A Quest To Woo the Prince

Eleanor stood in her chambers, staring at the flickering blue orb that represented the System. Its pulsing light seemed to mock her confusion and frustration as its mechanical voice echoed in her head.

"Congratulations, Eleanor," the System chirped. "You have successfully completed Task #7: Gain Adrian's begrudging respect. While his approval rating remains at a mere 18%, this is a marked improvement from his initial impression of 2%."

"Gee, thanks for the encouragement," Eleanor muttered, crossing her arms.

Ignoring her sarcasm, the System continued, "As a reward, you have unlocked your next challenge: spend an entire day alone with Prince Adrian."

Eleanor blinked. "A whole day? Alone?"

"Yes, alone," the System confirmed. "Quality time will deepen the target's emotional connection with you, increasing the likelihood of romantic affection. Task duration: 24 hours. Failure to complete this challenge within three days will result in significant penalties, including—"

"Alright, I get it," Eleanor interrupted, waving her hand at the orb as if she could swat it away. "But how am I supposed to manage that? Adrian barely tolerates being in the same room as me for five minutes!"

"That is for you to figure out," the System replied unhelpfully.

Eleanor groaned. The challenges had been difficult enough so far, but this one felt impossible. Convincing the guarded, prickly prince to spend an entire day alone with her was akin to asking a cat to take a swim—it wasn't going to happen without a fight.

She flopped onto her bed, her mind racing. How could she even approach Adrian with such a request? She'd need a plausible reason, something that wouldn't immediately raise his suspicions.

A knock at the door broke through her thoughts.

"Come in," she called.

The door creaked open, and Cedric stepped inside. He was carrying a tray with tea and biscuits, his ever-present grin lighting up the room.

"Lady Eleanor," he greeted. "You look like someone just handed you a riddle with no answer."

"That's because they did," she replied, sitting up. "I need to spend an entire day alone with Adrian. And before you ask, no, I can't tell you why."

Cedric's grin widened as he set the tray down. "Sounds like quite the challenge. Adrian's not exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type."

"You don't say," Eleanor replied dryly.

"Still," Cedric mused, tapping his chin, "if you're looking for an opportunity to be alone with him, you might want to consider joining him on his next hunting trip."

"Hunting?" Eleanor asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cedric nodded. "It's one of the few things Adrian actually enjoys. He goes out every couple of weeks to clear his head. He's due for another trip tomorrow morning."

Eleanor frowned. "But isn't hunting usually done in groups? How would that help me spend time with him alone?"

Cedric's grin turned mischievous. "Leave that part to me. I'll make sure the group mysteriously dwindles after you set out."

She hesitated. "You'd really help me with this?"

"Of course," Cedric replied. "You're interesting, Eleanor, and I think Adrian could use a little 'interesting' in his life."

"Thanks… I think?"

"Don't mention it," he said with a wink. "Just be ready at dawn."

The following morning, Eleanor stood at the edge of the palace grounds, dressed in borrowed hunting gear that felt both too tight and too loose in all the wrong places. She clutched a bow she had no idea how to use, her nerves jangling as Cedric approached with Adrian in tow.

Adrian looked as he always did: regal, aloof, and utterly indifferent. He wore a dark cloak over his hunting attire, his expression giving away none of his thoughts.

"Ready to hunt?" Cedric asked cheerfully as they approached.

Eleanor nodded, forcing a smile. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Adrian's eyes flicked to her, his brow furrowing slightly. "You're coming?"

"Yes," she said, trying to sound confident. "I thought it might be… educational."

He said nothing, but the slight quirk of his brow suggested he wasn't convinced.

The first leg of the hunt was uneventful. The small group of nobles trudged through the forest, their chatter filling the crisp morning air. Adrian remained silent, his focus entirely on the trail ahead.

Eleanor tried to keep up, but the uneven terrain and the weight of the bow made her progress clumsy. Several times, she stumbled over roots or slipped on damp leaves, earning her fair share of chuckles from the other nobles.

"Are you sure you're cut out for this?" one of them sneered as she tripped for the third time.

Before she could reply, Adrian's voice cut through the air.

"Enough," he said, his tone sharp. "Focus on the hunt."

The noble fell silent, and Eleanor shot Adrian a grateful glance. He didn't return it, his gaze fixed ahead as if nothing had happened.

By midday, the group had split up to cover more ground, just as Cedric had promised. One by one, the nobles found reasons to leave—an injured horse, a sudden chill, or a fabricated urgent matter at court.

Finally, it was just Eleanor and Adrian.

The forest was quiet except for the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. The air was cool, carrying the scent of earth and pine. Eleanor's heart raced—not from fear, but from the daunting realization that she was now alone with the crown prince.

Adrian walked ahead, his movements deliberate and graceful. Eleanor struggled to keep pace, her boots crunching loudly on the underbrush.

"You don't have to try so hard to keep up," Adrian said without turning around.

"I'm not trying," she lied, adjusting the quiver on her back.

They walked in silence for a while, the tension between them as thick as the forest canopy. Eleanor racked her brain for something to say, but Adrian beat her to it.

"Why are you really here?" he asked suddenly, his voice low and guarded.

Eleanor hesitated, her heart pounding. She couldn't tell him the truth—not about the System, not about her mission.

"I wanted to understand you better," she said finally. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

Adrian stopped and turned to face her, his piercing gaze pinning her in place.

"Understand me?" he echoed, his tone laced with skepticism. "Why?"

Eleanor swallowed hard. "Because I think there's more to you than what you show the court."

For a moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he let out a soft, bitter laugh.

"You think you've figured me out?" he asked.

"No," she admitted. "But I'd like to try."

Adrian's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned away. "You're wasting your time."

"I don't think so," she replied, following him as he resumed walking.

As the sun began to set, the forest grew quieter, the shadows lengthening with each passing minute. Eleanor's feet ached, and her borrowed gear felt heavier than ever, but she refused to complain.

Adrian finally stopped near a small clearing, his gaze scanning the treetops.

"We'll head back soon," he said.

Eleanor nodded, though part of her was reluctant to leave. Despite his aloofness, she felt as though she'd seen a sliver of the man beneath the icy exterior.

As they stood in the fading light, the System's voice chimed in her head.

"Reminder: Task progress remains at 0%. Time remaining: 48 hours."

Eleanor sighed inwardly. She had made it through the day, but she had yet to break through Adrian's defenses.

"Failure to complete this task will result in—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," she muttered under her breath, cutting the System off.

"What was that?" Adrian asked, turning to her.

Eleanor froze. "Nothing! Just… muttering to myself."