章節 4: Young Love
"Let's explore the garden! I heard it's an extremely beautiful sight." A bright and happy voice encouraged from afar, breaking Aileene's trail of thought. She had just been dallying about the garden, never knowing where she was heading and never really caring. She was finally alone and her quiet thoughts greeted her return warmly.
Though the moment was quickly ruined, by none other than the heroine herself. Whom was dragging along one of her love-stricken captured targets, making Aileene hide behind some bushes near them to watch the two 11-years-olds dallying about at the spot she was just at.
They were happily smiling and chatting, well mostly the heroine, but she immediately recalled a term to coin their chemistry, "young love." Used to describe the innocence of children's romances, that may turn out as happy upbringing memories or tragic naivety. And it seemed to be the latter of the two in this case, as this young love seemed very one-sided on the captured target part.
But the captured target here, dressed in striking red colors was none other than Edmund Allisters. The childhood sweetheart of the heroine, and the very first to join her budding harem. Edmund was an easy route for most players, as he already had feelings for the beloved heroine when they were growing up together. So most usually play the route quickly and move on to more challenging targets.
❅
"Edmund, they said you still have another year left before you can become an official royal knight, and your last expedition would make you leave." Cielo's voice turns soft, as her eyes shift away from her friend. They had always been together, even if they weren't siblings. Their family was close, so they grew up like siblings, having each others back and helping each other when possible. This was the first time they would be apart, and she couldn't help but feel a bit pitiful.
"It's not going to take long. I'll simply speed through it and return!" Edmund childishly declared with one fist pumped, high in the air. It showed his determination and will. But to Cielo his unconditional confidence made her laugh.
"Hey, don't laugh! I'm serious!" Edmund responded defensively as he tried to glare harshly at Cielo. Whom was now trying to suppress her sudden laughter, by covering her mouth. It made him confused, he was just innocently trying to soothe her, but her only response was unwarranted laughter.
"I'm sorry, I'll stop. Let's just head back to the banquet. It'll end soon anyway." Cielo managed to reply, even as she was trying to catch her breath. After a small coughing fit, she starting walking back to the ballroom, as Edmund followed alongside her. Though her thoughts were still on his earlier response to her, it was hilarious that he would try to optimistically cheer her up, since he was normally so mature and cold to everyone else. It warmed her heart that she was so important to someone.
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It was adorable, the heroine, Cielo, the capture target, Edmund. They were simply adorable, their comfortable talks and cute declarations. It reminded Aileene that they were people, they were real people just like her family. Even Ruby and Xi were real. They were all real. Well, not real in the sense that they weren't game characters. Real in the sense that the game was a world in itself, which made all the characters three dimensional.
They had feelings and emotions. They aren't just a means to an end. They aren't the heroine, a capture target, rivals. They're Cielo and Edmund. They're Ruby and Xi. People with family, friends and deep relationships. People that are real, and even if Aileene couldn't befriend Cielo or Edmund in this world because of her role. It didn't mean they were any less of a person, it just meant she had to admire them from afar.
It was her first interactions with them, and she didn't even physically interact with them. But she could already feel her futures decisions weighing down on her. She knew her role perfectly, be the villainess, be rude, be crude, be evil, be merciless. But she had no drive, no motivation to harm these people. She only had the push of the game system's mission for her and since she had already accepted the fact that the people in this world could be as real as people outside of her game. Whatever heartless and mission-based ideas she had shattered.
She had a loving family. She had new friends to make. The people around her weren't out to harm her.
Aileene was caught in a dilemma, she had no reason to hurt others. Her conscious probably couldn't take the fact that she'd hurt the innocence either.
At first, she had thought she could have pretended to love her parents. But then she truly began loving them. She thought she could act as the villainess to the heroine, knowing the fact the heroine would be the end of her. But she can't inflict pain on the heroine when she hadn't done anything to provoke her.
Aileene had no option out of her mission. The game system would always check on her progress each year. If she keeps depleting her progress, the game system could simply replace her.
She was at the end of her road.
Her options were simply heartless.
Choose the villainess route and die a painful deserving end, while causing the ruin of her family.
Choose the peaceful route and simply risk being erased from existence.
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