CHAPTER 59: CLINGY GREED AND SWEET ENVY

Mel observed their surroundings. Other juniors and seniors, seemingly chattering unbothered, were sneaking curious glances towards them.

For a moment, gratification washed over Mel’s face. Much against Lila’s wish, she was the type to revel in chaos and attention rather than rejecting them.

As such, she hummed idly when Lila hissed. "Spar?"

Despite the tone laced with bloodlust, Rosana shrugged. "Spars. Precisely three of them."

"Well..." Lila’s shoulders lay back, her eyes squinting as if to appear more menacing. "Thanks for accompanying my Mel. I also found those lessons boring, so I’m glad my Mel found someone else besides me to play now."

Mel’s quiver as she held back a chuckle. Was Lila always this childish-sounding before?

The Dragoness raised a brow, a mischievous glint crossing her eyes.

Scrapping her plan to greet Mel and walk off originally, she strode around their seat. "Don’t mention it. I myself find much fun in her company as well."

With a graceful ease, she settled to the right of Mel, their thighs touching against each other. "Unfortunately, she is not yet my possession. Otherwise, we would have a lot more to play with."

Mel blinked at Rosana. "Lewd. You could have just asked, you know?"

The Heiress responded with a ’kind’ inviting smile. "Not before your submission."

"Aw..." Mel’s eyes curved. "Keep your door unlocked tonight, then? I might just consider."

Rosana grinned. "I don’t take false promises. How about right after this lunch break?"

"Oh. So daring!" Mel ’shuddered’ as if she was as excited. "Fortunately, my night was already preoccupied. Maybe next time, you invite yourself in instead?"

Lila’s eyes darted between Rosana and Mel. The spark between their gazes, the flirty conversations, since when was she so close to her Mel?!

Dark lines drew over her expressions, as her hatred for the blonde manifested in the form of Ice mana seeping out from her fingertips.

One Ice Spike. No, judging by the Heiress’s second life quirk, two is enough.

[ Envy felt intense grudge, resentment, and murderous intent towards Rosana! ]

[ Envy favourability: 91 - 56 ]

Mel smirked with ease at the panel, mouthing an apology from the bottom of her heart to the Witch of Envy.

She wished to use this conversation to test Lila’s tolerance for her behaviours, but it seems it would annoy her bitterly.

Planning her next move, by cutting off her exchanges with Rosana, she turned to her childhood friend and muttered. "Lila-"

Then, as if on cue, the Witch of Envy sprang up from her seat, her Emerald eyes full of determination tinged with bloodlust.

And a huff, she circled around to Mel’s left side.

Mel glanced over Lila’s flushed expression, her cheek pouting like a cute hamster.

She almost stretched her arm to squeeze again, but not before Lila wrapped hers around it.

She glared at Rosana. "Come to think of it, we haven’t gotten our lunches from the cafeteria yet."

Rosana met the shadowy eyes with an amused gaze. "Is it my cue to leave?"

Mel took a deep breath before facing Lila with sincerity. She had her fun with Rosana. And if Lila dislikes it, she will fully cater to their alone time by casting away the Heiress.

Yet in her slight surprise, Lila merely narrowed her eyes at Mel, before squeezing her cheek. She was irritated, but more with Rosana herself rather than Mel.

As Mel’s playful stuttering chuckle echoed in the heated air, her gaze snapped back to the Heiress. "Think I’m afraid of you?"

Rosana’s brows raised, for Lila’s steady voice exuded an unbelievable calmness.

A snicker almost escaped her throat before she gulped it back. The Heiress has treated her prey’s surroundings as decorations, even Lila included.

Reevaluating the blue puppy, she tilted her head with a taunting grin. "I’m not a person without my bias. You’re welcome to change my impression."

"As if I need to." Lila’s hold on Mel’s cheeks tightened, eliciting a soft moan from her. "I never need to prove anything to anyone."

The Heiress’s lips quivered, noting how her boring past always resurfaced, confronting the couple.

She rose from her seat, probing. "Weren’t you bothered by the rumours of you two together? Or rather enjoyed it?"

Lila’s brow lifted in question before gazing around her.

Dodgey glimpses, curious murmurs, and excited faces. All centred around the trio and their lovers’ argument.

Mel watched with concern, yet smiled softly upon the blush slowly settling over Lila’s face, her head hanging in a belated embarrassment.

She cupped Lila’s wrist before slowly settling it aside, whispering. "You can be honest. I will ensure no one can hear us."

Echo Series: Silence.

An enchanted barrier coated around them, as Lila froze under the gentle weight of the magic.

Yet the Witch of Envy gulped, before her watering yet confident eyes shifted back to Rosana.

"I did enjoy it." Lila took a deep breath, settling her thoughts before bragging. "Everyone knew that Mel and I were a pair. What’s not to like about it?"

Lila admitted her selfish, contradictory thought. Others’ approvals may be irrelevant, but not when it concerns Mel. Especially her Mel.

Mel’s breath hitched as Lila’s trembling hand clutched her skirt. So adorable, so tempting.

The Witch of Lust’s arms then slithered up Lila’s waist, her chest colliding with hers as she leaned down.

Chuckling hot breaths into Lila’s flustered eyes, she pecked at Lila’s forehead, then at the closed eye.

Lila hiccuped. "Mel-Mel... others are..."

Her protest was cut off when Mel pressed her lips against hers, biting against the tender flesh. Whimpers slipped out of Lila, her thighs clenching together in shame.

With a final lick, their mouths parted unwillingly.

Mel cupped Lila’s reddened ear, playing with it loosely between her fingers. "Sorry. Can’t control myself."

Her Lila asked for it. Who told her to be so cute at the most unexpected moment?

Her tongue brushed against her lips, savouring the lingering taste. She would have pushed down Lila further if not for the Heiress’s intrigued gaze and others’ shocked eyes.

The Witch of Envy’s mind swirled, her palms almost stretching out to cover her own face.

Yet they settled to the side, aware that Mel’s golden eyes were now admiring her ’cuteness’.

A determination flared up in her. Her cute blush was an asset against her competitor, and as Sis Saria scolded her from before, only a fool would brandish her most potent weapon at the last second!

[ Envy wanted you to look at her more and more and more! ]

[ Envy Favourability: 56 - 87 ]

Lila... she is so sweet...

Uttering the ’this is previous, no horny’ mantra inside her heart, Mel’s attention moved back to fascinated Rosana. "So, accompany us?"

Her lips then curled to a foxy smile. "Though, I’m afraid I will only have one hand to hold right now."

She spoke as she clasped her hand around Lila’s, who whimpered at her touch.

Lila’s mind raced. Come to think of it, didn’t Mel confess how she couldn’t control herself because of her?

A heartened, almost innocent giggle escaped from Lila’s lips. Her Mel. Also. Felt the same as her.

[ Envy’s chest was full of a bubbly satisfaction! ]

[ Envy favourability: 87 - 93 ]

Rosana covered her lips, resisting the urge to laugh. "Don’t mind me being the third wheel?"

"Nope." Mel grinned, her arrogance mirroring Rosana’s. "You would never think of yourself like that, so don’t lie."

The Witch of Greed froze a little, before mumbling with a hint of madness. "How grateful I am for my prey to understand me."

Mel’s tongue darted out playfully. "It’s my field here, after all."

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

Students were queuing obediently in the cafeteria when they arrived

Countless juniors and seniors were stacked against each other by the rules. With a Prophet as a student council, the Discipline Committee has reached almost 100%, so no one dared to start trouble.

Mel spoke casually behind them, hands still holding a dazed Lila. "By the way, Miss Rosana, I assumed you would have preferred your meal in your own room."

The Heiress held her chin. "You thought too highly of me. I’m the type to taste every meal I haven’t tried, the cafeteria’s being one of them."

[ Fun Fact: Greed has travelled to the capital in advance to explore every place, eat every meal, and sleep in every inn! ]

[ It was a pain! The Holy Knight has to ensure crowds won’t swarm where the Heiress went! Make sure to scold her later, Host! ]

Mel’s smile strained, before quipping about her memories of middle school days. "But in my assumption, the cafeteria’s food was always either mediocre or downright inedible."

Upon her words, clarity slipped back into the dazed Lila, her vision clearing as she stared at Mel. "Don’t worry, Mel. I have researched the school’s use of fresh ingredients, so it should be fine."

Rosana snickered. "That’s the basic. A true gourmet won’t mind the foundation."

"Oh?" Lila scowled at Rosana. "Well, I’m sorry that I’m a mere villager girl from afar, Miss Heiress. Even freshly preserved ingredients were luxury for me to cook there."

The Heiress chortled. "I mean no offense, however. I shall apologise."

Then, her eyes smiled playfully. "How about I make it up to you by taking your Mel to my favourite restaurant next time? My treat. Consider it an official visit from an approved playmate, certified by yours truly."

"You! Gr-" Lila gritted her teeth, her glance flickering over to the gleeful Mel before back to Rosana. "Do you have to provoke me every second?"

With a calm tone, the Heiress merely stated. "Just competing with you, as she would have liked."

The Witch of Envy’s hand tightened over Mel’s, her tone deadpan. "Don’t cater to her fantasy too much."

"Then how about mine?" Rosana tapped her lips as she grinned. "Or ours?"

Lila’s face instantly flushed again. "That’s... that’s for Mel to decide..."

The Witch of Lust watched the two bicker, a swell of warmth rising in her chest. Strangely, Lila and Rosana got along better than she’d expected.

Then her ears twitched. Catching a soft whimper in the distance.

She glanced ahead to see a tiny, violet-haired princess jumping up, her chest heaving as she struggled to peek over the large man’s shoulder, blocking her view.

Aw...trying to see the menu?

Suppressing a pitiful wheeze, she met the princess’s tear-filled eyes and began to form a plan of her own.