Quick Transmigration of the World Destroyer

Chapter 3: The Transmigrator and Aileen (3)

"Good morning, Aileen," greeted a baritone voice.

Ye Ai knew who this person was but she didn't want to play along with its dramatics and romantic plays.

"Good morning, your Highness, the Crown Prince," she greeted back with utmost gesture.

"!" he was looking at her flabbergasted.

Ye Ai who's still not getting up from the bow waited patiently. Although she just came back from fetching water from the stream, she still felt fine and can accommodate a little acting with this man. Somehow, she remembered her exchange with her system earlier:

[Host Ai, your strength is too low. Slow down.]

Xiaoyi worriedly reminded her and she felt warmed. This was the same feeling when she's still with her old friend, that old system. They used to bicker and yet they still cared for each other. And in their last operation, it even sacrificed itself. It’s too painful just remembering.

"Don't worry, I can still handle this. I have you anyway, Xiaoyi."

[Of course, I'm here to always help you, Host Ai.]

In Ye Ai's imagination she thought if Xiaoyi has its own body then it'd be pushing its chest out at the moment. She can't help and give another warm smile.

"How—"

She abruptly returned to the present when she heard the man's voice. With regards to this man, she has no other feelings. She simply has lots to do in this world and decided to withdraw the moment she's done. She didn't want to waste time with all the dramas.

"I—this humble subject, pleads your magnanimous heart, your Highness. Please forgive any disrespect committed in the previous meetings."

"Stop that, Aileen!"

She nervously held her head up and looked at him with trepidation. "Your Highness?"

"I didn't want—I didn't tell you because I know this will happen," he sighed tiredly. He can't think of anyone who'll expose him, not from this far away from the castle—no, there's one—

"But I was very disrespectful to you before, Rhom—Your Highness," she pleaded as she sneaked a glance at her own home. "Please if you'll punish me, don't involve my family."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean, I know you're the Crown Prince and you're engaged with—ump," she suddenly clamped her mouth to shut whatever she's talking about. But the man in front of her already got the gist.

"It was her, wasn't? She still made it here," he spoke in gritted teeth. His eyes flashed in annoyance but not towards Aileen.

"Please, your Highness, don't see me or my family again," she bowed over and over again while repeating that.

"Aileen..." he whispered disheartened.

"I shall go—Caron and Chichi need me," she worriedly hinted the man, conveniently forgetting of using her lowly title and instead using ‘I’. She made sure to act with her best acting abilities. Before turning away, she whispered a farewell and then ran inside.

"Aileen!" Rhomeo called for the last time but knowing the girl, he knew she'd never face him again unless he did something about this incident. He couldn't believe that that woman would be this malicious! He already annulled their engagement!

The Crown Prince walked away decisively, taking the direction to the west of the Capital where the aristocrats laired their residences.

[Host Ai, the male lead has walked away. How can you foster your feelings if you let him go now?]

"Xiaoyi, this is something only older people understood. Be good and watch," she prepared the dishes for the day. Since she entered Aileen's body she has taken her duty seriously. Aside from taking care of her siblings and the household chores, she also tried to improve their living conditions.

First, instead of the tasteless gruel soup each meal she made sure to forage herbs and spices and also fruits from the forest. With her memory she can easily distinguish which can be used and which were purely weeds. The rest of her fodder she'd exchange from the market for salt, natural sugar and other condiments. Aside from these, she also hunted fowls once in a while, divided it for the days' dishes and then dried the rest.

[But Host Ai, according to my simulations, the two of you must fight the villain together and cultivate your feelings to reach the goal—to let Aileen live happily and successfully.]

"Of course, that's why I'm doing this."

[...I don't understand...]

"You said that Aileen's wish was to live happily and successfully, right?"

[Yes.]

"And you told me to be with the Crown Prince to reach them both, right?"

[Yes.]

"But who is Aileen?"

[Aileen: commoner daughter of a farmer and a castle helper. Eldest of the three siblings and has lively and optimistic personality. The world's protagonist.]

"Exactly. Then who's the villain?" she asked back after her system’s auto search response.

[Althea Vaine: the only child and daughter of Grand Duke Vaine. She grew up spoiled and very willful. The world's villainess.] 

[Eh? It still hasn't updated, it's a transmigrated soul already ah?]

"That's the problem with external infection, the world recognizes them differently. This is also the reason why I want you to upgrade. When you do you can view much better information," she explained to her system but didn't divulge the more crucial information. Not telling wasn't exactly lying, right?

[Oh, okay. I will work hard, Host Ai!]

"I know, Xiaoyi is the best."

[Ehehe... thank you—eh! Wait! Then why did you kick the male lead away again?]

"Since I can't fight."

[Host Ai? Fight? Who are you fighting? Your status is very weak ah.]

"Everyone."

[Host Ai, are you not feeling good?]

"Xiaoyi—"

[Ei! I know I will be good. But I still don't understand.]

"Just think about it, if I try to cling to the male lead, everyone will be against it. How can a lowly commoner rise to royalty by simply seducing the green-horn Prince? It'll be my destruction, even if the villain doesn't move I'll be ruined by the masses."

[But you know, in the novels and fairy tales, this kind of love story is very effective.]

"Do you really want your host be a senseless i***t to follow those fantasies? They're effective in those kinds of platforms but here we are actually living the story. If we do that, we'll be both destroyed. Xiaoyi, you're still young and have yet to master this industry."

[Host Ai...]

"Yeah?"

[You're the best! It's my luckiest day when I bound with you!]

"Xiaoyi—"

[I'll be good...Wuwu, I'll be good.]

"That's not what I'm gonna say."

[Eh? What?]

"I'm just gonna ask how did you find and bind with me?"

[Bind with you? I don't know. When I woke up we're already bound, Host Ai.]

"It wasn't the administrator, right?"

[I don't know.]

"Doesn't the system network has a standalone intelligence to create new system and then on your own you'll find your suitable host from the different worlds?"

[I think so. But further information is beyond my authority.]

Ai heard her system sigh. "Don't worry, I'll help you upgrade soon."

[...Host Ai, I think I'm liking you more.]

"I like Xiaoyi the most."

[Host Ai... Wuwuwu, why are you so good to me?]

"Xiaoyi, be good. Too much stimulation is not good with the heart."

[Ei, I don't have a heart.]

"Then did you lie when you told me you're liking me more?"

[I-I don't think so. It kind of felt it. I can't explain...]

"Don't worry, you'll understand more in time," she told her system but deep inside she's also asking why her system was almost like an individual. It's as if it's not a new system and yet it's truly a newly created system with its codes and conduct.

While Ye Ai and Xiaoyi were busily cultivating their host and system relationship, Crown Prince Rhomeo had visited the grand mansion of the Grand Duke and asked for an explanation. He adamantly blamed Althea for trying to harm his relationship with his beloved. He didn't even care even if the face of the Grand Duke has several black lines while he's demanding an account.

Althea, on the other hand, didn't face the Crown Prince, her ex-fiancé. The soul inside Althea has conveniently similar name with her. So when she arrived, she was so confused why everyone around would call her ‘Young Miss’ when she's just named Althea. But when she found out the story of this body, the only child of the Grand Duke and the left-over fiancée of the Crown Prince, she was first surprised but she learned to appreciate her new life. Of course, that didn't include the shame thrown by the royal family to her and her new family.

"That damn slag! How dare he accuse me of something I didn't do! Does he think just because he's a prince that karma won't bite him back? Then let me do the honor!" she spoke maliciously while watching her alluring figure on the mirror.