Chapter 2: “Flowers and Red Flags”

The Redwyne estate's gardens were a sanctuary of manicured hedges and enchanted blooms, but Aizen's sanctuary was the small, dusty library tucked away in the east wing. It was here, surrounded by towering shelves of spellbooks and forgotten histories, that he could escape Stephanie's increasingly clingy demands.

"Master, your reading speed is inefficient. At this rate, you'll finish The Arcane Principles of Mana Transmutation in 47.3 years," Vermis chided, its telepathic voice tinged with amusement.

"I'm five years old, Vermis. Cut me some slack," Aizen grumbled, flipping a page. The grimoire floated beside him, its pages glowing faintly.

"Age is irrelevant. You possess the soul of a 27-year-old man. Act like it."

"Oh, sure. Let me just file my taxes and complain about back pain while I'm at it."

The library door creaked open, and Aizen froze. Stephanie stood in the doorway, her frilly dress smudged with dirt and her hands clutching a bouquet of wildflowers.

"Aizen! I've been looking everywhere for you!" she declared, stomping over.

"Abort mission," Aizen thought, slamming the book shut.

"What are you doing?" Stephanie demanded, peering at the tome.

"Uh… learning how to better serve you, my lady."

Her eyes lit up. "Really? That's so sweet! Here, I picked these for you!" She thrust the bouquet into his hands. The flowers were a chaotic mix of colors, some still clinging to clumps of soil.

"They're… vibrant," Aizen said diplomatically.

"I picked them myself! No one else gets flowers from me, so you'd better treasure them!"

"Master, the bouquet contains several poisonous species. I recommend incineration."

"Not helping, Vermis."

Stephanie plopped onto the floor beside him, her skirts billowing like a pink cloud. "What are you reading? Is it a romance? I love romances!"

"It's a… uh… gardening manual. For your flowers."

"Boring! Let's read something fun!" She grabbed a random book from the shelf and flipped it open. "Ooh, The Ballad of the Star-Crossed Lovers! This looks good!"

Aizen groaned internally. The last thing he needed was Stephanie getting more ideas about romance.

Later That Evening

Aizen's duties as Stephanie's personal servant included tucking her into bed—a task he found both tedious and mildly terrifying. The four-year-old villainess had a habit of demanding bedtime stories, and tonight was no exception.

"Tell me a story about us!" Stephanie insisted, clutching her stuffed dragon.

"A story about us?"

"Yes! Like… we're adventurers, and we defeat a big, scary monster together!"

Aizen sighed. "Fine. Once upon a time, there was a brave princess and her… uh… loyal butler."

"No! You're not a butler in the story! You're a knight!"

"Right. A knight. Anyway, the princess and the knight went on a quest to slay a dragon—"

"No, no! The dragon is our friend! We ride it into battle!"

"Okay, sure. They rode their dragon friend into battle against… a giant evil toad."

Stephanie giggled. "A toad? That's silly!"

"It's a magic toad. It eats kingdoms for breakfast."

"Then what happens?"

"The princess and the knight defeat the toad, obviously. And they live happily ever after."

Stephanie yawned, her eyelids drooping. "I like that story… You're the best, Aizen…"

As her breathing steadied, Aizen tiptoed out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

"Master, your storytelling skills are subpar. The toad lacked depth," Vermis remarked.

"It was a last-minute addition. Cut me some slack."

"Regardless, the young mistress's attachment to you is growing at an alarming rate. I suggest implementing countermeasures."

"Like what? Moving to another continent?"

"Tempting, but impractical. I recommend fostering her independence. Encourage her to interact with other children."

Aizen paused. Vermis had a point. If Stephanie's world revolved entirely around him, her eventual descent into yandere madness would be inevitable.

The Next Day

Aizen's plan to introduce Stephanie to other children led him to the bustling marketplace in the nearby town. The Redwyne estate's servants often shopped here, and Aizen had convinced Stephanie's nanny to let him tag along.

"Stay close, Aizen," the nanny warned. "The market can be dangerous for little ones."

"Little ones," Aizen repeated dryly. "Right."

The marketplace was a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. Vendors hawked everything from enchanted trinkets to fresh produce, and the air was thick with the scent of spices and baked goods.

"Aizen, look! A candy stall!" Stephanie squealed, dragging him by the hand.

"My lady, we're supposed to be—"

"I want that one!" She pointed to a shimmering lollipop the size of her head.

The vendor, a kindly old woman, smiled. "For you, little miss? That'll be two silver coins."

Stephanie turned to Aizen expectantly.

"I don't have any money," he said.

"Then make some!"

Before Aizen could respond, a soft voice interrupted. "Excuse me… would you like to buy a flower?"

Aizen turned. A girl, no older than six, stood holding a basket of delicate white blossoms. Her dress was patched and frayed, but her eyes sparkled with determination.

"Master, this is her," Vermis whispered. "The protagonist."

Aizen's breath caught. In the game, the protagonist was a commoner named Lilia, whose kindness and magical talent won the hearts of the capture targets. But here, now, she was just a little girl trying to make a living.

"How much for a flower?" Aizen asked.

"One copper coin," the girl said shyly.

Stephanie frowned. "Why would we buy her flowers? Mine are better!"

Aizen ignored her, digging a coin from his pocket. "Here. Keep the change."

The girl's face lit up. "Thank you! Blessings of the stars upon you!"

As she skipped away, Stephanie crossed her arms. "Why did you do that? She's just a commoner!"

"Because kindness costs nothing," Aizen said, though he knew the real reason. He'd just planted the first seed of change in the game's storyline.

"Master, your actions may have unforeseen consequences," Vermis warned.

"Yeah, well, so does letting Stephanie turn into a yandere. Pick your battles, Vermis."

Stephanie tugged on his sleeve. "Aizen, I'm bored. Let's go home."

"Sure thing, my lady."

As they walked back to the estate, Aizen couldn't shake the image of the flower girl's smile. The gears of fate were turning, and he was right in the middle of them.