Chapter 25: Side Character x Mafia Boss (25)

Meanwhile, Lyra stood near the archway, completely misinterpreting the entire room’s energy.

She saw the deadly tension... and then she saw Alastair abruptly jerk his head away from her.

SHIT! I AM SO FUCKED! Lyra screamed frantically inside her head, her heart dropping straight into her shoes. He turned his face away from me! He is so furious about his late morning tea that he can’t even stand to look at my face! He’s definitely plotting my execution!

She took a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing pulse as her chaotic mind scrambled to make sense of the scene.

Wait a minute... She blinked, her dark eyes darting between Alastair and Elena. The Male Lead and the Female Lead are actually sitting at the same breakfast table! Pretty sure something intense and romantic must have happened between them last night while I was dead asleep!

Inside her head, the System pulled up the narrative log file.

[ Yes, Host! It certainly appears that a major character interaction occurred while we were both offline! Let us check the current narrative progress parameters! ]

A bright translucent blue interface popped up right in front of Lyra’s face.

Ding!

[ Character Status & Plot Metrics ]

Alastair Voss - Obsession Level: 79%

Romance Progress: 45%

Main Plot Completion: 68%

Lyra froze mid-step, staring at the numbers in utter bewilderment.

Huh?! she yelled in her internal dialogue. The Male Lead’s obsession level jumped up to 79%?! But... why didn’t the main plot progress move an inch? It’s still stuck at 68%! Why is that?!

The System hovered close to her vision, its processing light flickering with equal confusion.

[ I am not entirely certain either, Host... ] the System admitted, re-running the algorithm. [ Perhaps the main plot counter will only trigger its final update once his obsession level hits the mandatory 100% threshold? Regardless, it is a fantastic development! You just need to push his obsession level all the way to 100% so we can finally complete this world! ]

Hmm... I guess that makes sense, Lyra thought, swallowing her anxiety as she carefully smoothed down her apron.

Nodding to herself, she picked up the silver teapot resting on the servant’s side cart and hurriedly walked toward Alastair’s head chair to pour him his overdue morning tea before he decided to throw her into a dungeon.

While trying to walk toward them, Lyra’s foot caught the edge of her own long hemline. Her ankle gave way, and she let out a loud yelp as the silver teapot tilted wildly in her hands.

Before she could crash into the hard marble floor, a pair of soft, gentle hands caught her firmly by the waist, steadying her in an instant.

Lyra blinked, looking up into Elena’s intensely worried face.

Right beside them, Alastair was frozen mid-motion, his large hand still hovering in mid-air as if he had been a fraction of a second away from snatching her mid-fall himself.

The room went dead silent. Elena and Alastair immediately locked eyes over Lyra’s shoulders, casting absolute, bone-chilling glares at each other. The hostility radiating between the two was sharp enough to cut glass.

Damn, I feel like a classic web novel Female Lead with her two handsome Male Leads fighting over her hand, Lyra thought proudly, admiring the dramatic framing.

[ Host, get up! ] the System warned in a panicked hurry. [ For some reason, the atmosphere between the FL and ML doesn’t look good at all! ]

Huh? What do you mean? Lyra’s brows furrowed in utter confusion as she hurriedly scrambled back onto her feet.

"Ah! I’m so sorry! Also... thank you, Elena!" Lyra squeaked out, quickly setting the teapot down on the table before she managed to break it. "I’ll go get a new cup right away!"

"No need," Alastair’s voice broke through the air- cold yet laced with an soft tone directed solely at her. "Sit down here."

He gestured to the plush chair directly to his right. He then turned his head, his grey eyes turning to ice as he looked at Elena. "You. Go sit back where you were."

Within moments, everyone sat down.

Lyra awkwardly rested her hands on her lap, shifting uncomfortably in her grand chair.

System... why am I sitting right beside the Male Lead while the actual Female Lead is just watching us from across the table like a displaced background character?

[ Uh... maybe, Host, it’s to make the FL feel super jealous so she realizes her true feelings for him? ]

Hmm, I guess so... but what about what you said before?

[ Oh, yeah... about that... ] The System hesitated, pulling up the behavioral analysis metrics. [ For some reason, it really looks like the FL and ML genuinely despise each other’s existence. ]

Oh no, that CANNOT be! Lyra screamed inside her head, her soul practically leaving her body. If they hate each other, my main mission is going to fail, I’ll get stuck in this mafia novel forever, and my execution arc will become permanent! What on earth am I supposed to do?!

[ For now, let’s just observe and intervene carefully, Host! ]

Yes! Good plan! Lyra resolved, puffing her chest out inwardly.

While Lyra was drowning in her chaotic internal thoughts, Alastair silently poured a glass of cold water. He subtly glanced at Elena, giving her another deadly warning look. Deep in his chest, a toxic jealousy was eating him alive over how naturally Elena had touched Lyra. That annoying girl was actively trying to block him from keeping his mouse close.

His knuckles turned stark white against the glass as his grip tightened. He truly couldn’t wait to crush Victor Hart and exact his final revenge.

Elena, however, stayed completely unbothered by his murderous glare. She calmly picked up her fork, her sharp eyes scanning the tabletop until they landed on a silver tissue box sitting near the centerpiece.

A quiet plan formed in her mind.

If I can write a quick note on a napkin while he isn’t looking and slide it to Lyra... Elena thought, slowly reaching out to pull a soft paper tissue from the box while keeping her head lowered.

Across the table, Alastair’s eyes caught her subtle hand movement instantly. He didn’t make a scene. Instead, he raised his teacup, taking a slow sip, his dark grey eyes narrowing.

Trying to play tricks under my nose? Alastair thought, a dark, mocking smirk almost touching his lips.

He casually reached out, grabbing the exact same silver tissue box and smoothly sliding it all the way over to his side of the table, right next to Lyra’s plate- completely cutting off Elena’s access with effortless dominance.

Elena’s hand froze in mid-air. She glared at Alastair, her jaw clenching tightly.

Alastair merely gave her a smooth nod, pretending nothing had happened. "Eat your breakfast, Miss Hart. The food will get cold."

"Thank you, Mr Voss," Elena replied through gritted teeth, forcing a tight, fake smile as she picked up her knife. "You are far too generous."

Lyra, who had zero awareness of the subtle mental warfare happening two feet above her head, cleared her throat loudly. It was time for her to step up as the ultimate wingwoman!

"Ahem!" Lyra smiled brightly, leaning forward in her chair to look at both of them. "You know... the morning breeze today is so lovely! Don’t you two think it’s the absolute perfect weather for a romantic... I mean, a business walk around the rose garden after breakfast?!"

Alastair turned his head, looking down at Lyra’s eager, glowing face. His icy demeanor melted instantly. "If you wish to walk in the garden, I will accompany you."

"Ah- no, no! I meant you and Elena!" Lyra waved her hands frantically, winking aggressively at Elena. "You guys have so much in common! Like... you’re both breathing the same air right now! That’s a great foundation for a relationship!"

Elena almost choked on her juice, while Alastair’s eyes twitched slightly.

"I prefer eating in silence, Lyra," Alastair murmured smoothly, cutting a prime piece of steak and placing it directly onto Lyra’s plate. "Eat."

Lyra stared down at the expensive meat, then at Elena, who was furiously chewing her food, and finally at Alastair, who was watching her with an unreadable, intense gaze.

Man... dark romance protagonists are so hard to matchmake, Lyra sighed internally, happily picking up her fork to eat the free steak anyway. Cupid’s job is way too underpaid.