The carriage moved smoothly through the night.
Golden lamps passed by the window like silent witnesses.
Inside, the silence was heavy—no awkwardness, no softness.
Only tension.
Ashley sat across from Iris, one arm resting casually against the carriage wall, posture relaxed… too relaxed. His presence filled the space without effort.
"You didn't enjoy today," he said at last.
Iris didn't look at him."I endured it."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Interesting choice of words."
She finally met his eyes."Truth usually is."
Ashley leaned forward slightly. Not close enough to touch—close enough to pressure.
"You're different from before," he said calmly. "Not better. Not worse. Just… altered."
Iris's pulse quickened, but her face remained composed.
"People change."
"Yes," he agreed softly. "But not overnight."
The carriage hit a small bump.
Ashley continued, voice smooth as polished steel.
"You no longer look at me like something you want."A pause."You look at me like something you're measuring."
Iris said nothing.
That silence pleased him.
"I don't dislike it," he added. "But understand this, Iris Ashcroft—"
His emerald eyes sharpened.
"Curiosity becomes obsession very quickly."
The carriage slowed.
Ashcroft Mansion appeared ahead, its gates opening.
Ashley stood first and offered his hand—not to help her descend, but to guide her pace. Controlled. Deliberate.
At the entrance, servants bowed.
Ashley stopped.
He took Iris's hand.
Slowly. Publicly.
Then—he pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
It was light. Polite.
And deeply unsettling.
"For tonight," he said, releasing her hand,"rest well, my fiancée."
Iris felt it then.
Not affection.
A warning.
Ashley turned and left.
The mansion doors closed behind her.
The moment Iris stepped into her room—
The air changed.
A sharp ding echoed.
A translucent screen burst open in front of her eyes.
Red letters pulsed.
WARNING
PLOT DEVIATION DETECTED
CHARACTER BEHAVIOR HAS SHIFTED
ORIGINAL ROUTE INVALIDATED
Eena appeared instantly, fur standing on end.
"…Oh no."
More text appeared.
CONSEQUENCE: WORLD INSTABILITY
NATURAL DISASTERS MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME
ALIEN EVENT PROBABILITY: INCREASED
SAFE TIMELINE: DESTROYED
Iris's breath caught.
"So the story won't follow the game anymore," she whispered.
Eena's voice dropped, no humor left.
"No," she said. "Now the world reacts to you."
Another line flickered.
SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY: EXTREME
PLAYER MUST ADAPT
FAILURE = PERMANENT DEATH
Outside—
Thunder rumbled.
Low. Unnatural.
Iris slowly clenched her fists.
"Good," she said quietly."If the world wants chaos—"
Lightning split the sky.
She lifted her eyes, fire burning within them.
"—then I'll rewrite it."
The screen vanished.
The storm did not.
To be continued.