Three days after the Hall of Judgment. Riona had felt strange all morning. After that commotion at Stella Hall, the past three days felt like a dream. Even back in her dorm room, Sebastian would bring warm milk saying "You must be exhausted," and Riona would drink it while vaguely realizing the obvious truth: "Games and reality are completely different." But this morning was worse. When she stepped into the hallway of Vega Hall, she couldn't see her door anymore. To put it kindly: luxurious. To put it bluntly: chaos. White roses, red roses, purple roses, blue flowers whose names she didn't know. Bouquets of every size were piled in front of the door without restraint. In the corner of the pile sat a single envelope, sealed carefully with wax. Riona stared at it for a while. (I can't even open the door like this.) She pushed the bouquets to the side and picked up the envelope. The front read "To Varmoon Anelia" in meticulous handwriting. When she saw the sender's name, Riona's eyes narrowed. Filsenia Arnold. She opened it. Inside were letter sheets. Page one. Page two. Page three—Riona counted as she laid them out on the table. By the end, there were thirty pages. (Thirty pages.) Riona sat down and started reading from the first page. "To Anelia. First, I need to apologize. At the winter ball five years ago, I never once complimented the pale purple gown you prepared for that day. It was beautiful. I noticed. So why didn't I say anything? I still can't understand it. I may have deserved to die." Riona stopped. (…He thinks he deserved to die because he forgot to compliment a dress?) She moved to page two. "Seven years ago in spring, I thought for just a moment that your hair color was dull. I only thought silver-gray was a subdued color, but I can't take back that arrogant thought. I still regret it." (He regrets just *thinking* it was dull…?) Page five. "At the tea gathering four years ago, I left half the tea you recommended unfinished. I was absorbed in another conversation at the time. I didn't even finish half of the tea you carefully selected and brewed. Please forgive me." Riona gently set the letter sheets down on the table. Her mind had gone completely quiet. (I don't know if I'm supposed to laugh or be angry. But I'm definitely not angry.) Page ten: "Six years ago in the hallway where we passed each other, I should have greeted you first." Page fifteen: "Three years ago at the equestrian exhibition, I watched you ride, but I didn't speak to you afterward. I should have complimented you." Page twenty-one: "Two winters ago, when you had a cold, I didn't visit. That day I was taking a walk in the garden with Emilia. I won't run from this fact." By the time Riona finished page thirty, her eyes had gone distant. (…Is this person sane?) Logically speaking, thirty pages of apologies was quite abnormal. But reading them, no anger rose in her at all. Rather, there was a strange certainty: this person is genuinely serious. You couldn't write this as a joke. Just then, a knock came from the hallway. When she opened the door, a figure was leaning against the wall. For a moment, Riona couldn't speak. Golden wavy hair. Deep blue eyes. High nose bridge and refined features—all the materials were there. The problem was the upper half of his face. His eyes were swollen bright red. His cheeks bore dried streaks from last night's tears. The tip of his nose was faintly red. It was the face of a classically handsome man after crying hard. Filsenia Arnold opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse. "[serious]Did it arrive" "[serious]It did. All thirty pages" Filsenia's brow lowered slightly. "[serious]…Was it not enough" Riona screamed internally. (There's too many!!! What do you mean not enough?!!!) But she didn't let it show on her face. She answered while maintaining the composed expression she'd somehow acquired over the past three days as Anelia. "[serious]It was sufficient. …But is there something you needed" Filsenia looked directly at Riona. "[serious]About the engagement, there's something I need to confirm. …Will you come to the Star Temple with me" The Star Temple. Game knowledge activated in Riona's mind. (The Star Oath Ceremony—when a noble engagement is established, both families exchange star stones at the temple as a vow. The same ceremony is needed to dissolve it. Filsenia and Anelia were engaged twelve years ago when they were children. Which means…) Riona nodded. "[serious]Understood" --- The Grand Star Temple of the royal capital Crescendo was a short carriage ride from Filsenia Palace. The stone building was imposing, and the entrance arch bore the seal of the Star Deity Ferias. Inside, incense smoke drifted, and the outside noise became a lie—only footsteps echoed on the stone floor. Riona glanced around quietly. A few worshippers knelt before the altar. Light filtering between the pillars illuminated the smoke white. (So places like this actually exist.) The Star Temple she'd seen in game background graphics felt completely different when standing in it. The cold of stone, the sweet smell of incense, the weight of silence. Things the game could never convey. A priest approached. An older man in white vestments. He bowed when he saw Filsenia's face. "[gentle]Prince Filsenia Arnold. What brings you here today" "[serious]I need to confirm the engagement between House Varmoon and House Filsenia. Tell me the status of the star stones" The priest paused, then withdrew. When he returned after a while, his face was calm. "[serious]I have confirmed. The star stones of both houses are kept in their respective homes, and no return to the temple has been made. Furthermore, no dissolution ceremony has been performed. Therefore—" The priest spoke quietly but clearly. "[serious]The engagement established by the Star Oath Ceremony remains legally valid" Something stirred in Riona's mind. (The engagement is still alive.) In the game, Filsenia had declared the engagement dissolved in the Hall of Judgment. She'd seen that scene over a hundred times. But he'd only declared it—the dissolution ceremony was never performed, which meant it was never legally invalid in the first place? The priest continued. "[gentle]Furthermore, dissolution of a royal engagement requires His Majesty's approval. A declaration in public alone has no legal force" Riona carved those words into her mind. (I want to take notes. He just said something incredibly important.) Beside her, Filsenia slowly inhaled. "[serious]…I understand. Thank you" His voice was steady. After thanking the priest, Filsenia looked at Riona. Those blue eyes were slightly wet again. "[serious]Can we talk in the courtyard" Riona nodded. --- The courtyard of the Grand Star Temple was small. A single stone bench. Medicinal herbs and green plants arranged neatly, white walls beyond them. Today there were few clouds, and the sky stretched wide. The two sat on the bench side by side. About one person's distance between them. For a while, neither spoke. Filsenia opened his mouth first. "[serious]I'm not dissolving it" "[surprised]…What" "[serious]The engagement. I'm continuing it with you. This time, I'll be by your side properly" Filsenia's voice trembled slightly. "[serious]I'll protect you. That much I can say for certain" Something moved deep in Riona's chest. (…What?) Even though a game character was speaking, the weight of these words felt too real. Those blue eyes looked straight at her, and there wasn't a shred of artifice in them. (No, wait, but this is the game world—but it's not a game world—but—) Riona spiraled internally while maintaining Anelia's quiet expression. "[serious]…I understand" She could've said something like "Indeed" for perfection, but that could come later. Filsenia looked up at the sky. "[serious]Do you remember what happened twelve years ago" Riona didn't answer. Before remembering or not, Anelia's memories weren't Riona's. But silence seemed right, so she stayed quiet. Filsenia continued. "[gentle]After the Star Oath Ceremony, I couldn't smile properly. The weight of being a royal with an engagement, everything that lay ahead—it all came crashing down, and I cried secretly after the ceremony. …You came then" Riona watched Filsenia quietly. "[gentle]You didn't say anything. You just sat beside me and stayed there until I stopped crying. …You looked like you were about to cry more than I was, yet you cried first for my sake" The corner of Filsenia's mouth lifted slightly. "[gentle]I've always remembered you from that moment. Yet I—when I met Emilia at the academy, I was drawn to her brightness, and I kept putting you second. Always, second" Something in Riona's chest ached. (This isn't in the game.) There was no scene in any route where Filsenia recalled this. That young Anelia had cried beside him—it wasn't in the strategy guide, not in the setting materials, not anywhere. But in this world—in this world's Filsenia's memories, she existed. Anelia existed. (Who was the real Anelia?) That question deepened. The Anelia depicted as a villainess in the game had actually been sitting silently beside a wounded prince, crying for him—that Anelia didn't exist anywhere in the game. Filsenia turned to face her. Those blue eyes were slightly wet again. "[crying]I'm really sorry" Riona didn't know how to respond. Should she act as game Anelia, answer as Hayama Riona, or as something else entirely— "[gentle]…It's enough that you remember" After saying it, she realized this was Anelia's voice. Not Riona's. But it wasn't a lie either. Filsenia blinked once, hard. Then he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. (That's not something a prince should do.) Riona quietly turned her gaze to the courtyard's greenery. Her chest still pounded. Calm down, she thought. But it wouldn't calm down. (He's a game character. But in this world he's real—with real memories—with real tears—) Thinking like that only made things more confusing. Riona gazed at the white wall of the courtyard and quietly exhaled. --- When they left the Grand Star Temple, autumn sky spread above them. The two walked side by side across the stone streets of Crescendo. Wind blew from the direction of the Mileena River, and Riona's silver-gray hair swayed. Filsenia looked slightly more composed than three days ago, but the redness in his eyes remained. They were walking through a side street to avoid the main avenue with carriage traffic when it happened. A stranger stood ahead. A man in his forties, perhaps. Sturdy build, wearing a navy uniform. On his chest was a familiar emblem—the seal of the Chancellor's Office. The emblem of the administrative building where Chancellor Günther Heidemann worked, which Riona had seen at Stella Hall. The man's face was expressionless. He didn't move as they approached. "[serious]Varmoon Duchess's Daughter Anelia, Chancellor Günther requests your presence" His voice was low. Unreadable. "[serious]The day after tomorrow at three in the afternoon. Please come to the Chancellor's Office" Filsenia's brow furrowed. "[serious]For what purpose. What does he want" The messenger glanced at Filsenia for a moment, then returned to his expressionless face. "[cold]The Chancellor instructed me not to disclose details" With only that, the man bowed. He turned on his heel and disappeared down the street. Riona watched his retreating back, her mind spinning. (The Chancellor was crying in the Hall of Judgment. He said "I'm the most guilty" and cried genuinely. It looked like real remorse. But this messenger's face had no trace of regret. And the instruction not to disclose details is…) Ominous, Riona thought. If Chancellor Günther was truly repentant, would he summon her like this? Wouldn't he come apologize in person? But sending a messenger and instructing him not to disclose details— (Is he hiding something? Or