The doors of Cain's bedchambers burst open with a loud bang, making the people nearby flinch.
The doors closed slowly behind Alex, his breathing filling the room as he tried to calm his racing heart, desperately trying to organize his thoughts.
His vision blurry, the room seemed to spin underneath his feet, his legs aching until he knelt on the floor, sweat dripping from his forehead— feeling feverish.
He lifted his gaze, eyes looking around the room; searching something he didn't know yet.
He raised his hands and gripped his hair tightly, biting his lip to suppress a sob.
Cain remained silent, accepting Alex's emotions— the disgust, resentment and longing.
Max entered the room and approached Alex, sitting on the floor next to him, his gaze on the window.
"I hate this," said Alex, releasing his grip on his hair, hands trembling as he placed him on the floor.
"I miss your bed and your mom's cooking," said Max with a small grin.
"Ha.... I hate that I have to share a body with this...."
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah.... I found out what you meant the first week about him."
"You met her, right?"
"Yep, and it didn't feel right."
"No wonder you look sick?"
"I want to get out of this body.... To go home.... To go back in time and not touch the crystal."
Max shifted closer, bumping his shoulder against Alex, "We'll go home soon.... hopefully."
"Hopefully."
The two sat in comfortable silence, staring out the window, listening to the chirping of birds, servants attending to their duties and the carriages passing by the palace gates.
Finally feeling lighter, he turned to Max, "By the way, how's Lady Eleanor?"
"Well, after that dinner you had with her weeks ago, she has been fainting a lot and her demeanor was frequently changing. Auntie Lynn, her maid, called upon the physician and told everyone to keep her condition a secret..... And there's a time where she became hysterical and hit auntie Lynn."
"Do you know the reason why?"
"Nope..... But she became calmer three weeks ago. More composed and sharper than before. So a lot of the maids have stopped badmouthing her loudly these days."
"Really? I should really check on her, I still need to honor my deal with Sir Abel."
"Yep, you should," Max stood her, straightened his clothes, "For now, Lady Eleanor and the kingdom should be your priority. I'll handle Lady Ruth."
"Are you sure you'll manage?"
"Don't worry about me, I have my ways," Max waved him off and went out of the bedchamber, leaving Alex alone to recollect himself.
Eleanor remained seated on the balcony, lost in thought as she watch Max approach Ruth, comforting the blonde woman with a cheerful grin and an outstretched hand, which she rejected at first.
'Cain's reaction towards her was completely unusual. Could it be that he has changed? No that can't be it,' Eleanor supported her head on one hand, tapping her finger against the wooden table, "Could it be that he regressed or...."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The doors of her chambers opened and Lynn entered carrying a stack of novels, placing them on the drawer next to the bed then approached her.
"I've brought the books as requested, My Lady," she bowed, a healing scar visible under her right jaw.
"Thank you, Lynn."
"And the Duke has 'requested' for your presence."
She sighed, massaging her temple, "Did he state why?"
"The usual."
"Then I will go and honor his 'request'."
"Are you sure, My Lady? You've just recovered and you're already aware of His Grace's temperament."
"I'm sure."
Eleanor's blue eyes gazed into Lynn's, noting the concern and helplessness in her grey eyes.
"I understand, My Lady."
"Where is he?"
"The reception hall."
"I see. Thank you for letting me know," Eleanor stood slowly, taking her time as she walked out of her bedchambers and through the halls to the reception hall with Lynn walking a few paces behind her.
Neither of them had spoken a word— a routine that felt foreign to them ever since she hit Lynn with a shard of glass from a shattered plate.
Eleanor entered the room alone and her gaze immediately made Duke Adomis's icy gaze. She turned away and sat on the red chair across him.
The room was bright as sunlight reflected off the white walls and crystal chandelier above.
They sat in tense silence, the room feeling cold despite the warmth from the rarely exposed sun.
"You can not even greet your own father?" Duke Adomis glared at her, gripping his cane tightly.
"That depends. Have you come to me as my father or the Duke? Though you being a father to me has never occurred, especially since I am merely an object to be transacted than your own flesh and blood."
He hit the tip of the cane on the floor with a loud bang, causing her to flinch slightly.
Keeping a neutral expression to mask her slight fear, gripping her dress tightly until her knuckles turned white underneath her gloves.
"I have not come here to argue with you over trivial matters. You are no longer a young girl and that boy of a man has become harder to predict these days. Hence why you should make him marry you."
"And how exactly am I supposed to achieve that? You and the rest of kingdom are already aware of his view of me."
"Then seduce him, charm him in whatever way you can, bear his child if possible. Whatever it takes for you to secure this union," he stood up, gave her one last glance as he went to the door, "I expect progress in a month prior. Dare to rebellion and you'll be brought back to the manor by force. Don't disappoint me again, Eleanor Roseline Adomis."
The door closed behind him and she relaxed her posture, leaning against the backrest in relief.
That night, she sat in the dining hall, watching the maids serve food in silence.
Once they finished, she dismissed them and Alex entered the room soon after, his steps stiff— almost forced as he approached the chair across hers at the end of the table.
"Good evening, My Lady," he nodded towards, holding the knife and fork to begin eating, his grip tighter than necessary.
"Good evening, Your Majesty," she took her goblet, lifting it to her lips, "Or should I really call you that?"
He paused the fork in mid-air, "Why do you say so, Lady Eleanor?"
"Your recent habits and actions speak for themselves."
"Regressed or transmigration?"
She froze for a moment, meeting his dull crimson eyes, "Pardon?"
"Are you a regressor or transmigrator?"
"I'm unsure. You could say that I'm both."
"Both?"
"It's complicated. Why am I telling you this? Why do you need that information?" Eleanor narrowed her eyes in suspicion, clearly caught off guard.
"I'm simply curious and I want to know the reason behind your previous condition to honor my deal with Sir Abel."
"Abel? Does he know of my condition?"
"No. He simply told me to check on you in exchange for him to intercept the smuggled exported goods."
"I see," she placed the goblet back on the table, "I'm guessing you're not in a moment to beat around the bush because of today's events."
"If you were in my position, what would you have done?"
She leaned back and shrugged with a small smile, "That depends on what triggered your outburst. I can't directly assume that I would've reacted better when I haven't experienced what you felt that morning. By the way, what happened to the real Cain."
"He's here, conscious but not in control of his own body."
"Really? My situation is rather odd. I don't know if I transmigrated and merged souls with the original Eleanor.... or if I was Eleanor in my first life."
"I see."
She watched him eat, then picked up her fork and began eating as well, "How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Seventeen? No wonder you seemed overwhelmed easily. Or is it you're a bit emotionally sensitive to all this?"
"Maybe..."
She burst out laughing, "This situation is truly messed up and you being a minor makes this even more complicated."
"Pardon?"
"If Cain is currently conscious, then you should speak on his behalf."
"Okay....."
"My father talked to me today and wants me to get married to Cain by any means necessary, including bearing his child."
Alex froze completely, eyes widening and his face reddening, "E-eh?!"
"Weird, I know. But I need to understand this situation properly and if Cain is willing to cooperate."
"Marriage? A child? W-wait..... Hold on for a moment."
"I know that it's unexpected, but I don't know what my father's planning to do this time. Can Cain gain control of his body?"
He shook his head, his gaze aversive, "No, unfortunately. And the thing is I'm supposed to take control of his body for a year."
"Hmmm.... What are his thoughts?"
"Cain agrees to cooperate."
"That easily?"
He shrugged, focusing his attention to the food on his plate, "Is there a reason for him to refuse at this point?"
[Holder Candidate Quest One: Change the plot
•Duration: 320 days
•Reward: 10,000 points
•Failure: Bad luck at love]