Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

{Isabella}

Isabella's tail flicked back and forth happily as she walked beside her mother through Syux's merchant district. Kimiko was wearing one of her more "professional" outfits today, though it still showed enough cleavage to make passing men trip over their own feet.

So was Isabella, actually.

[Like mother, like daughter~]

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh bread from nearby bakeries. Isabella adjusted her own outfit - a tastefully revealing ensemble that showed just enough to be distracting during negotiations.

"So then," Kimiko was saying, her tail brushing against Isabella's teasingly, "you know, I really think you ought to join me in my... tea parties~"

"Mom!" Isabella tried to hold back her smile. "Can we not talk about your orgies when we're heading to a business meeting?"

"Oh? But talking about them later is fine?"

"Absolutely. Wouldn't mind listening to your exploits with your dick in my mouth. Right now, though, I'm not in the mood."

"Hey, orgasms aside, this is important business stuff to learn, young lady," Kimiko said. "A lot of important networking goes on at these events."

Isabella laughed.

"Is that what we're calling it now? And here I thought you just enjoyed showing off that talented tongue of yours."

"Young lady!" Kimiko made a scandalized voice, but she was also clearly holding back a grin.

"Speaking of talented tongues, how was Auntie Margaret?"

"Insatiable as always." Kimiko's eyes sparkled. "Though she was worried about Melisa."

[... Understandably so.]

The events from yesterday's conference suddenly weighed heavily on Isabella's mind.

She hadn't been able to check on her girlfriend yet, having spent the morning arranging meetings instead.

[Hope she's okay. Though knowing her, she's probably already planning a way to get back at those attackers.]

"I should visit her later," Isabella mused, stepping around a merchant who'd frozen mid-step to stare at them. "After we're done with these meetings."

"Assuming you don't get distracted by any 'networking opportunities'?"

"Hey! Unlike you, I only slept with THREE potential clients this week!"

A passing noblewoman nearly fainted.

[Oops. Maybe I should use my indoor voice for that kind of thing.]

"How chaste of you."

---

They arrived at Merchant Whitewood's office, a stuffy place that reeked of old money and older prejudices. Old paintings lined the walls, probably worth more than most families made in a year. The man himself sat behind an ornate desk, looking down his nose at them despite being shorter than both.

[Wow. Compensating much with that giant desk?]

A wand made of crystal sat near his right hand, untouched. Isabella recognized it.

She'd sold him that exact model last month for twice its worth, not that he knew that.

"Miss Summer," he said, barely acknowledging Kimiko. "I understand you wish to discuss your... wands."

The pause before 'wands' made Isabella's tail twitch irritably. Still, she kept her professional smile firmly in place.

"Indeed." She pulled out her documentation with a flourish. "As you can see, our sales have tripled in the last quarter alone."

Isabella launched into her pitch.

Sales figures, testimonials, projected growth. She'd prepared everything perfectly. She even included a chart showing how many noble families had purchased their products.

[Come on, take the bait. You know you want those profit margins...]

"And with Melisa Blackflame as our spokesperson-"

"Absolutely not."

That made her stop.

"Excuse me?"

"The nim girl is a brand risk," Whitewood said, as if commenting on the weather. He actually had the audacity to pour himself a drink. "Especially after yesterday's... incident."

[Oh, you did NOT just-]

"A brand risk?" Isabella's voice could have frozen hell. The temperature in the room actually dropped several degrees. "The same nim girl who saved your king? Who-"

"Isabella." Kimiko's hand on her shoulder stopped her. Her mother's grip was gentle but firm. "Perhaps we should discuss this another time."

[Yeah. When I'm not about to shove my foot so far up his ass he'll taste leather for a week.]

"I mean no offense," Whitewood said, clearly meaning every offense. "But given recent events, associating with... her kind... would be unwise."

The merchant just smiled that insufferable smile rich humans loved so much, taking a sip from his crystal glass.

Isabella's right eye twitched from anger.

"Very well," Kimiko said smoothly, before Isabella could say something they'd both regret. "We'll take our business elsewhere."

"A shame," Whitewood said, not sounding sorry at all. "Do give my regards to your... friend."

Isabella's ears flattened against her head.

As they left the office, Isabella caught sight of Whitewood's ledger on his desk. The numbers were impossible to miss - his business was doing better than ever. Probably thanks to her wands.

And he just pulled this move???

[Too bad, old man. You just missed out on the deal of a lifetime.]

The door closed behind them with a satisfying slam.

"It's not fair!" Isabella yelled the instant they were outside. Without hesitation, Kimiko pulled her into a light hug. "I've made SO MUCH money for this guy and... and he... UGH!"

Sighing, Kimiko patted her back.

"Appearances are important in the world of trade. Clearly, the news are stirring certain sentiments in the air. He's just scared."

"That doesn't mean he's right to-"

"I didn't say he was," Kimiko quickly added. "Do not confuse explanation for justification. I'm simply saying I understand where he's coming from. He's still being a bastard, though."

Isabella slowly calmed down, nodding.

"It is always much easier to defeat your opposition when you understand them, Isabella."

"I get it," she finally replied. "I... It's just so annoying!"

"I know."

"So," Isabella sighed, stepping back. "What do we do?"

"The only thing we can," Kimiko stuck out a hand and Isabella quickly took it. "We take our business elsewhere. Come."

---

{Melisa}

Isabella was practically vibrating with anger in Melisa's lap, her tail bristling as she finished recounting her meeting with Merchant Whitewood. Her perfect ass ground against Melisa's thighs with each irritated movement, though now probably wasn't the time to appreciate that.

After all, Isabella was Melisa's first girlfriend. Her duty was to listen, not contemplate bending Isabella over and licking her balls. Nope. She wasn't thinking about that at all.

"And then he had the nerve, the absolute NERVE, to act like I haven't made him a fortune!" Isabella's ears twitched violently. "After everything we've done for his business-"

She cut off as Melisa stroked her tail soothingly. The familiar touch seemed to calm her somewhat, though her tail was still puffed up like an angry cat's.

"He- Mel, are you even mad about this?" Isabella twisted around to face her. "He basically called you dangerous! Why do I feel like I'm madder about this than you are!?"

"Of course I am." Melisa kept her voice low. They were still in class after all, even if most students were giving them a wide berth today. One girl had actually changed seats when Melisa walked in, like nim-ness might be contagious. "But your mom has a point."

Isabella's eyes narrowed.

"About what?"

"About publicity." Melisa sighed as she glanced around the classroom. Several students quickly looked away, pretending they hadn't been staring. Others didn't even bother hiding their suspicious glares. "Look around."

As soon as Isabella did, it seemed like she got what Melisa was trying to say.

Everyone in class, save for the people who knew Melisa better, looked either scared of her or annoyed to have her in their presence.

[And who can blame them? Not every day you find out the people you've been oppressing might be able to literally mind control you. Though honestly, if my pheromones were that strong, would I really be sitting through theoretical magic class?]

"But that's not fair!" Isabella's ears flattened against her head. "You saved the king! You helped stop those Shadow Mages! You've done more for this city than half these stuck-up nobles combined!"

"And I got accused of orchestrating an attack during my own unity speech?" Melisa raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, great publicity there. Really selling the whole 'nim aren't threats' angle."

Isabella deflated slightly, her tail curling around Melisa's wrist in a semi-possessive way.

"So what do we do? I mean, I could always try to seduce some of these merchants-"

"Pretty sure that would only make the ongoing sentiment worse, Isabella," Melisa laughed softly. "We need good publicity. Something to remind everyone that nim aren't the enemy."

"And how exactly do we do that?"

[Good question. Too bad I have absolutely no idea.]

"Miss Blackflame." The professor's voice cut through their conversation. "If you and Miss Summer are quite finished with your... personal discussions?"

[Great. Now even the teachers are getting snippy.]

Melisa looked up to find the entire class staring at them. Again. Though at least there were a few students who were still arguing about certain magical logistics instead of paying attention to them.

It showed not everyone had her at the center of their thoughts.

"Sorry, professor," Melisa said, not feeling sorry at all. "We were just discussing... public relations."

"I see. Just pay attention, please."

Isabella's tail bristled again.

[This is going to be a long day, isn't it?]