Tis Time for "Torture," Princess (姫様“拷問”の時間です)

The Hellhorde and Imperial Army have been locked in battle for many years.

Led by their grand inquisitor, Torture Tortura,

the Hellhorde's elite inflict their torture on a daily basis.

She faces fierce beasts, flames, unknown devices and spells,

yet the princess does not give in.

She would never give in.

She would never let the words, "I surrender!" leave her lips so readily.

Meanwhile, the princess's former friend, the assassin Sakura Heartrock,

fails to assassinate the Hell-Lord, and sets off on a new path.

Sakura-chan, 'tis finally time for your first torture.

Will you really be okay on your own?

Yes. I feel like I'd lean on your help with you there.

Okay, time to give it my all.

I've committed a lot of terrible deeds in my past.

So to make amends...

from here on out...

I'll make people happy through torture!

What?

Princess?

'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess

Ex.

I've made up my mind.

I will never give in to their torture!

Man, if I haven't heard that before.

This time, I'm dead serious.

Which is why I'm giving you this.

A lightning amulet.

This allows you to activate a lightning spell with your mind.

The moment you think, "Her Highness is gonna cave to the torture,"

What?

you can fire a lightning spell at me.

Agh

The pain will help me regain my composure...

I've calmed down.

and I'll be able to hold off on surrendering.

Is that the only way you can control yourself?

Where'd this thing come from, anyway?

After a torture the other day, while we were on a stroll,

I got a tour of the Hellholm armory.

A tour of their armory in the middle of a stroll?!

For an enemy nation's princess?!

Hmph

Hmph!

Just goes to show how much they trust me!

That's when I secretly borrowed the amulet.

Betraying their trust...

You're sure about this?

Yeah, go ahead.

Do I have it in me, though?

To fire a lightning spell at Your Highness?

Rest assured.

After making up my mind, I won't be folding so easily.

Princess.

'Tis time for torture.

This will be your torture for today...

Fried chicken.

Looks yummy!

I-Is something wrong, Princess?

N-No, not at all.

Nice going, Ex.

I was able to stay strong, thanks to you.

Glad to hear it.

You were going on like, "Do I have it in me?"

Yet you didn't hesitate to activate it.

I, too, was surprised at my complete lack of resistance.

Are you really okay?

Don't worry about me.

Perhaps you should ask the same of yourself.

You're right, I do love fried chicken.

However...

Do you know which piece is my favorite?

Verily, fried chicken comes in a variety of pieces.

The thigh, popular for its fatty dark meat.

The wing, with its chewy eating experience.

And more, all with their own appeal.

But the piece that you're most fond of...

'Tis none other than...

The drumstick!

You got it!

What in the world has been going on today?

Don't worry about it...

You're right on the money.

I love drumsticks.

The way they look gets me so excited.

It is the shape you associate most with chicken.

Incidentally, the meal that I purchased today

happened to contain only a single drumstick.

In other words...

After I eat this one, there will be no drumsticks left.

W-Wait, I give in. I'll talk!

This is for Her Highness's sake!

I will steel my heart and carry out my duty to the end!

You monster!

Wh-What is this, Princess? You're glowing!

Th-This is the strongest strike so far!

I feel like I'll pass out if I drop my guard!

However, I'm the Princess and Commander of the Imperial Third Legion!

A measly lightning strike like this...

Cannot stop me from surrendering!

Surrender by Might

Try using that iron willpower to endure the torture instead!

The princess confessed

Delicious!

Drumsticks are the best!

They just scream "chicken" to me!

Would you like to try the other pieces, Princess?

Really? Awesome!

I love fried chicken!

It's imperial custom to eat egg dishes around the end of the year.

Makes you wonder how it got started.

I've also bought the items you asked for.

With biscuits?

Of course, and vanilla ice cream to go with them.

You must be a mind reader.

'Tis Time for "Torture,"Princess

Torture planned to use the leftover chicken for rice pilaf,

but there was none left in the end.

An experimental spell went haywire...

splitting up Torture into good and evil personalities.

Right now, my good self is trying to find a way to turn us back.

So for today's torture, it'll be me,

the evil Torture, who's in charge!

Time for your torture, Princess!

Your evil self still shows up for work, huh?

I'm not really sure what makes her evil.

For today's torture...

Straight out of a plastic bag?!

The Torture I know would never do that!

So this is evil Torture!

Pretty low bar for "evil," don't you think?

Do you really think I'd yield to such slapdash torture?

Take a look!

This is your torture!

An éclair!

Your Highness!

Number one... It's number one...

There are all sorts of great pastries out there,

but taking everything into account, like taste, availability, and price...

The number one, tried-and-true pastry that won't let you down...

is a convenience store éclair!

That light, crispy dough, thickly coated in chocolate...

And filled with a rich, gooey custard!

Perfect in every way!

You may be evil, but you're still Torture!

It's the perfect torture!

Huh?

I don't think she feels as strongly as you do.

I want it... I want to eat it!

However!

I'm the Princess and Commander of the Imperial Third Legion!

I will not give in to your torture!

I will not crave that éclair!

Yeah! You tell her, Your Highness!

What are you talking about?

What?

I got one for you, too, so let's enjoy them together.

Huh?

You'll give it to me even though I haven't surrendered?

What about the torture?

Oh, right.

I'm supposed to get a secret out of you for the torture.

Well, whatever.

"Well, whatever?!"

Didn't I say I'm the evil Torture?

My feelings come before the rules.

And nothing beats sharing some good food with other people!

E-Evil Torture!

Time to eat!

Yummy!

This is great!

The chocolate's not too sweet, either!

It's so gooey!

The Next Day

I managed to return to normal, but my head still hurts from yesterday.

My evil self technically wrote up a report...

but it's completely incoherent.

Dear Usual Torture

A letter?

m 0 0 l 200 0 200 40 0 40

The evil Torture said she didn't need it, but since the éclair was good, here's a secret for you.

Dear usual Torture,

The evil Torture said she didn't need it,