Chapter 2: So Close to the Edge

The soft morning light streamed through the Velclair estate's tall windows, casting a warm glow over the grand dining hall. Ryuto sat at the table, absentmindedly picking at his breakfast, but his mind was far from the meal in front of him. The events of the previous night still weighed heavily on him, the sparring match with Edwin, the tense conversation with his father, and, of course, Celeste's growing obsession.

He glanced up, only to find Celeste seated across from him, her gaze fixed on him with that same, intense admiration she had shown last night. Ryuto felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of his neck. She hadn't stopped staring since they sat down.

She's getting worse, he thought with a sinking feeling.

Celeste was practically glowing, her smile soft and affectionate. Every time Ryuto moved, her eyes followed. If he shifted in his seat, she leaned in slightly. If he picked up his glass, she would mirror the action as if they were perfectly in sync. It was cute, if not for the overwhelming tension in the air.

"So, Ryuto," she said finally, her voice dripping with enthusiasm. "What are your plans today?"

Ryuto hesitated, considering his options carefully. The truth was, he had been planning to head to the adventurers' guild to catch up on some quests and get away from the estate for a bit. But with Celeste's behavior lately, he wasn't sure how to handle her. And the last thing he wanted was to be alone with her after what happened last night.

"I'm, uh... going into town," Ryuto said, trying to sound casual. "Guild stuff, you know?"

Celeste's eyes lit up. "Oh! I'll come with you!"

Ryuto felt a jolt of panic rise in his chest. That's the last thing I need.

"I... don't think that's necessary," Ryuto stammered, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's just boring guild business, really. You'd hate it."

Celeste tilted her head, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Boring? With you? Never."

Ryuto bit back a groan. There was no way she would take no for an answer. He had seen that look in her eyes before, and it never ended well. He needed a way out, and fast.

Just as he was about to respond, a servant entered the room, bowing respectfully. "Master Ryuto, a letter has arrived for you from the guild."

Ryuto leapt at the opportunity. "See? Guild business. I should probably take care of this alone."

Celeste's eyes narrowed, her smile faltering ever so slightly. "Are you sure? I could, "

"I'm sure," Ryuto said, standing quickly and grabbing the letter from the servant's outstretched hand. "I'll just... handle this. Alone."

Celeste sighed but didn't press the issue further, though her gaze remained fixed on him as he excused himself from the table. Ryuto couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.

As Ryuto retreated to his room, he could still feel the weight of Celeste's eyes on his back. Her obsession had grown more intense in recent weeks, and now, after the events of last night, he feared it was reaching dangerous levels. He pulled out his smartphone and checked the Affection System, hoping for some good news.

Celeste's affection: 99.

Ryuto groaned. "Great. One more point, and I'm in real trouble."

He tossed the phone onto his bed and ran a hand through his hair, pacing around the room. He needed to find a way to lower her affection, and fast. But the system wouldn't allow him to remove points, and it wasn't like he could just stop seeing her altogether. They lived in the same house.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Ryuto's heart sank. He didn't need to guess who it was.

"Ryuto?" Celeste's voice called softly from the other side. "Can I come in?"

Ryuto froze, scrambling for an excuse. "Uh, I'm a little busy right now!"

Celeste didn't seem to care. The door creaked open, and she stepped inside with a soft smile on her face. She closed the door behind her, locking it with a quiet click. Ryuto's pulse quickened.

Celeste walked slowly toward him, her eyes never leaving his. "I've been thinking," she said, her voice sweet but tinged with something more. "About last night."

Oh no. Ryuto backed up until he hit the edge of the bed, his mind racing.

Celeste sat beside him, her body closer than he would have liked. Her hand found its way to his arm, her touch light but deliberate. "You've grown so much, Ryuto," she whispered. "You're not the little boy I used to tease anymore."

Ryuto swallowed hard, feeling the tension between them thickening by the second. He had to stop this before it got out of control. "Celeste, I... I don't think this is a good idea."

But Celeste didn't seem to hear him. Her fingers trailed up his arm, sending shivers down his spine. "We've always been close, haven't we? I've always been the one looking out for you... And now, it's like you're looking out for me."

Her words sent a jolt of panic through Ryuto, but before he could protest further, Celeste's other hand brushed against his chest, her body pressing ever closer. "We don't have to fight it, Ryuto. No one has to know."

Ryuto felt his heart hammering in his chest. This was spiraling out of control faster than he had anticipated. He needed to get out of this situation, now.

"Celeste," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "we can't..."

But Celeste's fingers found their way to his chin, gently tilting his head toward hers. "Why not?" she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "It's just us. We're family. No one else could ever understand what we have."

Ryuto's mind raced, trying to find a way out without making things worse. He knew if he let this go any further, he'd be in serious trouble, not just with his family, but with himself.

"Uh, I... I forgot!" Ryuto blurted, suddenly standing up and backing away. "The guild letter! I need to take care of that. Right now. Urgent business."

Celeste blinked, surprised by his sudden retreat. "But, "

"Gotta go!" Ryuto said, grabbing the letter from his desk and darting toward the door before she could stop him. He threw the door open and rushed out into the hallway, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he hurried down the corridor, Ryuto let out a long breath, shaking his head. This is getting out of hand.

He couldn't keep avoiding Celeste forever, but right now, he needed some space, and more importantly, he needed to figure out how to lower her affection points before they reached a point of no return.

Ryuto made his way to the guild, clutching the letter in his hand as an excuse to get away from the estate. The streets of town were busy, the usual hustle and bustle providing a sense of normalcy that helped to calm his nerves.

But as Ryuto walked through the crowded streets, he couldn't shake the growing dread in the pit of his stomach. Celeste wasn't going to give up easily, and with her affection level so high, it was only a matter of time before things escalated again.

He paused in front of the guild's entrance, staring up at the familiar building with a sigh. The guild had become his escape, his refuge from the complicated life of being a noble. But even here, things weren't simple. Between Elena's flirtations, his duties as an adventurer, and now Celeste's growing obsession, Ryuto felt like his life was spinning out of control.

I need to find a solution... before it's too late.

With that thought lingering in his mind, Ryuto pushed open the door to the guild, stepping inside to face whatever the day had in store for him.

The familiar scent of wood and parchment hit Ryuto as he stepped inside the bustling adventurers' guild. The hum of conversation filled the air, adventurers of all ranks gathering around tables, sharing stories, and reviewing quest boards. Normally, the energy of the guild would help ground him, but today, Ryuto felt anything but calm.

Celeste is really starting to get out of control, he thought, trying to push the anxiety down. He needed to figure out how to deal with her, but right now, the best thing to do was focus on guild business. Maybe taking on a quest would give him some time away from the estate, and some time to think.

As Ryuto walked further inside, his eyes scanned the room for someone familiar. Roland was nowhere in sight, probably still recovering from their last adventure. Ryuto approached the front desk, where Elena, the guild's ever-flirtatious quest giver, was stationed.

Elena was hard to miss, with her wavy auburn hair, mischievous green eyes, and a smile that always seemed to suggest more than a simple greeting. She was leaning casually on the counter, looking utterly bored until she spotted Ryuto approaching.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite adventurer," Elena cooed, her eyes lighting up as she straightened up and leaned forward slightly, her cleavage more prominent than necessary. "What can I do for you today, Ryuto?"

Ryuto sighed inwardly. He really wasn't in the mood for Elena's teasing today, but he couldn't avoid her either. Her flirtations had always been lighthearted, but now, with Celeste breathing down his neck at home, Ryuto wasn't sure he could handle any more romantic attention.

"I just need to pick up some quests," Ryuto said, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Elena's smile widened as she leaned in a little more, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "You know, you could always skip the quests and let me take care of you instead. I've been told I give great... advice."

Ryuto's face flushed despite himself. "I, I'm sure your advice is great, but I really need to get some work done."

Elena pouted, her lips forming a perfect curve. "Aw, you're no fun. Always so serious."

Ryuto shifted uncomfortably, desperately trying to keep things professional. "Look, I just need something simple. Maybe a tracking quest or a retrieval. Something easy."

Elena raised an eyebrow, her playful smile never faltering. "Simple, huh? You're sure about that? You don't want something more... exciting?"

Ryuto cleared his throat, hoping to change the subject before things got any worse. "Exciting quests can wait. Right now, I just want to focus."

Elena finally relented, pulling out a stack of papers from behind the counter. "Fine, fine. I've got a couple of decent quests here. Take a look and let me know which one interests you."

As Ryuto scanned the list of available jobs, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. For a moment, the weight of Celeste's obsession and Elena's teasing seemed to fade as he focused on something concrete, his job as an adventurer.

Ryuto flipped through the stack of quests, mentally weighing his options. As much as he enjoyed adventuring, today, he needed something straightforward. No major danger, no complex magic, just something to get his mind off everything else.

But as his fingers passed over the paper, his mind wandered back to the estate, back to Celeste. Her behavior had always been affectionate, even when they were younger, but now… now it was something entirely different. It wasn't just sibling love. It was obsession.

Ryuto sighed and leaned against the counter, rubbing his temples. How did things get this complicated?

He had never intended for Celeste's affection to spiral out of control. It had started off so innocently. A few extra points here and there, helping her see him as more than just her little brother. But now… she was at 99 affection points. She was possessive. Protective. And if he didn't figure out a way to stop this, it was only a matter of time before things got even more dangerous.

"Ryuto?" Elena's voice broke through his thoughts, and he realized she had been watching him for the last few seconds, her playful smile replaced by a look of curiosity. "You alright? You seem... distracted."

Ryuto blinked, quickly shaking off his thoughts. "Yeah, just... thinking about a lot of things."

Elena's eyes sparkled with mischief again, though there was a hint of something more serious in her expression. "If you ever need to talk about it, you know I'm always here. I can be more than just a quest giver, you know."

Ryuto forced a smile. "I appreciate it, Elena. Really. But I'm fine."

She pouted again but let the matter drop, handing him one of the quest sheets. "Here. This one's perfect for you. Just a simple retrieval mission. Some noble lost their family heirloom, and they're offering a decent reward for anyone who finds it."

Ryuto scanned the details, nodding in approval. "Sounds good. I'll take it."

Elena grinned, leaning forward slightly as she handed him the paperwork to sign. "Try not to get into too much trouble out there, alright? I'd hate to see anything happen to my favorite adventurer."

Ryuto chuckled, despite his best efforts to stay serious. "I'll be fine. Thanks, Elena."

As he turned to leave, he felt Elena's gaze lingering on him. She was always flirting, always teasing, but there was something about her tone today that felt different, more genuine, maybe. Or maybe Ryuto was just overthinking things.

At least I've got a quest to distract me for now, he thought, heading toward the guild's entrance. But as soon as his hand touched the door, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Ryuto!"

He froze. The voice belonged to Celeste, of course. She was standing at the entrance, her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on him with a mix of determination and something else, something far more intense.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, her voice dangerously sweet.

Ryuto's stomach dropped. He had been hoping for at least a few hours of peace, but it seemed Celeste had other plans.

"Just heading out for a quest," Ryuto said casually, trying to hide his growing anxiety. "It's no big deal. Just a simple retrieval."

Celeste's eyes narrowed slightly, but she stepped closer, her tone taking on a possessive edge. "I'll come with you. You'll need someone to watch your back."

Ryuto's heart raced. This is getting out of hand. He couldn't let her come with him. Not when her affection was at dangerous levels. Not when every interaction between them seemed to push her closer to the brink of… something. Something he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with.

"I... I don't think that's necessary," Ryuto said, taking a step back. "It's a really simple quest. No danger at all."

Celeste's smile widened, but her eyes remained sharp, like a predator stalking its prey. "Ryuto, you shouldn't try to do everything alone. I'm coming with you, and that's final."

Ryuto swallowed, panic bubbling up in his chest. He needed to get out of this situation before it escalated any further. But Celeste was already moving closer, her hand reaching out to gently grab his arm.

"I'm worried about you," she whispered, her voice suddenly soft, her touch lingering longer than it should have. "You've been distant lately. I don't want you to get hurt."

This is bad. Really bad. Ryuto's mind raced, searching for any excuse to leave, any way to stop this from spiraling out of control.

Just as Ryuto opened his mouth to respond, Elena reappeared behind the counter, her eyes flicking between the two of them with amusement.

"Oh, I see," Elena said, grinning from ear to ear. "Looks like I'm not the only one keeping an eye on you, Ryuto."

Celeste shot her a sharp look, but Elena just winked. Ryuto's face flushed red as he realized both of them were sizing him up like a prize to be won.

I really need to get out of here.

Ryuto and Celeste walked in tense silence through the outskirts of town, following the trail that would supposedly lead them to the lost family heirloom. The day had started normally enough, another simple retrieval quest, a chance for Ryuto to clear his head, but with Celeste insisting on tagging along, he felt like he was walking a tightrope, trying to avoid any situation that would make her obsession worse.

The deeper they ventured into the forest, the quieter it became. Only the occasional rustling of leaves and the chirping of distant birds broke the stillness. Ryuto tried to focus on the task at hand, scanning the ground for any clues, but every time he glanced to the side, Celeste was there, her gaze unwavering.

"You're awfully quiet today, Ryuto," Celeste said, her voice soft yet carrying that undertone of intensity that made his skin prickle.

"Just… thinking," Ryuto replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Celeste smiled, but there was something in her eyes, a dangerous spark that made Ryuto's pulse quicken in the wrong way. "I've been thinking too. About us."

Ryuto's stomach twisted. Here we go.

They continued walking deeper into the woods, but the tension between them grew with every step. Ryuto could feel it, Celeste's desire for him, her possessiveness, and the weight of the affection points hanging over his head. At 99, she was on the verge of something irreversible, and Ryuto knew he couldn't let that happen.

As they neared a small clearing, Celeste suddenly stopped, grabbing Ryuto's arm and pulling him toward her. Her grip was firm, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Celeste, what, " Ryuto began, but his words were cut short as she spun him around and shoved him up against a nearby tree, her body pressing against his.

"I've waited long enough, Ryuto," Celeste whispered, her voice low and husky. Her fingers trailed up his chest, sending an unwanted jolt of heat through him. "You know how I feel. I've been watching you grow stronger, more powerful… I can't hold back anymore."

Ryuto's heart raced as panic began to creep in. This is bad. Really bad.

He tried to push her away gently, but she was relentless, her hands moving to lock around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Her lips hovered dangerously close to his ear, her breath warm against his skin.

"I want to taste you," Celeste whispered, her voice dripping with desire. "Just once."

Ryuto's mind raced. He knew he had to stop this, but Celeste had him pinned, her strength surprising him. His thoughts flashed to the Affection System, the 100 points looming like a death sentence in his mind.

Before he could think of a way to escape, a voice called out from behind them.

"Hey, Ryuto! You out here?"

It was Roland.

In an instant, the mood shifted. Celeste froze, her head whipping toward the sound of approaching footsteps. Ryuto felt her grip loosen as she quickly stepped back, her face flushing with frustration.

Nina and Roland emerged from the trees, completely oblivious to the tension that had just filled the air. Nina, always the energetic one, waved excitedly as she spotted Ryuto.

"There you are! We've been looking all over for you!" Nina said, grinning. "What's the deal? You didn't tell us you were going on a quest without us!"

Ryuto let out a silent breath of relief, taking a step away from Celeste before the situation could escalate any further. His pulse was still racing, but he managed to compose himself, giving them a strained smile.

"Yeah, just a quick retrieval quest," Ryuto said, forcing a casual tone. "Didn't think it was worth bothering you guys with."

Roland walked up, completely unaware of what he had just interrupted. "We figured we'd tag along anyway. You never know when something could go wrong out here."

Ryuto chuckled awkwardly, feeling Celeste's eyes still burning into the back of his head. "Right. Good to have you both here."

Nina bounded over, looking between Ryuto and Celeste with a curious expression. "You two alright? You look kinda... tense."

Celeste's face twisted into a forced smile, the kind that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, we're just fine. Just... discussing some important things."

Ryuto couldn't help but glance at Celeste, who was clearly irritated by the interruption. But before things could get awkward again, Nina bounced forward, grabbing Ryuto's arm.

"Hey, so I was thinking, after this quest, maybe we could all grab some food in town? I'm starving," Nina said, completely unaware of the storm she had just saved him from.

Roland nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me. What do you think, Ryuto?"

Ryuto smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan."

But as they all turned to continue the quest, Ryuto couldn't shake the feeling of Celeste's intense gaze still lingering on him. He knew this wasn't over, not by a long shot. Celeste had come dangerously close to crossing a line, and the next time, they might not be so lucky.

After several more minutes of trekking through the woods, the group finally stumbled upon a small patch of disturbed ground near an old tree. Buried beneath a thin layer of dirt, they uncovered a small ornate box, the family heirloom they had been sent to retrieve.

"Well, that was easier than I expected," Roland said, kneeling down to pick up the box and brushing off the dirt.

"Yeah, let's get this back to the guild," Ryuto said quickly, eager to finish the quest and head back to the safety of the town.

Celeste remained unusually quiet as they made their way back, her earlier intensity replaced by a sullen silence. Ryuto could sense her frustration, but there was no way to address it here, not with Roland and Nina around. And frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to address it at all.

As they neared the edge of the forest, Nina stretched her arms above her head, yawning. "I'm still hungry. Let's grab food when we get back. My treat!"

Ryuto smiled weakly. "Sure, Nina. Sounds good."

But in the back of his mind, he knew that this temporary reprieve wouldn't last forever. Sooner or later, Celeste was going to confront him again. And when she did, Ryuto wasn't sure how much longer he could keep things from spiraling out of control.