Chapter 195 36.4 Padding?

SHIZU

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Taking a deep breath, Shizu found herself standing right in front of the door separating her from her two Gods. Even now, she was still having doubts about what she should do. Should she really try and barge in on their business? Was she about to overstep her boundaries and bury herself even deeper into her own disgrace?

She simply had no way of knowing.

"Focus... You have to atone..."

Giving herself a pep of encouragement, Shizu raised her fist up to the metal door. All she had to do was knock... She knew that the two of them were currently inside... Surely they wouldn't-

[*aahhh...*]

Shizu froze. Her eyes wide, she stared at the door in utter disbelief. That voice... It sounded more like a moan, really.

"Was that Lady Guidance?"

It was a sound she had never heard before. Sure, she moaned out in relief or whenever she did a particularly pleasurable stretch, but the sound that Lady Guidance made didn't seem like it was something made out of relief. It was more... primal, if she was using the word correctly.

Shizu's fist made contact with the door, her knock barely making a sound as hesitation gripped her very being. She had been taught to respect the boundaries of her future subjects, but at the same time, the burning curiosity within her screamed at her for answers. What was happening behind this door? Would she truly be able to contribute to whatever it was they were doing?

Still, she knew what must be done.

[*knock knock*]

Shaking her head, Shizu put on her usual boisterous self as she knocked on the door, fully expecting to be asked what she was even doing up at night. She would answer truthfully, before happily helping with-

[*oh fvck...*]

Her smile froze solid.

At the muffled shout from beyond the door, the princess's heart began hammering wildly in her chest as she waited for the inevitable. The fact that she heard Moriya curse her arrival quickly clued her into the fact that they weren't expecting any visitors, or if any for that matter. The urge to run away immediately made itself an option for her, but she wasn't the kind of person to run away. In fact, she was taught to never do such a thing. To back down from any kind of argument without some kind of resolution was forbidden to her, her father drilling the fact into her head despite her usual avoidance of courtly matters. No...

As a future monarch, she had to see this through.

Staying resolute, Shizu stood fast as the door finally opened, revealing to her a rather disheveled Moriya whose pants were partly undone.

"S-Shizu? What're you doing up so late?"

The princess blinked at the God's uncharacteristic tone, but she ignored it in favor of going through with her plan. "I couldn't sleep, and I kind of saw you and Lady Guidance being in this room using my [Code Watcher] earlier."

For some reason, Moriya paled at her explanation. She resisted the urge to panic, hoping that it was nothing more than surprise at her still being up so late.

"You... You saw us... In here..." Moriya trailed off.

"Yep," she smiled. "And seeing as you two were awake, I was kind of hoping that we can talk somehow.... About stuff..."

She felt her tone lose its usual joy, her mind once again going to her perceived slight against her Gods. And looking at Moriya's expression, it was clear that he was just going to repeat what was already said before.

"Shizu, for the last time, it's not your fault," Moriya warmly shook her head with a smile. "Guidance and I already told you that there was nothing different we could've done that would've prevented what happened back on the island."

"But..."

"Look, we've been over this dozens of times, Shizu," Moriya sighed. "My stance isn't going to change. The same goes for Guidance. We think it's not your fault. Hell, once you think about it, it should be my fault. I steered us into that island. All that happened after was a result of my own actions."

Shizu frowned at the answers she was getting. The burning need to atone was still present inside her aching chest, and she stood resolute as she continued on with her quest.

"Uhm... Can we at least talk then? About other things?" Shizu counteroffered, a hopeful smile on her face as she bargained. "I guess... I just want to spend my time not sleeping with friends..."

She'd rather not be alone at the moment. After that nightmare, she was sure that she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep anytime soon. Besides, she was still curious about what they were even doing together. She hadn't even seen Lady Guidance yet.

"Err.... Can I have a moment-Shizu?"

Letting her instincts take over, the princess lackadaisically invited herself into the room. Almost immediately, her eyes went to the pile of discarded clothes on the ground. They looked familiar... Far too familiar...

"Are those Guidance's clothes?"

[*ruffle...*]

Her attention was quickly taken by a soft ruffling coming from the bed. She hadn't taken a look yet, but the rational part of her really didn't want to do so.

"Shizu! We're kind of busy at the moment!" Moriya yelped out in obvious panic.

"Busy with what?" she beamed, her own alarm bells ringing at the monumental mistake she just made. "I'm sure it's nothing too serious, right?"

This was horrific. Her father would've probably scolded her already for her utter impulsiveness. Still, would she back out?

Not a chance. Besides, a part of her was getting hot at the concept of getting naked for some reason.

"It kind of is!"

Shizu flinched, her eyes flashing black and green for a brief second before she managed to force them back down. But during that brief time with her eyes, she had already seen what was happening.

Lady Guidance was hiding under the sheets, possibly completely naked. Coupled with Moriya's disheveled state, a part of her almost wanted to kick herself for not realizing what was happening sooner.

Moriya sighed, "Look, can you just wait outside? We'll be decent in a moment."

She was about to let out a defeated sigh when she stilled, her mind suddenly giving her a way to repent that she never really expected. Her cheeks blushed, the very concept of what she was about to ask making her blood boil in adventure and curiosity.

Shizu would be sure to show her devotion, no matter what way it would have to be.

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