After finishing breakfast, Mel headed out to the village's marketplace.
The street was filled with stalls and villagers, most selling and trading their harvests with each other. A colorful, scentful booth stood out among all the veggies and fruits. Under the counter lie the display drawers of roses, lilies, and so on, the passion of the vendor out in the open.
Mel approached the flower vendor to greet the yawning aunt. "Hey, Miss Amanda! Hang in there for the early morning!"
"Ah, Mel! Here for the flowers again?"
Amanda wrapped up a bouquet like usual. Everyone in the village knew Lila's situation.
Eying the curious glances from other stall vendors, she received the flowers. "Thanks as always! And-"
"Nah nah, like I told you."
Other vendors nodded approvingly before Amanda smirked. "No need to pay. Just reward me with your marriage invitation when you finally get with the girl."
The Witch shuddered before cocky human, and the stares at her which resonated the same sentiment with the flower vendor. Thanks to Mel's constant flirting, gossip flowed in the otherwise boring town, and everyone had already started betting on how many years it would take them to get together finally.
Compared to Lila shutting herself in to care for her sister, the villagers' passion is almost merciful, if not overbearing.
And she loved every second of it.
"We were still only 16, Miss Amanda." The foxy smile curled up again. "But you can prepare in advance. Who knows what will happen right as we hit 18?"
"Oh. Cheeky bastard." Amanda grinned widely. "Send her sister my regard."
"Will do, my first marriage's guaranteed guest."
"Alright alright. Don't forget a travelling merchant will come from the capital as well. Do try to afford a nice-old ring from him, won't you?"
Mel gripped her fist, her resolve burning bright at the reminder. "Of course. I promise only the best wedding gift."
For the first Witch I will ever save.
For the first childhood friend I have made.
As she was leaving, more vendors offered fruits and veggies to Mel, all genuinely caring for Leia's recovery.
With the rules of no rejection, like free rolls for a gacha game, Mel picked out some of the fruits before heading to Lila's home, rejecting others so that her poor friend wouldn't be overwhelmed with 'sudden gifts' like last time.
-------------------
Lila's cottage is small and quaint, less lavishly built than hers, with sturdy stones as a ceiling. The walls were auburn bricks, and the door was of weathered wood.
Creak. Opening inside reveals a cozy, clean interior with no dust, the window frame glittering as if bragging about the owner's meticulousness. The patient needed the best environment to heal after all.
"Oh. Preparing for breakfast?"
Mel exclaimed at Lila in the kitchen, her lover-not-lover's brows knitting together while staring at the boiling pot, with a light-pink apron wrapping over her figure.
"Mm. Welcome again, Mel!" Lila glanced at her regular visitor. "Sit somewhere first and-"
The white-haired girl stuttered, her eyes squinting at the basket of 'free stuff' her friends carried.
"Surprise." Mel put aside the basket on the dining table. "It's so nice to have kind neighbors, don't you think?"
"Ugh..." Lila shuddered, the boiling stew mirroring her heart's stirring turmoil. "Free-of-charge again?"
The Witch of Envy observed the color assortments of fruits, veggies, and canteens of milk, as a muddy turmoil clouded her mind: both gratitude and jealousy.
Lila herself is insociable, and her time is most occupied with caring for her sister. But more gifts like these came after her friend dragged her out, and the villagers' kindness was always a help to her tight budget.
...if not for her friend's prideful, unashamed look, as if the time they spent together was only worth some gifts from strangers.
[ Witch of Envy appreciated the gifts! But not the realisation that comes with it! ]
[ Favourability: 35 -> 25 ]
"Nope." Not minding how her friend overthought again, Mel puffed out her chest. "I paid for them all."
Lila raised a brow. "Don't you hear what my sister always told you? Liars get no maidens."
"Hic." Mel wiped an invisible tear. "Since when did my cute Lila become so rude?"
"Since you told me to be straight and honest with you."
The totally-not-jealous Witch gazed back at her stew with carefulness. Enough. Her sister's illness came first before her friend. After all, it has been a while since she finally saw her appetite return, until now.
"Oh, look who's here!"
A creak sound of a door opening, and Mel turned to the tall lady with a broad shoulder, contrasted by the ethereal beauty her face harboured. Alas, that beauty was tainted by a purple scar that was painted over the right side of her face.
Mel frowned. Compared to last time, Leia's scar has grown again, reaching to the bottom of her dry lips. Despite that, she smiled warmly to disguise her worry. "Sister Leia!"
"Hey there, plum face." The sickly beauty patted her head. "Here to visit us again? To be clear, I'm not ready to hand my sister over yet."
Mel leaned obediently to her future sister-in-law's touch. "Of course. I haven't bought a ring yet for the occasion!"
The Witch of Lust had her plans to buy a matching ring worthy for her, for them. As much as she would like to kneel and propose, she needed more time to be selective.
At least, not before she captured that merchant for a little, teensy scam.
"Sister. No need to rest?"
Lila's concerned gaze peeked over her shoulders. She knew how charming Mel is, but she only felt conflicted about how the two most important people in her life were interacting without her.
[ The Witch of Envy was left out of the conversation! But how precious, she was more relieved you and her sister were getting along like always, without her! ]
[ Favourability: 25 -> 30 ]
Mel blinked at the message before meeting Leia's playful gaze.
A knowing nod passed between them. The white bun's preciousness was agreed upon without a single word.
"...what?" Having only spoken a little, Lila scowled at the duo.
"Nothing. Nothing." Leia coughed a little, clearing her sore throat before mustering her strongest voice. "I am fine mostly. Can't have my sister being snatched from me so soon."
Mel mused at such a remark. "So soon? Then I take it that you already treat me as a future niece?"
Leia knocked lightly on her forehead. "In your dreams."
Lila smiled at the banter, before turning back and scooping the stews into the wooden bowls beside her. She is more than aware she is blushing a little at how blatant her friend's affection is, but all the more reasons she must hide her embarrassment before she was teased again.
Lei tapped her chin, her tired eyes sweeping over the 'free' gifts on the dinner table. "Ah. A fruit basket again? We haven't even finished the last one yet!"
Her naive sister may be fooled, but Leia knew better. The rascal, cunning Mel flirted openly with Lila for a reason: to spread the word about her illness to the villagers everywhere.
Very 'kind' of them. She would have cried on the spot if she hadn't been afraid that she might only have a few months left.
Mel noticed the lingering sadness on Leia's expression, before her traitmark fox-like smile returned.
10 years. She has witnessed how the two sisters cared for each other. How Lila would shut herself off to focus on taking care of Leia's every need, and how Leia pretended she had an appetite despite her stomach, which couldn't even digest food properly by this stage of the illness.
So the Witch wondered: What expression would she have made if she had told the surprise?
Her voice is a husky whisper. "Sister Leia."
The sickly beauty turned to her, sensing a secrecy in Mel's voice. The rascal plum face has always been like this to her, always hiding her intent from Lila, like how the 'gifts' trickery for the villagers.
"What is it?"
"Hehe." An excited chuckle escaped Mel. "In tomorrow, expect to eat properly again."
The Witch admired how Leia's brows furrowed, before springing up in complete surprise, attempting to hide her shock from Lila.
"You..." Leia's mind stormed. Did Mel find a cure? Did she no longer have to trouble her sister again? Could she send... her sister away to the academy without worries? Worries about... how she wouldn't last until her graduation?
The schemer pulled her index finger over her lips. "Let's keep this a secret from Lila."
"What secret?"
Setting the stews on the table, Lila glared a little at Mel. Did her friend tell her sister about what happened last night? She would smack that pink-head with a spoon if her sister knew another dark history about her.
But instead, Mel only responded with a 'you-can-keep-guessing' grin. "Not telling."
"..."
[ Favourability: 30 -> 29 ]
Ignoring her sister's confusion, Lila stretched out her hand to squeeze Mel's cheeks, grumbling as her friend laughed at the gesture.
Leia glanced over at the playful duo, smiling to herself. As someone close to 'Saria the Radiant Knight' and a close friend, she planned to leave her sister to the reliable Mel if things came to a head.
They owed Mel much more than they thought. No need to question. Just one day, and she will wait till then for that rascal's answers.
As Mel's chuckle stuttered under the strengthening squeezes on her cheeks, her familiar's voice came to her head via telepathy.
"Master. I spotted the target's carriage coming from the North."
Oh. Very nice.
She answered in her mind. "Wait for me there after you capture him."
She still had another breakfast to enjoy and a cute, grumbly wife to comfort.