Chapter 311: Into the Night



“What is this all about, Queen Ella?” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the cold steel grazing my neck.

“Just answer my question,” she replied curtly, her usual warmth replaced with an almost menacing resolve.

I frowned, her demand sitting uneasily with me. “I don’t think your question is something appropriate enough to answer,” I said firmly, meeting her gaze.

For starters, why did she even care about something like this?

What Snow and I did-or didn’t do-was none of her business.

It didn’t affect her position as Empress or her status within the empire.

If anything, it only concerned Snow and me. Whatever personal grudge or worry she had didn’t give her the right to press me like this, let alone threaten me.

In the game, the Empress was always depicted as a mysterious figure-a kind, graceful, and somewhat tragic partner to the Emperor.

She had little influence beyond a few key scenes, and her complicated relationship with Snow, while notable, was never explored to this extent.

But this… this crazed behavior was a far cry from the quiet grace I remembered.

“Are you rejecting your Empress’s words?” she said, her voice colder now, her golden eyes narrowing as her patience waned.

The tension in the air thickened as the shadow knights adjusted their stances.

The blades pressed closer, the sharpness biting into my skin like a warning.

I could feel their intent, unshaken and ready to strike if given the order.

I sighed internally, the absurdity of the situation almost comical if not for the very real danger I was in.

I’d hoped to leave the imperial palace on good terms with Snow’s family, perhaps even earn the Empress’s trust.

But if this was her idea of gauging my character, I wasn’t about to sit back and take it silently.

Sure, I understood the importance of playing politics and showing deference, but being cornered like this was beyond tolerable.

As much as I respected Snow’s family-or at least wanted to-I couldn’t let this slide without holding my ground.

“Your majesty….”

[Skill: Divine Will] → [Activated!]

The moment the skill surged through me, the shadow knights surrounding me crumpled to the ground like puppets with their strings cut.

Their swords clattered uselessly against the marble floor, the metallic echo fading into the tense silence of the garden.

This was my first time using Divine Will outside the Trials of Light, and controlling its effects in the real world proved to be an unexpected challenge.

The overwhelming power coursed through me, untamed and raw, but I didn’t care.

These knights had dared to threaten me, and now they were paying the price.

Some of them coughed violently, blood staining their lips as they tried-and failed-to resist the immense pressure I unleashed.

The weight of my will bore down on them like an immovable mountain, leaving them gasping for air.

Unlike [Monarch’s Will], which reduced everyone around me to insignificant insects in my perception, this skill didn’t evoke outright disdain.

Instead, it filled me with a towering pride a deep, intrinsic belief that I stood unrivaled. In this moment, it truly felt as though there was no one stronger than me. “This is “

The Empress’s voice faltered as she stumbled backward, her golden eyes wide with shock.

The confidence and composure she always carried had vanished, replaced with confusion and fear.

Even though I had done my best to shield her from the brunt of the skill’s force, being this close meant she wasn’t entirely unaffected.

Her body trembled, struggling to bear the residual weight of my power.

I quickly deactivated [Divine Will], and the oppressive atmosphere lifted in an instant.

The shadow knights remained collapsed on the ground, groaning in agony, but at least the Empress would no longer feel the crushing pressure.

However, with her strength nearly sapped, she swayed unsteadily, and I instinctively reached out to catch her before she fell to the side.

Her light frame leaned against me, her trembling hands clutching weakly at my chest as she struggled to regain her balance.

“Forgive me for the sudden rudeness, Your Majesty, but-“

“Your Majesty?”

My words caught in my throat as her head slumped forward, resting heavily against my chest.

Her breathing was shallow, her body completely limp.

It was only then that I realized-she had fallen unconscious.

“Fuck…”

Even though, I had taken precautions to limit the effects of Divine Will on her, focusing its intensity on the shadow knights.

But it looks like I hadn’t accounted for one crucial factor-her physical resilience.

Sigh….

I’d grown too accustomed to dealing with powerful individuals—fighters, mages, monsters -that the idea of someone with an ordinary constitution slipped entirely from my mind.

What am I supposed to do now?

The surrounding silence pressed down on me, amplifying the mess I’d just created.

My gaze drifted to the aftermath of my power: four unconscious shadow knights sprawled on

the ground, blood staining the edges of their lips.

Their swords lay scattered, gleaming faintly in the light.

And then there was the Empress herself, completely out cold, her golden eyes hidden behind closed lids, her once regal posture now utterly vulnerable against me.

This… was bad.

“Four knights bleeding out, the Empress herself knocked out cold…”

No matter how one looks at this, it was clear that I was the one that did something…

I leaned slightly to balance her better in my arms, her light weight a stark contrast to the heavy burden of the situation.

In the end….

What even was all of this? Why had she gone from teasing me about Snow to interrogating me

with blades at my neck? And more importantly…

“How the fuck am I supposed to explain all this?”

….

“Haha, hahahahaha!”

Snow’s melodic laughter echoed through her room as the golden light of sunset spilled

through the windows, casting a warm glow over her delicate features.

She clutched her sides, struggling to contain herself as Riley finished recounting his bizarre encounter with the Empress earlier that day.

“Is it really that funny?” Riley asked, a faint trace of annoyance in his voice as he watched Snow’s shoulders shake with mirth.

“Yes—yes, it is!” Snow managed to gasp between bouts of laughter, her voice tinged with

delight. Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and she wiped away the slight tears gathering at the

corners of her eyes.

This was the first time Riley had seen her laugh so freely, so uninhibited. Despite feeling slightly irked by her reaction, he couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her. The sight of her like this-so genuinely happy-made it hard to stay mad.

“I knew Empress Ella was a bit… loose when it came to us siblings,” Snow said, her laughter finally subsiding into soft chuckles. “But I didn’t think she’d stick her nose into our relationship so openly like this. Fufu- To think you’d gotten yourself into so much trouble just because of her antics. Can’t say I’m too surprised, though~”

“I actually wanted to ask you about that…” Riley began, his tone more serious now.

Snow tilted her head slightly, her long silver hair catching the soft light. “Well, you don’t have to mind her too much,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “Just think of her as an annoying flea trying to claim a piece of what’s already out of her reach. She knows she can never be my mother, yet she still tries…”

Riley frowned slightly at her words. “I don’t think that’s the way you should talk about the

Empress.”

Snow’s blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand. “Oh, come on, Riley. Didn’t you find her the least bit annoying?”

“No, not really…” Riley replied after a moment’s pause. “Though I did find being almost

arrested a bit annoying.”

Snow burst into laughter again, her voice like the chiming of silver bells. “Fufu- Aren’t you

glad you’re on my father’s good side, then? You’ll just have to get used to her antics. She’s always been the type to act that way-overstepping boundaries, causing chaos wherever she

goes. It’s just how she is.”

“Is that so…”

A few hours ago, after the unexpected ordeal with the Empress, Riley found himself at the

center of an absurd situation.

As he carried the unconscious Empress alongside the four fallen Shadow Knights, all floating

in the air thanks to his newly activated skill, the palace servants erupted into panicked

screams.

Riley couldn’t entirely blame them-after all, he must have looked incredibly suspicious, barging back into the palace with five unconscious bodies trailing behind him without any visible use of mana or aura.

The sheer absurdity of the sight made it impossible for the servants not to think the worst.

Though their fearful reactions were understandable, the whole ordeal had turned into yet another headache for Riley.

Thankfully, the Emperor had been willing to hear his explanation. To Riley’s relief, the situation hadn’t escalated into a full-blown palace scandal.

Still, the whole incident left him worried about how it might affect his reputation. He could

only hope it wouldn’t tarnish his already precarious standing in the palace.

Now, lounging on the soft couch inside Snow’s room, Riley stared at the ornate ceiling,

letting out a tired sigh.

Though the chaos had subsided for the moment, the stress of the day still lingered, weighing

heavily on his shoulders.

It had only been a day since he’d emerged from the grueling Trials of Light, yet trouble

seemed to follow him relentlessly.

This was supposed to be his time to rest and recover before heading back to the academy, but

peace was proving to be an elusive luxury.

Being in Snow’s room wasn’t exactly the most prudent choice-after all, his presence here would undoubtedly stir up complicated rumors if discovered.

But right now, Riley didn’t care about the potential consequences.

Snow’s company had a way of easing his mind, her presence providing a rare sense of comfort

amidst the chaos that surrounded him.

As he let his body sink deeper into the plush cushions, Riley allowed himself a brief moment

of respite, savoring the fleeting tranquility.

‘I should probably visit a dungeon to test out my newly acquired skills,’ Riley thought, his

mind already running through a list of potential locations. ‘After that, I can focus on helping Senior Alice openly…’

The idea brought a twinge of guilt.

‘Since I technically did something inappropriate towards her, I should probably apologize properly as well. Would a candy bomb parfait be a good way to apologize? She likes sweets, so

that might work… though whether or not she’d actually accept an invitation to go out with me

is another matter entirely. Would she even want to see me?’

The thought lingered uncomfortably, but Riley knew he couldn’t leave things as they were. He had to address it, even if he wasn’t sure how Alice would react. Then there were his classes-an entirely separate mountain of responsibility.

‘I need to catch up on everything I missed,’ he reminded himself. ‘Even though written exams

aren’t weighted as heavily in grading, they still boost my overall ranking at the academy. I

can’t afford to let those slip, especially with how far behind I already am in non-practical classes.’

And of course, there were Seo and Rose.

A soft sigh escaped him as he thought about the two girls.

‘I never actually got the chance to properly thank them for all the help they’ve given me. Seo,

especially…’ He frowned slightly. ‘Knowing how socially awkward she can be, I’m a little worried. I’ve been gone for almost an entire week now… I hope she hasn’t turned into a complete loner. She’s not doing anything weird, is she?’

His concern shifted to Rose, but for entirely different reasons. ‘As for Rose… considering how

her mindset works, I just hope she’s not up to something absurd. That girl’s ability to overachieve is admirable, but it’s also terrifying when she gets carried away…. Since she’s onto mastering Celestial spells now I should probably get that item for her soon as well…’

‘Reina, that little sister of mine… and all the other first-year heroines,’ Riley thought, his mind circling back to the intricate routes and arcs intertwined with their lives. ‘I’ll have to keep up with their respective route arcs as well. They might get involved in the main arc soon

“Hm?” Riley groaned softly as his thoughts were interrupted. His eyes opened to find a familiar warmth draped over him. “What are you doing, Snow?” he asked, his voice still laced with mild confusion.

“Hm~ whatever could it be?” Snow teased, a soft giggle escaping her lips. She was perched

atop him, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso, her embrace radiating a soothing, calming warmth.

“You know, Riley,” Snow began, her voice light yet carrying an edge of sincerity, “you really shouldn’t indulge in that bad habit of yours.”

“Bad habit?” Riley asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

“You overthink too much~” Snow replied, pulling back just enough to look at him directly.

Her blue eyes, usually brimming with confidence, now glimmered with a hint of worry. She raised a hand and gently patted his head, her touch tender. “You just got out of the trial, and yet here you are, worrying about something you probably won’t even tell me~” “…Sorry,” Riley muttered, guilt evident in his tone.

“Fufu- if you’re truly sorry, then you need to relax a bit more,” Snow said with a playful

smirk. “It’s been such a long time since we’ve been alone like this, you know. At least let your mind indulge in me as much as I indulge in you~”

The soft glow of the night sky filtered through the windows, casting a gentle illumination over Snow’s pure white hair, making her look almost ethereal. Slowly, she got up from her position, her movements fluid and deliberate.

Taking hold of Riley’s arm, she pulled him along with a strength that belied her delicate

appearance.

Although surprised, Riley didn’t resist as Snow gently guided him.

She pushed him back onto the bed, her expression calm yet carrying a mischievous glint.

Snow leaned in closer, her smile soft and affectionate, before wrapping her arms around him once more in a comforting embrace.

“Snow?” Riley asked, his head now pressed against her chest, her heartbeat steady and

reassuring.

Snow didn’t reply immediately, letting the quiet hum of the night settle around them.

Her fingers gently ran through his hair as she held him close, her presence grounding him in a way that words couldn’t.

“You know, you could rely on me more, right, Riley?” Snow’s voice was soft, but there was a firm undertone to her words.

“…I know,” Riley replied after a moment, his voice low and laced with hesitation. “Liar…” Snow said with a faint smile, though her tone carried a tinge of frustration. “If you

truly understood what that meant, you wouldn’t be doing all these selfish things on your -own-“

“…Sorry…”

Snow sighed quietly, her blue eyes softening as she gazed at him.

She had noticed this about Riley for some time now-ever since their relationship had begun

to deepen.

Despite their closeness, Riley had grown more and more self-reliant, isolating himself from sharing the burdens he carried.

It was different from the relationship Snow had envisioned for the two of them, one where

they supported and relied on each other equally.

She knew his intentions weren’t malicious. Riley’s actions stemmed from his desire to protect

her, to shield her from unnecessary worry or harm.

Yet, it was still frustrating. After all, they were lovers, weren’t they?

Shouldn’t he trust her enough to lean on her as well?

It was clear to her that Riley was always thinking ahead, his mind consumed by plans, worries,

and responsibilities that he rarely voiced.

His determination to shoulder everything alone left little room for her to be a part of his

struggles.

That thought stung more than she wanted to admit.

“Just tell me anything that’s bothering you,” Snow said softly, her fingers brushing gently through his hair. “I’ll help as best as I can…”

For a while, Riley didn’t reply, letting the silence stretch between them. Snow could feel the rise and fall of his breathing against her chest, the rhythm gradually

slowing as he seemed to relax in her arms. Finally, he murmured, “…Okay.”

It was just a simple response, a quiet confirmation that didn’t give her much to work with.

Yet, for some reason, it was enough to put her worries at ease, at least for now.

As the tension between them began to dissipate, Snow’s expression shifted, a mischievous

glint sparking in her blue eyes as a playful thought crossed her mind. Her lips curled into a teasing smile, breaking the lingering seriousness in the air.

“You know, Riley, why don’t we talk about that again?” she asked, her voice laced with both curiosity and amusement.

“About what…?” Riley replied cautiously, raising a brow.

“First wife… Am I guaranteed to have that position in your life?” she asked, tilting her head

with an exaggerated innocence that only added to the mischievous gleam in her eyes. Riley froze, his mind stalling at the unexpected question.

Before he could muster any sort of reply, Snow leaned forward, pushing him down onto the

bed once more.

Her delicate frame settled on top of him as she straddled him with an effortless grace.

The soft, sheer lace of her nightgown left little to the imagination, and Riley couldn’t help

but flush a deep shade of red, his eyes darting away from her figure. “Snow,” he stammered, clearing his throat, “don’t you think your position is a little… dangerous right now?”

“Hm~? What’s so dangerous about this?” she asked coyly, leaning closer as her hair fell like a curtain around them.

Riley wanted to argue there were plenty of things he could point out, from the scandalous

state of her attire to the provocative position they were in. But knowing Snow, she wouldn’t care even if he listed them all. Her confidence left him at a loss for words.

“Since your mind is still lingering in doubts,” Snow whispered, her tone dropping into

something sultry, “why don’t I consume them all~?”

“…What are you talking about?” Riley asked, his voice barely above a murmur, though his

heart was racing in his chest.

“It’s simple,” Snow continued, her blue eyes locking onto his with a predatory intensity. “A way to push our relationship forward, to close and mend those lingering doubts in your mind. A way to properly establish my position where questions can’t be asked. A way to make you

mine despite all the eventual flowers that will inevitably flock to your side.” Before Riley could protest or even process her words, Snow took hold of his hand and guided

it toward her chest.

Her touch was firm yet gentle, her breathing growing unsteady as a faint blush dusted her

pale cheeks.

She unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt with deliberate slowness, her fingers

brushing against his skin as if testing the waters. “Although I am inexperienced…” Snow admitted, her voice trembling slightly but never losing its resolve. “I’ve studied the theories well enough.”

She leaned closer, placing his hand over her rapidly beating heart, as her breaths grew

heavier, her tone shifting into something dangerously intoxicating.

“Riley, you can ravage me as your heart desires~”

Riley’s mind reeled at her bold declaration; his body frozen in place as he tried to comprehend

the surreal moment.

“Swallow me whole, and implant your seeds-Let me carry your child~”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep