Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

In other words...

Melanie heard the sound that signaled the end, through Kania's belly...

Puff puff puff

Judging from this aura, it would be quite dangerous without that magical pattern.

But then again...

If this magic is used, wouldn't there be no subsequent risks no matter how crazy we are?

No wonder they were so reckless. If there were no risks, wouldn't it just be a purely hedonistic act?

Like soaking in hot springs, relaxing on vacation, or occasionally taking a break and seeking some excitement... is this a form of rest?

Thinking about this, Melanie felt as if an important bottom line in her mind had been crossed.

"Me too..."

Suddenly, Kania leaned close to Ryukyu's ear and whispered something, to which Ryukyu looked surprised and asked:

"Really?"

"Hmm... I don't want to be a step behind Hetia."

Kania said this, then whispered in Ryusha's ear.

"I've already cleaned it up..."

The whisper did not escape Melanie's ears, and she instantly showed a surprised expression.

Is this...is it for use there? That can't be...

But why? Why would Kania go to such lengths? Is this alluring girl really the Kania I know?

Melanie looked at Kania and recalled what had happened after the snow mountain incident.

"Oh, not even today?"

On the cliff, Melanie swung her long legs, looking down at the people busily building the hot spring resort, and sighed deeply.

Her attempt to get close to Vitry failed again today, but she got two meters closer than last time, even with Ryuka constantly smoothing things over for her.

"When will we finally get permission to borrow that sacred stone?"

Melanie swirled the wine in her glass. Since Ryukyu sent people to develop the hot springs here, her lack of supplies had finally improved.

Melanie is living a pretty comfortable life lately, going to the construction camp today to grab some wine, and taking advantage of the snowstorm tomorrow to get some meat.

If it weren't for that near-death surprise attack from behind last time, Ryuka really wouldn't have been able to do anything to this great mage. Especially since the other party doesn't want to fight at all now, and will just stir up a blizzard and run away at the slightest provocation.

"Hey you, aren't you going back to Sochi? How long are you going to keep freeloading here?"

Behind Melanie, Ryusha frowned as she looked at the ice mage in front of her, wondering if it was a mistake to let her go back then.

"I'm currently on standby. Thanks to the princess of the capital participating in the regency, the third prince should calm down for a while."

The implication is that they have no plans to leave yet.

It seems Melanie won't leave until she achieves her goal of cultivating with the Snow Spirit Stone. Although she doesn't seem hostile anymore, Ryuka still feels she's a destabilizing factor.

'Then why not just seduce her and make her one of our own?'

Ryuka sighed deeply as Kania's irresponsible tone echoed in her mind.

What does that witch think she is? The protagonist of a doujinshi where a penis can be addictive? How can someone become devoted to someone just because they've been taken advantage of?

Even Hetia was only kept in captivity through a slave contract, but it seems that Kania can't get any more, and Melanie is a high-ranking official, so it's not easy to get a slave contract that can control her.

Seeing Melanie's carefree expression, Liu Xia said irritably, "You eat and drink my food, so at least help with some chores, right?"

"I'm not an engineering student like Anjaberg. What do you want me to help you with? Summer's almost here, how about I help you make some iced wine, kid?"

Melanie swirled her beer in her glass, winking at Ryusha through the cold beer. Ever since what happened last time, she seemed to have taken to teasing the boy in front of her.

"I don't have that kind of luck. I'm afraid I'll get stabbed to death by your ice spike one day." Liu Xia rolled her eyes and stated her conditions.

“I have a promising young magic student here. Could you teach her some ice and snow magic? A regular magic course from an academy would also be fine.”

"Is it that girl named Kira, or Kania? Hetia's secretary?"

"Kanya".

Melanie recalled the girl she had met once in the Snow Spirit Cave; she could indeed sense some magical fluctuations emanating from her.

"No problem, but kid, what's your relationship with her? It doesn't seem simple to me."

Thinking of the lap pillow that Kania had given to Ryusha, Melanie smiled knowingly.

"Besides Hetia, are you involved with any other beauties? You're quite precocious for your age. In fact, you're surrounded by a lot of pretty girls."

Ryuu didn't intend to respond to Melanie's words, but instead asked with a smile, "Then do you count?"

"Me? I don't count. I'm a mature adult."

Ryuka rolled her eyes. Mature my ass. She's only 21. She's not some mature, weak, 'motherly' type.

Her figure wasn't the only factor either. Ryuga looked at Melanie's slender and graceful model figure. Apart from the mature temperament mixed with coldness, it wouldn't be wrong to say that she looked like an 18-year-old girl.

"Okay, I'll teach her. It does feel a bit bad to eat and drink for free."

Melanie stood up, brushed the weeds off her clothes, and stared blankly at the melting snow and ice in the distance.

She has no reason to refuse anyone who wants to learn and improve.

Her subsequent interactions with Kania made her realize that the forestry officer's daughter indeed possessed outstanding magical talent.

Not only that, she also has a very cheerful and humorous personality. Even when faced with her own cold attitude, she can still smile and even tell a joke from time to time. In addition to being serious about her work, she is also very diligent in her studies during her spare time.

Melanie thought of it like the mischievous but adorable cat in the academy.

"Hey, Kania, you're nowhere to be found for an hour or two every night. What are you doing?"

Melanie looked at Kania, who was manipulating ice and snow in her hands, and asked while resting her face on her staff.

"This...it's a secret~"

Kania's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with a smile, her expression carrying a hint of ambiguity.

Ah... I knew it," Melanie said, pursing her lips and looking away.

"I really don't know what's so good about that kid Ryūka. Isn't he just a brat?"

"This..." Kania pretended to think, "You can't forget it once you've tried it. Why don't you give it a try, Miss Melanie?"

Kania's unabashed and bold words startled Melanie, who then frowned and blushed.

"Ha, I think you want to get beaten up."

As she spoke, Melanie activated her staff, and several ice balls shot towards Kania's body.

Kania chanted softly, and an ice shield condensed in her hand. Although it didn't hover around her like Melanie's ice shield, it still blocked all the ice balls.

"That's impressive." Melanie didn't hold back her praise. After all, she had seen Kania's seriousness and hard work, so she wasn't jealous of her outstanding talent.

Even if Kania's talent was mediocre, if she were to dedicate the same energy she used for handling territorial affairs to learning magic, she could still achieve remarkable success. (The remaining text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

"It's all thanks to Miss Melanie's excellent teaching." Kania smiled very generously, and even if you knew it was a compliment, it would still make you feel very comfortable.

"Hmph, I really don't know what you see in that kid. You are talented, persevering, and good-looking. If you were in the capital, you would definitely be the center of attention."

The world is not lacking in talented people, but unfortunately most of them are buried in obscurity. Melanie looked at the girl in front of her and felt a little sorry. If Kania had been born into a noble family in the capital, her achievements would have far surpassed her own.

Now, she is on the outskirts of the empire, caught up in a struggle for the throne, and it wouldn't be surprising if she died at any time.

But Kania gave her a playful smile and asked a question that annoyed Melanie.

"Miss Melanie, could it be... that you're jealous?"

"Huh?" Melanie's eyes widened, not understanding whether Kania's jealousy was directed at Ryusha or her.

"Because, if we're talking about talent, perseverance, and looks, our Ruka is outstanding too, right? And she even ordered that Miss Melanie be spared back then, so I think even someone as remarkable as Miss Melanie might have feelings for Ruka~"

"You little hussy, I'll freeze your mouth shut!"

"I was wrong, I was wrong~ Hahaha~"

……

Over the years, Kania might have been Melanie's first friend.

At this moment, this dazzling, tall girl was pitifully nestled in Liu Xia's arms, displaying an alluring posture that would make even women's hearts flutter...

"Ryuka, Ryuka~ Hold me tight... Hold me tight, okay... Be gentle, this is the first time here..."

Kania looked like she was about to cry, but she pursed her lips tightly, and sweet sounds kept coming out of her small nose.

"It feels so strange...so comfortable...how come I'm only experiencing this feeling today~"

Ryuka gently laid Kania down, showing a rare tenderness. She stroked Kania's body, easing her tension and pain.

As Melanie watched Ryusha's gentle demeanor and Kania's increasingly intoxicated expression, a feeling different from the intense stimulation she had experienced before arose within her.

So this kid can be this considerate?

Half-intoxicated and half-performing, Kania wrapped her arms around Ryusha's neck in front of Melanie and kissed her lover passionately.

She wanted other women to genuinely know about the special relationship between herself and Ryūka. And this person had to have actively developed feelings for Ryūka, unlike Hetia, who was only half-heartedly involved due to a slave contract.

Despite being a witch incapable of love, Kania seemed to feel a different kind of sensation as Melanie, who also had feelings for Ryuka, watched over her.

Gentle and soothing, with Kania's long breath, her soft body trembled, ushering in a tender joy unlike anything before...

Melanie bit her lip, unable to tell whether her sadness stemmed from her friend being infected, or from jealousy, as Kania had suggested, and a desire for Ryuka to treat her gently instead.

everything is over.

Perhaps it was the sobering up, or perhaps it was the final tender moment that made Melanie want to escape; she turned her head away, speechless.

Suddenly, a warm embrace came from behind.

"Miss Melanie, why do you look so sad?"

It's Kania.

"Don't talk so close to my ear, your breath tastes awful... and you're all sticky..."

"Ha~ Miss Melanie's breath tasted the same way before~ and her clothes too~"

"It's all because of the two of you..."

"It was the three of us, wasn't it? We clearly did it together, are you trying to deny it now?"

"Well, I did that so I could see Hetia make a fool of herself..."

"Alright, Kania, stop teasing her." Ryuka suddenly interrupted Kania's teasing of Melanie.

“It’s too pitiful to be bullied like this, and Miss Snowfield too… Melanie, you too, why do you have to pretend to know what you don’t?”

So it was exposed from the very beginning...? Melanie suddenly felt annoyed and glared angrily at the two of them.

"So you two are ganging up on me!"

Kania giggled and hid behind Ryusha, half-jokingly saying:

"Well, what can I do? You had to be so stubborn, and besides, Hetia and I alone can't satisfy my little Ryusha~ That's why I wanted to drag you along~"

"However, although Ryuka had a lot of fun, she still restrained herself and didn't want to take advantage of you and push you down without realizing it."

"I'm not that kind-hearted. I just prefer to see women beg me," Liu Xia said nonchalantly.

"Really? So you're saying you'll do anything a woman asks of you?" Melanie said with a disdainful look.

"How could that be? It depends on who you're with. I don't just look at anyone, okay? At least I have to be someone who's not inferior to this guy."

Ryuka snorted and patted Kania's head, retorting to Melanie. The two seemed to have returned to the way they were sitting across the ice table on the snowfield.

"Is that so..."

Melanie's eyes flickered, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

She looked at the unpredictable little lecher in front of her. The two hadn't known each other for very long, but from their first encounter at the border to their adventure on the snowfield, and then to their back-and-forth contact over the past month, exchanging information between their two factions...

It seems that it has been long enough.

This period of fulfillment was even more exciting than the few years of tedious training I spent at the Imperial Military Academy.