"I'll accept the invitation, then, Alexa. Let's be... friends!" The way he said it made Alex feel the deep, hidden meaning behind his words, which she thought laid the foundation of their relationship.
'Maybe I'm overthinking!' How wrong she was— the princess of the human empire had just stepped into treacherous waters!
Sure enough...
[Ding! Emergency quest activated!
Quest: Conquer Alexandra Eloise.
Benefits: Hidden (??)
Rewards: Lust Dragon ability, 1000 LPs
Punishment upon failure: Permanent lock on all unacquired Lust Dragon abilities!]
Pyris managed to stop his eyes from widening, not because of the sudden quest— though it wasn't even labeled a mission by the system— but because of its nature. From the "benefits," something he hadn't seen since acquiring the system, to the absurd rewards and severe punishment.
The rewards were disproportionately high, and the punishment, equally exaggerated. Why was the system giving him so many LPs for this girl, who, by his own observation, was on par with Varalie? And Lust Dragon ability? Did that mean the system had locked some of his Bloodline abilities without his knowledge or consent? Failing this quest would mean losing them permanently?
'This girl... Why did the system value her so much?'
Status! he called out mentally.
Meanwhile, Alexa stood there, seemingly lost in her thoughts, unaware of the outstretched hand Pyris had extended for a friendly handshake. Her lack of response was causing quite a stir in the hall. With Pyris' presence, all eyes were on them, their curiosity piqued.
____
Name: Alexa Eloise.
Race: Human.
Bloodline: ??? (Sealed)
Race Trait: Fate Dreamer! (Sealed), Divine Eyes! (Unknown—Sealed), Child of the World.
Titles: The One Who Sees (Sealed)
Rank: Rank 5/20
Elements: Light, Divinity (Unknown—Sealed)
Age Limit: 18/200
Strength: 70/90
Agility: 70/90
Vitality: 70/90
Stamina: 70/90
INT: 80/90
____
"Joh-ahaeyo!" Pyris said to Alexa with a wide grin upon seeing her status. He was speechless, utterly so.
"Huh?" Startled, she snapped out of her daydream and shook his hand, but not before remembering something.
"What did you just say? I didn't understand a word!" she asked, slightly embarrassed, thinking she was once again being ignorant, mocking herself in front of him.
'She's rather cute at times. I wouldn't mind!' Pyris mused.
[I agree. Save her OP status!] Lia chimed in, clearly impressed.
'We'll discuss that later'. Pyris brushed it aside.
"You really think so little of yourself, don't you, Alexa?" It was the second time she had considered herself ignorant and foolish. Pyris didn't quite understand why, but he decided not to probe further.
"And that's a language I don't think anyone in Argos knows, so don't beat yourself up over it!" he added, and Alexa nodded before letting out a small chuckle.
"What?" Pyris asked, confused, before a realization hit him.
"No one in Argos? Surely it's not some godly language. If it is, I'll believe you!" she laughed beautifully, her smile so radiant that Pyris found himself mesmerized by it.
Her pearly white teeth were half-hidden behind her cherry-pink lips, which, coupled with her short, delicate face and sparkling blue eyes that glittered like the sky, made her simply breathtaking. The golden hue of her hair only added to her charm, like a sunset by the riverside. Her tall, slender figure was perfectly proportioned, and Pyris couldn't take his eyes off her.
"You look stunning when you laugh, Alexa," Pyris complimented her.
Of course, his sudden flattery made her freeze mid-laughter. She glanced at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"That was... unexpected," she murmured in a small voice, managing to squeeze the words out despite her surprise.
"Thank you. I don't usually receive compliments like that," she admitted, unusually talkative, sharing her thoughts with him. Pyris, too, was getting caught up in her innocent charm, his heart melting slowly.
"I'm happy to be the first to notice how beautiful you are. I hope that's not... a bad thing?" Pyris asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
"Don't be silly, of course not!" she smiled warmly.
"I wonder, though... Why hasn't anyone else noticed how beautiful you are, Alexa? With your personality and looks, I'd think anyone would want you by their side at all times." It was an honest question.
"Pyris~" she blushed, her heart fluttering at his sweet words. "You really don't know?" She asked softly, and when he shook his head, she sighed, feeling disheartened.
'Will he avoid me if he finds out?' she wondered, the weight of her insecurities sinking in. Pyris wasn't just a powerful man; he was a noble, the CEO of a major company, and a young lord of House Obsidian. Surely, someone like him would keep his distance from her... a disgrace.
'Am I doomed to be alone forever?' she thought. Despite her beauty, no one respected her. Even the arrogant club president had her running errands, and she was a princess!
Pyris sighed. He could sense she was getting lost in her thoughts, spiraling into self-pity. Was her situation really that bad?
"Alexa, look at me," Pyris gently commanded, drawing her out of her mind. Their eyes met, her blue ones locking with his deep amethyst gaze, and she found herself captivated.
To everyone's surprise, Pyris took both of her hands in his, causing a stir in the hall. Though no one could hear their conversation thanks to Pyris concealing it, their actions were visible to all. The crowd gasped in shock—the popular Pyris Obsidian was holding the hands of a girl considered the "disgrace" of the human empire!
No one was more shocked than Alexa herself.
"P-Pyris, let go!" she stammered, but despite her words, she made no effort to pull away. Pyris, on the other hand, didn't seem to hear her.
Her eyes darted to the students around them, many holding their phones, capturing the moment. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes—she was going to ruin his reputation. She was on the verge of breaking down.
"Alexa..." Pyris smiled reassuringly before doing something that would shock everyone even more.
*****
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