Date a Witch: Reborn as the Witch of Lust! (GL)
Chapter 44: Royal Blush, Envy’s Pinch

Chapter 44: Royal Blush, Envy’s Pinch

Entranced by Mel’s golden eyes, the princess froze in silence, her tears trickling down her small cheeks.

The Witch of Lust kneeled before her, frowning. "You okay there? Need a hand?"

Mel sneakily glanced at the reddened ankle. No one would be foolish enough to bully a Princess, and if Mel’s memories about her were still accurate...

Her thoughts trailed off before meeting the Princess’s rainbow-eyes, now scowling at her like an unwanted guest.

The Princess stammered, her breath husky and exhausted. "Not-nothing happened here, understood?"

Mel nodded with a kind smile before mumbling in a quiet voice. "Of course. I see nothing but a charming princess."

"Did you... just flirt with me?"

The violet-haired minature blinked in confusion. Favours or ire? She has received plenty, but never a blatant flirt like Mel’s.

Then it hit her, the sheer embarrassment of the situation she was in.

She coughed twice, taking a more authoritative tone. "No matter. State-state your business. Or at least greet me properly."

Mel’s eyes curved. "Oya? I already said I want to help."

The princess, overwhelmed by Mel’s sincere yet teasing voice, glanced away in guilt. "Everyone always wants to help royalties for something. Just flat out say it."

"Hm." Mel hummed, smirking. "Alright. Don’t mind me being direct, but..."

Is it her illusion earlier? This girl was just like the others...

Just as the Princess’s heart swelled with disappointment, she watched as Mel pointed downward, towards her reddened ankle.

And before she knew it, Mel’s lips curled to a foxy smile as she whispered. "You cried because you twisted your ankle, right?"

A blush immediately crept up on the Princess’s swollen cheeks, her head hanging as she clutched onto her skirt, which she tripped on during her walk.

And she uttered, almost in a begging voice, unlike before. "Ple-please. You see nothing."

Mel nodded again. "Of course. I see nothing."

Unfortunately, the Princess’s dignity demanded that no one see her crying because of a small blunder or pain. How precious.

Resisting the temptation to hug and tell her everything is okay, Mel stood up, her expression relaxed as she stretched out a hand. "Need someone to carry you?"

The Princess struggled inwardly, torn between the urge to surrender to the girl’s tender kindness and the pride of a proud royal who was taught manners classes.

In her mind, however, the former won by a very, very, very small margin. As she reluctantly received her grasp-

"Hold on."

Mel’s spine shuddered, all too familiar with the voice behind their backs.

She turned around to meet a narrowed pair of Emerald eyes. "Lila? I’m just helping, so no worries, right?"

"I’m not so petty to stop you, Mel." Lila pouted. "Instead, make your summon carry her."

"..."

The Witch of Lust almost blurted out that she didn’t want to. A girl’s touch remained a girl’s touch! Just a little enjoyment won’t hurt here and there.

Sensing a two-second pause from Mel, however, Lila squeezed her cheeks. "You actually knew you could use summons to carry her all along, right? You pervert..."

Mel mewled, enjoying her grumpy lover’s tantrum. "Of course not... I’m not always the sharpest, you know!"

[ Envy felt you could lie better next time! ]

[ Envy Favourability: 93 -> 88 ]

Oops. Figuring that she deserved this loss, she patted Lila. "Alright, alright. I’ll summon now, okay?"

The Princess watched as Lila lightly fisted Mel’s chest, huffing one more petty complaint or two.

What a strange, yet oddly endearing bond those two shared. The Princess felt a conflicted emotion emerging from her heart.

------------

As Mel summoned a <Fitsu> to carry the Princess inside, they found themselves first at a grand white hall.

The walls were decorated with paintings of graduates, and pillars were adorned with scented flowers. It was a homely place that balanced homely warmth with majestic grandeur, welcoming yet awe-inspiring.

She gave the karate-uniformed red panda a warning glance, urging her to behave. Mel then glanced at the Princess who stood clumsily with her arm raised for support. A little stubborn, but understandable considering the Princess’s pride.

They quickly registered with a <Slime> summon who stood idly by the table, another product of the Summoning Class tutor.

"Selaria Nightshade."

"Lila Vexara."

"Mel Sakura."

And as Mel called out her name to the <Slime>, the Princess visibly shook.

Chuckling, Mel gazed at Selaria with a knowing glint. "Surprised?"

The Witch of Lust had heard from Samantha and the System earlier about her ’terrorist’ reputation in the academy, so it was no surprise that the Third Princess also knew a little.

Selaria glimpsed Mel’s golden eyes, glimmering with a mischievousness she used to find in her Elder sister.

Lila worried for a moment. Mel, while a little too extreme in the Third Exam, deserved no malice for merely demonstrating her best abilities! And just as she was about to defend her Mel-

"Just a little." The Princess confessed with a sigh.

Mel smirked, a little impressed. "Thought you would be more scared, my classmate."

Selaria scoffed. "Rumours had it that you were a ’Pink Demon’ or some kind. I’m above those troublemakers, and you’d do well to remember that, too."

The Witch of Envy widened her eyes, the retort stuck in her throat lost its purpose upon finding the Princess less petty than she thought.

"Ah. But one thing." The Princess’s brows knitted together. "Do not think I will forget easily how you baited that Blonde Scum into killing me. I could have gotten into Elite Class if not for you."

That last bit was a lie. The Princess knew full well that her probability of being in the Elite Class was in decimal, even worse when considering Mel’s absurd hypnosis skill, and the top two’s extreme power would smash her out without a doubt.

Despite also noticing it, Mel merely responded with her own smile. "Of course! By the way, shall we have Fitsu carry you back to your room?"

The Princess groaned but ultimately waved in resignation. "Do be careful. I am a Royal after all. Even a hair loss would cause you millions in gold."

"Of course!"

Sending off the Princess, Mel turned to Lila before observing her expression hardening.

A flicker of concern crossed Mel’s eyes. "Lila? Something’s wrong?"

Lila glanced at Mel, hiding her anxiety. "Nothing."

The Witch of Envy couldn’t tell Mel. For a moment, she felt it unfortunate that they couldn’t make a good friend in the Princess, forgetting that ’the Princess was helped by her Mel’.

-------------------

As confirmed when they could choose from the registry, their room featured vibrant marblestone walls and a polished ceiling, exuding elegance unfamiliar to the two villager girls.

Mel’s gaze swept across the room. Two beds were placed side-by-side at the center, a pair of desks were by the left window, and a kitchen was tucked behind an adjacent door.

The simplicity almost reminded Mel of her university life, only much tidier, without trash in the corner.

Mel chuckled as her hand dug into her <Inventory>. "Alright. Here’s our place. Let’s settle in quickly!"

Lila’s emerald eyes scanned over the room. "This seems a lot better than I thought."

"Yep. A perfect love nest that belonged solely to us!"

"..."

Lila pinched Mel’s arm, her face baring a hint of redness. "Is that all you think about nowadays?"

[ Envy looked at you with disgust, ignoring that she thought the same. Good job, Host! ]

[ Envy Favourability: 88 -> 91 ]

Suppressing a chuckle, Mel picked up Lila’s bag with a knowing grin. "Exactly."

"...pervert."

Glancing away with a hint of guilt, Lila took the bag from Mel and quietly began sorting through her necessities.

Just as Mel dropped her luggage, ready to unpack, a sudden <Telepathy> echoed through her mind.

Master.

Oh Nyxia. She zipped open her bag before continuing. What’s up?

Edward the Bonesman sought me and requested a meeting this evening with you.

Oh. A foxy smile curled up on Mel’s face. Alright. Tell him I’ll meet him in my <Witch Form>.

The Witch of Lust’s mind scoured through the totally-not-malicious methods to use Ed. She anticipated how the merchant would become one of her most useful pawns in the future.