Coline sat on the couch with a bowl in hand. They wanted to watch a movie, and Coline had insisted that you couldn’t enjoy one without snacks. However, popcorn was out of the question because of her diet, so Cyrielle and her ended up going outside to buy a sad, and cutting it into pieces to snack on while watching the movie.

  It wasn’t a masterpiece, just a romcom with characters who had one neuron to share. But it was entertaining, especially with Coline’s comments.

  “No, don’t do that ! His father told you that she is allergic to dogs ! I can’t stand it, what an idiot !”

  Cyrielle was smiling, finding the blonde model way more interesting than whatever was on screen. It was a bit different from the time she spent with Julie bickering, with Coline she just had to listen to her incessant chatter and absorb her positive aura. Kind of like enjoying the purr of a cat on your p, in a way.

  [You are discovering different types of retionships, which is healthy for you.]

  ‘I guess you’re right.’

  Evening came, and it was time for Coline to go.

  “I had a lot of fun, you need to invite me again ! Or will it be me inviting you ? I don’t know, I would be too nervous to have you at my pce !”

  Cyrielle patted her head.

  “We’ll see. Be careful on your way home.”

  Coline fshed a big smile and waved her hand. Before passing through the door, she suddenly stopped and turned around.

  “You shouldn’t give up on your dream, you know. Your talent for illustrations may not be as big as the one you have for modeling, but hard work will never fail you. You probably worked hard to possess that many skills, I don’t see why drawing shouldn’t be one of them.”

  Then she waved again and walked out, while Cyrielle stayed in pce, looking at her leave.

  ‘I have a question.’

  [I will answer, if I can.]

  ‘Why didn’t I receive the ‘drawing’ ability, even though I can sketch designs and pns ?’

  She felt the emotions of Path of Destiny. Regret, sadness, a tinge of injustice.

  [If you had received that ability, would you have done everything that you did these st six months ?]

  Cyrielle didn’t have to think about it. The answer was obviously no. Since becoming an illustrator was her dream, she would have focused on that career path, maybe using the other abilities once or twice if there was an occasion, but never creating projects or opportunities to showcase them.

  ‘Is it about the things I achieved in my career, or the things I did that brought positive karma ?’

  She didn’t receive an answer, but the slight tremor she felt told her everything she needed to know.

  Since the beginning, Cyrielle had assumed that ‘the path’ that was calcuted for her was about her success, that she was destined to be a famous or rich person. Why did she think that ? Path of Destiny never said it even once. In fact, it was more pusible if the road she was walking on led to positive karma, an important money for the system. She needed to accumute positive karma, and it just so happened that you needed to have a lot of people know about you to change their lives.

  Her success wasn’t the end, it was the means.

  [Do not get too hung up on positive karma.]

  ‘I know, it’s just one of the criterias.’

  Maybe she should feel angry, cheated on, or just sad that the system wasn’t an entity that existed solely for her. But whatever the case may be, whatever the reason, Path of Destiny had come into her life and taken her out of her misery. And if the price to pay was to make other people's lives better, what was there to hate ? Cyrielle may not be the best person on earth, but if she could choose between helping someone and not doing it, she would pick the first option.

  ‘It’s okay, I’m not mad. In fact, I feel like I understand you a bit better.’

  A tinge of happiness seeped into her heart, coming from the system.

  [You do not have the authority to learn more than this.]

  ‘Alright. Thanks, anyway.’

  After a time of silence, when Cyrielle thought the conversation was over, another blue chat bubble appeared.

  [If you received the drawing ability now, would you abandon everything you are working on ?]

  She thought for a bit.

  ‘I don’t know. And as long as I still don’t know, it’s a problem. Ask me again at the beginning of July, after my concert and the album’s release. Maybe I’ll be a bit more confident.’

  With that, Cyrielle cleaned up her home and worked more on her projects before going to sleep.

  ***

  Towards the end of may, another issue was setting the Internet abze.

  -Just saw this poster in a mall in Paris, am I dreaming or is it Mademoiselle Cyrielle ?

  ?It’s the photoshoot the horseboy talked about in the group, the one where our angel stood out for Coline !

  ??You’re right, I recognize the hairstyle in the photo he posted !

  The Versailles photoshoot was out. The first picture that was posted was one where Cyrielle, in a flowy blouse with sailor pants, was riding a rearing grey horse. But it was not the end.

  -Just saw one in Germany, it’s Coline and our angel galloping in Versailles’ gardens ! [Link]

  ?omgomgomg you’re so lucky !!!!

  ?I want this to be made into a poster and pstered on my walls !

  -Londoner here, please appreciate this banner of the two models together in front of the castle, seen on a billboard [Link]

  ?how many photos did they take??? this is insane!!!!!

  The photoshoot took all of Europe by storm. Being a luxury brand sold everywhere on the continent, they had prepared quite the marketing campaign, with different pictures used in the ads of different countries. It was quite the novel approach, prompting the fans to go outside and search for the ads themselves to see which photo they would find. It was only three days ter, when the newsfeed was filled with articles about the brand, that the website uploaded all the pictures together, and in which countries netizens could find them. It started a trend on social media, kind of like ‘Where is Waldo’, but with ‘Where is the Versailles ad’. It went so well, bringing a huge traffic to the website and a stark increase in sales, that the brand contacted Coline and Cyrielle, with a new contract for a photobook including all the pictures in the ads, and even those that weren’t chosen. Of course, both accepted, and the new product was selling so well that the production couldn’t keep up.

  At this time, Cyrielle was in a studio, shooting another ad, but for a cosmetic company this time. It was a TV ad that didn’t include any acting, she simply needed to show the products, apply them to her skin, and look at the camera while saying the lines. Nothing really complicated, but it was very long and mentally exhausting.

  “Can you show the product for a bit longer ?”

  “No, apply it in a circur motion !”

  “Perfect, now we’ll shoot the 30 second version !”

  Since it was an ad that would be seen on MyTube, TV, and other pces, it needed to have a few different versions. Which meant more product showing, applying, and looking. Everytime a shot ended, Cyrielle had to go wash her face. Thankfully, they shot the cream-applying scenes st, so she wouldn’t have an irritated skin for half the shots. But even then, her face was tingling.

  ‘When will it be over ? I can’t stand it ! Thank goodness the pay is very good, otherwise I would have just left the set !’

  After what felt like forever, the shooting finally wrapped up, and the director came to Cyrielle.

  “Thank you for today, you were really professional ! Most models would have compined by now, when a two hour session turns into a whole afternoon shot. I know I shouldn’t have redone that scene ten times, but it was just too good, I needed a few different angles ! I got greedy because of your fwless skin and your aura, it matches the brand so well !”

  ‘So that’s what it was ? I thought you were picking on me !’

  Internally screaming, Cyrielle kept an elegant exterior and nodded politely.

  “I’m sure it will turn out well, under your supervision.”

  Julie went to pick her up, and she greeted the staff before leaving. But the director, still looking at her, was starting to have a taste of the misunderstanding.

  ‘She doesn’t seem tired at all, even after this spartan session. By now, she should look a bit ragged, but nothing is showing on her face. It’s fascinating. What did she go through to get that kind of endurance ? Or maybe she appreciates our work so much that she doesn’t want to slow down the shooting by appearing tired ? Did she train just for us ? She seems dignified and a bit arrogant, but in reality she is a golden retriever, huh ?’

  He smiled affectionately.

  ‘Having a model giving her all for us, we can’t do a half baked job. Don’t worry Mademoiselle Cyrielle, I’ll do my best so that this ad campaign doesn't disappoint you !’

  The director called the executive of the brand, who was here to supervise the work.

  “What do you think ?”

  The woman in a suit shook her head.

  “She was phenomenal, that’s why I agreed to prolong the shooting. If the recording shows even half of what I saw, it’s a guaranteed hit.”

  “So… Would you say we need to give her a bonus, and add another team for the editing ?”

  The executive smiled.

  “Absolutely !”

  And once again, something big was happening to Cyrielle.