[Host. I'd advice you to complete your task.]
"It's impossible." Nina mumbled, her back slouched into a perfect curve. Her eyes turned gray, and her spores stopped flowing, her orchid marks turned pale.
As she walked past servants, they screamed and jumped to the side, terrified of incurring her wrath.
"Heh," she laughed bitterly. "Do I get villain points for that?
[Host, you cannot fail this task. If you begin the president of failing tasks this early, your life here will become difficult.]
"It's only an hour of blindness. I'll be fine."
[True. But the hidden penalty for repeated task failures is at my discretion. Complete your tasks, host.]
Nina straightened.
Wait, that sadistic system sounds serious.
The light came back to her eyes, turning them a soft pink.
Nina's heart skipped with fear. She shivered, hugging herself tightly. The system did sound scary. But at the same time, Lev was scarier.
However, the eerie tone of the system made goosebumps cover Nina's body.
Hidden penalties. She didn't want to wait around and find out.
She turned, calling out; "Lev!"
She ran. She tripped over her gown, hearing it rip. She came across a deer eared servant carrying a flower pot.
"Where is the general?!" She asked, her voice coming out harsher than she intended.
The servant screamed and dropped the pot, falling down to his knees. "The barracks! Your highness!"
"Where are the barracks?!"
He pointed a finger so shaky that Nina had trouble figuring out where he was pointing to. "There! The…the large building in the distance!"
"Thank you! You may leave!"
Nina continued running. She breathed fast, sweat pouring from her pores and matting her fine hair to her face and neck.
Safe to say, Princess Orchid never did a day of cardio.
Nina Williams worked at a desk for nine years.
"Her stamina is shit," Nina grumbled, breathing heavily even though she had barely made it halfway to the barracks.
The system continued to count down.
Ten minutes left.
Nina didn't know which fear was stronger, fear of a hidden penalty or fear of being decapitated.
She got to the barracks. The guards stationed front of the massive iron gates immediately opened it without asking any questions.
"Where is the general?" She asked one of them.
"In the grand hall, your highness." He replied. His voice was shaking but he tried to hide it.
Nina yelled her thanks and ran inside.
The grand hall was a great understatement. But Nina wasn't in the mood to admire the architecture. She easily spotted Lev, he stood a head and a half taller than all the buff and imposing beastmen in soldier uniforms. They surrounded him, and he addressed them, his voice carrying authority and power through the air.
For just a second, Nina was distracted.
He's so fine! Gosh! I've always liked a man in uniform! She squealed to herself.
"Lev!"
All heads turned in her direction.
The soldiers sucked in sharp breaths, their mind racing with various thoughts, none of them good, as to why the Princess came down to the barracks.
"She never comes here."
"Yeah, she said were too filthy and we disgust her."
"What is she doing?! She looks half mad."
"Do you think one of us offended her?! Are we gone?!"
"Pray for the General, she came here for him."
"Ah, the angry wife! Sad to think that's how our dear General died!"
Nina heard their whispers, thanks to her super cat hearing, but that was the least of her worries.
[two minutes left.]
Her eyes focused on Lev. She dragged herself over to him, heaving and breathing loudly through her mouth.
"I need to talk to you," she wheezed, her voice sounding like that of a dying rat. She reached out, and her hand fell short. As she was about to slam face first into the ground, two powerful arms caught her.
Lev had no idea why he had moved closer to that woman.
He summed it up to his chivalrous pride as the General. Nothing more. If anything, he would have liked to see her face plant into the ground.
But.
What was she even doing? Looking like she's been in a cat fight. Her fine hair was messy, her clothes torn, and was she missing one of her sandals?!
"Heyyyy," she smiled, reaching out to touch his face. He was so warm, unnaturally so. Like a walking heater. His body was hard as rock, and he smelled good Nina wanted to cover herself in his scent.
Lev would have jerked back, if it weren't for the multiple pairs of eyes pinned on him. He was the General, and at all times he must show a respectable and responsible character. Even if it meant stomaching her touch which made his skin crawl.
On the other hand, Nina was losing her mind.
Her heart raced like crazy and she couldn't believe she was this close to Lev without losing her head!
His skin is so smooth! And his eyes are like my favorite energy drink. Heh, now I want an energy drink!
She shoved those thoughts away.
Right now she had to seduce him. Even though people were watching. And whispering.
Nina batted her long lashes. "I came to see you?" She whispered.
"I can see that." Lev's reply was cold.
"Will you let me touch your face?" She asked. Her hand still hovered mere inches from his face. She was scared he'd bite her hand if she touched him.
He gave a stiff nod.
The soldiers coughed. One of them let out a high pitched laugh, one that was more of fear than amusement.
Nina's face turned red, and her ears twitched like crazy. Her spores bloomed, filling the air with a sweet aroma.
The final piece of the puzzle fell in place!
Lev's hands itched to drop the murderous princess. But the first inhale of her sweet smelling spores made his head go blank. The muddled voices signaling a late stage one corruption went quiet. And for the first time in months, Lev had a peaceful mind.
One that lasted all of two seconds.
Nina quickly grasped the understanding of her spores. They reacted to emotions. So if she gave a negative emotion, like the intention to hurt—
The soft pink spores turned a dark, venomous purple.
The air became choked up and impossible to breathe in. The soldiers coughed violently, some of them crying out in pain, clutching their necks as their eyes widened and turned bloodshot.
Lev was hit the hardest.
The spores blasted in his face, cutting off his eyesight and filling his lungs with an acidic burn.
He knew it. He knew that woman had no good intentions!
Lev dropped her, like her body itself was made of acid. "You!" He roared, his voice tearing through the cries of pain and convulsive coughing.
The hall went deathly silent. No one dared speak or move a muscle.
Nina landed on the ground, her knees banging on the rough floor, blood pouring from the wounds. She bit her lip, the pain the very least of her worries compared to the furious beastman in front of her, and his battalion of poisoned soldiers.
A swish cut through the air.
Metal sang, the echoes lingering deep in Nina's ears.
A sharp and cold tip pressed into her throat. The force it used pierced her skin, drawing beads of blood.
Nina gasped, her body going rigid in fear. She followed the tip of the sword up and up till she met the owners eyes.
Lev's eyes had turned a dark crimson. The veins in his face and neck glowed purple. His dark mane glitched, like an old faulty computer screen. Above all was the look of pure rage and hatred on his face.
"You witch." He growled, the sound striking fear into every single soul in the room, Nina included. He pressed the sword deeper into her neck and Nina knew without a doubt that he meant to kill her.
[host! Host you need to leave now! Your life is in danger!] the System's voice blared, filled with humanly alarm. [Host you need to run! Now!]
Run?!
Nina couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't do anything but stare at Lev and hope he'd have mercy.
Then, a calm and diverting voice said behind her; "you drew your sword on the Princess."
Nina didn't hear whoever it was come in. Even worse, she couldn't tell there was anyone behind her if it wasn't for his voice.
"I know." Lev gritted out, his fangs elongating as his eyes blazed and his veins throbbed. His mane glitched even more, sparks of green and purple static that made him look feral.
"The Princess who is also your wife,"
"I said I know."
"That is treason, General. Punishable by hanging."
Nina gasped! He knew he would die and he still wanted to kill her?! How deep his hatred ran for the original body!
"I'm sorry…" Nina whispered, bracing herself for the System's hiding tone. Which never came. So she went on. "I'm sorry, Lev. I didn't mean to–"
"Save it!" He shouted, and swung the sword. "Every word that comes out of your mouth is a lie! Manipulation!"
Nina screamed, covering her head with her hands, bracing for the blow, for her head rolling into the ground.
The person behind moved, hooked his arms around her and pulled her out of the way. She felt the pressure from Lev's strike, a heavy whoosh of air in her, one that was aimed to render.
"That's enough, General." Her savior said, his voice steady and hard. Behind her, all she felt was cold. He was so cold to the touch.
"Take her out of my sight, Noctis. Or she dies." Lev said, meaning every word.
Nina's legs shook. Her eyes watered, tears clouding her vision.
I almost died! I almost fucking died because of a stupid task!
As if to mock her, that Ding! Sounded in her head.
[Congratulations host for completing the seduction mission! Reward: +1000 villain points!]
[For completing hidden side quest, Poison any extra people, reward: +10,000 villain points!]
[One Time Stamina Boost and One Time Plot Reveal has been added to your space as a bonus reward! Please check it out! Lucky you, hostie~]
Nina made a strangled noise at the back of her throat.
All these rewards. At what cost?