Nyx was standing near the window, glued to the scenery, when a gentle and warm voice brought him back to reality. He turned around to see who it was—only to be petrified by the looks of the young maid before him. She was around 1.71 meters tall, barely reaching Nyx's chin, as she called out again.
"Dinner's ready, master," said the young maid in a low voice, afraid of his usual cold reply.
Seeing her hesitation, Nyx returned a warm smile and said in a gentle tone, "I'll be there after a quick shower."
Nyx drifted into his thoughts. How could the old Nyx neglect the only people he had left in this world like this? Only an orphan like him could understand the rarity of such love and care without asking anything in return.
He turned to look at the bowed figure of Rhea. She was standing there silently, like a statue.
'Yeah... how could that noble bastard understand the meaning behind their devoted care towards him,' Nyx cursed under his breath.
[Ding! Mission detected. Rebuild your image in front of your two loyal subordinates.]
Hearing the voice in his mind, Nyx was surprised. He didn't understand the need for a mission—because he wanted to do that on his own anyway. His whole life, he had been alone and understood the meaning of love more than anyone. So, he didn't want to lose the people closest to him.
"You can go down and start eating, Rhea. I'll be quick," Nyx said with a smile and rushed toward the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Rhea stood there, stunned. She didn't know when was the last time her lord had smiled like that… and even called her by her name. She turned to look at him, but he was already inside the bathroom. She could only nod and retreat to the kitchen.
Nyx dived into the bathtub, soaking in the warmth—feeling a kind of peace he'd only dreamed of. Villas, lazy days, beautiful wives—he always dreamed of it. Ahem, let's not get into that for now.
After a few moments, his eyes turned toward the transparent blue system screen displaying the mission.
[**MISSION PANEL**]
Objective: Form a functional relationship with the subordinates.
Condition: Give them a sliver of hope that you're going to change.
Time limit: 12 hours
Failure Penalty: Rhea's death
Reward: System Points, Beginner's Gift Package
---
Looking at the detailed mission panel, Nyx was surprised. This mouthy system suddenly being so clear and helpful? But then his eyes locked on two words: "Rhea's Death."
"What the f*ck is this?" Nyx asked coldly, his voice echoing through the bathroom.
[Don't get so agitated, maggot. The mission is correct. As for the penalty—after dinner, she leaves the house to get some air. When she reaches an alley, some thugs surround her and… well, you know.]
Nyx's thoughts immediately went to the gentle girl he just saw.
"If I can't form a relationship, then?" he asked, voice tinged with hesitation.
[Whether you're turning over a new leaf or not doesn't matter. If she leaves the house, she dies. The mission doesn't force people to do anything—it only tells you what's coming.]
Nyx fell into deep thoughts thinking about the consequences of whatever actions he takes. He didn't know whether the system was trying to force him into taking actions or it was aiding him to prevent severe consequences of what is to come.
[Get your act straight, bastard. It's not the time to think. Time's running out.]
The urgency hit him like a slap. Jolted awake, Nyx jumped out of the tub, changed quickly, and rushed downstairs.
---
Near the dinner table, Rhea was waiting, standing by the wall. When she saw Nyx coming down, her eyes lit up like stars dancing on water.
Nyx composed himself and sat at the table. Rhea started serving him food.
"Where's your plate?" Nyx asked, noticing only one dish laid out.
"I-I'll eat later, my lord," Rhea replied in a low hum, barely audible.
"Serve yourself too. Let's eat together. No buts," Nyx said in a firm, commanding tone.
Rhea's eyes widened before she quickly nodded and sat beside him at the table. They ate in silence—until a man entered from another part of the manor.
Nyx glanced over. Karl.
"It's a rare occurrence for you to dine here, my lord," Karl said with surprise, noting Nyx dining with Rhea.
"Did you have your dinner?" Nyx asked flatly.
Karl stiffened. This was the first time he had ever heard his lord ask something like that.
"N-no, my lord. I'll have it later," he stammered.
"Join us."
Karl blinked but obeyed, sitting beside him.
They had a quiet dinner. Nyx was thinking about how to prevent Rhea from leaving the manor, while Rhea and Karl watched him with wary eyes. This was the same man—but something about him felt… different. Not like a master looking down on his servants. Something more human. More sincere.
---
After dinner, Nyx rose.
"Don't go anywhere tonight. Rest. We have somewhere to go tomorrow," he instructed.
Both responded with a nod and a quiet, "Yes, lord."
'I hope this works. Otherwise, I'll have to stop her forcefully,' Nyx thought as he climbed the stairs.
---
In his bedroom, Nyx stood by the window, eyes locked on the manor entrance, waiting. Waiting for any sign of someone leaving.
Then—
[Ding! Mission Accomplished]
[Congratulations, host, for gaining 1000 System Points (SP) and Beginner's Gift Pack.]
[Beginner's Gift Pack is stored in the System Storage.]
Nyx let out a long breath of relief.
"System, is Rhea safe?"
[Due to your interference and command, Rhea decided to stay in the manor for the event tomorrow. She is safe, host.]
"Phew…" Nyx slumped in his seat, genuinely relieved.
He knew he couldn't interfere too much yet. Their relationship was still fragile. One wrong move and he'd lose them both. So, he gambled on one command—and it worked.
"System, show me my profile."
[You took your time for this. Surprising, bastard.]
[**PROFILE**]
Name: Nyx Vaelthorn
Race: Human
Title: No Title
Strength (STR): 7 [Even a monkey is stronger than you]
Agility (AGI): 5 [A drunkard chicken can run faster]
Endurance (END): 8
Intelligence (INT): 10
Constitution (CON): 7
Active Missions – None
Inventory – Beginner's Gift Package
---
A vein bulged in Nyx's forehead.
"Can I choose to uninstall?" he growled, face red with frustration.
[Fuck you.]
P.S: If you've reached here, why not leave a comment, so that you don't waste that minute of your time and be left forgotten?