Night pressed quietly against the windows of the Ashcroft mansion, but sleep refused to come.
Iris sat by the window, her fingers curled tightly in her lap. The engagement had ended, yet the weight of it still clung to her chest like a shadow. The poisoned drink, the queen's cold smile, Ashley's unreadable gaze—it all replayed endlessly.
"If I make one mistake," Iris whispered, "I lose everything. This second life. My family. My revenge."
The bracelet on her wrist warmed.
"That's why you must not mistake emotion for weakness," Eena replied. "You are playing a game designed to crush the unprepared."
Iris inhaled slowly. "Then I need power. Not titles. Not sympathy."
Before another word could be spoken, the air in front of her fractured like thin glass.
A glowing system screen unfolded before her eyes.
SYSTEM NOTICEFIRST QUEST ACTIVATED
Objective:Establish an official work partnership betweenHouse Ashcroft and Prime Minister Ivan Charles
Reward:Reawaken one dormant ability
Failure:No second chance
"Ivan Charles…" Iris murmured.
Sehrain, standing nearby with a lamp, stiffened."My lady… the Prime Minister obeys rules more than people. He is feared even by nobles."
Eena's voice was calm."He trusts law, not blood. If you convince him, the kingdom will listen."
Iris stood."Then I'll speak in laws."
The Prime Minister's Mansion
Ivan Charles's residence was carved from gray stone, severe and lifeless. No gardens softened its edges. No banners declared pride. Everything stood straight, sharp, and restrained—like its master.
Inside, long corridors echoed under their steps. Law books lined the walls from floor to ceiling, their spines worn from constant use. The air smelled faintly of ink and old paper.
They were stopped by the Prime Minister's aide.
He was tall and narrow, his back rigid, his expression neutral to the point of hostility. His neatly combed hair and sharply pressed uniform made him look like an extension of the building itself.
"State your business," he said flatly.
Iris handed him a document. "A formal request. Properly filed."
The aide examined it slowly.
"…Formatting is correct," he admitted, almost displeased.
They were allowed inside.
Ivan Charles
Prime Minister Ivan Charles sat behind a massive desk, hands folded neatly.
He was lean, angular, and disciplined—every line of his body spoke of restraint. His shoulders were narrow but straight, his long fingers steady. Steel-gray eyes fixed on Iris, cold and measuring.
"Lady Iris Ashcroft," he said. "Speak."
"House Ashcroft seeks an official partnership with your office," Iris said calmly.
"Legal grounds?" Ivan asked instantly.
"Article Seven, subsection three," she replied without hesitation. "Economic cooperation during political instability."
His pen stopped.
"…Correct."
Sehrain's breath hitched.
Ivan leaned back slightly. "Ashcroft influence is regional."
"Then let it support the north," Iris said. "Trade routes, infrastructure, and taxation under your supervision."
Silence stretched.
"Return tomorrow," Ivan said. "With revisions."
The Trial
They returned again and again.
Each visit brought new resistance.
"Incorrect seal.""Outdated precedent.""Conflict with ancient regulation."
They rewrote contracts until their hands ached.
Sehrain groaned one night, collapsing onto a chair."My lady, I fear this man eats documents for breakfast."
Eena replied dryly,"He is testing discipline. Not loyalty."
Iris endured.
She corrected every flaw.Answered every objection.Learned the law until it lived in her bones.
The Seal and the Awakening
On the seventh visit, Ivan finally asked,"Why does a duke's daughter pursue this personally?"
Iris met his gaze steadily.
"Because unchecked power rots kingdoms," she said."And law exists to heal that rot—if applied correctly."
Ivan stared for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"You understand law," he said. "Not as a shield, but as a cure."
He lifted his seal.
"Partnership approved."
The stamp struck the paper.
The air shifted.
A system screen appeared once more.
QUEST COMPLETEABILITY AWAKENED: HEALING POWER
Warmth surged through Iris's body—gentle but overwhelming. It spread from her chest to her hands, flowing like light through her veins. Every ache, every old wound, every hidden pain eased.
She gasped softly.
Her palms glowed faintly, then faded.
Eena's voice carried quiet awe."You've regained the power of healing. Physical wounds. Internal damage. With time—perhaps more."
Sehrain stared at Iris in shock."My lady… your complexion— it's glowing."
Iris closed her hands, heart steady.
"One pillar aligned," Eena said. "Three remain."
Iris exhaled.
She was still engaged.Still surrounded by enemies.
But now—
She could mend what others tried to break.
To be continued…