She pulled away from his neck, her lips barely brushing against his skin before she sat up. Stretching her arms, she rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck with a soft sigh. Without another glance at the man beneath her, she slid off the bed and walked to the door, retrieving her discarded clothes. With practiced ease, she slipped them back on, fastening each piece as if nothing had happened.
Her gaze shifted to the table where the thick folder of documents lay. She picked it up, flipping through the pages briefly before turning to leave—until a familiar chime echoed in her mind.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Sudden Quest Available
Title: Execute Cedric Vale
Task: Kill the Lord of Dawnmire and escape without being caught.
Rewards:
EXP: 120
Bounty: 100 Silver
Fear Rating: +10
[ Accept / Decline ]
Celestia's smirk deepened as she unsheathed her rapier and selected [Accept] without hesitation. She turned, her emerald eyes gleaming with cruel amusement as she leveled her weapon at him.
"This isn't personal…" She paused, tilting her head. "Actually, it very much is, considering you touched my ass... and my breast."
Cedric, still trapped under [Manipulation], obeyed without protest as she commanded, "Get out of bed. On the floor."
He moved without hesitation, dropping to his knees. The blind obedience was pathetic. Celestia lifted her leg, her boot hovering over his face before slamming it down, the embedded spikes driving into his skin. A choked gasp escaped him, muffled beneath the pressure, but she wasn't finished.
Without waiting at all, she drove her rapier straight into his chest, piercing his heart with precision. His body jerked, his muffled screams dying in his throat as crimson pooled beneath him. She twisted the blade once—slowly—before yanking it free, letting his lifeless body slump to the floor.
She exhaled, flicking the blood off her blade before stepping over the corpse. "Much better."
She lifted her white boost, clicking her tongue at the fresh blood staining the pristine leather.
"...Useless bastard. Can't even die cleanly." She sighed, shaking her head before glancing around the dimly lit room.
Her gaze landed on a window, where the pale glow of moonlight streamed in, cutting through the shadows. A slow smile curled on her lips. "Perfect."
Moving swiftly, she dragged the heavy wooden table beneath the window, then stacked the chair on top of it. With a flick of her wrist, she sent her dagger spinning through the air, shattering the glass with a sharp crack. Without hesitation, she leaped, grabbing the frame and hauling herself through the broken window.
The cool night air greeted her as she landed in a crouch. She scanned her surroundings—she had made it outside the castle walls. But she wasn't safe yet.
Keeping low, she sprinted along the castle's stone perimeter, her feet light as she moved through the shadows. Reaching a section where the walls weren't as smooth, she grabbed onto the rough grooves, forcing her exhausted muscles to pull her up. The climb was slow, her breath growing heavier with each movement.
"Damn..." she muttered between breaths. "I should've done more climbing when I was younger."
Finally, she reached the top and swung herself over, landing softly. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she took a final glance at the castle before jumping down the other side, rolling to absorb the impact.
She didn't waste a second. Retracing her steps through the shadowed alleyways, she moved swiftly, her white boots making barely a sound against the cobblestone streets. The city's silence was thick, broken only by the occasional distant murmur of guards patrolling elsewhere.
Upon reaching the inn, she slipped inside without hesitation, making her way up the stairs in quick, controlled strides. At her door, she turned the key, pushed inside, and immediately grabbed her bag. With practiced efficiency, she ripped down the maps from the walls, folding and shoving them inside. Every trace of her presence had to be erased.
Her emerald eyes swept the room one last time. Satisfied, she clicked the lock back into place—buying herself at least a little time before anyone realized she was gone—before climbing onto the windowsill.
Without hesitation, she leapt.
The cool night air rushed past her before she landed in the soft embrace of a bush below, rolling onto her feet in a single smooth motion. She didn't stop. Slipping back into the shadows, she moved with silent urgency through the city, her destination clear.
At last, she reached the small ranch. Her horse stood alert, ears twitching as it caught her scent. Its dark eyes met hers, steady and unwavering. A small smirk tugged at her lips.
"Good," she murmured, stepping inside.
"Time to go," she murmured, unlatching the gate.
The horse trotted toward her, and with practiced ease, she swung herself onto its back. Without hesitation, she nudged the reins, guiding them toward the city's gates.
As soon as they cleared the city, she spurred the horse north, her sights set on the Mountain of Blossom.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Sudden Quest Complete
Title: Execute Cedric Vale
Task: Kill the Lord of Dawnmire and escape without being caught.
Rewards:
EXP: 120
Bounty: 100 Silver
Fear Rating: +10
A wicked smile played on Celestia's lips as the system's notification faded from view. "The taste of my first major victory is very sweet, but this is only the beginning. I feel dirty as hell though."
Now, as they continued heading north under the moonlit sky, Celestia's fingers lightly traced the horse's mane, her thoughts drifting. The rhythmic sound of hooves against dirt was the only noise between them.
"It's about time I come up with a name for you…" she mused aloud, her emerald eyes glinting with mischief. She tilted her head, considering.
The horse huffed, as if impatient.
A smirk played on her lips. "How about… Shadow?" she suggested, running her fingers over its sleek coat.
The horse flicked its ears, seemingly unbothered.
"No?" Celestia chuckled. "What about Midnight Tempest? Or maybe Obsidian?"
Another huff.
She rolled her eyes. "Picky, aren't you?" she muttered, before tapping her chin. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she smirked.
"I know. Eclipse."
The horse let out a small snort, shaking its head slightly before pressing forward at a steadier pace.
Celestia grinned. "Eclipse it is, then."
Celestia and Eclipse pressed forward through the northern trails, the wind whipping against them as they rode deeper into the unknown.
Meanwhile, miles behind, Raven sat in her carriage, exhaling sharply in frustration. She rested her head against her arm, her patience wearing dangerously thin.
"How much longer is this going to take?" she demanded, her voice sharp with irritation.
With a huff, she kicked off her purple boots, letting them drop beneath her seat as she rolled her sore ankles. "An entire week in Thalora, searching every alley, every tavern, and every damn inn… and for what? Nothing."
Her grip tightened on the edge of her seat, her nails pressing into the upholstery as her dark violet eyes burned with barely restrained fury.
"The only thing we found," she muttered, voice low and venomous, "is that she stayed in a room… in a brothel."
A slow, dangerous exhale escaped her lips as she clenched her fists, the mere thought sending a sharp pain through her. The idea of Celestia in a place like that was enough to make her blood boil.
Her eyes darkened, shadows pooling in their depths. "When I find her…" she thought, her fingers curling tighter.
Raven inhaled deeply, forcing herself to regain control, but the storm within her refused to settle. "She better have a damn good explanation," she whispered, her voice laced with an unspoken promise.
Alastair Solara slammed his fist onto the desk, his frustration palpable. His eyes burned with anger as he barked orders. "Widen the search area! We've found nothing! I want every corner of this land searched until we uncover something—anything!"
The door to his study flew open with a sudden creak, and a figure dressed in dark blue stumbled in, breathing heavily. The man straightened quickly, his face flushed with urgency.
"My lord! I found something!" he exclaimed, almost out of breath.
Alastair's eyes snapped up, a flicker of hope—however fleeting—crossing his face. "What is it?" he demanded, voice low and urgent.
The man held out a rapier, its sleek white sheath gleaming faintly under the dim light. The blade itself was a dull grey, the metal worn but still formidable.
Alastair's gaze locked onto it, his pulse quickening. His breath caught in his throat, eyes widening with recognition. "That rapier… it was in our weapon storage," he murmured, his voice cold with disbelief. "Where the hell did you find this?"
The man, his face serious, straightened further. "I found it on a dirt road heading north… towards Thalora."
Alastair's jaw clenched, his mind racing. "Were there any signs—any markings in the dirt?" he pressed, his voice sharp.
The man nodded, his expression grim. "There are signs of a fight. There are also horse prints leading north. It's my guess that Celestia Solara was taken—kidnapped, likely while she was trying to escape."
The words hit Alastair like a blow to the chest. He sank back into his chair, the weight of the revelation crashing over him. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering himself before his gaze snapped to the man.
"Commander Niles," Alastair said, his tone icy and authoritative, "Gather every damn force we can—every soldier, every mercenary, everyone not tied to another post. We're searching every inch of this land until we find her." His eyes flared with crackling energy, lightning arcing around his body as his fury became tangible. "No more excuses. We find her. Now."
Niles nodded without hesitation, his face set in determination, before exiting swiftly to carry out the order.
Alastair sat in silence for a moment, his fingers trembling as they gripped the edge of the desk. He glanced down at the rapier, the cold steel mocking him in its silence.
"I wanted to give her away for marriage," he murmured quietly, his voice thick with an unfamiliar vulnerability. "To strengthen the family. But..." His words faltered, the weight of his emotions catching in his throat. He sucked in a sharp breath, feeling his heart constrict painfully. "My only daughter... I want her home. Alive... more than any political alliance. I should've just declined it, the moment we got the letter for the marriage. I shouldn't have pushed that marriage... If I hadn't, would she still be here? Would she have stayed?" He asked himself in thought.
He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles white as the room seemed to hum with the raw energy of his frustration. His mind raced with countless thoughts, each more desperate than the last.
With a sudden, violent motion, he shoved his chair back, stood, and stormed to the balcony. He threw open the glass window, shattering it with a harsh crash, and stepped out into the cool night air. The wind whipped around him, but he barely noticed.
Looking up at the dark sky, Alastair's voice echoed into the vastness, a deep, desperate plea. "Solace. if you can hear me, find her. Do that... and I'll allow you back into the family."