[SystemReloading…]
Jia opened her eyes slowly. Darkness.
"Ohh…not this again…." She groaned, and her spirit form shimmered.
At least the pain from being shot in the chest had gone.
Who was the man who shot her in the chest?
[Restart at last save point]
The system's disembodied voice chimed in.
"Last save point? Wait, Wait! Does that mean–"
In an instant, she was sucked into darkness, sending her consciousness into her body, and Jia sat up with a gasp.
She looked around, recalling the room she was trapped in a few hours ago.
"The Duke's room…" she muttered under her breath.
She pulled down the sheets covering her…." and I'm naked…this time not caught off guard…"
In a few minutes, the Duke will walk in, angry and questioning how she ended up almost drowned on his land.
Fortunately, Jia prided herself on her decisiveness.
She got out of bed, padding to the long, ornate mirror to examine her reflection again.
"I didn't really notice this before, but this long hair has been bugging me…"
Her waist-long golden hair was sleek and thick, but much longer than what she was used to. Jia hummed as she packed it into a bun.
She pulled at her cheeks, examining her golden eyes and flawless skin.
"Amazing…I really am–Adeline is really beautiful."
All of a sudden, the log cabin door flew open with a loud kick, bringing in the Duke, distrust written all over his face.
"Good. You're finally awake...."
This time, instead of gaping, she stared. He really was a specimen of a man. In those hunting clothes and a rifle slung over his shoulder.
Imposingly huge, with sharp, unusual red eyes that seemed to see into her soul, a sharp jaw and a straight chin hiding an old, faded scar on the side of his neck.
"Madam?" He raised a slit eyebrow, and Jia about swooned.
Who was supposed to be seducing whom here?"
He took another step towards Jia, snapping her out of her reverie.
"If you're going to take your life, I ask you not to do it on my borders. What is your name? I will be sending a complaint for damages to the head of your household."
What would a noble daughter do in this situation? Jia thought hard and fast.
She pretended to gasp, a hand over her mouth and took a dramatic bow.
"My sincerest apologies, Duke Cassian Craven–"
"Draven." He corrected her, irritated.
" Yes. Draven. I'm afraid it will take me some time to recover my wits. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for saving me."
Silence descended on the room as the Duke rubbed his stubble, trying to decide this strangely spoken woman.
Was she a spy? He should read carefully.
"From what I could see, you came over from the falls of forest of Hamber. It is a wonder you are alive. How did you come to be there? I know it houses mercenaries for hire."
Mercenaries? So those men who killed.the owner of this body were mercenaries? Jia stared down at her palms. She was pretty sure they were paid to kill and bury her.
"Are you orphaned?" His deep voice reverberated in the room.
"Orphaned....I–No"
"Then what is your name?"
"My name is Adeline Corvus of House Corvus."
"The baron?"
"Yes, Duke Cassian."
"Hmmm…. I turned down the annual hunting event supposed to take place on your land."
"A hunting event?" That explained the arrow. It would be dangerous to teleport there again.
She needed answers. And she needed them quickly. Jiatook another curtsey, bowing low.
"If I may, Duke…could I ask you to send me home? I am sure my family is quite worried."
"Is that so?"
He took another step towards her, and she instinctively backed away, eyeing him with extreme suspicion.
"Your face is pale...fine. I will send you back immediately, but not before I brand you."
Jia smacked away his outstretched arm and backed away.
"Don't." She hissed. It hurts like hell the last time.
"Don't? Are you telling me what to do?" He was a little taken aback at the challenge in her voice. Her humble behavior and defiant eyes were a unique contrast.
"No…I'm just saying it hurt."
"I understand. You don't seem to be lying. Come. Stand here and let me give you some clothes and send you back. But I'm going to be sending a query to your house.
He outlined a circle, on one knee in front of her and muttering.
From his crouched position as he mumbled a spell, she could see his hair, short, black as dark with an irresistible sheen. Without thinking, she reached out to ruffle his hair–and froze.
"Oh shit…"
He grabbed her hand, yanking it away, but the force caused her to fall. The Duke reached out to catch her, hand cradling her head.
"What are you doing?" He grunted, staring at her widened eyes.
He looked down in realization that her hand was grabbing at his crotch.
Pushing her off and clearing his throat, he resumed the circle, eager to be rid of her. He also felt the soft brush of her swollen chest against his. There was a growing throbbing in his nether regions he'd rather not address.
"I'm so sorry..I didn't mean to…"
The circle activated, pulsing with a red glow.
"Leave. Now." He said through gritted teeth.
Jia nodded quickly and stepped into the circle as it flashed brightly, and she disappeared.
He took a deep sigh of relief, unaware of his pounding heart.
[+1 Seduction Point]
[+ 1 Seduction Point]
****************************************************
Teleporting again was not as bad as the first time, or maybe she didn't notice teleportation side effects as she materialized onto her family hunting grounds.
A faint blush inflamed her cheeks as she pinched them.
"I touched a guy's….the Duke's…The Duke is hung and he wasn't even hard?"
Another wave of embarrassment covered her, and she noticed a throbbing on her left wrist.
"What's this? Ninety-eight?"
A bluish glow appeared with 98 appeared on her hand and faded away.
The number of lives she had left? She remembered the system saying something about looping.
[Yes]
The system's voice in her head sent a jolt through her.
"Ugh." She rubbed her temple. The first rounds of cannons fired through the air, signaling the start of the hunt.
"I should hide before an arrow –"
Like clockwork, the arrow with the red ribbons flew past her face, and she barely had the time to duck.
She ran to crouch behind the trunk of a huge tree.
"Whoever it is, please stop! I am the daughter of this house!"
There was a rustling and the sound of sure-footed steps. Jia strained to listen over the yells, but it was definitely the shooter walking towards her.
In a split second, she felt a presence towering above her.
" Well…I have never seen one this advanced before…"
The sly voice above caused her to look up, but before she could react, he grabbed her by the collar.
In a second, her feet were dangling below her as she struggled to break free of his firm grasp.
"Ssstopp…" Jia begged.
Blond hair that tousled in the wind and startling green eyes. He was dressed regally in white from head to toe, including his gloves.
His uniform was embroidered with golden vines and hung with one dark gemstone across his chest, and a gold chain watch hung at his waist
In his other hand was a pale bow of intricately crafted wood.
"Ll-et me go.." Jia Rasped, the light-headedness was beginning to set in.
Like a ragdoll, he tossed her to the floor.
"Get up."
His eyes were a deep, vibrant green but held frightening hostility.
" Oh God…." Her hands flew up in surrender.
From his boots, he pulled out a serrated knife that glinted and pressed it against the column of her exposed throat. It cut, sending a trail of blood running down the knife.
" To think you would wear the face of the Baron's daughter …."
" Wait! Wait! Wait! You think I'm pretending to be Adeline? I'm her!"
He pressed the knife against her throat harder, and Jia swallowed.
This man…he looked familiar and dressed so civilly, but he had a savage look of fury in his eyes.
"Just my luck. To be graced by a wraith on this hunt. I know how to kill you. I suppose I can have the Baron owe me even more…." He added with a sly grin.
He dropped his knife, his arm pinning her against the tree trunk by the neck.
His hand traveled underneath her gown as she screamed, ripping it off.
What the hell was he doing? Surely he wasn't trying to–
Prince Lucien realized his mistake as soon as his gloved hands felt her chest. This was beating–and warm. He let her go immediately, and she collapsed to the ground, coughing hard and holding her throat.
She was no wraith. But the Baron himself had announced his daughter had passed away a week ago, requesting donations from the Royal Treasury to bury her.
Did the despicable Baron arrange for his daughter to be killed?
And more importantly, he was the heir to the throne of Elyria, and he'd just felt up a maiden's chest in a secluded area.
He should— a blur of movement
Prince Lucien scarcely had the time to react to the branch an angry Jia had grabbed and struck him squarely in the temple.