How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 231: Morning Visit.



Ok, let's try to piece together what actually happened last night...

If I remember correctly, after the intense cleansing ritual with Emilia, I went straight back to my room.

I crashed immediately, hoping to get some solid rest before early morning training and the dungeon raid planned for today.

Beyond that... everything is blank.

"Hehe~ JuNIor... do... you like it... thiiisss way~"

Alice's soft, sleep-filled mumbling interrupted my thoughts, making me squirm a little.

The way she was pressing against me was... well, borderline dangerous.

I could wake her up, but something told me I'd probably end up launched out of bed if I did that. Isn't that how these "waking up together" clichés usually go?

The curtains were open, meaning Yui had been here already and must have noticed this whole situation.

But since I didn't smell breakfast drifting through the room as usual, it was clear she'd slipped out immediately after cleaning, likely to give us privacy.

Typical Yui.

Knowing her, she wouldn't spread any strange rumors, but just to be safe, I should have a word with her later.

Sighing, I tried to figure out how Alice ended up in my bed, but the only plausible explanation pointed back to one likely culprit-Cheshire.

That damn cat probably had a hand in this... no, it was more reasonable to think he planned this whole setup from the start.

"Cheshire..."

I muttered his name, hoping he'd pop up to explain himself, but predictably, there was no response.

I tried expanding my mana sense, scanning the area for any hint of his presence, but of course, he was nowhere to be found.

If I had to guess, he was likely somewhere out there, watching this unfold with a smug satisfaction.

Sigh...

I considered just going back to sleep and letting Alice wake up on her own.

Turning to look at her, I noted how peaceful and comforted she seemed, her body snuggled against mine.

Despite that, the dark circles under her eyes were easy to spot.

She must have been pretty drained.

The White Queen must be very active at this point in the story.

In the game it was only mentioned that Alice was consistently fighting off waves of the White Queen's armies, but not exactly shown.

Looking at her now, I couldn't help but reflect on how much Alice sacrifices, and feel a wave of admiration.

For all the power she wields, the weight she carries to protect everyone from the shadows without so much as a whisper of acknowledgment-it's a rare kind of strength.

Watching her peacefully asleep, her usual fiery resolve softened by the quiet.

I brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her face, my fingertips careful not to disturb her.

As she murmured something unintelligible and her lips curved into a soft smile, I whispered, "Thanks for all the hard work, Senior."

Even if she couldn't hear it, somehow, I hoped she'd feel it.

With that, I eased back down beside her, letting my eyes close. Just a few minutes more of this rare, peaceful morning wouldn't hurt anyone.

-----

"Remember, Alice-only Red and White are the truths in this world..."

As she woke, Alice felt a dull ache pulsing through her head.

Her vision was hazy, and without fully understanding why, she found tears slipping down her cheeks.

The remnants of a gentle, almost joyful dream lingered-moments spent alongside her junior, Riley, laughing and at peace.

But at the end, as if torn from the depths of her memory, another face appeared, one that had once meant everything to her.

Her heart twisted as she recalled that soft, familiar voice, bringing with it memories she'd tried to bury.

It reminded her of everything that followed her casting out of the fantastical realm-of the fall of the White Queen, her once cherished mother, now twisted into something unrecognizable.

The woman she had idolized, the one she had once followed unquestioningly, had transformed into a monster of unspeakable power.

Alice shivered as the memories surged, the burden of her secret battles and unspoken pains growing heavier.

Though she could face armies without a second thought, the ghost of her mother-the woman who'd once guided her was a wound that remained raw, festering beneath the surface.

Shaking herself free from the tangle of memories, Alice opened her eyes wide, trying to assess her current surroundings.

She remembered falling asleep in a random forest near the academy, certain that with Cheshire keeping watch, nothing dangerous could sneak up on her.

But... the sensation beneath her was anything but the cold, hard ground or a tree's rough bark.

A soft yet firm warmth surrounded her, rising and falling gently with a rhythmic thump that sounded suspiciously like... a heartbeat?

Alice's blurry vision gradually sharpened, revealing a solid chest beside her, faintly rising and falling with every breath.

A warm hand rested against her, and as she fully came to her senses, she realized she wasn't in the forest at all.

The bed beneath her was unfamiliar, the room was clearly someone else's, and she... was holding someone in a close, almost intimate embrace.

"Wha-"

Questions rushed through her mind as her cheeks bloomed into a deep blush. She scrambled

up, her reasoning finally catching up to her.

But as she looked down and saw the peaceful, sleeping face of the person beside her, the flush on her cheeks only deepened.

"J-Junior?" she stammered, her heart pounding faster than she'd like to admit.

Riley, oblivious to the world, lay fast asleep, his expression serene and undisturbed.

Alice's mind raced, searching for an explanation as to how she'd ended up here, wrapped around her junior like some besotted koala.

She was certain she'd fallen asleep in the forest, but... how on earth had she ended up here, in Riley's bed, of all places?

Alice glanced at Riley's shirt, mortified to see the damp spot where her tears had soaked into

the fabric.

Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she shifted uncomfortably, wondering how on earth to handle this awkward situation.

"C-Cheshire, you did this, didn't you!?" she muttered, biting her lip in frustration.

She had no doubt in her mind who was responsible for this predicament. Imagining the smug grin on her familiar's face, she clenched her fists. "I swear, when I find you, stupid cat..." Her initial impulse was to escape before Riley woke up, but a moment's thought stopped her.

Knowing him, his instincts would likely catch even the slightest shift of movement, given that he was a knight his mana sense was sure to be sharp, any disruption would rouse him

immediately.

The last thing she wanted was to make a scene at this embarrassing moment.

Besides, the longer she lingered, the more guilty she felt for the unintentional invasion of his

space.

'What am I supposed to do?' she thought, heart racing.

This situation, though clearly orchestrated by her mischievous familiar, somehow made her feel responsible — as if she were trespassing in his private world.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She felt almost ridiculous, embarrassed that she was caught up in something so trivial, yet here she was, unsure of how to even express gratitude or say goodbye without waking him.

She glanced at Riley again, the peacefulness of his sleeping face catching her attention.

His guard was completely down, and for a rare moment, he looked utterly at ease.

A small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

Despite the whirlwind in her chest, a part of her felt strangely content just watching him, soaking in the fleeting serenity of the moment.

Maybe just a few more minutes, she reasoned, feeling her earlier panic subside slightly.

She knew it was dangerous to linger, but perhaps... perhaps she could allow herself this one indulgence, just for a while longer.

Slowly, despite the flutter of nerves and the whisper of reluctance, Alice let her fingers gently brush a strand of golden hair from Riley's face, her touch as light as the morning breeze.

'You're so vulnerable right now, Junior...' she thought with a bittersweet smile. Riley was, in her eyes, an enigma-a blend of paradoxes that left her equally curious and

bewildered.

He could be so outwardly ordinary, yet carry an air of mystery that made him appear far from

simple.

He was strong, but often seemed to bear a quiet, fragile undertone; he could act weak, yet his gaze held a steely resilience she rarely found in anyone else.

In all the time they'd spent together, Alice realized she had never fully seen Riley as just Riley, always layered with the roles he played and the guardedness he held.

It was a curious bond that tied them-one woven by threads of fate, or so the White Queen

had claimed. Gazing at him now, Alice could see the same deep, rose-pink glow that shimmered just below his surface, an essence of strength that seemed almost ethereal.

He was the one who carried the shades of both red and white, the same colors the White Queen

had entrusted her to seek.

'Junior... Are you really the one?' she wondered, a faint ache tugging at her heart.

Her mind wrestled with a frustrating mixture of certainty and doubt, a conflict that she'd

buried deep but could never quite ignore.

She liked Riley; that was undeniable, her feelings solid and grounded.

But was he the one who could truly understand her?

The one who could hold her hopes and fears without bending under the weight of what their

connection might mean?

For all her hesitation, she knew she wanted to trust him.

Even without the White Queen's decree or the tangled threads of destiny, Alice felt a pull

toward him, one that was purely hers.

Shaking off the weight of her thoughts, Alice took a quiet breath, her gaze drifting cautiously

from Riley's face to his chest.

This was a rare chance, she told herself again, eyes darting as if half-expecting him to awaken

any second.

'Just a tiny bit wouldn't hurt... right?'

Though she tried to reason it away, her hand was already moving, tracing over the hard lines

of his chest, feeling the warmth that radiated from him like a silent reassurance.

'He's so... solid.'

She'd always known Riley was strong, but feeling the toned, unyielding muscles under her

fingertips was a completely different experience.

Her curiosity urged her hand to trail downwards, exploring, feeling her heart pounding louder

with each movement.

This closeness was new, thrilling, and terrifying all at once.

Then-"Senior?"

The deep, familiar voice made her hand freeze. Her eyes snapped up, finding Riley looking at

her with a sleepy confusion that only made her own shock hit harder.

What am I doing? she thought, her face instantly heating up. Riley's gaze was questioning, his

voice still thick with sleep, as he asked, "What are you doing?"

The blush deepened as she realized the position she was in-leaning over him, practically

hovering. She hadn't even noticed how she'd ended up so close.

A nervous chuckle escaped her, barely masking her inner panic.

"Ah... I... was... uh... g-good morning junior...?" she stammered, each word tripping over the

last, her mind racing to find any acceptable explanation.

'Please, just let me disappear...'

The embarrassment was suffocating, far more intense than she'd ever felt before.

----

Love has the power to change a person.

It was a phrase Snow had heard many times, spoken by those who had truly experienced love's

embrace.

Some had changed for the better, others had fallen into heartache-but no matter the path, it

was the purity of their feelings that ultimately shaped who they had become.

Snow believed this with all her heart. Afterall she had never felt so happy.

Humming softly, she walked past a few students, who hardly spared her a second glance.

'Looks like the item's working wonders' she thought, glancing down at the bracelet on her

wrist.

It was a rare artifact called [Swift Shift], a powerful item that could alter her appearance with

a single thought.

Typically reserved for the Empire's Shadow Knights, obtaining one had been no easy feat, even for the Empire's princess.

She smiled to herself, admiring its delicate design.

'I'll have to deal with Father's questions later' she mused, but for now, her attention was

elsewhere.

Snow's responsibilities had grown lately, and her time with Riley, her beloved, had been drastically reduced because of it.

Long days of meetings, training, and preparations had begun to fill her every moment,

making any time she managed to steal with him feel precious.

And so, this was the best solution she'd found.

If disguising herself allowed her to slip away from her duties and find even a few hours with

Riley, then it was worth any potential scolding.

Her heart beat a little faster as she continued down the path, moving closer towards Riley's

room.

Her day was packed with responsibilities, carefully planned meetings, and tasks waiting on her attention. Yet, in this brief window of time, she allowed herself the luxury of indulging in his presence.

Snow couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Riley's reaction to an unexpected morning visit his surprised face, the small smile he'd try to hide.

Imagining his bewilderment only heightened her excitement, though it also brought a slight

blush to her cheeks.

Today, she had donned a disguise as a boy, making her way for the first time into the boys'

area of Killian Hall.

Her initial confidence wavered slightly, replaced by a quickening heartbeat as she realized the

boldness of her actions.

Her purpose had been simple-just to be by his side for a while-but now that she was nearly

at his door, she felt an unexpected flutter of nerves.

Did she have a plan for once she was there?

Not exactly.

All she wanted was to be near him, but part of her worried if that would be enough for Riley.

Their relationship, though unofficial, had deepened in ways that made her feel both hopeful

and shy.

Her cheeks warmed at the thought, wondering if maybe... 'maybe a kiss could be in order.'

Would he want more than that?

The possibility made her blush even further.

'I wouldn't mind a few kisses here and there, but...'

Riley was too respectful and reserved, yet she sensed that his feelings ran deeper than he

often let on.

She knew he wouldn't push for anything she wasn't ready for, and that gentle patience only

drew her closer to him.

Shaking her head, she tried to calm herself.

She didn't want to rush things-they had all the time in the world, after all.

Yet, she couldn't ignore the small, hopeful part of herself that longed for their connection to

keep growing.

Snow took a steadying breath, her mind made up.

She'd take it one step at a time, savoring every small moment they shared, letting it unfold

naturally.

Snow sighed softly, her excitement briefly dampened as she took in the view of Riley's room.

However, her gaze shifted when she spotted a young maid standing just outside the door, her expression emotionless yet observant. The maid's presence caught Snow off guard, and she widened her eyes slightly in surprise.

Noticing Snow's curious stare, the maid turned to her, tilting her head slightly.

Snow recalled her name from a conversation with Riley-Yui, his personal maid.

"You are?" the maid asked, her tone slightly informal, though Snow didn't mind. "I'm a friend of Riley,"

"The young master's friend?... I see," Yui said, her gaze trying to pierce through the thin veil

of Snow's disguise.

"Is Riley inside? Can I perhaps enter? I wanted to surprise him, you see-" Snow's excitement

bubbled over as she spoke, envisioning Riley's delighted expression.

"That would be improbable at the moment..."

"Excuse me?" Snow blinked in confusion, momentarily thrown off by Yui's sudden dismissal.

"The young master is busy right now,"

"Busy?"

"Yes... he is extremely busy at the moment."