Chapter 21: Madam, I Only Want You

“I never imagined you’d be the one in this position now.”

Alicefiel sat in the guest seat, lifting a cup of tea from the table and taking a sip.

“Heh, sister, spare me the flattery. My appointment’s all over the internet, and you’re no primitive cut off from the web.”

The blonde, red-eyed loli added a few plates of snacks to the table.

“Besides, we crossed paths at the national conference before. You just left too quickly, and my legs are too short to catch up.”

The blonde, red-eyed loli propped her white-stockinged legs on the table, her toes wiggling slightly, as if teasing Alicefiel’s heart.

Alicefiel averted her gaze, not daring to look at her old friend Elizabeth’s legs.

Elizabeth Dracule—one of the survivors from the crusade seventeen years ago, once a member of the Magic Committee’s elite magical girl response squad.

Former blood magic master, now president of the Magical Girl Association.

She arched her body, leaning forward to grab a chocolate from the table and pop it into her mouth.

“So, Lu Xin, or Alicefiel—which do you want me to call you?”

Elizabeth crossed her arms over her stomach, smiling slyly at Alicefiel.

“Since I’m in this form now, call me Alicefiel, sister.”

Alicefiel replied flatly.

“Oh? Not surprised I uncovered your little secret, Madam?”

Elizabeth teased.

“Back in the squad, I pretty much knew you figured out I was Lu Xin.”

Alicefiel said.

“You just took twenty-plus years to poke that paper window.”

Lu Xin had been captivated by Elizabeth’s white-stockinged legs from the first glance.

Though yellow thoughts crossed his mind then, Corona already occupied much of his heart.

Perhaps that first impression was too profound, so when he returned to the squad as Magical Girl Yuehua, those legs still drew his eyes.

During their first eye contact with the codenamed Crimson Elizabeth, Yuehua was stunned by her half-smiling expression.

Though Crimson always acted like an obedient loli, after Yuehua’s public declaration of disinterest in men, she began teasing and seducing her subtly.

“That’s why you fled the squad as Lu Xin, right?”

Elizabeth poured herself a cup of tea, sipping slowly.

“After all, a man turning into a magical girl—if word got out, he’d have no place left.”

“Yeah.”

Alicefiel agreed verbally, though it was only part of the reason.

“So you left the squad, then rejoined with a new face.”

“Your second time was after that battle. You retired, and our squad fell apart.”

Elizabeth said.

“I was still in the hospital then, wondering why you’d abandon Corona and retire alone.”

“Only recently did Corona mention you have a daughter.”

“Silver hair, purple eyes—looks just like you.”

Elizabeth propped her knees on the table, leaning her face close to Alicefiel’s.

“So, are you Lu Yue’s mother or father?”

Elizabeth asked.

Alicefiel kept her flat expression, one hand on her teacup.

“If father, you couldn’t have fallen for Corona.”

“If mother… ah.”

Elizabeth felt she’d guessed the truth.

“You’ve always liked men?”

Elizabeth dropped the bombshell.

Alicefiel nearly spat her tea, swallowing it down and coughing violently.

“Spill it—who’s the other man!”

Elizabeth glared fiercely, grabbing Alicefiel’s collar and shaking her.

“Stop, stop—this is getting worse!”

Alicefiel hurriedly halted her.

“Spill!”

Elizabeth roared.

“Actually.”

Alicefiel took a breath.

“I don’t know.”

Alicefiel answered.

“I can’t remember the details from the end of that battle—like part of my memory’s gone.”

Alicefiel said.

“At the end of that blank memory, I only recall waking to no vile beasts around, then seeing Corona lying nearby… ah!”

Alicefiel’s head throbbed, forcing her to stop recalling.

“Can’t remember more.”

Alicefiel gasped, her breath hitting Elizabeth’s face.

“Enough—recalling that battle does us no good. The more you dwell, the easier the ‘corruption’ seeps in. Let’s stop.”

Elizabeth said.

Alicefiel murmured agreement.

“Listen.”

Elizabeth cupped Alicefiel’s face.

“I don’t care who fathered your child.”

“A lie will unravel eventually. You can’t hide it from her forever. When she grows stronger and realizes the father by her mother’s side is just an alchemical puppet—what will she think?”

“Playing both roles to sustain a fake family—isn’t that tragic?”

“Don’t you want to give your daughter real family warmth?”

Elizabeth’s eyes were earnest as she looked at Alicefiel.

“What I mean is, I love you.”

Elizabeth spoke her truest words.

“I’ve missed you so much… I love you so much.”

Elizabeth’s first impression of Lu Xin was a lecherous creep, staring at her legs.

But over time, in their work, her view softened—he was talented, humorous, meticulous.

Unknowingly, he’d captured her heart.

So, Elizabeth expressed her affection in her own way: gifts on holidays, occasional glimpses of skin.

But she grew jealous—Lu Xin’s eyes were always on Corona.

Then Lu Xin vanished.

During his absence, Elizabeth felt listless.

A year or two later, a silver-haired, blue-eyed magical girl joined the squad.

When Corona introduced her, Elizabeth saw through her—it was the old Lu Xin.

She ramped up her pursuit of Yuehua, though Yuehua’s focus stayed on Corona.

Elizabeth believed effort yielded results—until the battle left her gravely wounded and Yuehua gone.

“We’re not right for each other. I… already have a child.”

Alicefiel turned away.

“I know!”

Elizabeth shouted.

Elizabeth kissed Alicefiel’s lips directly.

Their breaths nearly stopped in the process.

After a one-sided, prolonged kiss, Elizabeth pulled back, creating a proper distance between their faces.

Alicefiel curled up, face flushed, panting greedily for air.

“I’ll treat your child as my own. I can be a proper mother.”

Elizabeth held Alicefiel.

“Whether as your wife or an extra in your play-pretend story.”

“Or.”

Elizabeth’s mental energy stirred, channeling mana to form a false outer shell around her body.

Soon, a blonde youth replaced the blonde, red-eyed loli.

“I can be your husband.”

The youth’s lips curved in a subtle smile as he scooped the blushing Alicefiel into his arms.

“I only want to marry you, beautiful lady.”

His warm breath brushed her earlobe.

“I don’t want to wait anymore.”

“I’ve waited for you too long.”

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