This Princess is an Extra-Chapter 47: Taken, Tamed, and Betrayed

Though doubtful, Eli followed it’s instruction and returned the vase to it’s place before taking a seat on a cushioned stool beside the bed. "Meow is Maximillian, your new ’companion’. From now on, Maximillian will be the one assigning you tasks."

"Companion?" she echoed. "What about Arlo? And... are you sent by DreamSync?"

"Hold that thought! Before any questions, a bowl of milk would be appreciated." He reclined atop the pillows like a king upon his throne, leisurely licking a paw and smoothing his face. "The royals here truly have refined tastes. That creamy texture? Exquisite. Maximillian was hooked at first sip."

"You were the one stealing my milk these past few days, you thief!" Eli accused, pointing at him. Internally her mind was having these weird thoughts ’Does an AI even needs food... maybe in a coded world, it drinks... digitally?’

"Stealing is such an ugly word. I prefer ’resource optimization’."

"Whatever. Just show me the menu window. This story’s almost finished, and I want to skip straight to the epilogue. I’ll have the milk brought after that."

"Maximilian can’t skip to epilogue."

"Why?"

"Ah. Meow see’s—it’s time for a serious conversation. You see, reaching the epilogue requires completing the story first... and this story is very much not finished yet." It said rising and stretching languidly like a cat who had all the time in the world.

"What do you mean? Callisto and Mirabel are to be wed in less than ten days. Their marriage was meant to happen in the epilogue." She tried to reason now with logic.

With a soft ding, a translucent window materialized into existence in midair, boring similarity to a PPT.

"You see," Maximillian said, gesturing at it with his tail, "this is a romance novel." On the floating slide a simple illustration appeared of a man and a lady with a heart background.

"And tell me, player, what is the single most important thing a romance novel must complete before it may earn its epilogue?" as if it knew nothing, Maximillian asked and a small monocle popped into existence over its one eye. "Of course, it has to be an happy ending for the protagonist-with lots of love. But our male lead, does not have one."

"...That’s ridiculous," Eli said, frowning. "Callisto is marrying the woman he adores. How’s that not an happy ending?"

Maximillian began to nod his head in understanding.

"Let’s call it a minor software update. For Meow’s taste, this story was a tad boring." After it spoke, the man and woman vanished from the floating presentation. Instead, there appeared a single man’s silhouette in black. "So, meow introduced a minor adjustment and merged this narrative into my personal favorite one. And lucky you," he added stretching and then jumping on her lap, "Yes, you get the honor of being the very first player, handpicked by Maximillian to experience it."

She stared down at it, anticipating a hint of jest, but it maintained its smugness.

What the hell is this blasted code of fur is saying now, Eli thought to herself. If there was one thing she could tell right now it was that this creature needed its brain checked if it had one.

"Don’t speak nonsense, I have no intention of entertaining this. Connect me to your headquarters. I want to talk to DreamSync, NOW!"

"That is not the question you should be asking." it said as the creature licked its paw with deliberate nonchalance. "If you do not wish to listen, Meow will simply leave."

"No—wait!!" shocked eli forced herself to respond to him. "What changes did you make? And what do I need to do to return home?"

"Oh, it’s simple," it said with a glint in its eyes, "You only need to complete your tasks, ensure that the protagonist I chose does not deviate from the male lead’s path, lives a happy life and his story is granted a fulfilling ending."

As she stared at Maximillian in her lap, she slowly opened her mouth to ask. "And what is your story called, and who exactly is your chosen protagonist?"

"The story, is a masterpiece of shadows and devotion. A tale of captivity and ambition, of power gained at a terrible cost. It is cruel, intoxicating, and exquisitely written. It is called ’Taken, Tamed, and Betrayed.’"

It then paused, savoring the moment. "And my chosen protagonist," Maximillian continued softly, "is him."

The image of the man in the ppt with black silhouette cleared.

Thud!!!

As soon as she saw the face, Eli jolted to her feet so abruptly that Maximillian tumbled from her lap, landing with an indignant thump on the floor. She recognized him instantly and her breath was caught.

"Rude, Absolutely rude. Meow was in the middle of a dramatic reveal."

Of all the people in this world...

"Drayce Vortalis!!!!!" revealed Maximilian, finally.

Suddenly, a memory popped into the slightly dazed Eli’s head of herself standing in a bookstore, staring down at a long aisle of novels. On one side sat ’Petals of the Crown’—the very book she now was inside. Right beside it, displayed far more prominently, was another title, ’Taken, Tamed, and Betrayed.’ Its cover unmistakably contianed Drayce’s animated face, alongside the other protagonists. It was so famous that it’s posters were everywhere: plastered across the storefront windows, splashed across towering banners, looping endlessly on glowing advertisement screens.

It had been impossible to miss as it was one of the most famous dark novels of its time. At present, Eli looked like she had experienced something so damn unbelieveable.

Her stomach dropped as the reason his name sounded so familiar to her finally surfaced. "D-do you mean..." Eli swallowed. "The villain of that novel?"

Maximillian leapt back onto the bed with effortless grace, "Yes, yes," it said smugly. "Correct."

"The one who kidnapped the female lead and dragged her to his palace," she asked with wide eyes, pointing her forefinger towards the face on the ppt, "even though he already had an empress?"

"Absolutely!!!" Maximillian replied with satisfaction.

"That novel, where the protagonist is trapped, alone and constantly tormented in his palace, gets emotionally broken by everyone around her?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Maximillian didn’t confirmed it but the subtle happiness and it’s gaze told Eli all. Eli’s hands clenched into fists holding her skirt before she spoke,

"That volatile tyrant of an emperor that killed anyone from the concubine to retainer at the slightest offence?"

"Indeed!!!" it said again, utterly delighted.

Is this creature seriously getting proud right now?! Eli wished she could smack the creature or can do something unproper as Talia would word.

Seeing her standing silently and lost in thougths, Maximilian continued with it’s explaination. "You see, his temperament is far too unsuitable for a male lead. That is where your work begins. You have to stop him fro-"

Eli blinked at the creature as she shook her head in denial, she didn’t buy any of its words. "To hell with your story!!!!" She yelled, stopping the creature abruptly, and then flipped her finger at it before she spun on her heels and ran for the open balcony. Her footsteps were quick and she didn’t look back.

Reaching the balcony she climbed onto the railing, ’I am so f*cked!!’ she shouted before leaping from the second floor without a second thought, squeezing her eyes shut as she plunged herself downward bracing for the impact.

But to her surprise she landed on a safety-cushion and resting in her hands was a small nest with tiny chicks chirping inside.

"Oh my! The princess saved the chicks!"

"Your Highness!!! How kind of you! Are you all right?"

As voices rose all around her, Eli still in shock, looked about in confusion, trying to understand what had just happened. The pieces fell into place when she saw few palace attendants mounted up on the tree beside her balcony. She realized they had been attempting to rescue a nest safely, and somehow... she had landed right in the middle of it breaking the nest’s fall.

"Please, allow me to help you!" she heared a maid speak before she helped her up and carefully took the nest away from her hand. She then saw Maximillian, who was now perched on a windowsill on the ground floor looking amused.

"I am going back! I am going back to reality no matter what!" shouting this in frustation Eli broke into run once more.

"Your highness!! You must rest!!" someone shouted after her, but Eli was far too adamant to stop.

"Tch. Already?" Maximillian mused. "Very well then, shall we call this round two?"

"I swear I will return to reality! I’ll return and totally sue this company!! I’LL SUE THEM FOR SURE." Eli shouted as she ran through the palace gardens, already set on her next destination.

The lake came into her view and without slowing, Eli took a long jumper’s leap and hurled herself into the water all the while shouting, "Just try chasing after me , you budget doraemon from Amezon! I was the class rep for long racing!"