Chapter 650: Script in Shambles
According to extensive preparations, the scenes today should’ve gone as follows:
Scene 1: A shady meeting in some over-the-top banquet hall, chandeliers glittering above, with the clear purpose of intimidation.
Scene 2: As the main character bowed respectfully, the in-laws would dramatically slam a sad-looking paper across the table, accompanied by an offensively large sum of money. Gasps would follow. Outrage would erupt. Tears would stream. Depending on the intended rating, there might even be slaps.
Scene 3: Then, with perfect timing, the main character’s family would arrive. Equally dramatic, they would scream about insulting their child and their cows. Tables would overturn. Kneecaps would shatter. An all-out brawl would begin in glorious slow motion.
Scene 4: As security swarmed in and chaos reigned supreme, the main couple—hands clasped, eyes wet with teary realizations—would declare that if their families would not accept them, then they would run away together.
Scene 5: Naturally, they would forget to grab the sad-looking paper. Poverty would strike immediately. And as if fate were a vindictive playwright, accusations of cheating with a mysterious extra, a shocking baby swap, or the reveal of someone’s true identity would surface. There would be fainting. Lots of fainting.
Scene 6: Then, if, by some miracle, they survived the hired guns, the inevitable vehicles colliding at suspicious intersections, and the tragic but somehow convenient illnesses, then—finally—the main couple would be able to live a happy ending after exhausting both their families.
It would’ve been a great script. But unlike those, D-29, as the most helpful little system, had prepared money so they wouldn’t be too poor to afford a measly Star Net channel subscription.
There was even enough CP so that the Host and the benefactor wouldn’t go hungry, nor would they have to perish from vehicular accidents. After all, if there were no need to ride vehicles because they could travel for free, then there would be no need for accidents.
But things refused to happen as planned, and D-29’s attempt to record cinematic events was failing miserably because the little system could not predict the flow of events at all.
What could’ve been a banquet hall was switched to a medical bay.
The criminal, who should have appeared halfway through the story for maximum impact, was apprehended before the meeting even began.
During the so-called fateful confrontation, the in-laws—who were supposed to slap the table and demand separation—actually bowed to the main character instead. And then, the little system was told that the boss would be given everything.
It should have been a happy ending already. There was already a kissing scene, and D-29 had even managed to capture it from three different flattering angles.
But the steps were once again violated when the attack came!
To begin with, how could the questionable event even be considered an attack?! Was the action finally starting?
If only. Because instead of flashy vehicular accidents and explosions, D-29 only managed to film a herd of elders arriving en masse, hobbling like the slowest stampede in history.
The little system comforted itself by thinking that at least this meant the next step would happen properly. But then came the main character’s family.
Only, instead of the expected confrontation where the main couple would dramatically declare their devotion and storm out hand in hand, they all ran away!
Together!
That meant they were saved, right? They managed to survive.
So D-29 thought the scene was over.
But at the very last moment, there was finally a revelation of someone’s true identity!
But...
But how come things turned out like this?
How could the source of the revelation pass out himself?!
And how come the others bowed as if they already knew?!
The little system was bewildered.
It should’ve been dramatic.
Exciting.
Emotional.
Filled with conflicts and surprises that would’ve made even Mariana proud.
So how come no one was reacting properly?!
But if the little system could only read everyone’s minds, then it would have seen emotions, drama, and explosions as a much-awaited—mostly feared—event reached its tipping point.
The collective reaction came first.
A sharp intake of air.
And a far smaller number of exhales.
Ollie gaped at Kyle, who quietly wondered if his brother would even make it to tomorrow.
Princess Kira poked at Ada repeatedly, desperate for assistance.
Butler Gary, Steward Han, and Assistant Gisella fixed their eyes on the Duke, as though bracing for the very thing they had long dreaded.
Duchess Amelia drew in a deep breath for everyone’s sake, just as Jax calmly explained to the bewildered elders that yes, today, the Empress and Emperor had arrived.
And then came the Duke.
His hand trembled as he raised a finger. His arm shook as though it carried the burden of the galaxy itself.
First, he pointed at Xavier.
Then, with the swiftness of a man whose world had just crumbled, that trembling finger shifted toward Killian.
His eyes widened, his body stiffened, and he fell back, perfectly straight, like a felled log, almost crashing into the grass.
The mighty Duke had fainted.
Killian’s face drained of all color at the sight. His knees buckled, and as though in solidarity, he too collapsed, gratefully surrendering to the darkness with the faint echo of someone shouting, "Papa!"
If only it were that easy for everyone else.
In fact, if there was anyone who truly wished to be swallowed whole by the ground, it would be the Imperial couple. They, more than anyone, did not want to become a burden by arriving like this—not to their son, and certainly not to the new members of their family.
The Emperor and Empress, who had both massively flinched at being addressed so directly, had to gather their wits while compartmentalizing all the stimuli hitting them from everywhere. Their nerves had not yet steadied when they saw Luca rush forward, as he cushioned the fall of the Duke and Killian with his spiritual energy.
The Empress, cheeks faintly flushed, pressed a hand over her chest as she exhaled and finally spoke.
"Greetings, everyone," she said with as much composure as she could manage. "And... my apologies for the commotion." She sighed softly, sounding genuinely embarrassed, as though she herself could not believe they had been exposed in such a dramatic way.
The group around them—those surrounded by the living walls of trees and the grass of the dungeon—froze for a heartbeat. Then, as if a delayed understanding had finally sunk in, the truth that could no longer be denied came crashing down on them.
One by one, the people straightened, adopting postures of proper reverence.
In near unison, voices rang out. "Greetings to the Eternal Lights of Solaris."
Cece stumbled a little, glancing around before copying the others’ bow, her tiny voice echoing theirs. The elders, stiff with shock, also followed along, bending low in near-perfect imitation. And Luca, wide-eyed and unsure of the custom, hurried to copy them too, his movements awkward but filled with earnest sincerity.
The Emperor and Empress exchanged a look. Then, with regal calm settling back into their bones, they greeted the crowd back with grace and dignity, as though the stumble earlier had never happened.
Silence lingered for a breath.
Awkward silence.
The kind of silence that had everyone moving as if they were walking on eggshells, uncertain of what to say or do next.
But then Duchess Amelia’s gaze drifted, and she saw her son.
Golden eyes looked back at her, pleading. Anyone else would likely assume those eyes were begging for a chance to make a good impression on the Imperial family—after all, who wouldn’t want to be in their good graces?
But she knew better.
How could she ignore those pure, hopeful eyes together with those clasped hands? Her child’s hand was firmly held by that boy, who, just as she expected, happened to be none other than the Imperial Crown Prince.
The Duchess let out a long sigh. A sigh that said she already knew she was going to lose this battle before it even began.
The people before her weren’t just the Empress and the Emperor. They were family. Additional family. Just an expansion of the people who would hopefully love Luca, too.
It was just that, before her husband woke up and caused even more chaos, she knew it would be best to do something about it
After all, they can’t possibly disappoint their son, could they?
She turned toward the Imperial couple and inclined her head.
"Your Majesties, it has been a long time since we’ve seen each other. And while the circumstances are not exactly ideal for such a meeting, if you are willing, would you come with us? It seems we have a great many things to talk about."
And what do you know. Another day, another medical bay.
It was then that one little system, after all its extensive preparations for banquet halls, confrontations, and spectacular drama, came to a very practical conclusion.
Maybe it was time to invest in better lighting for the medical bay, since apparently, this was where everyone planned on spending their days!