Chapter 27: Tea Time with the Witch and the Childhood Friend

On the third floor of the newly expanded Purple-Gold Royal Palace, the wide terrace was paved with white marble. The atmosphere was full of the royal capital’s aristocratic culture, leaving no trace of the frontier’s rustic charm.

Soft spring sunlight filled the terrace. The table was set with the finest porcelain Elizabeth had brought from the royal capital. Tea leaves, glowing with golden mana, swirled gracefully in the amber tea.

“…Fufu. As I thought, the fragrance of this ‘Moonlight Drop’ suits little Allen’s fur the best. …Now, sit still. …If you move, I will spill the tea, you know?”

Elizabeth placed Allen on her lap, tracing his golden ears with her soft fingertips.

In his mascot form, Allen felt the softness of her silky dress and the sweet scent of her perfume. He froze up halfway, like a decorative ornament.

(…Elizabeth-ane-sama. …I’m already full from the first cup. …Besides, Ferris and the others are training outside, so I have to watch…)

“No, Allen. …A king does not need to lend his ear to such barbaric shouting. …You simply need to enjoy this sweet time in my arms. …Or is the tea I brewed not to your liking?”

Elizabeth closed her folding fan and lifted Allen’s chin. In those purple eyes dwelt a color of absolute domination that permitted no resistance.

“— Hold on a second, you venomous woman!!”

The terrace doors burst open and Luna stormed in, her indigo mage robe fluttering behind her. She carried a pile of documents and a batch of odd blue-green cookies she claimed to have baked for Allen.

“Allen is the lord of a nation now! Do you plan on making him end his life on your lap!? Here, Allen — this many domestic affairs reports have piled up just from this morning. …Also, please eat these ‘Luna’s Special High-Density Mana Cookies’ that I specially blended to stabilize your mana!”

Luna sat down heavily opposite Elizabeth and reached her hands to Allen.

“Now, Allen. …Get down from that overly sweet lap and sit next to me. …Handling practical duties is what makes a true man!”

“Oh my, Luna. …You’re failing to hide that monopolistic desire you call ‘practical duties.’ …To make little Allen eat cookies the color of mud is nothing short of blatant abuse. …Allen, please eat this ‘Honey-Pickled Golden Strawberry,’ a treasured delicacy from the royal capital.”

Elizabeth brought the strawberry, shining like a jewel, to Allen’s mouth with a fork.

“Excuse me!? These cookies are condensed with the ingredients of every medicinal herb in the frontier! Taste is secondary — it’s about love! Love!! Here, Allen, say aahh!!”

Not to be outdone, Luna shoved a lumpy cookie into the opposite corner of Allen’s mouth.

(…A-Agh…! I can’t, I can’t eat both at once…!)

Allen’s small mouth was stuffed with both the finest strawberry and a rock-hard health cookie at the same time.

On his right, Allen tasted the sweet poison of Elizabeth’s refined, possessive love.

On his left, Luna’s practical but intense love overwhelmed him with its raw obsession.

Allen’s cheeks puffed up until they were about to burst, and he let out little ‘kyuu… kyuu…’ sounds, his eyes filling with tears.

“…Fufu, look. …How adorable you are, Allen. …If only you could just repeat this between us for the rest of your life.”

“Yes, I agree with you on that much at least. …A ‘joint surveillance schedule’ to ensure Allen never takes a single step out of our sight. …Perhaps we should discuss it seriously soon, Elizabeth-sama?”

The two women shared a sly smile over Allen’s head.

Indigo and purple sparks flew through the air. The heat made the teacups on the table rattle loudly.

(…H-Hii, both of you, calm down…! The chain — the chain is going to react…!)

The Platinum Chain around Allen’s neck started to shine brightly, fueled by the growing excitement in the air. Golden mana poured out, making the roses in the planters grow huge. Their vines stretched out like living things, wrapping around the women’s arms and legs.

“Oh my. …Allen, have you suddenly felt the urge to tie me up? …Fufu, I’m so happy. …Restrain me even tighter with your mana…”

Elizabeth blushed and, instead of pulling away, let the rose vines climb up her neck.

“You’re wrong! Allen is trying to protect me from this woman’s toxicity! …It’s okay, Allen — I will accept as much of your mana as you want to give!!”

Luna also thought the wild plants were a sign of Allen’s love. She hugged him even tighter and sighed warmly.

(…No, that’s not it. …The chain is just running wild because your love is too heavy…!!)

Allen tried to protest, but their overwhelming affection drowned him out.

Just then, Allen caught a glimpse of movement at the edge of the terrace.

Ferris’s wolf ears and Misha’s scales glinted as they peeked in from under the window, both wearing looks of disapproval.

“…So jealous. …Master, I wanna put you on my lap and shower you in lightning, too…”

“…That Thieving Human, and that witch too. …Someday I’ll paralyze them both with my poison and take Allen-sama back…”

From behind, from downstairs — an encirclement called “love” was closing in from all directions.

In the end, that day’s tea time continued until Allen grew flushed and was forcibly transformed into his human form.

Of course, once Allen returned to his human form, Elizabeth and Luna each grabbed one of his arms, giving him an even stricter ‘education.’

Dusk.

After turning back into a mascot, Allen rocked in his new ‘Exclusive Golden Cradle for Allen,’ his face blank and empty.

(…What did freedom even mean again? …I thought being King was supposed to be more important than this…)

The Platinum Chain around his neck shone beautifully, illuminated by the setting sun.

It held Allen much tighter, and in a much sweeter way, than any curse before.

“Now, Allen. …Shall we begin the night session of your ‘discipline’?”

“…No, the schedule for tonight is a ‘Nighttime Domestic Affairs Meeting.’ …Come now, let us head to the bedroom.”

The ‘double binding’ around Allen was turning the frontier nights into something even more intense.