“Hmph!” I tried to scream, but my mouth was muffled, a soft cloth wrapped tightly around it, silencing any coherent words. My arms and legs struggled, but they were bound in cuffs, cool metal pressing against my skin, limiting my movement. A faint rattling echoed through the dimly lit room as I twisted in place, my senses slowly catching up with the situation.

  I looked to see that I was lying on a grand four-poster bed, its plush purple sheets cool against my skin. The silk canopy draped elegantly above, its translucent fabric shimmering under the dim glow of enchanted lanterns. The mattress beneath me was absurdly soft, almost as if I had been placed atop a cloud rather than a bed, making the entire situation feel even more surreal.

  “Wha?!” A shocked gasp snapped my attention forward. In front of me stood a stunning woman with deep violet hair cascading down her back in elegant waves. Her amethyst eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me, her lips parting slightly in an expression of pure shock. She wore a luxurious black corset dress adorned with silver embroidery, hugging her figure tightly. The soft glow of the candlelight flickered across her pale skin, casting shifting shadows that accentuated her sharp features. And, of course, it was impossible not to notice, her ample chest, barely restrained by the corset, moved with every breath she took.

  “How did you wake up already?!” she blurted out, taking a step back, her heels clicking softly against the polished wooden floor.

  I groaned against the gag, my mind racing. Where was I? How did I end up like this?

  A quick glance around told me that I was in a lavish room, unlike anything I had seen before. The walls were deep crimson, decorated with gold accents and intricate floral patterns. A chandelier, adorned with violet gemstones, hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, ambient glow. Plush velvet curtains framed a large window, but they were drawn shut, blocking out the outside world. To my left, an ornate wooden desk sat cluttered with alchemical vials, strange glowing crystals, and a half-finished book with an elegant quill resting beside it. Shelves lined the walls, filled with old tomes, bottles of unknown substances, and decorative trinkets that shimmered mysteriously.

  To my right was an extravagant four-poster bed with silky purple sheets, the sheer canopy draping over it, adding to the almost enchanting atmosphere. The scent of lavender and something faintly sweet lingered in the air, mixing with the slight burn of candle wax.

  I let out another muffled grunt, twisting my body again in an attempt to loosen my restraints. Viola frowned, crossing her arms under her chest, clearly contemplating something.

  “This is unexpected,” she muttered, tapping a finger against her lip. “I put in extra care to make sure you’d be asleep for at least another few hours.”

  My eyes narrowed. What was that supposed to mean?!

  Viola let out a soft sigh, placing a hand on her hip. “Well, I suppose there's no point in panicking now. Since you’re awake... I guess I’ll have to improvise.”

  Before Viola could make her next move, a sudden gust of wind howled through the room, snuffing out the candlelight and plunging everything into eerie darkness. The window curtains flared wildly as if an unseen force had torn them open.

  “What—?!” Viola gasped, turning sharply toward the window.

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  The temperature plummeted in an instant, and a thick, suffocating aura filled the space, pressing down like an unseen weight. The flickering candle flames shuddered before vanishing altogether, plunging the room into an eerie darkness. A gust of cold wind swept through, making the curtains billow violently as if possessed by a malevolent force. Then, in the blink of an eye, two figures emerged seamlessly from the shadows, as if the darkness itself had given them form. One was clad in a dark, flowing cloak that rippled unnaturally, absorbing the dim ambient light, while the other donned elaborate crimson witch robes adorned with mystical symbols that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly glow.

  "Bery step away from Mashiro," Yuzu’s voice rang out, calm yet carrying an undeniable edge of authority. Her jet black eyes locked onto Viola, her expression unreadable, but the sheer presence she exuded was enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine. The air around her crackled with unseen energy, wisps of darkness curling around her fingertips like serpents ready to strike.

  "This is ridiculous," Viola huffed, dramatically throwing a hand toward the window. "It's the middle of the night! Can't we just reschedule this whole dramatic rescue for tomorrow? I could use some beauty sleep, you know!"

  "Yeah, you're right," Catherine said with a teasing smirk, flipping her long, crimson hair over her shoulder as she sauntered toward me. She grabbed my gag with a dramatic flourish, yanking it away with an exaggerated gasp. "Oh, Mashiro, did the mean witch tie you up? How tragic!" She then pointed her staff at my cuffs, her eyes glinting mischievously as she whispered an incantation. A burst of golden light flashed from her staff, and with a sharp crack, the metal restraints shattered, clattering onto the plush carpet below.

  "Catherine, Yuzu!" I yelled out, my voice laced with both relief and exasperation.

  "Yeah, yeah," Catherine said, stretching her arms above her head before flopping onto the bed beside me. She let out a dramatic sigh, sinking into the plush sheets. "You really know how to get yourself into weird situations, huh?" With a lazy grin, she rolled onto her side and draped an arm over my shoulder like we were just having a casual sleepover instead of a dramatic rescue. "Anyway, goodnight."

  "Hey! That's no fair!" Viola huffed, dramatically flipping her hair as she copied Catherine's behavior and plopped down next to me. She wiggled around on the plush mattress, trying to make herself comfortable. "Scooch over, I need more room! This bed is big enough for a royal slumber party, and I refuse to be left out!"

  "CATHERINE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! SHE KIDNAPPED AND CUFFED ME!" I flailed my arms in frustration, my voice rising in disbelief.

  Catherine waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, come on, Mashiro. She at least had the courtesy to use silk cuffs. Some people would pay good money for that experience."

  I sputtered, too stunned to form a proper response.

  Viola, meanwhile, crossed her arms with a dramatic pout. "Hey, I only gagged and cuffed you so you wouldn't scream and thrash while I carefully extracted your fox spatial magic essence! I had a whole system planned, you know!"

  "That doesn't make it better!" I snapped.

  Meanwhile, Yuzu stood in stunned silence, her expression shifting between disbelief and confusion. She blinked a few times, as if trying to process the absurdity of the situation before finally muttering, "Mashiro... bery like kidnapped princess?"

  "NO!" I denied, throwing my hands up in exasperation. I pointed an accusatory finger at Viola, who was now lounging dramatically on the bed, playing with a lock of her violet hair. "How are you chill with this crazy hot lady?! She literally tied me up! This is a CRIME!"

  Viola scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, please. It's only a crime if I get arrested. Besides, you looked cute like that."

  "SEE?!" I gestured wildly, looking to Catherine and Yuzu for support.

  Catherine just sighed, rubbing her temples. "We're sisters. So, as a vow of witchhood, we put a curse on ourselves so that we never settle a fight at night." She leaned against her staff, looking completely unbothered by the escalating chaos. "Which means, technically, this isn't a fight. It's just... an unconventional family reunion."

  Yuzu nodded sagely. "Bery witch family drama."