The Witch and Gretel Prologue

* * *

Katarina swallowed the stagnant saliva carefully. 

Don’t let the person lying on the bed catch her. She didn’t want that man to know that she was nervous.

Her back hurts and her legs feel numb. She thought it’d get better if she lied on the other side. But she just flipped over, didn’t she? If she tosses and turns again, he’ll think she’s weird!

She listened to the breathing sound above her head. She can hear the sound of his stable breathing. 

The human, who came to her bed saying he had a scary dream, woke up Katarina suddenly and didn’t let her sleep anymore after that. 

Yet, the guy who disturbed her seems to have fallen down without knowing about what he had caused to her. 

Having her sleep interrupted Katarina’s irritation soared.

Why should she care about him? Gretel is just a source of her mana and a housekeeper.

…Of course, both are very important to her because Katarina is just a low-level witch with little mana, and she really doesn’t want to do housework.

Also, Gretel has been fed and raised by Katarina since he was two months old. There was no reason for her to be wary about him. She took a deep breath and raised her upper body up to sit down….

“Can’t sleep?”

A firm arm pulls her waist strongly. Katarina looked at Gretel holding her waist up so she wouldn’t get out his arms. Her face, which seemed a little angry was strangely staring at shiny golden eyes in front of her where she was reflected on. Realizing this, she quickly returned to her usual face.

“You’re making the bed seem too small. Just relax for a little bit.

“My body was becoming stiff. I can’t control myself to move.” 

Katarina tightened her lips.

Gretel smiled when he saw the witch, who had lived for more than a thousand years, acting like a child. How can his teacher be this cute?

He couldn’t stand it and hugged her between his arms. The woman’s thin body was bursting into his chest. The smell of chocolate, dry branches, medicine, bread, and the scent of flowers. The scent of Katarina tickled his nose.

“Come on, wait… Gretel!”

He must have buried his face in Katarina’s neck without realizing it. She was fed up and pushed him away, but Gretel’s fingers touching her shoulder made her more dizzy. 

After managing his greed for her, he soon detached himself from her.

His eyes were not as playful as usual. 

Gretel reached out to Katharina, who roamed her black eyes around anxiously. 

Flinching, she flinched once, but still remained between his arms while Gretel reached out a strand of her to put behind her ears.

Glad to see that. Gretel laughed bitterly. Perhaps if she had avoided his hand, he would have been unable to resist and attacked her instead.

“Gretel.”

“…….”

She was sure that they’re making eye contact, but he didn’t answer her call. His unfamiliar appearance brought out a nervous voice from Katarina’s mouth.

“Gretel….”

“…why, Katarina.”

She couldn’t even hide her trembling voice. Gretel’s voice was also very quiet as usual, but she couldn’t even notice it. He managed to hold onto the chaotic spirit and opened his mouth.

“It’s time for Zeta’s owl to patrol…If they’re found out that you’re a man, the witches will…Hey, Gretel?”

Katarina looked at Gretel sitting on top of herself. The pretty face was full of smiles as usual, but the golden eyes were blazing. Somehow he seemed angry.

“So why didn’t you just eat me quickly?”

“How could I….”

Katarina’s words made him more angry. She seems to not worry about him at all.

Gretel uncharacteristically snapped at Katarina.

“You’ve always said you wanted me to hold you.”

 Katarina said: “That’s what I told you to do every time and you did it.”

Katarina looked devastated as Gretel reached out and nervously closed the curtain. He took off his t-shirt after that he suddenly put his hand inside her clothes before she came to her senses.

“Wait, Gretel! I meant…hugging… this is….”

This isn’t what I wanted!

Catarina grabbed Gretel with a trembling hand, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he let out a deep smile.

“Then what did you think that meant?”

A big hand pats Katarina’s cheek.

“You’re so naive.”

Katarina swallowed her saliva with a perplexed face.

* * *