[System Alert: New Side Quest Unlocked]
Title: First Touch
Objective: Initiate physical contact with Crown Prince Kaelion during the upcoming etiquette duel.
Reward: +15 Charm, Unlock Passive: Graceful Aura
Failure Penalty: -10 Reputation. Public Humiliation Event Triggered.
Selene stared at the glowing screen hovering above her bed, unblinking.
Physical contact?
An etiquette duel?
She groaned and fell back against her pillow. "System, do you enjoy torturing me?"
[System Message: Only as much as you once enjoyed torturing others.]
She blinked.
"…Was that sass?"
[System Message: Deliver results.]
The Next Morning — Academy Grand Hall
The duel wasn't a real one. Not in the sword-and-blood sense. At Virellia Academy, "etiquette duels" were elite rituals — public demonstrations of noble grace where students paired off to showcase manners, posture, and yes… dancing.
And Kaelion — the Crown Prince, her executioner — stood across the ballroom, dressed in black and gold, expression unreadable.
Selene's name had been deliberately placed across from his on the scroll.
By who?
It didn't matter.
She would use this stage. And she would win.
As the Music Played
"Lady Virellia," Kaelion said, offering his hand.
His voice was deeper than she remembered. It curled in her chest like smoke.
Selene smiled, every move rehearsed to perfection. "Your Highness."
Their hands touched — and the system flared.
[First Touch Achieved. Charm +15. Skill Unlocked: Graceful Aura. Kaelion's Affection: -12 → -7. Status: Intrigued.]
They moved in slow, deliberate steps across the floor — two enemies locked in elegance, eyes never breaking, breaths almost matching.
"You look different," he murmured.
"Do I?" she replied sweetly. "Or is it just that you're seeing me clearly for the first time?"
His jaw tightened. "What game are you playing?"
She leaned closer during a turn, her lips nearly brushing his ear.
"The same one you played with my heart."
[System Alert: Crown Prince's heartbeat accelerating. Affection shifting…]
The music stopped. So did their dance.
But Kaelion didn't release her hand.
"Stay away from me," he said quietly. "Whatever this is… stop it now."
Selene met his eyes — then stepped even closer.
"But what if I can't?"
[System Alert: Seduction Route Confirmed. Next quest incoming…]