VIVIAN
Vivian stood before the full-length mirror while Arin adjusted the silver-blue dress around her waist.
Stepping back, the maid smiled in satisfaction.
"Miss, you are more beautiful than Elena. Elena has elegant beauty while you have a seductive beauty."
Vivian looked at herself in the mirror before letting out a long, defeated sigh.
"...Can I just fake my death?"
Arin stopped combing her hair.
She thought seriously for a few seconds.
"Madam will probably still make you attend the blind date."
Robot Number Ninety-Nine rolled into the room.
"Princess Vivian."
"The flying car is ready."
Vivian sighed again.
"If I don’t come back...."
"Tell everyone I died bravely."
Arin bowed respectfully.
"I’ll tell them you died because you refused a blind date."
Arin couldn’t stop a tiny smile from appearing.
A sleek black flying car silently lifted into the sky. Vivian wondered how the original character could afford such cars. She had them in so many colors.
Vivian rested her chin on the window as countless vehicles flew around them.
The roads of Haxia existed only in the air.
Below them, the ground was covered by forests, rivers, and enormous futuristic cities connected by towering crystal buildings.
"...It’s still hard to believe."
Arin tilted her head. "What is, Miss?"
"This world. I suddenly realized I don’t know much about Haxia."
Arin looked surprised.
"You truly forgot everything."
Vivian laughed awkwardly.
"Let’s pretend I did."
Arin nodded.
"Haxia is ruled by the Seven Supreme Celestials."
"Each district is protected by powerful Beast Clans."
"There are wolf, dragon, phoenix, serpent, deer, merman, fox, and countless other Beast Clans."
Vivian listened carefully.
"What about ordinary humans?"
"There are no ordinary humans anymore."
"Thousands of years ago, humanity evolved by merging with Beast Genes."
"Everyone carries a Beast Bloodline."
Vivian’s eyes widened.
"So everyone can transform?"
Arin shook her head.
"No."
"Only after awakening. You CAN’T transform either."
"When men awaken, they gain stronger physiques, enhanced senses, and the abilities of their Beast Bloodline."
"They become warriors."
Vivian nodded.
"And women?"
Arin smiled.
"Women are different."
"They awaken Spiritual Beast Core."
"They control the men."
"The stronger the woman, the stronger the entire family becomes."
"They can also suppress Beast Frenzy and stabilize awakened males."
Vivian blinked.
"So women are... treasured?"
"Very."
"The stronger a woman’s rank..."
"The higher her status."
Vivian leaned forward with curiosity.
"My mother..."
"She’s SSS-Class."
Arin nodded proudly.
"Yes."
"There are only a handful of SSS-Class women in the entire Empire."
"When Madam awakened, she was personally granted the title of Princess of the Celestial Astral District by the Imperial Family."
"Because you are her daughter..."
"You inherited the title of Princess Vivian."
Vivian scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"...Even though I never awakened?"
Arin lowered her head.
"...Yes."
Vivian laughed bitterly.
"A princess without powers."
"No wonder everyone laughs at me."
Arin immediately shook her head.
"I don’t laugh at you, Miss."
Vivian smiled.
"I know."
The flying car continued gliding through the endless sky.
Vivian pressed her forehead against the glass.
"Haxia..."
"...is even more beautiful than the novel described."
Nearly thirty minutes later...
The flying car descended onto a floating platform surrounded by waterfalls that flowed upward into the sky.
At its center stood one of the most luxurious restaurants Vivian had ever seen.
The restaurant floated hundreds of meters above the city. Its transparent crystal walls offered a breathtaking view of Haxia’s skyline.
Artificial trees bearing glowing silver leaves lined the entrance.
Vivian slowly stepped out of the car.
"...This place must cost a fortune."
Arin nodded.
"It is one of the most famous restaurants in the Capital."
As they entered, elegant service robots greeted them politely.
"Welcome."
"Please enjoy your dining experience."
Vivian admired everything around her.
Even the birds flying between the trees turned out to be tiny mechanical creatures singing beautiful melodies.
"This world really loves showing off..."
She smiled.
Then...
Her smile froze.
Not far away...
A familiar blue military uniform entered her line of sight.
Commander...Caelan Drayke.
He sat near the panoramic window with several officers dressed in black uniforms.
Holographic battle maps floated above their table as they discussed military matters.
Vivian’s eyes widened.
"...Why is he here?"
Without thinking, she grabbed the menu from a nearby service robot and covered her face.
Arin looked confused.
"Miss?"
"Shh!"
Vivian whispered urgently.
"Don’t look over there."
Arin instinctively glanced anyway. "...Commander Caelan."
The chair opposite Vivian was suddenly pulled back.
Someone sat down.
Vivian instinctively raised the menu higher, hiding almost her entire face.
Only her eyes peeked over the top.
A deep, calm voice spoke.
"Princess Vivian Astronova?"
She nodded absentmindedly, still watching Commander Caelan from the corner of her eye.
"...Yes."
The man wore a fitted black suit embroidered with silver constellations. A sleek obsidian mask concealed the upper half of his face, making it impossible to tell what he truly looked like.
Only his sharp jawline and thin lips were visible.
"My name is Lucien."
"I believe we’re today’s blind date."
Vivian nodded again.
"Mm."
Her attention remained elsewhere.
Please leave...
Please leave...
Please don’t look this way...
Almost as though her prayer had been answered, Commander Caelan finally stood.
The officers behind him followed.
Beside him walked a beautiful woman in a navy military uniform.
Neither of them spared Vivian a glance.
The group disappeared into the private elevator.
Only after the doors closed did Vivian finally lower the menu.
"...I’m alive."
She let out the longest sigh of relief in her life.
Lucien quietly watched everything.
"So..."
Vivian folded her hands politely.
"I’ll be honest."
"I have no intention of becoming anyone’s partner."
"I already love someone else."
Lucien leaned back in his chair. "Commander Caelan Drayke?"
Vivian froze.
"...What?"
"You investigated me?"
Behind the black mask, the corners of Lucien’s lips curved upward.
"You are one of the Capital’s most famous women."
"There isn’t much to investigate."
He calmly poured himself a cup of tea.
"What surprises me is something else."
He looked directly at her.
"A Zero-Class female..."
"...who has never awakened..."
"...still had the confidence to pursue her sister’s fiancé."
Vivian’s expression stiffened.
Lucien continued calmly. "You should be grateful I accepted this blind date. Most employers won’t even hire a Zero-Class female, yet I was willing to marry you."
For a brief moment, Vivian felt the original owner’s humiliation and the ridicule she had endured all her life.
But only for a moment.
She suddenly smiled.
As long as I’m not embarrassed...
Then the embarrassed one will be someone else.
She casually folded her arms.
"Well..."
"I am pregnant with Commander Caelan’s child."
"I don’t care what the world says."
"I love him."
She smiled brightly.
"And honestly..."
"I wouldn’t mind adding you to my list of lovers."
Lucien’s hand paused halfway to his teacup.
"..."
For the first time...
He was speechless.
Is she....serious?
Where did this shameless confidence come from?
After a long silence, he slowly set down his cup.
"Very well."
"I’ll marry you."
Vivian blinked.
"...Huh?"
"I don’t mind the child."
"We can raise the baby together."
This time...
It was Vivian’s turn to be stunned.
What?
Is he crazy?
In Haxia...
Even women who had multiple husbands raised each man’s child separately.
No man willingly raised another man’s offspring.
Yet...
This merchant had just offered to do exactly that.
Vivian quickly stood.
"...You know what?"
She folded her arms proudly.
"I’ve changed my mind."
"I have too many men chasing after me."
She lifted her chin.
"And you’re only the son of a merchant."
"I’m the daughter of a celestial princess."
"I’m looking down on you. You are lower class and don’t deserve me. "
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
Vivian flashed him a confident smile.
"So..."
"When my mother asks..."
"Tell her you didn’t like me."
Without waiting for his reply, she grabbed Arin’s wrist.
"Run!"
"Y...Yes, Miss!"
The two women hurried toward the rear exit.
As soon as they disappeared through the back door, Arin whispered urgently,
"The back route is safer!"
Vivian nodded. "I don’t want to meet Commander Caelan again today."
The automatic doors slid open.
Both women rushed outside...And immediately stopped.
A long line of black military hover cars was parked behind the restaurant.
Standing beside the first vehicle was Commander Caelan Drayke.
Tall..Cold..Motionless.
Like a sculpture carved from ice.
His sapphire antlers gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.
The moment Vivian looked up...
His icy blue eyes met hers.