{Isabella}

Isabella sat down on a plush couch with a satisfied sigh, her tongue darting out to lick the last traces of cum from her lips. She counted the pile of suns on the table in front of her, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

[Not bad for a night's work,] she thought, her tail resting lazily on her lap. [I think that's everyone on the list... for now, at least.]

She leaned back, stretching her arms above her head and feeling the pleasant ache in her muscles.

It had been a busy night thus far, but a fun one. Fucking was, of course, something Isabella was well-acquainted with, but she'd discovered a taste for actual dancing in the process of all this. There was something about it, the feeling of swinging and moving before a crowd.

[... You know what? I might ask Mommy Dearest to help me land this gig again next year. Sure am making a good first impression on everyone, I'd hope.]

As she basked in the afterglow of her conquests, Isabella's fluffy ears twitched, picking up on a conversation nearby.

"Have you seen the nim?" one dancer whispered, her voice laced with awe.

Isabella's ears perked up. There was obviously only one nim they could be talking about.

The second dancer nodded eagerly.

"I know, right? I can't believe the rumors were true. A nim, here, at the royal gala? And not just any nim, but one with magic?"

[That's my Mel alright,] Isabella thought with a surge of pride.

She glanced down at the wand resting on the table, a little smile on her face.

She'd spent the night extolling its virtues to every noble she'd encountered, painting vivid pictures of its practical uses in between flicks of her tongue and the swing of her hips.

[Wonder how many of them will actually follow through,] she mused. [Probably not as many as I'd like, but hey, even a few sales is a win in my book. Plus, once people start using this stuff, oh I think it'll make its way onto the hands of every mage from here to Rhaya!]

At the same time, the mention of Isabella's nim girlfriend had planted a thought in her mind that wouldn't go away.

She frowned, eyes fixed on nothing in particular.@@novelbin@@

[... What are those Shadow Mages waiting for? We're halfway through the night.]

Just then, Isabella felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around her from behind, soft, gigantic breasts pressing against her back.

"What's on your mind, my little vixen?" Kimiko purred, her breath hot against Isabella's ear. "Tired?"

Isabella closed her eyes, leaning back into the embrace with a contented sigh.

"Just thinking about the wand," she murmured. "And Melisa."

"What about her?"

"I..." Isabella frowned again. "Shouldn't they have acted by now? The enemy, I mean."

Kimiko hummed thoughtfully, her fingers tracing idle patterns on Isabella's collarbone.

"You think the Shadow Mages will make their move soon?"

"They have to, no?" Isabella asked. "The biggest break of the night is set to arrive now, and Melisa, if my eyes did not deceive me, has been allowed to dance and form relations all night... And..."

She sighed.

"I mean, unless we really are just all paranoid, why would they wait like this? Why would they allow Melisa to get her name out there? If they wanted to assassinate her, shouldn't they have gone for it before she had the chance?"

"I see what you mean," Kimiko nodded. "I've been keeping an eye out as well and to be honest, I too am shocked nothing's happened yet."

Isabella shook her head.

[I have this feeling something's gonna happen soon... I want to be there for her when it does.]

She turned in Kimiko's arms, looking up at her mother with a determined glint in her green eyes.

"Can you let Lady Amelia know I'll be taking a break for the next two Swings? From the private dances, I mean. I'll still do the group performances, but..."

Kimiko raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? You've been making quite the pretty penny tonight. Is it really worth giving that up over a gut feeling?"

Isabella grinned. She turned and sat on her knees, grinning.

"You know me, Mom," she murmured against Kimiko's mouth. "My gut feelings have never taken me anywhere I didn't like."

Kimiko sighed, but there was a fond smile playing on her lips.

"Alright, my little heartbreaker. I'll let Amelia know. But be careful, okay? I don't want to see that pretty face of yours getting marred by some Shadow Mage's blade."

Isabella scoffed, pulling back with a cocky grin.

"Please, like they could even touch me. I'm Isabella Summer. I could eat Shadow Mages for breakfast if I wanted to."

---

{Melisa}

Melisa paced back and forth in the ballroom, her heart pounding and her palms slick with sweat.

She knew it was only a matter of time before the knight came to fetch her for dinner with the king and queen, and the anticipation was killing her.

[Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods,] she thought, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. [What if I say something stupid? What if I accidentally insult them? What if I spill wine all over myself like a fucking idiot?]

She glanced down at her dress, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles with trembling hands.

Earlier, looking down at herself made her feel like a million suns.

But now, as the moment of truth approached, all she could think about was how many ways she could possibly fuck this up.

Thud, thud, thud

Melisa swallowed.

[Oh no.]

Sure enough, as she turned, she found that same knight from before slowly making his way to her location.

"Lady Blackflame," he said, bowing slightly. "Their Majesties await your presence for dinner."

Melisa swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.

This was it. The moment she'd been simultaneously dreading and anticipating all night.

[Okay, Mel, you've got this. Just... don't fuck it up.]

She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin.

"Lead the way, uh, sir knight."

Just as she was about to follow him, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Melisa, wait!"

Melisa turned, her eyes widening as Javir strode towards her, a determined glint in her green eyes.

"Javir? What are you doing here?"

Javir fell into step beside her, her hand resting briefly on the small of Melisa's back.

"I'm walking with you, of course. You didn't think I'd let you face this alone, did you?"

Melisa gave a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," she murmured. "I... I appreciate the moral support."

But even as she said it, a flicker of confusion crossed her face.

[Not that I'm not grateful, but... how exactly is Javir going to help? It's not like she has any sway with the royal family... right?]

As they approached the dining hall, the knight announced their arrival.

"Presenting Melisa Blackflame and... Lady Javir Folden."

The doors swung open, revealing a lavish table set for three. King Aldric and Queen Melara sat at the head, their expressions unreadable.

But it was the king's reaction to Javir that made Melisa's jaw drop.

"Javir!" he exclaimed, rising from his seat with a broad grin. "By the gods, it's been too long!" He caught himself. "Or, should I say, 'Professor Folden'?"

Javir stiffened beside Melisa, her polite smile not quite reaching her eyes.

"Your Majesty," she said, bowing stiffly. "It's... good to see you again."

Melisa's mind raced, trying to make sense of the scene before her.

[They know each other? How? And why does it seem like there's some kind of tension between them?]

"How's life been down at the academy? You get tired of dealing with all those brats yet?"

"Not quite, Your Majesty," Javir chuckled politely.

"Well, in any case, if you want your old job back, you need only ask for it. We haven't really been able to fill the hole you left behind in the court sorceress position. A few others have come and gone, but, well... You get what I mean."

Melisa paused. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

She looked up, staring at the older woman.

[... Javir was the court sorceress!?!?!?]

She turned to Javir, a thousand questions on the tip of her tongue. But the older woman shook her head slightly, her expression pleading.

[Not now,] her eyes seemed to say. [Later.]

The king cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him.

"Anyway, as much as I'd love to catch up, Javir, I'm afraid I must insist on dining with Lady Blackflame alone. We have... much to discuss."

[Shit.]

Javir's eyes narrowed, but she nodded, her hand slipping from Melisa's back.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I wouldn't dream of intruding."

She turned to Melisa, her expression softening.

"Enjoy your meal, Melisa. And remember... you've got this."

With a final squeeze of Melisa's shoulder, Javir turned and strode out of the room, leaving Melisa alone with the royal couple.

[Well, fuck. Guess it's just me and them now.]