How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 718: Frost Queen.... Interlude

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Previously on How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game...
The Frost Queen, Snow, reappears on the battlefield, wielding immense power that halts the fighting and incapacitates the Frost Giant chieftain, Gallan. She assures the injured Roverick that she will handle the situation, then effortlessly defeats Gallan. Meanwhile, Riley observes Snow's overwhelming strength with satisfaction, while Anica, now controlled by a powerful presence, ruthlessly hunts down the fleeing giants.
"I understand... so that is how it occurred. To be frank, it is difficult to accept—however, given your current condition, Your Highness, I do not believe I am in a position to disbelieve you." A full day had elapsed since the sudden onslaught of the Frost Giants and their monstrous companions, and the city under the command of Count Roverick was still grappling with its recovery. Despite the extensive damage, repairs were already in full swing, and aid was being distributed to those in dire need. The populace, even after witnessing an event that nearly led to their complete annihilation, pushed themselves forward. Yesterday had felt like the ultimate conclusion. And yet, today, life inexplicably persisted. The profound despair that had enveloped the city was gradually giving way to a different sentiment—something delicate, yet undeniably present. Hope had been rekindled, and its source was a single individual. Within the Count's office, the atmosphere was significantly more subdued, though the tension remained palpable. Roverick stood opposite Snow as she calmly elucidated the events that had transpired in the north, her voice steady as if recounting a trivial matter. Even now, he found it hard to fully comprehend. Simultaneously... he recognized the necessity of not needing to. Because the irrefutable answer was right before him. Snow was seated behind his desk, her posture relaxed, yet her presence commanded the space in a manner that felt distinctly out of place. Even with her immense power intentionally curbed, an aura of the extraordinary surrounded her—a subtle pressure that emanated outwards, affecting all in its vicinity. It possessed a familiar quality. Roverick had only encountered it once before. It emanated from the Grand Duke, Luther Heavens himself. The aura of a transcendent being. And now, that very same profound intensity permeated the room, borne with effortless grace by someone who, less than a day prior, had been within the realm of ordinary understanding. His gaze remained fixed upon her, a residual tension in his chest as he attempted to bring order to his chaotic thoughts. "...To think it would escalate to this point." The statement was no longer laced with disbelief. It was uttered with quiet resignation. At this juncture, considerations of personal pride or formal decorum had lost all significance—not when the individual seated before him had single-handedly transformed what should have been an unmitigated disaster into a situation that could be endured. 'How could the Princess have achieved such profound understanding at such a tender age...? No... that is not it.' Roverick's eyes narrowed slightly as his thoughts intensified. 'How could this have possibly occurred...?' He found himself unable to reconcile the situation. There had to be a reason—a definitive reason for Snow's prior willingness to intervene, for her offer of unwavering support. Even her decision to personally confront the dungeon previously... it all suggested a deeper motive. But this? This revelation surpassed anything he could have conceivably anticipated. He harbored his own theories. Anyone in his position undoubtedly would. Yet, even with those suspicions, he understood the wisdom of refraining from excessive inquiry. Certain truths are not meant for scrutiny, particularly when the consequence of those truths stands plainly before you. The reality of the situation was straightforward. Because of her... the last remaining bastion in the northern territories still stood. That fact alone was sufficient. Roverick released a quiet sigh, allowing the burden of his contemplation to subside. Lingering questions remained—an overwhelming number, in fact—but the manner in which Snow communicated, the way she provided answers... it was evident she offered only what she was prepared to reveal. Subtle hints. Scattered fragments. Nothing more. And at this particular moment— He found himself amenable to this approach. "For the present..." he adjusted his posture slightly, his tone regaining a measure of formality, "I must take my leave, Your Highness. Numerous matters still require my immediate attention." Snow inclined her head slightly, her expression remaining impassive. "That is perfectly acceptable. I am certain of your considerable duties, Count. With all that has transpired, there is a great deal you must oversee." She paused momentarily before continuing. "I have already dispatched a request to the capital for additional personnel. Their arrival is expected shortly—they will be instrumental in both facilitating repairs and providing interim security. While it may not resolve every issue, it should alleviate some of the pressure." Roverick's eyes widened subtly at this news, a fleeting expression of relief crossing his features. "Your benevolence is... profoundly appreciated, Your Highness. Truly so." Snow offered a small nod in acknowledgment, nothing further. With that, Roverick turned and proceeded towards the exit. His gait was steady, yet noticeably slower than usual, as though his mind was still struggling to process the full implications of their recent exchange. The door swung open. Then, it closed behind him. Silence reclaimed the chamber. Snow remained in her position, her gaze drifting absently for a moment as the immensity of recent events settled—not upon her shoulders, but in a distant, intangible space. "Are you unharmed?" A voice pierced the quietude. Snow turned slightly, her expression softening as she met Riley's searching gaze. A subtle thread of concern was woven into his eyes—imperceptible to many, yet clear enough for her to discern.

"I’m… okay. Just a little dizzy. Everything else is fine," she stated, subtly adjusting her position. "It feels like trying to maneuver something newly attached to your body. It responds, but the connection isn’t fully natural yet."

A brief pause followed before she continued with a softer tone,

"But don’t fret. This isn’t going to cause me any harm."

Riley remained quiet for a spell, observing her with heightened attention.

A flicker of uncertainty crossed his features—not stemming from a lack of trust, but from the sheer complexity of what she was experiencing.

Nonetheless…

He could discern she wasn't fabricating her words.

"If you assert it’s so, then I shall believe you," he finally responded, relaxing back against the couch. "However, should anything feel amiss—even slightly—inform me without delay."

His voice dipped a notch.

"I will rework everything if that becomes necessary."

Snow’s eyes widened in a blink, followed by a soft, amused chuckle.

"Fufu… I appreciate your concern."

—

Regarding the reason Roverick had failed to notice Riley at all—

That was the handiwork of Cheshire.

The spectral feline head floated nearby, entirely unnoticed, its enchantment enveloping both individuals and subtly warping perceptions to keep them concealed.

It was a simple enchantment—a gentle shroud of misdirection that caused observers to naturally bypass their presence.

Riley, for his part, had little need for it.

However, the Count was already burdened with fatigue, and the last thing he required was additional scrutiny, amplified pressure, or more confounding variables.

And, naturally—

Cheshire had been adamant.

"Allow them some private time~"

Thus, Riley maintained his silence.

—

"But seriously~ what on earth transpired yesterday?"

Cheshire’s voice abruptly interjected, his head rotating lazily in the air as if unfazed by the lingering tension.

"It still feels like some bizarre dream that simply… manifested from thin air. So nonchalantly too~"

He tilted slightly, his gaze sharpening.

"Did that Queen genuinely orchestrate that entire sequence of events?"

Riley offered no immediate reply.

His gaze wandered, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the preceding day.

For Cheshire’s observation held truth.

The situation indeed felt surreal.

One moment, he had stood before the Frost Queen, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension as he interrogated her—about Snow, about the trial, about her ultimate objectives.

Every utterance from her carried a deliberate undertone.

A carefully constructed intent.

And then—

A flash of light.

Emanating from the dungeon core within the Frozen Castle, it surged forth suddenly and brilliantly, piercing through the prevailing atmosphere without preamble.

The Queen ceased speaking.

Then, she smiled.

Not with coldness.

Not with aloofness.

But with… contentment.

And before any words could be exchanged—

Her form began to transform.

Gradual at first.

Then overwhelmingly swift.

Her figure… her essence… every facet of her being started to shift, reshaping into something profoundly familiar.

Into Snow.

No explanation provided.

No ritual performed.

No grand pronouncement made.

Utterly instantaneous—

All that she was… all that she possessed—

Was transferred.

And in the subsequent moment—

The Frost Queen ceased to exist.

And Snow remained.

It was undeniable that Snow had successfully concluded her trial.

On the surface, at least, no aspect of her seemed altered.

Her speech patterns, her movements, even the way she smiled remained unchanged.

An uninformed observer would have perceived nothing out of the ordinary.

However, Riley’s focus extended beyond mere appearance.

His gaze penetrated deeper.

Beyond her outward guise, past the serenity she projected—into the very essence of her existence.

And there it was.

The Frozen Castle.

Not as a physical location… but as an intrinsic component of her, interwoven into her very being as if it had always been destined to be there.

The presence was undeniable.

Cold, immense, and absolute.

She had not merely acquired power.

She had inherited everything.

Riley exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned back.

...So, it genuinely succeeded.

A seed of doubt lingered.

The entire affair felt almost too seamless, too fortuitous for circumstances involving a being like the Frost Queen. Her nature had never been simple, and her departure—so abrupt, so devoid of explanation—only amplified the disquiet.

And yet…

He could not dispute the outcome.

His initial objective had been straightforward.

Enhance Snow’s strength.

And now?

She stood leagues beyond even his most ambitious projections.

More crucially—she appeared untroubled by this transformation. No signs of instability, no rejection, no indication of the power warring with her being.

If anything…

She seemed serene.

That alone provided a measure of solace.

But not complete resolution.

His fingers drummed rhythmically against the sofa’s armrest, his mind cycling through the same persistent questions.

Why?

Why her?

Why now?

And why did the Queen depart with such ease?

A soft click escaped his lips under his breath.

Answers remained elusive.

Not at this moment.

Perhaps not for a considerable time.

Snow likely possessed more insight—particularly regarding the events within the trial—but he had no intention of pressing her.

She definitely wouldn't agree after everything she had just undergone. Helping the city without any breaks was her immediate priority.

The least he could offer her...

Was some peace.

'I'll hear it when she's ready.'

For the moment, that was sufficient.

—

At the very least, one particular matter brought him a measure of relief.

Erebil.

There had been no indications of her meddling whatsoever.

Not during the trial.

Not afterward.

Nothing at all.

Riley's expression momentarily soured as he recalled the previous day's events.

He had briefly lost control—unintentionally channeling his divine energy.

That alone could have attracted unwanted attention.

'Too reckless...'

A quiet breath escaped him.

There were never any assurances with that goddess around. Her absence did not equate to her lack of observation.

'Next time—'

He would exercise greater caution.

He had to.

—

And then...

There was another point of concern.

His gaze drifted, unfocused once more as a different thought surfaced.

The Grand Duke.

Yesterday, the man had made only a fleeting appearance—just long enough to acknowledge their presence—before departing once more with his retinue of knights, heading further east into the northern territories.

Without any explanation.

Without any delay.

Simply moving onward.

'...As if in pursuit of something.'

Riley's brow furrowed slightly.

'Whatever it was—'

'It wasn't ordinary.'

Abruptly, everything seemed to have converged.

In a single day.

It took only one day for events to escalate into a situation far more convoluted than it should have been.

Riley let out a soft sigh, leaning back slightly as he ran a hand through his hair.

'...Seriously.'

It wasn't as though he was unaccustomed to turmoil—but this felt different. An overwhelming number of factors aligned simultaneously. Too many uncertainties, too many variables in flux, all colliding without affording him the necessary time to process them effectively.

Still...

As long as the outcome was positive, that was what truly mattered.

Snow was secure. Stronger. Stable.

The city had endured.

That alone was sufficient to outweigh all other concerns.

He exhaled slowly, allowing the tension to dissipate.

Then, another realization dawned.

'...Ah.'

Indeed.

'The academy.'

Somewhere along the way, he had completely overlooked it. The unexpected break announced by the principal—it must be concluded by now, or at least be very near its end.

Which implied—

They were expected to return.

And more crucially...

'They're probably waiting.'

The other girls.

Riley could already envision it. The mounting worry, the barrage of questions, the unnecessary panic brewing simply because the two of them had vanished without proper notice.

He glanced towards Snow.

'Snow, how much longer do you intend to stay and assist here?'

She tilted her head slightly, contemplating for a moment.

'Hm... Just enough to alleviate the Count's burden a little further. Why do you ask?'

Riley observed her for a brief instant before responding.

'I'm not preventing you from helping,' he stated calmly. 'But you require rest. It hasn't even been a full day since you acquired that kind of power.'

His tone remained level, yet a quiet resolve underscored his words.

'And we need to head back soon. Demerit points aside, the festival is still in progress, and the others are waiting. Not to mention, the academy likely wishes for their student council president's return by now.'

A brief silence followed.

'...And Principal Leilah is probably overworking herself to the point of collapse.'

Snow blinked.

Then—

A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

'Fufu... I understand.'

She leaned back slightly, her expression softening.

'I suppose you are correct. I do need some rest... and we shouldn't keep them waiting excessively long.'

Her gaze shifted thoughtfully for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts.

'I'll conclude what I can here for the present.'

Then, she looked back at him.

'Let's return this afternoon.'

Riley offered a small nod.

'Sounds good.'