Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 17: A Maiden in Distress

"Who was that guy?" Seraphina mused, staring through the windows of her room, the soft glow of the afternoon sun reflecting in her pale blue eyes. Rex's boldness lingered in her mind like an echo. His casual approach, the way he seemed entirely unfazed by the air of nobility she exuded. It was something she'd never experienced before.

In her world, people did not come to her with such assurance, especially not men. Her place in the Valenbrook the most revered of the noble lineage, it meant that people gave her plenty of space, not out of courtesy, but out of fear.

Among the nobles, her equals were usually careful in her presence. Nobody dared to be straightforward, to address her as a fellow human being. Until today. Seraphina slumped back into her velvet chair and her thoughts wandered to the incident. She had not been around men like Rex before – men who did not seem interested in women merely because of their symbol of power.

Everyone was very careful around her, especially when it came to anything that had to do with the Valenbrook name. Her family mostly had influential political affiliations and was also involved in the management of huge assets. However, with all the power and prestige that came with it was loneliness. Growing up, Seraphina was seen not as a human being but as a property.

Since childhood she was trained to be the ideal noblewoman, elegant, dignified, well-mannered, well read in all the etiquette. Her days were spent in such activities as etiquette lessons, politicking, and at other times even a touch of fencing since that was a required social grace for the ladies.

She was present in all the banquets; the high profile SNGs and the numerous official dining and virtually all the official sittings. Yet, it was all empty. People's features became unrecognizable, and words turned into polite clichés, and even communication was a barter.

Friends? No, not truly. Among the other noble families, people were not friends, they did not trust each other and did not love each other. She was close to none of them. They addressed her only when it was unavoidable, with formalities, and fake smiles, as if they were acting.

It was the misfortune of being at the pinnacle. In the academy too, the other students avoided close contact with them, either out of respect or fear. Seraphina had learned how to put on her cold face, the one that made her invulnerable. But today, for the first time, someone had looked at her and not a Valenbrook, but a Seraphina. Rex. His name went round and round in her head.

He was different, not only in the way he treated her but also in the way he stared at her. He did not look at her with any doubt, with any indication that he was scared of her true self. He just saw her as a girl and that was rather liberating. It was not just a relief but an excitement.

She rose from her chair and moved to the mirror that was hanged on the wall of the room. The girl who stared back was the epitome of a noblewoman. She had silver hair that glistened like the moon, porcelain skin that glowed with beauty, and plain clothes that were classy. But there was something else in her eyes today, curiosity.

Her mind drifted back to her childhood, to the early days when she had first learned about her family's legacy. The Valenbrook lineage was ancient, dating back hundreds of years, tied deeply to the magical forces that governed the world. Her ancestors had always been influential, wielding both political and mystical power. Seraphina was no different. From a young age, her latent abilities had manifested, granting her mastery over magical forces that most could only dream of.

Her powers had been carefully guarded, known only to her family and the closest of their allies. She had trained in secret, honing her skills under the watchful eye of her instructors. She had always been careful to suppress them at the academy, keeping her abilities hidden from the public eye. After all, the weight of the Valenbrook name came with expectations like control, precision, and above all, secrecy. No one knew the true extent of her abilities, and she intended to keep it that way.

Yet Rex... Seraphina's lips curled into a faint smile. He was bold, audacious even. He had no idea what he had walked into. Or maybe he did, and that was what made him so intriguing. The way he asked her out, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, still lingered in her thoughts. It wasn't arrogance, it was confidence. And in her world, confidence was a rare commodity.

Her mind wandered to her father, Lord Valenbrook, a man of immense power and an unwavering sense of duty. He had always reminded her of their responsibility, the weight of their name, their duty to protect their legacy. Growing up under his shadow had been both a blessing and a curse. He had been strict, ensuring that she mastered every skill, every piece of knowledge that a noble needed to navigate the complex web of politics and power. But his expectations had also created distance between them.

Seraphina sighed softly, glancing out the window once more. She wondered what her father would think if he knew she had accepted a date with someone as unconventional as Rex. Not that it mattered. For the first time in a long while, Seraphina felt the stirrings of something other than duty or obligation. It was a sense of freedom, however fleeting it might be.

"Tomorrow," she whispered, thinking about their date. She could already imagine the whispers, the stares, the shock of the other students. And maybe, just maybe, she was looking forward to it.

But beneath the surface, there was something else. A tension. Rex wasn't like the others, and despite his carefree attitude, there was something about him that felt... powerful. Seraphina hadn't missed the way his eyes had flickered with something when he looked at her. A recognition, perhaps? Or was it just curiosity? Either way, she had a feeling that there was more to Rex than met the eye.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and a maid entered her room, bowing respectfully.

"Miss Seraphina, dinner is being served. Your father has requested your presence."

Seraphina nodded, her expression returning to the serene mask she always wore. "I'll be there shortly."

As the maid left, Seraphina allowed herself one last moment of contemplation. Tomorrow, she would meet Rex again, and she was eager to see what else this mysterious boy had to offer. But more than that, she was curious to see what the future held now that someone had finally dared to challenge the barriers of her world.

With a quiet sigh, she turned and left the room, her mind still buzzing with thoughts of what lay ahead.

A/N: Sorry for the late Chapter guys, I had some issues to attend to. Update schedule from now 2-3 chaps per day