How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 4: Liyana's lies

Liyana scanned me from head to toe, her eyes widening with a blend of shock and admiration as her vivid red gaze shimmered.

"You look so handsome, darling," she purred. She circled me with an otherworldly grace, her fingertips trailing softly against my clothes.

"Thank you..." I answered, though I was privately amazed at how she projected such undeniable beauty even in basic attire. They say true elegance is found in one's bearing, and Liyana was the perfect example of that truth.

"You're quite cruel, you know, darling. Why did the idea of visiting the duchy never occur to us? I was there waiting for you, you know?" she teased, her voice playful but shadowed by a touch of scolding.

What a liar... I was certain she hadn't been at the duchy; instead, she had been hovering over me the entire time I traveled by carriage.

Having spent significant time with her, I had become well-acquainted with the depth of her fixations and the extremes she would go to.

Looking around, I noticed the absence of the butler who usually trailed her, as well as the maid who tended to her every whim.

In the game, those two servants were fiercely loyal and never left Liyana's side. Their disappearance was a blatant sign of what had happened.

Judging by Liyana’s disheveled state—her dress was rumpled and her hair slightly messy—it was obvious she had flown here personally after seeing me head straight for the city.

I could have easily dismantled her argument by asking why she was here and how she knew I hadn't stopped at the duchy.

However, pointing out such inconsistencies would definitely result in trouble for me.

So, ignoring the obvious, I came up with the best excuse I could manage.

"I didn't want to be a bother..."

"Since when were you ever a bother to me, darling?" she shot back.

Then, she pulled me into a tight embrace, causing the spiteful glares from those around us to grow even more intense.

"I know you don't like me, darling... but shouldn't you at least say your goodbye?"

Her voice trembled with feigned emotion as tears pooled in her eyes.

As she sobbed quietly against my chest, I felt as though my neck was resting on a chopping block. Every person nearby had their eyes locked on me, their stares cutting through my very soul.

In their view, making such a stunning lover cry was perhaps the ultimate sin a man could commit. If they realized she was the Duke’s daughter, they would probably have dragged me to the public square to be hanged.

After all, the city of Hamen was under the Duke’s protection and rule, making her essentially their princess.

The only reason she went unrecognized was due to her specific skill, which prevented people from perceiving her true identity.

It was an incredibly powerful skill, one frequently mentioned in the game's lore. And yet, the developers chose to explain a random skill in detail rather than provide any depth to Riley’s backstory.

It made me wonder: just how much did the creators hate or overlook Riley?

At this moment, she was acting completely different from her usual game persona.

The tender gaze, the lingering words, the sweet whispers—even the apparent sadness—I had never witnessed this side of her in the game.

If I weren't already aware of her darker side, I might have actually fallen for her by now.

It was surreal to see the "world ender" acting so gentle and affectionate toward another person.

If the game developers saw this, they would likely cry tears of pure disbelief.

With a heavy sigh, I found myself instinctively returning her hug.

"I'm sorry..." The words left my mouth, filled with a sense of genuine regret.

Despite being the object of her affection for so long, the idea of loving her back never took root in my heart.

I knew I was being selfish, but the terror of the future that awaited us was too massive to brush aside.

Seeing her smile at my apology made my heart ache with conflicting feelings. As much as she frightened me, I didn't truly loathe her.

I simply couldn't bring myself to return the love she constantly poured onto me. A storm of emotions brewed within me, preventing any honest connection.

Sure, I could probably trick her and start pretending to be more romantic, but in the end, that would be a deception—both to her and to myself.

'I'm sorry, Liyana, but our future only ends with your happiness being tied to the protagonist...'

The system was still active, woven into the main scenarios of the game.

This meant my unavoidable death, and her future with another, had to happen, or I would face failure.

My destiny seemed carved in stone. If I strayed from my path to hope for a life with Liyana, the system would trigger my 'bad end'.

If I stayed the course of the main story, Liyana herself would be the one to kill me.

Regardless of the road I traveled, the destination remained the same.

'Death.'

I was going to die.

VOOOMMM...!!!!

Hearing the hum of the magical ship that had arrived at the tower, I reluctantly pulled away from Liyana.

She looked deeply saddened as the vessel bound for the academy arrived.

"I'll see you soon," I said, trying to make my voice sound reassuring.

I gave her head a gentle pat before leaning in to kiss her cheek.

At my touch, Liyana froze, her eyes locked onto me in a daze.

Her eyes went wide, and a deep blush stained her pale skin red.

In that brief moment, she looked so cute and flustered that I felt a sudden urge to embrace her one more time.

As I stepped onto the ship, a sense of resolve filled my soul. I was determined to find my own happy ending, regardless of the hurdles in my way.

With two full years ahead of me, I knew I had to maximize every second.

The system might be forcing me toward the main plot, but I refused to be trapped by its rules.

Instead, I swore to investigate every side quest and every alternate path the protagonist could take.

I would manipulate every possible variable to escape my dark fate.

But to succeed, there was one vital sacrifice required: 'I could not allow myself to fall in love with Liyana.'

Two years from today, Liyana would inevitably meet the protagonist of this world.

She would fall for him instantly, caught in a destiny she could never flee. After all, a dragon's heart can only truly love their fated partner... and unfortunately, that wasn't me.

That position belonged to the protagonist.

Tragically, that fate would guarantee my execution, as she would eventually kill me to be with her new love.

Even with the darkness hanging over our future, I was resolved to maintain a sense of compassion.

No matter how twisted our path became, I wanted Liyana to know one thing: I never hated her.

Facing this looming tragedy, I would hold onto this piece of humanity like a lifeline in a storm.

As the ship faded into the horizon, Liyana stood still, her fingers touching the spot where Riley's lips had brushed her skin.

It was a rare moment, one that sparked a whirlwind of clashing emotions inside her.

For the first time in ten years, Riley had taken the lead—a shocking move that caught Liyana completely off guard.

Was it possible he was finally moving past his passive nature?

The idea fascinated her, and a small smile touched her lips, revealing a spark of hope.

Her red eyes glowed like polished jewels, reflecting the dark nature of her thoughts.

Faint black scales shimmered around her neck, giving her an eerie, supernatural aura.

"Has your heart finally moved for me, Riley?" she whispered to herself, her hand moving to her chest, where no pulse could be felt.

Liyana's heart was a void, cold to the affections of others.

Not even Riley had been able to pierce through its frozen exterior.

What had attracted her to Riley was how different he was—how he drifted away from the ordinary.

He was the only person who didn't like her. While everyone else drowned her in praise and love, his eyes held a coldness that fascinated her.

It was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual worship she received, a unique bond that held her interest.

There was something alluring about his lack of interest, a challenge she found strangely exciting. In his gaze, she saw raw honesty instead of admiration—a rare thing in her world.

But if he were to end up like all the others, what would be the use of keeping him around for entertainment?

'Should I just kill him now?'

The thought drifted through her mind, a tempting solution to her problem.

With a simple movement, she could end him and be done with it, avoiding any further trouble.

Yet, despite the temptation, Liyana paused.

His presence acted as a shield against unwanted suitors and marriage talks—a useful tool that protected her freedom.

With a quiet sigh, Liyana shook her head, abandoning the idea of killing him early.

Despite his shortcomings, Riley was still important to her in his own way.

Even though her heart didn't beat for him for some reason, she still liked him... a feeling she couldn't quite explain.

----

As the ship moved further away, a surge of excitement built up inside me.

Finally, I was going to meet my favorite character in the flesh.

The announcer's voice echoed over the speakers, stating that we were approaching Arkein City—a neighbor to Hamen—to collect the students there.

It was a nearby city, only a few kilometers from where we started.

Arkein City was also the birthplace of my favorite heroine, the character I had supported through countless playthroughs of the game.

The prospect of meeting her face-to-face filled me with both excitement and nerves.

I had only caught a brief look at her last time...

This time, I planned to fully appreciate her presence throughout the journey.