At the heart of the royal capital Fortina, in the grand audience chamber of the Radiant Wing Palace. A stained glass window depicting six wings gleamed against the ceiling twenty meters high. Sunlight streaming through cast rainbow shadows across the floor. In that solemn space, over a dozen noble ladies stood in formation. Selina Verdia stood at the back of the line. Her black short hair was perfectly arranged, and her deep amber eyes gazed forward. She wore the formal dress of a noble lady—white and navy. A faintly glowing family crest adorned her left wrist—the "Mirror Reflection" emblem of House Verdia. (I never thought at breakfast that I'd actually be presented at a grand audience.) She murmured inwardly. Her father's declaration three days ago. A recommendation as a candidate for the Crown Prince's betrothal. According to the original story's knowledge, this scene should have centered on the Crown Prince. But the information was different. Emperor Vald Granveria himself would appear here. Footsteps echoed from beyond the throne. Measured. Certain. The atmosphere in the hall froze in an instant. The shoulders of the noble ladies around Selina trembled slightly. One by one, tension spread. A being whom even their own fathers showed respect to. The kingdom's highest authority. An absolute monarch. Vald Granveria took his seat upon the throne. Silver-gray short hair, slightly wavy, with a subdued luster. But his face—was cold. Extremely cold. A single-line scar marked his forehead. And those eyes. Deep, ice-like blue—no, wait. Selina caught her breath. Those weren't blue. They were crimson. A vivid, cold deep crimson. (Ah... The game's profile said 'Crimson Eyes.' So it's really true.) Seeing that color for the first time, part of Selina's calculations went awry. Those crimson eyes swept across the noble ladies one by one. His gaze was like an appraisal, yet simultaneously searching for something. "Today, I myself shall determine the Crown Prince's betrothal candidate." Vald's voice was low, cold, and precise. Logical, devoid of emotion. Yet his words were enough to send tension rippling through the hall. Several of the ladies gasped audibly. "Step forward. State your name." Vald indicated with a finger. The golden-haired lady at the very front. That girl's legs seemed unsteady. One step, then another, she walked toward the throne. Selina began her observation. (What is Vald asking? What does he judge from their answers? This sequence isn't in the original...) Vald's crimson eyes fixed on the golden-haired lady. Seconds. Mere seconds of silence. Yet in that span, the girl's face turned ashen. "Withdraw." A single word. The golden-haired lady left in tears, her footing uncertain. Second. Third. Noble ladies were called one after another, and one after another they withdrew. Some received only the word "withdraw." One nearly fainted midway, supported by a palace knight. (Incredible... Overwhelming. In the original, the Crown Prince was just an easy conquest target, a nice guy type. But this Emperor... is different.) Something within Selina began to sound an alarm. The game's knowledge was definitely wrong. The Emperor's crimson eyes held a "reason." It wasn't mere intimidation. He was seeing something specific, something concrete. Noble ladies disappeared one by one. Five remained. Then three. Finally, Selina's turn came. (This is it. This is where I'm judged.) Selina stood. She adjusted her stride perfectly, keeping her back straight. With elegant steps, she approached the throne. All eyes concentrated on her. The young lady of House Verdia, one of the Six-Winged Council. A girl known for beauty and intellect. Before Vald, Selina offered a bow. Drawing back her right foot, keeping her back straight, lowering only her head—a perfect noble's salute. "Selina Verdia. I am honored to be granted this audience." A clear voice. Polite and concise. Calculated words that revealed no emotion whatsoever. But in that moment. Vald stood. (What...?) A question mark ignited in Selina's mind. The other ladies had merely been looked down upon from the throne. But Vald had stood. He approached slowly, stopping just before her. A distance of barely fifty centimeters. Selina's gaze met his face. Those crimson eyes. They were looking at her. Long, deep, searching for something. "You have interesting eyes." Vald's low voice reached Selina's ears directly. His voice remained cold, yet something complex mixed within it. Not quite interest. Wariness? No, that wasn't it either. (Was I exposed!? My memories from my past life? My knowledge of the original story!?) Selina's inner thoughts nearly panicked. But her expression revealed nothing. Noble training instinctively constructed a mask. A faint smile. The perfect expression of composure. "You honor me with such words." Selina answered. Briefly, ambiguously. An intentionally non-committal response. Vald continued to gaze at her. In the depths of those crimson eyes, beyond the cruelty, something lonely seemed to swirl. Loneliness from childhood and distrust born of betrayal. Outwardly strict, yet inwardly harboring complex emotions—all of it seemed reflected in those eyes. A silence as if time had stopped. At last, Vald spoke. "What do you think of the Crown Prince?" A question. But Selina sensed a trap in those words. This was a test. There was another purpose. Her instinct told her so. Selina thought calmly. A safe answer? Her true feelings? Which was correct? "His Highness is one destined to bear the kingdom's future. I am far too insignificant to hold any opinion." Selina answered. A politically correct response. A safe answer. But Vald's crimson eyes grew slightly colder. "Tedious. Do not hide your true heart." Vald commanded. At the same time, Selina understood. This man was not seeking surface beauty, but something within. (A gamble.) Selina decided. Remembering his lonely eyes, she took the gamble. "Then I shall speak truthfully. Regarding His Highness... I know nothing of him yet. Therefore, I cannot think anything of him." Selina's voice maintained nearly the same volume, nearly the same politeness. Yet her words carried something different from before. Not calculation, but a fragment of her true heart. A sliver of vulnerability. Vald smiled for the first time. Barely a smile. Just a hint of warmth added to that cold expression. "An honest woman. I like you. I declare you the Crown Prince's betrothal candidate in first position." Vald's declaration sent tension and surprise through the hall. But Selina herself— (Wait... The destruction flags aren't accelerating!?) While outwardly offering an elegant bow of gratitude, Selina's inner voice was screaming. A development that appeared nowhere in the original. Being favored by the Emperor. Was that good or bad? She couldn't judge. Vald's gaze left Selina. He returned to his throne. The hall's tension gradually began to ease. Selina also left that place. Into the corridor. To somewhere empty. Marble floors. High ceilings. Morning sunlight streaming through windows. Beyond the royal capital Fortina, the cityscape spread out. "What... was that...?" Selina whispered in the empty corridor. Her calculations couldn't keep up. The Emperor's crimson eyes. The loneliness she saw within them. And that sensation of being pierced from behind when those eyes gazed upon her. (Frightening. Those eyes are... something different. Dangerous.) Yet at the same time, Selina realized something. When those crimson eyes looked at her, she had seen something of herself reflected in them. Loneliness. Distrust. And hidden within that distrust, something seeking. The Crown Prince's figure had not yet appeared in the grand audience chamber. But Selina already understood. This story was moving in a form entirely different from the original. And at its center—those crimson eyes. The view of the royal capital visible through the window gleamed brilliantly.