Beside her, Flora's eyes filled with concern as she watched her friend's stunned expression. Though Eleanore had spoken confidently about moving on, Flora knew how deeply her friend's feelings ran, and she could see the subtle trembling in Eleanore's hand as she struggled to mask her reaction.
"Elle…" Flora's voice was hesitant, her tone gentle. "Maybe it's for the best. I know it's sudden, but you're free now. You've let go of him, remember?"
But Eleanore's thoughts had already drifted elsewhere, analyzing the strange turn of events. 'Why now? Why so soon?' Just as she was about to respond, a new notification appeared, floating in front of her eyes, disrupting her thoughts.
||Chapter 1: Stella Belongs To Cealestis
Caelestis Lancaster, one of the two pillars of Seraphine, grows obsessed with his best friend Stella. On the occasion of the Crown Prince's 20th birthday, he finally confesses his love. However, Stella rejects him in front of the entire court, sparking a rage in Caelestis that drives him to kidnap her from the party.
Eleanore Sinclair plays a key role in ensuring Stella's abduction, arranging matters so that everyone believes she was recuperating in Caelestis's mansion during the incident.
Quest 1: Stop Stella's Kidnapping.
Task 1: Ask Caelestis for the First Dance.
Do you accept the quest?
Yes|No||
The words seemed to blur in front of Eleanore's eyes. 'What the hell?' she thought, her lips parting in shock as she stared at the quest hovering before her.
"What the hell?" she muttered, barely aware she had spoken aloud.
Flora's head snapped toward her friend, worried. "Elle! What are you thinking? Don't do anything reckless!" she hissed. "It's too late now. You need to let him go, don't make a scene here!"
But Eleanore's attention remained fixed on the blue translucent window, hanging in the air. She was aware that she could reject the quest, but a note attached to the task caught her eye.
||Note: If you do not complete the sub-quest.
Penalty: Reputation will decrease by 10,000.
If completed:
Reward: Reputation decrease by 1,000||
A sense of dread filled her as she processed the implications. "Does this mean my reputation is bound to drop either way?" she whispered under her breath. "So much for trying to play it safe…"
'But why is the system insisting that I dance with Caelestis? Would he even agree?' The thought made her feel slightly sick, and she took a shaky breath, hoping to clear her mind. Flora noticed her friend's expression and, without a word, took Eleanore's arm, guiding her to the balcony behind them.
"Elle, listen to me." Flora's voice was firm but caring. "You're upset. It's normal. But there's no need to go back in there and make a fool of yourself." She brushed a loose strand of hair behind Eleanore's ear. "Stay out here until it's over. Calm down."
Eleanore nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere. "Thanks, Flora… but would you mind giving me a moment alone?"
Flora's brow furrowed, but after a beat, she relented, nodding. "All right. But don't do anything reckless," she said, casting one last worried look before slipping back inside.
Eleanore leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the darkened gardens below, her thoughts a tangled mess. 'There must be a way to check my reputation status,' she thought, frustrated. She swiped her hand through the air, trying to summon the system again, but nothing happened.
"Could it be… that the system only appears when it feels like it?" she muttered aloud. A wry smile spread across her face. 'Figures. Even in a fantasy world, common sense refuses to make sense.'
As if in response to her thoughts, the familiar window flickered back into existence.
||Task 1: Ask Caelestis for the First Dance.
Do you accept the quest?
Yes | No||
Eleanore stared at the words, her pulse quickening. This wasn't at all what she had envisioned for tonight, yet the quest loomed before her as if daring her to make a choice. "I should give it a try," she whispered, more to convince herself than anyone else.
Originally, she'd wanted nothing more than to keep her distance from Caelestis. But now, it seemed the system had different plans—binding her fate to his in ways she hadn't anticipated.
She took a deep breath, choosing "Yes". If the system was truly on her side, she needed to trust that it wouldn't lead her into danger.
With her decision made, she pushed through the balcony doors and swept back into the ballroom. She barely noticed Flora, who stood by the doors, looking worried as she watched Eleanore's approach. Flora tried to stop her, sensing something reckless in her friend's gaze.
"Elle!" Flora called, reaching out to grasp Eleanore's arm. But Eleanore didn't pause; she knew that if she listened to Flora's pleading, her resolve might waver. Her heart pounded with a mix of determination and fear as she moved forward, her steps quickening as she approached the crowd gathered around Caelestis and Stella.
"Elle, please stop! Don't do anything you'll regret!" Flora pleaded, her voice filled with anxiety. But Eleanore moved faster, ignoring the whispers and glances that followed her through the throng of nobles.
The gems on her dress scraped against people's shoulders as she brushed past them, the pointed edges leaving faint scratches on those who stood too close.
But she didn't care; her focus was fixed on the scene before her. At the front of the crowd stood Caelestis and Stella, close together, their hands almost touching. Eleanore's breath hitched as her eyes narrowed.
'Is Stella… accepting his proposal?' Eleanore's mind raced, disbelief flashing across her face. 'But that's impossible! She's supposed to refuse!' She moved faster, determined to stop whatever was about to happen.
Finally, she broke free of the crowd, stepping into the open space where Caelestis and Stella stood. Flora, a step behind her, stopped just on the edge of the circle, watching her friend with growing concern.
As Eleanore entered into the scene, she noticed her brother's worried gaze, observing her every move. The nobles, too, had gone quiet, many of them holding their breath.