In the days that followed , Christina began to systematically erase any trace of me that remained . Alistair had hated me . At least , he did at first . He hated that I stubbornly found an old traditional healer to treat his legs , only for him to threat- en the man with a knife for daring to touch him . He hated my one - sided companionship , the way I would curl up in a corner of the sofa and watch him silently as he stared into space from dawn till dusk . Later , when his symptoms eased and he could manage with just medication , he finally softened toward me . His disgust turned to confusion , then to a kind of begrudging acceptance . " Elara , I want your braised pork . " " Elara , carry me to the bathroom . " " Elara , I'm cold . " " Christina , what are you doing in the kitchen ? " Alistair's voice snapped me out of my reverie . At the same time , the System chimed in . [ Christina's petition to stay has been approved . She will now remain in this world permanently . ) 【 This world has already collapsed nine times because of Alistair . One more failure and it would have been permanently deleted . Good thing this Player was competent . ] Christina popped her head out of the kitchen , a spoon in her hand , and stuck out her tongue playfully . " Making you those braised short ribs you love so much ! And you're not allowed to say I'm a terrible cook this time ! " " Just you wait . I'm going to get a chef's certificate and blow your mind . " This was the thirteenth thing she had done to overwrite a memory of me . Alistair stared at her , a strange light flickering in his gentle eyes . His smile slowly widened , as if he had finally found the answer to a question that had long tormented him . Standing beside him , I felt a sudden , sharp unease . 970 10:17 Chapter 2 10.17 I knew him too well . That was the smile of pure , unadulterated pleasure . It was the smile Alistair wore just before his self - destructive rage reached its peak , the moment right before he could no longer hide his true , violent nature . He murmured to himself , " Soon . Very soon . " 7 The System couldn't help but ask , 【 Why is Alistair's affection level still stuck at 99 ? He's so in love with her . By all accounts , she should have succeeded by now . 】 That question was answered a week later , on the day Christina was officially bound to this world . Alistair had her wheel him out to the garden , under the flame tree . The moment she saw it , her face changed . A flash of deep - seated jealousy crossed her eyes , quickly replaced by thick , mocking disdain . She playfully tugged on the small braid she had put in his hair . " The red flowers on this tree are so tacky . It's hideous . " " I don't like it . Let's dig it up and plant a crabapple tree . Those are so much prettier . " The tree stood alone in the garden , its branches lush and its blossoms a fiery , passionate red . I reached out to touch the trunk , then let my hand fall . I had planted it for him on the day he was officially brought into the Thorne family . On that day , his father had come to collect him , and Alistair had stood with his eyes downcast , his hands hiding a razor blade . He had planned to kill the man who had abandoned him and his mother , the bastard who had married for profit , and then kill himself . Before he could do it , I had pried his bloody fingers open and taken the weapon from his grasp . I knelt before him , looked into his furious , cri- mson eyes , and my voice trembled as I said , " Alistair , look at me . Is a man like that worth ruining your life over ? Everyone wants you to die . But you have to live . You have to live a better life than any of them ! " The flame tree was a symbol of him - reborn from the ashes , destined to flourish year after year . And now , it seemed its time was up . Alistair looked up at the branches for a long moment . Then he said , " No. " I froze . Christina froze . Before she could react , he turned to her and asked , " Christina , have you had fun playing this game ? " The shift was sudden , brutal . Like a knife flashing in the dark . " What ? " Her face went white , and she took a stumbling step back . She forced a panicked laugh . " What are you talking about ? A ' Player ' ? That's something you only find in novels ... " The wind rustled through the leaves . Alistair cut her off , his voice calm . " Once you chose to stay , that ' System ' of yours couldn't take you back , could it ? " At the same instant , the System shrieked in my ear . [ Alistair's affection for the Player has dropped from 99 to 70 !! ) [ No , 50 ! 42 !! It's in freefall ! ) The autumn sun was still hot , beating down on them , as if trying to expose their true forms . Christina stared at him , her breathing growing ragged . Alistair's eyes still held a faint smile , but it never reached them . He pointed to his ear . " Don't be surprised . I can hear the System's voice . " 10:17 Chapter 2 " In fact , I've heard it every time . All nine times you've sent someone to ' fix ' me before the world line collapsed . " 10.17 0 " Now then , " he continued softly . " let's talk about something else . " " Let's talk about Elara . " 8 " You're insane ! "