Selene's eyelashes fluttered when his hand brushed her cheek. Her skin was soft, almost fragile, like a petal caught under his fingers. She didn't pull away. She only lowered her gaze, bowing slightly as if afraid to meet his eyes.
The numbers floating above her shifted faintly.
> [Loyalty: 51% → 52%]
[Obedience: 64% → 65%]
So small. But enough to prove something important. The system responded to his actions directly. In the game, this would have taken hours of grinding through choices, dialogue trees, and morality checks. Now it was instant.
Lucius smiled faintly. This isn't balance. This is ownership.
He leaned closer. "You will eat with me this morning."
Selene blinked. That wasn't the kind of order she expected. Her hands tightened slightly on the sheets, hesitation flickering across her pale face. But the gem on her collar pulsed, and after a moment she whispered:
"…As Master commands."
She rose to her feet slowly. Her bare feet touched the cold stone floor, the hem of her white dress brushing against her ankles. The ribbon in her silver hair swayed as she lowered her head. Every step carried a mix of obedience and unease.
Lucius stood as well. He didn't bother to hide his amusement. Selene—meant to be the first heroine of the hero's journey—was standing collared and submissive in front of him. In the original story, she should have been smiling kindly at the protagonist, teaching him prayer, guiding him toward virtue. Instead, she was learning to kneel.
No hero will save you this time.
---
The dining hall of the Drakenhart estate stretched wide and cold. A long table carved from black oak ran across the room, lit by chandeliers burning with enchanted flame. The walls were lined with paintings of grim ancestors, their eyes following every move.
Lucius took the seat at the head of the table. He did not need to order the servants to act—his reputation did it for him. They moved in silence, placing plates of roasted pheasant, bread dark as ash, and fruits soaked in spiced wine. None dared linger under his gaze.
Selene stood beside him, her hands folded neatly in front of her, head lowered.
"Sit."
Her breath caught. For a second, she didn't move, as if unsure whether she had heard correctly. Then she obeyed, pulling out a chair opposite him and sitting stiffly. Her movements were graceful but careful, like a prisoner testing invisible chains.
Lucius cut a slice of pheasant, the knife scraping softly against the plate. He took a slow bite before speaking.
"Tell me, Selene. Do you dream of freedom?"
Her fork trembled in her hand. The question shocked her. She looked down quickly, shoulders tightening. For a moment, silence filled the hall, broken only by the faint sound of rain tapping against the windows.
"…I dream only of serving, Master."
A lie. The system made it obvious. Her corruption was only 12%. She still clung to her purity, to her role as the heroine who should be rescued. She still longed for a savior.
Lucius chuckled quietly. "Careful. Lies stain the soul faster than chains."
The collar at her neck glowed faintly.
> [Obedience: 65% → 67%]
Her fingers pressed tightly against her lap, but she bowed her head in silence.
Good. She was learning.
---
The meal passed in silence, though Lucius watched her more than he ate. Every movement, every flicker of her eyes, every small sign of hesitation—he observed all of it. She was not broken yet, but she was bending.
When the plates were cleared and the servants retreated, a soft chime rang in his mind.
> [New Objective Unlocked: First Breakthrough]
Requirement: Raise any heroine's Corruption above 20%
Reward: Skill – Command Seal (Forces absolute obedience for one order. Cooldown: 1 day)
Lucius' lips curled. The system rewarded progress quickly. A single push could unlock power the original villain never had.
He rose from his seat. "Follow."
Selene obeyed instantly, chair scraping softly against the floor as she stood. Her bare feet padded quietly behind him as he led her down a corridor lit with faint violet torches. The walls here were colder, carved stone that carried the echo of every step.
He stopped before a tall door, runes glowing faintly across its surface. With a push, it opened into a chamber lined with bookshelves and chains. A study—and a training room.
Selene froze in the doorway. Her eyes flickered to the chains against the wall, the collars on hooks, the faint smell of incense and sweat lingering in the air.
Lucius walked to the center of the room and turned. "Kneel."
She hesitated for only a second. Then she lowered herself to the ground, knees pressing against the stone, hands resting on her thighs. Her silver hair spilled across her shoulders as she bowed her head.
The collar glowed faintly again.
> [Obedience: 67% → 69%]
Lucius stepped closer, placing his hand lightly on her head. She trembled, not from resistance, but from the weight of submission. He could feel it—the battle inside her. The holy acolyte who wanted to be free versus the pet who wanted to please.
"You are mine," he said softly. "Not just your body. Your soul."
Her breath quickened, but she whispered back:
"Yes… Master."
> [Corruption: 12% → 14%]
A small increase, but enough. It would take time. He wasn't rushing. He would bend her slowly, carefully, until she no longer remembered what freedom felt like.
---
When he dismissed her, she left quietly, head lowered, steps quick. The system faded into silence, leaving Lucius alone in the chamber.
He walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside.
The city of Astradion spread out beyond the hills. Marble towers, cobbled streets, and banners flying proudly. Somewhere out there, the hero would soon awaken. In the game, this was where everything began. The first quests. The first routes. The first heroine, Selene, saved from the clutches of the villain.
Not this time.
Lucius placed his hand against the cold glass.
This was no longer a story for the hero to win. No routes for him to follow. No destined romances for the heroines.
Now, it was his.
And every heroine would kneel.