"Language, princess..." the fox chimed, its big, fluffy ears twitching as it hovered closer, its tail swishing back and forth like an excited puppy. It tilted its head, its blue eyes sparkling with innocent mischief. "A princess must speak with grace and poise, you know. Otherwise, you might lose those precious pampering points!"
Evelisse's jaw tightened, a rush of anger flaring in her chest. 'Seriously? This thing is going to scold me for cursing while threatening me with eternal soul-wandering?'
Fluffy giggled, spinning in place as if her terror was the most amusing thing it had ever seen. "But don't worry, my dear princess! As long as you complete your weekly tasks and keep your brothers and family wrapped around your tiny, adorable fingers, you'll have nothing to worry about!"
Evelisse swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She glanced at the door, half-expecting one of her brothers to burst in and question why she was talking to a floating pink fox, but the room remained eerily quiet, the soft rustle of the silk curtains the only sound breaking the tense silence.
'Is... is this real? Am I really talking to a pink, flying fox? Have I... completely lost my mind?'
Before she could snap back, the fox spun in place, its wings fluttering with excitement as another holographic screen blinked into her vision.
[New Task Unlocked!]
[First Fluffy Task: Smile Sweetly at Each of Your Brothers!
Reward: A Group Hug and Instant Pampering Boost!]
Evelisse blinked, her wide green eyes scanning the cheerful, glittering text as her heart pounded. 'Smile... at my brothers? That's my first task? Seriously?'
The fox bobbed in the air, its tiny, fluffy body bouncing like a feather caught in a breeze. "It's a simple task, right? Just flash those cute little teeth and watch the affection points roll in! You'll be drowning in pampering in no time!"
She froze, her mind racing as she glanced at the closed door where her supposed family waited anxiously.
Seven brothers. Seven tall, intimidating young men who had burst into her room like a pack of overprotective lions the moment she had awoken. She could still feel their trembling hands, the warmth of their relieved tears, the crushing weight of their desperate love as they clung to her small, chubby form.
'I have to... smile at them? Like... actually smile?'
She hesitated, her heart pounding as Fluffy bounced up and down, tiny sparkles trailing behind it like a glittery comet.
"Come on, Princess! Just a sweet little smile, and you'll be showered with affection points! You can do it!"
She took a deep breath, her small hands clenching the sheets even tighter as she tried to summon the muscles in her cheeks to cooperate. She hadn't genuinely smiled in years. In her past life, nobody ever cared whether she smiled or cried. She had been nothing more than a burden, a dying girl abandoned by her family, left to waste away in a cold, sterile hospital room.
But here... here, these people seemed desperate for just one smile. She could still hear their trembling voices, their shaky, tearful laughter as they clung to her bedside, calling her name as if it were a lifeline.
'Alright,' she thought, her heart racing. 'I can do this. Just... smile. Like a real princess.'
Slowly, she lifted her chin, her wide, emerald green eyes darting toward the door as footsteps echoed from the hallway. The doorknob twisted, and a medium height, lean figure appeared in the doorway, his sharp jawline and stormy blue eyes catching the light as he froze, his breath catching in his throat.
It was Felix, the youngest of her seven brothers, his tousled blonde hair falling into his eyes as he blinked, his mouth dropping open in disbelief.
"Eve?" he whispered, his voice shaking as he stepped into the room, his hands clenching at his sides. "Did... did you just... smile?"
She felt her heart skip a beat, her cheeks already starting to ache from the unfamiliar strain of holding the small, hesitant curve of her lips. She forced herself to nod, her small fingers still clutching the sheets like a lifeline.
Fluffy in her mind let out a delighted squeal, spinning in another glittering loop as a bright, cheerful message flashed across her vision.
[Task Progress: 1/7 Brothers Successfully Smiled At! Keep Going, Host! You're Doing Great!]
Felix looked stunned, his mouth parting as if he couldn't quite believe it. A spark of warmth spread through Emily's chest. Felix's face broke into a wide grin, his whole demeanor lighting up.
"You smiled!" he exclaimed, turning back toward the hallway. "Guys! She's smiling!"
There was a sudden rush of footsteps, and the door practically flew open. One by one, her brothers barged in, their faces lighting up when they saw her.
"What happened?" Jared asked, looking between Felix and Evelisse.
"She smiled!" Felix repeated, practically bouncing with excitement.
Lucien stepped closer, his usually stern expression softening. "Eve, did you really smile?"
Fluffy gave her a mental nudge. "Go on! Smile again!"
Evelisse bit her lip, hesitating, but the hopeful expressions on her brothers' faces melted her resistance. She tried again, a shy, gentle smile that felt strange on her face but seemed to have a magical effect on her brothers.
Leo and Lance, the twins, looked at each other in shock. "She really smiled!"
Callum let out a shaky breath. "I thought I'd never see that again..."
Marcus, usually quiet, managed a small, relieved laugh. "I was starting to think she'd forgotten how..."
Before she knew it, they all rushed forward, surrounding her in a warm, overwhelming group hug. The sheer force of their collective embrace nearly knocked the breath out of her.
[Task Complete! Reward Unlocked: Group Hug and Instant Pampering Boost!
♡Affection Points Increased: +7]
Evelisse found herself sandwiched between seven sets of strong arms, their warmth seeping into her, chasing away the cold fear that had settled in her chest.
'Is this... what it feels like to be loved?'
Lucien patted her head gently. "It's okay, Evelisse. You don't have to push yourself too much. We're just happy you're safe. Your brothers are sorry to have failed to protect you we should have. It would never happen again, not on our watch."
Jared ruffled her hair, careful not to tug. "Yeah, just take it easy, okay? We'll take care of everything else."
Felix squeezed her hand, his eyes shining with relief. "If you need anything—anything at all—you just have to ask, alright?"
Fluffy practically purred with satisfaction, giving her an encouraging nudge. "See? Easy peasy! They're already putty in your hands!"
Evelisse couldn't help the small laugh that slipped out, a sound that surprised even herself. The room went silent, all seven brothers staring at her with wide eyes.
"Did she just... laugh?" Leo whispered, as if afraid he'd imagined it.
Lance grinned, his cheeks flushed. "She did!"
Lucien cleared his throat, his ears turning pink. "Alright. That's enough excitement for one day. Eve needs to rest."
The others reluctantly pulled back, each giving her a gentle pat or ruffle as they filed out. Lucien lingered for a moment, his gaze softening.
"We'll be right outside if you need us," he murmured, brushing his thumb over her knuckles before stepping out.
The moment the door clicked shut, Evelisse sagged back against the pillows, her heart pounding. Fluffy hovered in front of her face, its tail swishing with excitement.
"You did it! Look at how happy they are!"
Evelisse huffed, rubbing her cheek. 'I didn't know just smiling could cause such a commotion...'
Fluffy bounced in midair. "You're their precious little sister! They missed you so much that even a tiny smile made their day!"
Before Evelisse could respond, a new message popped up.
[Bonus Task Unlocked: Explore Your Room and Personalize It!
Reward: A Special Keepsake from the Real Evelisse's Past]