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Lucian sat perfectly still, while Aziah stood beside him. His gaze roamed the room—dust clung to the shelves, undisturbed. The air was heavy and the silence thick, until it was shattered by the viscountess's desperate wails.
Lucian's gaze soon shifted. There was someone else in the room, seated beside the viscountess.
He did not belong there. His arm rested around her shoulders, his posture relaxed.
Prince Erik of Saenia.
Lucian's eyes narrowed, "Your Highness," he said calmly, inclining his head slightly. "I was unaware that you would be here."
"So am I," he claimed with a smile. "As regards to you Of course."
"If you don't mind," Lucian added. "Your highness, why have you come here?" Lucian asked, his expression carved from stone.
Prince Erik lifted his gaze, a faint smile touching his lips. "Of course not," he replied easily. "I am merely here to offer comfort." His gaze shifted to the viscountess, patting her as she sobbed by his side.
Comfort? Lucian's eyes flickered to the viscountess. Her tears had not stopped, but her hands were clenched tight in her lap, her knuckles pale.
"Why are you here?" Prince Erik said, a polite smile maintained on his face.
"Investigating." Lucian said plainly, his gaze still.
Erik nodded in realization. "It's nice to see you are taking this case seriously." He said.
Lucian cut in quickly, his tone having no emotion. "I have to, it's my responsibility."
Lucian folded his hands then added. " Then perhaps, you won't mind if we ask you to leave."
Erik's hand froze in motion, surprise flickering across his eyes, but his smile still remained.
"Of course…" he said, about to stand on his feet and leave.
Let him stay." The viscountess's voice was low, yet firm. Her hand tightened around Erik's arm, stopping him from leaving.
Surprise flickered across Aziah's face, however, Lucian remained still. "Forgive me," Aziah said carefully. "This is an investigation."
"I am aware, " the viscountess replied. Her red eyes lifted. "But I would feel more at ease if someone I trust is present."
A grin briefly touched the crown Prince's lips, quickly, before it faded into something resembling admiration. Lucian inclined his head. "If that is your wish."
"Then," Lucian said calmly, folding his hands, "shall we begin?"
The viscountess hesitated, then nodded only when erik gave her a reassuring look. Her grip tightened around his arm, before she responded.
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Ray sat atop her bed, still. Her vision blurred—not in tears but into thought. Voices drifted in from the corridor, they were muffled. She could only make out fragments of them.
Elara.
Gaia.
The guard. The streets and something about almost being arrested.
Their words overlapped, rising and falling but none of it truly reached her.
None of it made sense.
The disappearances…although familiar. She remembered writing them, and heard word of it during her loop.
Yes, she had gone through a total of 4 loops as Celestine, only as an observer. After she had woken up.
Making the same mistakes as Celestine, watching the people around her fall into tragedy. Not willing, but because she could not break free from Celestine's narrative path. Unable to change a thing.
But, it wasn't supposed to be this serious.
Missing children. A grieving mother. And a city that looked away, despite the desperate cries of the people. She never imagined it would be this… bad.
But yet it was reality, one she had created and had to face. But she could do something now, find a way to help them.
But, how?
Suddenly the translucent screen above pulsed into life, a reminder on why she was here in the first place.
She had created a cruel fate for her characters. And a fate so cruel deserved nothing but a cruel world as well.
She clenched her fist tightly. Her eyes scanned the words on the screen.
SURVIVE AND CREATE A WORTHY ENDING.
MISSION: Get reengaged to the duke.
"Yes.." she muttered. She indeed had created an unfair story. But she had a purpose.
A mission.
To create a worthy ending. That must be a happy ending right?
One where there won't be any suffering. No pain.
One where Celestine is alive. And happy with the duke.
With Lucian.
And one were all the pain and hardships of every character, both minor and major ceased to exist.
Ray's eyes flickered in realization.
Why would the system give me such a mission, if that won't solve all my story's flaws?
Why would it save me, if it's aim wasn't to save the people of this world?
If I succeed in my mission, will everything will really become fine...?
She swallowed hard. Then nodded in affirmation.
"Let's just stick to the mission…" she said.
"And every other thing would turn out okay…."
She was about to leave for the hall when the translucent screen lit up brightly. A thought crossed her mind, as though it was agreeing with her decision.
But her heart beat quickened. Almost as though it knew otherwise.
Then suddenly, the words appeared. Bold and unexpected.
DING DING DING!!!
SUB MISSION: Discover the true cause of the disappearance.
FAILURE TO COMPLY:
To be determined.
A cold dread flowed through Ray's spine. As she thought.
What exactly is going on?