"Master!"
Cyan could have swore her master flinched but chalked it up to the raggidy old chair being its old self.
The young man sighed in displeasure, his eyes still on the book he told her to spend their already meager finance on. Was it the CONSTELLATIONS one or the history book she bought a day ago?
"Cyan, what did I tell you about using your inside voice when in the manor?"
She pouts but lowers her voice, "I followed Master's orders but I got lectured in return, this is unfair."
He chuckled. "You should be grateful I'm your master. Any other nobles would have either fired you or cut of your tongue."
She puffs her chest with a grin. "That's why Master will become the Duke of Blanchette and protect me from the law! Just like mother said!"
He didn't comment on her proclamation again and beckoned her to give the contents of the bag.
'One day, master will finally acknowledge his fate as the duchy's heir. Don't worry mother, I will kick master's butt for you!'
"Cyan, I can hear your insults loud as ever." She gasps. "Master, were you blessed by SOPHOPHORUS while I was away?"
Her question was answered by her master's scary frown.
"..."
She apologized and shut herself up. She bredugingly walked to her master and gave him the bag. He took it and once he saw what was inside, he smiled.
She peeked over her master's shoulder. She already took a quick peak inside but she hoped that she was hallucinating because there is no way she risked her life for—
—It was a dull pair of silver bands. One where you can find anywhere. She doesn't understand why her master wanted her to get it. Even her mother, a maid, had more beautiful jewelry than the pair on her master's hand.
She was about to share her complaints again to her master when he patted her head.
"Good job, Cyan." A smile was plastered on his face. She could see the gloomy aura around him bloom into white delicate lilies. She clutched her chest. 'Mother, you were right. Being handsome is all it takes to win wars.'
"Master, you're really handsome if you keep smiling like this."
"Leave and do your best to unlock the second star of PELANTOS." He shooed her away with his right hand.
"Master, you're really mean," she quipped but happily skipped towards the door.
'The happier master is, the higher the chance he'll give his best to the succession fight!'
She turned around and gave her master a farewell bow and left, the door failing to contain her joyful humming.
"Huff..."
The so called master slumped to the chair in exhaustion and gruffly kicked the table's leg, enough to jolt the old music box and turn it off.
He gripped the silver bands like it was his last straw of sanity. Exhausted eyes stare at the screen in front of him.
[TUTORIAL QUEST:
Welcome to Hope's Funeral! (人 •͈ᴗ•͈)
Espoir Academia is the continent's most prestigious academy that has nurtured dozens of prodigies and skilled masters throughout history and YOU have been accepted to such academy! But rosy roads will always have thorns. The CONSTELATIONS have doubts about your future contributions to this world. Complete the tutorial and make the CONSTELATIONS acknowledge your enrollment! ( ͝° ͜ʖ͡°)ᕤ
Option 1: Survive until Chapter 1
> Time Remaining: 4 Days, 10 Hours, 7 minutes, and 33 Seconds
>Rewards:
– +20 Affinity with ???'s Celestial Mythos
– New Title
– Rare Skill: ‹ROLAND'S LAST STAND›
– System Functions: {Status Window}, {Affection Meter}, and {Inventory}
– Story Branch: Our Golden Hour
Option 2: Defeat the Tutorial's Boss
>Rewards:
– -20 Affinity with ???'s Celestial Mythos
– +1 Affinity with ???
– New Title
– System Functions: {Status Window}, {Affection Meter}, and {Inventory}
– Story Branch: The End of Light
★ Note: Failure means death. Do your best, dear student! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]
"This fuc—"