Wait, My Overpowered Skill is Just… Love?!-Chapter 5 - 4: The Annoying Stalker

A week had passed since the disaster that was Cecilia's birthday party.

Life in the Aetheria estate had returned to normal—or at least, as normal as it could be when she was living with a cursed soulmate system.

Her days were filled with the usual noble routines: etiquette lessons, embroidery practice (which she was terrible at), and tea parties with noblewomen who fawned over her as if she were a living doll.

But there was one notable difference.

Selene kept coming back.

---

Cecilia sat at the breakfast table, poking at her food absentmindedly. Across from her, her father was reading through a stack of documents, while her mother was humming happily as she sipped her tea.

Just as she was about to enjoy a rare moment of peace, a familiar voice echoed from the entrance of the dining hall.

"I've returned," Selene announced, stepping inside.

Cecilia's fork slipped from her fingers.

"Ah, Selene!" Elara clapped her hands together in delight. "What a pleasant surprise! Are you here for business again?"

Selene nodded calmly. "Yes. I needed to discuss some matters with Father."

Cecilia fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Business. Sure.

This was the third time Selene had shown up this week.

She always had some vague excuse—something about reports, knight duties, or border disputes—but no matter what, she always seemed to linger longer than necessary.

And the worst part?

Cecilia could feel her presence even when she wasn't looking.

At first, Cecilia had ignored it.

But as the days passed, her soulmate meter kept rising, even though she was doing absolutely nothing.

---

[Soulmate Meter Updated]

Selene von Aetheria – The Distant Blade

Affection Meter: 30/100

---

Cecilia stared at the glowing notification.

"...How?!" she muttered under her breath.

She had done nothing affectionate. No warm conversations. No bonding moments. She had barely interacted with Selene all week!

And yet, the meter kept climbing.

She sighed, pressing her fingers against her forehead.

It wasn't normal for someone to keep appearing out of nowhere, staring at her from the shadows, and lurking around her home like a possessive guard dog.

It was getting annoying.

And a little unsettling.

Cecilia had tried to avoid Selene, but the woman had an uncanny way of always being nearby.

If she went to the library, Selene would suddenly appear, browsing the shelves as if she had business there.

If she took a walk in the garden, Selene would be standing by the entrance, pretending to be discussing something with a knight.

If she had tea in the afternoon, Selene would pass by the balcony, pausing just long enough to be noticed before walking away.

It wasn't direct, but it was obvious.

Selene was stalking her under the guise of "business reasons."

And Cecilia hated it.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёnovelkiss.com.

But instead of confronting her, she decided on a simpler solution.

She pretended she didn't exist.

If Selene wanted to hover around like a shadow, fine.

She would just ignore her completely.

One afternoon, Cecilia was lounging in the drawing room, enjoying the rare silence of the estate. The warm sunlight streaming through the windows made her feel drowsy, and before she knew it, her eyelids grew heavy.

She curled up on the plush sofa, resting her head against the armrest.

"Just... a quick nap," she murmured.

She barely had time to process the thought before sleep took her.

---

She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep.

But something felt off.

A light pressure against her cheek.

Then another.

Something was poking her.

Her eyebrows twitched as her mind slowly stirred awake.

Another poke.

She groaned softly, her face scrunching up in annoyance.

Then, finally, her eyes fluttered open—

And she came face to face with Selene.

Cecilia blinked.

Selene was crouched beside the sofa, her violet eye fixed on Cecilia's face with an expression that was far too unreadable.

Her gloved finger hovered just above Cecilia's cheek, clearly the culprit behind the poking.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Selene didn't move.

Cecilia's brain struggled to process what was happening.

And then, in a voice far too calm for someone caught in the act—

"You make cute expressions when you sleep."

Cecilia's entire brain short-circuited.

The air between her and Selene was uncomfortably thick with silence.

The system notification hovered in her vision, glowing faintly.

---

[Soulmate Meter Updated]

Selene von Aetheria – The Distant Blade

Affection Meter: 35/100

---

Cecilia gritted her teeth.

This was ridiculous.

She had been asleep.

She had done absolutely nothing romantic.

And yet, somehow, her affection meter had gone up by five points.

For what?! Existing?!

She slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Selene remained crouched beside the sofa, her expression as stoic as ever, as if she hadn't just been caught red-handed poking her cheek like a child playing with a stress ball.

Cecilia narrowed her eyes.

"...Sister."

"Yes?"

"...Why were you poking my cheek?"

Selene didn't even hesitate.

"I wanted to feel how soft it was."

Silence.

Cecilia stared at her, waiting for her to realize how absurd that sounded.

Selene, to her credit, looked completely serious.

Cecilia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"...You really don't hold back, do you?"

"No," Selene said bluntly.

Cecilia closed her eyes, mentally preparing herself for the reality that this was her life now.

"...Fine. Do whatever you want," she muttered, too tired to fight it.

Selene blinked. "Really?"

Cecilia waved a hand, dismissing her. "Just don't be weird about it."

For a brief moment, Selene simply stared at her, as if contemplating something.

Then, without a word, she poked her cheek again.

Cecilia's eye twitched.

She decided to ignore it.

A few moments passed.

Another poke.

Cecilia's fingers curled into fists.

Poke.

Her patience snapped.

"Sister," she hissed, turning to glare at her. "I said you could do it once. Not keep going."

Selene tilted her head, unbothered.

"You're cute when you're angry."

Cecilia sputtered.

And before she could even process that sentence, another system notification appeared.

---

[Soulmate Meter Updated]

Selene von Aetheria – The Distant Blade

Affection Meter: 40/100

---

Cecilia screamed internally.

DAMN THIS SYSTEM.

Cecilia leaned back against the sofa, rubbing her temples.

Selene, meanwhile, remained crouched beside her, watching her like she was some kind of fascinating specimen.

"...So," Cecilia began, exhaling sharply. "Are you here for 'business' again?"

Selene nodded. "Yes."

Cecilia raised an eyebrow.

"What business?"

Selene was silent for a moment.

"...Things."

Cecilia deadpanned.

"Things," she repeated.

"Yes."

Cecilia wanted to strangle her.

"You're a terrible liar," she muttered.

Selene blinked. "I'm not lying."

Cecilia crossed her arms.

"Oh? Then explain why you keep showing up every other day, standing in the background, lurking in the gardens, stalking me around the estate."

Selene paused, as if genuinely contemplating how to respond.

Finally, after a long silence, she said, "...Coincidence."

Cecilia's eye twitched.

"...Coincidence."

Selene nodded without hesitation.

Cecilia buried her face in her hands.

"Selene."

"Yes?"

"If you're going to stalk me, at least admit it."

Selene tilted her head slightly, as if confused. "Why would I stalk you?"

"THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW!"

Cecilia let out an exasperated groan, slumping further into the sofa.

Selene, as always, looked completely unaffected.

"...You interest me."

Cecilia froze.

For once, Selene actually looked serious.

Her violet eye remained steady, locked onto Cecilia's face with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"Ever since your birthday," Selene continued, "I've been thinking about you."

Cecilia gulped.

Oh no. Oh no no no.

That was dangerous phrasing.

She held up a hand quickly. "Wait, let me stop you right there—"

"I find you... strange," Selene said, ignoring her.

Cecilia blinked.

"...Huh?"

Selene leaned forward slightly, her gaze still locked onto her.

"I've never cared about people," she admitted. "I've never felt the need to watch someone, or follow them, or think about them when they aren't there."

Cecilia's mouth went dry.

"And yet," Selene continued, "when it comes to you... I do."

Silence.

Cecilia felt her face heating up.

Damn it. Why did she have to say it so bluntly?!

She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down.

"...Maybe you're just overthinking it," she said quickly.

Selene tilted her head. "Am I?"

Cecilia nodded rapidly. "Yes. Yes, you are. I'm nothing special. Just your little sister."

Selene was silent for a moment.

Then, softly—

"Just my sister...?"

Cecilia's stomach dropped.

Something about the way she said it made her feel like Selene wasn't entirely convinced.

"...Yes," Cecilia said, forcing confidence into her voice. "Just your sister."

Selene hummed, unconvinced.

Then, after a moment, she reached forward—

And poked her cheek again.

Cecilia snapped.

"SELENE, I SWEAR—"

Selene only smirked.

---

[Soulmate Meter Updated]

Selene von Aetheria – The Distant Blade

Affection Meter: 45/100

---

Cecilia was about to explode.

Not only had Selene completely ignored her personal space, but the soulmate meter kept rising for the dumbest reasons.

She barely even liked Selene!

Well, okay, that was a lie.

Selene wasn't bad, per se. She was strong, dependable, and had a certain cold elegance that made her stand out. But she was also a stubborn, unreadable, cheek-poking menace who was ruining Cecilia's life.

Cecilia huffed, swatting Selene's hand away from her cheek.

"Are you done now?" she grumbled.

Selene didn't answer.

Instead, she smirked.

A smirk.

Cecilia's eye twitched.

Before she could scold her again, the door to the drawing room swung open.

And in stepped their mother, Countess Elara von Aetheria.

"Oh my~," Elara gasped dramatically, clasping her hands together. "My darling daughters, spending time together so closely!"

Cecilia froze.

Selene blinked.

Elara beamed.

"This is wonderful!" she continued, stepping closer. "Selene, my dear, I was worried you would be too distant with Cecilia, but look at you! You're bonding so well!"

Cecilia internally screamed.

This was not bonding.

This was harassment.

Selene, to her credit, remained composed and didn't correct their mother.

Cecilia, however, wasn't as graceful.

"Mother," she said through gritted teeth, "it's not what it looks like."

"Oh?" Elara tilted her head, clearly not believing her. "So you're saying you weren't cuddling just now?"

"Cuddling?!" Cecilia choked. "She was poking my cheek like an annoying child!"

Elara gasped.

"Oh my, so playful! I never imagined Selene to be the affectionate type!"

Cecilia buried her face in her hands.

This wasn't happening.

Elara then sat on the sofa beside Cecilia, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"My dear, this makes me so happy," she said, taking Cecilia's hands in hers. "I was always worried that you two wouldn't be close because of the age gap, but look at you!"

Cecilia wanted to scream.

There was no reasoning with this woman.

Selene, meanwhile, remained silent, watching the conversation with a neutral expression.

That was until Elara turned to her.

"Selene, my love, I had no idea you were so attached to your little sister."

Selene blinked, then said simply, "She's cute."

Cecilia felt her soul leave her body.

Elara gasped again, dramatically clutching her chest.

"Oh, heavens! My eldest daughter has finally learned the joys of family love!"

"Mother," Cecilia whined, "please stop being dramatic."

"I cannot help it, my dear! This is a momentous occasion!" Elara sighed dreamily. "To think, just a week ago, you were strangers, and now Selene is openly calling you cute! I must tell your father at once—"

Cecilia grabbed her arm in a panic.

"Please don't."

Elara pouted. "But why? He'll be so proud to hear that his daughters are getting along so well."

Cecilia gritted her teeth.

Because if her father heard about this, he would probably start planning family bonding activities, and she did not want that.

Selene, however, was completely unbothered, sipping tea like this was all perfectly normal.

Cecilia glared at her.

"Are you just going to sit there and let her make these weird assumptions?" she hissed.

Selene set down her tea cup. "Why correct her? She's happy."

Cecilia felt like dying.

She was barely doing anything, and the affection meter just kept climbing.

If things continued at this rate, Selene would reach 100 before the year ended!

She had to find a way to stop this madness.

But for now, she had to survive her mother's overwhelming joy.

And, unfortunately, the smug look on Selene's face.

Cecilia glared at her.

Selene just poked her cheek again.

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A/N: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 ;)