya straightened herself up, doing her best to regain her composure. "Thank you, Boldasarre," she said, her tone clipped. "I'm fine."
Boldasarre nodded, his gaze fixed firmly on the path ahead. "Of course, Lady Ellustrya."
Celdine, meanwhile, couldn't seem to contain her amusement at the situation.
"You know," she said, grinning, "it's a win-win for me, as I got the deified Princess of the Dark Elves to drop her pants!"
Ellustrya shot a glare at the adventurer. "Celdine, please. Don't make this any more awkward than it already is."
Celdine laughed, seemingly unfazed by Ellustrya's annoyance. "I'm just saying! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Everyone is going to be talking about this for ages! The infamous Princess Ellustrya, parading around in her underwear like some common tavern wench!"
Ellustrya rolled her eyes, ignoring the jab. She knew that Celdine was just trying to get a rise out of her, and she refused to give the adventurer the satisfaction.
"I think this is the most exciting thing you've ever done, Princess. Even if it means wearing your panties all day," Celdine teased. "And it's all for your Boldasarre!"
Ellustrya took a deep breath, steeling herself for the rest of the journey. She refused to let Celdine's taunts get to her, instead focusing on the path ahead. The forest was thick with underbrush, and the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows that danced and shifted with the breeze. She could feel the cool air on her bare legs, a stark reminder of her current state.
"You know, Princess," Celdine said, breaking the silence, "I must admit, I didn't think you'd last this long. You're tougher than you look."
Ellustrya didn't respond, instead keeping her gaze fixed on the path. She wasn't about to give Celdine the satisfaction of seeing her struggle.
Boldasarre, walking beside her, glanced over. "Lady Ellustrya, are you sure you don't want to—?"
"I'm fine, Boldasarre," she cut him off, her voice firm. "I will see this through."
He nodded, respecting her resolve, and they continued in silence.
As they walked, the forest began to thin, the path widening and becoming more manageable. The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Ellustrya could see the edge of the forest up ahead, and beyond that, the towering spires of the city.
Celdine, noticing this as well, stopped in her tracks. "Well, Princess, it looks like we've made it. The city's just ahead."
Ellustrya stopped beside her, a sense of relief washing over her. She had done it. She had made it through the forest, trousers around her ankles, and her dignity mostly intact.
"So, what now?" Celdine asked, turning to face Ellustrya. "Do we call it a draw?"
Ellustrya considered this for a moment before shaking her head. "No. We agreed on the terms. Whoever pulls up their trousers first, loses. And I have no intention of losing."
Celdine grinned, a glint of respect in her eyes. "Alright, Princess. You're on. But remember, once we step out of this forest, everyone's going to see you. Are you ready for that?"
Ellustrya took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the city ahead. She knew what she was getting into, and she was prepared to face the consequences.
"Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I'm ready."
With that, the three of them stepped out of the forest, the setting sun casting their long shadows behind them. The city lay before them, bustling with activity, and as they walked towards it, Ellustrya could feel the weight of countless gazes on her. But she held her head high, her resolve unwavering. She had made her choice, and she would see it through, no matter what.
And so, with their trousers still around their ankles, Ellustrya and Celdine entered the city, Boldasarre following close behind. The bet was far from over, but for now, they had reached their destination. The rest would be up to fate—and the strength of Ellustrya's resolve.