Raiden woke up earlier than usual, blinking as the first ray of sunlight leaked through the curtains of his chamber once again. His head still buzzed with the glow of the system screen he'd fallen asleep staring at.
Two missions.
The first — simple enough — involved his mother, Lady Selene. The second, more complicated, required him to leave the estate entirely.
Raiden sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes but already plotting. 'Obviously, I'll deal with Mother first,' he thought with a mischievous grin. "She's easy prey. Getting outside is another beast entirely."
But a sliver of curiosity gnawed at him as he thought of the "Selene Mission." What exactly did the system want? To protect her? To gain some knowledge? Or perhaps it wanted him to manipulate her in some clever way?
Raiden chuckled softly to himself. "Doesn't matter. I'll twist it however I want."
He slid out of bed, washed up quickly, and dressed neatly for once. He even combed his messy hair — rare for him. If he was going to charm his mother into unwittingly helping him clear a mission, he needed to look the part of the sweet, innocent son.
The dining hall was already alive with the scents of freshly baked bread and roasted meat when Raiden entered. His father was absent, as usual, tied up with matters of the territory.
Kent sat in his usual place, reading while eating. Lady Selene, however, was there in full grace — dressed in a flowing gown of pale lavender, her long dark hair braided loosely over her shoulder.
Raiden's lips curved into a sly smile as he approached.
"Good morning, Mother!" he sang, his voice dripping with unusual cheer.
Selene looked up from her plate, brows arching slightly in surprise. "Well, good morning, Raiden. You seem… unusually bright today."
Kent looked up too, suspicious. "He's up to something."
Raiden ignored him completely, sliding into the seat beside his mother rather than his usual spot. He leaned lightly against her arm, smiling up at her with childlike adoration.
Selene's stern expression melted in an instant. She set her fork down and cupped his cheek gently. "You're in a sweet mood this morning."
"I just wanted to spend more time with you, Mother. Yesterday was fun." Raiden replied, voice soft. "I don't get to as much as I want to. Everyone else is always busy, but you…" He tilted his head innocently. "You're my favorite."
Kent gagged dramatically on his bread. "Ugh. Spare me."
Raiden only smirked without breaking his act.
Selene laughed softly, patting her younger son's head. "Very well then, my darling. If you want to spend the day with me, I will indulge you."
True to her word, after breakfast Selene took Raiden to her private chamber. The room was decorated in rich purples and silvers, smelling faintly of lavender oils. She guided him to a cushioned seat by the window where morning light spilled in warmly.
For once, Raiden didn't talk much. Instead, he listened as Selene reminisced about her youth — the lessons she'd endured to become the Lady of the estate, the weight of responsibility that came with managing the family and its servants, the countless sacrifices she had made.
Raiden nodded and made small comments here and there, but mostly he let her speak. His mind churned even as his expression remained tender and attentive.
So this is what the system wants? Just… listening?
Still, it was useful. His mother let slip little pieces of family history, small details Raiden tucked away for later.
At one point, Selene reached over and smoothed his hair back, her gaze soft. "You remind me of myself when I was your age — curious, mischievous, but always holding back a little more than you show. You're clever, Raiden, but remember: cleverness can be both a gift and a danger."
Raiden forced a shy smile and leaned into her touch. Inside, he was grinning wildly. 'Perfect. I've charmed mother without even trying too hard.'
By late morning, Selene suggested they walk through the halls of the estate together. The marble corridors echoed softly under their footsteps.
Servants bowed as they passed, eyes flicking curiously at the sight of the young master so close to his mother's side.
Raiden walked proudly, hands clasped behind his back like a miniature lord.
Occasionally, he'd glance up at Selene with what looked like awe, though inside his head he was already imagining the system's reward.
She pointed out family portraits, tapestries woven with history, and even the armor displays that lined the walls. Raiden listened with practiced attention, interjecting with questions at just the right moments — "Was that grandfather's armor?" "Did you ever wield a sword, Mother?"
Selene's laughter echoed warmly through the halls. "No, Raiden. I had no need for swords. My power was always in words, presence, wisdom, and most especially magic spells. Remember that — not every battle is fought with steel."
Raiden almost rolled his eyes but caught himself. 'Sure, sure, wisdom and all that. But steel is much cooler. Cooler than both is magic and yet you refuse to teach it to me.'
As they reached the main courtyard, the system's sudden chime nearly made Raiden flinch.
Ding!
[Mission Complete: Bond with Lady Selene]
[Reward: +20 Skill Points. New Passive Available: Charm Discount (5% reduction on skills related to persuasion, charm, and social influence).]
Raiden's eyes widened briefly before he quickly covered it with a warm smile, looking up at his mother as if he were simply enjoying the moment.
"Thank you for today, Mother," he said softly, squeezing her hand.
Selene's heart melted at his words. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Always, my son."
Inside, Raiden was practically cackling. 'Hah! I knew it. Extra points and a discount? That's two birds with one stone. This system spoils me.'
He kept his excitement hidden behind the mask of a sweet, affectionate boy, walking alongside his mother as though nothing unusual had happened.
With the morning behind him and the sweet taste of victory still fresh, Raiden couldn't stop grinning. The system's chime still echoed in his head.
Twenty points and a permanent discount. Easy. If only all missions were this simple.
But of course, the system wasn't going to let him bask for long. The second mission — the one that demanded he leave the estate — still lingered unfinished. That one was far trickier.
The family's estate stretched vast and wide, thirty miles of walls, training grounds, courtyards, gardens, and farmland. Beyond that lay the territory, bustling towns and villages, and who knew what else.
For Raiden, it was the promise of new mischief and opportunity. For the guards, however, it was forbidden territory for the "too-young" second son.
Raiden wasn't the type to accept "forbidden."
After lunch, Raiden slipped away under the excuse of "exploring the grounds." Kent wasn't around to tail him — for once — and Hilda had given him the afternoon off, trusting him far too much after his morning with Selene.
He crept toward the outer edge of the estate, where several armored guards were preparing for patrol inside of town. Two were checking their weapons, another adjusted the saddle on a restless horse, and a pair of servants were loading small crates of supplies onto a cart.
Raiden stepped forward boldly, hands on his hips. "Take me with you."
The guards froze mid-motion, exchanging uncertain glances. The one adjusting his saddle cleared his throat. "Young master Raiden… that's not possible."
Raiden tilted his head. "Why not? I'm bored. You're heading out, aren't you? I'll just sit on the cart. Easy."
The older guard shook his head quickly, beads of sweat forming on his temple. "It's not about ease, young master. Lady Selene would have our heads if we let you past the gates. We'd be executed before we made it back."
The others nodded rapidly in agreement.
Another guard attempted a gentler tone. "Please, Master Raiden. Don't make sport of us. We cannot allow it."
Raiden pouted convincingly, lower lip jutting out, eyes narrowing just enough to look wounded. "Tch. You're no fun."
The guards, visibly relieved that he wasn't pressing harder, quickly turned back to their preparations. But Raiden's pout melted into a wicked grin the moment their backs were turned.
'So they won't take me. Of course they won't. Too loyal, too afraid of my dear mother.' Raiden tapped his chin thoughtfully, mind spinning. Then the answer came to him as clear as the sun.
If Mother allows it, none of them can refuse.
The grin spread wider, full of the sly confidence only Raiden could muster. It was almost too perfect. The system wanted him out of the estate? Fine. He'd get permission straight from the top — and once he had it, no one would dare stop him.
With a spring in his step, Raiden turned back toward the inner halls of the mansion. Servants scurried aside as he passed, some whispering about how "bright" and "happy" he looked today. If only they knew what sort of mischief was fueling his good mood.
By late afternoon, Raiden found himself once again standing outside Lady Selene's private chamber. He smoothed down his clothes, fixed his most innocent smile, and raised his hand to knock.
'This is it. Convince Mother, and the gates open. The system gets its mission. And I… get freedom.'
He rapped softly on the polished wooden door.
"Mother," Raiden called sweetly, his voice carrying just enough drama to sound earnest, "I have a request."
The door began to creak open, light spilling into the corridor.