When Elena got into her room she quickly walked to the side table where she kept a tiny pouch full of medications.
She opened the bag, another wave of pain hit her, prompting her to drop the bag and the contents spilled onto the floor.
Today really wasn't her day.
She held onto her head and bent down, desperately searching for the goddamn pills that seemed to be playing hide and seek to her at this point.
She wasn't a sickly person but her father had literally stuffed a pouch worth of pills into her arms when she was leaving that morning.
She graciously accepted it as a parting gift but had no intention of using it.
Who knew the tables would turn so soon.
Fate was really so fickle.
As if blaming Elena for that statement, she felt another wave of pain.
Luckily, she had managed to find the pill she wanted. She picked it up and downed it with the half glass of water she left on the dresser in the afternoon.
She sat with her back against the bed and literally gasped for air, the pain wasn't receding.
She wanted to scream and cry in agony but she couldn't.
She didn't want to commit another offense so soon. Especially after the previous one, which brought doubt about the possibility of surviving the selection.
Yet she didn't want to die.
That man was dangerous and as much as she didn't want to be with him in the same room. She had no choice but to answer his summons.
That was her life now, Kill or Love?
Elena didn't know which was worse. Those two options or the current predicament.
She settled on all three and crawled into bed. All she wanted was to leave this first day behind.
After countless minutes of tossing and turning, she was finally embraced by sleep.
"| Hosts resolve increased by 2% |"
"| Reward : Relief |"
If someone were to walk in, they would see a pleasant smile on Elena's face.
THE NEXT DAY
Elena woke up and felt refreshed. She was grateful that the headache was gone. Elena's body felt lighter and for that she was grateful.
Elena called on Elise but someone else but someone else answered instead.
The maid was Cathy. She explained to Elena that the maid rotation was in shifts.
Elena asked Cathy to prepare a bath for her. When she was done with all this, including dressing up and making herself look pretty.
She received a summons once again. This time for breakfast.
DINING HALL
The doors opened slowly. That was when Elena stepped in
She noticed that four girls were already seated at the table. Their eyes turned toward Elena's direction almost immediately.
Some were curious. Some were indifferent and one… One didn't react at all.
Elena recognized one of them. She was the same girl. The one she had seen in the hallway the night before. The one who watched her then disappeared.
Elena suppressed the thought and walked forward, keeping her steps steady. She took a seat. It was not too close or too far. Just enough to avoid gaining unwanted attention.
"| New Task Generated |"
Her breath hitched slightly, but her expression remained calm.
"| Objective: Gain the Duke's attention during breakfast |"
"| Reward: Stabilization |"
"| Failure: Penalty |"
Elena's fingers tightened slightly against her dress. So it had started again…
Before she could think further upon the matter. The doors were opened once more. That was when he entered.
Regulus Vanderborne.
Elena felt like the air in the room grew heavy, clearly twisted by the aura and confidence which the duke used to carry himself. It was subtle yet completely undeniable.
He walked to the head of the table and took his seat without acknowledging anyone.
Silence followed.
Then he spoke.
"You have all arrived." His voice was calm, almost quiet. Yet it filled the room completely.
"This selection requires no formal instructions."
He paused and looked around to make sure everyone was paying attention.
"You will behave as you wish."
Elena frowned slightly.
"That includes your words… your actions… and your intentions."
His gaze moved across the table briefly before settling on Elena.
No. It wasn't her. It was the girl beside her.
The Silent Watcher. At least that was what Elena thought of her.
"You."
The girl lifted her eyes slowly. There was no panic in them. Instead her gaze was incredibly steady.
"You were outside your assigned quarters last night."
Elena's heart skipped. So she had indeed seen her.
"You were not given permission to wander."
Silence.
The girl lowered her gaze slightly.
"I apologize, Your Excellency."
Her voice was soft and controlled. Yet something about it felt distant.
Regulus continued, his tone unchanged.
"You were observed standing in the hallway for an extended period."
Elena's grip tightened slightly.
That was when she saw her.
"You left when another candidate approached."
A pause. Long enough to feel deliberate.
"You will not repeat this behavior."
The girl nodded once.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Regulus leaned back slightly.
"For clarity," he continued, now addressing all of them, "wandering without purpose is not forbidden."
Another pause.
"But being seen when you do so… is."
Elena understood immediately.
This wasn't about rules. It was about control.
Regulus' gaze swept across them once more. "You are here to be observed. Not to lose composure."
The room fell silent once again.
"Eat."
Elena stared at the food in front of her. It was untouched. She couldn't bring herself to eat.
So the girl hadn't been watching her…
She had just been there. And didn't want to be seen. That was clearly suspicious. The fact that the thought would keep plaguing her made it worse.
"| Time Remaining: 8 minutes |"
Elena inhaled slowly. Gain his attention. That should be simple, right.
She glanced up.
Regulus was eating calmly, as if nothing mattered. As if none of them existed. This caused something within her to tighten.
She took a deep breath. Fine. If this was a game, she would play it. Not just for fun but to win completely.
Elena lifted her gaze. She stared directly at him. Regulus paused. Just for a fraction of a second. Yet that alone was enough.
"| Progress Detected |"
Elena held the look. She stared at him for a few more seconds. Then lowered her gaze as if it meant nothing to her.
"| Task Complete |"
"| Reward Granted: Stabilization |"
A strange calm settled over her. It brought neither comfort nor calm but a strange sense of control.
Across the table,The Silent Watcher's eyes shifted slightly. And this time she was really watching Elena.