The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: System Intervention

As Lucian stood in tense silence, weighing his options against Selinthra’s manipulative threat, miles away, Aeliana found herself face-to-face with the ever-intrusive System.

It chimed in her head, its usual monotone voice devoid of empathy.

[Do you wish to restart or save progress from this point?]

Aeliana froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth as she sat in the quiet kitchen, still nursing her hangover. Her headache pulsed anew, not from the alcohol this time, but from frustration.

“Save progress? Now you’re telling me to save progress?” she snapped aloud, drawing startled looks from the cook and a passing maid.

[Affirmative. Saving progress ensures that any undesired outcomes can—]

“Oh, stop it! Where was this miraculous option when I needed it? Huh?” she cut in, slamming the spoon onto the table. Her emotions bubbled over—the regret from her kiss with Silvion, the pain of seeing Lucian leave, the lingering embarrassment of her drunken confession to Kael. It all came pouring out.

The System, unbothered as always, continued. “Progress can still be saved at this juncture to avoid permanent consequences of recent actions.”

Aeliana buried her face in her hands and groaned. “What’s the point of saving now? What’s done is done! Restarting won’t fix anything without undoing everything I’ve worked for! And saving now… well, I’ve already messed up so much.”

The cook gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Milady, are you feeling alright? Perhaps another bowl of soup?”

She waved the kind gesture off. “No, thank you. I just…” She sighed and muttered under her breath, “I just need a reset button for myself.”

The System, ignoring her emotional state, added,

[If no action is taken, the current state will proceed without alteration.]

She clenched her fists. “Fine, System. Save the damn progress. Might as well lock in this beautiful disaster I’ve made of my life!”

[Acknowledged. Progress saved.”]

The familiar chime echoed in her mind, and Aeliana slumped back in her chair. She felt simultaneously relieved and trapped. There was no going back now—whatever her mistakes, she had to own them.

Later that evening, as she wandered through the castle gardens, the fresh air doing little to clear her jumbled thoughts, Aeliana replayed the events in her mind. The kiss with Silvion gnawed at her guilt. She had to face him soon, and she dreaded it.

Then there was Lucian. His absence was like a gaping hole in her heart. She tried to convince herself that he just needed time, but the uncertainty left her vulnerable.

The System chimed again, startling her. “Incoming milestone event. Prepare to face unresolved relationships and external conflict.”

“Unresolved relationships? External conflict? Can you ever just be specific for once?” she hissed.

[That information is not available. Please proceed with caution.]

She threw her hands in the air. “Of course not. What else is new?”

At that moment, she spotted Kael approaching from the far end of the garden. His face was serious but softened when he saw her.

“Milady,” he said with a slight bow. “I’ve been looking for you. I… wanted to make sure you were alright after this morning.”

Aeliana forced a small smile. “I’ll survive, Kael. But thank you.”

He hesitated, his piercing gaze studying her. “If there’s anything troubling you, you know you can tell me. I’m here for you.”

The sincerity in his voice almost broke her. For a brief moment, she considered telling him everything—the kiss, the System, her fears about Lucian. But the thought of burdening him with her chaotic emotions felt unfair.

“I know,” she said softly. “But I’ll be alright.”

Kael nodded, though his concern lingered. “Very well. But remember, you’re not alone, Princess. No matter what happens.”

As he walked away, the System chimed one final time.

Her thoughts churned in frustration. ‘Now that I’ve saved it, it can’t get any worse…can it?’ She glance up at the bright cresent moon hanging in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows including hers. The calm night did her a favor of soothing her, it was very calming.

She kkicked a small pebble on the path, sending it it tumbling into a nearby bush. “What’s the point of saving if I’ve already balls-deep, if I’m already in trouble?” she muttered to herself.

The System’s familiar monotone voice echoed in her mind, jolting her.

[Progress has been successfully saved. Future deviations can be mitigated through calculated actions.]

She stopped in her tracks, glaring at the empty air as though the System had taken on a physical form. “Shut up. You’re not helping,” she snapped. ‘I am not having this anymore, ugh this is the absolute worse.’ she thought to herself

[Feedback noted. Current emotional state: irritable. Suggested course of action: meditate to regain composure.]

She threw her hands in the air. “Meditate? Really? That’s your brilliant advice? Where were you with these suggestions before I kissed my cousin or cried into Lucian’s chest last night, huh?”

The System, of course, didn’t respond to her sarcasm. It simply chimed again. [Current stress levels detected: high. Maintaining composure is crucial for optimal decision-making—]

“Shut it!” she hissed, pressing her fingers to her temples. “I don’t need your commentary every five seconds! Just… just give me some peace!”

The System, mercifully, went silent.

She doubtfully slumped onto a nearby bench, burying her face in her hands. It can’t get any worse, right? she thought again, trying to reason with herself, clasping onto anything she could leverage.

If Lucian didn’t return soon, if Silvion didn’t take her rejection seriously, if the tenuous peace she’d worked so hard for fell apart… what would she even do?

The weight of it all pressed down on her, and she whispered to herself, “I just wanted a fresh start. A future without war. Is that so much to ask?”

But the moonlight seemed to offer no answers, and the System stayed mercifully quiet, leaving her alone with her tangled thoughts.

[New objective logged: Resolve interpersonal conflict.]

She groaned, glaring at the empty air. “Yeah, thanks for the reminder, System. I’m working on it.”