How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 719: Rose’s Gold

A silent, frozen castle was shrouded in stillness.

Deep within its glacial embrace, atop the loftiest tower, lay a chamber untouched by the passage of eras. Its windows stood ajar to the nocturnal expanse, permitting the chill wind to meander softly through the profound quietude.

Beyond the tower, the heavens unfurled Limitlessly.

The constellations blazed with an intensity surpassing anything terrestrial, strewn across the obsidian canvas like myriad silver embers, while the moon loomed so near it seemed within grasping distance.

A wisp of silver hair stirred gently in the air current.

Standing by the casement of the tower, a statuesque woman, her pallid form nearly merging with the surrounding rime, remained motionless.

Her countenance bore no discernible sentiment as she surveyed the night, yet within her eyes, a subtle glimmer of something tender—something interred so profoundly it was nearly imperceptible—was present.

"The stars are as beautiful as ever..."

Her voice, delicate and almost ethereal, seemed directed more toward the firmament than any listener.

Behind her, a younger girl stood attentive.

Also possessing hair as white as snow, though the aura surrounding her emanated a distinctly different quality—less ancient, less frigid.

Snow observed the woman at the window in hushed silence.

The Frost Queen, Celestine, eventually turned, her gaze seemingly content after a final appreciation of the celestial display.

Her attention then alighted upon Snow.

"Don’t you think so?"

Snow offered no immediate response.

Her gaze drifted towards the celestial panorama visible through the aperture, towards the seemingly infinite constellations.

"...Yes."

Her affirmation, though soft, carried an undercurrent of fatigue.

And perhaps—

—a hint of vexation.

Celestine perceived it.

Yet, she remained taciturn.

She comprehended.

After all, Snow had endured her trial.

She had dwelled for years within that frigid domain, years spent beneath that very same boundless sky. Though her appearance belied her youth, an intrinsic change had taken root within her.

Time had etched its indelible mark.

Her contemplative thoughts, her very bearing, even the subtle grace with which she carried herself now exuded a quiet gravitas that rendered her seemingly older than her physical vessel.

A pregnant silence hung between them for a moment before Snow resumed speaking.

"...Celestine."

The Frost Queen inclined her head.

"Was this what you always wanted...?"

The inquiry itself was straightforward.

However, the depth of its implication was far from simple.

Snow’s question extended beyond the mere trial.

Or the succession of power.

Or the augmentation of her abilities.

It encompassed the totality of their shared history.

The protracted period of anticipation.

The meticulous preparations undertaken.

The rationale underpinning her selection.

Celestine grasped the entirety of Snow’s unspoken query.

For the first time, a subtle, almost imperceptible softening graced the Frost Queen’s expression.

She then offered a slow, deliberate nod.

"Yes."

Her voice retained its tranquil cadence.

"You have inherited all that was mine..."

She moved a step closer, her pale irises imbued with a newfound gentleness.

"And I have found my—"

—

Rattle!

Shake!

The abrupt sounds shattered the prevailing silence.

The frozen tower dissolved from view.

Snow’s eyelids fluttered open gradually.

The gentle undulation of motion beneath her brought her fully to awareness as the carriage wheels traversed the cobbled pathway.

For a fleeting instant, she remained quiescent, her gaze fixed forward as the remnants of the dream dissipated like morning mist.

Then, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels resonated once more.

Rattle.

They were traversing Gatrefall Bridge—the colossal stone structure that served as the vital link between the academy and the broader continent.

Luminous light streamed through the carriage’s window, revealing the familiar contours of the academy grounds in the distance.

Snow blinked, then slowly assumed an upright posture.

The dream’s echoes persisted in the periphery of her consciousness.

The tower.

The constellations.

Celestine’s lingering, incomplete utterance.

Her hand instinctively rose, finding its way to her chest.

"...What did you mean?" she murmured, barely audible.

No response emanated.

Only the persistent rumble of the carriage propelling them onward towards the academy.

"Good morning, Snow... did you say something?"

Snow blinked, the final vestiges of the dream clinging faintly to her thoughts before receding entirely. She shifted her gaze towards him, her expression softening perceptibly.

"Ah... Riley. Good morning. Do not worry, it was merely a dream."

She glanced out the carriage window, where the ambient light had grown somewhat brighter.

"...Have we arrived already?"

"Yes."

Riley offered a slight nod.

Their arrival could have been achieved considerably sooner, had the inclination been present.

With Cheshire’s adept use of portals and his own inherent authority, temporal and spatial constraints held little significance.

However, at this juncture, expediency was not worth the potential complications it might engender.

The academy’s formidable barrier systems were presently undergoing essential repairs.

Any incautious deployment of such capabilities risked disrupting the ongoing maintenance or, more perilously, triggering unwarranted defensive protocols.

And more importantly—

Snow desired their reappearance to be noted.

Gatefall Bridge served not merely as a transit point. It was a nexus where information circulated with unparalleled velocity.

Any individual of sufficient consequence would already be cognizant of their return before they had even set foot within the academy’s confines.

This included the esteemed principal.

Given the recent events, this judicious approach was likely for the best.

They had been absent for approximately four days.

The academy's break had only been extended by a mere two days.

Which implied—

The Continental Grand Festival was still in full swing.

With all the preparations, management, and coordination that entailed, it was undoubtedly piling up, likely more so than usual given the circumstances.

Snow had already committed to assisting the principal with these duties.

Consequently, this left—

Riley.

To deal with the other, more personal, issue.

"...Right."

He expelled a quiet sigh, scratching the back of his neck as the carriage gradually came to a halt.

The other girls.

He could already vividly imagine it.

A barrage of questions. So many questions, in fact.

Regarding their whereabouts, what transpired, and the reason for their abrupt disappearance without a proper explanation.

And somehow, he had to navigate—

Explaining all of it without compounding the existing complexities.

"...This is going to be a headache."

He murmured this under his breath as he alighted from the carriage.

His gaze ascended, fixing upon the familiar structure before him.

Killian Hall.

The immense, castle-like edifice, home to the top ten students from each academic year, remained as imposing as ever, seemingly unaffected by the turmoil that had unfolded beyond the academy's protected boundaries.

For a brief moment, Riley simply observed it.

"...It’s been a while since I've seen this place."

A subtle sense of familiarity washed over him—almost bordering on nostalgia.

He might have even found himself appreciating it more...

If he weren't currently preoccupied with devising a strategy to account for the past four days without inviting a significant headache.

'Remember—keep the part about me gaining the First Queen’s authority a secret for now... I want to surprise them myself~'

Snow’s words echoed in Riley’s mind.

She had uttered them so nonchalantly, immediately before departing for Heavenly Hall—the student council building—as if she hadn’t just burdened him with something monumental.

And now, he was left to manage it. Walking alone, hands tucked into his pockets, he meticulously replayed what he was supposed to articulate... and, more crucially, what he was not.

He let out a subdued breath.

Overthinking the situation proved unhelpful; in fact, it only served to complicate matters unnecessarily.

Then, quite unexpectedly, Cheshire surfaced in his thoughts.

Yes... that feline.

Given his disposition, there was a considerable likelihood that Alice was already privy to everything.

Cheshire wasn’t exactly the type to withhold information if it provided him amusement.

However, concurrently... he also wasn’t the sort to intervene directly.

If anything, he would likely remain an observer, content to watch the unfolding events for his own entertainment.

Riley clicked his tongue softly.

"Yeah... that sounds just like him."

This implied that, for the present moment, nothing catastrophic was likely to erupt unexpectedly. Probably.

Well... aside from the standard occurrences.

He rubbed the back of his neck as a dry thought emerged.

I suppose facing interrogation from the girls isn’t exactly a novel experience at this juncture.

It was peculiar, though.

Not long ago, a situation like this would have induced significantly more stress.

But now?

At some point, he had apparently grown accustomed to it.

Their individual personalities, their typical reactions... even their jealousy.

Especially the jealousy.

Though distinct in their own ways, they all shared a commonality in that particular aspect.

And somehow, he had adapted.

...That didn’t make the surreal nature of it any less potent.

By the time he arrived at his dorm, the familiar entryway materialized into view.

His personal dorm, technically speaking—yet, by this point, it functioned more as a shared living space accommodating four other young women.

Riley paused momentarily, his hand resting on the doorknob.

Then, taking a breath, he knocked gently before pushing the door open.

"Everyone... I’m back..."

His voice faded as he spoke.

The room was... silent.

Unusually silent.

He stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the space. No discernible movement. No voices. No surprise ambush, as was typically the case.

"...Huh."

For a fleeting instant, he suspected he was alone—

"Snooze~"

A soft, repetitive sound punctuated the stillness.

Riley’s eyes widened, and he turned towards his bed.

There, nestled comfortably as if she were the sole proprietor, was Seo—sound asleep. She was clutching something tightly to her chest...

...something diminutive.

...something remarkably familiar.

Riley advanced, his vision slightly narrowing.

"...Is that... me?"

Indeed, it was.

A miniature, plush effigy of himself, held fast in her arms as if it were the most natural occurrence in the world.

"...Seo?"

He uttered her name softly, a tinge of uncertainty coloring his tone about whether to rouse her.

Frankly, he was taken aback that she was the sole occupant.

Given that no significant events were scheduled for the day, where had everyone else gone?

Had they returned to the festival once more?

He furrowed his brow slightly, contemplating the possibilities.

But as far as his knowledge extended... they had no scheduled matches today.

This only served to amplify the peculiarity of the situation.

His attention shifted back to Seo, still peacefully slumbering, entirely oblivious.

"...What are they up to?"