Wait, My Overpowered Skill is Just… Love?!-Chapter 13 - 12: Strengthening the Walls

The grand wooden doors of the Viscount's office creaked as they opened, and Cecilia stepped into her father's office, she was immediately engulfed in warmth.

Elara rushed forward first, pulling her into an almost desperate embrace. "Cecilia, my darling... My sweet child," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Her hands trembled as they held onto Cecilia, as if letting go would mean losing her forever.

But before Cecilia could even respond, another pair of stronger arms wrapped around her, pulling both her and Elara into a protective hold.

Her father.

Reinhardt rarely showed emotion so openly, but right now, all of his usual restraint was gone. His hands clutched his wife and daughter tightly, his breathing uneven.

Cecilia could feel it—the worry, the fear, the relief—all pouring from his embrace.

"You're safe," Reinhardt murmured, his deep voice slightly strained. "Thank the heavens... You're safe."

Cecilia's throat tightened. She hadn't realized how much she needed this moment until now. She had been through so much—terror, helplessness, pain—but now, here, wrapped in her parents' arms, she felt safe.

Elara pulled back slightly, cupping Cecilia's face in her hands, her eyes red and swollen from sleepless nights. "I thought—I thought I'd lost you...I never want to lose you, Cecilia. Don't ever scare us like that again." she admitted, her voice breaking.

Cecilia bit her lip to stop her own tears from falling. "I'm okay, Mother. I promise."

Reinhardt exhaled sharply, stepping back just enough to inspect her from head to toe. His sharp, battle-worn eyes scanned her for any sign of lingering wounds. "You weren't hurt, were you? Did they touch you?" His voice, though laced with concern, carried an undercurrent of barely restrained fury.

"No," Cecilia reassured him quickly. "Selene—she saved me before anything could happen."

At the mention of Selene, both parents turned.

Selene stood just inside the doorway, watching the scene unfold with her usual stoic expression. Her uniform was still stained with faint traces of blood, but she didn't seem bothered by it.

Reinhardt's relief quickly shifted into a sharper gaze. "Selene," he said, his voice low, steady. "Come forward."

Selene obeyed without hesitation, stepping forward to face him directly.

"You were with her the whole time?" Reinhardt asked.

"Yes," Selene confirmed. "From the moment I located her, I ensured her safety."

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Reinhardt's jaw tightened, as if holding back emotions. He wasn't just a noble lord—he was a father. And his daughter had nearly been stolen from him.

For a long moment, he was silent. Then, with a heavy sigh, he did something Cecilia didn't expect.

He placed a firm hand on Selene's shoulder.

"Thank you," he said simply, but the weight behind those words was immense. "You brought her home."

Selene blinked, briefly taken aback. "It was my duty."

Reinhardt shook his head. "No. Duty or not, you saved my daughter. That's more than I can ever repay."

Elara nodded, stepping beside her husband. "You have our deepest gratitude, Selene."

Selene's expression remained neutral, but Cecilia swore she saw a flicker of something—surprise? Discomfort? Maybe she wasn't used to receiving this kind of gratitude.

The Viscount stepped back, casting a look at Elara, whose face had softened but still held the edge of worry. Elara nodded in silent agreement, though her eyes flickered to Selene with something that resembled both respect and fear.

"Sit, both of you," Reinhardt said, gesturing to the large chairs around the table. "We need to discuss the situation thoroughly. We'll be in danger until we understand who is behind this attack." He glanced at Cecilia, his worry returning full force.

Cecilia sat beside her mother, her nerves still frayed, but she steeled herself, knowing the conversation was only beginning. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her chest.

Selene seated herself opposite the Viscount and Viscountess, her gaze steady and unwavering. "The attackers were mercenaries," she began, her voice calm but laced with an undertone of bitterness. "They were well-equipped and well-organized. This was no random act of banditry. Someone—someone with resources—paid them to attack."

"This wasn't a random attack, it's an attack on our family, on our position." He glanced at Cecilia, his voice hardening. ""Someone with resources and a clear motive hired those mercenaries."

Selene nodded. "They were well-equipped, well-trained. Their weapons weren't common bandit scraps—they were maintained, likely supplied by someone with military ties or access to the black market."

Elara's face paled slightly as she held Cecilia's hand tighter. "So you're saying... this wasn't just about ransom?"

Reinhardt shook his head. "No. If ransom was the goal, they wouldn't have been so willing to kill off any witnesses." He leaned forward, his sharp gaze locking onto Selene. "Did they say anything before you... dealt with them?"

Cecilia watched as Selene's fingers tensed slightly, the only sign of discomfort she'd shown since they arrived.

"They weren't professionals," Selene admitted, her voice steady. "But they weren't complete fools either. They knew their orders well enough to not speak carelessly."

Reinhardt frowned, clearly unsatisfied. "So no names. No affiliations."

Selene hesitated.

"There was one thing," she finally said. "I overheard two of them talking before I struck. One of them mentioned something about their employer not caring whether Cecilia was 'whole' as long as she was alive."

Cecilia felt her stomach turn.

Whole?

Her parents stiffened.

Elara's grip on Cecilia's hand tightened until it nearly hurt. "That... that means they weren't concerned about harming her, only about keeping her breathing."

"Who would even want to target me?" Cecilia asked, her voice quieter than she expected. "I don't have enemies. I barely even interact with anyone outside our household."

Her father let out a heavy sigh, his hands rubbing his temples. "That's the problem, Cecilia. It's not about you. It's about our family."

Cecilia blinked. "What?"

Reinhardt leaned back in his chair, looking far more exhausted than he had a few minutes ago. "Our house may only be a Viscount family, but we hold a strategic position. Our lands are a key trade route, and our alliances have been growing in recent years. We have strong ties to the Duke of Evernold, and we've secured lucrative trade agreements that some... would rather we didn't have."

Elara bit her lip. "Not to mention, we've recently been in negotiations with the Imperial Court. That alone puts a target on our backs."

Cecilia's stomach churned. She had never paid much attention to politics—she had always left that to her parents. But now, it was affecting her directly.

Reinhardt's eyes narrowed. "There's one family in particular that I suspect might be involved."

Cecilia felt a cold dread creep up her spine.

"The House of Velstire," he said, his voice filled with quiet venom.

Elara's grip on Cecilia's hand tightened even more.

"Viscount Velstire," Elara murmured, her expression grave. "He's been trying to expand his influence for years."

Reinhardt nodded. "And he's been losing ground to us. His territory used to dominate the trade routes, but after our agreement with Duke Evernold, his grip has started to weaken."

Cecilia swallowed. "So... you think he hired the mercenaries?"

Her father didn't answer immediately. "I think it's possible. But there's no evidence yet. Without proof, we can't accuse him outright."

Selene's voice cut through the tension.

"We don't need accusations," she said coldly. "We just need to be prepared."

Elara nodded firmly. "Agreed. We need to act immediately."

Reinhardt nodded, his mind already working. "We'll discuss this soon, but first, I want immediate changes to Cecilia's protection."

Selene tilted her head slightly, waiting for orders.

"I want a full restructuring of our security detail," Reinhardt continued. "From now on, Cecilia will have a personal guard at all times. No exceptions."

Elara nodded. "I agree. We'll need to increase the surveillance and activate the magical wards. We cannot afford any more surprises."

Cecilia opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Reinhardt turned to Selene.

"I want you to be her personal protector, Selene, make sure that Cecilia is never in danger again," Reinhardt said, his voice sharpening.

Cecilia's entire body tensed.

Selene nodded without hesitation. "I'll ensure she's protected at all costs, Father."

Cecilia gawked. "Wait, wait, wait—what do you mean personal guard?!"

Reinhardt turned his serious gaze onto her. "Cecilia, this isn't up for debate. You need protection, and Selene is the most capable person to provide it."

"But—but she'll be following me everywhere?!" Cecilia blurted, horrified.

"You don't have to look so miserable," she said smoothly. "It's not like I'll be breathing down your neck."

Cecilia sent her a sharp glare. "You literally wouldn't let go of me this morning."

Selene shrugged. "I was making sure you were warm."

Selene's eyes softened just the slightest. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

"I'll stay close to you Cecilia," Selene said quietly, the weight of her words heavy in the air. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Cecilia turned to her mother for help, but Elara only looked at her with gentle yet firm resolve.

"Sweetheart," she said softly, brushing Cecilia's hair back. "You almost didn't come home."

Those words hit harder than anything else.

Cecilia clenched her fists, suddenly feeling guilty for even arguing about this.

She looked away, huffing in frustration. "Fine... But I'm not going to like it."

Selene simply smirked. "You'll get used to it."

Cecilia sent her a sharp glare, but Selene didn't seem the least bit concerned.

Reinhardt sighed, looking between the two girls before turning to his wife. "Let's finalize the protection details. We have a lot of work to do."

Cecilia glared. "I hate how confident you sound about that."

Reinhardt let out another heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. "Gods help me, I do not have the patience for this."

Elara giggled softly, which made Cecilia's face heat up even more.

It seemed like her fate was sealed.

Selene would be stuck to her like glue.

And there was nothing she could do about it.

For once, she simply accepted that things had to change.

---

Cecilia stifled a yawn as she left her father's office, her body still aching from exhaustion. The tension from the meeting had drained what little energy she had left, and all she wanted now was to collapse into bed and sleep for a week.

Selene, of course, was right beside her.

Cecilia had barely taken two steps before she felt Selene's presence looming over her shoulder.

She turned to glare at the knight. "Are you really going to walk me all the way to my room?"

Selene blinked, her expression completely neutral. "Yes."

Cecilia sighed. "I don't need an escort inside my own home."

Selene tilted her head slightly, as if contemplating the thought. Then she shook her head. "No, you do."

Cecilia's eye twitched. "Selene, I've lived here my entire life. I think I can make it to my own bedroom without an armed escort."

Selene shrugged. "That's what you thought about traveling in a carriage too."

Cecilia scowled. "That was completely different!"

"Was it?" Selene mused.

"Yes!" Cecilia huffed. "I refuse to have you glued to me all day. I want privacy, and I want space."

Selene's lips quirked slightly, the smallest hint of amusement flashing in her usually unreadable gaze. "I see. So, what you're saying is... you'd like me to watch from a distance instead?"

Cecilia opened her mouth, then immediately closed it. "That's not—"

"Or perhaps," Selene continued smoothly, "you'd like me to escort you only when you explicitly call for me? Like a personal guard on standby, waiting to serve at your every command?"

Cecilia's face turned red. "You—You're twisting my words!"

Selene chuckled softly, clearly enjoying herself.

Cecilia narrowed her eyes, seething. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Selene smirked. "Who, me? Never."

Cecilia gritted her teeth. She hated how effortlessly Selene could push her buttons.

Crossing her arms, she picked up her pace, hoping that walking faster would somehow shake Selene off.

It didn't.

If anything, Selene matched her step for step, effortlessly keeping up.

Cecilia glared at her from the corner of her eye. "Do you always walk this close to people?"

"No."

"Then why are you doing it now?"

Selene looked thoughtful for a moment, before answering in the most infuriatingly casual tone possible.

"Because it annoys you."

Cecilia stopped walking.

She slowly turned to face Selene, her face a mix of exhaustion, irritation, and disbelief. "Did you seriously just admit that?"

Selene simply nodded. "Yes."

Cecilia gaped at her. "You—You—"

"You're cute when you're mad," Selene added, her tone almost offhanded.

Cecilia felt her soul leave her body.

Her face exploded into warmth, and she took an instinctive step back. "I—YOU—"

Before she could form a coherent response, her system chimed.

---

You have gained +10 Affection Points with Selene von Aetheria.

Cause: Selene finds your angry face 'cute'.

[Selene von Aetheria – The Blade's Devotion]

Affection Meter: 20/100

---

Cecilia stared at the screen, her face slowly turning red.

Her hands shook slightly as she pulled up the system screen.

Her relationship meter went up?!

For what?!

For getting teased?!

This system—this stupid, ridiculous system—was rewarding Selene for teasing her.

Cecilia gritted her teeth, mentally cursing whatever cosmic force had put her in this situation.

Selene, meanwhile, was already a few steps ahead, her face was infuriatingly smug.

Cecilia groaned, dragging her hands down her face.

This system is rigged.

Selene, meanwhile, simply continued walking toward her room as if nothing had happened.

"Come along now, Little Dove," she called over her shoulder. "Wouldn't want you getting lost."

Cecilia's entire body twitched.

She clenched her fists, took a deep breath—

And then stomped after her.

If she had to suffer this, she was not suffering it alone.

---

A/N: Hello everyone, sorry for the slow update! I've been dealing with writer's block, and being on security duty for a school event was exhausting. I'll try to get back to writing soon—thanks for sticking around!

Feel free to let me know what you think of how the stories are going and where it should go. I'm always eager to hear from you. Leave a powerstone or a comment to support me ;).