How To Hide The Tyrant's Child In The Apocalypse

AT THE SAME TIME

MEI SHEN'S POINT OF VIEW:

The basket on my hip felt heavier than usual, though I'd only picked up three bundles of lavender root and a jar of dried persimmons. The sun was warm. The village hummed in its usual lazy rhythm. Nothing looked wrong.

But my spine prickled.

"System Alert: main narrative trajectory has shifted. Warning: genre adjustment in progress. Original tag: 'Tragic romance.' New tag: 'Dark romance with sub class obsession + Villainous Devotion..'"System said.

I stopped walking mid step.

"Excuse me?" I whispered.

"Original script deviation: Emperor Lianwei Voss was not supposed to follow you. Deviation severity: critical. Estimated obsession level (target): 78% and climbing."System said.

My mouth went dry.

"He, he wasn't supposed to care!" I hissed under my breath. "He was supposed to marry the cold duchess with no soul and forget I even existed!"

"That trajectory has been nullified. User interference has reshaped character affinity. You have become the emperor's primary interest."System said.

"...That sounds terrifying."I said.

"Correction: It is. Suggestion: Run."System said.

Before I could take a step, the god's voice spilled through the sky with the laziness of a cat stretching in a sunbeam.

"Oooh, someone's been rewriting fate. You should be flattered, little mouse. Not everyone gets their tyrant to abandon an empire just for a sniff of your herbal tea."Zeyrith said.

"Go haunt someone else!" I snapped.

"Now, why would I do that when this is so entertaining? Honestly, I thought he would sulk for years. But nooo, here he is. Disguised. Masked. Panting emotionally."He said.

My face burned. I whirled around, scanning the edge of the market. I felt something. A gaze. Like fingers ghosting over my skin. The system pinged again.

"New side mission unlocked: escape route planning. Reward: slight reduction in obsession Level. Temporary."System said.

"I hate this book." I muttered, picking up my pace toward home.

And somewhere, I swore I heard the god laughing.

"Ooooh. Someone's being chased by her destiny. How romantic."God said.

"I would rather be chased by a wild boar." I muttered.

"But the boar wouldn't look at you like that. Wouldn't follow you across provinces just to catch a glimpse."He grinned.

I looked over my shoulder. He was there. Plain brown traveller's robe. Hair black as the deepest ink. But those green eyes, unnatural, intense, impossible to mistake. Piercing straight through the crowd, locked on me like I was a flame he was willing to burn for. He didn't speak. He just… smiled. My blood turned to ice. I turned on my heel and ran.

'"Adrenaline surge detected: Speed buff +10% for 2 minutes. Note: You are fleeing a possessive male lead. Do not look back."System said.

"Oh yes. This is definitely more fun than the original novel."God smirked in delight.

"I hate both of you!" I shouted aloud, pushing past startled villagers.

I didn't care if I looked mad. I had to get home. Pack. Hide. Reinvent myself as a forest witch if I had to. Because that wasn't the cold-hearted emperor from the book anymore. That was a man who'd rewritten fate just to find me. And if he could come this far? He wouldn't leave without taking something with him.

My breath was ragged by the time I reached the edge of the forest path near my little cottage. I slammed the door shut behind me, bolting it, and shoving a stool under the handle for good measure.

"System alert: Emotional spike detected. Adrenal function: Overclocked. Fight-or-flight: 96% leaning flight."System said.

"I need to go." I gasped, pacing the room. "He saw me. I saw him."

My satchel landed on the bed with a thud. I started throwing things in, coin pouch, dried herbs, two changes of clothes, travel biscuits—

"Reminder: Possessive leads are not bound by doors, borders, or common sense."System said.

"Running is adorable, really. But darling, have you ever seen what an emperor in love looks like?"God said as if he was trying to tease me.

"No." I muttered. "And I'm not planning to."

"It's glorious. Terrifying. A little hot."He said.

"Plot deviation registered: You are now in a 'pre-persuit' sequence. Romance level: smoldering.

dropped the comb I was holding. My fingers trembled. My heartbeat hadn't slowed once.

"He's not supposed to love me." I whispered. "Not like this. Not… after everything."

But the system was silent now. Even it didn't dare argue. I turned to leave, just as the floor creaked outside my window. I held my breath. Was it an animal? Or had he already found me?

AT THE SAME TIME

EMPEROR LIANWEI FIRST PERSON POV:

She ran like a frightened bird, graceful and panicked, but I watched. Every turn she took, I followed from a distance. Not close enough to frighten her, not yet. But enough to memorize the way she moved. Her house was small. Neat. The type of place someone could disappear into. I stood in the trees, just watching. The moonlight caught in her hair as she shoved things into a satchel, breathless and desperate. She thinks she can leave me again.

"You really have it bad, don't you?"He asked.

I didn't answer.

"Obsessed, territorial, and hiding in the bushes like a cursed prince. Beautiful."He was trying ot tease me again.

"She's planning to run."I said. "She is terrified of me."

"Of course. I told you about her, my lord. She read the original story. She thinks she knows you."He smirked.

 "I am grateful for that information. I had no idea there are scrolls about this, but she doesn't know the real me."I said.

I could feel as if Zeyrith was not telling me everything that he knew about her.

"So enlighten her, o dark one. Preferably with some shirtless intensity."He said.

I ignored that. My eyes stayed locked on her door. I wouldn't barge in. Not yet. But if she tried to leave? I would make sure she knew: she belonged nowhere but by my side. Even if I had to kneel for it. Even if I had to burn the world for it.