As Kaen walked toward the bathroom, Veledriana released a small sigh. This is getting complicated, she thought, but there was something about his presence that made the weight of her new situation a little easier to bear.
***
She stepped into the bathroom and the cool marble tiles beneath her feet contrasted with the warm air. The gentle hum of the water running in the shower filled the space with a soothing calm that began to ease the tension of her shoulders.
She stopped in front of the mirror, gazing at her reflection. The woman in the new body, in the new life, still felt surreal. The silver hair cascading down her back, the striking purple eyes that seemed to hold so many secrets, and the form she now inhabited. She could still feel the weight of the change, the knowledge that she was no longer just herself but someone else entirely.
She reached up slowly to unbutton her coat, its soft fabric sliding beneath her fingers. Every motion felt purposeful, as if she were shedding not just the clothes but the rest of her old life with them. The coat dropped to the floor with a rustling whisper, and she exhaled quietly, allowing the steam from the shower to fill the room.
She glanced over her shoulder to the babbling water, the steam sending up the invitation to step inside. But before stepping, again she glanced in the mirror to stare at the reflection that stared back. For a moment she wondered what this life—this body—held in store for her.
A fresh world of burdens weighed her down, but in the isolated confines of the bathroom- its fog, the faint lustrous light-peace found a place to anchor in quiet strength. And for herself, Veledriana was not there, after all; she was bigger: one who could create for herself her destiny and rule power within a new life of her own.
With a deep breath, she stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her, feeling each drop dissolve the tension of the day.
She took time getting dressed after her shower, with the soft hum of the steam still in the air. She moved with a calm sense, as if granting herself a moment to breathe, to gather her thoughts.
As she slowly slid into her undergarments, the softness of the bra and panties against her skin, her mind went back to Kaen. Their brief encounter earlier echoed in her mind, the way their eyes had met and that odd feeling that had settled in her chest. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, nor the curiosity he stirred within her. But with everything happening around her, she wasn't sure what any of it meant yet.
She even reached for her clothes as another screen flickered to life before her. She paused upon it; the text appeared in bold, startling her out of reverie.
_________________
[Special Quest]
Goal: Date your first partner.
Reward:
Loving Heart: +5%, System points +1000(BAL:0), Charm: +2
Upon failire: unbearable pain in the ass
_________________
Veledriana blinked, reading the message twice to make sure she was not dreaming it. It was urging her to move deeper into Kaen, and it felt at once unlooked for and kind of overwhelming. Yet it could not be denied that the system was giving her a nudge in plain directions and seemed to increase the amount of power the more she was in touch with this world—and Kaen—was.
"Romance." she muttered to herself, the word strange on her lips. It wasn't that she was opposed to the idea. She just hadn't expected it to be part of her quest so soon.
She felt the vigilance of the system as almost if it awaited her move. Having taken a deep breath, she finished dressing in silence with her mind going through and thinking about the meaning behind the quest. When putting on her shirt, the thought of Kaen lingered in her head once more.
What would this trial require of her? Would the romance with Kaen be a genuine one, or a method to gain power over more people? Either way, it seemed like she'd have to tread that tightrope carefully.
She stood in front of the mirror for a moment. In the reflection staring back, Veledriana saw a face with layers of transformation in her. Her thoughts immediately took her back to the quest that the system had sent her on and the strange feeling of responsibility that had accompanied it. Pressure built as she realized she needed to live up to these new expectations. For now, she could only think about living the present.
She tentatively undid her blouse, allowing the fabric to slide down her shoulders, revealing the smooth black fabric of her bra. With a heavy sigh, she dropped the blouse onto the bed, bearing the weight of her thoughts on her chest. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror again—more than a woman, more than just Veledriana. She was a force now, now that the system's might was at her fingertips but the heavy responsibility of this body, this name, this life.
After a moment's hesitation, she moved into the next room. Still wearing her bra and panties, she wrapped a towel around her body for what felt like a thin layer of comfort as she awaited whatever might be on the other side.
She knew that the weight of the moment still lingered in the air, but she could not let it stop her. For the quest that loomed over her, it was no longer about the completion of tasks but an understanding of this world, and perhaps even of herself.
She stepped out from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her movements steady. Her footsteps were soft on the floor, and when she entered the room, she did not at first see Kaen sitting on the edge of the bed, his back turned to her.
But when he heard the creak of the door swinging open, he spun around quickly. His eyes grew so wide that they almost bulged as he saw his father red in the face, hurrying to avert his eyes, his hands flying upward to shield himself from whatever it was that he'd seen.
"Ah! I-I'm sorry!" Kaen stammered, his voice cracking slightly. He turned away completely, his body tense with embarrassment. "I didn't expect—uh—" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to gather his thoughts.
Veledriana raised an eyebrow, a small, amused smile curling on her lips at his reaction. "It's just a towel, Kaen. You've seen much more in your life, haven't you?" Her voice was teasing, light, though a part of her was enjoying the flustered state he was in.
Kaen remained facing the wall, too embarrassed to turn around. "I—yes, of course, I've seen things, but not. not royalty, you know?" he mumbled in a barely audible voice, his face still as red as ever.
Veledriana smiled quietly, rising and going over to her closet and pulling out a new dress. "It's okay. You can look now," she said with a playful warmth in her voice. "I'm just getting dressed. No need to make like I've done something awful.
Kaen muttered something under his breath but stayed turned around, still trying to compose himself. The air between them felt a little more awkward now, but Veledriana couldn't help but find it endearing.