.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.Chapter 15: A Tumble with the Duke.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.

The gathering at Valeria’s house continued with its usual elegant tension. The ladies moved with grace, some casting sidelong glances at Marlene, others murmuring comments that could only be interpreted as attempts to intimidate her. Marlene maintained her impeccable composure, analyzing every gesture, every word, and every breath of those around her. Her cunning was on high alert, and the Kira system accompanied her, blinking softly as if measuring every decision.

At that moment, the drawing-room door opened with a soft thud, and a tall man with a distinguished bearing and firm steps entered the room. His noble armor and the confidence he projected filled the room with authority. Every gaze turned toward him; even Valeria watched him with respect and curiosity.

“Greetings, ladies,” the duke said, in a deep, grave voice. “I’ve come to handle some business matters with Valeria’s father. I hope I’m not interrupting too much.”

Kira immediately issued a notification:

[A new player objective has appeared. New mission unlocked: Maintain physical contact with the duke for one minute. Reward: +1 cunning, +1 likeability].

[Objective Status:

Adrian Blackthorn: (0/5)]

Marlene looked up and met the duke’s intense eyes. Her heart skipped a beat; she had heard rumors about him, his influence and charisma, but she never imagined such a close and sudden encounter. For an instant, the tension of the meeting vanished, replaced by the adrenaline of this unexpected meeting.

After the conversation about business concluded, the ladies began to disperse, leaving a small corridor to the exit. Marlene decided to withdraw with elegance, but just as she took a firm step, fate and her clumsiness intervened, and she stumbled into the duke.

“Oh!” Marlene exclaimed, trying to keep her balance. “I’m so sorry…”

“It’s alright, miss,” the duke said, holding her firmly but without roughness. “It seems that chance brings us together in curious ways.”

Kira sent a mischievous notification:

[Kira: Mission activated: Maintain physical contact with the duke for one minute without losing balance. Reward: +1 cunning, +1 likeability, possible public embarrassment].

Marlene, flushed and a bit flustered, gently tried to push him away to regain her space, but the duke’s strength was slightly greater. Every attempt to pull away resulted in a comical situation: a foot that slipped slightly, a minor accidental bump, and both struggling to maintain dignity while Kira meowed sarcastic comments:

[Kira: Careful, human! His hand is too close… his chest could be accidentally impacted. Do you wish to continue or give up?]

“Ehm… I think I need a second,” Marlene murmured, trying to recompose herself while lightly holding the duke’s hand to keep from falling.

The duke, smiling with amusement and patience, tilted his head slightly:

“It seems you have more energy than you let on,” he said in a serious but amused tone. “This is more entertaining than any court dance.”

Marlene, remembering Kira’s instruction, took a deep breath and decided to turn the situation into a game of wits. She adjusted her posture, held the duke’s hand gently, and applied a slight pressure to feign control without losing her grace. The system notified:

[Kira: Mission partially completed: physical contact maintained for 40 seconds. Reward: +1 cunning].

“Well,” she finally said, trying to regain composure, “it seems we have survived this… unexpected encounter.”

“Undoubtedly,” the duke replied, gently releasing her arm. “I hope it’s not the last time chance puts us in such… peculiar situations.”

Marlene continued her way to the exit, trying to compose herself, but every step seemed clumsier than the last due to her nerves. Kira, amused, added:

[Kira: Mission completed: physical contact with the duke for one minute. Additional reward: +1 likeability, +1 cunning. Comical effect achieved: maximum public embarrassment contained].

As she walked down the corridor, the ladies watched with bright, curious eyes, exchanging glances among themselves. Some tried to guess what had happened, others evaluated the way Marlene had handled the situation. Every breath of air, every step, was an opportunity to strengthen her position and show her cunning.

“My, oh my!” one of the ladies murmured, while Valeria watched in silence from her seat. “It seems Miss Marlene has a charm that goes beyond usual courtesy.”

Marlene suppressed a mischievous smile. Kira whispered mockingly:

[Kira: Maximum effect achieved: +2 likeability, +2 cunning. Note: Stay calm, human, or this duke could complicate your life more than expected].

Finally stepping outside, Marlene took a deep breath and leaned slightly against the garden railing. For an instant, she allowed an internal laugh to escape, feeling how the tension of the comical and romantic encounter mixed with the excitement of the strategy she had achieved.

“This…” she whispered to herself, “this will be much more complicated than I imagined.”

And on her shoulder, Kira meowed softly, as if congratulating her:

[Kira: Objective completed. Total reward: +3 cunning, +3 likeability. Preparation for future encounters with the duke: +1 alertness].

Marlene smiled, understanding that the day had been a comical and strategic success, and that the duke would not only be a challenge but an unexpectedly entertaining ally in the novel that was now her life.

                                                                                                                      ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥to be continued˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥