Just when Evangeline thought things couldn't get any worse she emerged from the restroom and realized that there was absolutely no way she would go through this without getting caught.
The mansion was way too big and how on earth would she locate the entrance of the basement without asking questions? and doing that would only raise suspicions.
And she needed to hurry because soon Orion would be searching for her.
The holographic screen appeared again with a new notification that read.
Temporary skill acquired: charm.
Hadley winked, "use it wisely." she advised before the screen disappeared.
"Are you lost, darling?" that was Orion's voice behind her and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
She turned slowly to face him as her heart raced.
His veiny hands were in his pockets as he looked at her with his head cocked slightly to the side.
She gulped thickly at the skeptical look he gave her.
"Yes," Evangeline admitted and his eyes softened a bit.
She had wanted to run off quickly and find the gemstone before coming back to meet them without raising any suspicion, but that obviously wouldn't work out.
She had to switch up the plans a bit.
"I would like a tour if you don't mind." She told him. "I wouldn't want to get lost again and be an inconvenience."
Orion simply hummed with interest.
"Come with me," he said, walking past her and Evangeline rushed to follow after him.
They strolled down the massive hallways as they engaged in small talk.
Soon enough Orion had softened up a bit.
"You know," he started as he reached up to toy with the crystals of a beautiful low hanging chandelier as they passed it. "When you said you wanted to come here, I was immediately suspicious."
Evangeline felt a cold sweat break out and trickle down her back.
"People come here all the time in search of my family's gemstone that has been passed down for centuries, it is said to have magical properties so it is highly coveted." he chuckled. "Ridiculous, I know, it amazes me how people still believe in impossibilities like magic and fairytales in these modern days."
Evangeline laughed awkwardly, "Yes its so silly," she agreed with him with a forced smile and more nervous laughter.
She used to be like him, a full believer in science, and to her fairytales were just that— fairytales, mythical things she read about in books, and beautiful adventures that only existed in the imagination.
But now, she had this strange new system integrated into her consciousness and she was currently inhabiting another person's body so it would be rather unreasonable of her not to believe in magic after seeing all this.
Her mind momentarily went to Hadley's previous words about future adventures, dating a demon lord was something she had only ever done in her imagination, did demons even truly exist? What other creature was out there lurking in the shadows?—
"Would you like to see it?" Orion interrupted her train of thoughts and she had momentarily forgotten that he had been speaking to her.
"What?" she questioned.
"You seem… occupied," he remarked and Evangeline glanced away with a falsely shy smile playing on her lips.
"I asked if you would like to see the gemstone," he repeated and Evangeline nearly choked on plain air.
Her heart thudded rapidly against her chest and her breathing had become shallow in her attempt at creating a nonchalant facade.
A system notification popped up: Time until temporary ability expires, 5 minutes.
What?! She didn't know there was a time stamp.
"Of course," she said to Orion in her most feminine voice. "I am quite curious to know what is so interesting about it," she added.
Orion smiled and led her into a darkened area of the house.
Before them was a dark stairway that led deep into the floor. Orion wasted no time to begin his descent and Evangeline followed after him.
Soon enough, they had reached the bottom and he turned on a light switch to reveal a sprawling treasury.
Evangeline's mouth hung open in utter awe, chests filled with gold and other expensive jewels, scepters, and ruby encrusted swords were among the numerous priceless treasures that lay in this room.
How could only one family amass this amount of wealth? Evangeline felt dizzy and she swayed on her feet but before she could collapse, Orion held onto her until she regained herself.
And then he pointed at a golden throne that stood at the center of the room.
"There she is," Orion said.
Inlaid at the very top of the throne was a beautiful diamond shaped stone that was the size of Evangeline's fist.
It was the bluest shade of azure she had ever seen and it seemed to glow with life.
Her legs moved toward it in their own accord and at the foot of the throne she felt the sheer power that saturated the air around the gemstone.
What is that? She asked herself.
The holographic screen popped up before her eyes.
"Pro tip, Eva," Hadley said, "you need to have skin to skin contact for the charm ability to work," she explained.
Eva froze cold in her tracks and Hadley smiled maliciously. "You didn't think it would be so easy now did you?"