Curtis's POV
Today I decided to study the system. It's been a few days since it's functioning and I found out I neglected it a bit. That and i realise that I didn't receive any quests.
"Status"
< Curtis May >
Gender: male
Age: 5 years
Title: Vaennita duchy heir, SYNEERGY heir
Level:23
Strength: 183
Agility: 168
Stamina: 200
Spirit energy: 487
Skills: eiditic memory(passive), eyes of the truth, temporal mastery
Lust points: 480
< System message >
" Why didn't I receive any quests until now?"
< Answering to host; Quests will be assigned automatically once a challenge is identified. Sub-quest deriving from the main quest would also be issued randomly >
< Noticed that the Host doesn't have a main quest. Do you wish to add a main quest?>
' Now that's interesting '
" Hey system, I can write anything I want as the main quest?"
< A main quest is an important goal for which you are willing to invest effort. It can be whatever host please as host will be provided assistance regardless >
I was really happy earing that. I can put whatever I want as my main quest. I'm sure if others were in my place, they will want to be king or great mage. Or maybe be those world's travellers who wish to accumulated knowledge. Too much work if you ask me. No, no.. Me, I am a very down-to-earth person; someone who have his priorities straight. Of course, I have to be rational and make sure to set a realistic goal as my main quest...
< Host choice have been saved. Main quest: 'Have a male harem made up exclusively of people who love me.'>
What? What exactly did you expect?
< Noticed that the host's age is not appropriate for the quest. You will not receive subquests until your 16th birthday.>
Damn, this system is really Child friendly. Or is it parental control? I can still have quests so Whatever.
" system, I want a quest related to my school admission."
I had to wait a few minutes before receiving an answer.
'Get first place at the sorting exam' Reward: 30 lust points, 1 upgrade coupon Do your best host > Now, you might be asking yourself, what's that sorting exam? Well, remember when I said that this place believes in meritocracy? The school I'll be attending is one of the best and they will be students coming from anywhere so of course they can't all be treated the same. That's when the sorting exam comes in. Every new student have to take this test. It is how they evaluate their potential and ability to later provide them with the right education to match their talents. It is rumored that the first 20 students will be placed in an elite class and will be handed the best ressources. The top five places will get 50% bonus in their training but if you come out on top, you will be provided a full scholarship. Not only that, your name will become a legend among your peers and people of that school. Thanks to the gift I received, I was confident to be included in the elite class. But be first place? That's a whole different challenge. But they said that the fiercest challenges give the sweetest rewards. And I think father will be happy. In the imperial palace Ryze was buried in books. He asked his personal tutor for more work hoping to forget his fate. He was so focused he didn't even noticed someone entered the room and was spooked by his voice. " For how long are you going to keep doing this?" "I have seen a king of.." " please spare me this nonsense. I'm not here for that" You could see that the newcomer was in a bad mood. His anger was clear from the way he walked into the room, slamming the door behind him. Ryze felt a cold feeling run through his body and his face went pale. " You have been cramped in this office for days. I couldn't get a glimps of you if I tried. Do you even eat? " I have my meals served here " The second the words left his mouth he regretted it. His answer seems to have displeased the man further. " Is that so? Is being part of my family a fate so terrible you decided to cut yourself from the world? Would you have preferred to die without even leaving a whole body behind?" The coldness that had seized Ryze's soul now manifested into a tangible shiver, a visceral reaction to the weight of King Ashborn Sinclair's gaze—a burden heavier than the gilded tomes that surrounded him. The king's presence was a stark reminder of a pact sealed, not by Ryze's own desires but by the necessity of shielding him from the treacherous undertow of court intrigue and the bloody skirmishes for the throne. "You think this is a punishment," King Ashborn began, his voice a calm contrast to the storm of emotions in Ryze's heart. "But this marriage is your sanctuary. In the arms of a union with my nephew, you will find safety from the blades that seek the softness of your throat." Ryze's fingers tightened around the edges of his book, the parchment crackling under the strain. "A sanctuary lined with bars is still a cage," he replied, the bitterness in his tone betraying his calm exterior. "I am to be wed not for love, nor for alliance, but for my silence, my invisibility." Ashborn sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of untold stories. "In the shadows, you will find longevity that the throne's light will never afford you," he said, his eyes reflecting a lifetime navigating the dangerous waters of power. "My nephew is not the enemy, nor is he your prison guard. He is your shield. Through him, you will be granted a life away from the vipers whispering deceit and discord." Stepping forward, Ashborn rested a hand on the spine of one of Ryze's neglected books. "I carved my influence from a position lesser than yours, you have the blood of the emperor. When wielded wisely, even the most discreet position can sway the mightiest scepter." Ryze met Ashborn's eyes, searching for the sincerity in those seasoned depths. The emperor's proposal of marriage was a gambit, one that promised protection at the cost of personal choice—a gilded refuge with an undercurrent of steel. "And what of my own desires, my own ambitions?" Ryze questioned, his voice now steadier, a reflection of his burgeoning resolve. "Survival is the first ambition, Ryze. And in survival, there is life, and where there is life, desires can find a way to flourish," Ashborn said. "Not all power is won by sword. The power Curtis will inherit is formidable- a duchy and a business empire that could sway the very pillars of economy. Your alignment with him will bring not only safety but stability and influence that extends beyond what most can only imagine. Isn't that what you always wanted?" "But it also brings responsibility," Ryze added thoughtfully, his education in court intrigue apparent in his discerning words. "A responsibility that will groom you for a role of significant influence." King Ashborn affirmed. "You are being given time, Ryze, which is the most precious commodity in our world. The years ahead are yours to cultivate wisdom, to learn the intricacies of governance and diplomacy, to grow in strength. When the time comes, you and Curtis shall stand side by side, not just as spouses but as rulers forged by time and prepared for the challenges that leadership demands. Together, you will navigate not only the waters of wealth but also the undercurrents of political might." Ryze's gaze drifted to the window, considering the horizon and the vast lands that stretched beyond. The duchy that would one day be Curtis's legacy and his by marriage was a realm of opportunity and challenge. "This union," King Ashborn continued, "will mold you into more than a scholar or a prince. You will become a linchpin in the grand design of our nation's hierarchy." The prince remained silent, his thoughts deep and swirling. He didn't need to speak his gratitude for the king's foresight or the protection his future marriage offered. It was understood—a silent pact between them. And as King Ashborn left the room, Ryze's gaze fell once more upon the words of ancient scholars, but his mind wandered to the image of a young boy, Curtis, his future husband. Not a cage but a cocoon, the key to a labyrinth of corridors of power, a journey they would undertake together. In the quiet of the room, the prince now saw his path in a different light. It was lined not with constraints but with potential alliances and prosperity—a path both he and Curtis would tread in tandem, their destinies interwoven by design, politics, and the promise of shared influence that stretched well into the future.