How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 277: Trails of Light...

In the empire, touching royalty was an act steeped in significance and restrictions, both personal and political.

For most people, the mere thought of physical contact with an imperial figure was unimaginable.

Every year, the number of individuals who had the privilege-or audacity to physically interact with royalty could be counted on one hand.

Four or five people, at most.

And even among those rare cases, such contact was almost exclusively limited to immediate family members.

Not even the empireʼs most loyal knights, regardless of their rank or years of service, nor the esteemed grand duke or prime minister, could lay a finger on a member of the imperial family without explicit permission.

It was an unspoken rule, one upheld with unwavering reverence.

And yet, here I was, flagrantly defying that unassailable boundary.

My right hand rested on Sophielʼs cheek, my left on her waist.

No matter how one looked at it, this was a gesture that crossed every line of propriety.

This wasnʼt an accident, nor was it something that could be brushed aside as a trivial misstep - at least not in the eyes of anyone who might witness it.

This was an act reserved solely for lovers.

Adding insult to injury, the proximity between our faces was laughably inappropriate, close enough to make any onlooker question the nature of our relationship.

Sophielʼs attire only compounded the issue.

That nightgown, coupled with the casual cardigan draped over her shoulders, was far from modest.

While it might have been fine in a private setting, in this context, it all but screamed impropriety.

And then there was her expression-calm, almost amused, as if none of this fazed her in the slightest.

It was the perfect recipe for misunderstanding, one that would spiral out of control the moment an outsider laid eyes on the scene.

Unfortunately for me, the worst possible person to witness this scene had walked in.

Snow.

The frost in her glare was palpable, her mere presence turning the room into a frozen battlefield of tension.

If misunderstandings could be deadly, this one had the makings of a death sentence.

I had anticipated that Snow would address me directly, perhaps to broach the topic of our disagreement regarding my upcoming journey to undertake the Trials of Light.

But.... ʼWhy did she have to come at this exact moment?ʼ

Though I was grateful it wasnʼt the duke or, worse, the emperor who had entered the room- either of whom would have brought entirely different complications-this scenario might actually be worse than both of them combined. ”Snow...” Sophiel murmured softly, her voice carrying an uncharacteristic hesitance, as though sheʼd only just registered Snowʼs presence. ”I wasnʼt aware of your return...” ”Yes... due to certain unexpected circumstances, I had to temporarily return,” Snow replied evenly, though her tone was anything but casual. Each word was laced with cold precision. ”But enough about that.”

As Snow stepped closer, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet further.

A biting chill seeped into the air, and with each measured step, her presence became almost oppressive.

Frost crept across the walls, and sharp, glistening icicles materialized in the corners of the room, pointing threateningly at Sophiel. ”What are you doing?” Snowʼs voice, calm yet piercing, sent a shiver down my spine.

Sophiel tilted her head slightly, as if momentarily confused by the question.

But then, as if suddenly coming to her senses, she turned her gaze toward me.

Her expression shifted, and she quickly took a step back, putting noticeable distance between us. ”Apologies, my lord,” she said with an uncharacteristic formality, bowing her head slightly. ”It seems I lost myself for a moment there...”

Her abrupt shift in demeanor caught me off guard. ʼWhy is she suddenly acting all formal all of a sudden?ʼ ”Sn-”

I opened my mouth to speak, ready to diffuse the tension, but Snowʼs voice cut through the air before I could get a word out. ”Why are you here, Sophiel?” Snowʼs gaze sharpened, her sky-blue eyes narrowing with unmistakable suspicion.

The frost in the room seemed to thicken, as though her very presence was actively drawing warmth away.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Despite the literal cold, the tension felt like a roaring blaze threatening to engulf us all.

And yet, Sophiel stood there with an unsettling calmness, her gaze steady, as though calculating her next move. ”I was just planning to have a small conversation with Lord Riley,” Sophiel began, her tone soft and measured, though there was an underlying weight to her words. Slowly, she reached for the hem of her nightgown, bowing slightly in a gesture of apology. ”But as you can see, my mind seemed to have been clouded in a haze for a moment, and I ended up doing something... unexpected.”

Her voice carried a mixture of contrition and poise, her words carefully chosen as though rehearsed in the moment. ”Forgive me for doing something inappropriate for people of our stature, elder sister,” she continued, her purple eyes lifting briefly to meet Snowʼs icy gaze before quickly lowering again. ”Lord Riley hasnʼt done anything wrong, so I do hope you wonʼt turn your anger against him.” || ||

Silence filled the room, heavy and unyielding.

Snowʼs piercing eyes bore into Sophiel, scrutinizing every inch of her demeanor.

The frost lingering in the air seemed to pause, as though even it awaited Snowʼs judgment.

Finally, Snow broke the silence. ”Did you... forget to take your medicine?” she asked, her expression softening ever so slightly.

The sharp suspicion in her eyes gave way to a faint flicker of worry. ”...Iʼm not sure,” Sophiel admitted, her voice carrying an almost weary undertone. ”But due to my busy work schedule last night, it seems I may have forgotten to take a few doses.” Snowʼs gaze lingered on Sophiel for a moment longer before she gave a small nod. ”I see.” With those words, the oppressive tension in the room began to ease.

The frost on the walls softened, and the cold mana that had suffused the air started to dissipate, replaced by a more neutral, tolerable warmth.

I exhaled a breath I hadnʼt realized Iʼd been holding, my eyes flickering toward Sophiel.

She really is the villainess I knew in the game...

A well-known fact about Sophiel in this worldʼs society was her dual reputation. Publicly, she was often dismissed as the ”foolish princess,” a title that allowed her to skirt through political engagements with an air of innocence.

But behind closed doors, she bore another label-the ”frail and sickly princess,” one so fragile that she couldnʼt leave the confines of the imperial palace.

Of course, I knew better.

In the later stages of the game, players would come to realize that every aspect of her so- called illness was a calculated façade, a carefully crafted lie designed to manipulate and control those around her. ”It seems it was my mistake to come here so suddenly without a proper reason. Once again, I do apologize, my lord,” Sophiel said softly, bowing her head slightly as though weighed down by regret. Her voice took on a pleading tone as she continued, ”And... please, do keep the conversation we just had a while ago a secret. As you can see, my mind tends to rattle unexpectedly from time to time, so I hope you understand.”

Her words were delicately chosen, the pleading note in her tone almost disarming. ”Itʼs quite alright, Princess Sophiel,” I replied, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.

Though....

If Snow asked me what happened here, there was no way Iʼd lie to her.

Sophiel smiled gently, a fleeting expression that didnʼt quite reach her eyes, before shifting her attention back to Snow. ”I know my sudden visit here was surprising,” she began, her tone smooth and composed, ”but your presence here is rather unexpected as well, elder sister. I didnʼt think Lord Riley and you were close enough to share keys...”

Her eyes flicked meaningfully to the golden key holder by the side of my room, then to the golden key Snow casually held in her hand.

Snow, unbothered by the subtle jab, let out a soft scoff. ”I think itʼs only natural for lovers to share one or two rooms, no?” || ”..... ”????” ”... Uhm... I beg your Pardon?”

The transformation in Sophielʼs demeanor was almost instantaneous.

The frail, apologetic act she had maintained mere moments ago vanished, replaced by pure, unfiltered shock.

Her purple eyes widened as she stared at Snow, her carefully controlled composure slipping. ”Riley and I are dating,” Snow declared with unwavering conviction, her tone steady and firm, as if daring anyone to challenge her words.

The statement landed like a thunderclap. Sophielʼs reaction wasnʼt the only one worth noting.

Her personal maid, who had maintained an impressively stoic expression throughout the entire encounter, visibly faltered, her eyes widening in disbelief as her poker face shattered in an instant.

And if I had to guess, Amana-the shadow knight who was tasked with guarding me from the shadows-was probably sporting a similar expression, wherever she was hiding right now.

The room, which had only just returned to a semblance of normalcy, was once again thick with tension, though this time it was of a different nature altogether.

Sophiel, recovering slightly from her initial shock, tilted her head as though trying to process what sheʼd just heard. ”You and Lord Riley are... dating?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and a hint of something else was it frustration? Or confusion?

Snowʼs lips curled into a faint, almost smug smile. ”Yes, we are.... So if you donʼt mind... could you and your servant kindly take your leave now? I have some important matters to discuss with my beloved privately. And also...” Her gaze flicked to Sophiel, pointed and deliberate, ”if youʼre planning to visit someone, please dress appropriately next time.”

Sophiel blinked, momentarily thrown off by the remark.

Confusion clouded her features as she turned to glance at herself in the large mirror I had used earlier.

Her reflection told her everything.

The sheer fabric of her nightgown, the disheveled state of her hair, the faint flush still lingering on her cheeks-it all screamed impropriety.

Realization hit her like a tidal wave, and her face turned a deep, intense shade of red. ”T-This is...?” Sophiel stammered, her voice faltering.

She whirled around, her accusatory gaze locking onto her maid, Lumia, who was already bowing deeply, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. ”Lumia?” Sophielʼs voice was a mixture of mortification and fury. ”I apologize, Your Highness!” Lumia blurted, her tone desperate. ”I tried to stop-” ”Enough....”

Lumia wanted to apologize but Snowʼs words cut her off, the clear annoyance on Snowʼs face was all Lumia needed to properly shut up... because as loyal and fearful as she was towards

Sophiel she knew it was snow who had real power and authority among the imperial princessʼs. ”Both of you, leave,” Snow ordered, her voice cold and commanding, cutting through the room like a blade.

Lumia, without hesitation, grabbed Sophielʼs arm gently, as if trying to guide her out before Snowʼs temper could ignite further. ”Letʼs go, Your Highness,” Lumia whispered urgently. Sophiel hesitated for a moment, her pride clearly warring with her humiliation, but ultimately she relented, allowing her maid to lead her toward the door. She paused briefly, her violet eyes flickering between Snow and me, her expression unreadable.