Riley had noticed it for a while now.
The Frost Queen was absolute here.
Even without raising her voice.
Even without threatening anyone.
He could sense it — that faint ripple of dissatisfaction among the servants whenever she made certain decisions.
The generals outside?
They weren’t entirely pleased either.
So of them still carried quiet resentnt from the massacre he brought.
But the mont she spoke...
It ended.
It wasn’t blind loyalty.
It was recognition of power.
Riley didn’t know much about her.
Not her past.
Not what shaped her into this kind of ruler.
So seeing this side of her was... interesting.
He couldn’t say the sa about the White Queen from before.
Back then, things were different.
The White Queen’s story — her tragedy, her choices — were tied deeply to Alice.
To Alice’s feelings.
To Alice’s scenarios.
Riley had been involved, yes.
But he hadn’t truly understood her.
And sotis, he regretted that.
He regretted not knowing more about that lonely queen until it was too late.
Now, sitting across from the Frost Queen, he couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of imrsion.
Curiosity.
Not attraction.
Not sympathy.
Just... wanting to understand.
She was powerful. Calm. Detached.
But there was clearly more beneath that surface.
And yet she revealed almost nothing.
The Frost Queen returned to quietly staring at him again.
Not in a hostile way.
Not even in a curious way.
Just observing.
Like he was a puzzle piece she was trying to place correctly.
Riley leaned back slightly, falling into his own thoughts.
By now... Snow should be in the middle of her second trial.
Or maybe even finishing it.
The first one had been tricky. Trials like that could take ti if soone misunderstood the core of it.
But Snow wasn’t the type to get stuck for long.
If the trial required understanding authority, dominance, or self-control...
She would see through it.
Which ant she was probably already in the second.
Or even the third.
His expression shifted slightly.
Dungeons had a habit of targeting insecurities.
And Snow...
She rarely showed any.
But that didn’t an she didn’t have them.
There were six trials in total.
But not all of them were guaranteed.
If Snow cleared the second trial properly, the path would shorten. It would cut down to three.
That was how it was designed.
The core structure was simple.
1st trial — Authority.
2nd trial — Beauty and Acceptance.
3rd trial — Absolute.
Those three were the main pillars.
The rest — fourth to sixth — only existed if she failed the second one
.The trials weren’t about brute strength. Even back in the ga, they were structured like layered puzzles. The answers were always there — hidden behind symbolism, emotion, and personal flaws.
No instructions.
No hints.
Just scenarios.
You either understood the key... or you didn’t.
And everything right now hinged on the second one.
Beauty and Acceptance.
Riley exhaled quietly.
Snow... as much as she would deny it... had a strong sense of pride in her beauty.
It wasn’t shallow arrogance.
It wasn’t the kind that looked down on others.
But she knew she was beautiful.
She had always been admired. Always been the center of attention without trying. Her elegance wasn’t learned — it was natural.
And she valued that.
It was part of her identity.
Losing it wouldn’t be small.
The second trial wasn’t about vanity.
It was about whether her sense of self was tied to her appearance.
If her beauty disappeared...
Would she remain Snow?
Or would sothing inside her fracture?
Riley closed his eyes briefly.
He knew her better now.
Better than before.
She wasn’t fragile.
She wasn’t shallow.
He believed she would accept the new reality eventually.
But acceptance didn’t an instant peace.
It would take ti.
And knowing how dungeons operated... the Frost Queen likely wasn’t leaving it at just "accept and reflect."
She was setting sothing up.
A situation.
A trigger.
Sothing that would force Snow to confront it directly instead of slowly adapting.
And depending on Snow’s answer—
The dungeon would either open the path forward.
Or drag her deeper.
But sothing kept bothering him.
The Frost Queen had been too open.
Too calm.
Too honest.
She spoke about Snow without hesitation.
About Riley.
About outcos.
There was no visible attempt to interfere, no subtle manipulation that he could detect.
Was she even trying to ensure Snow received a proper trial?
Or...
Was she not opposing it at all?
Riley knew one thing clearly — the Frost Queen was searching for a suitable heir.
That was the entire point behind this scenario.
But the outco of this trial would decide more than Snow’s growth.
Depending on Snow’s choice... the Frost Queen would reach her end.
There were two outcos.
One where the Frost Queen disappeared — replaced.
And one where she survived.
But survival ca with a cost.
Subordination.
For an ascended being — that wasn’t light punishnt.
Riley knew that better than most.
Lavine.
The Grand Magus. Once a towering existence who stood independently at the peak of magic. Now bound as his familiar.
Lavine never complained openly.
But Riley could tell.
’Even if it was Lavine’s own choice...’
That constant awareness of being tied to soone else’s authority... it wasn’t pleasant.
For beings who once stood alone, freedom ant everything.
And the Frost Queen?
With her composed, authoritative, almost haughty neutrality—
He doubted she would enjoy becoming soone’s subordinate.
Especially Snow’s.
Which led to another question.
Is she even fully aware of what will happen when Snow takes the [Frost Staff]
Riley’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The [Frost Staff] wasn’t just symbolic.
It was one of the few Mythical-ranked items in the entire world.
And Mythical-ranked items weren’t ordinary weapons.
They weren’t even legendary-tier artifacts.
They were closer to divine authorities condensed into physical form.
For reference—
The Red Crown Alice wore when she entered her Red Queen form is a Mythical ranked item.
It didn’t just enhance her power.
It rewrote the battlefield around her.
And Riley’s [Valeria]
If Riley used his divinity fully, even she could be classified in that category.
In simple terms—
Mythical-ranked items were cheats.
They could overturn outcos.
Shift fate.
Influence the world itself.
The Frost Staff was no different.
The mont Snow grasped it and accepted its authority—
The balance of this entire frozen domain would shift.
Irreversibly.
Riley sighed internally.
He leaned back slightly in his frozen chair, the ice creaking faintly under the shift of his weight. His eyes stayed on her.
"I’m just going to ask, just in case but... you are fully aware of what you’re trying to do right?"
He didn’t hide the aning behind it.
If Snow succeeded.
If she took the Staff.
If the succession was completed—
The Frost Queen’s rule would end.
"...Yes," she answered calmly. "So there is no need for animosity between us."
Her tone was steady. No bitterness. No regret.
Riley studied her for a mont longer.
"Then what about the ones you’re going to abandon soon?"
He gestured slightly toward the door.
Toward the generals outside.
Toward the servants lining the walls.
Toward the entire frozen domain she ruled.
"They’re loyal to you," he continued. "You’re their queen."
A brief silence followed.
"...I will let them be," she said at last. "Once the new queen arrives, their fate will be decided then."
"Is that so..."
That answer wasn’t cold.
It was simply... detached.
Like soone who had already stepped one foot out of her throne.
For a mont, they just looked at each other.
Then—
Her eyes glead faintly white.
The air shifted.
She was looking elsewhere.
At Snow.
Monitoring her progress.
It was about ti.
The first trial had been solved too quickly.
Authority.
Snow understood it almost instinctively.
So naturally...
The second one had to be harder.
Beauty and Acceptance.
Not just surface-level acceptance.
She had to accept her situation personally and externally.
She had to live it.
Embrace it.
Not with silent tolerance.
But beautifully.
Happily.
That was the true essence of the trial.
If Snow simply endured it while clinging internally to her old self—
It would not count.
Acceptance wasn’t about surviving humiliation.
It was about letting go of what defined you... and still smiling.
The Frost Queen’s lips curved slightly.
In her hand, unseen by Riley, frost gathered.
A small figure ford from ice.
A perfect mold.
Carefully shaped.
Refined.
If Snow adapted too comfortably, the pressure would increase.
If she resisted quietly, the world would push back.
She would be tested properly.
The Frost Queen’s smile deepened faintly.
After all—
A queen worthy of the Frost Staff couldn’t be soone who only ruled when she was beautiful.
...
A month and two weeks passed in what felt like a blur.
At so point, Snow stopped counting the days.
She had gotten used to it.
The early mornings.
The cold river water.
The sll of stew clinging to her clothes.
The constant noise of custors.
She had accepted her situation.
At least... that’s what she told herself.
She learned new things during that ti.
Small things.
Like how heavy plates felt after hours of carrying them.
How tiring it was to smile when your feet hurt.
How invisible you could beco in a crowded room.
But two things bothered her more than anything else.
First—
She couldn’t leave.
No matter how many excuses she made, no matter how far she tried to walk, she could never go beyond the open market in the comrcial district.
The mont she tried to go further — toward the noble district, toward the palace — sothing would always stop her.
A sudden errand.
A headache.
A guard redirecting her.
The world subtly pushed her back.
Second—
No matter how much she tried to improve herself...
She stayed the sa.
She tried eating more whenever she could afford it.
She tried fixing her posture.
She tried styling her hair differently.
She even tried small exercises at night in her tiny attic room.
Nothing changed.
She remained thin.
Freckled.
Plain.
Every ti she looked into the river water or the tavern mirror, she felt that sa small pause in her chest.
She never truly got used to the face.
But over ti...
She forced herself to stop reacting.
She accepted it.
Or so she thought.
For weeks now, she had been trying to figure out the key behind this trial.
She knew it wasn’t random.
The dungeon never wasted ti on aningless scenarios.
It had sothing to do with this life.
With this body.
With the fact that there was another "Snow" in this world.
The princess.
The beautiful one.
The version of her that everyone admired.
Is the dungeon making see the perspective of a random girl in the empire?
Is it letting see the truth behind the empire’s grace from below?
Is this what the common people see when they look at the palace?
Maybe... it’s simply forcing to accept my situation?
But I’m sure I already have.
She worked.
She endured.
She stopped resenting the mirror.
She didn’t cry.
She didn’t rage.
She lived normally.
Or is it trying to make regret my life as a princess?
Make jealous of myself?
Make realize how others truly feel when they stand beneath soone "perfect"?
The thoughts kept stacking.
Theories forming and collapsing one after another.
Every ti she thought she was close to the answer...
It slipped away.
Because sothing felt incomplete.
Acceptance alone didn’t seem enough.
There was still sothing she hadn’t grasped.
And until she did—
The trial wouldn’t end.
"Ah, Snow, what are your plans tonight?"
Her thoughts were cut short by a loud, cheerful voice.
"Plans?"
"Yes! It’s the Altier Festival tonight, right? Hehe~ They say if you spend it with the person you truly love, your love will last forever~"
"Oh... is that so."
Snow blinked slowly.
She had heard bits and pieces about it from custors over the past few days. Decorations were already hanging around the market. Colorful ribbons stretched between buildings. Flower vendors were selling out faster than usual.
"Tsk, don’t tell you’re planning to stay here, right?"
rda — the coworker Snow had grown closest to over the past month — leaned in closer, lowering her voice.
"Trust , Snow. You don’t want to be here tonight. Normally this is just an adventurer’s tavern full of muscle-headed idiots, but during Altier Festival? This place practically turns into sothing else entirely. You’ll be cleaning tables while couples are making eyes at each other all night."
Snow gave a faint smile.
"I don’t mind."
"You should mind!" rda whispered dramatically. "Co on, I can introduce you to soone. Even if you have such a plain face, I’m sure soone would take interest. No offense, of course."
"Haha... I appreciate the advice."
She ant it.
There was no bitterness in her tone.
"But I’m planning to stay."
rda pulled back, crossing her arms.
"You’re seriously hopeless."
Snow simply smiled again.
rda sighed heavily.
"Fine, suit yourself. and the other girls are skipping work tonight to prepare for the festival. I feel bad leaving you alone — especially with the boss around — but I’m pretty sure the tavern won’t be that busy anyway."
She paused, studying Snow’s expression.
"You really don’t have anyone you want to see tonight?"
For a split second—
An image flashed in Snow’s mind.
Golden Hair.
Blue eyes.
And sharp face... Riley.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the cloth in her hands.
"...No," she answered calmly.
rda stared at her for another mont, then shrugged.
"Alright, alright. If you change your mind, co find us at the plaza. They’re lighting the lanterns at sunset."
Before rda ran off with the other girls, she suddenly turned back toward Snow.
"Oh! Maybe the boss will put you as temporary receptionist tonight. Not like this is a hotel to begin with anyway. Good luck!"
"Yes..."
Snow gave a small nod.
She watched rda disappear into the evening crowd, laughter trailing behind her.
The tavern slowly grew quieter as the sun dipped lower. The golden light outside shifted into soft orange, then into deep blue.
Snow exhaled lightly.
She couldn’t afford to treat this like an ordinary night.
This was still a trial.
If the key truly revolved around acceptance... then she would accept whatever ca her way.
Wholeheartedly.
Or at least... that was what she believed.
As night fell, the tavern did not beco quiet like rda predicted.
It changed.
The atmosphere grew warr.
Softer.
Lanterns were lit inside, casting a dim glow over the wooden tables.
Couples trickled in instead of rowdy adventurers.
The usual noise was replaced with hushed laughter and whispered conversations.
And as rda guessed—
Kal Karam had placed Snow at the front.
"To greet custors," he had said gruffly. "If they’re trouble, send them away."
So she stood at the entrance.
Greeting.
Smiling.
Accepting.
"You two are denied."
"Huh?"
"Please leave."
The words left her mouth before she even processed them.
Two hooded figures stood before her.
They had approached quietly.
One slightly taller.
One slightly slimr.
"Uhm... we’re willing to pay extra—"
"Like I said, denied entry. You can both leave..."
Her throat tightened.
"...Ah. No. I an—the woman can leave. You, sir, can stay."
The two figures froze.
Confused.
Slowly... the slimr one lowered her hood.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
Her face.
The princess.
And beside her—
He lowered his hood as well.
Riley.
Snow’s breath caught in her chest.
It wasn’t a blurry vision.
It wasn’t distant.
They were right in front of her.
The version of herself she used to be stood there—radiant, beautiful, dressed elegantly even under a cloak.
And Riley stood beside her.
Close.
Comfortable.
Like they belonged together.
For a mont—
The smile on Snow’s current face almost broke.
Her hands trembled faintly at her sides.
It wasn’t every day you saw yourself...
And the man you loved...
Trying to book a room in a random tavern.
Her chest tightened painfully.
There was no elegance in her reflection now.
No calm pride.
Just a scrawny tavern girl standing at the door, denying entry to her own perfect self.
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