The sun crawled across the sky at a painfully slow pace.
I was sitting on the bench outside the Luminara arena, watching the crowd gather. Merchants set up food stalls. Fans waved flags with Thalia's insignia. A group of cosplayers in fake white capes posed for pictures near the fountain.
I checked my status out of habit.
[Time remaining until sunset: 5h 12m]
[Quest: Seduce a woman above your rank – 0% complete]
[Seal progress: 7%]
"You're nervous," Lusty said.
'Well, I'm thinking.'
"About what?"
'About how I'm going to seduce the Princess.'
"Finally, he thinks." Lusty mocked in a childish voice.
I sighed. 'I should not have replied'
"So, What's your plan?" Lusty asked.
I thought for a moment.
'She's lonely. She's surrounded by people who fear her or worship her. No one talks to her like she's normal. So that's what I'll do.'
"And if she threatens you?"
'I'll threaten her back.'
"That's quite bold considering the gap between the two of you."
'I'm just desperate to get something done with my life'
---
At 3:45 PM, the arena gates opened.
The crowd surged forward. I waited until the line thinned before I stood up and walked through.
The interior was massive. Twenty thousand seats curved around a central stage marked with glowing runes. Magical barriers shimmered at the edges. Floating camera drones hovered above.
I found my seat in the front row. A small placard read:
Reserved – Special Guest F.
"Special Guest F?" Lusty laughed.
I was a bit hurt. The F was probably hinting at my rank.
'She just wants to keep an eye on me.' I told Lusty.
"Or she wants you close."
I sat down and waited.
---
At 5:45 PM, the arena was full. Twenty thousand voices buzzed with excitement.
Then the lights dimmed.
A voice boomed through the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen... welcome to the Luminara Arena!" The crowd roared.
"Tonight, your champion... the No. 1 Ranker... Princess Thalia Valoris!"
She descended from above, standing on a floating platform, her white cape billowing. Her armor gleamed in the fading light of the sunset. Her expression was cold, yet a smile formed on her lips as she acknowledged the crowd.
Then her gaze swept across the front row and stopped on me.
For a moment—just a moment—her composure slipped. Her eyes widened slightly. Then she looked away.
The fight started not long after and lasted for just eleven minutes. Thalia moved like water, her movements were smooth and fluid.
She ended it by driving her sword through the Iron Maiden's core and he arena erupted .
She glanced at me again, her lips moving softly. I didn't hear the words, but I read them clearly.
"Don't leave."
---
The crowd filed out slowly, clearly content with paying money to watch a show obviously made to milk them of their money.
I say back in my seat, waiting for the princess.
A woman in palace uniform approached. "Adonis Thorne?"
I stood up. "Yes."
"Follow me."
She led me through a private tunnel, up a flight of stairs, and into a hallway. At the end was a door marked Private – No Entry.
The woman knocked twice, opened the door, and gestured.
I stepped inside.
The room was small, and it took me a moment to realize it was a dressing room. A narrow mirror hung on one wall, a worn couch sat pushed to the side, and a low table held a tray of water and untouched fruit.
And there was Thalia Valoris, seated by the mirror with her sword resting across her lap, her golden eyes already fixed on me.
"You came," she said.
"I remember you threatened to lock me in the palace dungeons."
A small smile tugged at her lips. "So I did."
She didn't invite me to sit. She just watched me.
I closed the door behind me. The lock clicked softly.
Her eyebrow rose. "Oh."
"You wanted answers." I walked to the table, poured a glass of water, and drank it slowly. Then I turned to face her. "Ask away."
She stood up. The sword stayed on the chair. She crossed her arms and walked toward me, stopping a few feet away.
"That energy. What exactly is it?"
"I don't know."
"Liar."
"I'm not lying." I held her gaze. "The crystal broke and something went into me. I don't know what it is. I don't know how it works. All I know is that it's changing things."
"Changing what?"
I took a step closer. "You tell me. You're the one who grabbed my wrist. You're the one who brought me here. You're the one who can't stop thinking about me."
"And how would you know that?"
"I can tell by your reaction. I can feel it from you"
Her jaw tightened. "That's the energy. Not me."
"Is it?" I took another step. We were close enough that I could see the tiny flecks of gold in her irises.
"You could have handed me to the Church. You could have walked away. Instead, you brought me to your private dressing room. Alone."
Her hand moved to her sword hilt. "Be careful, F-rank."
"No." I didn't back down. "I've been careful my whole life. Careful got me nowhere. Careful got me broke, alone, and three weeks late on my rent."
I reached out and held her wrist. Her breath caught in surprise.
"I'm done being careful, Princess."
She didn't pull away. Her fingers trembled under my hands.
"You're not afraid of me," she said.
"Should I be?"
"Everyone else is."
"I'm not everyone else."
[Seal progress: 15%]
[Quest progress: 30%]
"She's not pulling away," Lusty whispered. "Keep going."
I didn't let go of her wrist. Instead, I stepped closer, until our bodies were almost touching. Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"What do you want, Adonis?" She asked looking into my eyes.
"Right now?" I looked down at her hand, then back at her face. "I want you to stop pretending you don't feel this."
"Feel what?"
"The connection between us." I released her wrist and stepped back. "You feel it every time you close your eyes. Every time you think about me. And you hate it."
Her eyes flashed. "You don't know what I feel."
"Then tell me."
She took a step forward. Then another. Now she was the one closing the distance. Her hand came up to my chest, pressing flat against my sternum.
The purple glow flickered, it was barely visible, but she felt it. Her eyes widened slightly.
"I dreamt about you," she said, her voice low. "Last night since the dungeon. I see your face. I hear your voice." Her fingers curled into my shirt. "I hate it."
"Good."
"Good?"
"Hate keeps you thinking about me." I covered her hand with mine. "And you've been thinking about me a lot."
[Quest progress: 60%]
She pulled her hand back, but she didn't step away. Her face was flushed. Her breathing was heavy.
"You're different," she said. "From the dungeon. You were scared then. Now you're..."
"Not scared?"
"Confident." She tilted her head. "What changed?"
'I decided to stop losing.' That was the truth.
"Maybe the energy is changing me." I replied "Maybe I just realized I have nothing left to lose."
She studied my face for a long moment. Then she laughed. "You're either very brave or very stupid."
"Both." Lusty spoke in my head.
'Not helping'
She shook her head, but she was smiling. Actually smiling. Not the cold, practiced smile she showed to the audience. This was something real.
"Let's meet at the library," she said. "Tomorrow at noon."
"I'll be there."
"No guards. No cameras. Just us."
I nodded. "Just us."
A knock on the door interrupted us.
"Your Highness? The Queen is asking for you."
Thalia didn't move. Her eyes were still locked on mine.
"Tell her I'll be there in a moment," she called out, not looking away.
The guard's footsteps faded.
"You should go," she said quietly.
"So should you."
Neither of us moved.
She suddenly leaned in. Just an inch, her lips parted. Her breath was warm on my cheek.
[Quest progress: 85%]
"She's going to kiss you," Lusty whispered.
'I don't need a translator'
I didn't move away but I didn't lean in either. I let her make the choice.
Her hand came up to my face. Her thumb brushed my lower lip.
Then the door opened.
"Your Highness—"
Thalia stepped back so fast she bumped into the chair behind her. Her face reddened like tomato.
The guard stood in the doorway, eyes wide. "Forgive me. The Queen said it was urgent."
Thalia straightened her armor, her expression snapping back to cold professionalism. "I'll be there in a moment."
The guard hesitated, then closed the door.
Thalia turned to me. Her voice was low, almost shaky. "Tomorrow. Noon. Don't be late."
"I won't."
I walked to the door. My hand was on the handle when she spoke again.
"Adonis."
I looked back.
"That energy... it's not just a bond, is it?"
I smiled. "Figure it out yourself, princess."
I walked out.
---
The hallway was empty. I leaned against the wall and let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
[Quest Complete: Seduce a woman above your rank]
[Target: Thalia Valoris – SS-rank]
[Reward: Novice's Lust Cache, 1,000 Power Stones, Skill: Siren's Whisper upgraded to E-rank]
[Bonus: +5 Charm permanently]
[New Quest: The Library at Noon – Deepen the bond with Thalia Valoris.]
"You did it," Lusty said. "You actually did it. I didn't think you had it in you."
'Me either' I agreed.
I pushed off the wall and walked toward the exit.
'She almost kissed me.'
"She wanted to. That's an improvement."
I walked out of the arena into the cool night air.
I stopped and looked up at the sky. It felt surreal. If anyone found out how I talked to the princess, they might hang me.
I didn't want to admit it, but I felt attracted to her. The way she acted disinterested made me want to push more. There was a growing urge inside me, something dark that wanted to claim her.
"When did I become like this?" I muttered.
"Huh?" Lusty asked.
'Nothing. Random thoughts.'
I shook my head and started walking. I had a date with the princess tomorrow. But first, I had to figure out how to pay my rent.
Or officially become homeless.