Chapter 32: Side Character x Mafia Boss (32)

Ding!

A bright blue screen suddenly flashed back to life in front of Lyra’s eyes.

[ HOST!!! ] the System shrieked in absolute, high-pitched panic, its digital icon spinning frantically as it scanned the bedroom. [ WHAT ON EARTH JUST HAPPENED HERE?! WHY IS THERE A METAL CHAIN ON YOUR LEG?! ]

"WHAT HAPPENED?! YOU’RE ASKING ME THAT?!" Lyra yelled out loud, completely forgetting to keep her voice down. She yanked her leg up, making the cold steel links rattle violently against the floor. "WHERE WERE YOU?! Your bastard Male Lead is literally keeping me as a chained prisoner in his room! Look at this! Look at these chains! I was about to die out of pure anger!"

[ If I hadn’t gone offline to fix his darkened value, you would have been ALREADY DEAD, Host! ] the System replied back instantly, its interface pulsing with defensive red lights.

Lyra froze, her dark eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?! Also, why didn’t you wake me up last night when the settings were finished?!"

[ It’s because you were drugged! ]

"Huh?" Lyra blinked, her brain coming to a complete standstill. "Drugged?!"

The System quickly pulled up a green diagnostic report log onto the screen.

[ Yes, Host! ] the System explained hurriedly. [ The Male Lead saw completely through your clumsy escape plans during dinner! He knew you were just acting sweet to buy time, so he instructed the kitchen chef to put a mild, high-grade sleeping sedative inside your tea and berry tarts! And because my core system was experiencing a glitch error at the time, I failed to detect the chemical in your food before you ate it! ]

Lyra’s jaw dropped. "Wait... so that’s why I fell asleep so fast?!"

[ Yes! ] the System continued in a frantic tone. [ You were knocked out cold the entire night! ]

"But didn’t you say you made sure he was busy on the lower floors with a fake security alert?!" Lyra pressed, running a hand through her messy dark hair in utter frustration.

[ I DID! ] the System wailed. [ I triggered the fake security alarms on the east wing, but I have no idea how he figured it out so fast! He completely ignored his guards and ended up right back in this bedroom with a sky-high darkened value! If his darkened value had raised all the way to 100% last night, even my system safety protocols wouldn’t have been able to stop him from doing something completely unhinged to you! I had to pull all my processing power just to force his value back down to a stable level! ]

Lyra shoved her face into her hands, letting out a long, loud groan. "Ughhhhh! What on earth shall we do now?!"

She looked down at the shiny metal cuff biting into her skin, her mind spiraling into complete despair.

"System... can’t I just kill myself already so we can end this nightmare and transfer to the next world?!" Lyra asked, her voice full of tragic desperation. "I’ll just jump off the balcony!"

[ ABSOLUTELY NOT! ] the System warned, flashing a big yellow warning box. [ Since this body isn’t originally yours, World Protocol rules strictly forbid intentional self-harm or suicide! If you die by your own hand, your soul will get permanently corrupted, and we will both get erased from existence! We HAVE to somehow finish the main plot line properly! ]

Lyra slumped backward onto the soft mattress, staring blankly at the grand ceiling.

"And you expect me to rescue the Female Lead when I am literally the one who needs to be rescued?!" Lyra complained, swinging her chained leg off the edge of the bed.

The metal chain clinked against the wooden floorboards with a dull sound. She stood up, testing the length of the chain.

"At least this crazy bastard made the chain long enough for me to reach the washroom and walk around the sofa..." Lyra muttered with a heavy sigh, rolling her eyes. "Tsk. How generous of him."

[ Host, look on the bright side! ] the System offered weakly. [ At least your physical safety is guaranteed for now! ]

"Guaranteed?!" Lyra glared at the floating blue screen. "I am a chained ornament on a dark romance Male Lead’s bed! There is nothing ’bright’ about this situation!"

She walked over to the marble table, dragging the chain behind her like a noisy ghostly ghost. She sank onto the soft sofa, picking up an apple from the fruit bowl and taking a loud, angry bite.

Crunch.

"Okay, let’s analyze this like calm, logical adults," Lyra said, chewing her apple while her dark eyes flicked back and forth. "Alastair’s obsession is completely focused on me right now. He thinks I’m his little trapped mouse. Meanwhile, Elena is locked in her own room somewhere on the second floor, and her evil stepbrother Gabriel is out there somewhere plotting to use her."

[ Correct, Host! ] the System agreed, pulling up a map of the estate. [ Gabriel Hale knows you are in this mansion, and he views you as Alastair’s major vulnerability! ]

Lyra’s eyes lit up with a sudden realization. She swallowed her food, a sly grin spreading across her face.

"Wait a minute..." Lyra whispered, leaning closer to the floating blue screen. "If Gabriel thinks I’m Alastair’s most precious weakness... then Gabriel is definitely going to try to break into this mansion or use his insider spies to target ME, right?"

[ Statistically speaking... yes, Host! Villains always target the Male Lead’s love interest to force a final confrontation! ]

"EXACTLY!" Lyra snapped her fingers loudly. "Which means Gabriel’s attack is going to create absolute, utter chaos in this estate! And chaos is the absolute best time for a prison break!"

The System paused its internal diagnostic scan, processing her logic. [ So your plan is... ]

"My plan," Lyra said proudly, taking another big bite of her apple, "is to act like a totally docile, obedient, broken little prisoner in front of Alastair for the next few days. I’ll make him think his stupid chain worked and that I’ve completely given up on escaping!"

[ Ooh! Strategic submission! ] the System gasped, impressed.

"Yes!" Lyra nodded vigorously. "Once his guard is down and he unchains me, we wait for Gabriel’s men to make their move. The moment the mansion erupts into a dark romance shootout, I’m grabbing Elena, kicking down the back kitchen door, and running for the hills!"

[ Wow, Host! That actually sounds like a foolproof plan! ] the System cheered, its interface glowing a happy green color.

"Of course it’s a foolproof plan," Lyra bragged, leaning back comfortably against the cushions with her feet up on the coffee table. "Now, if only this crazy mafia boss would hurry up and send my breakfast... a master strategist can’t work on an empty stomach!"

Right on cue, the double doors of the master suite unlocked with a loud, distinct click.

The brass handles of the double doors turned, and a young maid stepped into the master suite carrying a large breakfast tray. She kept her head lowered, her steps silent as she set the tray down on the coffee table right in front of Lyra.

"Your breakfast, Miss," the maid whispered, bowing low before quietly backing away toward the door.

Lyra stared at the steaming plate of fluffy pancakes, crisp bacon, and fresh orange juice. A delicious aroma filled the air, but instead of diving in, her dark eyes narrowed into suspicious little slits.

System! Lyra called out in her mind, pulling her legs back onto the sofa. The heavy metal chain clinked softly against the base of the table. Do a full diagnostic scan on this food right now! I am not getting knocked out for another twelve hours!

Ding!

A bright green scan light swept over the silver tray.

[ Diagnostic Complete, Host! ] the System announced cheerfully, its interface glowing with clear green metrics. [ No sedatives, poisons, or high-grade sleeping drugs detected! The food is 100% safe for consumption! ]

Lyra let out a long sigh of relief, her shoulders dropping. "Thank goodness. My stomach was about to start playing the drums."

She picked up her fork and happily began devouring the pancakes. While she chewed, her chaotic mind immediately resumed calculating her "Docile Prisoner" strategy.

Alright, step one is simple, Lyra thought, taking a sip of the sweet orange juice. I play the obedient, quiet role. When Alastair comes back tonight, I won’t yell, throw pillows, or pull at this stupid chain. I’ll make him believe his little lesson completely broke my spirit. Once he thinks I’m totally docile, he’ll eventually take this cold metal cuff off my leg.

[ A solid, classic tactic, Host! ] the System agreed, hovering near her shoulder. [ Lowering the Male Lead’s vigilance is crucial for our upcoming escape window! ]

"Exactly," Lyra murmured, taking a big bite of bacon. "Now we just wait for the villain Gabriel to throw his wrench into the narrative."

-------------------------

Meanwhile, on the ground floor of the estate...

The atmosphere in the grand eastern hallway had completely shattered into pure chaos.

BANG!

The doors of the east wing burst open as Alastair strode down the corridor, his face dark, and terrifyingly cold. Behind him, two guards were dragging Elena across the floor.

Her hair was messy, her clothes were disheveled, and her hands were tightly bound in front of her. She had managed to pick the lock of her guest room using the bent metal hairpin she had snuck earlier, almost reaching the outer courtyard before Alastair’s elite patrol intercepted her near the rose garden.