The atmosphere was surprisingly calm, the tension having dissolved far quicker than Alicarde had anticipated. Malefica had successfully convinced the witches to hear her out, which was no small feat. Only a few minutes ago, these won had arrived intent on capturing Malefica and putting an end to him.
Yet now, they were sitting around a fire, the flas crackling softly, as they discussed their grievances.
'Are won just more civilized than n?'
Alicarde thought, observing the scene with a hint of bewildernt.
His mind drifted back to his previous encounters, like his battle with Adonis, the warlock. The two of them had fought until they were utterly spent.
'Mostly Adonis… I had juice to spare'
Honestly, the fight hadn't been completely fair—Adonis was weakened by Malefica's curse, and Alicarde himself had held back, unwilling to unleash his full power.
But here, there wasn't even a hint of hostility. These won, who had been ready to fight to the death, were now handling the situation with calm discussion instead.
Perhaps their familiarity with each other was enough to stave off the violence. As he mulled this over, he caught Vidalia glancing his way. She looked down quickly, a blush forming on her cheeks, her head tilted just enough for him to notice.
Alicarde couldn't help but give a deadpan look under his hood, though she couldn't see it.
Helga, the observant one, noticed Vidalia's shy expression and turned her attention to Malefica.
"Lady Malefica," she began, her tone diplomatic but firm,
"now that we've addressed the… elephant in the room, perhaps it's ti to discuss sothing else."
She turned her gaze to Alicarde, her expression turning more severe, and Alicarde had a sinking feeling this conversation was about him.
Malefica sighed, as if she had hoped to avoid this topic altogether, and nodded for Helga to continue.
Alicarde glanced nervously at Malefica, feeling caught off guard. He hadn't expected the witches to focus on him.
Helga crossed her arms and continued to look at him as though he were a particularly troubleso pest.
Vidalia, still slightly pink, fidgeted in her seat, stealing glances his way.
Malefica t Helga's gaze with a resigned nod.
"Very well, then. What do you propose we do about him?"
she asked, throwing a glance Alicarde's way that seed both exasperated and slightly amused.
"Huh…what the…"
Alicarde muttered, surprised that she was willing to leave his fate up to the witches.
Malefica's sharp glare silenced him.
"You're finally getting what's coming to you. Harassing won left and right does have its consequences,"
she said with a dry tone that left no room for argunt.
Alicarde felt utterly wronged.
'I didn't even do anything on purpose this ti, damn it,' he thought indignantly.
Helga nodded in agreent, glancing over at Vidalia, who seed to be the center of whatever accusations they were forming.
Vidalia lowered her head, her cheeks tinged pink, before speaking in a small, quivering voice.
"I...I have been defiled," she whispered, her voice barely audible, yet it carried a heavy weight as the other witches turned their eyes on Alicarde with varying degrees of indignation and judgnt.
'Bitch, I didn't do anything to you!' Alicarde thought, barely suppressing a groan.
Vidalia glanced down again, her face a perfect mask of maidenly distress.
"I'll never get a man now," she murmured, her voice dripping with supposed sorrow.
"No one would want after…after what's happened."
Alicarde ntally rolled his eyes.
'Woman, look in a mirror—you're stunning. All the n in this planet would want you in a heartbeat.'
But before he could say anything, she looked up at him with glistening eyes, her lower lip trembling ever so slightly.
"I...I demand he takes responsibility and marries ," she said with a newfound firmness, her voice carrying a hint of defiance as she looked directly at him.
'You have got to be kidding ,' Alicarde thought, a knot of frustration tightening in his chest.
This was the second ti a witch had tried to corner him into marriage over so nonsense. And this ti was even more ridiculous! All that had happened was a simple, innocent wardrobe malfunction—nothing more. He glared at Malefica, knowing she couldn't see his expression beneath his hood but hoping she could feel the silent outrage radiating from him.
Malefica caught his glare and raised an eyebrow, clearly aware of his feelings but also sowhat entertained by his predicant.
"Well, it seems you're facing the consequences of your actions,"
she remarked thorough the telepathic link, though there was an underlying hint of amusent in her tone.
"This is nonsense. Complete and utter nonsense," Alicarde mumbled,
though he kept his voice low enough that only Malefica could hear him.
Malefica, playing the role of diator, tried to ease Vidalia's concerns.
"Vidalia," she said gently,
"perhaps there's a better way to resolve this without binding anyone in a marriage they may not want."
But Vidalia was sharp, and each word Malefica offered only seed to strengthen her resolve.
"No, Lady Malefica," she insisted, her voice growing more resolute.
"The honor of my family, my dignity—I can't overlook such a grave offense."
Alicarde felt his patience thinning. The more they talked, the more it seed inevitable that he was about to be dragged into a marriage with a beautiful witch. He took a breath and tried to remain calm, despite the ludicrous accusations stacking up against him.
"Vidalia," he interjected.
"I understand that there may have been…a misunderstanding, but it was just that—a misunderstanding. There was no ill intent, and no harm done."
Vidalia turned to him, a slight pout on her lips.
"Then take responsibility and prove that your intentions were pure," she countered.
"If you're truly honorable, you'll have no problem with this arrangent."
'Honorable my ass… I would bitch slap you if we didn't need your help taking down Cassandra'
Alicarde opened his mouth to argue, but Malefica raised a hand, silencing him. She looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and warning, as if to say, Tread carefully.
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