Romancing the Horror

Hearing the system's promise, I was instantly tempted.

"Ximena, let me fix your skull." I used the universal glue to carefully attach the missing piece back onto her head.

After it dried, I had her shake her head a few times to test it. "It's really fixed."

Ximena broke into a happy smile. I seized the moment to make my request.

"Ximena, today is our wedding day. Let's just forget all the misunderstandings from before. How about you give me that nail as a token of our love?"

She waved her hand without a second thought. "It's just a nail. If you like it, take it."

[Ding. Target Ximena has gifted the host a level-four soul nail. Stored in inventory.]

[Ding. Host has obtained a level-three tweezer. Stored in inventory.]

[Nail removal task completed. Reward pack has been issued. Please claim it in your inventory.]

[Please keep up the good work and carry out your Devoting actions to the end.]

I opened my system inventory and found four new items inside. A mask called Beauty Restoration Device. A wig called Three Thousand Silken Strands. A hand cream called Delicate Hands Recovery Miracle. A pair of blood-stained red satin heels called The Missing Shoes.

I stared at them, completely confused.

"Aren't these all girl stuff? What am I supposed to do with them?" I muttered to myself.

Ximena gently tugged on my sleeve. "Hey, it's time to go to our room."

She turned and told George to arrange accommodations for the guests, especially the three remaining players.

I was escorted by eerie puppets into a brightly decorated wedding chamber.

Right in the center of the room stood two pitch-black coffins. Ximena pointed to one of them.

"Hey, you'll rest here tonight. No matter what you hear, do not leave the coffin."

Something told me tonight was definitely not going to be peaceful. Sleeping alone in a coffin did not sound appealing. If anything, one human and one ghost together felt safer.

Seeing Ximena lie down in her coffin fully dressed, I climbed in and lay down beside her.

"My dear husband?" Her terrifying ghost face suddenly appeared inches from mine.

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to speak. "Ximena, on a night like this, how could I let you stay alone?"

I cupped her cold face, making my voice as gentle as possible. "Ximena, the people taking care of you clearly don't care enough. Look at you now, everything's a mess.

"Let me help you clean up a bit, then you can rest properly."

I took the mask from my bag and gently placed it over her face, where it instantly melted into her skin. In the next moment, her appearance transformed. Her cheeks turned rosy and smooth, while her eyes grew bright and lively.

"That feels so nice." Ximena touched her face. "I don't feel that burning sensation anymore."

Next, I placed the wig onto her head. The moment it touched her scalp, it fused into place.

"Ah… Why does my head feel heavier?"

I handed her a mirror. When she saw herself, her eyes filled with tears. "This… This is how I used to look. I have smooth hair again."

She gently ran her fingers through her long, silky hair.

Honestly, I could understand. Before that, her hair had been a complete mess. Who knew what she had gone through to end up like that?

I pretended to just notice her rough hands and frowned in anger. "What kind of terrible job were those servants doing? Look how rough your hands have become, Ximena. Quick, use the hand cream I brought for you."

I squeezed out a generous amount and carefully rubbed it into her hands. In an instant, her bark-like skin turned into soft, delicate hands.

No wonder it had such a grand name. The system really delivered.

I noticed she was not wearing any shoes. "Ximena, where are your shoes?"

She swung her feet lightly, looking troubled. "I haven't had shoes since the moment I became aware. I can't even go very far."

Looks like every item the system gave me had a purpose.

I asked her to close her eyes, then quietly slipped the red heels onto her feet.

When she opened her eyes and saw them, her face lit up with joy. "You are the best person in the world."

At that moment, Ximena had regained her appearance from when she was alive. There was a soft, girlish charm in the way she moved.

She probably died at only 17 or 18.

I gently patted her head and said sincerely, "I'll only ever be good to you."