The entire process of capturing Isabelle’s between her arms was smooth. It was easier than Arnacia expected, but the task was not over. Words well very necessary to overshadow this awkward circumstance, thus she quickly spoke.

“I won’t let anyone know that you have changed if you stick with me.” Arnacia had locked onto Isabelle’s arms. She lightly pulled Isabelle back so the two would touch. Weren’t they touching each other naked in the bathhouse? This act was insignificant in comparison.

“Thank you,” Isabelle said.

Arnacia had made the next move, and very naturally her wide open palms rested on the prize.

“Isabelle, my love. I am waiting for your next question.” Arnacia carefully squeezed lightly. She accidentally let out one rough breath, but gladly, Isabelle asked another question.

“What will happen in the tournament?”

“Nothing you should be afraid of.” The answer sounded very casual, but Arnacia’s mind was very tense. She gradually increased the pressure, with her not perfectly responsive hands. The confidence grew when Isabelle gave no response, so she fondled a little.

‘I guess she didn’t have such biggies in previous life.’ Arnacia concluded, since her own case was similar.

No more words were spoken, for Isabelle saw the lecherous action. Whereas Arnacia was mentally exhausted after committing the crime. Despite the mental differences, the physical space between their bodies was cozier. It was warmer than they ever felt after coming into this world.

“It’s time to change clothes,” Isabelle slowly said. She did not wish to disturb in case Arnacia was asleep.

But the sly girl was wide awake. She was thinking about the possibilities and future whilst recalling information from the novel. Her hands still had not left the comfortable spots.

“Let’s go,” Arnacia said after a while.

Both girls headed to change their clothes. The garden was dyed in orange. So were the faces of maids, who were on their way to the bathhouse.

‘No dinner for me.’ Arnacia sighed on her way back and directly went to her room. She threw herself on the bed.

‘I know nothing about the tournament, either. But this must be the reason maids don’t go to the Evernight festival. In the light novel, King Nicolas sees Isabelle during the festival. And there’s Queen Afeefa…’

Arnacia rolled on the bed and put her hand in the air. The room was fairly bright, since the sun had not set. She tried to move her fingers one by one. Thumb readily obeyed, but the rest moved together. She experimented with the second hand but the result remained same.

‘Two days and yet this does not feel mine.’ Arnacia got up from the bed and slowly rotated her arms. The body moved clunkily, but she couldn’t feel it. She stretched and her legs split to the limit.

‘What’s wrong with this body?’ It was difficult for her to describe the feeling. She could move, but the response was not as fast as she wanted. She tested some stretching exercises, but the results were unsatisfactory.

‘Perfect control of the body requires perfect control from the mind.’ Arnacia climbed on the bed and sat with her legs folded. The sun had set, and the room turned darker. Thus, she saw only blackness after she closed her eyes.

The images of Queen Afeefa and Silver Knight Rose entered her mind. If the queen was not present, Yale would have taken Isabelle and killed the rest. Arnacia’s frustration burnt on this matter.

‘I would’ve died as a minor character again.’ Arnacia’s eyes snapped open. She looked at her fingers again. If she couldn’t even control her own fingers, then what qualifications did she have to control her own fate?

Four fingers moved together again and again. Arnacia used her other hand to move her small finger. In her mind, she imagined moving the finger. She repeated this process and eventually got the hang of it.

‘One finger done.’ Excitedly, she worked with the next finger. However, the process quickly exhausted her mental energy. Her thoughts became sluggish, so she decided to take a small nap.

“Arnacia, Arnacia, Arnacia…”

The exhausted girl opened her eyes. A beautiful maiden had appeared in form of her. Lamp light added an exotic shade on the pale face.

“Let me sleep,” Arnacia turned away.

“Miss Rosalia wants you to wash the dishes…”

Arnacia eyes couldn’t close after hearing the witch’s name! She reluctantly got up from the bed. When she looked at Isabelle, a smile appeared on her face. It looked more like an evil grin under the lamplight.

“Isabelle, my love. You called out my name after so long.”

‘100/100 character points!’ Arnacia rejoiced over the small victory. She also noticed that the fingers of her right hand were fully in control.

“Yes…” Isabelle avoided Arnacia’s eyes.

“Can you say it again?” Arnacia asked.

“Arnacia…”

‘Interacting with her is fun as long as we don’t touch.’ Arnacia sheepishly smiled. She took one last look at Isabelle’s shy face and walked out of the room.

Sounds of maids moving about and rummaging through drawers made the hallway lively. Arnacia pondered about the Garden of Scullery and entered the kitchen to carry out her duty. She enjoyed washing the dishes today because her right fingers were nimble.

“Arnacia…

“Miss Rosalia also wants you to lock the cupboards.” The voice was extremely close, and a hand tapped Arnacia’s back.

“Isabelle, my love…” Arnacia sighed. The dishes were not all cleaned and signaled the same. But she did not hear Isabelle leave the kitchen.

“Will it be okay?” Isabelle asked.

Arnacia turned around and looked at the pitiful face.

‘I wish I knew what happens in the tournament.’ She sighed again and opened her arms to hug Isabelle. But her wet hands damped the back of Isabelle’s dress.

“I am sorry!” Arnacia quickly let go.

“It’s okay”. The maiden’s face showed was already down and she didn’t physically react.

“Remove the dress before you sleep. It will dry till morning,” Arnacia said. She wiped her hands properly with the apron.

Arnacia only received a light nod from the maiden. She resumed her work after Isabelle left the kitchen.

‘I should console her before sleeping.’ She carefully put all the dishes in their respectful places. After she was done, Rosalia brought a few more plates.

‘The witch comes in like a queen at the end.’ Arnacia complained in her heart, but obediently washed the dishes. Her duty was over after Rosalia inspected the kitchen. It took more time than expected.

The hallway was quieter. Arnacia walked to her room and locked the door. She also removed her soggy apron and hung it on the door lock. Only after that she looked towards the bed.

Only the lamp at Arnacia’s side of the bed was lit, but it was enough to see the scene. Isabelle had the blanket pulled up to her nose. At her legs was a dress placed so that the wet part would hang out of the bed.

‘There are no undergarments in the nightdress.’ Arnacia looked at the eyes that were staring back. She tried to hold back her smile but miserable failed. ‘And we share the same blanket.’