"Miori, Renji — you look amazing together! Seriously, the coolest couple ever! I’m so glad you got back together!"

Comments like these have been echoing through the university courtyard for the past three days.

"Did you see how good Renji looked this morning? His sense of style is flawless — and that hairstyle too! He’s seriously hot," one girl whispers.

"Yeah, Miori’s so lucky — only a goddess like her could melt the heart of someone as tough as Renji Kurotani!" another replies.

Of course, none of those words escape Miori’s sharp ears.

Of course he looks that good — I’m the one who built him from the ground up. Just one more year of patience, and this ridiculous act will finally be over.

But just as she basks in that wave of admiration, a hushed comment cuts through it.

"Wait... isn’t that Aoshi Toya — Miori’s ex? Looks like he got over her pretty fast, huh?"

Miori’s eyes flick in every direction, trying not to attract attention. And then she sees them — Aoshi and Eliss, standing by the university gate, with Eliss pressed tightly against his back on the same bike.

N-No way...

◇◇◇

"I haven’t seen him for an hour and I already miss him like crazy... being in love really is torture," Eliss mutters.

She’s wandering aimlessly through downtown Ueda when a deep, warm voice calls out to her from behind.

"It’s only been a few days, and yet it feels like a lifetime, doesn’t it, Princess Eliss?"

She freezes the instant that familiar voice reaches her ears — her eyes instantly well up with tears of joy. She spins around and finds herself face to face with a man of striking beauty: tall, broad-shouldered, with a sculpted physique and long, perfectly kept black hair.

"R-Raelor!" she cries, overjoyed. She rushes toward him and throws herself into his arms.

"Raelor, my sweet Raelor! I never thought I’d say this, but... I’m so happy to see you! I always knew you couldn’t live without me — that sooner or later you’d come to save me!" she sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks.

But not even a second later, Eliss suddenly starts sniffing him like a sniffer dog inspecting luggage at an airport.

"Raelor... what’s that smell? Is that... women’s perfume? Since when did you start picking up habits like that?"

"Oh, that’s not mine — one of the human women I entertained last night must’ve left it on me. Couldn’t tell you which of the four, though. Turns out that rumor going around Ravessia about how irresistible succubi and incubi are to humans is pretty accurate. I might actually consider settling down here."

Eliss isn’t even remotely surprised by his conquests — just like her, Raelor possesses a beauty that surpasses anyone else in their world.

"And you, Princess Eliss? Have you finally tasted the thrill you were looking for, or did the humans fall at your feet before you even had to speak?"

"Well... about that... there’s something I need to tell you..."

Eliss blushes instantly. Her voice falters, then she suddenly breaks down into uncontrollable sobs.

"I fell in love with an idiot — that’s what happened! I don’t even understand how! I met him the night I arrived — the only one who wasn’t drooling like a fool. He ignored me! So I used Seduction Magic to make him fall for me, but something went wrong... and now I’m the one completely obsessed with him! When I’m not with him, I feel empty — like I lose the will to live! And then... my body reacts every time we so much as brush against each other! Go on, see for yourself if you don’t believe me!"

Eliss lifts her skirt just enough to reveal the wetness on her underwear and thighs. It’s a bold gesture, but between them, it’s nothing unusual. They grew up together, after all — more than best friends, almost like siblings.

"It’s like every repressed urge in my body exploded all at once! And that’s not even the worst part — I couldn’t stop myself and told him who I really am, and why I’m bound to him. And you know what? He actually agreed to let me stay at his place until I find a way to fix this mess! But the craziest part is this!"

Eliss throws her hands up, exasperated.

"No matter how hard I try, I can’t seduce him! I can feel the desire burning inside him — I know that if I were really his girlfriend, if there were real love between us, he’d be all over me in an instant... but he doesn’t! Not even a touch! Help me, please... I’m desperate! And to make things worse, those Monster Slayers guarding the portal said my body wouldn’t survive another crossing — it might take months before I can try again! You’re the strongest incubus there is — I know you could break this spell without even trying and send me back to Elyndra. Please... I’m begging you, help me!"

"Of course, breaking the Seduction Magic and opening a portal you could pass through would be effortless for me," Raelor says calmly. He rests a hand on her head, offers a faint smile, and then...

"...but I won’t."

A flat, cold, merciless refusal — one that shatters Eliss’s hope and plunges her into despair.

"Why?! Why?! Why do you have to be so cruel?!" Eliss sobs, weakly pounding against his chest like a desperate child.

"King Azhelar is furious after your little escape. He ordered me to come here only to keep an eye on you and make sure you’re safe. As punishment for acting on your own yet again, he has decided to confine you to the human world until further notice. If I helped you, I would be disobeying a direct order from the King. I warned you your magic was still too immature. So I’m sorry, Princess — you’ll have to handle this on your own until your father decides you’ve suffered enough. Knowing him, that could take months... so you’d better start getting used to this world."

"Y-You can’t be serious..." Eliss murmurs, her eyes brimming with tears. She gives him her most pleading look, but it’s useless — Raelor turns his back on her without a hint of hesitation.

"You have nothing to fear, Princess Eliss. Nothing will ever threaten your safety — I swear it on my honor as your bodyguard. Even if you can’t see me, I’ll always be watching over you. But that’s all I’ll do. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a lovely girl waiting for a certain incubus... and I’m already late. Good luck, Princess."

So much for "watching over me"... 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Eliss doesn’t even try to argue. She knows full well Raelor would never disobey a direct royal order — not even under torture.

"I hope you completely strike out with her, idiot..." she mutters under her breath, letting out a long, defeated sigh.

Ugh... Aoshi... why do you always have to go to university instead of staying home with me? It’s not fair... Damn it, it’s only eleven, and classes don’t end until four... how am I supposed to survive another five hours without him? That’s way too long...