How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 659: Frozen Resolve Interlude.

"That is..."

The Germonia Empire's crown princess faltered, feeling the immense pressure of his stare for the very first time.

Snow lowered her head, her grip tightening on the lunch box she held.

The atmosphere felt heavy—surpassing the tension of any war zone she had ever experienced.

After a few moments, she took several slow, steadying breaths to regain her composure.

"...Fine," she whispered. "I will explain everything."

Raising her gaze, she began to speak, selecting her words with extreme caution.

She described the recurring dream that haunted her sleep.

She spoke of the mirror.

She mentioned the chilling presence that felt like her own reflection, yet was fundamentally different.

She confessed her strange intuition that her very essence had shifted following the previous incident.

Finally, she admitted to Riley that she had requested Seo to attack her.

Her goal was to see if that hidden power would trigger instinctively... and to confirm if she was still truly herself.

As her story concluded, a heavy silence descended upon the table.

Riley remained silent for a while. He merely observed her with a calm, unreadable expression.

Under that steady gaze, Snow felt a tightness in her chest far more intense than any she felt while standing before cheering masses.

She then shifted her attention toward Seo.

With her arms crossed and a pout on her face, Seo was visibly disgruntled.

"...I am truly sorry, Seo," Snow said, bowing her head in apology. "I promise I will never ask you to do something like that again."

Seo did not answer immediately.

Instead, she looked toward Riley, seeking guidance on how to respond.

Riley gave a single, firm shake of his head.

This matter had to be resolved between the two of them.

Snow moved closer and took Seo’s hand with a gentle, almost timid touch. When Seo finally looked up, Snow maintained eye contact, refusing to look away.

"Seo... I beg for your forgiveness."

Seo’s lips trembled slightly.

"I realize my actions were wrong," Snow whispered. "I was being selfish and I frightened you. You have every right to be angry... but please, do not hate me."

For a long interval, Seo remained quiet.

Then—

"...I don't hate you."

Snow’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Then—"

"But," Seo cut her off, turning her head away with puffed cheeks, "I'm not ready to forgive you just yet."

Snow blinked in surprise before her face softened into a smile of pure relief.

"...That is only fair," she replied. "I will do whatever it takes to earn back your trust."

Seo glanced back at her, still annoyed but no longer pushing her away.

Seeing the two of them reconcile, Riley finally released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

For the moment, the situation was defused.

Even so...

He wasn't entirely convinced by Snow's explanation.

Is this another one of your schemes, Evelyn?

The thought drifted into his mind and lingered stubbornly.

Given what had transpired with Stacia, it seemed the most plausible conclusion.

His clone—his female counterpart—had never been particularly subtle about her meddling.

She didn't rely on blatant lies; she simply nudged circumstances, altering events just enough to achieve her specific goals.

And invariably, the final result benefited him.

That was the core of the problem.

Evelyn only intervened when she deemed it vital for his future or his well-being.

Riley understood this better than anyone else.

However, if she was now interfering with Snow—tampering with her dreams, memories, and soul—she needed to understand one thing.

He would not simply overlook it.

Riley sighed and shook his head, pushing those concerns aside for the time being.

Whatever Evelyn was planning, the middle of the academy grounds was no place for a confrontation. More importantly—

It was undeniable that whatever Snow and Stacia were enduring was making them more powerful.

He could sense it clearly.

Just like Stacia, Snow’s soul had undergone a transformation.

When Riley allowed his perception to dive deep, he saw it—a massive, frozen realm hidden within her.

While Stacia’s soul was like a blazing sun, radiating warmth and a crushing presence, Snow’s was the polar opposite.

It was a vast, white world.

A silent, ancient fortress of ice stood at its heart, enveloped by eternal frost and shadow.

Beneath that frozen exterior lay an abyss of total stillness, lit only by the faint glow of a cold moon.

Even as an ascended being, Riley found himself stunned.

Her soul wasn't merely large.

It was terrifyingly immense.

It was like a frozen planet, or perhaps something even greater.

"Riley...!"

A voice pulled him back to the present.

"Hm?"

He blinked, noticing Snow staring at him with a mix of concern and a faint blush on her cheeks.

"Is everything alright?" she asked in a low voice.

"Yes," he blurted out. "Everything is fine."

Snow hesitated before nodding. "I-if that's true... then maybe we can do what you wanted later..."

Her voice trailed off into a whisper.

It was only then that Riley noticed his hand was resting directly on the center of her chest.

It was soft and warm.

He froze instantly.

"Oh—"

He yanked his hand back, feeling incredibly awkward, and cleared his throat to try and mask the embarrassment.

Snow’s face turned bright red, and she looked away as if steam were about to pour from her ears.

Seo, who had watched the entire scene play out, maintained her usual stoic expression.

Then she spoke up.

"Mine is larger, Riley."

The statement was quiet.

Both Snow and Riley froze in shock.

...

"Ahahaha... Principal, I know things are stressful, but... what is this document exactly?"

Alice held the paper with her fingertips as if it were contaminated.

"Please, just sign it..."

"You know I can't do that."

Leilah Grace let out a loud sniffle, her eyes puffy and red. She clung to Alice’s coat as if it were her only hope.

"Alice, please sign. Don't you remember? I was your patron during your entire first year before the others showed up. I supported you. You owe me this favor!"

"I don't think that's how it works..." Alice sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I am grateful, Principal. I truly am. I'll help you in other ways, but this—this is impossible."

Leilah broke down completely, burying her face in Alice’s skirt and sobbing.

"I can't take it anymore! The nobles, the board of directors, the festival, the emperor’s envoys—everyone is demanding something from me!"

"Haha..." Alice laughed nervously, patting Leilah's back. "Please, try not to get tears on my clothes..."

She looked at the paper again, hoping she had misinterpreted the text.

Resignation of Principal Leilah Grace

Immediate Appointment of Successor: Alice Holloway

Alice let out a weary sigh.

She knew Leilah had been under immense pressure, but she hadn't expected this level of desperation.

Handing the reins of the academy to a student—forcing it on her—was completely irrational.

"No matter how much you cry, there are limits to what I can do," Alice said, her tone gentle but firm. "Asking a student to take over upon your retirement will never be accepted. Not by the board, not by the empire, and certainly not by anyone else."

Leilah looked up, her eyes gleaming with a desperate light.

"But you're graduating this year! You won't be a student much longer. You were already planning to stay as a professor. With your skills and reputation, you're more than capable!"

"That isn't the issue..."

Alice placed the document on the desk and looked Leilah in the eye.

"Being capable and being acceptable are two different things. You're asking me to take a position that took you decades to earn, practically overnight."

Leilah gripped Alice’s sleeve once more.

"But you're ideal for the role! You're brilliant, powerful, respected, and scary when you need to be—"

"Principal."

"Yes?"

"I am eighteen years old."

A heavy silence filled the office.

Leilah slowly looked away, avoiding her gaze.

"...Age is just a number?"

Alice stared at her blankly.

Leilah sniffled again.

.....

'I will be your guide, so focus on one thing...'

That voice spoke again.

It was calm and mature. It sounded like her, yet not quite.

Stacia had become accustomed to its presence.

It appeared in her dreams every single night, patient and steady, like a future version of herself watching from afar.

'My aid and interference have a price. But as long as you do not overtax the blessing I bestowed upon you, you should be ready when you encounter the flaming wolf once more...'

The words resonated deeply within her consciousness.

She wanted to ask questions. She always did.

But before she could speak—

FOOOOSHHH!!!

Flames erupted.

Stacia’s eyes flew open.

Heat surged through her body as she gasped for air, a bead of sweat rolling down her face.

The room was dark and silent, but her chest throbbed as if a sleeping power had been momentarily disturbed and then locked away again.

"...I still can't harness it."

Her voice was raspy as she clutched her chest.

Being aware of the power dormant inside her only made the frustration worse.

That vast, alien energy was right there—she could feel it—but no matter her efforts, she couldn't tap into it.

Not even a drop.

Since her battle with Flamme, she hadn't made any progress.

The swordsmanship she had displayed that day... the state of mind she had briefly touched... it was all slipping away, like a fading memory she couldn't quite hold onto.

Stacia exhaled slowly and opened her hands.

Flames flickered to life instantly, dancing above her palms under her perfect command.

Three days.

For three straight days since the start of the competition, no one had been able to beat her.

To her peers, she seemed dominant, composed, and untouchable.

But she knew the truth.

Tomorrow would be different.

Tomorrow, she would go up against the girl everyone hailed as the prodigy of their era.

Rose Brilliance.

Stacia lowered her hands, the fire dying out as her resolve hardened.

She was realistic.

She would likely lose.

But even so—

This was her opportunity.

Her chance to prove she could stand by his side without hesitating.

Without uncertainty.

Without being left behind in his shadow.

No more excuses.

No more doubts.

For that goal alone—

Stacia closed her eyes, took a long, steady breath, and let the heat in her chest settle.

Silently, she began to prepare.