The gala hall shimmered under crystal chandeliers,
laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. Gold
adjusted Virelle's silver gown nervously. Okay, step
one: don't faint. Step two: don't get slapped. Step
three: survive Alistair.
➢[Host emotional stability: 73%. Male Lead
proximity detected. Caution advised.]
Gold muttered under her breath, "Thanks for the
heads-up, System. I'm loving this already."
➢[Sarcasm detected. Noted.]
Across the hall, Alistair leaned against a pillar,
surveying the crowd with his usual meticulous gaze.
And then he saw her.
Virelle. Or rather, Gold inhabiting Virelle.
His chest tightened. She was… different. Composed,
confident, and oddly serene — not the tearful girl who
left him years ago.
Alistair's jaw clenched. She's not the same. But the
danger is… she still exists.
Gold spotted him and froze for a fraction of a second.
Then she whispered to herself: Don't look like you've
noticed him. Don't look like you've noticed him.
Don't…
➢[Host anxiety detected. Suggested action: engage
in small talk with nearest target.]
"Small talk?" Gold hissed. "I don't do small talk with
ex-boyfriends who hate me."
➢[Recommendation ignored. Proceed at Host's
discretion.]
Before she could back away, a tray of champagne
glasses tilted toward her, almost spilling. Reflexively,
she saved it — bumping into Alistair.
"Oh!" she gasped, catching the glasses.
Alistair's eyes darkened slightly. "Virelle."
Gold's mind screamed: Mission failed. Abort. Abort.
➢[Male Lead attention: maximum. Emotional
volatility high.]
Gold forced a calm smile. "Alistair," she said smoothly.
"It's… been a while."
The words felt hollow in her own mouth. Not her
mouth — Virelle's.
Alistair studied her, every subtle movement, every
blink. "Indeed," he said coolly. "It has."
Selindra appeared beside him, radiating warmth and
confidence. "Alistair, shall we greet the sponsors?"
she suggested gently, her eyes flicking briefly toward
Gold/Virelle.
Gold immediately noted the dynamic. Selindra wasn't
threatened, but she was aware. Good. That's… good?
➢[Host observation: Selindra emotional baseline
stable. Opportunity to influence Male Lead noted.]
As the night progressed, Gold navigated polite
introductions, veiled conversations, and Alistair's
occasional piercing gaze. She realized that every word,
every movement, every glance mattered.
➢[System advisory: Emotional impact on Male Lead
is cumulative. Proceed with caution.]
Gold muttered, "Great. I'm basically a walking
emotional landmine."
➢[Humor detected. Male Lead likely unaffected.
Mission ongoing.]
By the end of the evening, she survived. Barely. But
she'd learned one critical thing: Alistair had not
forgotten. And more importantly, he still felt
something.
Gold exhaled as she stepped outside into the cool
night air. "System," she said, voice low, "he's
dangerous. Like… heart-damage dangerous."
➢[Acknowledged. Emotional calibration
recommended.]
Gold looked up at the city lights. Step one complete.
Step two: navigate betrayal, love, and… hopefully, not
die emotionally.