After dinner, Julian lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as the quiet hum of the night settled over the Averill household. The room given to him was modest—a simple wooden bed, a small dresser, and a single window overlooking the courtyard. It was far from the luxury of the palace, but he had no complaints.
With a thought, he summoned the system interface.
A faint glow appeared before his eyes, revealing the familiar translucent screen.
—
[Status]
[Name: Julian]
[Title: None]
[Rank: F]
[Class: Fighter]
[Level: 1]
[XP: 0/100]
[HP: 100/100]
[Mana: 50/50]
[Unique Skill: Absorption Lv.1]
[Skill: Basic Sword Technique]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 8]
[Stamina: 8]
[Durability: 10]
[Intelligence: 5]
[Coins: 0]
[Quest]
[Shop (Locked)]
[Map]
[Inventory]
—
Julian's gaze lingered on the interface, analyzing his stats carefully. Compared to the awakened individuals he had encountered, he was still painfully weak.
His [Absorption] skill was the only thing that stood out. It was labeled as a Unique Skill, something that set him apart from ordinary awakened fighter. Only B-rank and above typically possessed such abilities. But at Level 1, it was still undeveloped, its full potential unknown.
Then, scrolling down, Julian tapped on the [Quest] tab.
A new notification flickered at the top of the screen.
—
[Quest: Cultivate Influence]
[Description: Strength is not the only path to survival. A true survivor knows how to use their surroundings to their advantage. Cultivate a relationship with an influential figure in the household.]
[Objective: Gain favor from a key member of the Averill family or its inner circle.]
[Reward: +1000 coins, Unlock [Shop]]
[Penalty: None]
—
Julian's lips curled into a smirk.
This was the main reason he had approached Mira.
Gaining favor from a woman of higher standing in a matriarchal society was a challenge, but Mira? She was within reach.
Although she wasn't part of the Averill family by blood, her role in the household put her in a unique position. As the errand girl, she had access to places other servants didn't. She interacted with the family frequently and, more importantly, she was far more approachable than Evelyn or her daughters.
And now, he had the perfect opportunity to deepen the connection between them.
Tonight, Mira was expecting him.
They had agreed to meet in the old storage building behind the estate after nightfall.
Julian sat up and glanced at the window. The night had settled in, and the household had gone quiet. It was time.
He stood, moving carefully to avoid making noise. Slipping out of his room, he navigated through the dimly lit corridors with practiced ease. The estate was vast, but after days of observing, he had memorized the layout well enough to avoid unwanted attention.
Once outside, the crisp night air greeted him. He moved quickly, keeping to the shadows as he made his way toward the storage building. The structure stood in the secluded section of the estate, away from the main courtyard. It was rarely used, making it the perfect meeting place.
As he approached, he spotted a faint glow seeping through the gaps in the wooden door—It seemed Mira was already inside.
Good. She had kept her word.
Julian exhaled slowly before stepping forward and pushing the door open.
Inside, Mira stood near a small lantern, her arms crossed as she leaned against a stack of crates. She looked up at him, her green eyes glinting in the dim light.
"You're late," she murmured, though there was no real annoyance in her tone.
Julian smirked, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Had to make sure no one saw me."
Mira chuckled, shaking her head. "Careful, Julian. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were up to something."
He took a slow step forward, meeting her gaze. "And what if I am?"
A flicker of intrigue passed through her expression.
The game had begun.
Mira raised an eyebrow at Julian's words, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh? And what exactly are you up to?"
Julian let a smirk tug at his lips as he stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "That depends," he murmured, his voice low. "Would you be disappointed if I said you were part of it?"
Mira huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You have a sharp tongue, Julian."
"And you seem to like it," he shot back smoothly.
That earned him a small, surprised smile. Mira tilted her head, watching him with curiosity. "You're bold," she admitted, her fingers tracing the edge of the lantern beside her. "Most of the servants here don't dare to talk to me like this."
Julian leaned against a nearby crate, feigning nonchalance. "Maybe they're just cowards." His eyes swept over her, taking in the way the dim light highlighted her delicate features. "Or maybe they just don't know how to appreciate a beautiful woman when she's right in front of them."
Mira blinked, clearly caught off guard by his words. A faint blush touched her cheeks. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
Julian pushed off the crate, stepping even closer. Their bodies were only inches apart now. He could hear the slight hitch in her breath, see the way her fingers curled just slightly at her sides.
"Should I?" His voice was a low murmur, meant only for her ears.
Mira parted her lips as if to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she turned her head slightly, breaking eye contact. That was all the confirmation Julian needed.
His hand moved before she could react, gently gripping her wrist and pulling her toward him. Mira let out a soft gasp, her body pressing against his chest.
She stiffened, but only for a moment.
Julian tilted his head down, his lips just a breath away from hers. "You're not pushing me away," he whispered.
Mira swallowed hard. "I should," she muttered, but her voice lacked conviction.
Julian smirked. "Then why haven't you?"
Her silence spoke volumes.
Without waiting for an answer, he closed the distance, capturing her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss.