[Decompressing "Davina's Memory Chapter."]
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I was sprinting madly through an endless, murky darkness, as if Death itself was clawing at my heels, trying to drag me back to the grave.
My heart thundered like war drums, ready to burst out of my chest. I could hardly breathe, already on the verge of collapse, yet I didn't dare stop, I charged forward like a lunatic.
Even though nothing but darkness loomed ahead, I kept running, clinging to the desperate belief that light lay somewhere beyond, that salvation, that home, was just ahead.
Suddenly, a massive red window appeared out of nowhere, blocking my path like a blood-stained warning sign.
[Warning. Affection level is critically low: -95%.]
What the hell?
I turned to flee in another direction, only to be cut off by another flashing panel.
[Mission triggered.
Affection with **** can no longer be increased.
Eliminate ****.
Time remaining: 29 minutes 58 seconds.]
No!
More windows burst open like ruptured arteries, flooding the endless darkness with searing crimson light.
[Mission triggered.]
[Mission failed.]
[Mission failed.
[You have failed too many missions.]
[Game Over.]
No!!
The ground beneath me gave way. I plummeted into the void, helpless, staring up at the endless cascade of mission alerts still hovering above me.
What did I do wrong?
Why did you bring me here?
Please… I just want to go home…
The pit closed up. The windows vanished one by one.
[Waiting for new player to log in…]
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[Login successful.]
[Welcome, Player Twelve.]
[You are now Davina Emerson.]
.
.
.
I jolted awake with a sharp gasp, sitting upright in bed, my shirt clinging to my back drenched in sweat.
The sky outside was still steeped in pre-dawn gloom. What kind of dream was that? Why were Davina's memories so chaotic?
"Your Highness… was it a nightmare?"
A hand reached out and gently grasped mine, the voice soothing the wild gallop of my heart.
I turned to see Xavier's worried face beside me. How did I end up back in my room? Who brought me here?
I forced my breathing to steady and offered a weak smile despite my pale complexion.
"Something like that…"
Xavier looked surprised, as if he hadn't expected such an honest response from me. But then he raised my hand to his lips, planting soft, comforting kisses along my knuckles.
"I'm right here with you. Everything's okay now."
I nodded. His presence helped anchor me back to the present.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to wake you."
"Please don't say that, Princess." Xavier slipped an arm around me, drawing me into his warm chest. "How could I sleep peacefully knowing you're in pain?"
A side character… yet he's the only one treating me like a person. Even if I'm not the Davina he loves, I can't help but cling to this illusion of affection, for the sake of survival.
"I don't know what you dreamed about," he continued, his hand tracing slow, calming circles on my damp back, "but I'm glad I could be here for you. So please… don't apologize. Lean on me as much as you need."
I nodded again, allowing myself to slowly lie back down on the soft mattress in his arms.
"It's still too early… Let's get some more rest."
He followed suit, settling beside me without letting go, his hand never straying from my back as if his touch alone could lull me back to sleep.
I closed my eyes, not to sleep, but to think.
That dream… was it really a memory?
It felt like being trapped in a dead-end maze. The suffocation, the loss of direction… and those incessant windows? Every mission was tied to someone's life or death.
Was it possible that Davina had also been controlled by the system, forced into the villain's role?
But her last words… "I want to go home"…
She didn't belong here?
And then, as if a thread had snapped taut in my mind, I opened my eyes in horror, breath hitching in disbelief at what I'd just realized.
What if… I'm not the only one who's ever entered this world as Davina?
What if there were other "players" before me, who all failed?
Damn it!
What the hell is this place? Why does it get to decide people's fates through a goddamn mission system?
Can I even trust it anymore? What if following its orders only leads me to the same end as those who came before?
I have no proof. For now, I still need to follow the missions to unlock rewards and learn more if I want to survive long enough to escape.
Fuck. My head hurts.
I sat up abruptly, startling Xavier who'd just begun to drift off again.
"Your Highness… is something wrong?"
I wiped my face, trying to shake off the exhaustion. There was no way I could fall asleep again with my mind racing like this.
"Sorry, Xavier. I can't sleep anymore. Could you help me get dressed?" I couldn't hide the irritation in my voice.
Sensing the sour energy radiating from me, Xavier didn't ask questions. He simply nodded and did as I asked.
Once he'd tidied me up, he turned to fetch a dress from the wardrobe, but I stopped him.
"Get me something for training. I want to go down to the practice yard."
His back froze for a split second before he resumed searching through the shelves.
"Yes, Your Highness."
No questions? Good. One less thing to explain.
When I was fully dressed, I smiled and cupped Xavier's cheek affectionately.
"If you're still tired, you can go back to sleep."
He gently placed his hand on my waist and tugged me close, his face soft and needy like a puppy.
"I don't sleep well without you."
Ugh, my heart melted.
With him, I didn't have to fake anything or fight for affections. Unlike the main leads, no matter what I did, Xavier would always love me.
"I'll make it up to you later." I rose on tiptoe and brushed a kiss to his lips.
Xavier wrapped me tighter and deepened the kiss. "You promise?"
"I do."
Dawn had only just brushed the horizon, but the palace servants were already bustling to prepare for the day.
Even so, they couldn't help but pause and stare as I passed. Some rubbed their eyes like they were still dreaming. Others whispered amongst themselves.
I knew this would draw unwanted attention, but I needed to vent the negativity brewing inside me. If I kept it bottled up, I'd explode.
Besides, it was time to whip this fragile princess body into shape. Surrounded by wolves, a sheep won't last long.
Just like what happened with Cassian yesterday.
Unlike the servants, the knights seemed far more slothful than expected. The royal training yard was completely empty.
Well, of course. The knights Davina had handpicked only had pretty muscles and handsome faces. In real combat, they'd probably run for the hills. Except Drake, he had actual skill. The rest were just glorified bed warmers.
Sigh. I really needed to restructure the entire royal knight squad. The list of things to fix just never ends.
I tied my long hair into a bun and began my warm-up. According to the game's lore, Davina was once exceptional at swordplay, archery, and riding. But three years of pampering and bedhopping had dulled all her skills.
I had to sync this body with the combat instincts from my past life. Muscle memory is a soldier's best weapon.
I started with a light jog. Endurance first, then everything else.
The training field was pretty wide, maybe about fifty square meters. How many laps could I run?
Given this body… I wasn't feeling confident.
I ran until I was winded, then walked to catch my breath, repeating until the sun's first rays touched the earth. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the grass.
Hearing footsteps approach, I turned my head to see who it was.
Well, now. What a view.
Drake, shirtless, his bronze-toned muscles gleaming. Seemed like he was here to train too.
He stopped beside me, his eyes filled with unspoken questions. Instead of voicing them, he silently handed me a leather water flask.
"If you don't mind."
I'm dying of thirst, mind what?
I sat up and took the flask, drinking slowly to avoid choking like an amateur.
"It's been a while since I've seen you train in the morning." Drake said, accepting the flask back.
I didn't answer. I stood, dusted myself off, and changed the subject.
"You were the one who brought me back last night, right?"
It was only a hunch, but he was the only one capable of doing it.
"Yes, Your Highness." He nodded.
"I thought you were—" With Aurora. I swallowed the rest and forced a smile. "Never mind. Thanks."
Better not to pry. I didn't want to accidentally drop his affection points with a nosy question.
I was about to leave the yard but remembered something and turned back toward him.
"Hey Drake—"
But a bright red system window blocked my vision, cutting me off.
[Congratulations! Drake's affection has significantly increased. Seize the momentum! Awakening mission activated.
Mission: Make Drake willingly sleep with you.
Reward: +20% affection with Drake. Unlock special perspective: "Knight in the Thorned Garden."
Failure: -40% affection. Resulting affection: -65%. High risk of Endgame.
Time remaining: 6 days, 23:59:35.]
Seriously, system?
Can I breathe for a second?
***