Aspiring to Become the Top Star of Argent
The princess's words hit Lydia with the force of a revelation.
The more she turned them over in her mind, the more sense they made.
She *did* have a talent. If she stuck with the princess, if she helped run Spring Breeze Tower...
she could make her own money. The thought was intoxicating, the freedom of it, the possibility of standing on her own two feet.
A giddy excitement started to bubble up inside her, dissolving a weight she hadn't even realized she was carrying.
"Thank you for the advice, Your Highness," Lydia said, her voice full of genuine awe.
A notification flashed in Cassidy's vision: [Lifespan +1].
A thrill shot through her. An extra day of life, just for giving some solid advice? She'd take it. Buoyed by the good news, she decided it was time to finish cleaning up this mess. She had to save this poor girl from her deadbeat boyfriend once and for all.
Cassidy jerked her chin toward the scholar slumped in the corner. "Exactly how much money did you give that guy?"
Lydia shook her head. "Your Highness, it wasn't a loan. It was a gift, to help him with his studies."
Cassidy's hands tightened into fists. "No, it was a loan," she snapped. "And if you have that much cash to throw around, you can give it to me. At least I'd be grateful. You give it to him, and he'll just take it and still treat you like dirt."
The sharp anger in the princess's voice made Lydia flinch. She immediately backpedaled and scurried off to her room, returning a moment later with a small ledger.
"Your Highness, I've kept a record of all the money I gave Percival," she explained. "I saved every penny I could and gave it all to him."
Cassidy took the book. Every transaction was recorded perfectly. The girl was a natural bookkeeper.
She patted Lydia's shoulder, a satisfied smile on her face. "See? I knew you had it in you. With you in charge of Spring Breeze Tower, I can finally relax."
Lydia blushed. "You really think... I could run the whole tower?"
"Of course," Cassidy said, laying the praise on thick. "A mind for numbers like yours is rare. Keep this up, and I'll have other businesses for you to run down the line."
"Thank you for believing in me, Your Highness!"
In that moment, Percival and all the drama surrounding him evaporated from Lydia's mind. The only thing that mattered was the princess's encouragement.
Cassidy handed the ledger back. "Tally up every cent Percival owes you, write out an IOU, and we'll get him to sign it."
Lydia didn't hesitate. She quickly did the math and drew up an itemized IOU with the final sum.
Cassidy glanced at it. "Reid, take this and get his signature."
Reid didn't waste time checking if Percival was even conscious. He just grabbed the man's hand, pricked his fingertip with a pin, and pressed a bloody thumbprint firmly onto the document.
Cassidy then gave the IOU to Lydia. "Keep this somewhere safe. If he doesn't pay you back, take it to the Capital Inspection Bureau. I'll personally make sure he does."
Lydia's eyes welled with gratitude as she nodded, clutching the paper like a lifeline.
Pleased, Cassidy turned to leave with her maid. But first, she walked over to Percival and gave him a few sharp kicks for good measure.
"You dared to curse at me," she said, her voice low and menacing. "I should kick you until you forget your own name. But since you were so kind as to sign this, I'll let you off the hook for today. Just know that if I ever see your face again, I will beat you into the ground. Every. Single. Time."
The searing pain from the kicks jolted Percival awake just in time to see Princess Solana's entourage sweeping out the door.
Seeing he was conscious, Lydia showed no mercy. She immediately ordered the guards to throw him out, shouting after him that if he didn't pay her back soon, she'd drag him to court herself.
Percival was reeling. How could Lydia, who had been so devoted to him just a few minutes ago, turn on him so heartlessly?
The betrayal made no sense. His mind, scrambling for an explanation, seized on the one thing that did: Princess Solana.
She must have used her power, threatened Lydia, and forced her to do this.
His confusion curdled into pure resentment. A dark, ugly expression twisted his features. Fine. If the princess wanted to be ruthless, he could be ruthless, too.
He dragged his aching body to his feet and began limping toward Vance Manor.
Back at Ashworth Manor, Cassidy hadn't even had a chance to sit down when a new name flashed across the glowing screen in her mind.
[Miles Sterling]
"Who's that?" she muttered.
[He shares your last name, Host,] the System supplied. [Perhaps a relative.]
Cassidy rubbed her temples, once again cursing the fact that she didn't have the original owner's memories. She wouldn't be fumbling around in the dark, clueless about her own family.
Feeling helpless, she waved her maid over. "Auspicious, do you know who Miles Sterling is?"
"That's the emperor's grandson, Your Highness," Auspicious answered immediately. "Do you want to go see him?"
Cassidy sat up straighter. "The emperor's grandson? The Crown Prince's son?"
Auspicious nodded, then hesitated, as if a thought had just occurred to her. "But if you do want to see him, Your Highness... I'm not sure you'll be able to."
"Why not?" Cassidy asked. "Did I do something to offend the Crown Princess?"
"Oh, no, it's not that," Auspicious said quickly. "I've heard the young prince has... a strange condition. He's hardly spoken a word his entire life and never leaves his room. I'm just afraid that if you go to see him, he won't come out."
Cassidy frowned. That sounded a lot like autism. "How old is he?"
Auspicious thought for a second. "I believe he's six."
This was going to be tough. A six-year-old, possibly with autism. Just getting in the same room with him would be a challenge, let alone completing a mission.
[Host, are we going to find him now?] the System asked.
Cassidy glanced at her remaining lifespan, over a month. She didn't feel any particular rush. "Haven't you noticed? My lifespan is also tied to my popularity. The more people like me, the longer I live. So, my new plan is to become the biggest star in all of Argent and live to be a hundred."
The System seemed to process this. [Host, are we still the Villain System then?]
Cassidy stroked her chin, a smirk playing on her lips. "I don't care what system it is, as long as it helps me live. From now on, I'm working on my public image. I'm going to become an idol."
[But Host,] the System reminded her, [completing the mission will add fifteen days to your lifespan. You'd have to gain an immense amount of popularity to match that.]
Cassidy's smirk faded. The system had a point. For the sake of living, she had to do the mission.
Seeing the princess fall silent, Auspicious looked at her, puzzled. "Your Highness, are you still planning to go see the young prince?"
Cassidy nodded decisively. "He's family. It's only right that I show some concern."
Auspicious beamed, clearly pleased. The princess had become so much more thoughtful lately.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is returning to the palace in a few days," she said. "I heard they're holding a Grand Floral Banquet to welcome her back. The Crown Princess will surely bring her son. You'll be able to see him then."