Melisa sprawled across the gazebo bench, enjoying the afternoon breeze.
The little structure had become their unofficial hangout spot over the past few months. Today though, they had an... unexpected guest.
Princess Aria sat primly on the opposite bench, her back straight and proper even as she watched Isabella literally sprawl across Melisa’s lap like the world’s horniest housecat.
[She hasn’t said a word about the project,] Melisa thought, absently scratching behind Isabella’s fox ears. [So why is she really here?]
"Mel~" Isabella purred, her tail swishing lazily. "Pay attention to meee~"
"I am paying attention to you, you needy slut," Melisa laughed, giving the kitsune’s ass a playful swat.
Armia, lounging against one of the gazebo’s pillars, rolled her eyes at their display. Though Melisa didn’t miss how the darian’s gaze lingered on Isabella’s exposed thighs.
Raven just sat cross-legged in the corner, cleaning her knife and pretending the rest of them didn’t exist. If she didn’t know that this was literally just how Raven was, Melisa would say she was doing her best to look cool and mysterious in front of the princess.
Through it all, Aria watched. Her grey eyes were sharp, analytical, taking in every interaction like she was memorizing a battle plan. Stay updated via freewebnovel
[What are you looking for, princess?] Melisa wondered, noting the tension in Aria’s small frame. [What are you hoping to see?]
Finally, after watching Isabella attempt to stick her tongue in Melisa’s ear for the third time, Aria spoke.
"Might I have a word with you?" Her voice was soft but carried an edge of... something. "Alone?"
Isabella immediately sat up, her ears flattening.
"Whatever you have to say to Mel, you can say to all of us!"
But Melisa caught the look in Aria’s eyes. This wasn’t just some attempt to catch her off guard.
"It’s fine, Bella," Melisa said, giving her fox-girl a gentle push. "Why don’t you guys go grab us some snacks?"
"But-"
"I’ll let you sit on my face later if you go now."
Isabella’s ears perked right back up.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
As Isabella bounced away, practically dragging a protesting Armia with her, Raven gave Melisa a significant look.
"You sure?"
Melisa nodded.
"I’ll be fine. Just keep Isabella from buying out the entire snack stand again."
Once they were alone (as much as they could be with Aria’s knights lurking in the background like the Secret Service), Aria’s formal posture seemed to crack slightly.
"That spell you created," she said without preamble, her voice barely above a whisper. "The healing one."
Melisa’s eyes widened.
"The one you used to save my father," Aria continued, her grey eyes boring into Melisa’s red ones. "Tell me about it."
Something in her voice made Melisa’s tail twitch nervously. This wasn’t just casual curiosity.
"Why do you want to know?"
Melisa felt her stomach drop as Aria leaned forward, lowering her voice even further.
"Father has been... different since you used that spell on him," the princess said, each word carefully measured. "At first, we thought it was just the aftermath of the poisoning, but..."
[Oh shit oh shit oh shit,] Melisa’s tail curled anxiously around her own waist. [What did I do to the fucking KING?]
"Different how?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Aria’s grey eyes darted around, checking that they were truly alone.
"His behavior has become... erratic. He’s more aggressive in council meetings. More..." she made a show of trying to find the right word, "...intense. And his magic..." She shook her head. "Well, anyway, I need to know exactly what that spell does."
Melisa let out a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, about that..."
"What?"
"I, uh, don’t exactly know?"
Aria’s perfect composure cracked.
"What do you mean you don’t know?" she hissed, her small frame practically vibrating with tension. "You CREATED it!"
"Look," Melisa held up her hands defensively, "spell creation isn’t exactly an exact science, okay? Sometimes you just... throw stuff together and see what sticks!"
The princess stared at her like she’d just said she came from another world.
"You... throw stuff together?"
"Yeah! Like, you know how some words of power just sound right together? And how certain spellsigns kind of flow into each other? I just..." Melisa made vague gestures with her hands, "combined some stuff that felt right!"
[And maybe used some forbidden Blood Magic, but let’s not mention that part!]
Aria’s eye twitched.
"Are you telling me," she said, her voice dangerously quiet, "that you used an experimental spell of unknown effects... on the King of Syux?"
When she put it that way, it did sound pretty bad.
"In my defense," Melisa offered weakly, "he was dying at the time? And it did save his life!"
"And potentially did who knows what else to him!" Aria ran a hand through her white hair, messing up its perfect arrangement. "I cannot believe this. You’re supposed to be some kind of prodigy! How can you not know what your own spells do?"
Melisa’s tail twitched defensively.
"Hey, nobody else was coming up with ways to save him! Sometimes you have to improvise!"
"Improvise?" Aria looked like she might actually explode. "This isn’t like making up dance steps! This is fundamental forces of nature we’re talking about!"
"Which I’m really good at manipulating!" Melisa protested. "Look, I know it sounds bad, but my spells WORK. They might have some... unexpected side effects, but they do what they’re supposed to!"
"Unexpected side effects," Aria repeated flatly. "On the KING."
[When she keeps saying it like that, it does sound pretty terrible,] Melisa admitted to herself.
Aria took several deep breaths, visibly trying to calm herself.
"Okay," she said finally. "Okay. This is... this is fixable. We just need to figure out exactly what the spell does. Which means..." she grimaced slightly, "we need to talk to Zephyra."
Melisa perked up.
"The court sorceress? But, maybe she’s busy with-"
"This takes priority," Aria cut her off. "If there’s anyone who can analyze an unknown spell’s effects, it’s her. Though," she added with a pointed glare, "she’s going to be just as thrilled as I am about your... experimental approach."
[Great,] Melisa thought. [Now I get to explain my ’throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks’ method to the most prestigious mage in the kingdom.]
"When do we-"
"Now," Aria stood, brushing off her skirts. "Before your little harem returns and this becomes even more complicated."
Melisa glanced in the direction Isabella had dragged the others.
"They’re going to wonder where I went."
"Then leave them a note," Aria said impatiently. "This is more important than whatever debauchery you had planned for the afternoon."
"Hey! I’ll have you know my debauchery is very sophisticated!"
Aria just stared at her.
"...I’ll write the note."
As they hurried across campus, Melisa couldn’t help but wonder what other "side effects" her spells might have caused. Isabella had used the same spell on Kimiko, after all...
[Note to self,] she thought as she jogged to keep up with Aria’s surprisingly quick stride, [maybe start keeping better records of what goes into these spells. And maybe stop using them on royalty without proper testing first.]
Though honestly? Given how her life had been going lately, she’d probably end up improvising some world-changing spell by next week anyway.
At least things couldn’t get more complicated than "accidentally resurrected the king with vague side-effects".
Right?
... Right?
---
{Zephyra}
Zephyra massaged her temples as the purple-skinned man before her shrugged for what felt like the thousandth time.
"And you’re certain you didn’t notice anything unusual before falling ill?" she pressed, her amethyst eyes scanning his face for any hint of recognition.
"Nothing unusual, Lady Vortell," the nim replied. "Just woke up one morning feeling like death warmed over."
[Helpful,] Zephyra thought dryly. [About as helpful as every other interview today.]
She was about to ask another question when a familiar, completely inappropriate rhythm echoed through her office door:
Knock knock knock-knock knock... knock knock!
[Ah,] Zephyra fought back a smile. [There’s only one person who would dare knock that way on the Court Sorceress’s door.]
"That will be all," she told the nim man. "Thank you for your time."
As her interviewee shuffled out, Zephyra called out:
"Enter, Miss Blackflame, and please try to remember this is a palace, not a tavern."
The door swung open to reveal not just Melisa’s grinning face, but also... Princess Aria?
[Well, this is unexpected.]
"Sorry about the knock," Melisa said, not looking sorry at all. "But we need your help with something."
"Both of you?" Zephyra arched an elegant eyebrow. "How intriguing."
"It’s about my healing spell," Melisa continued, fidgeting with her tail. "We need to know exactly what it does."
Zephyra’s other eyebrow joined the first.
[The spell that saved the king? The one she supposedly created from scratch?]
"I see," she said carefully. "While I’d be happy to assist, I’m rather occupied at the moment with-"
"This cannot wait."
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All three women were startled by the sharp tone in Aria’s voice.
The princess seemed to catch herself, smoothing her features back into their usual calm mask.
"What I mean to say is," she continued more diplomatically, "this is of utmost importance. It concerns the king’s... health."
[Ah,] Zephyra thought, pieces clicking into place.
"I understand your concern, Your Highness," Zephyra said, choosing her words carefully. "But proper magical analysis takes a bit of time. Even for a spell as... fascinating as Miss Blackflame’s creation. I wouldn’t be able to properly determine all the effects just this evening, if that’s what you were hoping for."
She didn’t miss how Melisa’s tail curled nervously at the word ’creation’.
[Interesting. Very interesting.]
"I will examine the spell thoroughly," she assured them both, "as soon as I complete my current investigations."
"But-" Aria started to protest.
"Your Highness," Zephyra cut her off gently but firmly, "I promise you will have answers. But rushing magical research rarely ends well. As I’m sure Miss Blackflame can attest."
Melisa had the grace to look sheepish.
Finally, Aria nodded stiffly.
"Very well. But please, make this a priority."