*Quest Notification
Objective: Get close to Charlotte von Indrath.
Reward:
New Stat: Immunity
Strength +1
Failure: Strength –2
'Huh? Hey? You've got to be kidding me!' Vivian nearly choked on his tea, his smile never faltering as the glowing blue screen flickered in front of his eyes.
'What the hell do you mean get close to her? he screamed internally. Of all people, why her? Why wasn't this mentioned when it first popped up?'
His lips curved into a pleasant smile, the perfect image of composure, but inside he was cursing the system to the ninth hell.
"Vivian," the princess spoke softly, pulling his attention away from the intrusive screen. Her warm gaze lingered on him. "His Majesty asked me to check if the medicines prescribed by the royal physician are working."
The sudden shift jarred him, the words dragging him back into reality. The system window still hovered mockingly at the corner of his vision, but he forced himself to meet the princess's eyes, nodding with feigned ease.
"Well, the medicines are working. My coughing has lessened day by day, so please give my thanks to His Majesty," Vivian said after regaining his composure.
"Hm, I will convey your thanks to my father," the princess replied with a gentle nod. Then, almost as if it were casual small talk, she added, "By the way, His Majesty asked me when you would be ready for the engagement."
Pfft!
"Cough, cough, cough!" The tea went straight down the wrong pipe, and Vivian nearly choked to death on the spot. His eyes watered as he hacked uncontrollably, clutching at his throat.
"Vivian?! Are you okay? What happened?" The princess shot up from her seat in a panic. "Elford, Elford!" she cried, calling for her escort knight.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Elford rushed forward, his hand already on his sword as if the tea itself were an assassin.
"Immediately summon the healers and physicians, right now!" The princess's voice trembled, her expression pale with worry.
"Right awa—"
"Stop!" Vivian managed to croak between coughs, waving his hand frantically. His face flushed, whether from embarrassment or the tea he couldn't say. "I…I'm alright. It was just…the tea got stuck in my throat, that's all."
"But still, go and fetch the physicians and healers for a check-up," she ordered firmly.
Vivian quickly shook his head. "Princess, really, it's nothing but normal coughing. You don't have to worry, and there's no need for physicians."
He reached out and gently grabbed her hand, trying to calm her down, if anything he didn't want to eat those bitter medicines just because of normal coughing.
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to argue, but instead, she sighed softly and let the matter drop. Pulling out a delicate napkin, she leaned closer and began wiping the tea stains from his face.
'Huh…?' Vivian froze, eyes widening slightly. 'Why is she being so… caring?'
Her expression wasn't distant or perfunctory, it was soft, almost tender, her brows knit with genuine concern.
'This… this isn't just politeness. She's really worried about me?'
His heart skipped a beat, and before he knew it, heat was rushing to his cheeks. His face, once pale from coughing, now resembled a freshly ripened apple.
After she finished wiping the stains from his face, she stepped back gracefully and returned to her seat, her expression composed once more. With a calm but firm tone, she spoke,
"Elford, you may stand down."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knight bowed respectfully before retreating to his original position, resuming his silent vigil at her side.
"So, Princess…"
"Charlotte," she cut him off before he could continue. Her eyes narrowed playfully. "How many times have I told you? Call me by name."
"Well… C-Charlotte…" Vivian hesitantly forced the words out, and she rewarded him with a small, satisfied smile.
"What did you mean by… engagement?" he asked, trying to keep his tone steady.
"Why?" She tilted her head as though the answer were obvious. "It was discussed before, wasn't it?"
"You said after you turned fifteen you would consider it. And now that you're fifteen… shouldn't we get engaged?" She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Engagement, huh?" Vivian sighed inwardly. 'Why does she feel like a gentle girl when she's supposed to be evil?'
It wasn't as though she was hiding anything, Charlotte didn't even know how to mask her emotions. That had been her greatest flaw, the one weakness he had written into her character.
A flaw meant to keep her from being truly flawless… and to make her descent into villainy all the more terrifying.
Yet here she was, smiling warmly at him, making his chest tighten with a strange, unwelcome heat.
"But… Charlotte, shouldn't we… get to know each other first?" Vivian asked hesitantly, struggling to calm the wild beating of his heart, the same heart that, traitorously, was starting to fall for her.
'Is it because I'm a virgin? he thought bitterly. Why else would my face heat up whenever she leans closer? Why does my heart pound, and why do I forget she's supposed to be the infamous villainess? Is this… what they call love?'
"Did you lose your memories?" Charlotte blinked at him, clearly baffled. "We've known each other since childhood."
She paused for a moment, then tilted her head slightly. "So… what more is there for us to know about each other? Don't you love me?"
"Um… well… Princ—Charlotte, I… I like you," Vivian stammered, his tongue tripping over itself. "B-but wouldn't it be better if we waited?"
Her sudden question left him reeling. 'What was that? Did she really just ask if I love her?'
Her eyes, her expression, none of it seemed like an act. There was no deception in her face, no cold calculation. Earlier she had even said they had known each other since childhood.
And yet… the memories I received—Vivian's memories, there wasn't even a single mention of her.
"So what's the reason?" Charlotte pressed gently. "We're fifteen, practically adults. And it's not as if we're marrying right away. Being engaged at our age is normal."
Her gaze softened, her tone steady yet innocent. "Your father, Duke Vined, and Lady Elena were engaged around this age too. They even got married
When they were nineteen."
Vivian stared at her, stunned. The way she explained it—so matter-of-fact, so pure, it clashed completely with everything he knew. Nothing in her voice carried even a hint of malice or calculation.
'Is this really Charlotte von Indrath? he thought, his chest tightening. The same villainess I wrote to be ruthless, cold, and terrifying?'
For the first time, he began to doubt whether the person sitting in front of him was the same character he had created.
"Well… Charlotte, shouldn't we… get permission from our parents first?" Vivian blurted out, grasping at the first excuse he could think of. He needed time, any time.
Because this was odd. Very odd. The way she was acting didn't match the infamous villainess he remembered. Was she truly evil from the start, or had something else forced her down that path?
The truth was, he didn't know. He couldn't know. After all, The Order of Love had been his very first attempt at writing a story. He hadn't known much about proper plotting back then. Loopholes were everywhere.
And now those loopholes were staring him in the face, smiling sweetly, asking for an engagement.
Which is why, above all else, he needed to buy some time.
"His Majesty and the Queen have already given their permission," Charlotte said matter-of-factly. Then, without the slightest hesitation, she stood up. "So, hmm… let's go talk with your father and mother."
"B-but, Princ….Charlotte.." Vivian tried to stall again, but she cut him off before he could finish.
"Come with me. We'll speak to your parents first," she declared, already moving toward the door.
Vivian let out a long sigh. 'My head isn't working anymore…' he thought miserably. But with no other choice, he rose to his feet and followed after her, each step feeling heavier than the last.