AT THE SAME TIME
ISBAELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
Gritting my teeth, I pressed my hands against the bed and forced myself to sit up. My arms trembled under my weight, but I managed. Barely. My breaths came in short gasps, the room tilting slightly.
"I-Isabella?" Adrian's voice was the first to break the silence.
He took a hesitant step toward me, his golden eyes flickering with concern.
"I'm fine." I rasped out, though my voice was anything but convincing. No one looked convinced. I clenched my jaw and tried to swing my legs over the edge of the bed. My entire body protested, screaming at me to stop. I ignored it. I had to move.I pushed myself up. The moment I stood, the world spun violently. A sharp ringing filled my ears. My knees buckled instantly, and before I could stop myself, the ground came rushing toward me.
Strong arms caught me just before I hit the floor.
"Dammit, Isabella!" Xavier cursed as he held me up, his grip firm but careful. His hold was the only thing keeping me from collapsing completely.
Alastor was beside me in seconds, gripping my wrist. "You're still burning up." He muttered, eyes narrowing. "You shouldn't even be trying to move yet."
"I need to-" My voice cut off as a sharp, searing pain stabbed through my skull.
I winced, gripping my head.
A familiar chime echoed in my mind.
"System warning. Unauthorized disclosure detected. Punishment level increased. Consequences will escalate if non-designated individuals continue to pry." System said moment before I felt punishment effect.
I felt my breath hitch. No. No, no, no. Not again. A second wave of pain crashed through me, making my vision blur. I gasped sharply, my fingers digging into Xavier's arm as I trembled violently.
"Isabella?!" Alastor demanded, his voice sharper now. "What's wrong?"
I couldn't answer. My body seized up, every muscle locking as another burst of pain wracked through me.
"Isabella, talk to us!" Adrian urged, stepping closer. "What's happening?"
"She's getting worse." Xavier hissed through clenched teeth.
Alastor's eyes darkened.
"This 'system'... it's hurting her, isn't it?"Alastor asked.
I could feel all their stares on me, demanding answers. But I couldn't give them any. The system wouldn't let me.
I forced myself to look up, my breaths coming in rapid, uneven pants.
"You... can't ask me." I croaked. "The system... it won't let me tell you."
"That's not an answer." Xavier said, his grip tightening.
Adrian's hands clenched at his sides, frustration flickering in his gaze.
"Then how do we stop it?"Adrian asked.
I shook my head weakly.
"You... can't."I whispered.
The moment the words left my mouth, another chime sounded in my head.
"Punishment deferred. Subject compliance acknowledged." System said.
The pain lessened. I let out a shaky breath, my body sagging against Xavier's hold. I felt utterly drained, like every ounce of energy had been ripped from me. My vision blurred again, but this time, I knew it wasn't because of the system. It was exhaustion. Xavier cursed under his breath, shifting me carefully in his arms.
"She's not okay. She needs rest."Xavier said.
Alastor's jaw was tight, his gaze cold and unreadable. "We need to figure out what this 'system' is before it kills her."Alastor said.
I wanted to tell them not to push it. That they couldn't fight something like this. But I was too tired. My body was too weak. For now, all I could do was close my eyes and hope the system wouldn't punish me again.
The evening air was cool against my skin as I carefully stepped into the dimly lit hallway. The castle was eerily quiet, with only the occasional flicker of torches casting long shadows across the stone walls. My heart pounded against my ribs as I moved as silently as possible, keeping my steps light. I had to leave. The system wouldn't stop. The more they pried, the worse it got. If I stayed, it would only bring more suffering, both to me and to them. I had already felt the warning earlier. The system wasn't going to let me expose the truth. If I didn't do something soon, the punishment would only escalate.I clutched my cloak tighter around me, taking another step forward, but it was too late.
"Isabella?"I heard a voice.
My breath caught in my throat. I slowly turned my head, my heart sinking as I saw her.
Elena Laurent. The real priestess. The real female lead.
She stood at the entrance to the hall, her long crimson hair cascading over her shoulders in flawless waves. Her emerald-green eyes shimmered in the flickering torchlight, her expression a mixture of surprise and something else something harder to read.
"Oh, it really is you." She said, stepping closer. Her voice was light, warm even, but something in her tone felt… off.
I swallowed thickly.
"Elena."I said.
She tilted her head slightly, a perfect picture of innocence and kindness.
"You weren't at dinner." She noted, stopping just a few steps away from me. "I was so worried."
Liar. I could see it in her eyes. That fake happiness. She wasn't worried about me. She wasn't here because she missed me. No, she was here because she wanted to make sure everyone else was looking at her, not me.
She was the real saintess. The true heroine of this world. She admired the kingdom, the love of the people, the story itself woven around her existence. I was just a glitch in the system. A mistake. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.
"I… wasn't feeling well." I muttered, keeping my voice even.
Elena gave me a soft, understanding smile.
"Oh, of course. You have been looking pale lately." She reached out suddenly, her delicate fingers grazing my cheek. "You should really be careful, Isabella. You're not… as strong as me, after all."
My body tensed. That wasn't concern. That was a warning. She was reminding me—this was her role. Her life. Her story. I didn't belong here.
".I should go." I said, stepping back.
Her hand fell away, but her smile remained.
"Of course. You must be tired." She took a step to the side, her gaze flickering toward the end of the hallway the direction I had been trying to escape toward. "But… where exactly are you going so late?"
Damn it. I forced a weak chuckle.
"Just… getting some air."I said.
"Ah." Her expression didn't change, but I could feel the weight of her stare pressing down on me. "It's dangerous at night, you know. You never know who might be watching."
A chill ran down my spine. I knew what she was doing.
She wanted me to break first. She wanted them to turn away from me, to see her as the one who truly deserved their attention. She didn't have to say it out loud. Because the system had already written the story for her
And I… I was just a background character who had somehow stumbled into the center of it.
"Elena."I heard a male voice.
Both of us turned as a deep, familiar voice cut through the silence. Xavier. Behind him, Adrian and Alastor appeared as well, their expressions sharp and unreadable. I felt my stomach twist. I hadn't even noticed them coming. Elena's smile brightened instantly, shifting so naturally into the warm, innocent priestess she was meant to be.
"Xavier." She greeted sweetly. "And Adrian. Alastor. I was just so happy to see Isabella up and walking."
Xavier's sharp blue eyes flickered to me immediately. His brows furrowed.
"You're not supposed to be out of bed."He said.
"I-" I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Adrian took a step forward, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Elena.
"…You look quite happy to see her out."He said.
Elena let out a soft, airy laugh.
'Of course. I care about Isabella deeply. I was just worried, that's all."Elena said.
Liar. Alastor crossed his arms, his crimson gaze cold.
"Funny." He murmured, his tone unreadable. "Because she looks more scared than relieved."
Elena's smile twitched for a fraction of a second before smoothing out again.
"I think she's just tired." She said gently. "I did hear she's been under a lot of stress lately." She glanced back at me, her green eyes filled with mock concern. "Isn't that right, Isabella?"
I swallowed hard. I didn't know what to say. If I denied it, she'd just act more concerned. If I agreed, she'd make sure to look better in front of them. I felt trapped. Xavier's hand suddenly landed on my shoulder. I flinched slightly, my entire body tensing from the unexpected warmth. He was solid. Real.
His grip was firm, grounding, as if anchoring me in place before I could run again.
"Enough." Xavier said, his voice low. His eyes locked onto Elena's, his expression unreadable. "She needs rest. Now."
"Oh, of course. I didn't mean to keep her from resting." She smiled at me again. "Please, Isabella. Take care of yourself."
I didn't respond. I couldn't. Xavier didn't wait for me to.
He turned, gently guiding me back toward my room with his hand still firm on my shoulder. Adrian and Alastor followed close behind, their silence heavy with unspoken words. And as I walked away, I could still feel Elena's gaze burning into my back. Like a warning. Like a promise. I may have been here now… but this was still her story.