*VOL.5 CH.280 YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF TAMPONS?

In the bustling city of Tairal, Rya's motionless form was seated on the cold stone floor of her laboratory situated within the grand confines of the Royal Palace. Meanwhile, Dalia, her faithful Wolfkin companion, gnawed on a sizable beef bone, a leftover from her midday meal. Nieren, focused and intent, diligently honed her skills in vegetation magic, all the while casting occasional glances toward her Dark Elf sibling. Rya, in her vulnerable state, remained unaware as her consciousness was fully immersed in controlling her golems.

In a stroke of luck, there were no suspicious activities taking place, and the presence of her mother and Rya's maid in the room provided a sense of security.

"Alpha's been out of it for a while now... I wonder how the whiny one is doing?" Dalia asked herself while using her claw to pick out a piece of meat between her teeth.

"Whiny One?" Miss Anna questioned as she glanced over at the Wolfkin. The maid was looking a bit under the weather today.

"She's talking about Lady Tayna Dule... I don't know if it is a beastkin thing or a Dalia thing... But she calls Rya's friends certain names... It's amusing," Nieren explained while making a flower out of her magical vine.

"Huh? So, you're saying Dalia likes Lady Tayna?" Anna inquired.

"You know I'm right here, mousy. And yes, I like the whiny one. She's proven to be a solid fighter when we sparred with silver hair," Dalia said.

"Silver hair? Wait!?... Why am I mousy!? Do you think I'm some mouse!?" Miss Anna yelled at the wolfkin.

"No, not a mouse, just a mousy person. You know... a mousey human," Dalia said before sticking her tongue out at the maid.

"I-I show you mousy!... Ugh... When I feel better," Anna said.

"What's wrong with you today, Miss Anna?" Yuliana inquired.

"I think my period is around the corner," Anna explained.

"Oh, then you should head home," Yuliana replied. "I remember having my period about seven years ago... It's the worst three days of my life!... Until I discovered how to alleviate my pain," Yuliana finished before she began giggling.

"I don't think human periods are as rough as Elven ones," Miss Anna said.

"Oh? Really? Well, I guess that would make sense since it is more frequent for humans," Yuliana said.

"I don't know... I wouldn't mind if my period only occurred every two decades. I have enough problems as it is trying to stay ahead of my duties," Miss Anna said while holding her stomach.

"That's why being a Wolfkin is the best... We don't have to worry about getting pregnant until mating season which only happens once a year, and we can mate for as long as we want without any worry," Dalia said smugly, while leaning back in her chair. The way she leaned back showed off her noticable baby bump for all three women to see.

Yuliana expressed disbelief with a shake of her head, while Nieren responded with a dismissive eye roll. Anna was perplexed by Wolfkin's statement. Sometimes, Anna suspected that Dalia was aware of her pregnancy, while at other times, it appeared that she was completely unaware of her own condition.

"Is she unaware of her own pregnancy?" Anna asked out loud.

"I've given up trying to understand what goes on in that mutt's mind," Nieren said.

"Mutt!?... Who are you calling a mutt, woody!?" Dalia exclaimed.

"See... Ignorant to the world around her," Nieren stated while waving her hand out in front of her.

"You know she's not that smart, but this is ridiculous," Yuliana whispered.

"And you're not the one with super hearing, greeny!" Dalia exclaimed.

"I'm starting to wish my ears were clogged," Yuliana replied.

"Listen! I know that this looks like I'm pregnant. Even my Gamma thinks I'm pregnant, which convinced me for a moment. But then I remembered when we, beastkins, have our mating season. And that only happened during the spring season. And I meant my Gamma during late summer, so it is impossible that I'm pregnant carrying his pups... At some point, I will, but this is just a strange phase my body is going through. There's no way I could've gotten pregnant at this time of the year, so don't worry about me!" Dalia replied, explaining herself and her situation.

"You can eat half a cow in one sitting, your breasts have gotten bigger, your hips are wider, your appetite for mating with Percy has tripled, you've gained weight, and now your stomach is round. Not to mention, your scent has changed..." Yuliana trailed off.

"I know that it is weird... But I can't be pregnant. Once these strange cravings disappear, I'll lose this weight in no time. You'll all see," Dalia stated confidently as the Wolfkin proudly raised her head high.

Anna looked at the Wolfkin skeptically.

"You can't be that dense!" Yuliana exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Don't worry, I'll be back to my old self soon."

"Yeah, when you push out your children," Nieren muttered.

"I heard that," Dalia said, shooting a glare at the Wood Elf.

"What are you going to do, fur ball," Nieren said while smirking at the Wolfkin.

Dalia rose from her chair, ready to pursue Nieren, when she noticed that Rya's closed eyes began to twitch rapidly as if she were entering the REM stage of sleep.

"Stop you two!... Ry is coming too," Yuliana ordered.

The two girls ceased their argument and turned their attention to Rya, who was seated on the floor. They observed her facial expressions, which seemed to indicate that she was receiving some kind of revelation or vision.

After 15 seconds had passed, Rya's eyes suddenly snapped open, and she found herself face-to-face with the four women standing before her. A sly, enigmatic smile slowly spread across her lips as she gracefully rose from the ground.

"Hey, Alpha. Did you see something interesting?" Dalia asked.

"Yes, yes I did... My future uncle-in-law is about to lose quite a bit of income," Rya said with a smug smile.

"So, those double agents came through for us... How many places are your golems going to hit?" Nieren asked.

"I have twelve of them in sight and another five I'm going wait to hit after we see how the Duke is going to act after the first round of raids."

"You're really going to bankrupt the Duke?" Yuliana asked.

"Not quite... He is a shrewd man. He must have backup plans to his backup plans. We'll see where he moves assets to make up for the losses, and then we'll plan accordingly. I need him to make dumb decisions so we can undercover what his ultimate trump card is... So, we'll cause him a little trouble and see if he slips up, and when he does, we'll end him," Rya explained.

"It's about time that human gets out in its place... Oh, I wish I could be there to see his face when he learns that all his precious things are gone," Dalia said with a wicked smile as her tail started to wag.

"I'm not used to these styles of tactics, but I believe in you, Ry," Yuliana said, putting a hand on her hip.

"I hate playing these games, Sis... I wish we could just go and arrest him or kill him or both," Nieren said with a pout. She didn't understand why they needed to be so discreet around Alaric when they knew he was evil.

"I can understand that... But justice is something that is served slowly until everyone sees what he truly is and then we will be free to deal with him as we please," Rya said with a confident smile.

"Well, I can't wait to see his face," Nieren said with a toothy grin.

"So, what's our next move?" Yuliana asked.

"Well, we wait... And I need to make a new dress for this stupid Coming-of-age Party that the Duchess is throwing in the King's honor."

"Is it really necessary that we go?" Dalia asked.

"Of course, this is our life now, and I need you all to help me in keeping an eye on the Duchess and Hilda... I'm sure they're going to try to humiliate me in some way to undermine my relationship with Quin," Rya said with an irritated frown.

"They have no idea who they're messing with, and I'm looking forward to seeing their faces when we walk into that ballroom," Yuliana said.

"B-But do I have to wear a dress?... Can't I wear my retainer uniform—"

"Nieren!"

"Nieren!"

"Woody!"

Rya, Yuliana, and Dalia all yell at her at the same time.

"What! I can't be the only one who hates wearing dresses... I mean, come on, Dalia! You're a Wolfkin! I thought your kind hates wearing clothing!"

"My Alpha made it clear, and I won't let her down. Besides, I've gotten used to it, and if I can get a new outfit out of this, then I'm more than happy to oblige. Besides, my Alpha looks stunning in her dresses."

Nieren couldn't believe it. Dalia had become domesticated in less than a month.

"Well, I still don't like dresses. And you can't make me wear one, sister," Nieren said.

"Oh, but I can," Rya said with an evil smile.

"Huh!?... Mother!? A-A little help!" Nieren turns her gaze towards her mother.

Yuliana smiles, and she walks over and grabs her daughter's shoulders, and whispers, "Oh, I've taught her everything that I know about wearing dresses... I think it's time for you to learn how to behave in public, and it's a skill that every young lady should learn."

"Mother, not you, too!" Nieren whined.

"Come on, Woody! Stop being such a child! Besides, I'll be there for moral support," Dalia said with a smile while grabbing Nieren's other shoulder.

"Fine! But no matter how many times you put in those things, I won't ever like them! You hear me," Nieren declared with an irritated look.

"But don't you want to be a good example for your younger sister, Nieren?" Rya teased with a grin.

"B-But you already love dresses, sister," Nieren tried reasoning with her.

"Maybe I'll love them more if you lead by example."

"Urk! W-Why does my little sister have to be a genius!" Nieren complained, with an angry look on her face.

"That's why you love her, though. You always wanted a younger sister to show off to, didn't you?" Yuliana teased her older daughter.

"Guh! I can't stand this anymore! Fine! I'll do it!" Nieren cried out in frustration as she gave in.

"I'm glad to hear it... Oh!? Miss Anna?... Are you feeling okay?" Rya asked the maid, who was standing quietly in the corner.

She didn't know if she should have heard everything Princess Rya had told the two Wood Elves and the Wolfkin. She knew how infamous Duke Alaric was, and if the Marquis Duval were to find out that Rya was plotting to ruin the arranged marriage with the Holy Alliance... Anna felt scared for her own safety and the safety of the Royal Family. But she knew the Crown Prince loved her, and she saw the kinder side of Rya. She believed that she wasn't a threat to humanity, but she was a dark elf, and if anyone were to find out the truth, they would fear the worst.

"It's fine... I'm just a little tired, Princess," Anna replied with a fake smile.

"Oh? But—"

Rya stopped herself when she saw a little bit of blood on the floor underneath Anna. Her vision saw red particles floating around Anna's lower region.

"Anna, when was the last time you had a period," Rya asked with a worried expression.

"I-It's nothing. I'm just a little tired. Please don't worry yourself over me," Anna replied with a nervous smile.

Rya sighed before using her healing magic on Anna, which rid her of the pain she was feeling, but the cramps became worse as her body started to expel her menstrual cycle.

"Ack!? I'm truly sorry, Milady! I-I'll clean this up in no time! Please excuse me!" Anna quickly ran to get a mop.

"Hold it! Anna, don't you have a tampon or something?"

Anna halted suddenly, her eyes filled with doubt as she gazed at Rya. The other three women, just as bewildered as Anna, stood alongside her on the boat, completely unaware of what Rya was referring to.

"T-Tampon? Is that a Dark Elf thing? W-What are you talking about, Milady?" Anna asked with a confused look.

Rya's expression turned skeptical as she glanced at Nieren, Dalia, and Yuliana's puzzled reactions, realizing that they were unfamiliar with the concept of a tampon as well.

"I-Is there a spell that can stop the blood from leaving your body, Milady?" Anna asked with a curious expression.

"Umm... What do h-human women do when they are on their monthlies? How do you hide it?" Rya asked.

"Hide it?! We can't unless you are wealthy enough to get a potion from a reputable Alchemist that allows women to absorb our monthlies into your body, and it is expelled through—Well, our bowels, Milady. The rest of us just have to deal with it by doing a lot of cleaning and laundry... Speaking of which, I need to clean up this mess," Miss Anna said and left the room in a hurry to get the mop.

Rya was lost in thought for a moment and wondered why humans don't have tampons. She figured it was probably because the women here are still in medieval fantasy setting. And tampons didn't exist in medieval times. But this was a world of magic, and she was surprised that no one had come up with something better than a strange potion that let them absorb into their bodies, which didn't sound healthy at all. And then to deal with a woman's cycle. It's something Rya could introduce to these poor women,

but she needed to figure out a way to Mass-Produce it so everyone could have access to it. Luckily, the main ingredient would be cotton, and it was something that Rya could easily get from Earl Nathaniel. However, creating the machine was the major hurdle because the machine would be the size of a small car.

"What's going on, Alpha? What's a tampon?" Dalia asked while scratching her wolf ears.

Rya was snapped out of her thoughts and realized that everyone was waiting for an answer.

"Umm... It's a cotton item that can but put inside a woman's vagina that can absorb the blood from her body. So it doesn't stain clothes or leave a trail of blood that would alert monsters to where we are. It would allow women to travel or do other activities without worrying about the blood." Rya answered,

"I have no idea there was such a thing?... You Dark Elves are cleverer than I thought," Yuliana said.

"Well, I need something that can create the damn things—wait a minute!... Nieren?... Where was that Old Tome on Artifacts that can create socks or gloves when they are fed raw materials," Rya said as she walked into her Library and looked around the massive collection.

"I thought you said that book was useless?... I think it's on the bottom shelf next to the book called 'A History of Magic and the World.'" Nieren replied as she followed her adopted sister.

"Ah! Nice!" Rya said, as she pulled the tome from the bottom shelf and opened the book. She was looking for a section about clothes, and she found a section on socks and gloves. But nothing on Tampons.

"Yes, yes, YES! This can work! But I need to figure out a way to design this thing to create tampons instead of socks and gloves," Rya said as she began reading the chapter again.

"What does a Tampon look like, Alpha?" Dalia asked. "Is it a small stick that can absorb the blood?"

"Sort of... It's more like a cotton ball made out of plant fibers, and it has a string attached so you can pull it out," Rya answered while still reading the text.

Nieren was doing an internal fist pump. If Rya got distracted by something else, then she wouldn't have to try on a dress.

"What do you need from us, little sis?" Nieren asked as she put her arms behind her back.

"Ummm... Nieren, can you go with Mom and Dalia to retrieve the Royal Tailor? It looks like we'll be trying on new dresses here instead of in my room. And I want to see you in a proper Fiafyrian dress for this party," Rya said, and she continued to read.

Nieren looked at Rya with a look of disbelief. She thought that her sister would be too busy to notice.

"But—But, what about this project! Surely, you're going to have to focus on—"

Rya raised her pointer finger at her older sister and wagged it at her, "Now, now... I can multitask, and I know you, Sister... You were hoping to get out of trying on the new dress."

"Haha... No, I wasn't..." Nieren said as she looked away.

"You're lying, Nieren. For someone who is born a literal princess, you sure have some odd dislikes... Mom... Dalia... You two know what to do."

"Of course, Ry."

"Sure thing, Alpha!"

The older wood elf and wolfkin duo replied in unison as they grabbed Nieren to help bring the tailor and the dresses to Rya's lab.

"I don't need a new dress! Why can't I wear my old clothes!" Nieren said while being dragged out of the library by Rya's mother and Dalia. "Mother! Listen to me, please! I promise to no longer be an Adventurer from here on out!"

"But you already gave that up to become your sister's retainer and lady-in-waiting," Yuliana said with a grin.

"Um, uh! D-Dalia!? Did I ever tell you that you're my favorite wolfkin!" Nieren tried to plead, but Dalia wasn't buying it.

"I'm the only Wolfkin here, Woody," Dalia said as she held onto the struggling wood elf.

"But! But! That doesn't mean you're not my favorite!"

"Dalia couldn't contain her excitement as she playfully teased her Wood Elf friend. "Woody, I can't wait to see you in a stunning dress!" she exclaimed, brimming with anticipation."

"Nooooo! Not my beautiful leather outfit!" Nieren shouted while the three women dragged her out of the library.

Rya giggled at the antics of her sister, 'God, she looks so good in dress and she has worn simple ones in the past... I don't know why Nieren is so resistant to them... Whatever, she'll have to get used to them.'

Rya then turned her attention back to her book and started coming up with ideas of how to redesign this artifact to create tampons for the females of Tertius.