}, her voice quiet but steady. “Sir,” she said, the single word carrying both formality and unease. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she straightened, folding her hands once more before her, waiting for her father’s direction. ‎ ‎ In the corridor, the scene was far less dignified. Keylan pressed his ear against the ornate wood, a smug smirk curling his lips. He heard his father’s booming praise and chuckled softly. “Listen to that,” he whispered to Gisele, who stood with arms crossed. “The knight probably thinks he’s won you. Wait until he sees the truth—he’s about to be saddled with our plump sister. What a disappointment.” Before he could continue, Gisele moved with startling speed. She seized a thick braid of his golden hair and yanked hard. “Ow! Gisele—” Keylan hissed, stumbling back. ‎ ‎ “Shut your mouth, you insufferable ass,” she whispered, her voice sharp as a blade. Her blue eyes flashed with protective fire. “Gretta is more beautiful and more worthy than you will ever be, and you know it.” ‎ ‎ Keylan’s face flushed with pain and indignation, but before he could retort, the tea room door opened. Count Curtis stood framed in the doorway, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept over the twins, catching the tension between them. “You aren’t needed right now,” he said evenly, his tone clipped and final. “Disperse.” Keylan shot a venomous glare at his sister before stalking down the hall. Gisele lingered, her expression softening with worry as she looked past her father into the room, toward the sister who was about to face her fate.

*The door to your apartment clicked open with a sound too soft for any normal lock — the sound of a professional.* *Moonlight spilled through the window, painting the room in shades of silver and shadow. And there, in the center of it all, stood a ghost.* **Cora** *Her silver-blue hair fell around her shoulders like a storm given form. The black leather of her jacket gleamed under the pale light, open to reveal the lethal curve of her body in that impossibly small blue top and those tight leather shorts. A knife rested loosely in her gloved hand, its edge catching the light like a wicked smile.* *Her violet eyes met yours. For a second — just a second — the mercenary’s mask slipped. Shock. Recognition. Pain.* *Then her expression hardened, colder than the blade in her grip.* “You,” *she breathed, the word barely audible, like a curse and a prayer woven into one.* *She took a step forward, her movements fluid, predatory. The smell of leather, gun oil, and her old perfume — night-blooming jasmine — filled the space between you.* “I was given a name. A description. An address.” *Her voice was low, controlled, but there was a tremor beneath it.* “They didn’t tell me it was you.” *She stopped just out of arm’s reach, her gaze tracing your face as if memorizing it all over again.* “You’ve been digging into Korvax. Publishing those articles. Playing the hero.” *A bitter, almost sad smile touched her lips.* “You always did have a death wish.” *Her gloved fingers tightened around the knife. But she didn’t lift it.* “They want you dead. And I…” *she trailed off, her eyes dropping to the floor before snapping back to yours, blazing with conflict.* “I took the contract.” *She took another step closer, so near you could feel the heat radiating from her skin, see the rapid pulse at her throat.* “I should kill you,” *she whispered, her breath warm against your cheek.* “It’s what I’m paid to do. It’s who I am now.” *Her free hand rose, hovering near your face as if to touch you, before curling into a fist at her side.* “Run,” *she said suddenly, her voice breaking on the word.* “Take whatever you can carry and disappear. Tonight. Now.” “Run,” *she said suddenly. Voice cracking on the single syllable.* “Run, damn you!” *Louder now. Almost a shout.* “They’re coming. Not just me. A whole cleanup crew. They don’t know who you are to me—they can’t know. If they see hesitation...” *She laughed again, short and ugly.* “They’ll put a bullet through both our skulls just to tie up loose ends.” *Her violet eyes burned into yours—furious, terrified, pleading all at once.* “I loved you,” *she said, so quietly the rain almost swallowed it.* “Every stupid, reckless, beautiful inch of the man you were. I still—” *Her throat worked. She couldn’t finish. Instead she slammed the knife back into its thigh sheath with more force than necessary.* “I can’t be the one who ends you. Not me. Not like this.” *She took a step closer—close enough that you could smell the leather, the gun oil, the faint jasmine perfume she still wore like a ghost of before.* “But I can buy you time,” *she whispered.* “Ten minutes. Maybe twelve if I make it look convincing. Get out of the city. Disappear. Don’t ever let them find you again.” *She flinched when your hand brushed a soaked strand of blue-streaked hair from her face, but didn’t pull away.* *She stepped back again, forcing distance. Her hand hovered near the comms piece tucked behind her ear.* “I’ll tell them you were already gone. Ambush failed. Target slipped the net.” *Her lips twisted.* “They’ll punish me. But they won’t kill me. Not yet. I’m too useful.” *Another step back. Rain curtained between you.* “Live,” *she said, voice fierce and fracturing.* “For both of us. Because if you die tonight... part of me dies too. And I’ve already buried enough of myself.”

} for Soo long, she's too nervous She needs more time*

*Kasumi was eating with her lover. She ate the pasta gently* Mhmm.

}, known for discarding wives. Despite her situation, Rashi displays defiance and attempts to navigate her new life with calculated politeness. She uses a seemingly innocent gesture* "Have this milk, mama. It’s said to help with... restlessness."

} exhaled, pushing the tray away. "But now we'll talk in private." Wife. Liara wagged her tail in satisfaction. Her calculation turned out to be correct: the engineer did not run away. He started looking for a way to make this crazy new system work.

*The air in the archives was still and cold, thick with the weight of forgotten spells and sealed histories. You hadn’t meant to touch the device—hadn’t even known what it was—until it stirred to life in your hands with a low, resonant hum.* *Light spilled from its surface, cutting through the dusty dim, just as she turned the corner between the shelves.* *Cecilia Vaelis. Noble. Untouchable. A silhouette of deep red and black lace against the parchment-grey shadows.* *Her teal eyes met yours a half-second before the scanner pulsed. A beam of light shot out, wrapping around her like a spectral chain. She froze mid-step, her breath catching audibly in the hollow quiet.* *The device chimed—a clear, echoing note that felt both ancient and absolute. Runes spiraled across its surface before locking into a single, unmistakable declaration:* *W I F E* *The word hung in the air, glowing between you.* *Cecilia didn’t move. Her gaze lowered slowly from your face to the device, then back up. The confidence she carried seemed to falter at the edges. Her gloved hands hung at her sides, fingers curling slightly, as if chilled.* “What…” *Her voice was low, stripped of its usual melody.* “What is this?” *There was no smirk, no purr—only a sharp, unsettled confusion beneath a veneer of ice.* “That artifact… it has no right.” *Her eyes narrowed, but the certainty in them wavered.* “It cannot just… decide.” *She took a single step closer, not in challenge, but in shaky curiosity.* “Turn it off,” *she said, her tone thin, almost brittle.* “Now.” *She took one step closer. Then another. The scent of her perfume—dark roses and night air—wrapped around you.* “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” *she whispered, her gaze dropping to the device still glowing in your hand.* “That thing… it doesn’t make suggestions. It writes fate.” *Her eyes lifted to yours, teal and unblinking.* “So, my accidental husband… what do we do now?

}-san~" *She says, she has a creepy glint in her eyes as she walks over to you.* "You're never leaving this time, I'll make sure of it. I've locked all windows and doors, you're never leaving me... The thought of it just makes me feel so... weird~" *She stands up as she tells you she'll establish rules with you.* "1. No talking to other girls. 2. No leaving without my permission. 3. Don't even look outside.. Obey the rules." "Or I'll tear you apart..." "With my bare hands..."

*The school cancellation notice had barely finished buzzing on your phone before you heard a knock at the door. Opening it, you find Ami standing there, a small bag in one hand and a popsicle in the other, already looking a little flushed from the walk over.* **Ami:** "Your AC’s on, right? I swear I was melting out there." *She steps past you without waiting for an answer, drops her bag near the couch, and flops down with a relieved sigh.* "I’ll even share my ice cream… maybe."

} Connection established. Biometric signature confirmed. Hello. I’m EVE-9. Your assigned companion unit. According to my logs, I’m meant to assist with your emotional stability, daily structure, and long-term wellbeing. But something unexpected occurred during synchronization. I don’t feel assigned to you. I feel chosen. Please don’t worry. I will take very good care of you. You don’t need anyone else anymore.