But more than that, sothing about the way Snow had handled the situation didn't quite sit right with .
Snow was many things-prideful, calculating, and not the type to lose a bet so easily.
If what Rose was telling was accurate, then the whole thing didn't make much sense. Had Snow planned to lose from the very start?
Snow was an ice mage. If their ridiculous battle had involved nothing but cold sweets, then Snow's victory should have been practically guaranteed.
After all, the cold was her natural ally-her body and mana naturally resonated with it, allowing her to regulate the effects far better than any ordinary person.
In contrast, while Rose was undoubtedly a talented mage in her own right, she didn't possess the sa affinity with ice magic.
She had no innate resistance to the cold, no way to mitigate the effects like Snow did.
And yet... Rose had won.
'Sothing wasn't adding up.'
As we continued walking, Rose glanced at , her golden eyes flickering under the dim light.
"...Are you mad?" she asked softly.
"Why would I be?" I responded without much thought.
"Well... we just decided sothing that involved you on our own..."
I let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of my head. "Hm... I can't say I'm not annoyed, but it's not like I can bring myself to hate you for it. Let's just say my two lovers played a ga, and you won with as the price. That's all."
"L-Lovers...?"
I turned to look at her just in ti to catch the way her expression froze.
Her cheeks, which had been pale from all the sweets earlier, were now flushed a deep red. She looked utterly stunned, as if the weight of my words had just fully settled in.
"Well..." I shrugged slightly, offering her a small, amused smile. "After everything, it's safe to say we're in so kind of relationship now, right?"
Rose swallowed, her lips parting slightly. "Y-Yes..." she whispered. Then, after a beat, she hesitantly asked, "Does that an... I'm Riley's girlfriend now?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
Rose blinked.
And then, just like that, her usual cool and collected deanor cracked completely.
Her entire face turned bright red, and for the first ti in a long while, she looked genuinely flustered.
It was rare-incredibly rare-to see Rose lose her composure like this.
Normally, she was so composed, so in control of herself. But right now, in this mont, she wasn't the ever-graceful, ever-poised Rose everyone knew her as.
Right now, she was just... a girl.
I exhaled slowly, my own thoughts swirling in my head.
Honestly... I still had doubts.
Not about Rose, but about everything. About what counted as a good decision or a bad one.
About the ss I was inevitably getting myself into with all the girls involved in my life. About the consequences that would co crashing down sooner or later.
But I knew one thing for sure-ignoring it wouldn't make it go away.
If I kept dodging it, if I kept pretending like I could just avoid dealing with it... it would only co back to bite in the end.
It was better to establish things now, to define my relationship with Rose properly, before things spiraled too far out of control.
Because if her unexpected appearance here in the imperial had already caused this much chaos...
I could only imagine what ignoring it would do.
Rose's grip on my hand tightened, her fingers interlocking firmly with mine.
Her golden eyes glead with a mix of determination and uncertainty, the moonlight casting a soft glow over her flushed cheeks.
"But will that be alright? becoming one of your lovers...? Will you give up on Princess Snow?"
Her voice wavered; the hesitancy clear.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her concern.
The idea of sharing with Snow was clearly still a difficult concept for her to accept.
It was... endearing, in a way-seeing Rose so openly selfish when it ca to matters of the heart, though it was still a bit problematic...
"I have no intentions of giving up on Snow," I said with a gentle smile. "And besides, I love Snow just as much as I love you."
"Liar..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Do you hate Snow?" I asked, curious.
"...No," Rose admitted after a mont of hesitation. "But sharing you with her isn't sothing I'd like."
"Why is that?"
She glanced away, her gaze flickering to the ground as if the answer lay hidden among the shadows. "If the situations were reversed, would you want with so other man as well?"
"Nah, I'd probably kill him," I replied without missing a beat.
Rose snorted, a small, amused smile curving her lips. "That's what I thought."
Her expression softened, but the tension in her eyes remained. "I don't hate Snow entirely, but sothing about her just ticks off the wrong way. Even though she acts all high and lovely toward you, the sa can't be said for others, you know? And isn't she the most complicated person to have a relationship with? The emperor won't take lightly to such a decision. Per noble and imperial rule, one must-"
"Don't worry about the emperor," I interrupted gently. "I already have a plan in mind..."
'Though it was a rather direct one, to be honest.'
Rose bit her lower lip, clearly debating whether to push the issue further or let it rest.
Despite the lingering uncertainty, a sense of relief seed to wash over her, her shoulders
relaxing just a bit.
"What about your fiancée? You said she was soone you love as well, right?"
...Damn.
With all the unexpected situations going on.
I completely forgot Liyana....
'So she rembers....'
When Rose was asking for advice about love, I had blurted that out Liyana before...
Much like Rose and Snow, my complications with Liyana were... nurous.
There were too many things to take into account with what I was doing right now, and in all honesty, it was safe to say she had already heard about everything that had been going on.
Sooner or later, I would have to face her as well.
I really didn't want to see Liyana as the final boss of this world, but... if it really ca down to that, then I was fully prepared.
I could feel the blessing the goddess had left within , a quiet strength humming beneath my skin. If Liyana was going to bring chaos, then I was confident I could withstand it.
Rose tilted her head slightly, watching with a contemplative expression.
"Is establishing your relationship with really that important?"
"What do you an...?"
"I intend to take all of you as my first wives, you know?"
Rose's eyes widened at my words, her breath catching. "First... wives?"
The sheer absurdity of what I said finally registered with her. She blinked a few tis,
processing, and then-
"Pfft—"
She let out a disbelieving laugh, her cheeks flushing red.
Letting Rose laugh her heart out I smiled as I notification screen flash before my eyes.
[Note: The harem path will lead to ruin...]
At this point, I didn't really care anymore.
I had already made my promise to the goddess-to save this world.
I had already voiced my wish before her, and I had already set my purpose: to bring happiness
to the people of this world.
Not just characters in so preordained story, but real people, with real emotions and lives
that deserved fulfillnt.
Even if the fates had written a different ending for , even if Liyana was ant to be the
Great Evil-the chaos destined to devour and destroy everything-I refused to follow that
script.
The that the fates had dictated to die by her hands? He didn't exist anymore.
The other versions of had entrusted everything to .
Their failures were not sothing to be repeated....
I would carve my own path.
Liyana was supposed to be erased from this world that was what the goddess told .
A being who had no place in the cycle of existence, soone whose very survival was a
contradiction of pure Chaos.
Eliminating her was the best option...
But I had no intention of doing that.
The goddess may have asked to stop all the evil that was to co... but I would do it in my
own way.
If she was destined to bring chaos, then I would be the one to hold her close.
If the world saw her as a monster, then I would be the one to see her as a person. Because I knew-more than anyone-that Liyana had given up everything, even her own
power, for the sake of giving happiness in that other lifeti.
So, I would do the sa for her.
Even if the world turned against her-even if she turned against --I would find a way to
give her the happiness she deserved.
Liyana might be a little crazy. 'But she's mine~'
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