Maeve did not know how to ride a horse, but it seemed Isabella's body did and that was good enough.
The system, of course, rode with her. It at first had disappeared after her demand for an explanation but now that she was ignoring it, it kept appearing in front of her, popping up random laughing emojis.
She ignored it even more.
Maeve didn't stop until she noticed an area of land that looked incredibly soft and cozy. A meadow, filled with ten inch plants and flowers that smelled like the birth of spring. She dropped from her horse, her heart filling with joy as she patted it gently on the side, "Go have fun and eat some grass or something,"
The horse neighed like it understood what she was saying. She didn't bother to check if it did though. She waffled into the meadow, the feeling of the soft flowers on her skin like pillows caressing her. She moved deeper, closing her eyes and spreading her arms.
She could hear the birds chirping around her. The sound of a waterfall as well. And no one was calling her Isabella or trying to kill themselves because of her. And with her eyes closed, she couldn't read the damned system's messages.
She was finally free.
Maeve stopped, a happy sigh escaping her lips before she turned around and fell on the grass. Like it hugged her as if she was an old friend. She heard herself let out a purr as she curved herself to sleep, her soul almost drifting before she heard a voice say, "Wow. This is the first time I've seen anyone who liked sleep more than I do,"
Maeve's eyes shot open though she didn't move a muscle. In front of her, the screen blared, [CASSIAN WYETH. PRINCE OF AELTHERRA. RANK- A. PROFESSIONAL CAT NAPPER AND PLAYBOY. ORIGINAL MALE LEAD]
[APPROVAL RATING 30+]
Her eyes shot open wider as she glared at the damned screen. She wanted to yell at it, scream too, but she also didn't want to acknowledge the person behind her. She had barely said a word to him and the approval rating was already so high? What? Was he starved of love growing up?
His face suddenly popped in front of her. "Hello."
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Maeve wasn't sure when her hands started flailing about. She didn't get to hit him though. He was fast— really fast. She sat up, her hands in a karate chopping move she used to see on TV. Her hair fell over her face but she quickly blew it away as she hissed, "Do you not have the conceit of personal space—?! Ah! What's that light blinding me?!"
Her hands moved over her face, shielding her from the golden light radiating from— wait, it was from HIM. She tried to look at his face, but all she could see at first was the burning angelic light radiating off him. She could swear her eyelids were about to dry out as she took note of his features.
Spurn honey blonde hair that looked like a halo on his hair, turquoise green eyes that made her think of the rarest gems, light golden freckles spread over the bridge of his nose, and a boyishly handsome charm that made her think of the heartthrob in a boy band.
Maeve held back a scream as she said, "I don't even want to know why you're here, okay? Just— just leave me alone. I want to sleep and I need a few minutes to myself. Just… shut up. And don't talk, okay?"
[YOU ARE A VERY GOOD NEGOTIATOR. AND YES, THIS IS SARCASM]
"Okay."
Maeve was sure the world had suddenly bloomed into the most beautiful flowers as she bowed, and without thinking twice, turned to her side and lay back down.
She waited, counting the seconds to see if he would come stare at her like he did before but that didn't happen. If anything, Maeve could sense it in her bones that he was actually asleep like their interaction hadn't happened. How absurd.
[YOU WROTE HIM THAT WAY]
That did not matter. Maeve closed her eyes, slowly feeling herself drift to sleep. She could already feel herself floating into the clouds, gliding across the seas of—
"Your royal highness!"
Maeve instantly clamped her hands over her ears. She felt like her brain was going to explode. She sat up, ready to scream at whoever it was— but those words never seemed to leave her lips as she realized she was now surrounded by many armed men— guards, she was sure.
One particular man that stood out in the group.
[ADRIAN VALECOURT. NORTH DUKE OF VALECOURT. RANK- S. ICY AND COLD. ORIGINAL MALE LEAD]
And he looked like one.
Jet black wavy that cradled his face with a glorious silver strand around his left temple, blue stormy eyes that made her feel like he was seeing through her bullshit and a glare that made her almost confess she wasn't the real Isabella. His aura was intimidating, like he was some sort of shadow. Or he was Batman, maybe.
He hadn't said a word yet. No. Instead, he was staring at her like she was some… rotten woman who had soiled her honour and he was very ashamed of.
[APPROVAL RATING -38]
Maeve felt like she was just shot an arrow through her chest. "I wasn't— we weren't—"
She saw Cassian rise up. "We were both taking a nap. Any reason why you are all gathered here like I'm some sort of criminal?"
He sounded disgruntled, uncomfortable. His face was still glowing too much for Maeve to look at so she tried to fix her gaze on the Duke but that only made her feel like she was about to be skinned alive so she fixated on the sky instead.
"Your Mother needs your present at the palace," Then a beat, "And your parents search for you Miss Montague. It would be best if you return to your family estate and prepare for your test,"
[APPROVAL RATING -12]
"I didn't even do anything this time!"
The Duke stared at her like he was only seconds away from pulling her by her hair to her parents. She didn't need to be told twice though. In a flash, she was rising from the floor, dusting off her dress as she started looking around, "My horse should be around here—"
"I will be taking you home myself," Adrian cut in.
Maeve knew somehow that it was not a request.
So all she did was nod.