How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 647: Rose’s Revelations

It was a calm, mellow atmosphere—gentle and steady, like the slow drift of water over smooth stone.

Somehow, despite the gap in their stations, Rose and the Emperor spoke with the ease of old acquaintances, their conversation flowing naturally from one topic to another.

”I have heard many things from Snow recently,” the Emperor began, voice composed yet warm. ”And in particular... you were mentioned quite often.”

”I am honored, Your Majesty,” Rose replied with a respectful bow of her head.

”And how is Snow doing these days?”

”She is doing well, Your Majesty,” Rose answered without hesitation.

”I’m relieved to hear that. Truly.” The Emperor exhaled subtly, as though releasing a burden he had quietly carried. ”I will have to thank Riley, you, and the other girls around her. If it is not too troublesome on your end, please accept a few gifts in appreciation. They should be delivered to your personal dormitory by tomorrow morning.”

Rose nodded politely, then added in her usual calm voice,

”If that is the case... please have them delivered to a different dorm address.”

The Emperor blinked. ”Hm? Did you perhaps change rooms?”

”Yes. I am currently staying inside Riley’s room...”

The words left her mouth so naturally, so casually, that at first no one reacted—until the silence hit.

The entire room froze.

Even the Emperor, who was famed for his unwavering neutrality and unshakable composure, visibly faltered.

His brows twitched, his controlled expression almost cracking at the unexpected revelation.

A young man and woman, openly sharing a room.

Everyone here knew the nature of Riley’s relationships—knew the tangled network of affection between him and the girls—but still... wasn’t this sort of arrangement strictly forbidden within the Academy?

Even Leilah, who had been only half-aware of the situation up until now, found herself struck mute. She looked between Rose and the Emperor quietly, not daring to interrupt the moment.

The air grew stiff, a mix of surprise, disbelief, and quiet understanding swirling together.

Rose, meanwhile, simply sipped her tea as though she had stated something as ordinary as the weather.

”I see... it seems you have grown quite close with Riley recently then...” the Emperor spoke gently, though there was a hint of searching curiosity beneath his composed tone.

”Yes,” Rose answered without hesitation, ”and the same goes for my sisters as well.”

”Sisters?” The Emperor’s brows lifted slightly as he shifted his gaze toward Duke Raymond.

Raymond, who had been frozen ever since Rose’s earlier declaration about living in Riley’s room, looked like someone who had been struck by lightning twice in one minute.

He blinked slowly, trying to reassemble his thoughts.

When he finally registered the Emperor’s look, he straightened, cleared his throat, and attempted to make sense of Rose’s words.

”Sisters... Rose, what exactly are you talking about?” Raymond asked, his voice carefully restrained, as if afraid that the wrong tone might rupture the delicate atmosphere.

Rose answered calmly, yet firmly, ”What I meant by sisters are us girls who are officially betrothed to Riley. Since we’re all about to become family soon, we decided among ourselves to acknowledge each other as sisters.”

”A familial bond, huh...” The Emperor leaned back slightly, his expression softening. ”It seems Snow has been truly blessed.”

Rose shook her head gently, a soft smile touching her lips. ”I believe... it is all of us girls who are blessed with Riley.

If not for him, I can’t even imagine how my world would be now.”

For the first time in the entire conversation, a noticeable change flickered across Rose’s usually serene face.

A faint blush bloomed across her cheeks, subtle yet unmistakable—an expression only a young maiden deeply in love could make.

Her gaze momentarily fell downward, as if recalling memories precious enough to warm her heart even in the presence of royalty.

Seeing this, the emperor allowed a faint, almost nostalgic smile to surface.

Youth truly was a fascinating thing—so expressive, so chaotic, so gentle, and yet so complicated.

But it was precisely these little moments—this quiet blush on Rose’s face, the sincerity in her voice—that made all the headaches of ruling feel worthwhile.

He felt strangely relieved knowing that Riley, despite his low-born noble lineage, had been acknowledged and blessed by him to pursue such a unique harem arrangement.

At the time, he had wondered if it was a reckless decision... but seeing Rose now, it felt justified.

Perhaps I should elevate him to a marquis... or even a duke...

The thought passed briefly through his mind, tempting for only a heartbeat before he dismissed it with a silent sigh.

The political chaos such a sudden elevation would cause would be unimaginable.

Besides, considering Snow’s status and temperament, Riley’s rise in the empire’s hierarchy was practically guaranteed already.

Once Snow married him, he would be an emperor’s consort.

And knowing Snow... she would not hesitate to push him further upward if she believed he deserved it.

If anything, Riley might end up standing at the very top of the empire before he even realized what happened.

”T-This is...” Raymond’s voice cracked, his composure straining dangerously.

”Raymond?” The emperor’s calm voice cut through the tension with surgical precision.

”I-It’s nothing, Your Majesty...”

Raymond quickly replied, trying to swallow the storm of emotions brewing in his chest.

His posture remained rigid, and though he forced a neutral expression, the emperor could see the trembling at the corner of his jaw.

The emperor’s eyes glinted, sharp and knowing.

He could see it clearly—Raymond was displeased.

Deeply.

Perhaps even furious beneath the surface.

The emperor knew the duke well enough to understand that he was a man built entirely of ambition. A man who climbed, who grasped, who envisioned the future constantly.

And yet here he was, watching the star of his own ambitions—his prodigious daughter—slipping further and further from his influence, drawn irresistibly toward Riley and the new ”family” she had chosen.

The emperor could only exhale a quiet sigh within himself.

How foolish...

Raymond truly was an excellent duke—competent, powerful, reliable. A pillar of the empire. But as a father... the emperor finally admitted, with a bittersweet heaviness...

He had never imagined that a friend of his could fail so completely in understanding the heart of his own child.

To keep the mood lighter, the emperor shifted topics with a warm smile, his voice carrying a gentle authority that naturally drew all attention.

”I believe everyone here must be quite curious about how academy life has been for the students. So, if you don’t mind, Rose, could you share your evaluation so far?”

”My evaluation?” Rose blinked, slightly surprised.

”Yes,” the emperor nodded. ”Just a brief summary will do. Tell me what you think about the academy. As the cornerstone and central pillar of knowledge on the continent, this institution is the stage where the top youths—the brightest minds and the strongest talents—are nurtured and sharpened. Its importance is second to none. I believe the other world leaders would agree wholeheartedly.”

Principal Leilah, standing to the side, felt a subtle yet unmistakable swell of pride at the emperor’s words.

Her posture straightened, and her expression showed a hint of satisfaction—after all, it was her life’s work being praised.

The emperor’s gaze then settled on Rose with a meaning deeper than his casual tone implied.

”That’s why I wanted to hear from you,” he continued. ”As a genius, what do you think of the academy?”

Rose paused, her lips pursing slightly as she tried to understand the intent behind his question.

Why ask her?

If he wanted a true evaluation, wouldn’t Snow’s perspective be more suitable?

Afterall not only was she her daughter but she was the student council president as well.

Yet the emperor wasn’t asking Snow—he was asking her. She didn’t comment on it, but the thought settled in her mind.

After a brief silence, she spoke with honesty.

”From my experience... I thought the academy was just a stepping stone,” she said softly. ”Because I already knew I was born great—destined to become great. There was never anything the academy could really offer me that I didn’t already know. Because of that, it never struck me as particularly... magnificent, I suppose.”

Her straightforwardness made even Leilah flinch slightly.

”But,” Rose continued, her expression softening, ”if there’s one thing that stands out... it’s fun.”

The emperor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ”Fun?”

”Yes,” she nodded, a small, genuine smile appearing. ”All the experiences I’ve had so far—the challenges, the chaos, the surprises, the people I’ve met—they can all be summed up with that one word.”

”So instead of knowledge, power, or prestige...” the emperor mused, his voice colored with amusement, ”the academy has offered you experiences—and fun.”

”Yes,” she confirmed with a quiet, poised certainty.

Rose continued, her voice soft but steady, ”All of these experiences... they’re things I probably never would’ve gained if I had stayed stubborn and rigid in my old ways. And if I had never met Riley... none of this brightness would’ve entered my world. That’s why I’m truly grateful to him—for bringing color and warmth into a life that used to be nothing but purpose and duty. I believe all of us—his fiancées, his sisters—share these same feelings toward him.”

The emperor’s expression softened.

A gentle smile formed on his lips as he exhaled, ”Snow does seem livelier and happier in her reports lately. I suppose all of it truly stems from him.”

”Yes,” Rose answered without hesitation. ”Riley is a great man.”

There was nothing but genuine admiration flowing from her since the moment his name came up. Every sentence she spoke about him sounded like a sincere praise, unfiltered and pure.

”Snow understands it even more than I do as well,” Rose added casually, almost too casually. ”After all... they’re more in sync with each other than I am with him in bed. He allowed us to experience a blissful happiness no one else in this world could ever offer.”

”......”

”......”

”......”

A crushing silence swallowed the room whole.

Three adults—an emperor, a duke, and a principal—slowly turned their heads toward her like rusted metal gears struggling to move.

”I beg your pardon?”

It was Raymond who finally broke, his voice cracking with restrained panic.

Rose glanced at him, utterly unbothered. Then she smiled gently as her hand rested over her stomach.

”I believe the results of our love will show soon—for me, and for my sisters as well...”

Raymond almost collapsed right there, his knees visibly buckling.

The emperor’s eyes pried wide open, frozen in complete disbelief for the very first time.

And Leilah—poor Leilah—looked like she wanted to flee the room entirely, desperately trying to cover her ears as if pretending she heard nothing would erase the reality before her