Silas sat beside Mirabelle, happily chewing away.

He no longer seemed nearly as disappointed about her rejecting his offer to "cheer her up" as he had been five minutes earlier.

Mirabelle, meanwhile, was still fascinated by how much she suddenly felt like herself again.

She hadn’t even realized something had been different until everything returned to "normal."

Thinking back on the past few days now made her cheeks grow warm.

Especially her speech to her mates.

And the fact that she even had three mates.

Three!

Well...bLucien didn’t quite count yet.

More like two and a half.

But please don’t tell him that. (((((゜゜;)

How had this body managed to make her so vengeful? So ridiculously territorial?

She had only wanted a quiet, peaceful life.

Especially now that she’d ended up in a body born with a golden spoon in its mouth.

"Nope. Sorry, Host. That’s not an option."

Pebbles had appeared again.

He promptly slapped one tentacle against each of her cheeks. Mirabelle could feel the stylized suction cups.

Oddly enough... They were cool.

His enormous animeted eyes stared directly into hers. As though he were attempting hypnosis.

Since Silas was currently occupied with his fourth muffin, she simply pinched the tips of both tentacles between two fingers and slowly peeled them off her face.

Even though they weren’t real suction cups...

They somehow stuck.

’What if I don’t want to?’

She already knew the answer. But somehow, she felt compelled to ask anyway.

"Then the system no longer requires Host."

Pebbles answered with his usual clinical precision. "And Host’s soul will be rejected by the Beast body."

’Right...’

Mirabelle picked up a slice of crusty bread along with a piece of smoked bacon and took a hearty bite.

The warm, homely aroma of pastries, honey, nuts, and berries filled the room. It reminded her of relaxing mornings spent in cafés.

Her entire body felt at ease.

Though perhaps that was also thanks to her ridiculously expensive shopping spree.

Behind her, the plants rustled gently in the breeze drifting through the open windows.

Not even one of her ears twitched.

Partly because she was already aware of everything happening in the room.

And partly because her body no longer overreacted to every little signal.

She loved it.

Compared to before, it almost felt like having a permanent I don’t give a fuck attitude.

The perfect quality for a ruler.

Originally, she had simply wanted to enjoy a peaceful breakfast.

Unfortunately... Her curiosity hadn’t changed.

’So what exactly am I supposed to do for the system now?’

She had to admit it was remarkably convenient being able to eat while simultaneously talking to the system.

Too bad she couldn’t do that with her mates.

DING!

[System Recommendation

Based on recent host performance...

Recommended Skill: Bonded Telepathy

Description:

Allows direct mental communication between the host and all marked mates.

Current Price: 400,000 Legacy Points

Suggested Reason for Purchase:

Significantly decreases the probability of avoidable relationship disasters.

Current Assessment: Strongly Recommended.]

Mirabelle read the notification while chewing.

Wasn’t the system unbelievable?

It had just received 85,000 Legacy Points from her.

’That’s a rip-off.’

"That is a one-time special discount exclusively for Host," Pebbles countered.

Mirabelle didn’t even acknowledge the remark.

Something else was on her mind. Nibbling on a piece of cheese, she asked,

’What do you actually do with all those Legacy Points?’

She reached for another slice of crusty bread.

The panther Beastman watched her closely.

Silas picked up the loaf and turned it over curiously in his hands.

The crust crackled beneath his fingers while the soft interior sprang back when he pressed it. The warmth still lingered inside the loaf.

He tore off a tiny piece. Steam escaped.

His ears twitched forward with curiosity before he cautiously tasted it.

His eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

His nostrils flared.

Then he carefully set the loaf back down, took one of the pre-cut slices along with a piece of bacon, and copied the way the lynx female had been eating it.

Pebbles, who had been eyeing a fruit tart with great interest, turned toward Mirabelle.

"Host, would you like to unlock information regarding the operational use of Legacy Points within the system?"

Mirabelle considered it for a moment.

’How much does that cost?’

At that exact moment, Pebbles stuffed the entire tart into his mouth.

The pastry simply disappeared. Silas, however, was so deeply immersed in crusty-bread heaven that he didn’t notice.

Pebbles chewed thoughtfully.

"Mff... da pwice fow dat infowmation... awso cowts Wegacy Points."

’What?’

She wasn’t entirely sure she’d understood him.

The octopus mascot swallowed.

"Naturally, the information regarding the price of that information also has a price."

Mirabelle stared at him.

"...You’re joking."

Pebbles shook his head:

"I am not."

’And if I ask how much that costs, the answer costs Legacy Points too?’

Pebbles’s face lit up.

"Exactly."

Mirabelle immediately understood the system.

’Which means I either agree to buy it without knowing the price... or I keep asking for the price...

...until paying every time just to unlock the next price... which could become an endless loop.’

Pebbles nodded proudly.

"Host is so smart."

Mirabelle shook her head and reached for her glass of wine.

Yes. Wine with breakfast.

You would too after this morning.

Besides...

Who was going to stop her?

The cool glass felt pleasant against her fingertips. The fruity wine washed away the lingering sweetness of the pastry.

At least temporarily.

But nothing seemed capable of washing away the System.

’You could’ve just said you didn’t want to tell me.’

The system spirit flipped upside down again.

"But I do want to sell it to you."

’It really doesn’t feel like it...’

He shrugged. It looked oddly amusing while hanging upside down.

"If Host were rich, Host wouldn’t ask about the price.

Host would simply buy it."

Mirabelle let out an amused snort.

Ever since the emotional body adjustment, the flying tentacle thing didn’t irritate her nearly as much anymore.

She could still feel irritation.

It simply no longer took control of her. It was like watching a storm through a window instead of standing in the middle of it.

Silas felt her amusement through the bond.

He looked up from his breakfast and watched his mate. Relief washed through him. The corner of his mouth lifted.

Without realizing it, his tail gave a slow, contented sway beneath the table.

Seeing her smile was enough.

Her mood seemed to have improved.

Was now the right time to bring it up?

Or would mentioning it only make her upset again?

Mirabelle’s gaze drifted back to the translucent blue window, which still hadn’t disappeared.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows and through the screen.

Somewhere outside, birds argued in the orchard. A faint breeze carried the scent of ripe apples through the open window.

’Bonded Telepathy.’

It certainly sounded useful. As long as it was intentional. Permanently sharing every thought sounded horrifying.

Then her eyes caught one particular line.

Significantly decreases the probability of avoidable relationship disasters.

She had told Lucien she didn’t want to see him. Or talk to him.

...Oh.

Looking back...

That had been rather harsh.

Actually... She had overreacted quite a bit.

The realization settled heavily in her stomach. Not guilt.

But something uncomfortably close to it.

Then she noticed that only Silas was here.

Where was Kaelith? And what was he doing?!

For the first time, she consciously reached for the mate bond.

And what it told her sent a cold shiver racing down her spine.

_____

Lucien hadn’t moved.

Not really.

The chair opposite him remained empty.

Kaelith hadn’t sat down once.

Instead, the hyena Beastman stood at the open balcony, staring out across the castle grounds.

The morning breeze stirred his black hair.

Kaelith wasn’t angry anymore.

He had moved beyond anger.

What remained was absolute certainty.

It was terrifying.

There was no rage.

No panic.

No chaos.

Only something vast.

Cold.

Immovable.

It felt less like an emotion and more like a mountain that had decided to move.

Neither of the two Beastmen had spoken for several minutes.

Everything that needed saying...

Had already been said.

Lucien lowered his gaze.

His cheek was scraped.

His sleeve had a tear near the shoulder.

One side of the room looked considerably worse.

A shattered table lay against the wall.

One bookshelf leaned at an angle.

Several books were scattered across the floor.

There had been no duel.

No techniques.

No cultivation.

Only one brief moment where Kaelith’s restraint had slipped.

Once.

That had been enough.

The silence afterward had somehow been terrifying.

Finally, Kaelith spoke.

Without turning around.

"Do you know what hurts the most?"

Lucien remained silent. No word could leave his lips.

"She trusted you."

Lucien swallowed.

"You didn’t betray her by lying.

You betrayed her by keeping the truth from her afterward."

Lucien closed his eyes.

Another long silence.

"When she cries..." Kaelith’s ears twitched once. "...I stop caring who’s right."

Only then did he slowly turn around.

There was no anger left on his face.

Only disappointment.

"I know you love her."

Lucien’s throat tightened.

"I also know..." Kaelith’s golden eyes met his.

"...that if you ever make her cry like that again..."

He let the sentence hang.

He didn’t need to finish it.

They both knew.