Trapped! I Was Played In A Ruined Romance

Chapter 09

Ada Williams

My vision went dark for a second. Just a second. But it was enough for the reality of what I was holding to finally sink in.

Up until that moment, some part of me still wanted to believe that all of this was nothing more than another stupid dream. But no. That creepy guy had actually come all the way here to threaten me, and that letter was really sitting between my fingers.

A lump formed in my throat as I brought the paper closer to the silver light filtering through the crack in the door. The moonlight wasn't strong, but it was enough to reveal the red wax seal at the bottom.

My eyes lingered on it for a few seconds, and then the memories surfaced. Not like before, in violent flashes. This time it was quieter, almost effortless. As though I were recalling something that had always been there.

That crest—those three crossed pitchforks next to a crown. I recognized it. Or rather... the Ada of this body recognized it. It was the symbol of the count who ruled over this entire agricultural region—for the taxes, the harvests, and the local laws. Every order from the emperor passed through him first.

I ran a hand down my face.

"Oh, no..."

I let out a nervous laugh, shaking my head.

"This is ridiculous."

I looked back at the letter, and there it was, with those absurd things written on it.

"So now I have a medieval stalker."

I sighed.

"A forced marriage."

I sighed again.

"And a continental war heading right for me."

Another sigh.

"All of this in less than forty-eight hours."

Talk about efficiency. My entire life had never fallen apart this fast.

Not even when the internet went down during a company system update, and that had already been traumatic.

Right at that moment, a new window materialized in front of me, glowing yellow. I nearly had a heart attack. Again.

"Is there some reason you guys always pop up trying to kill me?"

The system ignored my complaint. As always.

[NEW MAIN EVENT AVAILABLE]

"Of course there is." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Why wouldn't there be?"

The window expanded. And the following words only made my night worse.

[MAIN EVENT: MARRY OR LOSE THE PROPERTY]

I just stared at it, blinking slowly.

Once. Twice. Three times.

"Oh, no..."

New lines appeared beneath the title.

[TIME REMAINING: 7 DAYS]

[OBJECTIVE: GET MARRIED]

[AVOID PROPERTY CONFISCATION]

"No."

I was starting to repeat that word a lot, but... it was the only appropriate response, because this was absurd.

I had just arrived in this world.

I didn't know anyone, any town, or the customs. I didn't even know the way to the market—if there even was one.

And the system had basically looked at me and said, "Congratulations. Save the city and find a husband." I wanted to bang my head against the wall.

Seven days.

Not even dating apps were this aggressive.

I paced around the kitchen for a few minutes, trying to think. Then an idea hit me. A brilliantly wonderful idea.

An idea that would solve absolutely all of my problems.

I would simply... leave.

Done. The end.

I'd pack some clothes. Some food. Maybe sell the farm. Maybe not. Who cared?

I would flee to another town. Another kingdom, another continent if necessary. Duene could go plague someone else, and White Hill could deal with its own damn problems. I would live happily far away from this mess.

Except then the words flashed in the air again. And ruined everything.

[QUEST ABANDONMENT PENALTY]

My smile vanished.

[Negative Effect Applied]

[DEATH]

...

I stared at the word. The word stared right back at me.

"WHAT?!"

"Oh, screw you."

I kept staring.

"You can't do this! You can't force me to participate in this madness!"

I lunged at the letters, nearly out of my mind, swatting at them and causing them to scatter like smoke in the air. But the moment I stopped, the words rematerialized.

I took a breath, trying to calm myself down, and sank into one of the old chairs. I desperately wanted to believe that this was a bluff, just an empty threat. But after the killer chickens, the fake memories, the midnight stalker, and the hellish farming system... I wasn't feeling so confident anymore.

"I should never have started this damn game!"

That was when I realized something. Every time I didn't understand something, the system sort of explained it. Every time I got confused... more information or memories appeared. Every time I needed context... it showed up. It was as if someone were watching me.

Goosebumps broke out over my skin; I rubbed my arms, trying to make the eerie sensation go away.

I looked up at the windows.

"Is anyone there? Can you hear me?"

Silence.

I stood up, glaring angrily at the windows.

"Hey!"

No answer.

"Fine." I pointed at the screen. "I get it. You only answer when you feel like it."

Silence.

"Just like my manager."

Nothing.

"No, actually, you're way worse."

And that was when I had the sinking feeling that my comment was completely accurate. Because at least my manager replied to emails. This system only threatened to kill me.