The garden behind the Rosemire Athenaeum had returned to its familiar hush — leaves rustling like soft applause, the wind slow and indifferent.
I sat on the usual bench.
Same posture. Same silence. Same look of detached villain contemplation.
Except this time, I wasn't alone for long.
Nia approached.
But this time… she didn't sit across from me.
She sat beside me.
Carefully. Close enough to notice. Not close enough to be noticed by others.
She didn't speak at first. Her hands were clenched together like they were keeping something fragile inside from spilling out.
Then, with hesitant breath:
"...I-I... w-wasn't s-sure if... y-you'd s-still want t-to sit h-here with me..."
I didn't look at her. Just stared forward, chin resting against my hand like a noble bored of the world.
"You doubt easily."
She stiffened beside me, but didn't leave.
"...i-it's just... w-when y-you're... quiet... I c-can't t-tell if I d-did something... w-wrong..."
There it was.
Not "am I not enough?" — no.
Just soft uncertainty, tinged with need. The kind of guilt-laced vulnerability that wraps around a heart and never lets go.
I turned my head slowly. Met her gaze — wide, nervous, searching.
"You didn't do anything wrong," I said, voice low and clear. "Some things are more delicate when left untouched."
She blinked.
"...l-like... frost?"
A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
Exactly.
[Affection: 79% → 81%] Emotional Status: Heightened Vulnerability
Trait Reinforcement: "Quiet Need" – Subject now seeks meaning from subtleties more than direct praise.
Milestone Achieved: Affection > 80%
Passive Unlocked: "Threaded Influence" – Your moods now affect the target's routine, whether you're present or not.
I closed the book in my lap with a soft snap and stood.
She jolted slightly.
"I'll return it later," I said.
"...o-okay..."
But before I walked away, I said one more thing — casually, like a sigh slipping from velvet:
"Not every silence is a punishment, Nia."
Then I left.
And her heart beat just a little faster.
[Affection: 81% → 83%] Emotional Tether Status: Fully Anchored
Subconscious Emotional Bond to Raelar: Severance – 68%
Raelar, your anchor's halfway gone.
And you don't even know she's drifting.
Raelar leaned against his windowsill, fingers tapping his knee, lightning crackling faintly under his skin.
He looked out across the grounds.
No sign of her.
Again.
She'd stopped coming to the training yard. Stopped lingering near his duels. Stopped being predictable.
And every time he reached for her presence across the academy's air — it felt...
Fainter.
He closed his eyes.
"She's just studying," he told himself.
But the thought tasted like old copper and disappointment.
[System Alert: Rival Awareness Triggered]
Status: First Fracture — Raelar suspects emotional drift.
Mission Timer: 2 Days Remaining
My room smelled of parchment, mint tea, and victory.
I reviewed the interface lazily, trailing one finger over the mission tab like a cat pawing at prey.
The mission had been ticking since that lovely pop-up five days ago. And I'd been doing exactly what it demanded.
Casually.
Cruelly.
Perfectly.
[Quest: Break the Righteous] – In Progress
Primary Objective: Publicly humiliate Raelar within the next 7 days.
Bonus Objective: Steal the emotional loyalty of his anchor – Nia.
Optional Style Point: Make it look accidental or justified.
Progress: 67%
Time Remaining: 1 Day, 22 Hours
Reward: +250 System Points
Unlock: Villain Skill – "Narrative Control"
Failure Penalty: System Mockery (You will be laughed at)
Passive Unlocked: "Threaded Influence" – Your emotions now subtly control your target's mood and behavior.
I opened the System Shop, now gleaming with unlocked perks.
[System Shop – Affection Tier Unlocks]
Whisperflower Perfume – 45 Points
Implants a scent associated with comfort & longing. Increases emotional cravings.
Memory Wax Crystal – 100 Points
Can imprint a target with a subtle false memory of intimacy. One-time use.
Cloak of Misperception – 75 Points
For 24 hours, makes outside doubts or interference feel unreasonable to the target.
Throne Mirror – 300 Points
Artifact. View your potential self or distorted desires. Unstable but powerful.
I selected Whisperflower Perfume and Cloak of Misperception.
[Points Spent: 120 → Remaining: 60]
Effects Applied:
Cloak of Misperception (Active – 1 Day)
Whisperflower Aura: Soft scent now tied to emotional comfort and memory.
I dabbed the perfume faintly behind my ear.
Invisible to the eye.
Devastating to the heart.
The Grand Hall buzzed with noble chatter — mid-tier family banquet, dull speeches, the clink of forks against silver.
I wore my best smirk and my Silkblood Sash like a crown.
Raelar stood near the wine table, arms crossed, ignoring most of the crowd.
I walked past, casually brushing shoulders.
"Raelar," I said smoothly, "you look troubled. That training weight catching up?"
He turned slowly. Calm. Ice beneath the surface.
"I've noticed you've been speaking to Nia often lately."
"Mmm. She speaks to me, actually. Quite willingly, I might add."
His expression darkened, just enough to count.
[Rival Emotion: Restraint → Frustration] Mask Integrity: Hairline Fracture
I leaned in — just enough to blur the line of politeness.
"I do hope you're not mistaking affection for loyalty. The two… diverge quite spectacularly."
He didn't reply.
Didn't need to.
His silence screamed.
[System Ping – Rival Psychological Fracture: 78%]
Suggested Follow-Up: Public Humiliation Trigger – Day 6
By candlelight, I reread the quest.
[Quest: Break the Righteous]
Progress: 78%
Bonus: Emotional Anchor Nearly Stolen
Optional Objective: Style Bonus (Pending Opportunity)
Time Remaining: 1 Day, 20 Hours
I set the Whisperflower bottle down.
Watched the liquid swirl.
Raelar will try something soon.
Desperation always drives heroes to mistake boldness for righteousness.
And when he does?
I'll be ready.
Because I don't just want to win.
I want the crowd to think it was fair.
I want the system to laugh at him.
Not me.