The System's First Demand

Eleanor’s POV

“Which signatures, Your Grace?”

Robert looked at the invoices in my hand. His expression remained composed, but his fingers tightened around the folder he was holding.

I placed the two documents side by side on the table, watching closely for the slightest change in his expression or demeanor.

“Look at the approval section. The transaction numbers and dates are related, yet two different names appear as the people who authorized the payments.”

Robert bent down to examine them. “I would need to review the original records before I can provide an explanation.”

I gave him a suspicious look. “Aren't these copies of the documents you gave me earlier?”

“Yes, Your Grace. However, some information may not be included in the copies.”

“Then I'd like to see the complete records.”

Robert fell silent for a moment. “I will seek the Duke's permission first.”

“Of course. I wouldn't want you to violate the procedures you've been so careful to uphold.”

He bowed and gathered the folder he had brought with him. Before leaving, Robert glanced at the documents on the table.

“Please don't jump to conclusions, Your Grace. Different signatures don't necessarily indicate an error.”

“I haven't drawn any conclusions, Mr. Robert. I'm simply asking for an explanation.”

Once the door closed, I looked down at the two invoices again.

None of this had appeared in the novel I'd read. That meant I had no way of knowing whether these irregularities would lead me into something much bigger.

There was a chance the discrepancies were simply the result of administrative procedures I didn't understand yet. Still, I couldn't just ignore what I'd found.

I straightened the documents and placed them back inside the folder. I could continue the investigation once Robert brought me the complete records. For now, I'd had enough of dealing with people who seemed to think the title of Duchess was nothing more than a decorative ornament.

Just as I was about to leave the table, the glowing panel appeared before me again.

[System: New Side Quest Unlocked.]

I let out a sigh. “What is it this time?”

[Quest: Create an Intimate Moment with the Main Target.]

I frowned. “An intimate moment?”

[Target: Duke Edward Alistair. Romantic Dinner Together.]

[Time Limit: Before the End Of Today.]

I read the instructions twice, hoping I had misunderstood something.

“Have you lost your mind?”

[The Emotional Affinity Level With The Main Target Must Increase.]

[Quest Completion is Mandatory.]

I stared at the panel in disbelief. “Are you serious? I haven't even managed to get my own husband to talk to me for five minutes.”

The panel simply displayed the countdown, which continued to tick away.

I rubbed my temples. The system offered no further explanation, let alone any consideration for the fact that its target was a man who barely acknowledged me as his wife.

“What if he refuses?”

There was no answer. Instead, the panel disappeared.

I gave a humorless laugh. “Of course. Why did I even expect you to help me?”

At the very least, I had to try before the system decided to inflict another bizarre punishment on me. Besides, inviting Edward to dinner couldn't be that difficult, could it?

I immediately summoned a servant and asked her to find out where the Duke was. Not long after, she returned with the information that Edward was in his study.

I nodded. “Please tell him I'd like to speak with him once he's finished working.”

“Certainly, Your Grace.”

I briefly considered going to see him myself, but remembering his rule about not entering his study without permission, I decided against creating another problem. I'd already given him enough reasons to be suspicious of me since our wedding day.

*** 

“Your Grace, the Duke has finished his work,” a servant reported.

“Is that so? Please prepare dinner for two in the private dining room.”

“Is there anything specific you would like us to serve, Your Grace?”

“No need. Just prepare the usual dinner.”

“Certainly, Your Grace.”

I then changed into a simple, pale blue dress. By the time I arrived at the dining room, two plates had been neatly arranged on the table. Candles burned in the center, and the aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled the room.

I looked at the table, then down at myself.

Ridiculous. I'd actually gone through all this trouble because of an absurd quest from that strange system.

The door finally opened.

Edward walked in wearing a white shirt and dark waistcoat. His hair was slightly disheveled, as though he'd just taken off his jacket after a long day at work.

“Henry said you wanted to see me.”

The glowing panel appeared again.

[Main Target Affection Level: 0%]

Even now, you have to show me useless information like this? I grumbled inwardly.

“Yes. I'd like to have dinner with you.”

Edward glanced at the table that had been prepared. “You arranged all this?”

“I thought we could have dinner together. We haven't really done that since we got married.”

He removed his gloves and placed them on a small table. “I still have work to do.”

I held back a sigh before offering him a faint smile. “You'll never finish your work if you keep skipping dinner.”

“I can eat later.”

“At least sit down for a while. The food is already prepared.”

Edward studied me for a moment. “Is there something you want to discuss?”

I gave a quiet scoff.

Damn it! Why was it so difficult to get him to have dinner with me? No wonder the system had turned this into a side quest.

“Can't I simply want to have dinner with my husband?”

“Then we can do that another time.”

His calm response was somehow more irritating than an outright rejection.

“Edward, it's just dinner.”

“I know.”

“Then why do you always have to make everything so difficult?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “Because I don't want you to misunderstand the nature of our relationship.”

I fell silent.

So even having dinner together was something that needed to come with boundaries?

What a strange man!

“I'm not asking for anything beyond dinner,” I finally replied. “You don't have to treat it as some kind of promise.”

Edward glanced at the table once more before looking back at me.

“I'm sorry, Eleanor. I really can't tonight.”

He turned toward the door.

“Edward.”

He stopped, but didn't turn around.

“At least eat something before you go back to work,” I added.

“I'll take care of it.”

“Are you really refusing my invitation?”

Without giving me an answer, Edward walked away. A few seconds later, the door closed behind him.

I remained where I was, staring at the empty chair across the table. The candles continued to burn in the center while the food slowly lost its warmth.

“Wonderful,” I muttered. “Even dinner was a failure. He really doesn't make it easy for me to complete even the simplest quest.”

The system panel appeared again.

[System: Side Quest Failed.]

I closed my eyes. “Wait. The day isn't even over yet. I should still have a chance.”

[Quest requirements not fulfilled.]

I clenched my fists. “So what, I'm supposed to force him? Hey! He's the one who turned me down!”

The panel flickered once. A new notification appeared.

[Penalty For Quest Failure Will Now Be Administered.]

Before I could even understand what that meant, a sharp pain suddenly spread from my chest throughout my entire body.

“Ah!”

My knees gave way. I grabbed the edge of the table to keep myself from falling, but the pain only grew stronger, as though something were crushing my insides. My breathing became ragged, and my vision began to blur.

Damn it!

The pain was terrifyingly real.

“Stop...!”

I tried to reach for a chair, but my hands were trembling violently. The pain lasted only a few seconds, though they felt much longer, before finally beginning to fade.

I collapsed onto my knees, completely drained, and took several deep breaths while pressing a hand against my chest.

The system panel was still floating before me.

[Penalty: Pain Response Activated.]

[Status: Complete.]

I stared at the words, my breathing still uneven.

“So... this is how you punish me?”

There was no response. The panel remained silent before displaying another notification.

[Warning: Failure To Complete the Main Quest Will Result in Permanent Death.]

My blood ran cold.

Until now, I'd treated the system's threats as something I could put off, something I might still find a way around as long as I was careful. But the pain I'd just experienced proved that the system had far more control over this body than I wanted to admit.

I tried to stand, gripping the chair for support even though my legs still felt weak.

“Listen here, you damned system! I don't know what your real purpose is, but don't ever think you can treat me however you please.”

The panel didn't change.

I stared at it for a moment, then let out a humorless laugh. Talking to something that didn't even have a face wasn't going to change anything.

Finally, the panel disappeared.

I was still standing alone in the dining room, with two untouched plates on the table.

For the first time since waking up in this world, I truly understood one thing.

I wasn't just trying to make Edward fall in love with me.

I was also dealing with something that could hurt me whenever it pleased.

And it had just proven that its threats were no empty words.

I lowered my head and rubbed my chest, which was still aching.

“Then what else are you going to do to me the next time I fail?”

***