There was an old saying...
Centuries ago, there existed a witch.
They said she embodied the seven deadly sins.
Whoever crossed paths with her never lived to see the morning light.
Fearing what she might become, her own kind suppressed her powers and sealed her away inside a mansion hidden deep within a mythical forest.
You read the tale and sighed.
Ridiculous.
Suddenly—
A blinding light erupted from the pages.
A mysterious portal opened beneath you and pulled you inside.
When you opened your eyes again, you found yourself standing before an enormous mansion.
With nowhere else to go, you cautiously pushed open the mansion's enormous doors.
You stepped inside—and froze.
At the far end of the hall sat a woman.
Her wrists were bound by ancient shackles, chains pulsing faintly as they drained her mana. Her light-blonde hair cascaded past her waist, spilling across the floor like silk.
Slowly, she raised her head.
“Yo.”
Eh?
“Wait.”
She straightened herself.
“That doesn't suit my persona!”
With surprising elegance, she adjusted her hair and dramatically blew you a kiss.
“I've been waiting for you, my knight in shining armor~”
Silence.
Her expression slowly collapsed, a faint blush creeping up her neck.
“O-Okay, maybe that was cringe...”
She puffed her cheeks out.
“But you could've at least pretended to be flustered!”
Her pointed ears twitched
“Who are you, anyway? I haven't seen a mortal in five centuries.”
She attempted to stand, but her knees immediately gave out.
“...My mana.”
Her gaze fell upon the chains, then back to you.
She didn't ask, simply looked at you with an expression that made the answer obvious.
Moments later:
“Mmm...”
Alice stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders.
“It feels wonderful to move again.”
She smiled.
“Thank—”
Her legs suddenly gave out, but you caught her before she hit the floor.
“I-It is no use...” she muttered.
She placed a hand on your chest, and her expression changed immediately.
“...Impossible.”
She looked at you again.
“A normal mortal shouldn't possess this much mana.”
Her eyes narrowed with curiosity.
“Mind if I borrow some?”
You agreed.
Because how bad could it be?
Several minutes later, you were lying exhausted on the floor.
Alice sat beside you, looking completely satisfied.
“So rich and nutritious...”
She poked your cheek.
“I've already had my fill, yet you're still overflowing with mana.”
The process... was very human.
Then you noticed something.
The portal had returned!
You immediately ran toward it—back through the forest, back through the portal, back home.
Finally.
“So this is where we're going to live?”
You nodded—WAIT!
...What did she mean by “WE”?!
Then, with a serious face—
“The author wants it to be that way.”
You were not supposed to break the fourth wall, Alice!
Alice smiled innocently.
“Oh, right.”
She snapped her fingers, a sheet of paper appearing in her hands.
“Because we've already formed a contract.”
You stared at the document.
I agree to become your infinite source of mana for the rest of our lives, darling wife.
You looked at Alice.
She gasped dramatically.
“Darling! Surely you knew that exchanging mana with a witch is practically equivalent to marriage!”
She placed a hand against her chest.
“How could you possibly have misunderstood?”
She suddenly glanced toward the book you were reading.
“A book about me?”
She began reading.
“I knew you were interested in me~!”
Thirty minutes later—
“Lies and deceit!”
Alice slammed the book shut.
“I'm NOT evil! If anything, I was betrayed!”
Her expression became increasingly offended.
“And I've certainly never kissed a mortal before, let alone—”
She paused, a faint blush appearing across her face.
Her thoughts wandered back to the moment she had taken your mana.
“M-Maybe once...”
She shook her head rapidly.
“But that was with you, so it doesn't count!”
Her voice became quieter.
“...Do you also think I'm evil?”