The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: 03/03- Favorability=-50
The moment Aeliana sighed, her heart felt heavy. She had hoped, prayed even, that the situation between her and Lucian could have been resolved with more ease. Yet, as her internal turmoil grew, a familiar ping echoed in her mind. The system—a constant companion in her life, measuring her actions, her emotions, and now even the bonds she shared with others. It was relentless.

Favorability: -50%.

Aeliana’s eyes momentarily drifted to the crystal clear sky above, feeling the weight of the notification as it struck her chest like a physical blow. She had been fighting for Lucian’s affection, her heart torn between hope and despair. But this? This was a stark reminder of the distance between them, a digital testament to the barriers she still had to break down. She had tried her best, but it wasn’t enough.

Lucian, standing a few feet away, caught the slight twitch in Aeliana’s expression. He had learned to read her in ways no one else could, especially not when the system sent out those notifications. He had always been attuned to the smallest change in her mood, her demeanor. But this—this one was different. He could sense something off about her, something deep within her soul that hadn’t quite been healed, despite all their attempts.

He turned, his gaze searching her face as the silence between them grew thick. “Aeliana,” he began softly, “what’s wrong?”

She hesitated for a moment before glancing back at him. His eyes were searching, filled with concern. It struck her then just how much he had grown—how much he had cared. But the system, always the impartial observer, had seen her fall short. She sighed again, the weight of everything pressing down on her.

Lucian narrowed his eyes, concern deepening. “I heard the system. What does that mean?”

Aeliana clenched her fists, trying to summon the courage to explain. The system had always been there, giving her feedback on her every move, her every word, like an invisible jury she could never escape. She had hoped, for a time, that the system’s judgment could be ignored—that her feelings for Lucian were enough to override it. But now, she realized how wrong she had been.

“It means I’m failing, Lucian,” Aeliana admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned her face away from him, unable to meet his gaze, unable to show the vulnerability she felt in her chest. “The system says that my favorability with you is at -50%. I haven’t done enough. I haven’t fixed things.”

Lucian’s heart twisted at her words. The weight of what she said hit him harder than he expected. He knew the system could be harsh, that it could be unforgiving, but hearing it from Aeliana herself—hearing her admit it out loud—felt like a dagger.

His jaw clenched. He didn’t want to be a part of this system, not when it caused so much pain for her, for both of them. Yet, he also understood how deeply it affected her. “Aeliana,” he said, stepping closer, “we’ve been through so much together. Don’t let a number or a system determine how you feel about us.”

But Aeliana shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek despite her best efforts to hold it in. “It’s not just the system, Lucian. It’s me too. I thought… I thought that we could just overcome it. That we could heal. But now I see how far we’ve drifted. And I don’t know if I can fix it.”

Lucian reached out, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. “You don’t have to do this alone, Aeliana,” he said softly, his thumb brushing away her tear. “We can figure this out together. I’m not going anywhere.”

She glanced up at him, her heart beating faster in her chest. His words should have been a comfort, but they only made the ache inside her deepen. It wasn’t just the system she had to fight anymore—it was the real distance between them. There was still so much left unsaid, so much that had yet to be reconciled.

Aeliana closed her eyes for a moment, her thoughts whirling in confusion. She had always prided herself on being strong, on being the one who could stand firm in the face of adversity. But this… this felt like too much. She could feel the wall between them grow higher with each passing moment, each passing ping of the system.

“Lucian,” she finally said, her voice trembling. “What if we can’t fix this? What if we’re just too broken? What if I’ve already lost you?”

Lucian’s face hardened at the thought. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—let that happen. He had already seen her at her lowest point. He had already felt the weight of their love crumbling under the pressure of his expectations, his doubts. But he wasn’t going to give up now.

“Aeliana,” he said with fierce conviction, his voice soft yet unyielding, “I’m not going to let this slip away. You mean everything to me. I know we’ve made mistakes. I know it’s been hard, but we have something that most people would kill for. Don’t let it go because of a number or because of doubts. I need you to trust me.”

Her heart fluttered in her chest, her emotions in turmoil as his words sank in. She wanted so desperately to believe him, to let herself trust him again. But the weight of everything—the system, the mistakes, the distance—felt too heavy to bear. Could she really trust in their love again, after all that had happened?

Lucian’s hand gripped her shoulder more firmly, his eyes searching hers. “I’ll wait for you, Aeliana. I’ll wait until you’re ready. But I won’t let you go. Not like this. Not when I know what we have.”

Aeliana met his gaze, her eyes softening just a little. The sincerity in his voice, the way he stood there with such certainty, broke through the wall she had put up. Maybe there was a chance for them after all.

“Lucian,” she whispered, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m not giving up on us either. Not yet.”

With that, she took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. The ping from the system still lingered in the back of her mind, but she couldn’t let it define her. They had both made mistakes, yes. But they had also shared something rare, something worth fighting for. And for the first time in a long while, Aeliana felt a spark of hope flicker within her heart.

.

Aeliana stood still, absorbing Lucian’s words. “Go home… as we sort things out. I’m not mad at you anymore.” The way he said it—calmly, without anger or frustration—was like a balm to her aching heart. It felt like a weight had been lifted, a small piece of the tension between them easing. She had feared his anger, his disappointment, but instead, he was offering her a way forward. Still, something lingered at the back of her mind, a sense of unease she couldn’t quite shake.

“Lucian,” she said softly, her voice trembling, “thank you. I… I didn’t know where we stood. It means more than you know.” She managed a small smile, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. But even as she spoke, she noticed Lucian’s eyes flicker, his focus shifting briefly, almost as if he was distracted by something.

Lucian furrowed his brow, glancing around as if trying to find the source of the slight noise. “Did you hear that?” he asked, his voice low but curious.

Aeliana, still processing the conversation, shook her head. “Hear what?” she asked, her eyes searching the quiet space around them. The air was still, the night calm, yet there was something faint, something almost inaudible that had caught Lucian’s attention.

Lucian turned to Mal, who was standing just a few paces away, his expression unreadable as always. “Mal,” Lucian asked with an inquisitive tone, “Did you hear that?”

Malion Drethos, the ever-observant and stoic trusted general, looked around with the same measured gaze, his sharp elven ears catching every sound in the surrounding forest. After a moment, he shook his head, his voice steady and neutral. “No, my lord. I didn’t hear anything.”

Lucian paused, confusion flickering in his eyes. He was certain he’d heard something—a soft, metallic ting, almost like the sound of a faint bell ringing. But now, as he looked around, there was nothing. The night seemed quiet again, peaceful even, with only the faint rustling of the trees in the distance.

“That’s weird,” Lucian muttered under his breath, glancing back at Aeliana. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, something that wasn’t just the physical tension between them, but a deeper, more unsettling sensation. He had grown accustomed to these feelings, especially after their long and complicated history, but this was different. It wasn’t just his mind playing tricks on him—he was sure of it.

Aeliana, sensing his unease, took a step closer, her voice gentle. “What do you mean, ‘weird’? Is something wrong?”

Lucian took a deep breath, trying to shake off the strange sensation that had crept up on him. “I don’t know,” he said slowly. “I just heard something. A sound… like a ting. It’s probably nothing.” He glanced at Mal again, but the trusted general remained silent, as if he, too, felt the weight of the uncertainty that lingered in the air.

Aeliana couldn’t help but feel a sense of discomfort as well. She had heard nothing herself, yet the strange energy between them, combined with Lucian’s unsettled expression, made her heart race. What was going on? Was it the lingering tension between them, or was something more at play here?

“I think I should go,” Aeliana said quietly, needing to clear her mind and put some distance between herself and the chaos of the situation. “I’ll head back to the kingdom, let things settle. It’s probably best if we both take some time to think, to process everything.”

Lucian nodded, his gaze softening as he regarded her. Despite the confusion and unease that had crept into his mind, he knew that Aeliana was right. They both needed time to heal, to reflect on the decisions they had made. “Go home, Aeliana,” he said quietly.