CHAPTER 150: FIRST WIVES: DOG-FIGHT! (WITH MEL AS THE COLLETERAL)

Mel peeked at the bar; her only saviour, the merciful, kind-looking bartender, had scurried to nowhere.

"Hic..."

Whimper hitched in her throat as she shuddered, as Lila’s lips pressed closely to her ear.

"So," she murmured, facing Maria on the other side. "How exactly did your... ’favourability’ system work?"

Maria smiled, her lips barely kissing Mel’s ear as her gaze briefly lingered on the missing bartender.

"It depended entirely on observation, Envy."

"And that observation was...? You aren’t a mind-reader or bender like Mel."

"I agree, but my political experience was more than enough to distinguish your emotions."

She chuckled as Mel’s face flushed; her fingers dancing on Mel’s thigh like a piano.

"It didn’t matter; affection, arousal, even pure joy could increase the favourability; the opposite also was true."

Frustrated, Lila’s palm smoothed over Mel, eliciting a slight shiver.

Mel’s eyes threatened to water; if there was a favourability, hers had already exceeded 100 for her excitement.

Her first wives casually closed in both her ears and were used as convenient speakerphones.

"Both of you..."

Mel breathed out, clutching tight to her skirt as her heart beat faster. "Don’t speak such serious matters... while teasing me..."

"Aria, but..." Lila frowned, her cheeks blushing even as she ignored Mel. "That didn’t explain how you read and describe my thoughts, though."

"It’s simple to refer slightly based on your backgrounds, body conditions, and facial reactions."

With one hand on Mel’s thigh, Maria’s other palm snaked down to Mel’s curved waist.

"Of course," Maria smirked, giving Mel’s bum a firm grasp. "Reactions are inaccurate at times, thus you must rely on instinct for... some assumptions."

Maria admired Mel’s panting face as she spoke, a perfect demonstration.

"Look," Maria tugged Mel’s chin, easing her to face Lila. "How does this look to you, Envy?"

Lila pulled away, then observed Mel’s teary expression; her jaw hanging open as she desperately tried to steady her breath.

She gulped, then muttered out. "Submission."

But.. it’s not because of her.

Lila narrowed her eyes on Maria; the teasing gaze pressed on Mel’s as her hand twirled in an idle circle on Mel’s thigh.

Then her face paused; her thought lingering on a realisation of how Maria truly treated Mel as an object.

Not like even Rosana’s was a trace of humanity attached, no.

Sighing, Lila closed in on Mel’s parted lips. "As expected, you’re a bad woman."

Yet, this evil woman was Mel’s partner, whom she assumed had helped Mel countless times.

"So, hold Mel for me."

Then, she forced her tongue into Mel’s lips.

Mel moaned into Lila’s kiss, her waist nudging as it was wrapped around by Maria.

A thrill coursed through Lila’s lips; her saliva mixed in with Mel’s trickling tears.

Drawing away her breath, Lila glanced over Mel’s slumped shoulder to Maria’s relaxed face.

"Just one question," Lila pursed her lips, then asked. "What is your true identity?"

Lila had a few guesses, but one was most likely in her head.

Maria blinked, then tapped her chin with a smirk. "Guess."

Lila frowned. "Do you want me to say it when the Holy Knights were outside? No."

Manners that bordered on infuriating people; she could only recall one person since the ’fake hostage’ situation in their Entrance Exam.

"Lila~"

Mel squirmed in Maria’s embrace, yet her hand silently cast a Silence barrier just in case.

"Mel..." Lila pouted. "I’m not doubting her."

"No... I’m just..."

Mel wiggled as she glanced at Maria. "Can we please... go to a room now?"

Maria’s brows raised, her head tilting in intrigue. "Oh? I thought you were satisfied after your ventures with Envy."

"Mmm... don’t care..."

Mel shook her head. "I want you both to mess me up... I love you both so much it hurts me you don’t dote on me... and I don’t get to dote on you too..."

Mel’s childish complaint echoed in the silence, and warmth caressed Lila and Maria’s hearts.

Observing Mel’s adoring yet submissive face, they then glanced at each other-

And smiled in understanding.

"Envy."

Maria held Mel tighter, as her free hand shifted Mel’s head to hers. "Of course, my treatment for Mel was... a little enigmatic to others, almost to myself sometimes."

She kissed Mel’s lips, watching Mel innocently leaned in for more.

"I may wish to control Mel’s life as much as possible," Maria confessed as she glared at Envy.

"But that’s within my rights to do so, for I am confident I love Mel more than any of you."

Any of you... Other witches concluded.

Lila’s lips grew to a confident smirk. "Then we’re on the same page."

She then leaned in to snatch Mel’s arm, before cuddling and squeezing it into her breasts.

"I, too, will be within my rights to catch up then." She frowned. "So may we get along, Mel’s first Partner."

Maria’s brow raised in interest before she mimicked the same gesture on Mel’s arm.

"May we get along?" Maria’s voice grew heavy. "Mel’s first witch-lover."

"Heh heh, you both..."

Mel’s lips threatened to laugh as she wiggled. "It’s so adorable that you two fight for me... ah, I’m so happy..."

Pausing, Maria observed Mel’s face, completely submerged in her dreamland.

How adorable, yet also unfortunate.

It would be a long way... till she could occupy Mel’s heart as her only source of happiness.

Until then...

"Alright." Maria pulled away, letting go of Mel’s arm. "I’ve done my greetings. Let’s enjoy our breakfast for now."

Lila narrowed her eyes, silently questioning Maria.

"Fine." She pulled as well, before forking a piece of fish to Mel.

Watching her pink-haired, blushing lover cheerfully bite into it, Lila sighed as she also turned into Maria’s forked piece.

She observed the dangerous glint as Maria fed Mel, unmistakably terrifying.

Her Mel... tended to be lenient to those who genuinely loved her.

So, in turn, Lila thought she must be on guard against any ’bad woman’ who approached Mel.

She huffed a little, recalling how she was a ’bad woman’ with her jealousy and possessiveness.

"Lila?"

Yet her insecurity melted, as Mel’s loving eyes pierced through hers.

A smile bloomed on Lila’s face as she huffed again. "Dummy."

But even she knew how silly her worry was!

Her Mel was not dumb enough to unquestioningly trust Maria.

More importantly, Mel still hasn’t declared her the official ’first wife’!

"Here!"