Three hours ago, Hela City Inquisition, inside the Meditation Room.
An Enforcer Knight knelt on one knee, his head bowed as he spoke.
“Report! Lady Mephia, the Witch you captured last night… she escaped. All the guards stationed at the prison have been punished.”
In the deepest part of the Meditation Room, sitting directly before him, was a woman dressed in a white-gold gown.
Her back was turned to the knight, her gaze fixed on the city of Hela through the window.
Sunlight spilled over her.
Though her expression was blank, she appeared as perfect as a goddess.
Most notably, she carried an unmistakable air of authority, the mark of someone who had long held a high position.
It was a cold, distant aura that kept people at arm’s length, yet it was not so oppressive as to inspire terror.
Her status was clearly lofty; in her presence, the Enforcer Knight hardly dared to breathe.
“I see. Do not blame them. Witches are inherently insidious and cunning; it is only natural that they could not hold her. Go and prepare the carriage. I intend to pay a visit to Earl Harris shortly.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Having received his orders, the Enforcer Knight slowly retreated and left the Meditation Room.
A moment later, the Starlight Earring on Mephia’s left ear swayed slightly, and a tiny, ethereal female voice drifted from it.
“Tsk, tsk. She got away. That is one less lead for us.”
The speaker was her familiar, named Elsa.
Her body was constructed of pure mana, her form resembling a Butterfly Elf.
She was only about the size of a finger, and during her downtime, she usually resided within Mephia’s left earring.
Naturally, Mephia only wore an earring on that one side.
“I was careless. I did not expect her to be able to escape under those circumstances. A Witch’s methods are truly beyond my expectations.”
Mephia did not seem particularly bothered by the news of the Witch’s escape.
“But it does not matter. Our true target is Earl Harris.”
“Has Earl Harris… really betrayed the Empire?”
At the mention of the Earl, Elsa’s voice grew heavy, and a glint flashed in Mephia’s eyes.
On the surface, Mephia had come from the Imperial Capital to replace the Chief Inquisitor of Hela City because his term had ended.
In reality, she had been assigned a secret mission by the Empire’s high command to investigate Earl Harris.
Only she and her familiar knew this.
“The information is highly credible; otherwise, the Empire would not have sent me to investigate in secret. I also understand their intent. Once evidence is found, I do not need to report back. I am to take his head immediately.”
Touching the badge that signified her status as an Inquisitor, the corner of Mephia’s mouth curled into a faint arc.
“Now, let us depart for his manor.”
—
Harris Manor.
The moment Mephia stepped out of the carriage, Tia recognized her.
‘Isn’t that the woman who knocked me out with one punch yesterday? She’s the Inquisitor stationed in Hela City?’
Tsk, she didn’t expect the woman’s status to be so high.
Even knowing her identity, Tia felt no fear.
Earl Harris warmly received Mephia.
As the Earl’s daughter, Tia took the place of the maid to personally serve them tea.
However, the moment she drew near Mephia, aside from smelling a unique, cold floral fragrance, her heart trembled.
In that instant, she felt her own Witch Aura being suppressed and hidden.
‘This is… the power of the Witch’s Tear!’
In a split second, Tia’s gaze landed on the Silver Carved Ring on Mephia’s right index finger.
That was a high-level spatial magic tool, generally used to store precious items.
It was almost certain that the Witch’s Tear she sought was inside that ring.
“Is something wrong?”
Mephia asked, seemingly sensing Tia’s odd behavior.
“… It’s nothing. I just realized upon getting closer that you are even more beautiful than I imagined.”
Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, Tia gave a shallow smile after finishing the tea service.
Her pale blue eyes were like lakes under a clear sky, reflecting the myriad colors of the world.
A Pink Eros Aura drifted through the air.
That single smile seemed capable of making even the tightest flower buds bloom instantly.
Mephia did not press further; she averted her gaze, looking away with a hint of hesitation.
‘Is she captivated?’
As the thought crossed her mind, the smile on Tia’s face grew even more radiant.
After the tea was served, Earl Harris began his conversation with Mephia.
Tia left the living room and returned to the second floor of the villa alone.
The Witch’s Tear only needed to be nearby to hide her unique Witch Aura, so she was certain it was in the ring on Mephia’s hand.
The problem was now very specific: how could she get that ring from her?
It was a high-level spatial magic tool that even average nobles might not possess.
Taking it from an Inquisitor would not be easy.
Should she take it by force?
Tia shook her head.
Although she currently possessed the strength of a 1-star Bronze, she had to admit that an Inquisitor stationed in Hela City was surely more powerful than her.
Based on her estimates, she suspected Mephia was Silver Grade.
Against such strength, a frontal assault was impossible.
Therefore…
After a moment of thought, she decided on a honey trap.
She had personally experienced how terrifying Celestia’s charm was.
Even without the boost from the Pink Eros Aura, her every frown and smile could drive countless beings to distraction.
It would not be an exaggeration to call her the most beautiful woman in the Empire.
If she added the Pink Eros Aura… she was confident she could make anyone fall in love with her.
And people were always willing to do brainless things for the sake of love.
If Mephia fell for her, wouldn’t taking the ring from her hand be effortless?
Furthermore, Mephia’s appearance was not inferior to hers in the slightest.
Her temperament, in particular, was like that of a goddess in the heavens or a beauty on an ice mountain — high, cold, and flawless.
If she could wrap those limbs in the threads of love, conquer her, and make her a puppet of desire who followed her every whim, the taste of that victory would be…
*Heh heh heh!*
At that thought, the corners of her mouth began to curl upward uncontrollably again.
Tia quickly covered her mouth, suppressing the wicked thoughts rising in her heart and returning to a ladylike posture.
The fantasy was wonderful, but a honey trap would not be simple to execute.
To make Mephia fall in love with her, the first step was to create many “accidental” encounters and let the woman experience her charms during those moments.
Experiencing beauty was easy, but as for the accidental encounters…
After some thought, Tia’s gaze landed on the carpet in the second-floor hallway.
**[Target: Hallway Carpet]**
**[As the cold wind blows, the lonely and bored carpet yearns for someone to need it. Only when a warm sole lands in its embrace does it feel truly alive.]**
So it is Yuri, why tf wasn’t this tagged as one then?!
Added~