Reborn As An Extra : I'm gonna mess up everything

The day had been nothing short of perfect. Esdeath and Lortell had eaten together, then spent hours shopping. Though Esdeath insisted she didn’t need anything, Lortell wouldn’t take no for an answer. She kept buying one thing after another—jewelry, dresses, rare accessories, even books Esdeath might like. The sheer amount of gifts was beyond extravagant; the total cost was enough to be a lifetime’s savings for most people. 

After shopping, they wandered through the city, playing games at stalls, exploring hidden alleyways filled with unique shops, and visiting places that held a certain charm. Lortell had thought this date would be challenging, that Esdeath might resist her advances, but to her surprise, everything felt… natural. Smooth. 

Before they knew it, the sky had darkened into a warm evening glow, and they found themselves under a small bridge that crossed a quiet river. It was secluded, a place where no one usually passed by. The soft ripples of water reflected the golden hues of the sunset, casting a peaceful atmosphere around them. 

Lortell moved closer, pressing Esdeath gently against the stone wall. One of her hands rested against the wall beside Esdeath's head, while her forehead touched Esdeath’s, closing the space between them. 

Esdeath’s face turned red. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Lortell’s intense stare. Her heart pounded against her chest. 

“Esdeath,” Lortell’s voice was deep, soft, her warm breath tickling Esdeath’s skin. “You know… there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.” 

Esdeath hesitated but finally looked into Lortell’s red eyes, her own red ones shimmering with emotion. “M-Me too… I wanted to tell you something, too.” 

Lortell smirked slightly. “Oh? Then you go first.” 

Esdeath swallowed hard. Her hands trembled slightly as she balled them into fists, gathering all her courage. She took a deep breath, her lips parting. 

“I-I lo—” 

BAM!

A sudden force interrupted her. 

Something flew in and smacked Lortell right in the face. 

Lortell’s expression turned dark, her brows twitching with annoyance. “Who the—” She was about to curse but paused when she saw a golden letter floating in the air. 

Her sharp eyes recognized it instantly. 

A Golden Flying Letter Essence Stone. 

Her heart sank. She reached out, catching the letter as it glowed faintly in her hands. With a tense expression, she unfolded it and scanned the contents. 

Her entire body froze. 

Her breath hitched, and her fingers tightened around the letter. Her red eyes, which moments ago held warmth and mischief, were now filled with shock and disbelief. 

The words in the letter burned into her mind. 

Her father, Arthur Mariette, was gravely ill. He was taking his last breaths… and he wanted to see her. One final time. 

For the first time in a long while, Lortell felt something heavy settle in her chest. A feeling she couldn’t ignore. 

Lortell turned to Esdeath with an apologetic look. "Esdeath… I'm really sorry, but something urgent has come up," she said, her voice laced with regret. 

—------------ 

They stood at the edge of the market, right where the path led back to the academy. The evening breeze was gentle, but the moment felt heavy.