The banquet was three days away.
Outside, the Lathoria estate buzzed with preparations, servants carrying crates of wine and polishing silverware under the summer sun.
Inside, I sat at my vanity, combing through the system windows floating in front of me:
[Active Quests:
– "Change Fate" (4/100)
– "Unmask the Poison Plot at the Banquet."]
[Reward for Poison Plot: 1,000 Mana + 1 Random Skill Card.]
[Mana: 5,800/20,000]
[User HolyKnightFan: "Banquet prep arc 😨."]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "You got this, Elvira 💪."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "I WANT CHAOS."]
I took a deep breath.
I need a plan. If I get poisoned, game over. If Serena or the prince gets poisoned, blame will fall on me. I have to find the real culprit at the banquet.
"Milady," came the soft voice of my personal maid, Clara, as she entered, bowing low. "Your gown for the banquet is ready."
I glanced at her, activating:
[Skill: "Detect Malice LV1" – Active.]
No red glow. Clara was loyal.
"Thank you, Clara," I said, standing to inspect the gown. Layers of black satin embroidered with dark blue roses shimmered under the light, regal and sharp—fitting for a villainess.
[User CatEarsSupreme: "That dress tho 😳."]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Villainess aesthetic popping off."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Wear red next time for intimidation."]
Clara hesitated, glancing down. "Milady, may I speak freely?"
"Yes."
She looked up, eyes worried. "There are rumors… that someone intends to disgrace you at the banquet."
I stilled, clutching the fabric. "I know."
Her eyes widened. "Then—"
"I will handle it." My voice was calm, but inside, my mind was spinning.
It's not just about avoiding the poison; I need to find out who sent that maid to place the note in the library.
[User HolyKnightFan: "Clara best girl?"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Or she's bait."]
Clara lowered her head, stepping back.
A notification blinked:
[Side Quest Unlocked: "Prepare an Antidote."]
Reward: 500 Mana
Good idea.
I tapped "Accept," and a recipe appeared:
Moonleaf petals
Silverroot extract
Holy water
All available in the estate's greenhouse and the apothecary room.
I smirked, closing the window as the viewers exploded in the corner of my vision.
]User YandereDragonQueen: "Time to cook potions ✨."]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "Potion brewing arc let's go."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Not better than fireball."]
I slipped into the greenhouse, the scent of herbs and damp soil filling the air as I inspected the rows of Moonleaf and Silverroot under the glass roof.
[User HolyKnightFan: "Potion brewing arc starts now."]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "She looks so determined 😭."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Hope she fails for the drama."]
Snipping Moonleaf petals carefully, I checked the recipe in the corner of my vision, making sure I had everything for the antidote before the banquet.
That's when a massive golden notification appeared:
✨ [User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated 10,000 Mana: "BUY MORE SKILLS, ELVIRA!"] ✨
I choked, nearly dropping the shears.
[User HolyKnightFan: "WHA— 10K MANA??"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Bruh."]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Who is this new sugar mana daddy 😂."]
The mana bar shot up:
-[Mana: 15,800/20,000]
Another message popped up:
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe: "You have a SYSTEM. Use it. Gacha, skills, all of it. We wanna see some action."]
I blinked, sweat gathering at the back of my neck.
With that amount of mana, I could pull multiple gacha, unlock high-tier skills, or even system upgrades…
[User CatEarsSupreme: "Listen to them Elvira 😭 we want chaos."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "They're right, stop hoarding."]
A new system window appeared automatically:
✨ [System Store: Skills, Items, Gacha, Upgrades] ✨
"...Are you guys serious right now?" I muttered, but my fingers were already tapping through the menus.
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated another 5,000 Mana: "YES."]
The chat exploded.
[User YandereDragonQueen: "DO IT."]
[User HolyKnightFan: "WE ARE INVESTED."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Pull a cursed skill for the memes."]
"Fine."
I hovered over the Gacha button.
[Pull x1 (2,000 Mana) | Pull x5 (10,000 Mana, guaranteed rare)]
If I'm going to be forced into this, I'm getting the guaranteed rare.
I tapped "Pull x5."
A colorful wheel spun, sparkles flying, the viewers flooding the chat:
> [User CatEarsSupreme: "PULLING LIVE OMG."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "GIVE US SOMETHING CURSED."]
The wheel slowed, ticking past "Healing Herb," "Minor Fire Spell," "Basic Barrier," before landing on:
✨ [Skill Obtained: "Intermediate Shadow Step"] ✨
✨ [Item Obtained: "Emergency Heal Crystal x3"] ✨
✨ [Skill Obtained: "Mana Efficiency LV1"] ✨
✨ [Item Obtained: "Invisibility Cloak (1 use)"] ✨
✨ [Skill Obtained: "Beginner Water Bolt"] ✨
My jaw dropped.
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe: "Now use them."]
[User HolyKnightFan: "She's STACKED now."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "BANQUET GONNA BE WILD."]
I closed the window, exhaling, the glow of my new skills warming my fingertips.
"Alright, you win," I muttered.
I tucked the Moonleaf petals into a small silk pouch, crossing the greenhouse to pluck a few stems of Silverroot, its pale leaves shimmering under the sunlight.
[User HolyKnightFan: "She's so focused 😭."]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Potion crafting arc is calming."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "BORING. Drop a fireball."]
A new notification flashed:
✨ [User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated 3,000 Mana: "USE MORE FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM."] ✨
I nearly dropped the shears, again.
[User CatEarsSupreme: "LMFAOO they're back."]
[User HolyKnightFan: "They're not wrong though 😭."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "YES FORCE HER TO USE SYSTEM."]
I sighed, pulling up the system window.
[System Features: Inventory | Skills | Store | Gacha | Scan | Auto-Brew | Auto-Identify]
"I'm trying to survive, not speedrun system testing," I muttered.
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe: "You have 'Auto-Brew' right there. USE IT."]
I hesitated, hovering over the blinking "Auto-Brew" button.
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Try it! It might be fun!"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "If it explodes, I'll donate."]
"…Fine."
I tapped "Auto-Brew."
A glowing cauldron icon appeared in the air, the system's mechanical voice chiming:
✨ [Please insert required ingredients.] ✨
I dropped the Moonleaf petals and Silverroot inside. A swirl of light spun around the ingredients, and a faint floral scent filled the greenhouse.
✨ [Potion Brewing… 3%… 15%… 67%…] ✨
[User CatEarsSupreme: "IT'S COOKING."]
[User HolyKnightFan: "AUTO-BREW GO BRRR."]
✨ [Potion Complete!] ✨
A small vial of shimmering blue liquid floated into my hand.
[Item Obtained: "Antidote of Purification (Banquet Grade)."]
Effect: Neutralizes common poisons for 12 hours.
I exhaled, impressed despite myself.
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe: "See? Faster. More efficient. Use more."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Not bad, rich person."]
Pocketing the vial, I scrolled through the system again. My eyes landed on:
✨ [Skill Fusion – Combine two low-tier skills into a stronger one.] ✨
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated 2,000 Mana: "DO IT."]
[User HolyKnightFan: "Fusion time!!"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "What will she get 😳."]
"Alright, alright."
I selected Beginner Water Bolt and Minor Illusion.
✨ [Fusion Successful!] ✨
✨ [New Skill Obtained: "Mist Veil LV1" – Create a concealing mist that distorts vision while allowing user sight.] ✨
I blinked, a grin tugging at my lips.
"Okay… that's actually useful."
> [User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe: "USEFUL, RIGHT? USE THE SYSTEM MORE."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "That'll be clutch at the banquet."]
As I turned to leave the greenhouse, the antidote secured, the new skill's warmth lingering in my hands, I felt ready.
Back in my room, I turned the small vial of antidote in my hand, the liquid shimmering under the sunlight.
One step closer to survival.
]User HolyKnightFan: "She's ready 😭."]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Banquet tomorrow!"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "I want chaos."]
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated 1,000 Mana: "Test your new skill before the banquet."]
I sighed, glancing at Serena, who was perched on the edge of my chaise, hugging her poetry book like a shield.
"Serena, can you help me with something?"
She blinked, nodding quickly. "Of course."
[User CatEarsSupreme: "Serena helper arc."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "She's gonna mess it up."]
I took a breath and activated:
✨ [Skill: Mist Veil LV1 – Active] ✨
A cool breeze brushed my skin as a pale mist swirled around me, quickly spreading across the room like a soft fog.
Serena's eyes widened, her pink hair haloed by the mist as she looked around.
"Elvira…? Where are you?" she called, turning in circles.
I smirked, seeing her clearly while her form flickered through the fog.
[User HolyKnightFan: "IT WORKS!!"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Mist aesthetic 😍."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Now slap someone in the fog."]
I stepped forward, letting the mist part, revealing myself in front of Serena.
She jumped, nearly dropping her book before giggling softly. "That's amazing!"
"Useful if things go wrong," I said, letting the mist fade.
✨ [Skill Cooldown: 10 minutes remaining] ✨
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe: "Good. Now buy another defensive skill or item."]
[User HolyKnightFan: "They're so invested 😭."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Let her save mana, bro."]
I scrolled through the store, sighing as I saw:
✨ [Item: "Emergency Teleport Token" – 5,000 Mana]
Effect: Teleport to a pre-marked location instantly, one use only.
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated 5,000 Mana: "BUY IT."]
I pressed "Purchase" before I could argue, a small silver token materializing in my hand, engraved with swirling runes.
Expensive, but worth it if everything goes wrong at the banquet.
[User YandereDragonQueen: "Your safety first 😭."]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "She's becoming so prepared."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "Boo safety, yay chaos."]
Serena looked at the token, tilting her head. "Elvira… are you scared?"
I met her gentle gaze, pocketing the token. "I'm prepared."
As the sun set beyond the window, dyeing the sky crimson, the notification I had been waiting for appeared:
✨ [Quest Updated: "Banquet Begins Tomorrow."] ✨