The moon hung high in the sky, its silvery light spilling over the city of Dawnmire. The streets were quiet, with only a few late-night wanderers lingering in the shadows. Celestia stood by the inn's window, watching the scene unfold below.
Her hand rested lightly on the rapier she had secured earlier, the cool metal a reminder of the night ahead. The distraction was set to begin soon.
Down below, the large man she had hired earlier was already making his move. He had positioned himself at the far side of the city square, near a row of vendor stalls that had long since closed for the night.
Celestia watched as he made a ruckus—knocking over a barrel, shouting in an exaggerated voice, and slinging insults at imaginary enemies. At first, it seemed like nothing more than drunken behavior, but as he shouted louder, more people began to notice. The noise was impossible to ignore. Then came the sound of crashing wood, followed by a woman's scream. Celestia's eyes narrowed. The guards stationed near the market were already moving toward the disturbance, leaving their posts.
She grabbed the rapier, tucked it securely at her side, and carefully opened her door. The hallway was empty, and the only sounds were the muffled shouts from the square below. She made her way down the staircase with calculated steps, every movement deliberate.
Once outside, she slipped into the shadows, the chaos behind her was her cover, but she knew it wouldn't last long. She had to move fast.
The streets were eerily quiet now, the distraction in full swing but still far from enough to draw a full lockdown. She was close. The castle wall would be just ahead.
As she neared the high stone barrier that separated the castle grounds from the rest of the city, Celestia slowed her pace, listening for any approaching guards. The tension in the air was thick, but the loud sounds from the square still echoed in the distance. She had a small window to act.
The wall ahead was the spot she had been eyeing for days—the most vulnerable section in terms of security, but still tightly monitored. She reached for the stone and pressed her palm against it, feeling the rough texture. "This would have to do." She thought.
With a quick, fluid motion, she began scaling the wall, her fingers finding their grip as she pulled herself up.
Celestia carefully peered over the edge of the castle wall, her heart pounding with anticipation. The distraction had done its job, and as her eyes scanned the area, she saw… nothing. No guards, no patrols, not a soul in sight. The path was clear. She allowed herself a brief smirk before pulling herself fully over the wall and dropping into the courtyard below.
Her feet landed silently on the stone floor. She was inside.
Without a moment to waste, she darted toward the nearest window—a large, arched opening. It had no bars, no security, just a clear path. Her instincts screamed at her to move quickly, and she did, slipping inside with barely a whisper.
The room she entered was dimly lit, illuminated only by moonlight filtering through the curtains. She paused for a moment, taking in the surroundings. A well-furnished chamber, with an opulent bed and tapestries hanging on the walls. But it was the floor that caught her attention—a large glass window set into the stone, offering a view of a lower level.
Her hand went to her rapier. She unsheathed it silently, her movements sharp and fluid. The blade met the glass with a soft but precise strike, cutting into the surface. It cracked, shattering into a spiderweb of sharp edges, the sound muffled in the quiet room.
Before she could even step back, the door to the room burst open, and a guard rushed in. His hand went to his sword, but he was too slow—Celestia moved in a blur.
In an instant, she was on him. The rapier remained sheathed at her side, but her dagger was already in her hand. She jumped onto the guard's back, knocking him off balance, and before he could react, she jerked his head up, exposing his throat.
A quick, brutal thrust, and her dagger buried itself deep in his neck. The blood poured out in hot streams, and Celestia wasted no time. She slid the helmet off his head with ease, then, in a swift motion, sliced a clean line across the back of his neck, severing the spinal cord.
The guard's body went limp, crumpling to the floor with a dull thud. Celestia stood over him for a moment, breathing heavily, before she slowly licked her lips, savoring the rush.
She stepped over his body without a second glance, making her way to the door the guard had entered from. The room beyond was darker, but her eyes had already adjusted. She slipped into the hallway, moving quickly and silently. The hallway was empty, but Celestia was careful.
Her ears pricked at the faintest sound—the shuffle of boots on stone. She paused and pressed herself against the cold stone wall, waiting. The sound faded, and she took a breath, slipping into the shadows once more.
She quickly found a narrow passageway at the end of the hall, a set of winding stairs descending into darkness. Her fingers grazed the stone as she crept down, each step calculated and silent.
The staircase seemed to stretch on forever, but Celestia's mind remained focused.
The air felt cooler here, and the oppressive silence of the castle pressed down around her. But Celestia was accustomed to this—used to moving through places where every sound could mean danger. She had no intention of stopping now.
As Celestia descended the stairs, she spotted a large door at the end of the hallway. Two guards stood in front of it, their postures relaxed but alert. Without a second thought, she slid behind some crates in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment.
Minutes passed, but the guards remained stationary, barely acknowledging the quiet of the corridor. Then, as if on cue, they yawned at the same time, their fatigue evident. Celestia remained perfectly still, her breathing steady, as she watched them. Time seemed to stretch on, and she waited for over an hour, watching the guards' focus wane. Finally, they turned and made their way up the stairs, oblivious to her presence.
The moment they were out of sight, Celestia slipped out from behind the crates, moving swiftly across the corridor. She reached the door and pulled out her dagger, using the sharp edge to cut the lock on the outside. With a quiet click, the lock gave way, and she pushed the door open.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, but her eyes immediately settled on the figure lying in the bed. Cedric Vale. He was asleep, the rhythmic sound of his breathing filling the quiet space. Celestia smirked, her mind already at work on how best to approach the situation. She quietly closed the door behind her, the soft click of it latching shut a subtle reminder of the risk she was taking.
Her thoughts raced. "I need to bring him under my influence… But how?"
She paused, contemplating the most effective course of action. "I don't like this idea at all."
After a moment's hesitation, Celestia knew there was no other choice. She was already in too deep. To manipulate Cedric, she would need to use everything at her disposal. It was a bitter realization, but necessary.
With a soft sigh, she began to move. Her hands reached up, slowly pulling the fabric of her shirt over her head, followed by her boots and pants. The silence in the room was thick with the weight of her decision. She paused before she fully stripped down, her resolve strengthening as she approached the bed. It wasn't about desire—it was about control.
As Cedric shifted in his sleep, his hand brushed against Celestia's chest. Her breath caught in her throat, and she quickly covered her mouth, trying to suppress any sound that might give her away.
Cedric's hand continued to move, his sleep-induced actions unaware of her presence. Celestia remained still, her mind working overtime, analyzing every potential outcome.
Cedric's eyes fluttered open, and his gaze met hers. For a moment, they both froze, locked in an intense stare. The air around them seemed to thicken with tension, but before she could react, she felt something shift within her—a subtle pressure, almost like an invisible pull in the air.
The system's notification echoed softly in her mind: [Manipulation] Activated.
Cedric, now fully awake, seemed momentarily stunned, his confusion evident in his expression. "Who... are you?" he asked, his voice rough with sleep.
Celestia's lips curled into a calculated smile. She could feel the power coursing through her veins, feeding her confidence. She had already won. Now it was just a matter of steering him in the direction she needed.
"Just someone with a common interest," she replied, her voice smooth and laced with an underlying command. Her eyes met his, unwavering. The hold she had on him was undeniable now, her eyes began to glow green as his eyes darkened. "Stay quiet, Cedric. You're going to listen to me," she continued, her tone firm but hypnotic, her manipulation flowing effortlessly. With each word, her grip tightened around his mind, pulling him deeper into her control.
Cedric's gaze locked on his hand, still resting on her chest, and Celestia moved swiftly, her fingers gripping his firmly before guiding his hand slowly down her body. "Obey me," she whispered, her voice smooth and commanding, "and I'll allow you to take more... but only if you listen."
Cedric's eyes flickered, turning a deep shade of green, the influence of her manipulation fully taking hold. He was hers now—completely.
Her breath was a soft murmur against his ear as she leaned closer, her words laced with temptation. "Give me everything you have. All the documents... the records of your dealings."
He nodded, the subjugation clear in his eyes.
Cedric nodded, his eyes dark with submission. He stood up from the bed, moving slowly, almost like a puppet under Celestia's control. He retrieved a large folder from a nearby table, thick with pages documenting his every action since he had taken the position of lord in Dawnmire. With a trembling hand, he placed the folder on the table, the weight of his past decisions hanging in the air.
Celestia stepped forward, her eyes lingering on him with an almost predatory intensity. She picked up the folder, flipping through the documents one by one. Each page was a silent confession to multiple things he had done before.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Major Quest Complete
Quest Name: Shackles of Influence
Task: Manipulate Lord Cedric Vale, the ruler of Dawnmire, and bring him under your influence. Take everything he has.
Rewards:
EXP: 230
Fear Rating: +3
+3 levels for [Manipulation]
Her lips curled into a satisfied smile as the system notification appeared, the reward for her efforts flashing before her eyes. "Perfect," she whispered to herself, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
With the power now fully in her grasp, Celestia turned away from the table and moved toward the bed. She climbed on top of Cedric, her presence overwhelming and filled with quiet authority. "Now, as promised." Slowly, she leaned down, her breath hot against his neck before she bit into his neck gently, claiming a part of him as her own.
Cedric's hands moved over her back, his fingers tracing the delicate curves of her body, pulling her closer with a sense of urgency. He could feel the heat radiating from her, the undeniable power she exuded, consuming him completely. She felt his hands tighten, his grip finding its place on her ass, pulling her even closer to him.