The pleasure is not mutual

Jade's POV:

Lying in my bed, sleep eluded me. My stomach churned with pain from the meal Raven had prepared, which my internal system had alarmingly identified as borderline poisonous. To my astonishment, I had even unlocked a new skill—poison resistance—which had leaped from rank F to D+.

[It's your fault, host. I warned you not to consume that.]"

"You can't understand, System. It was Raven's first time cooking. I couldn't refuse; I didn't want to hurt her feelings," I groaned through the pain.

[Humans are fascinating, willing to ingest poison just to please someone else.]

A knock at the door interrupted our conversation.

"Jade, may we come in?" Lily's voice filtered through the door.

"Yes, of course, you can come in."

Lily and Irene entered my room, approaching my bed with concern.

"I don't understand why you ate that food. You could have politely refused instead of getting yourself into such a state. For instance, when your mother cooks something that isn't good, I tell her," Irene said with a smile, though her eyes betrayed her diplomacy.

[See, even your mother agrees with me.]

I chose to ignore the System, but then I saw Lily pinch Irene.

"Oh really? And when have I ever made food that isn't good?" Lily asked, her tone laced with anger.

Irene didn't respond, but her expression was one of slight panic.

"You know what, we'll talk about this later," Lily said, her anger evident. I had a feeling Irene was in for a long night.

"Oh, by the way, before I forget, here, this is for you," Irene said, handing me a sort of potion.

I took the potion, a curious concoction that glowed faintly in the dim light. With a hesitant glance at the bottle and then at Irene. 

"Thank you for the potion," I said, accepting the vial with a nod.

"We won't disturb you any further. Good night, and while it's commendable that you wanted to please Raven, if it endangers your health, it's better to refrain, okay?" Lily advised, stroking my hair with motherly affection.

"Yes, good night," I replied, managing a smile despite the discomfort.

Irene merely nodded, not getting a chance to say more before Lily grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. In my mind, I hoped Irene would survive the night.

I uncorked the potion and drank it in one go. Within seconds, the potion took effect, and I felt much better.

"System, I have a question. Why has Amelia taken an interest in me when there's never been any interaction between Jade and Amelia in the book?"

[It's because of the butterfly effect you've created. You weren't supposed to be friends with Raven, were you? And Amelia is jealous of Raven, wanting to take everything from her without leaving anything behind.]

"Oh, I see. She wants to steal me away from Raven, if you can put it that way. I guess she wanted to do the same with my mothers today," I mused, piecing together Amelia's motives.

I sighed, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. "I never intended to cause such a ripple. But I can't let Amelia's schemes hurt Raven. 

[You have the power to influence the story, host. Use it wisely.]

The System's words echoed in my mind as I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts a blend of concern for Raven. 

The next morning greeted me with a sense of renewal, coaxing me out of slumber with its promising light. My routine unfolded as it always did, a comforting rhythm in the dance of my daily life. I dressed swiftly in my uniform, slinging my bag over my shoulder before hastily grabbing my breakfast. Today, however, only Lily was present, a curious absence that I chose not to dwell upon. After savoring my meal, I bid farewell to the familiarity of home and stepped out into the world.

In a brisk twenty minutes, I found myself at the gates of the school, where an unusual sight awaited me: Raven, already present. With a sense of curiosity piqued, I hastened to join her.

"Jade, are you alright? I saw you clutching your stomach last night before I left. Is everything okay?" Raven inquired, her tone tinged with concern.

Her observation caught me off guard, reminding me of the discomfort I had brushed aside the night before—barely acknowledging it amidst the distraction of her kiss upon my cheek.

"Oh, it was nothing, really. " I replied, scratching my head and feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"Good to hear. I was a bit worried about you," she said, offering me a reassuring smile.

"Speaking of which, Raven, about the kiss on the cheek last night..." I trailed off, feeling the warmth of embarrassment flood my cheeks.

Raven's own blush mirrored mine, and she seemed poised to respond when a hand seized my arm, wrenching me away. Recoiling from the unwanted touch, I turned to face the interloper—Albert. What could he possibly want now, this insufferable nuisance? As if things weren't complicated enough with Amelia.

Over the years, Albert remained unchanged, a constant thorn in my side—arrogant, persistent in his attempts to drive a wedge between Raven and me. His insistence that I harbored feelings for him, his brazen playboy persona—each aspect of his being repulsed me to the core.

"Albert, don't even start. You're not welcome here," Raven interjected, her anger palpable.

Ignoring her, Albert directed his attention towards me. "I fail to see why you stick around with my sister. You know, you could rediscover some excitement with me," he leered, punctuating his words with a suggestive wink.

Disgust churned within me, but before I could respond, Raven had already closed the distance between them, her fist meeting his face with a satisfying thud. He was sent hurtling skyward, disappearing from sight—an effective if unorthodox method of disposing of such a pest.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the altercation, Raven and I made our way to history class. The morning passed swiftly, though I remained on high alert for any potential reprisal from Amelia. To my relief, she remained conspicuously absent throughout the morning—a strange occurrence, but one I welcomed nonetheless.

Now, it was lunchtime, and today, we had opted for a change of scenery—a nearby restaurant suggested by Raven. As always, we found ourselves in a luxurious establishment.

The restaurant we frequented for lunch was named "The Velvet Lily." It was a quaint establishment with an inviting atmosphere, adorned with soft, dim lighting and plush velvet drapes that lent an air of elegance to the space. The tables were dressed in crisp white linens, each adorned with a single, delicate lily in a slender vase.

As we entered, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and tantalizing dishes greeted us, enticing our senses. Soft jazz music played in the background, adding to the sophisticated ambiance. The walls were adorned with intricate artwork, adding to the restaurant's charm.

We were led to our usual table by the window, offering a view of the bustling street outside. The menu, filled with a variety of gourmet offerings, tantalized our taste buds. From delicate salads to hearty sandwiches and decadent desserts, there was something to satisfy every craving.

As we settled into our seats, the attentive waitstaff approached, ready to take our orders. The clinking of cutlery and the hum of conversation filled the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that made "The Velvet Lily" the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch with friends.

However, their moment was soon interrupted by the unwelcome presence of someone else - Amelia.

 Amelia sauntered into the restaurant, her demeanor oozing with confidence as she made her way towards our table. Her icy gaze landed on Raven, a disdainful sneer curling her lips.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the lovely Raven," Amelia drawled, her tone dripping with contempt. "What brings you to this fine establishment? Certainly not your refined taste, I presume."

Raven remained composed, her expression unreadable as she met Amelia's gaze head-on. "Just enjoying a peaceful lunch with a friend," she replied coolly, refusing to rise to the bait.

Amelia's gaze then shifted to me, her eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam. "And Jade, darling, what a pleasant surprise to see you here," she purred, her voice laced with false sweetness. "I was just thinking about you."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes , "The pleasure is not mutual," I said, my voice laced with irritation. "You should leave."

Amelia's smile faltered slightly at my tone, but she quickly recovered, leaning in closer. "You know, Jade, we should really spend some time together," she continued, her voice low and suggestive. "I think you'd enjoy it."