Later at night, right as Mel returned home, only to be welcomed by Saria's 'delicious' meal and scoldings.
When the Witch told the Knight how Leia recovered, however, Saria gasped and jumped up from her seat, before running outside to check on her. Mel, being the kind, loyal younger-sister-figure of the Knight's, immediately threw away Saria's meal and went to bed.
And when the Knight came the next day, bearing news of Leia's complete recovery, Mel breathed a sigh of relief.
"Brat." The Knight scorned her. "You say a cute, kind, beautiful, benevolent, and mysterious lady gives you the cure?"
Mel merely nodded, the Knight's gaze burrowing holes into her. If not for the Witch's casual 'not-guilty' smile, the Radiant Knight would have definitely spanked her for all the 'pads' jokes she made earlier.
Saria sighed, exasperated by this turn of events. "And you accepted a stranger's medicine without an ounce of doubt?"
"Mhm."
"..." Saria handchopped Mel's head. "You lost your mind looking at a beautiful lady again?"
Sensing
"To be fair." The Witch admitted sincerely. "It is a really, really beautiful lady."
"...want me to relay that to your friend?"
"Please don't."
Mel's warning was utterly ignored, as she received another handchop from a grumbling Lila.
The following week went by in a blur. Surprisingly, even with Lila's sister recovering, nothing much different happened. Same tease from Mel, same blush from Lila, only with a much healthier, energetic, and talkative Leia, always teasing both laughingly.
Mel couldn't count how often she glanced at the System's 'favourability' panel. For 10 years, she has anticipated that she will finally break past the '40' benchmark. With Leia's illness, Lila has always refused her advances at the last moment, and now...
[ Favourability: 39 ]
Just like 5 years ago, at a certain point, Lila's favourability still ceased at the '39' point.
"But that's going to change, now!"
Mel examined herself in front of the mirror, swaying confidently. Instead of the villagers' robes, she was wearing a white, short-sleeved dress, with delicate laces covering her low necklines and a straw hat wrapping around her pink, silky hair, the perfect picture of a 'pure and innocent' girl.
Tonight is the day for the end-of-month party, and Mel is well-prepared. She has promised a personal one-on-one 'date' (that Lila refused to admit), with a scheme to finally pull her stubborn friend out of her emotional shell.
She slapped her cheek before huffing. A Date Event! Like a Yuri Otome she always dreamt of! Mel promised herself that she would never want to mess this up!
Greeting off Saria, who has long decided to laze off in the house, she set out from the House for Lila's with a resolve not to ruin her first 'main' event.
On the way, she could see the party set up. Bonefire was blazing in the middle of the moon's clearing. Meats and drinks were laid out for the taking, with villagers sitting at the benches, laughing and exchanging casual banter. The end-of-month was usually a celebration, after all, to share their harvests for the finest feasts and wines. They all were honest folks who united for blessings, for the village's name to last for their next generations.
Mel walked past and admired the festivities, making faces for some ecstatic children along the way. Very soon, she passed through the small village street to arrive at a cottage, with two figures standing by the doorside.
She observed Lila casting her gaze downwards, still wearing the usual villager robes.
"Yo." Leia waved. "Dressed up for the occasion, I see?"
"You know me. I always came prepared." Mel puffed out her chest, the two large pillows bouncing with elasticity, attracting a certain blue-head's sneak peek.
Leia smirked as she patted Lila's back and sent her stumbling forward. "Alright. Take good care of my sister. Make her cry, and I will ensure you'll enjoy some of Saria's personal tutoring sessions."
Mel's expression scrunched up, recalling how she ran a 12-hour marathon last week. "No thanks. Besides, she'll do it without you asking." At least ever since her debut as the Witch, Lila seemed to force her into training more often. Prepared for dangers, the Knight claimed. Too weak-willed to be seduced by a pervert, the Knight scolded.
As if anticipating Mel's reply, Leia's smirk widened. "Then I will simply ban you from ever revisiting my house."
She turned her back on two collective glares before yawning. "Have fun then. I'm going back to sleep."
Lila whispered helplessly as Leia returned to the house, leaving them behind with her apologetic, self-depreciating thoughts. "Sorry for not dressing properly."
The Witch of Lust smiled, the villager's robes bringing not a sense of carelessness but closeness. "Nah. Everyone but me wears the usual. Only this time, I dress myself solely for you, Lila."
Not to mention how Lila spent all her funds on food, medicines, and academy entrance fees, and that she lacked clothes, should be considered an honour of how much she cared for her sister instead.
Lila lowered her eyes further to the ground, cheeks flaring up. "Mm. You... you look beautiful in that dress, Mel."
She scanned over Lila's blush, then to her fidgeting hands with a big, wide grin.
With a step, she took Lila's hand. "Come on then. Let's not dally."
The tiny hand that rested in her grasp was frail and tender. Mel enjoyed the visible gulp from Lila's throat, her golden eyes meeting Lila's hesitant stares, and she observed how the emerald gems sparkled with a slight doubt.
Mel hummed to herself before pulling Lila, the blue-bun's hiccup echoing in the night. In a swift motion, she sank her chest into her wife-not-wife's arm, the two pillows cushioning against the tender skin.
"Lead the way, my friend."
The tease quickened Lila's heartbeat, a whimper threatening to escape from her ear as she felt the unexpected softness.
"...too close..."
"Hm?" Mel leaned in, her hot breaths tickling Lila's ears. "Say again? Louder, this time."
"..."
Lila merely stayed silent before moving forward.
Though no words need to be spoken, Mel chuckled as she eyed the reddened ears from behind.
[ The Witch of Envy slowly opened up. Keep your patience, Host! ]
[ Favourability: 39 -> 39.5 ]
Heh. Another record broken.
Mel squeezed her chest further into Lila's skin with excitement, unaware of the absolute, embarrassing turmoil inside Lila's heart. Unfortunately, it is for Lila to deal with alone.
[ Sensing the Witch of Pride's Gaze. ]
[ Be careful, Host. ]