Confession

Rosalind didn’t want to leave any lingering connections that the future Rosalind would have to deal with. It would be best to extinguish any hopes that Haziel might have. Regardless of the truth, Rosalind needed to tell Haziel that she loved Earnest.

“Yes, I love him, and I’m sure that he loves me too.”

As the words came out, Rosalind already regretted the way she said them. It came out too direct and resolute, almost strict. She should have been more delicate. With the tone that she spoke in, it made her statement seem like a harsh rejection, almost like it was followed by an unsaid “and I don’t need you anymore” afterwards.

Haziel’s expression changed, and even though she was wearing a blindfold she was visibly distraught. Rosalind felt like she had a hole in her heart looking at her. Haziel looked like she wanted to say something, but kept hesitating, until she finally gathered herself enough to speak.

“Since you love Earnest, I think you have the right to know… In the inn, in the room next to yours… I saw some… things…”

Rosalind’s expression of pity subtly changed to confusion. She had expected Haziel to be upset. What was she talking about right now? Earnest?

“I saw Earnest… and Alesia… having sex together…”

Rosalind’s eyes widened with bewilderment. She was blindsided by something completely unexpected. She didn’t even know what to think. Haziel saw Earnest having sex with Alesia? Earnest possessed by Alesia was having sex with Alesia? Alesia was using Earnest’s body to have sex with… herself? Her ****, empty body? Using his body?

Rosalind didn’t say anything while she was lost in thought, but Haziel continued.

“Sorry, but I thought you should know…”

Rosalind was still in a state of disbelief, but Haziel’s words prompted her to respond.

“Um, no, sorry. Uh, thanks for telling me…”

Rosalind’s mouth paused as she tried to keep saying words, anything, but she was stuck. How was Earnest supposed to feel about this? His original body was being used… it was being used by Alesia for her own perverse desires.

Haziel took the troubled Rosalind’s hand into her own. Haziel would have given her a hug, but she was being mindful of both of their images right now. They weren’t exactly in a private place right now.

“I just thought… that I should tell you, before I left. I just didn’t want you to… to find out later or something, I don’t know. Sorry, but I just… didn’t want my friend getting hurt…”

Friend. That last thing that she said got Rosalind’s attention back to Haziel, and her troubled expression. Haziel was just looking out for her… friend. The friend that she didn’t know the truth about. But still, Haziel was just trying to help her right now, to protect her. Whatever Rosalind would do about Alesia would come later. Right now she was with Haziel, with her friend, and her friend was leaving and deserved a proper goodbye. Alesia wasn’t Haziel’s problem after all.

“Thanks. Sorry, I was a bit… shocked there… But thanks for telling me. You did the right thing. I appreciate it. I’m just a little shaken up”

Haziel let go of Rosalind’s hands and gave her a weak smile. Haziel was just happy that Rosalind didn’t hate her for revealing what she found out. Haziel knew that Rosalind would be troubled by the news, but since she loved Earnest, she deserved to know, and this was Haziel’s last chance to tell her before she had to leave.

Even though Rosalind was now full of questions, she knew that Haziel had none of the answers. For now, Rosalind had to see Haziel off properly. She looked back at the main group, which were still chatting amongst themselves, and pulled Haziel off to the side, out of sight. She gave her a quick hug, then separated in case anyone came looking for them. She began to speak.

“Haziel, I’m glad that you see me as a friend. I would have loved to spend more time together with you, and I’d love to visit you in the future, but I’m really not sure that’s possible for me… It’s nothing to do with you, it’s just that… I have some things I need to deal with first. I just want you to know… that you were great.”

“You too… You were great too Rosalind. I won’t forget you…”

“I won’t forget you either…”

The two stood apart from each other, just looking at each other. It was a long moment, but it couldn’t last forever. Rosalind was the one to break the silence.

“Come on, it’s time to go back.”

“Yeah.”

And with that, the two rejoined the larger group. Everyone else had already finished their conversations, and were waiting for Rosalind and Haziel to return before departing. A quick and final round of goodbyes were said before the knights, priestesses, and tied up misfits started down the road back to Lindow. Rosalind, Earnest, and Coltia stood watching their backs as they got farther and farther away.

Rosalind stood next to Earnest, next to the body that was lent to Alesia, the body that was used to fuck Alesia’s own body. It was… bizarre and confusing. Honestly, Earnest wouldn’t have blamed Alesia for being curious about being in the body of the opposite sex. Earnest himself wasn’t able to keep himself from enjoying Rosalind’s body.

Earnest was already aware of Alesia’s interest in him. She did ask to marry him right after meeting him after all. If Haziel had told Earnest that Alesia masturbated in his body or something, that wouldn’t be nearly as shocking. It was just… having sex with her own empty body. That was what was giving Earnest mixed feelings. It felt like a violation of an unspoken rule. Alesia should have known not to go that far. Maybe Earnest was giving her a bit too much credit. He hadn’t known Alesia for that long really, but during their time together he knew that she was smart, just with some quirks to her personality.

Maybe Alesia didn’t think having sex with herself was a big deal. It was her original body after all, so it's not like she didn’t have permission. But the body that she was inhabiting wasn’t her’s. She said that she was going to take care of it! Well, she certainly ended up taking care of all of his body’s needs. Maybe Alesia just thought that it was a part of her duty? Did she even think that she did anything wrong?

Earnest realized that the only way to know for sure was to confront Alesia. He could do it right now, he could just turn to her and just start asking away, but it didn’t feel like the right time. No, what was done is done, confronting Alesia wouldn’t undo anything. Earnest would have to talk to her after Rosalind was properly healed, and after everyone was back in their right bodies. Rosalind’s voice addressed her companions.

“Let’s head back.”

The three of them walked back to the inn. Along the way, they felt a sense of relief. Rosalind and Earnest’s impersonations had not been uncovered. The knights and priestesses had been dealt with. Their plan had worked. Now only one task remained, helping the original Rosalind return to normal. It was still early in the day, and there was much to do.