The grand staircase of Sanguini Manor had never felt longer. Each step downward was a step closer to my first real test—and potentially my last conversation. Through the ornate banister, I could see her silhouette in the drawing room below, golden hair catching the afternoon light like captured fire.
Seraphina Goldenvale. Level 45 Light Mage. Affection rating: -15/100. Current status: Planning my demise.
No pressure at all.
[Ooh, she's even prettier in person! (♡˙︶˙♡) System-chan approves of your taste!]
Not helpful, I thought, trying to ignore the way my—Lucien's—heart hammered against my ribs. The original's memories painted her in obsessive detail: every laugh that never included him, every smile that turned cold when their eyes met, every word spoken in that crystalline voice that could freeze fire or melt steel depending on her mood.
[TUTORIAL TIP: Remember, making someone smile genuinely requires understanding what makes them happy! What do you know about Lady Seraphina's interests?]
I paused mid-step. In the game, Seraphina had three main character routes depending on player choices: the Saint path (focused on healing and helping others), the Scholar path (obsessed with ancient magical theory), and the Warrior path (determined to prove light magic could be used for combat). But which version was I dealing with?
More importantly, which version would respond to someone like Lucien?
[BONUS HINT: Current emotional state detected - she's frustrated about something! Use this to your advantage! (￣▽￣)ノ]
I reached the bottom of the stairs and straightened my shoulders. Whatever happened next, I had to nail this. One genuine smile. How hard could it be?
The answer, as I stepped into the drawing room, was apparently: very hard.
Seraphina stood with her back to me, studying a painting of the Sanguini family crest with the kind of intensity usually reserved for battle strategies. She wore a simple but elegant dress in pale blue—academy colors—and her posture screamed barely contained irritation.
"You're late," she said without turning around. Her voice held that familiar crystalline quality, but underneath was something sharp enough to cut glass.
This was it. The moment that would set the tone for everything that followed. In every game route, Lucien's first response here was some variation of arrogant dismissal: "A noble doesn't arrive late, only others arrive early." It was designed to establish his insufferable personality right from the start.
Time to rewrite the script.
"I apologize," I said simply. "I was... gathering my thoughts."
She turned then, violet eyes wide with surprise. Score one for doing literally anything she hadn't expected. Up close, she was even more devastating than her game model—skin like porcelain, features that belonged in classical art, and those eyes that seemed to see straight through to whatever soul I had left.
"Gathering your thoughts?" One elegant eyebrow arched. "How... unlike you."
[Ooh, intrigue! She's confused by your behavior change! This is good! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ:･ﾟ✧]*
"Perhaps I've been thinking more lately." I gestured toward the chairs arranged around a small table. "Please, sit. I believe we have much to discuss about our... arrangement."
Another flicker of surprise, quickly masked. She moved to the chair with fluid grace, but I noticed how she positioned herself—back to the wall, clear path to the exit, hands free to cast if needed. Even relaxed, she was ready for a fight.
Smart girl. If I were still the original Lucien, she'd need to be.
I took the seat across from her, noting how she tensed slightly when I got closer. The space between us felt charged with years of accumulated tension and disappointment.
"Our engagement," she began, her voice carefully neutral, "has been... challenging."
[CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Make her smile genuinely! Remember, she's frustrated about something. Find out what!]
"Challenging," I repeated, studying her face. "That's... diplomatic of you."
"I've been practicing diplomacy," she said dryly. "Someone has to, considering your usual approach to conversation."
There was the opening I needed. Not her frustration with me—though that was clearly present—but something else. Something that made her practice diplomacy. I ran through what I knew about the current timeline. We were three months into the academy year, which meant...
"The Council of Houses convenes next month," I said, watching her reaction carefully. "Your father's been pushing for greater light mage representation."
Her composure cracked slightly. Bingo.
"Your father opposes it, of course," she continued, and there was the frustration the system had detected. "Along with half the noble houses. They think light magic is 'too pure' for political discourse." She practically spat the words.
In the game, this was a minor background political element. But sitting here, seeing the genuine anger in her eyes, I realized it meant everything to her. Seraphina wasn't just a powerful mage trapped in an unwanted engagement—she was someone fighting for her entire magical discipline's right to participate in vampire society's power structure.
And Lucien, in his arrogant ignorance, had probably dismissed her concerns completely.
"They're idiots," I said.
She blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"The Council members opposing your father's proposal. They're idiots." I leaned forward slightly, letting some genuine conviction enter my voice. "Light magic isn't 'too pure' for politics—it's too threatening. They know a light mage with political power could expose every shadow they're hiding in."
For a moment, she just stared at me. Then something shifted in her expression—surprise giving way to something that might have been interest.
"That's... actually a cogent political analysis," she said slowly. "I didn't think you paid attention to such matters."
[PROGRESS! She's engaged! Keep going! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ: ･ﾟ]*
"I pay attention to more than you might think." It was true, in a way. I'd programmed the entire political system. "Your father's proposal isn't just about representation—it's about legitimacy. He's trying to establish light magic as an equal school to the traditional vampire disciplines."
"Exactly!" The word burst out of her with sudden passion, and for the first time since I'd entered the room, she looked truly animated. "For centuries, light magic has been treated as a curiosity, a pretty parlor trick for noble daughters to learn alongside embroidery and music. But we can heal, we can purify, we can even—"
She stopped abruptly, as if remembering who she was talking to.
"Even what?" I asked gently.
"Even fight," she finished, but her voice had gone quiet again. "Though most people prefer to pretend otherwise."
And there it was. The heart of her frustration. Seraphina wasn't just angry about political exclusion—she was tired of being seen as delicate, ornamental, safe. She wanted to be recognized as the powerful mage she actually was.
In the game, players could unlock her Warrior path by challenging her to combat trials. But this wasn't a game anymore, and I wasn't a player character with plot armor.
Instead, I did something the original Lucien would never have done.
I smiled—not the cold, arrogant smirk that was his signature expression, but something genuine and warm.
"I'd like to see that sometime," I said. "Your combat magic, I mean. I imagine it's quite... illuminating."
The terrible pun made her groan, but something else happened too. The corner of her mouth twitched upward, fighting against her attempt to maintain serious composure. For just a moment, genuine amusement flickered in those violet eyes.
And then she smiled. Small, quickly suppressed, but absolutely real.
[QUEST COMPLETED! ✧:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ][Reward Gained: +1 Charisma, Basic Flirting Skills unlocked!][Bonus Objective Completed: Dignified villain image maintained!][Additional Reward: Seraphina's Interest Piqued - New dialogue options unlocked!]
[Affection Update!][Seraphina Goldenvale: -10/100 (Mild Dislike → Confused Interest)]
The change was small, but it felt monumental. Five points of affection and a genuine smile. Not bad for a first attempt at not being a complete disaster.
"That was terrible," she said, but the smile lingered at the edges of her voice.
"I have many terrible puns," I replied solemnly. "Fair warning."
This time she actually laughed—a short, musical sound that made something warm unfurl in my chest. Whether that was Lucien's programming or my own reaction, I couldn't tell. Maybe it didn't matter.
"I should go," she said, rising from her chair. "I have studying to do before tomorrow's advanced theory class."
"Of course." I stood as well, noting how she no longer seemed quite so ready to bolt for the exit. "Seraphina?"
She paused at the doorway. "Yes?"
"Your father's proposal... you have my support. For what it's worth."
Another flicker of surprise crossed her features. "I... thank you. That's unexpected, but... appreciated."
After she left, I sank back into my chair and let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
[Excellent work! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ:･ﾟ✧ System-chan is impressed! You managed to have an entire conversation without making her want to murder you more!]*
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: "Academic Excellence!"][Objective: Attend tomorrow's Advanced Magical Theory class and demonstrate competence without revealing your hidden Blood Control emblem][Reward: +5 Intelligence, Advanced magical knowledge, potential to impress multiple heroines][Warning: Several of your death flags will be present in this class. Try not to antagonize them!]
I groaned. Of course. Because having one potentially murderous heroine wasn't enough—tomorrow I'd be facing several of them in an academic setting where the original Lucien's arrogance and ignorance would be on full display.
But as I climbed the stairs back to my room, I found myself thinking about Seraphina's smile, her passion for her magical discipline, and the way her eyes had lit up when she talked about fighting.
Maybe this whole "not dying" thing was more achievable than I'd thought.
Maybe I could actually pull this off.
[Sweet dreams, future Harem King! Tomorrow's going to be... educational! (◡ ‿ ◡)]
That... did not sound reassuring at all.