Chapter 17: Flirting With Fate

The faint breeze off the lake carried the last traces of the night's cold, brushing against Franz's bare skin. The woman beside him—soaked, disheveled, and still visibly shaken—managed to gather her composure just enough to glance at him. Despite the tremble in her hands, a weak smile tugged at her lips.

"Flirting with a half-dead lady?" Victoria's voice was hoarse, her usual elegance cracked under the weight of exhaustion. "You're something else."

Franz leaned back, elbows resting on his knees, posture perfectly at ease despite the situation. "What can I say?" He shrugged, damp hair falling slightly into his eyes. "I've got a talent for making the best out of the worst situations."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle ripple of the lake and the faint rustle of leaves. The city lights shimmered on the water, reflecting back two figures who shouldn't have crossed paths — yet here they were.

Franz's eyes flicked toward her again, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. "So… are you single?"

[Host, what the actual fuck?!]

The Quiet Life System's voice cut through his mind, loud and incredulous.

[She almost drowned. There's a high probability she was trying to kill herself, and you're out here fishing for her relationship status?]

Franz responded mentally, tone dry. "You're getting pretty bold these days. And what can I say? She's cute, hot—exactly my type. Gotta check before I invest any of my precious feelings."

[Confirmed. You're a certified moron.]

A soft cough drew his attention back. Victoria's fingers twisted nervously in the soaked fabric of her dress, her gaze flickering toward the grass. "I… I'm married," she said, her voice quieter now. "And I have a daughter… about your age."

Franz's brows lifted slightly, the surprise flickering through his eyes before fading just as fast. His gaze briefly traced over her—wet hair clinging to her pale neck, her soaked dress sticking to curves that made it hard to believe she was anyone's mother. His smirk returned, lighter this time.

"You don't look like a mom at all." He clicked his tongue lightly. "Too bad."

A faint blush dusted her already chilled cheeks, but whether from embarrassment, the cold, or something else, even she couldn't tell. Her lips parted, maybe to respond, but nothing came out. The vulnerability in her expression was raw — and for once, Franz didn't press.

He stood up, rolling his neck and stretching his shoulders, the faint scars on his torso catching the moonlight. "I'm not gonna ask why you were on that bridge." His voice was calm, as though none of this was particularly unusual. "It's none of my business. Just tell me where you want me to drop you off."

Victoria barely had time to process his words before a bright notification screen flickered across his vision.

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Franz barely glanced at it, waving a hand lazily. "Yeah, yeah. Just give me the damn thing."

[Wait—]

Too late.

The second Franz confirmed, a violent spike of white-hot pain drove straight through his skull. It was like someone took a rusted drill to his brain and twisted it until every nerve screamed. His muscles locked, breath catching in his throat as his vision blurred.

His legs gave out.

Franz's body hit the grass with a heavy thud, eyes rolling back as unconsciousness swallowed him whole.

"Hey !" Victoria's panicked scream pierced the night. Her trembling hands reached for him, trying to shake him awake. His skin was cold from the lake water, his breathing shallow, but the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms reassured her he was still alive.

The only reply was the soft ripple of the lake behind them, and the soft hum of the city beyond. 

Franz's eyes snapped open.

Blinding white.

The ceiling, the walls, the floor—everything was pure, sterile white, stretching endlessly in all directions. There were no doors, no windows, just infinite emptiness coated in silence.

He slowly pushed himself up, bare skin brushing against the cool, smooth surface beneath him. His head throbbed like someone had taken a sledgehammer to his skull.

He blinked a few times, adjusting to the harsh brightness before muttering under his breath.

"Where the fuck… am I?"