[You're just making excuses.] The System's voice thundered in his head. [In the end, you're nothing but a coward. Fine! Handle everything yourself. From now on, I'll only provide storyline data—no advice, no help, nothing else.]
Then—silence.
Lathel could tell the System was genuinely angry this time. He sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on his chest.
The truth was... he wasn't a genius.
Not some brilliant strategist.
Not someone who could overcome everything with sheer intellect.
If he were that kind of man, he wouldn't need the System in the first place.
He'd have solved everything on his own, completing missions flawlessly and effortlessly.
But he wasn't.
He was just... normal.
In his previous life, he'd been an orphan.
He'd never loved anyone, never been loved in return—so he had no idea what "love" was supposed to feel like.
He used to believe that if he simply worked hard, everything good in life would eventually come to him.
But even when he died, he'd never once experienced love.
So now, even when it was staring him in the face, he didn't know how to respond to it.
He sighed again, looking around the room, wondering what he could possibly do to kill time.
Then—
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Before he could answer, the door swung open. Whoever was outside clearly hadn't knocked for permission—it was just a courtesy announcement.
Catrina entered, eyes soft but filled with worry.
She approached slowly, voice gentle.
"Lathel... you saw everything, didn't you?"
Lathel knew what she meant. He gave a quiet nod.
"And you heard everything Arina said, right?"
He nodded again. His eyes darkened with melancholy.
Even though everything Arina had done was directed toward the old Lathel, not him, he still couldn't help but feel that same bitter ache in his chest—sadness, disappointment, and something else he couldn't name.
Seeing that expression on his face, Catrina's heart twisted painfully.
She bit her lip, as if struggling to make a decision, then forced a shy smile.
"Lathel... would you like to take a bath? A soak in warm water might help you relax a little."
Lathel could only nod.
He had nothing better to do anyway—not when he was literally chained inside this gilded cage.
Catrina's expression brightened. She turned and walked into the bathing chamber, humming softly as she began preparing the bath herself.
The sight was... surreal.
A noblewoman of her stature—a woman so beautiful that half the kingdom would gladly sell their souls for her—was personally drawing a bath for a man everyone called a villain.
It didn't make sense.
'Could it be... she really does like me?' Lathel wondered, uneasy.
A few minutes later, Catrina stepped out of the bath chamber, her golden hair glimmering under the lamplight. She took his hand gently.
"Come on, it's ready. I'll prepare some clean clothes for you."
Lathel followed her inside.
CLINK! CLINK!
The faint sound of chains echoed through the room with every step he took.
He glanced at the iron cuff around his wrist, then at Catrina, who was already arranging folded clothes beside the bath.
She didn't even try to remove the chain.
He sighed quietly and stepped into the steaming bath.
As he sank into the water, warmth enveloped him.
The scent of crushed herbs and fragrant blossoms filled the air, soothing his nerves.
For the first time in days, Lathel closed his eyes and allowed himself to relax—though the soft clinking of the chain around his wrist reminded him that peace, in this world, never lasted long.
Lathel let his whole body relax, leaning against the bathtub wall, his mind gradually drifting into sleep.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Suddenly, the sound of knocking startled him awake. Lathel sat up abruptly, about to say something when the door opened.
"Aunt Catrina??!" Lathel was stunned, eyes widening as if they were about to pop out.
At that moment, Catrina wore nothing except a white bath towel wrapped around her body.
Her long, shapely legs, full and snow-white, appeared before his eyes. The bath towel only covered from mid-chest to mid-thigh—though sufficient to conceal the important areas, it somehow made Lathel feel even more excited.
Her golden hair cascaded down her back, while her large breasts pressed tight against the towel as if the elastic tension might cause the knot to burst open at any moment.
"Lathel, let's bathe together." Catrina looked at Lathel, face flushed red as if about to burst into flames, flashing an embarrassed smile, but she didn't wait for Lathel's response before stepping inside the bathtub.
Lathel sat with his back against the bathtub wall as she settled down between his legs naturally. Then, she removed the bath towel, revealing a rosy-white back so alluring it seemed to beckon his touch.
Catrina swept her hair up high, exposing a snow-white nape accompanied by droplets—Lathel couldn't tell if they were sweat or bathwater.
Below, Lathel could see her large breasts visible from both sides of her ribcage, slightly bouncing as if tempting his hands to grasp them.
Lathel took a deep breath, feeling the blood inside his body circulating faster, his face and ears flushing red as if about to combust.
Catrina leaned slightly, her arms covering the front, but because her breasts were too large, those slender arms couldn't shield them completely.
Catrina's gaze caught Lathel's embarrassed expression, her heart filled with joy, beating wildly like a deer leaping chaotically through a damp forest.
Catrina pursed her lips, smiling as she said: "Lathel, this is the first time we've been this close, isn't it?"
"Ah! That's right..." Lathel stammered, the flame of desire within him surging intensely, yet he still struggled to restrain himself.
Catrina continued: "Lathel, I'm truly sorry for what my daughter did."
"That..." Lathel sighed, then said: "Aunt Catrina, I've already given up pursuing her. Please... don't mention her anymore."
Hearing this, Catrina fell silent for a moment before saying: "I've punished her, but I believe I need to apologize to you, Lathel. I'm sorry for letting her hurt your heart."
Lathel remained silent, not knowing what to say.
What could he say? That he wasn't the 'old Lathel,' that he wouldn't care about Arina anymore? Or that Catrina's punishment of Arina was too light, not enough to satisfy him?
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy and quiet, to the point where Lathel could hear Catrina's breathing.
However, he could also smell the scent from her body—like her natural fragrance, blended with perfume and the scent of orchids.
Catrina trembled slightly, clenching her hands as if making some decision, then said softly: "Lathel, if... if you still don't feel satisfied, then... you..."
"Aunt Catrina..." Lathel looked at her trembling back, his throat feeling dry.
Catrina took a deep breath, then continued: "You... you can vent your anger on me."
"Ah! That... there's no need, Aunt Catrina, you..." Before Lathel could finish, Catrina leaned back, resting against his chest.
No—rather, she let her entire soft body fall into his embrace.
Lathel gritted his teeth, feeling his brother of equal age rising fiercely, almost about to say 'hello' to Catrina.
Catrina also sensed something, face flushing even redder, body trembling slightly, but instead of avoiding it, she leaned even closer against Lathel's body.
He truly wanted to cry because he could also feel Catrina's seductive and soft buttocks pressing down on that thing of his.
Catrina's voice rang out at that moment, but unlike before, it carried trembling, anticipation, and urgency.
"Lathel, is it okay?" Catrina said: "Release all your anger on me, I... I can bear it all. Please..."
Words both seductive and tinged with a bit of pleading awakened the innate desire to dominate within Lathel as a man.
"Um!" Lathel suddenly cried out as he felt a soft hand like a jellyfish grasping that thing of his: "Aunt Catrina, this..."
"Lathel, you... don't care about my daughter anymore." Catrina pursed her lips and said: "She doesn't cherish you, but I'm different. Although we..."
"Aunt Catrina..." Lathel stammered, wanting to say that he very much wanted to accept her love, but... this was just a novel world.
Catrina seemed to sense Lathel's silence. She lowered her head slightly, releasing her hand from that thing of his, flashing a bitter smile: "I... I understand now."
Tears flowed from Catrina's eyes, like pearls falling onto the water surface, then dissolving.
She stood up, using the bath towel to cover her alluring body again. Lathel watched her, not knowing what to do, only able to sit still with his head bowed.
Catrina walked to the bathroom door, suddenly stopping. She turned her head to look at him, showing a smile as if wanting to let go of everything, her choked voice ringing out: "I'm sorry, Lathel. I'm sorry for loving you."
Having said that, she immediately left.
CLANG! CLANG!
A few seconds later, a metallic sound rang out, the chain suddenly snapping, then transforming into countless particles of light and disappearing.
Although the chain had vanished, Lathel still sat motionless in the bathtub.
[You did very well!] The System's sarcastic voice rang out: [Congratulations on just shattering the heart of a girl who truly loved you.]
After speaking, the System even accompanied it with a few claps.
Lathel didn't respond, raising his head to look at the ceiling, gaze staring into the void: "System, tell me, if I love Catrina, how can I survive in this world?"
[Master! You don't know what love is, so you think everything is a dead end. However, if love is great enough, even a dead end can be broken through, creating a new path.]
[If you don't try, even if there's a path before you, it will be blocked, becoming a true dead end.]
Hearing this, Lathel gritted his teeth, eyes showing tremendous determination.
"System, give me a choice."
[Hm?! You mean...]
"You're right, I'm a coward, but... give me motivation so I can be brave."
The System fell silent for a moment, seemingly understanding Lathel's intention, then issued a notification.
[Activating Destiny Choice.]
Choice 1: Abandon Catrina, completely sever any connection with her.
Reward: Single for 1,000 years; penis shortened by 10cm.
Choice 2: Pursue her, accept her feelings.
Reward: Catrina's absolute love; Card to peek at Catrina's memories; Leather whip that enhances sensation.
Lathel: "..."
"Oi! I asked you to give me a choice, not to make the reward my penis being shortened by 10cm and being single for 1,000 years."
[Hahaha... I'm just making sure you don't choose option 1.]
Lathel: "..."