CHAPTER 185: ’THE ELF WAS THE VILLAIN!’

Rizzler POV

Pedestrians in trimmed suits and well-laced dress passed them by, some even wearing coats as they strolled through the snowing streets, despite the snow’s lack of temperature.

And yet, all their eyes followed the blushing Mel.

Despite being dressed in a simple academy uniform, the girl’s small yet child-like features, paired with her fidgety hug with another equally stunning Elf, elicited a need to protect such innocence.

Duke Rizzler was the opposite; from the rooftop of a square building, he scanned even the tremble from Mel’s arms; a little too visible, like a performance.

"But I had Lila. As well as... Rosana..."

Her lips curled up before grinning with a slight frown.

"If I show I’m afraid, I will waste their efforts to follow my whims."

Ah, so that’s what it was.

As the Duke’s step hopped, his gaze remained locked on Mel as he landed steadily, stroking his bearded chin in contemplation.

The Duke himself, off and on the political scene, always has a penchant for observing people to assist his wife.

So he only had full confidence, from his full days of ’observing’ Mel with her daughter, that she was a genuinely kind person.

A person of great discipline, valor, and honesty, she would indeed make a good wife.

"Hm." The Elf caressed Mel’s arm. "You bear too much on your shoulder; know that others would gladly help you, Mel."

However, Mel’s kindness was as genuine as her motives.

The Duke scowled; the girl’s heart belonged to no one but herself, drawn only by the beauty of the girls surrounding her.

That trait was strangely contrasting, too volatile for the Duke to comprehend.

As the Duke sighed, Mel’s resolute voice echoed again.

"It’s not that, Aria."

Mel shook her head, her hair swaying slowly and hesitantly.

"I love them. All of them."

Mel’s fist loosened before clutching her heart; her shoulder fell more towards Maria’s.

"If I can, I definitely will save everyone on my own, with my own strength."

Nodding hard, she stared into the elf’s brown eyes, glittering with an innocent affection.

"Letting them all live the rest of their lives happily, being loved fairly... that’s what I set out to do!"

Mel’s hand loosened; a slight tremble lingered as her and the elf’s eyes locked.

Is this it? Admirable, rash; especially weak for someone wise enough to handle the Princess situation.

The Duke cast a downward gaze; dreamers like Mel always died smiling while defending the North years ago.

Hmph! His feet grew firmer as he followed them; it’s not that he cared, he swore.

"Ah, my Mel..."

The Duke took a deep breath before glancing at another figure.

Aria. There was no such person as Aria in the report, and the timing of his appearance for Mel’s Mohi tickets was all too suspicious.

As if she knew Mel would gain them in the first place.

Aria’s palm slithered at Mel’s neck, pulling her closer as her finger danced on the throat.

That possessiveness. The Elf-

Yet as the Duke collected his thoughts, Aria suddenly dropped a bombshell.

"I’m glad you’ve made good friends for my sake, Mel."

And then, the Duke’s mouth parted.

’For my sake. ’ Was it a dress of words? A performance? A-

He then gritted his teeth; no! That elf definitely sensed him earlier when he stared at her; then what was this weird choice of words?

"Ma-maria-"

Yet as Mel was about to divulge more, the elf kissed her again.

The Duke glanced away, blocked his senses, and sneakily cast a Silence spell on whatever sounds they emitted from below.

With their steps paused in the street, Rizzler’s eyes narrowed at the flushed Mel after Aria’s kiss.

Unusual. Too unusual.

The girl, who earlier handled two girls and a Princess easily, now blushed as if the spring came early?

Mel’s arms folded into Aria’s chest, as the Elf lightly embraced and nuzzled into Mel’s hair.

Then, she shot a smirk upward.

To the Duke himself.

Silence barrier cast away, and the Duke’s head throbbed at the next sentence.

Not by the suspicious Elf, but by the stammering Mel.

"Aria... you could’ve tasted me tonight... don’t be so impatient..."

The whimper slipped into the Duke’s ear, a silent cry for help.

Tasted me tonight. The implication behind those words screamed submission, and even a slight unwillingness and shame.

Puzzles began fitting together; Mel’s volatile, contrasting traits, the elf’s suspicious demeanor, as he stilled himself.

And sent a fierce glare into the Elf’s curving eyes.

"Ah. Thanks for reminding me, Mel." Aria’s hand circled at Mel’s waist. "Which part shall I train you then? I would give you a choice for answering."

"Hic... hic..."

The Duke’s hand gripped into a white knuckle; memories flaring up as his soul scorched in his chest.

Mel, as he trusted, should’ve been an originally kind and loving person.

Yet, as he judged, such a person was easy to be tricked into honey traps, like the Elf before him now.

"Don’t worry, my Mel."

The elf’s lips neared and grazed Mel’s cheek, her eyes never leaving the shook, furious Duke.

He now has it. Mel’s innocence must have been warped! Tainted by an outside influence, conditioned to think her heart and body should belong to everyone.

And it didn’t even take a second to guess who the culprit was.

"Bastard..."

He muttered under his breath; a step was all he needed, yet despite his daringness, so was his wife’s fury upon learning his selfish, observant behaviour again.

The Elf’s look only cheered up further, before whispering to Mel’s ear again.

Yet the Duke’s sense picked it up.

"I will ensure by the end, you will be sufficiently rewarded with nothing but bliss, in front of all those who cherished you."

As Mel’s thighs clasped and slid against each other, tears rolling down Aria’s shoulder, the Duke closed his eyes.

Yet his teeth clenched onto his tongue, threatening to seep out blood.

He knew too little of the Elf’s purpose, the forces behind her, and why she particularly targeted Mel.

Then, he quickly swung around and hopped towards the Castle.

His eyes, bloodshot, found a new determination.

’I cannot let that bastard Elf near my Daughter’s wife!’

Rosana, to his mind, deserved the best of the best.

Compared to all those dishonest suitors, Mel proved too qualified for the job.

Kind with enough wisdom; loving with enough honesty. Such a wife was a treasure; he was confident Rosana would regret missing it.

’First, I’ll beat up Cassian.’

The Emperor must pay for his undue diligence again; it seems their ’bond-building’ session in childhood wasn’t enough!

’Then, I’ll continue gathering enough information tomorrow.’

The worst-case scenario for the Duke was if the Elf turned out to be a spy.

So, he must also negotiate with Cassian, granting him assistance and the right to leave and enter the academy as he sees fit.

With enough information, he would fully strike back at that irritating, evil Woman by then.

’Wait for me, my Daughter!’

The Duke grinned; he imagined a happy ending to this tragic tale, where Mel tearfully hugged Rosana, with Rosana fully accepting her love, with both hearts mended.

’Papa will ensure your happy ending.’

And he knew too; his daughter would surely, finally pat him on the head after his grand achievement!

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Mel and Maria POV

[ Rizzler’s distance to Us: 789m ]

"Wow..."

Mel breathed out as her chest heaved; Maria’s chest, so soft and enjoyable as cushion.

Her hand briefly hovered to squeeze, before her chin was then tugged upward.

"Mel."

"Ah, Maria!"

Mel grinned. "That old duke was totally tricked; who would’ve thought his imagination would run so wild, huh?"

"..."

"Uh..."

Mel tilted her head, blinking as she wiped the tears away.

They were fake; sure, Maria’s aggressiveness always excited her, but yes, they were fake.

Repeating twice to her drumming heart, Maria also tilted her head, her touch gently smoothing to her reddened cheek.

"Sorry."

Maria licked her lips.

"You’re so cute that I don’t think the dessert afterwards would cut it."

Heh?

Mel’s lips parted in surprise; um, wasn’t the Duke already leaving? So why the act?

"Maria?"

"I’ve been... busy, you know."

"Eh?"

Maria’s look softened upon a snow trickled down her hair, frosty yet eerily baring an emptiness.

It reminded her; right. She still had much to deal with thanks to Lila.

So, Maria’s smile truly bloomed this time. Let’s gaslight Mel a little with her work burden!

"Do you know, Mel..."

Maria whispered, cupping Mel’s cheek firm with their noses inches away.

"I’ve been... really, really busy..."

Booping Mel’s startled yet nervous eyes, Maria then initiated the most unexpected attack.

Gathering air with her lips, she then pouted. Yes. Pouted.

"How are you going to reward me, Partner?"

A breath hitched in Mel’s throat; the thought of the mature, elegant Maria doing such a gap-moe behaviour absolutely stunning her.

"Uh...uh..."

Hm. So easy.

Maria’s palms then settled at Mel’s waist before pulling her.

"Don’t worry."

Maria licked her lips.

"I promise to be gentle, while we’re enjoying our dessert."

As Mel’s mind grew hazy, she imagined the busy Maria at her desk, scrambling for the next incident that Lila’s snow must have caused.

"Mm-mm..."

Mel reluctantly nodded, whimpers once again escaping.

"No.... no doing me down there though..."

Oh. For sure.

Maria promised to no one but herself. It only meant every other spot was valid.