Soaking my body in steamy warm water infused with aromatic essential oils and flower petals was on the next level of luxury. When your life was chaotic, it was a necessity. I wish I could also soak my problems and watch them disappear in water.

Two hours was enough to prepare for my little adventure.

Food, extra clothes, water, book, paper, self-made first aid kit, pillow, and blanket.

They’re not in the house, so I left my message with our butler.

Few kilometers away from our estate was a peaceful mountain called Trevkor. The 350m mountain had a mildly strenuous hiking trail as well.

I instructed them to pick me up before the sunset. Wild animals won’t hurt me.

Of course, I would never enter a war without weapons. My second drawstring bag contained things I need to defend myself, considering I would stay here for 6 hours. From a utility knife to a makeshift stove, I pulled them all.

Back in my world, I also had this same habit. I don’t know why, but I had to be alone to sort things out.

This frail body gave up hiking after half an hour. No worries, I’ve already found the perfect spot.

Before I could fully relax, I set up my tent. Our chauffeur, carrying a gallon of water, found me and placed the gallon next to my tent.

I don’t have to save up the water in my pocket hip flask.

The Empire’s zoomed-out shot was right in front of me, plus the bird’s chipping performance leaves rustling as the wind blows were music to my ears.

A girl surrounded by wealth was not bad.

“Tsk. I was late.”

I got out of my tent when I heard that familiar voice.

“Hey! I can still place my tent next to you, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

If I said no, he would still proceed with his plan, so why waste my saliva?

Our hugging scene flashed in my mind and, for weird reasons, my heart and mind became hyperactive kids who just ate tons of chocolate bars.

“My cave was not a secret anymore.”

“Why? Did you buy this mountain?”

What I meant was this was a public place. Making this spot a hideout was a bad idea unless you asked the Emperor.

What was in his laugh? It was like my favorite song. I would not be tired to hear it.

“So you go out of your shell from time to time?”

“Hmph!” I said with crossed arms.

Rummaging through my backpack was my excuse to avoid my conversation with him. I cannot hide my big smile with I saw the grilled cheese sandwich they prepared for me.

The squelching sound as we chew our packed snacks was the only one we heard...

“So, what will we do now? You?”

I chewed the rest of the sandwich before replying to his question.

“What do you mean?”

“You are the President of the ReyElla love team, right? Would you swallow it? After what you’ve been through?”

God knows how hard for me to give a piece of advice earlier. If my sibling’s life were not at stake, I might object.

“Can I sit next to you?”

My neck hurt having eye contact with him, so I agreed.

The moment his butt touched the wool blanket, he proposed an intriguing question.

“Have you tried to break the rules/law?”

With no hesitation, I replied, “No, I haven’t.”

He murmured gibberish words. Was there something wrong?

“Even once? That’s impossible!”

My eyes were on the ground as I walked down memory lane.

I narrated how I messed up with one of my teachers which broke the rule herself. This happened in my third year of high school. My classmates even wondered if I was the same Bethany or if I had amnesia. The Duke assumed it was my etiquette teacher.

“See, you have potential.”

“It happens once in a blue moon, sky, or star.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

He frowned. What’s distasteful, though?

“I guess, no matter how I tried to cross the line, we will never meet at a certain point.”

Unlike me, who had strong ties with rules, Duke Frederick was the man who would take part in extreme sports despite experiencing bone fractures.

“Do you really want our friends to end up together?”

“I don’t know.”

Right now, I am lost. Like mice running on a hamster wheel, even if I make movements, I’m still in the same place.

When I’m about to reach my goals, everything became dark. If I didn’t depend on the system... If I moved a lot faster... maybe...

What will happen to Ella now? Why do they need to give her a nasty story?

I touched my left ear, where he put a yellow daffodil from the bush a meter away from our tent.

“What if I told you I could grant your heart’s wish? Would you accept my offer?”

“Why would you do this to me?”

I was waiting for a response. What I received was an out-of-this-world experience. Our lifts pressed against each other, tongues twirling, my head went black.

I should have pushed him... I can’t. Here we are, trapped in our own world, gave in to our own desires.

We were back to reality when he pushed me away from him.

“Bethany, go! Stay away from me!”

The tent fell apart because he kept wiggling. Was this a seizure? Should I give him first aid?

“Go!”

A blazing fire at him up which made me the stone. There was only one thing I could do. I stood up, ready to find the nearest pond. Then, a force dragged my feet towards him.

“Please, go!” he repeated, despite his agony.

Why were you so agitated?

Things went crazier. The force made me place my right hand on the fire which covered his body. I did not feel any pain at all, considering I touched the flame. What the hell was happening? Developers, if you care for the game tester, please write some explanation.

Suddenly, the fire died. However, my body felt weak after it.

“We’ll go home.”

I did not dare to utter any word. This man did not let go of my hand, even if we rode in the carriage. Oh, no. I appreciated his sweetness. This was bad.

I know my parents would be anxious once they see my weak body. So, I put on a smile in front of them.

“I can manage,” I said when he was about to assist me.

“How could I? After you saved my life.”

His statement was correct.

“Do not worry, Your Grace. She has her servant with her.”

For sure, he would not escape the Grimaldi estate until my parents did not get their hands with the information.

I flopped my body onto the bed. I went hiking to forget my problem. What’s worse was there was another that popped out of nowhere. Why were the events out of place?