The guards froze.

Nearby disciples stopped mid-step.

Even people walking in the distance turned their heads.

Neo didn't stop.

"You promised me so many things!" he continued, his voice shaking dramatically. "Were all those words lies? Are you just going to throw me away after using my body?"

The silence was suffocating.

"Th–this bastard!" one guard shouted.

"Stop it!" another yelled. "You've lost your mind!"

They rushed forward and grabbed Neo without hesitation.

He didn't resist.

They dragged him away and threw him straight into the sect prison.

The gathered crowd slowly dispersed, whispering to each other in disbelief.

Neo spent a few hours in the prison.

The next morning, Vivi bailed him out.

She stared at him in shock.

"…Dad," she said slowly. "What did you do?"

Neo coughed and looked away.

"Strategic planning."

The following day, he was back.

Right in front of Elizabeth's residence.

"Sect Master!" Neo shouted again. "I will not leave until you tell me why you took advantage of me! Were your sweet words of love all lies?"

"Th–this bastard is back!"

"Who let him out of the prison?!"

The guards rushed forward again.

This time like before, they didn't use force.

They looked conflicted.

After all, if this man truly had no connection to the Sect Master, he would have been dead the moment he uttered such words.

But Elizabeth wasn't killing him.

That alone meant something.

So they apprehended him carefully and threw him back into prison without beating him.

The next day, Neo returned.

And the day after that.

And the day after that.

Each time, he shouted increasingly shameless lines, speaking like a wronged maiden abandoned by her lord.

Each time, more sect members gathered to watch.

By the fifth day, people were adjusting their schedules around his arrival.

"This is getting out of hand," one disciple muttered.

On the sixth day, things finally changed.

The doors of Elizabeth's residence burst open.

A powerful telekinetic force wrapped around Neo's collar and yanked him forward.

"Wha—!"

He was pulled inside violently.

The doors slammed shut behind him.

Neo was thrown onto a bed, the impact knocking the breath out of him.

Before he could even sit up, someone straddled him.

"H–Huh?"

He froze.

This was not how he expected things to go.

Then a strong smell hit his nose.

Alcohol.

He blinked and looked around.

Empty bottles were scattered everywhere, rolling on the floor.

"Where are you looking?"

A hand grabbed his chin and forced him to look up.

Elizabeth was staring down at him.

Her eyes were unfocused.

Her cheeks slightly flushed.

"You…" Neo swallowed. "…are you drunk?"

"No?"

Elizabeth smiled beautifully as she answered.

She lifted the bottle in her hand and took another long swing anyway.

Neo stared at it, then at her.

She was wearing a loose robe that had fallen open at the front. There was nothing underneath it, and she did not seem to care in the slightest.

She sat on him as if that alone explained everything, her posture relaxed, her weight pressing him back into the bed.

Neo took a careful breath.

"Elizabeth," he said slowly, choosing every word, "Vivi is my daughter, yes. But she's not my biological daughter. Her mother is Leonora. Vivi is her Spell Child. There is no romantic relationship between me and Leonora."

"Mhm."

Elizabeth nodded while drinking again.

Neo frowned.

"I'm telling the truth. I swear on—"

"It's okay," she interrupted lightly. "I believe you."

Her smile was open and refreshing, as if the matter had never bothered her.

Neo hesitated, then tried to sit up.

The moment he moved, Elizabeth pushed him back down with one hand.

At the same time, ice chains materialized around his wrists, pinning him to the bed.

Neo stiffened.

That was when he realized something was very wrong.

"H-hey," he said carefully, forcing a laugh, "aren't you a bit too drunk?"

"Am I?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head slightly.

She smiled again.

Then she tossed the bottle aside.

It crashed against the wall and shattered, liquid splashing across the floor. She didn't even glance at it.

Instead, she remained where she was, sitting on him, her hands moving to the front of his clothes.

She began undoing his clothes without any hurry.

"Neo?" she called out, her tone gentle.

He flinched when he met her eyes.

There was hunger there.

And possession.

"Do you have another woman that you love?" she asked softly.

"W-well, there's Vivi, Mother, and—"

"That's not the kind of love I'm talking about."

Neo closed his mouth.

Elizabeth smiled again, as if his silence was the answer she expected.

She lifted one hand and caressed his face slowly, her fingers tracing his cheek before brushing lightly against his lips.

"I see. So that's your answer."

Neo's throat felt dry.

"…Are you angry?" he asked quietly.

"No."

He blinked.

"You're… not angry?"

"I am not angry. But I do hate it when pests keep buzzing around you."

Her fingers paused under his chin.

"So…"

She looked straight into his eyes.

"Let's have a child."

"Huh."

"A child. Give me one. Then I won't be angry at you for cheating on me."

Neo's mind went blank for a moment.

Then it caught up.

She was serious.

"W-wait!" he said quickly. "I was lying! I don't love anyone else. There's no one other than you!"

"I know."

"You know? So—"

"I know about Moraine already."

Neo's breath caught in his chest.

Finally, he realized why Elizabeth had been so prickly since the beginning.

"…Since when?" he asked quietly.

Elizabeth did not answer the question.

Instead, she spoke as if she were changing the subject entirely.

"Do you know," she said, her voice softer now, "that there is a fairytale among witches?"

Neo's chest tightened.

"Elizabeth, let's talk about this calmly," he said carefully, having an ominous premonition.

But she ignored him.

"The fairytale is about the weakest witch. She was ugly. She was weak. She was hated by others."

Her hand moved gently along his face as she spoke.

"But one day, she met a prince. Someone who would pluck stars for her. Someone who would fight wars for her. Someone…"

Her fingers paused.

"…who would burn his own life for her."

Neo felt a chill crawl down his spine.

"Their love burned intensely. Like the brightest star. Even though their end was destined to be tragic, he loved her deeply enough to fill her heart for eternity."

Neo forced an awkward smile.

"Well," he said, trying to lighten the mood, "it's just a fairytale, right? You said it yourself."

Elizabeth did not smile this time.

"Many witches who lived in solitude heard that story. They decided to search for their own loved one, even after knowing the end of their story would be tragic."

Her voice remained calm.

"But they believed that if they could feel even a fraction of the happiness the weakest witch felt, even for a moment, it would be enough."

She leaned down slightly.

"They were moths drawn to a flame. As long as they could feel that warmth, they would accept being burned."

"…."

"Do you know," Elizabeth asked gently, "how I felt when witches told me that story, knowing full well that the prince in it was mine?"

"E—Elizabeth, let's talk about this calmly. A child in this situation— mmfph!"

She leaned down and sealed his lips with her own.

His words were cut off instantly.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.