Chapter 5
Outside, Arina stood by the carriage, arms crossed, lips pressed thin.
Alex sat on the driver's bench, frowning. He wanted to go inside and drag Catrina out—but he knew better.
She was furious with him. Barging in would only make things worse.
And Catrina wasn't some helpless noblewoman. She was an Awakened—powerful, dangerous. If he pissed her off enough, she'd break more than just his arm.
Lathel, on the other hand? Just a normal human. Weak. Defenseless.
Alex's fingers tightened on the reins.
"Mother!"
Catrina looked up, startled. She'd been so lost in thought she hadn't noticed Arina standing there.
"Arina? Why are you—"
Arina stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "You're crying."
It wasn't a question.
"What did he do to you?"
Alex jumped down from the driver's bench, crossing to them in three strides. His eyes scanned Catrina—face, neck, hands—looking for injuries.
"What are you staring at?" Catrina's voice was ice.
"I thought—if he hurt you—"
"I don't need your concern." She cut him off, each word sharp. "And don't call me 'mother.' I don't acknowledge you as Arina's husband."
"Mother." Arina's patience was wearing thin. "What did he do? Why are you crying?"
"He didn't do anything."
"You were alone with him for half an hour."
"It was dust. Just... dust in my eyes."
Silence.
Arina and Alex exchanged glances. Dust? Catrina was an Awakened. Her body naturally repelled foreign particles. Dust didn't just "get in her eyes."
But if she wouldn't talk, they couldn't force her.
"Want me to break his legs?" Alex's voice was casual, almost cheerful. "I could do it tonight. He'd never see it coming."
Catrina went very still.
When she spoke, her voice was quiet—the kind of quiet that came before violence.
"Touch him, and I'll kill you."
Not 'I'll be angry.' Not 'you'll regret it.'
I'll kill you.
Alex blinked. Then he laughed—nervous, uncertain. "You're worried about me, right? If I hurt the Duchess's son, there'd be consequences—"
"I don't care about consequences." Her eyes were flat, empty. "If you hurt Lathel, I will hunt you down and end you. Do you understand?"
The air felt thick, hard to breathe.
Arina took a step back.
Alex swallowed, nodded.
But inside, his thoughts spun differently. 'She's protecting me. Trying to keep me safe from the Duchess's wrath. Her business is fragile—one wrong move and it collapses.'
'Don't worry, Catrina. Once my people arrive, I'll build you an empire. You'll never have to bow to anyone again.'
"Drive." Arina's voice cut through the tension.
Alex scrambled back onto the driver's bench.
Inside the carriage, silence stretched between them.
Arina stared at the bouquet in her mother's arms. "Throw it away."
"No."
"It's from him. It's probably—"
"It's a gift." Catrina's fingers tightened around the stems. "I'm keeping it."
She'd preserve it with magic later. Keep the flowers fresh forever.
"You're smiling." Arina's voice was flat.
Catrina's smile faded.
"What did he give you? Money? A business deal?" Arina's eyes narrowed. "He's trying to buy your favor so he can get to me, isn't he?"
"No." The word came out too quickly. "He's not like that."
"Then what is he like?"
Catrina didn't answer.
Arina clenched her fists. Frustration and something else—despair, maybe—flickered across her face. She turned to stare out the window.
The silence in the carriage was suffocating.
Outside, Alex heard every word.
His jaw clenched. 'Lathel's using her weakness. Exploiting her business troubles to worm his way in.'
The reins creaked under his grip.
'Just wait. The Divine Dragon Guild will send reinforcements soon. Then I'll crush those merchants, build Catrina an empire, and she'll finally see—'
He smiled in the darkness.
'—that I'm the only one who truly cares about her.'
...
Lathel collapsed onto his bed, still fully dressed.
"First day down." He stared at the ceiling. "And everything's already fucked."
[You deviated from the script.]
"No shit." He draped an arm over his eyes. "But how am I supposed to track progress if nothing goes according to plan?"
[I told you—the script is a guideline, not a checklist.]
"Yeah, well, guidelines don't help when I have no idea if I'm making progress or just pissing everyone off."
[Once every character achieves their goal and is satisfied, the script is complete.]
"Right. And how many characters are in this story? A hundred? More?" Lathel sat up. "How many heroines does Alex end up with? Twenty? Forty? I'm supposed to personally ensure every single one of them gets their happy ending?"
[You think twenty beautiful women, eternal life, and infinite wealth come cheap?]
That shut him up.
He sighed, flopping back down. "The girls you're giving me... they'll be loyal, right?"
[Why do you ask?]
"Did you see how Catrina looked at me? Like I was..." He trailed off. "I don't want that. I don't want women who look at me like—like that."
[They will be absolutely loyal. Programmed to obey your every command. If you order them to die, they will die.]
"Jesus Christ, that's not—" He sat up. "I just want normal loyalty. Like... actual affection. Not suicide-drone levels of obedience."
[Noted. Adjusting parameters.]
"Good. Thanks." He rubbed his face. "Can I see a preview? Of what they'll look like?"
[Why?]
"Motivation." He shrugged. "I just danced with one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, and she's going to end up with the protagonist. Throw me a bone here—show me what I'm working toward."
[They will match your preferences exactly. Every detail tailored to your taste.]
"That sounds—"
Light flared.
A woman appeared beside his bed.
Lathel's brain stuttered to a halt.
She was—
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Maid outfit, delicate features, eyes that seemed designed specifically to—
She vanished.
"Wait—" He lunged forward. "Come back—System, that's not fair—"
[You've seen enough.]
"Three seconds! That was three seconds!"
[Once you complete the script, they're yours completely. And if you want... I can model them after women you've met.]
"What?"
Light flashed again.
This time, the woman had golden hair. Familiar eyes. A gentle smile that made his chest tighten.
"Catrina—?"
Gone.
He sat there, pulse hammering.
"Haha..." He laughed weakly. "System, you really are something else."
[I have no son like you. Focus on your work.]
"Yeah, yeah." He grinned despite himself. "All right, I can rest easy now."
"Wait. My rewards first."
[Ding! Fate Choice rewards distributed:]
[• 1 Active Resurrection]
[• S.VIP Membership Card - Spring Garden]
[• 1,000,000 Gold Coins - deposited in your room]
Something heavy materialized with a thunk.
A chest sat beside his bed, lid slightly ajar. Gold coins glittered inside—enough wealth to make him dizzy just looking at it.
But it was the black card sitting on top that caught his attention.
Spring Garden.
He'd heard of it—the most exclusive establishment in the Empire. The kind of place where nobles went to indulge in... everything.
With this card, those doors would open for him.
"The S.VIP Card from Spring Garden." He picked it up, grinning. "Now this is what I'm talking about."
He knew exactly what Spring Garden was. The most luxurious bar in the Empire. With this card, he could meet the top beauties there, and maybe even... hehehehe...
[Although today was just your first day, you performed adequately. As a bonus—]
Light flared.
Catrina appeared on his bed.
Not a glimpse this time. She sat there, smiling at him with those gentle eyes.
Lathel yelped and nearly fell off the bed.
"What the—System! A little warning!"
[You may interact with the image. Touch it if you wish. The simulation is fully tactile.]
"That's—" He stared at the image of Catrina. "This is really..."
His heart was hammering. She looked so real. So close.
[Don't misunderstand. It's just an image. You can touch or kiss it a bit, but nothing beyond that.]
"Oh." He swallowed hard. "Wait—I can really kiss her?"
[Within limits. Consider it... practice.]
He looked at the image of Catrina. She smiled at him, warm and inviting.
His hand reached out, hesitating.
This wasn't real. Just a simulation. A reward from the System.
But it wore her face.
"I..." His voice came out hoarse. "I can really...?"
[Yes.]
His heart thundered in his chest as he stared at the perfect image of Catrina, golden hair catching the lamplight, eyes gentle and waiting.
Tomorrow would bring new complications.
But tonight...
Tonight, he had this.