Mel tilted her head, contemplating as she admired Lila's jealous face.

Under her hat, shades occupied her emerald eyes, further darkening her expression into an unrecognisable abyss.

Though her lips tugged up, Lila's flushed cheeks exposed beneath the hat were charmingly cute to her.

"Why must I lift my skirt, Lila?"

Her hand cupped Lila's cheek, warm unlike the snow burying her shoulders.

"Must you ask?" Lila hung her head. "I was... I was doing stuff, yet you flirted with someone again..."

She pursed her lips, grumbles escaping from her lips. "This is my moment here where I awakened as... as a Witch, the same as you, Mel..."

"Lila..."

Mel's tone softened with regret as she tugged Lila's chin up with a soft smile. "I apologise, my dear lover."

The snow's coldness was silenced as the frosty breeze died, while Lila lifted her hand to wipe off her tears.

Just as guilt crept in on Mel's heart, she noticed something... extremely unexpected.

The tips of Lila's lips... were shivering as if to resist the urge to smile instead.

Mel blinked, then blinked again to confirm this sight.

A little smirk curled up on Mel's face as she patted Lila's hat. "Sad?"

"Very sad."

The snow's temperature relaxed more as it fell indifferently, contrasting Lila's supposedly 'sad' self.

"You've to... compensate me a little." Lila squirmed within Mel's embrace. "Or at least lift your skirt so I can be mad at you right here and now."

Mel's eyes glimmered with interest. "So you know what happened then?"

"I don't." Lila pouted. "Or do you want me to guess?"

The lips remained trembling; a silent cry to be teased.

Chuckling, Mel's finger then raised itself.

And bobbed Lila's little mouth.

"Mmm..."

Lila's pout held firm; her stubbornness incarnate as she was unwilling to back down from her act.

A tenderness flashed through Mel's eyes as she then leaned down.

Witch hat collided with witch hat, as their cheeks melted together.

"Sorry." Mel's grasp tightened over Lila's body. "You don't have to act. I really do feel apologetic for last night, Lila."

Envy paused at Mel's unexpected response, her bloated cheeks puffing out air as her mind lingered on whether to tease Mel more.

Then, her arms merely returned the hug, hard and unyielding.

"Dummy." Lila's chin glided across Mel's shoulder. "Don't seek me to forgive when I fully know you're the type of person to be led away like this anyway..."

"Hehe..." With a bubbly giggle, Mel's hand carressed Lila's neck. "How else do I express my feelings for you, Lila?"

She gently pulled back Lila; their gazes locked as cherry-pink hair crossed emerald-white.

"You're my one and only childhood friend, Lila." Mel's curved lips neared Lila's. "The one and only... that accepts all that I am."

The declaration hung just near Lila's lips, her brows finally flattening as she let out a cute groan.

"How about my reward?" Lila whispered. "I did help you a lot this time, right?"

"Yep!"

Breaths mingled, as Mel's lips gave Lila's a soft tap. "I promise to compensate, for you'll have me all for yourself this week."

Not allowing a reply, Mel finally tasted Lila's lips once again.

Fresh and frosty, as Lila pressed further willingly with closed eyes; her cheek's flushing that matched with the faint blush on Mel's cheeks.

Mel felt a different sense of fulfillment, accepting that her other Partner reciprocated.

And a complete submission unique to Lila.

"Mel..."

Mel only slipped her tongue into Lila's whimper as a response.

[ Envy appreciated your honesty and was fully ready to accept her jealousy for you! ]

[ Envy favourability: 45% - 83% ]

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

As both reunited, argued, then consoled and kissed each other in the span of a short time, they eventually glided upward as Ka-broom flew them.

The frozen forest zoomed past their views, as Lila's arms wrapped around Mel's waist in comfort from behind.

Happiness bloomed across her face as she giggled silly.

"What's wrong?"

Mel asked as she glanced behind; Lila was now back in her school uniform.

Teaching Lila to switch back was simple; the talented Envy easily grasped the emerald and blue mana.

A few seconds, and Mel clapped at the smuggy Lila who switched back, before she switched back herself and summoned a Kabroom for their ride.

"Nothing much." Lila then held her head up high. "I just feel... somewhat proud now, after lasting a few seconds with Senior."

"Senior? Oh..." Recalling Wrath, Mel grinned. "From what I can observe, you were hiding from her back then."

"Sh-shush!" Lila pouted again. "She was lucky that I'm horrified. I'm... pretty sure I can match her equally once I master my Witch power..."

Then, a sharp glint crossed Lila's eyes as she grumbled. "And you sure have your fun while I'm struggling my best to survive, huh?"

"Heh heh heh..." Mel scratched her rosy cheek. "Still plan on not forgiving me?"

"Not ever! I... was even going to freeze everything below you."

Mel shuddered a little; the imagination of her half self frozen was... a little disturbing from her adorable Lila.

Though even she was surprised by her forgetfulness, she must be more used to Lila's Awakening .

[ But Host was all too happy to wear it as a memento, no? ]

'Shut it...'

Mel's ears perked up at the panel that echoed her Partner's smug tone, as she telepath her grievance to Maria on instinct.

Unaware of this, Lila squinted her eyes. "But then I thought half of the fault was probably not on my considerate Mel this time, but someone else who forced it last night, right?"

Mel froze at the accusation, yet words slipped out of her. "Why do you think that?"

"Because Mel was more the type to be considerate."

Lila sighed. "You've... promised to teach me how to deactivate my Witch form before you go, and you're never the type to go back on a promise easily when it came to me and other... well, mistresses."

Mistress?

Ignoring the ominous implication, Mel's lips curved. "I appreciate you defending me, but even I was careless in my... excitement, my Lila."

"Then you're not denying that bad woman seducing you, right?"

Lila's voice heavied, as her emerald eyes softened. "Are you... Defending her, Mel?"

"On the contrary, I was hoping you'd defend her." Mel's back slumped towards Lila's chest as she gripped Ka-broom's twig.

"After all, you've such a bad lover that would leave you alone in the night."

Lila's brows raised, then huffed again. "Doesn't excuse that bad woman. I didn't know what she did to make you so smitten with her..."

"I just love her," Mel confessed, her eyes sincere. "Just as I love you and many others."

"Cheesy." Lila seethed her teeth, before grumbling again. "Then..."

Lila's gaze trailed from Mel's shoulder, then to her neck.

"You won't mind me leaving my gifts to you, too, right?"

Her head darted, her teeth gaping as it pressed down on Mel's.

Mel mewled at the gentleness; unlike her Partner, it was a trickling warmth instead of a smoldering affection, a fitting comfort unique from her Lila alone.

"Mind... telling me who that bad woman is?" Lila mumbled between her nibbles on Mel's neck. "So I can have an idea who my second senior is."

The panel flickered in Mel's vision, as Mel almost laughed out loud.

[ This system did not suggest that Envy know! ]

[ Reminder: This System was the one who trapped Envy as Wrath sliced at her and took your first time without her knowing! ]

[ Please reconsider for this mere Exarch ranked Saintess! ]

Could... an Exarch ranked Saintess conjure a reality marble that trapped the World's two disasters so easily?

Mel tapped her chin, unwilling but a little exasperated by her Partner.

"Hm..." Then Mel shrugged, leaning back her neck to lend more space for Lila's pressing lips.

"I guess you'll have to tell me then," she twirled her pink hair idly. "Why are you fighting with Wrath?"

"That!"

Lila yelped, her nibbles turning into stubborn bites as her mind scoured for a way out. "That... was merely a test! Yes, a test!"

"Test?"

Mel's curiosity shot up as she glanced behind her. "What test?"

"As your first wife, of course!"

"Oh..."

Mel's eyes then gazed off.

"What?" Lila's head left Mel's neck, her emerald eyes threatening to darken again. "Would you like to argue otherwise?"

"Pft." Mel bit her lips. "I would let you decide that..."

Mel had to be honest; her idea for a first wife always stuttered between Maria and Lila.

One was her first, first-ever 'person' she trusted, while the other was the first lover she seduced.

What an excellent dilemma! She felt nothing but gratitude that both lovers accepted her wholeheartedly.

"Oi, Mel. Don't glance away..."

"Ah, look! We've arrived, Lila!"

"Oi!"

Ignoring Lila's call, Mel's broom finally arrived at Voltuntus, where they first arrived, Embervale.

As they reached the edge of the wall, they glided down, stepped off the ka-broom with a thanks, and headed to the border wall with a scowling Lila.

Mel only chuckled at Lila, though; no favourability dropped? This means that Lila didn't mind her lack of answers.

Though... that didn't apply to a certain Knight in the distance.

Mel's jaws hung in the air, steps locked onto the road, and she came face to face with a Knight. Her brows knitted heavily together, waiting for someone.

Equally guilty and shocked, Lila halted in her steps and mumbled.

"You two."

Upon spotting them, Saria scowled with a disappointment a Parent would have.

"Uh..."

Mel scratched her chin; unlike earlier, an even more urgent matter fell right to her laps.