The Interim

Surprisingly, all the other contestants arrived on time for dinner when the gong sounded. Whether out of hunger or fear of their new circumstances, they all were dressed and ready for dinner in their usual attire, now modified for their new transformations. However, Galatea had exchanged her new catsuit for a knee-length sleeveless forest green dress. They sat at their assigned place settings without any issue. Two Sassafras bodies were in the dining room to serve the contestants.

The meal that was served to the contestants was objectively delicious. It consisted of roasted, herb-flecked white fish, roasted fennel and tomatoes, accompanied by a green salad and crusty bread with butter. Dessert was a scoop of ice cream with two fruit sauces. But the contestants were mostly silent throughout, and Mahja’s attempts to converse with the others fell flat. Sassafras supposed it was because the others were too nervous to talk. Only Mahja and Galatea went for second helpings of fish, and that was because they were hungry and needed more food than the others, being a half-orc barbarian and a human-slime wizard respectively.

When dessert was finished, Adalheid, Emilie, and Glyka fled the dining room as though they were being chased. Mahja and Galatea departed somewhat normally. Sassafras saw how the the half orc sauntered out, and how the slime girl let her feet relax and ooze with each step--rather than keeping them in a rigid human form like she had done when she was summoned--and let her ponytail melt down her back in its true slimy nature. Fortunately, Galatea did not leave a messy trail behind her.

Sassafras watched Galatea go with her usual neutral expression, as her two bodies cleaned up the remains of dessert and then began clearing the table. She was glad that a second contestant was at least relaxed in her new surroundings, but she was unsure if Galatea had truly warmed to being part of Caelan’s harem. And her date was tomorrow. Just now, Ginelia had encouraged Sassafras to take initiative and test the contestants on their dates while she and the goddess watched Caelan and Ionanthe. But what would be a good test for Galatea that actually felt like a test, but was suitable for her first date in the first week of the show?

The maid decided to delegate that task to another part of herself. She had a dining room to clean.

---

When she was in her teenage years, Glyka had wished to grow curves like that of the other shortfolk women she saw all around her, especially other goblins. But as she learned how to fight and sneak, she’d embraced her lithe form and appreciated its charms. Without it, she wouldn’t have been able to fight to save Toothsrest from one of Asmodea’s cruelest lieutenants--Aldir had been proud of her for using her cunning power and his divine gifts to help save her city and its people, and then for joining Sir Caelan’s party to save the world.

Now, as she sat in her new shared bedroom in the manor, after getting ready for bed and wearing a pair of soft shorts and a sleeveless blouse that hugged her curves, she wasn’t sure if getting that youthful wish was a blessing or a curse. She needed to practice moving in her new magically-enhanced body, and then get her skills back. And yet…would her new breasts and bottom be what made Sir Caelan see her as a woman, a lover, and not just a friend and fellow adventurer? She needed to talk to him, but was afraid to do so. Not least because of the other transformation she had. If she slipped up and called him Sir Caelan--

She felt an intensely pleasant tingle of warmth spread throughout her body at the thought, then quickly shook herself out of it. She’d already flashed S--Caelan and apparently an audience of millions of people, and she didn’t want to embarrass herself further.

The other occupant of her room caught her eye. Galatea, wearing a short and lacy nightdress that was as modest as her new transformation allowed, was walking around but not quite pacing, letting her feet and legs ooze and shift between the light brown of her skin and mint green of her hair instead of holding their shape and color. From time to time she would look at herself in the mirror, and pose, at first awkwardly but getting better and more confident each time. When she next stopped to pose, Glyka spoke.

“The dress looks good on you!”

Galatea startled and turned around to face Glyka. “Y-you really think so?”

Glyka smiled. “Of course!”

Galatea smiled back wanly, and then it faded. “I…don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this. That people, millions of strangers, want to see my true form, and love me for it, instead of treating me like a monster or a curiosity.”

She then frowned. “Millions of strangers also decided to change you, both in body and mind, and I…I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault. And besides, well, the strangers matter, but they’re not the ones that really matter. If I understand this Harem Hotel stuff right, there’s only one person whose opinion really matters,” replied Glyka.

“...Caelan,” breathed Galatea, the thought so strong she spoke it.

“We’re his friends,” said Glyka. “We’ve adventured together and saved the world together. But I want him to see me as a woman, and I don’t know if he can without these.”

She puffed out her chest to show off her newly-enlarged breasts. Galatea looked away in embarrassment.

“Do you want him to see you as a woman too, tomorrow? Is that why you’re posing and all that?”

Galatea didn’t speak for a few seconds, but then she nodded. “I…I hope I don’t mess it up. I’ve never been on a date before, with anyone.”

“Well, you won’t. You’re a genius.”

“T-that doesn’t mean I know everything.”

“And besides, Ionanthe will probably tell us about how her date went. Maybe even Caelan will too!”

Galatea nodded, then took a deep breath. “And you…you don’t mind sharing Caelan?”

“This whole Harem Hotel thing’s been a surprise to me, I still don’t know what to think, or if I mind. Do you?”

“I…I don’t know either. Maybe…he was worried that we’d mind? Which is why he never said anything?”

Glyka opened her mouth to respond, but then she yawned. “Maybe. But let’s talk about it tomorrow. I’m tired.”

Galatea nodded, and then herself yawned. “Are you okay with sharing the bed? I can--”

“It’s big enough for both of us! Neither of us is sleeping on the floor!”

Galatea smiled hearing that, but it was a small and cautious thing. Glyka, as she studied the wizard, realized that she had never seen the other woman smile more brightly than that as long as she’d known her. As she drifted off to sleep, Galatea beside her but carefully maintaining her human shape to avoid unwanted contact, Glyka hoped that she’d see Galatea smile more often, and maybe even make her smile herself. Even though, in their new circumstances, Glyka thought it would be very hard.

---

Meanwhile, Adalheid paced rigidly about her and Mahja’s shared bedroom. The dwarf stared at a point far in the distance that she alone could see. While she tried to sense her surroundings and the other occupants through her druidic magic and the stone of the manor, she felt as though she was looking through a thick fog while the world blurred around her, and was unable to sense anyone except herself and Mahja. Was this the strange magic of the Harem Hotel? And why did it block her senses? She hissed in fury.

“It’s not that bad, Addy,” said Mahja, startling the dwarf out of her thoughts.

The half-orc had evidently gotten ready for bed while Adalheid was pacing, and had exchanged her hide armor and furs for a short white sheer lace nightgown and matching panties. Her long black hair hung in a looser braid. Adalheid couldn’t help but notice how Mahja’s new nightclothes showed off her muscular figure, and how she wanted to keep looking, but **** herself to look Mahja in the eyes and tilted her head, waiting for the half-orc to continue.

“I mean, we’re here together. There’s no one I’d rather have here than my best friend, and if there’s someone I want to be in a complex marriage with, it’s Cay. He loves us, and we can all be together! And even if you don’t see me that way, we’re still sisters in arms. Nothing needs to--”

“Yes it has! And it’s awful!”

Mahja looked alarmed by Adalheid’s sudden fury, but the dwarf did not give her a chance to speak before she continued. “I’ve loved Caelan ever since I’ve known him! I was going to tell him now that we finally have peace in Ocowyth! And now I have to compete with you five for his attention! Why would he ever pick me over you or anyone else, when you’re all prettier and sexier than me? All I have are these new tits, and they aren’t even special!”

She hatefully squeezed her offending breasts. Tears pricked her eyes, but she was determined not to let them fall.

“Hey, that’s not true,” said Mahja firmly, wanting to calm down her friend. “You’ve always been beautiful, Addy, tits or no tits. And besides, if we all work together, we’ll all be safe. We’ll never leave each other behind.”

Adalheid’s heart thumped, and a warm, fluttery feeling spread throughout her chest, hearing Mahja call her beautiful whether or not she was transformed. A part of her thought that Mahja would hug her to calm her down, and she’d get to feel the half-orc’s beautiful, muscular body against her own. She shoved down the feelings, and shook her head. Mahja was just being kind, she thought. She couldn’t really mean it.

“I noticed something’s been on your mind for a while,” said Mahja, after a few moments of Adalheid’s silence. “You can talk to me about it. I don’t know if I can fix it, but I’ll at least try.”

“Stop lying! You can’t fix any of this!” shouted Adalheid. “And besides, you had your chance to get with Caelan! After we fought Deminicus! It’s not fair that you get another one now, and millions of strangers love you and none of them like me! So my only hope to survive this Harem Hotel is to eliminate everyone else!”

Mahja’s concern twisted into fury. “You’re really blaming me for that demon bastard’s lust curse? What in the hells happened to you, Adalheid?”

Then the rest of Adalheid’s words hit Mahja like a fireball. Her fury was snuffed out, and the quiet horror that suffused her features was uncharacteristic. “You…want to eliminate the rest of us?” she whispered, voice hoarse with shock.

At the same time, Adalheid, realized what had slipped out of her mouth. “Mahja, I--I didn’t mean…”

“You’re my oldest friend, Adalheid, and you…I can’t believe this,” said Mahja slowly, haltingly.

“I don’t want anyone to be eliminated! That’s not what I meant!”

“Then what did you mean?” Mahja shouted, in a combination of shock, fury, and betrayal.

Adalheid stumbled over her words as she tried to string together a reply. Mahja sighed. “Just…leave me alone. I…”

Tears welled up in the half-orc’s eyes, and Mahja started to cry. Adalheid wanted with every fiber of her being to soothe her, but she couldn’t. Not when she was the cause.

Adalheid slunk into the bathroom, sat down on the tile floor, and allowed her own tears to fall. What have I done? she wondered.