Witch – Chapter 120 – The Witch and the Black Knight (31)

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Since we couldn’t leave Emily alone in the slums, I teleported her to the Adventurer’s Guild before leisurely strolling through Venetia’s streets.

The theme of today’s outdoor lesson was “varied experiences,” so I pondered where to begin. We could follow in Sion and Aria’s footsteps, but… I wanted to teach Edel something about love that even books couldn’t convey—something special.

That would make his pure love even more fulfilling.

While I agonized over this, Edel silently followed, holding my hand without a word.

Women stared at him as we walked, but I wasn’t worried. If even Emily’s seduction hadn’t swayed him, these onlookers were nothing.

If we want to find Edel’s ideal woman, we might have to go to the southern regions, where diverse races live.

There were elves, witches, even dragons there. Surely one of them would meet his standards.

Though she’d have to pass my strict screening first.

She’d need to master potato dishes, Edel’s favorite, with exceptional skill. We’d have to test her strength in combat to confirm she was truly powerful. I’d need to check if her chest was naturally that big or stuffed with padding… And then verify her wealth to ensure she was genuinely affluent.

Ugh… Why does Edel have to like that kind of ideal woman?

It’s so much work…!

“Estelle. I have a question.”

Oblivious to my internal complaints, Edel spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Have you ever been on a date before?”

“A d-date?! Why ask that all of a sudden?”

His question made me freeze mid-step.

My heart dropped like a child caught in a lie.

A date? Of course I haven’t! I’ve never liked anyone, never been on a date.

Before meeting Edel, I hadn’t even considered holding hands with a man.

But admitting I had zero dating experience hurt my pride as his love instructor.

And if he found out I’d never dated before teaching him “pure love”… Would he think I’d deceived him? Would he break our deal?

If that happened, I’d have to chase down the remaining two Heavenly Kings on foot… and live each day worrying about Josie.

“O-Of course I have! I’m the Witch of Love! I’ve been on over a hundred dates!”

So I had no choice but to bluff.

“I see. That makes sense…”

Edel’s brows furrowed slightly before he suddenly tightened his grip on my hand.

“Then can you teach me how to date? It seems related to pure love.”

“A d-date?! W-Well, it’s not hard, but… why so sudden? You don’t need to date until after achieving pure love.”

Teach him how to date? I’d explained it simply—a process where couples confirm their feelings, just spending time together—but…

What does that even mean? How do you actually do it?

Even digging through my fading past-life memories, all I recalled were movie theaters, amusement parks, and cafés—none of which existed in Aria Chronicle’s world.

So I desperately tried to avoid the topic, turning my head away.

My shoulders trembled, my heart pounded, and I worried Edel might notice my lie through our joined hands.

“Estelle, look at me.”

Refusing to let me escape, he gently turned my face toward his with his free hand.

His usually indifferent eyes, which normally showed no interest in the world, now burned with intensity as they locked onto mine.

For some reason, something I’d said had clearly struck a chord with him.

But what? I didn’t say anything that provocative…

“Will you teach me how to date? I’m asking you. I want a date so memorable it makes you forget your ‘hundred’ others.”

“……”

What do I do? What do I do?!

I don’t know anything about dates…!

What “hundred”? Ugh… I should’ve just told the truth.

Unable to avoid his gaze—now so close our noses almost touched—I had no choice but to nod in surrender.

“Mmm… Fine. Just this once.”

“A date is… Well, there are normal friend dates and then… lovey-dovey couple dates. We’re…”

“Obviously a lovey-dovey date, right? Since I’m learning pure love.”

Ugh, he cut off my escape route!

A normal friend date might have been manageable, but this…? His strategic mind hadn’t lost its edge as the Black Knight.

What now? If I stay silent, he’ll get suspicious. I need to say something.

Just as lies beget bigger lies, I was no exception.

“A couple date means… First, you hold hands or link arms… Closing the distance is key! You need gestures that make it obvious you’re together.”

Since my past-life memories were useless, I recalled romantic scenes from Aria Chronicle.

Most dates started with hand-holding and light walks, so that seemed safe.

“We’ve been holding hands this whole time. Are we already on a lovey-dovey date?”

I only held his hand to keep Emily away… Why am I still doing it?!

I tried to pull away, but Edel’s grip tightened just enough to make it impossible. His touch felt more pronounced—not painful, but firm.

He left me just enough room to escape if I really wanted… yet adjusted his hold so subtly that retreating felt unthinkable.

All my nerves focused on our joined hands, my palm growing sweaty.

“N-No! Couples hold hands differently.”

If I let Edel control the pace, he might realize I’m inexperienced. So I decided to be bolder.

I raised our clasped hands and… interlaced our fingers.

One by one, my slender fingers slotted between his large ones.

Like puzzle pieces fitting perfectly, our hands locked together, fingers overlapping.

I wasn’t the only one sweating—his palm felt damp against mine.

Is… he nervous?

Well, interlacing fingers is… kinda lewd.

I’m embarrassed, but how must he feel?

Come to think of it, Edel’s just a fool who only knows strength. He’d believe anything I say, so why am I nervous…?

I’ll take control and end this quickly!

Just as I steeled myself—

“What about linking arms?”

Edel pushed further, refusing to relinquish control.

“L-Linking arms? That’s…”

Our chests would touch…

Instinctively, I covered my chest with my free hand.

Even two hands wouldn’t be enough, but I had to shield myself somehow.

If I backed down now, wouldn’t I be surrendering control to Edel?

It’s not like he’s touching me… Just arm-to-arm contact should be fine, right?

Emily linked arms with him casually, so it can’t be that bad…

And I’m not doing this with ulterior motives like her.

This is just… because Edel asked for a lovey-dovey date. I have to.

So…

“Just… this once?”

It’s just linking arms, Estelle. No need to panic.

Keeping our fingers interlaced, I stepped half a pace behind him.

Then, turning slightly, I linked my other arm with his.

“Nngh…!”

Our bodies pressed close, my clothes offering no resistance as his arm invaded the valley between my breasts.

His arm… It’s big. And hard…

The unfamiliar, embarrassing sensation drew an involuntary whimper from me.

Where his arm touched my chest, it tingled.

Just that slight contact made my breasts buzz in protest, as if warning my brain to remove the intruder immediately.

Calm down, girls.

This is just… touching. That’s all.

How could Emily do this so casually…?

Even without a mirror, I knew my face was burning red.

“H-Hah! S-See?! This is how couples link arms!”

I forced out a boast to mask my pounding heart.

If I didn’t distract Edel, he’d feel my heartbeat through my chest.

“I see. So that’s what the weakling was doing earlier.”

“……”

Why bring Emily up NOW?!

I’m sacrificing my dignity for my first-ever arm link, and you mention HER?!

Don’t talk about other women during a date!

That’s basic manners! Oh, right… Edel wouldn’t know.

It’s just a man’s mistake. I can overlook it once. I understand.

I’m a generous witch who can forgive a fledgling like Edel.

“So? Which was better? Emily’s arm link… or mine?”

Pressing my chest harder against his arm, I demanded an answer.

Lucent