Witch – Chapter 121 – The Witch and the Black Knight (32)

Ȓεａɗ οη ​Κ​аṫȒεαɗίոģĊаϝе

“Ngh…!”

A groan—one I’d never heard from Edel even during our fiercest battles—escaped his stiff lips.

The tremors from our interlaced fingers and where our bodies touched were impossible to hide.

Oh-ho? So you’re still a man after all?

Getting flustered now, are we?

Tch. Tch…!

The guy who’d been trying to take control with hand-holding and arm-linking was now frozen stiff. His reaction was oddly addictive, drawing out a mischievous grin from me.

How dare you think of another woman in front of me—especially during a romantic date lesson?!

“Hmm? I asked which you liked better? Emily’s arm link… or mine?”

I loosened my grip slightly, easing the pressure. Like releasing a mold before casting plaster, my chest slowly regained its shape from where it had been pressed against Edel’s arm.

Only after we fully separated did his trembling subside.

He gasped for air as if I’d been choking him—adorable, considering I’d done nothing of the sort.

The first step is always the hardest.

The second comes so easily that the me who was embarrassed just by chest contact no longer exists.

Far from embarrassment, my mind raced with ways to tease him further now that he was at my mercy.

You’d better not say Emily’s was better.

I’ll make sure you can’t even compare to her—my size, weight, shape will leave you breathless.

“Or… do you actually prefer this?”

Wham! I yanked his arm back against me with even more force than before, practically crushing it between my breasts. The fabric strained so tightly that my cleavage swallowed his arm whole.

“Nghh—!”

“Eeek—!”

We both let out strangled cries simultaneously.

My chest, which should have rejected the intruder, instead nommed~♡ onto Edel’s thick arm, savoring every contour of muscle as if committing it to memory.

The stretched fabric between my breasts pulled taut, outlining them obscenely.

Thankfully, my enchantments kept the dress from tearing, but the sheer tightness made my pale skin nearly visible through the cloth—almost like being naked.

Like a squirrel with its cheeks stuffed full, my swollen bosom swayed with each breath, massaging Edel’s arm.

What do I do? What do I do?!

I didn’t mean to go this far!

This is practically… pseudo-sexual…!

I never intended this!

I just wanted to teach him to focus on his partner during dates—how did it escalate like this?!

My attempt to fluster Edel backfired spectacularly, leaving me a wreck instead.

“I-I… um, this is… y’know…”

I mumbled incoherent excuses, grasping for explanations.

About taking control… About Emily…

My mind blanked, refusing to process the situation. Though I’d brought this on myself, panic alarms blared in my head.

The solution was simple—just pull his arm free—yet my body remained frozen.

Thud. Thud. Thud. My heart pounded violently, sometimes accompanied by a sharp pang that sent weird sensations through my chest. With his arm sandwiched between my breasts, he must have felt it—double the intensity.

“……”

“……”

Our eyes met in heavy silence.

An indescribable tension swirled in Edel’s gaze.

Brief as it was, it was unmistakably the look of a predator eyeing prey. And my own reflection in his eyes stared back just as intensely.

Gulp.

I should’ve smacked him with an imaginary Triceratops by now.

Instead, I stood frozen, swallowing dryly despite wanting to yell “Why are you looking at me like that?!”.

What am I supposed to say? Do? Where do I look?

Someone teach me how to handle this!

This feeling was entirely new, leaving me clueless on how to act.

The atmosphere alone short-circuited my rationality—whether from Edel’s scent this close or the way his arm pinned my thoughts like a stake.

Some deep part of me whispered that I had to endure his gaze, so my body obeyed instinct over reason.

His face seemed to draw nearer—or was it my imagination?

From a hand’s width apart to just a fist’s distance… then barely a finger’s gap.

Close enough to feel each other’s breath. Close enough for our noses to touch.

I yielded the space too easily; Edel claimed it like it was his right.

…What happens now?

Why did I even link arms again…?

A sharp feeling shot through my chest—a warning that this couldn’t continue.

Edel’s face was so near that my darting eyes involuntarily traced his features before I squeezed them shut.

His increasingly audible breaths and presence were the only measures of distance left.

“Estelle.”

Just as our noses brushed, his scent flooding my senses… Edel whispered my name softly.

Then—

The dwindling space between us abruptly widened again. His arm, moments from being “digested” by my chest, slipped free. My hands twitched involuntarily, as if mourning the loss.

“Your clothes are disheveled. A woman’s body is delicate, no?”

“……”

He meticulously smoothed my crumpled dress, careful not to let his fingers graze my chest.

When I cautiously opened my eyes, the predatory intensity in his gaze had vanished, replaced by his usual indifference.

“Hmm…”

After inspecting his adjustments, Edel clicked his tongue disapprovingly, then draped his coat over my shoulders, buttoning it snugly over my chest.

“I’d rather not show this to others.”

“Huh?”

He glared around us, and following his gaze, I noticed the stares we’d drawn.

“And arm-linking… You were right. It’s too soon. We can save it for after pure love. For now, interlaced hands will suffice.”

Casually reclaiming my hand, he laced our fingers again—as if our “just this once” agreement never happened—and flashed an innocent smile.

How is he so composed while my brain short-circuits?!

My shoulders shook with frustration.

He’d even shielded me from prying eyes with his coat—something I never taught him. It made me wonder if he even needed my guidance anymore.

“Where to next? This is my first date… I won’t know unless you teach me.”

His question, so effortlessly posed as if reading my mind, was infuriating.

The way he yielded control so readily… admitted his inexperience so frankly…

But if I lashed out now, wouldn’t I just be playing into his pace? I forced myself to calm down.

The only way to reprimand him was to lead this date flawlessly.

“Normally, the man leads during dates. So learn well—just this once. Let’s go.”

But… this was my first date too.

Where should we go? What should we do? How do we spend the time?

Everything was a mystery.

Feigning composure, I strode ahead aimlessly, each step uncertain.

Edel matched my pace, his large hand enveloping mine—things I’d never noticed before now glaringly obvious.

The biggest change was his coat, draped over me like a shield. Its oversized fabric hid the “excessive” curves beneath, while the breeze slipping underneath tickled my skin.

The lingering warmth of his scent embracing me was enough to make me dizzy.

“So… how was it?”

I needed to say something before Edel overwhelmed me completely.

…I still hadn’t gotten my answer.

“How was what?”

“The… arm-linking.”

Seriously? Do I have to spell it out?

How will he ever manage romance like this?

“Was Emily’s really… No, forget it. Just remember—when you date your ideal woman, focus only on her. Never mention other women.”

Not that I’m jealous…

Ugh, why am I even asking?

“The weakling was incomparable to your strength.”

Edel suddenly stopped, pulling me close with a solemn expression.

“To borrow your words… Yes. It was the most delicious thing in the world.”

“Huh…?!”

Wh-wh-wh-what the hell?!

Delicious?! Since when do arms have taste buds?!

Just when I thought he’d settled down, he hit me with another outrageous line.

A while ago, I would’ve punched him in shame… yet now, my lips twitched traitorously.

“I’d like to link arms again next time.”

“N-next time?! I said just this once! Ask your ideal woman next time, you pervert!”

What nonsense!

Honestly, he’s hopeless…

What woman would tolerate this harassment?

I worry for his future partner.

Ignoring whether Edel followed, I poured mana into our joined hands and marched forward. He feigned reluctance but quickly matched my steps again.