With everything finally organized and put away, Lucian sank down onto the edge of the bed, letting out a long, slow breath. He relaxed his mind and called up his system menu.
[Unlimited Blind Boxes Available: Special Blind Box ×4, Rare Blind Box ×1, Uncommon Blind Box ×4, Common Blind Box ×4]
"Let's see what I got today," he muttered under his breath. He started with the common boxes.
[Do you want to open the common Blind Boxes?]
"Yes," Lucian replied.
The system chimed in quick succession, one announcement after another.
[Congratulations! You have opened the common Box from Claudette and gained: Hairpins x12]
[Congratulations! You have opened the common Box from Laurette and gained: Dress x12]
[Congratulations! You have opened the common Box from Paulette and gained a knowledge: Hairstyling]
[Congratulations! You have opened the common Box from Plumette and gained a spell: Minor Cleanse]
Knowledge about hairstyling suddenly flooded Lucian's mind, how to wash, cut, trim, tie, braid, and style hair in countless ways.
Then suddenly, a stack of soft fabric and a carved wooden box materialized beside him. The twelve dresses matched the style worn by the Bimbettes, but each came in a different vivid hue, from soft pastels to rich jewel tones. Inside the box lay the hairpins, each shaped uniquely: dolphins, snowflakes, arrows, stars, and more delicate designs. He set them aside for now and read the new spell's description he got.
[Minor Cleanse: A simple spell that keeps the user free from dirt, grime, and bad odors. It instantly removes all impurities from the body, leaving one feeling fresh and clean.]
"Not bad" He then decided opened the uncommon ones.
[Do you want to open the uncommon Blind Boxes?]
He mentally confirmed Yes, and new notifications scrolled across his vision.
[Congratulations! You have opened the uncommon Box from Lumiere and gained a passive skill: Warm Presence]
[Congratulations! You have opened the uncommon Box from Cogsworth and gained: Steady‑Beat Pocket Watch]
[Congratulations! You have opened the uncommon Box from Mrs. Potts and gained: Travel Cup]
[Congratulations! You have opened the uncommon Box from Lefou and gained: Pathfinder's Whistle]
Three more items appeared on the bed. Lucian pulled up their details to read:
[Warm Presence: Your body always maintains a comfortable warmth, even in freezing weather or deep, unheated places.]
[Steady‑Beat Pocket Watch: Set reminders or mark important moments; it will nudge your memory and let you sense when those events draw near.]
[Travel Cup: Keeps liquid exactly hot or cold for hours based on what the user wants; drinking from it restores little energy and soothes stress/thirst.]
[Pathfinder's Whistle: A plain whistle that carries sound farther and clearer than normal. It can be heard over noise or wind, and sounds different enough that your companions will recognize it instantly.]
Lucian turned the watch over in his palm. This alone was already worth having, no more forgetting birthdays, appointments, or important errands. The cup and whistle would be lifesavers on the road, and the passive ability might come in useful during cold nights.
He then moved on to the Rare box.
[Do you want to open the Rare Blind Box from Gaston?]
"Absolutely."
[Congratulations! You have opened the Rare Blind Box from Gaston and gained a trait: Hunter's Instinct.]
[Hunter's Instinct: You gain heightened senses and instincts honed by decades of tracking and combat. You can detect prey, enemies, or movement from hundreds of meters away, track even faint trails across difficult terrain, and predict the movement of wild animals or untrained fighters.]
Just as Lucian was about to open the last Special boxes, the orb resting on his desk suddenly blazed brighter. Light swirled outward, forming a clear projection in the air: a man in fine noble robes, holding a rolled parchment, gazing directly through the orb as if looking right at him.
"Looks like it's starting," Lucian said.
____
Queendom of Moors
Deep within the enchanted forest of the Moors, where gnarled black trees twisted upward and thick, thorny vines sprawled across the ground, a woman in a simple white gown walked calmly between the shadows. Her pale blonde hair caught the faint, silver light filtering through the canopy.
Without warning, she paused, lifted her head, and turned as if sensing something far away. A soft, knowing smile spread across her face.
"Well now… would you look at that. The prince has done something unimaginable indeed."
She chuckled and continued walking, speaking half to herself. "No matter, I'll look into it later. Right now, I have a niece to meet."
As her foot touched the earth again, the air beside a large oak tree rippled. From its deepest shadow, another figure stepped forth, tall and slender, with flawless pale skin, sharp yellow eyes, and curved black horns rising from her head. She wore a robe of deep black and royal purple, its edges flared like the wings of a great bat.
She looked at the woman in white and said, "What are you doing here, Agathe?"
Agathe turned back, her expression warm and unhurried. "Is that any way to greet family? Don't you miss me… my beautiful niece, Maleficent?"