Arianne had learned something important.
The system was dangerous.
Not because it gave her impossible quests.
Not because it dragged her into world-changing events.
But because every time it showed interest in someone…
Her peaceful life became impossible.
Arianne looked at the silver-haired girl.
The girl was still eating cake.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Like she wasn’t the potential future powerhouse the system had just warned her about.
Arianne sighed.
“Of course.”
Of course the mysterious Seed wasn’t a legendary warrior.
Of course it wasn’t a genius mage.
Of course it wasn’t someone dramatic.
It was a small girl who treated desserts like a life mission.
The system appeared.
[Seed Candidate]
[Status: Unawakened]
[Potential: Hidden]
Arianne stared.
Again?
Another hidden potential?
“System.”
No response.
“You’re really starting to repeat yourself.”
Silence.
Arianne looked at the screen.
“You know, giving me the same information every time doesn’t actually make it helpful.”
The system disappeared.
Arianne narrowed her eyes.
She was beginning to think it was ignoring her intentionally.
Meanwhile, the silver-haired girl finished her cake.
Then looked at Arianne.
“Are there more?”
Arianne blinked.
“More what?”
“Cakes.”
The answer came immediately.
Arianne stared.
Not:
Who are you?
Not:
Why are you watching me?
Not:
Why does the system think you’re important?
Cake.
That was her priority.
“Probably.”
The girl’s eyes brightened slightly.
Only slightly.
But Arianne noticed.
Interesting.
She really did love cake.
“What’s your name?”
The girl paused.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
Then:
“Selene.”
Arianne waited.
Nothing else came.
Just Selene.
No family name.
That was unusual.
Especially for someone attending a Rowland event.
“You don’t have a last name?”
Selene looked at her.
“I do.”
Arianne waited.
Selene continued eating.
Arianne waited longer.
Eventually…
She realized that was the end of the answer.
“…Are you going to tell me?”
Selene tilted her head.
“Do you need it?”
Arianne stopped.
That was actually a good question.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
Because the truth was…
She wasn’t asking because she needed official information.
She was asking because everyone in this world seemed to be hiding something.
Especially the people connected to the system.
Arianne smiled slightly.
“Not really.”
Selene nodded.
“Then it’s not important.”
Arianne stared.
That logic was strange.
But somehow…
She understood it.
Before she could ask anything else, another notification appeared.
[Seed Observation Updated.]
Arianne focused.
[Candidate Name: Selene]
[Current Condition: Unknown]
[Personality Assessment: Difficult]
Arianne almost laughed.
“Even the system admits it?”
Selene looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Arianne quickly looked away.
The system continued.
[Recommended Approach:]
Arianne waited.
Finally.
Actual advice.
[Food.]
Silence.
Arianne stared.
“…Excuse me?”
The screen remained.
[Food.]
One word.
One recommendation.
Arianne slowly looked at Selene.
Then at the cake.
Then back at Selene.
“So you’re telling me…”
The system had no comment.
Arianne covered her face.
Her Spirit Gardener ability was supposed to nurture powerful seeds.
And apparently the second seed required snacks.
Wonderful.
Just wonderful.
Across the hall, Fiona approached.
Her expression was polite.
But her eyes immediately moved toward Selene.
And changed.
Only slightly.
But Arianne noticed.
Fiona knew her.
Or at least…
She recognized her.
Interesting.
“Fiona?”
The heroine stopped.
Then smiled.
“Arianne.”
A pause.
“Who is your friend?”
Arianne looked at Selene.
Selene looked back.
Then calmly answered.
“I’m not her friend.”
Arianne blinked.
Fiona blinked.
Selene took another bite of cake.
“I’m just eating.”
Silence.
Arianne had no idea what to say.
The system appeared.
[Seed Compatibility Confirmed.]
Arianne looked at the screen.
Then at Selene.
Then at Fiona.
Her peaceful farm life was officially dead.
Arianne had reached a conclusion.
The system had terrible timing.
Every single time.
It waited until she was already overwhelmed.
Then it introduced something new.
Arianne looked at Selene.
A girl who apparently considered cake more important than introductions.
Then she looked at Fiona.
The perfect daughter of the Rowland Family.
And somehow…
These two knew each other.
That was concerning.
“Fiona.”
The heroine turned toward her.
“Yes?”
Arianne pointed at Selene.
“Who is she?”
For a moment…
Fiona didn’t answer.
That alone was enough to make Arianne suspicious.
Usually, Fiona responded immediately.
Perfect timing.
Perfect answers.
Perfect behavior.
But this time?
She hesitated.
Interesting.
“Her name is Selene.”
Arianne waited.
That was not an explanation.
Fiona seemed to realize this.
Then continued.
“She is one of the children supported by Saint Aurora Orphanage.”
Arianne glanced at Selene.
That made sense.
At least partially.
But something still felt strange.
Because the system didn’t react to ordinary people.
It reacted to potential.
And Selene had triggered it.
“Is she special?”
Fiona looked at Selene.
The silver-haired girl was currently looking at the dessert table again.
As if searching for her next target.
Fiona smiled slightly.
“Very.”
Arianne’s expression changed.
That answer came too easily.
“You know something.”
Fiona looked back at her.
The smile remained.
But Arianne had started noticing things.
Tiny things.
The difference between Fiona’s public smile…
And her real reactions.
“Everyone knows something about someone.”
Arianne stared.
That was such a Fiona answer.
Beautiful.
Polite.
Completely unhelpful.
“You talk like an adult.”
Fiona blinked.
Then laughed quietly.
“Is that a compliment?”
Arianne thought about it.
“Maybe.”
Fiona looked amused.
That was another strange thing.
The old Arianne probably never spoke to Fiona like this.
Maybe that was why Fiona kept looking at her like she was solving a puzzle.
“You really are different.”
Arianne froze slightly.
Again.
That statement.
She was starting to hear it too often.
“I told you.”
Arianne smiled.
“I hit my head.”
Fiona stared.
Then sighed.
“You keep using that explanation.”
“Because it works.”
“It doesn’t.”
“Still works.”
For a moment…
Neither spoke.
Then Fiona smiled.
A real one.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But real.
Arianne noticed.
Interesting.
Maybe the perfect heroine wasn’t as untouchable as the novel made her seem.
Before she could say anything, Selene suddenly appeared beside them.
No warning.
No sound.
Just there.
Arianne jumped slightly.
“Do you always walk like that?”
Selene tilted her head.
“Like what?”
“Like a ghost.”
Selene considered.
“Maybe.”
That was not helpful.
Arianne was beginning to understand the system’s frustration.
Or maybe the system understood hers.
“Fiona.”
Selene looked at her.
“Are there more cakes?”
Fiona blinked.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
Selene nodded.
“Good.”
And immediately walked away.
Arianne watched her leave.
“…That’s it?”
Fiona looked confused.
“What else would happen?”
“I don’t know.”
Arianne pointed toward Selene.
“She’s clearly important.”
Fiona’s expression changed.
Only for a moment.
But it happened.
Arianne saw it.
“You know something.”
Fiona looked at her.
“About what?”
Arianne stopped.
Right.
She couldn’t exactly explain why she felt that way.
Call it intuition.
Or maybe curiosity.
Either way…
Selene definitely wasn’t ordinary.
“Nothing.”
Fiona studied her.
Then looked away.
“You’re hiding things too.”
Arianne froze.
The statement was quiet.
Not accusing.
Just observing.
For an eight-year-old…
Fiona was terrifying.
“Maybe.”
Fiona looked surprised.
Then smiled.
“At least you’re honest.”
Before Arianne could respond…
A loud announcement echoed through the hall.
“Attention, guests.”
Everyone turned.
The charity event was officially beginning.
The conversations stopped.
The children gathered.
The Rowland Family stepped forward.
Arianne watched.
And suddenly remembered something.
The original novel.
This event.
It had been mentioned.
Not because of the charity.
Not because of the sponsors.
But because something important happened here.
Something she couldn’t remember.
Arianne’s expression changed.
She had been so focused on the Seeds…
She forgot one important detail.
The story was already moving.
And she had no idea what was about to happen.
The system appeared.
[Event Trigger Detected.]
Arianne froze.
[Hidden Scenario Activated.]
The screen flickered.
Then:
[Warning.]
Arianne stared.
“What now?”
The final message appeared.
[Original Story Deviation Detected.]
Silence.
Arianne felt cold.
The system had never used those words before.
Original Story.
Deviation.
Meaning…
Something had already changed.
And the reason was probably standing somewhere inside this room.