The door to the nurse's office swung open, and Lila stepped out, her ankle now supported by a sturdy brace and a crutch tucked beneath her arm. Golden afternoon light painted long shadows across the quiet hallway. The rhythmic tap of her crutch echoed as she moved slowly, with Adrien close beside her.
"How are you feeling?" Adrien asked, his voice warm and gentle. His gaze flicked down to her ankle and then back up to her face, scanning for signs of discomfort.
"Better," Lila replied, offering a soft, practiced smile. Her voice carried a hint of vulnerability — just enough to maintain her image.
The watch on Lila's wrist pulsed once.
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Current Location: Paris (Alternate Universe)
World Designation: Miraculous_Ladybug.exe
Narrative Progression: Adaptive
Assigned Role: Lila Rossi (Social Antagonist)
Player Control: Active
NPCs: Responsive | Memory: Persistent
[MISSION UPDATE]
Mission 2: Completed
Reward Points Earned: 1
[UPGRADE OPTIONS AVAILABLE — SELECT ONE]
— Charm Amplifier (-1)
— Enhanced Perception (-1)
— Angel Aura (-1)
— Stealth Mode (-1)
— Verbal Precision (-1)
Lila's eyes narrowed slightly in thought before she selected Angel Aura.
[UPGRADE SELECTED: ANGEL AURA]
Status: Activating...1 point has been used
Effect: Projecting innocent and kind-hearted persona to all nearby NPCs.
Duration: Persistent until deactivated or replaced.
A soft shimmer passed over her — subtle, but enough to make her seem just a bit more luminous, more endearing. Adrien blinked once and seemed to relax a little, smiling more easily without realizing why.
Then, another line of glowing text appeared in the interface.
[NEW MISSION OBJECTIVE]
Obtain school schedule from the headmaster's office.
"So... where's the headmaster's office?" Lila asked, letting a delicate quiver enter her voice. "I need to get my... schedule."
Adrien immediately straightened. "It's just around the corner," he said. "Here—let me help."
Before she could protest, he eased the crutch from her arm and slipped his hand beneath her elbow, steadying her with a firm but gentle grip. As they walked, Adrien subtly adjusted his pace to match hers, his eyes on the floor ahead, always watching for obstacles she might trip over.
When they reached the headmaster's door—its dark wood polished to a high sheen—Adrien stepped forward first. He knocked, then opened the door, giving the interior a swift, cautious glance before helping her through.
The office was dim and stuffy. Heavy velvet drapes blocked most of the natural light, and the air smelled faintly of cologne, old books, and stale coffee. Behind a wide desk sat Monsieur Damoclès, a plump man with thin, oiled hair clinging to his scalp and a smile that tried too hard to be warm.
"Ah, Monsieur Agreste," he said with an odd eagerness, rising from his chair a bit too quickly. "What brings you here, my boy?"
Adrien's arm tensed slightly around Lila's, but he gave a respectful nod. "Lila needs her class schedule. She's new."
"Ahh... of course." Damoclès' eyes shifted to Lila and lingered a beat too long. "Mademoiselle Rossi," he said, his tone oozing exaggerated politeness. "You poor thing. I heard there was an... incident?"
Lila nodded slightly, her expression perfect—innocent, modest, a touch embarrassed. "Just a sprain. Nothing serious."
"Mmm," he murmured, stepping around the desk. "Still, you're in such fragile condition... it's a shame." His gaze dipped again, and he reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against her free arm as if to steady her. "Let me help you to a seat—"
Adrien immediately stepped in, smoothly intercepting Damoclès' hand and guiding Lila to the nearest chair himself. His tone was still polite, but his eyes had hardened. "She's fine. I've got her."
Damoclès hesitated, his smile freezing for a moment. Then he chuckled awkwardly and returned to his desk. "Of course, of course. You're always such a gentleman, Adrien. Just like your father."
Adrien didn't answer.
The headmaster began rifling through a file drawer, movements slow and deliberate, his body angled just slightly toward Lila as if trying to sneak glances. "You know," he said, "we rarely get such elegant new students here. Paris can be quite... overwhelming. If you ever need a guide, mademoiselle, or a little extra help adjusting..."
Adrien leaned in closer to Lila, enough that their shoulders touched. "She's doing just fine," he said sharply, voice still soft but clearly protective.
Damoclès finally pulled out the schedule and, instead of handing it directly to Lila, walked around the desk again and crouched beside her chair, holding the paper out with both hands like it was a royal decree.
Lila smiled sweetly but didn't reach for it.
Adrien stepped between them and took the paper. "Thank you," he said tightly.
Damoclès looked up, blinking as if caught doing something he shouldn't. "Is there anything else I can help you with, mademoiselle?" he asked, standing slowly. His smile returned—but this time, it didn't reach his eyes.
"No," Lila said firmly, though her smile never wavered. "That's everything. Thank you, Monsieur."
As they turned to leave, Adrien placed his hand gently at the small of her back, guiding her toward the door. Once outside, he let the door close firmly behind them and exhaled a quiet breath through his nose.
"Wow," Lila murmured, clutching the schedule lightly. "That was... intense."
Adrien gave a short, dry laugh. "Yeah. Damoclès can be a little... much."
He gently placed her crutch back into her grip, adjusting its height so it was perfectly balanced. "You okay?"
Lila nodded, her tone light. "Thanks for helping. Really."
Adrien gave her a lopsided smile. "Of course. I've got you."
As they made their way down the hallway again, Adrien walked just a half-step closer than necessary—close enough to protect, just far enough not to crowd.
And behind Lila's warm expression, her thoughts turned. She could feel the emotional foothold forming—soft, fragile, but there. Adrien's protectiveness was no longer neutral. It was personal.
All she had to do now... was feed it.