“Well, that ended… a lot easier than I thought it would.”

Honestly, I’d expected more resistance.

Considering what I remembered of the Duke from the game, I thought he’d be far more difficult—maybe outright hostile.

At the very least, I assumed he’d be colder, more skeptical with the decisions I’d made.

Especially with the mess surrounding his daughter.

But apparently… Liyana really got through to him.

Of course, that didn’t mean everything was fine.

The complications surrounding my so-called harem weren’t magically cleared up just because the Duke had backed off.

His silence didn’t equal approval—and I wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the outcome came to be either.

Sure, the end result was good. But the means… that’s what bothered me.

The fact that it was Liyana—of all people—who ultimately convinced him to completely understand made the whole situation feel suspicious.

Unsettling, even. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the help.

But whenever she was involved in something that benefited me, I always had to assume there was more beneath the surface.

That woman never moved without purpose, and it was rarely a purpose I fully understood.

Ever since returning to this place, I’ve been waiting.

Expecting a clash. Preparing for something terrible to hit me out of nowhere.

Some kind of scenario worse than that rushed confrontation with the [White Queen].

But everything’s been… smooth. Too smooth.

And strangely enough, all of that stability—every step of peace I’ve had—can somehow be traced back to her.

‘Liyana.’

“Haah…”

I let out a long breath, pinching the bridge of my nose as I continued walking down the streets of Hamen City.

The sun was beginning to dip beyond the horizon, casting everything in a warm golden hue.

The sky was painted in twilight—hints of orange melting into dusky purples.

A soft wind brushed past as I headed toward the carriage station, the cobbled streets bathed in amber light.

Even though the day was winding down, I could already feel the fatigue setting in—mental fatigue, mostly.

The kind that lingered behind your eyes and made every thought feel heavy.

And this day wasn’t even done.

When I got home, I’d still need to entertain Snow and Rose.

Or rather, handle their “expectations.”

Both of them had been unusually persistent lately—asking for time, attention, emotions I wasn’t sure I had the energy to give tonight.

I groaned inwardly. There really was no rest for someone like me.

Though… since Liyana’s still back at home, will I be able to freely act out in pleasure with the other girls…

Snow and Rose did mention they’d “handle” their new sister’s obsessive tendencies toward me, but I doubt it’ll be that simple.

Knowing Liyana, she’s not the type to quietly step aside just because someone told her to.

She never was.

Even when she smiles and nods, there’s always something else going on beneath that calm exterior.

Besides… my memories might still be a bit hazy from last night, but I know she influenced me—into focusing only on her.

Well, I did willingly act out on it that much was true but….

A part of me still feels conflicted about what I did.

Her heart—was still meant for someone else in this world.

At least that’s what the game and the fateful system says….

She wasn’t mine to begin with. She had her own story, her own destined path. And yet…

“Darling~”

Her voice still echoed in my ears.

That whisper from the night before—soft, warm, brimming with something terrifyingly real.

Love.

Genuine love.

No matter how drunk or dazed I might’ve been, I could still feel the truth in her every kiss.

The way her hands trembled as they held me.

The way our bodies connected… it wasn’t fake.

It wasn’t forced. It reminded me of that time—back in the lost real, when we clung to each other like the world was ending.

“I love you, Riley~”

Goddamn it.

I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts, but they kept circling like vultures over a dying resolve.

There was no point thinking about it now.

It happened. I can’t change that.

Pretending otherwise wouldn’t make it go away.

Whether or not it brings trouble down the line…

Whether or not I end up hurting someone else because of it…

I’ll just have to take responsibility. Face whatever consequences come my way.

And own the decisions I made—even if they weren’t mine alone to make.

After spending the night entertaining the girls—again—I should really start planning my next steps.

Training? Dungeon-crawling?

Those options were looking less and less viable now with all the girls constantly around me.

It’s not that I mind their presence, but with everything that’s been happening lately, personal time is becoming a rare commodity.

Still, just because those paths are temporarily blocked doesn’t mean I’m out of options.

I brought my diary with me—the one filled with all the notes, memories, and critical knowledge from the game.

Every flag, every branching route, every character interaction that mattered.

It was a lifeline of sorts, and I’d be an idiot not to use it now that things were steadily spiraling toward something bigger.

It’s safely tucked away in a small cabinet in my room. Not the most secure location, but considering I wrote it in Imperial characters from my previous world, it’s as good as ciphered.

‘No one should be able to read it but me.’

Looking at Liyana right now the chances of her becoming an epilogue boss—the chaos dragon she was meant to be—seem to have dropped significantly.

But that doesn’t mean the possibility is zero. Far from it.

There’s still one major unknown looming ahead:

Lucas.

I don’t know how Liyana will react when she finally comes face to face with him.

Will she remain the affectionate, possessive girl she’s been showing me?

Or will something awaken in her—some buried part of her that shifts everything again?

Because of that uncertainty, I can’t afford to let my future assets stagnate.

I need to keep growing stronger. I need to keep investing in people, opportunities, contingencies—everything.

That includes myself.

I could force the issue, of course. Bring Lucas around early.

Stage some kind of accidental encounter to gauge her reaction.

But doing that… it would feel dishonest.

Like I was treating her as a threat rather than the person she’s opened up to me as.

As much as I remain cautious about Liyana…

As much as I’ve tried to keep my feelings for her in check…

There’s still a part of me that wants to trust her.

Because I don’t want the love, I feel for her to end up being another regret.

I also need to prepare myself for the meeting—no, the duel—with the Clan Head of the Gyeoul clan tomorrow.

That old man… he’s the type who won’t pull punches. If anything, he’ll probably try to cleave my head clean off the moment the match starts.

And to be fair, if we’re talking raw stats alone, I pale in comparison.

His physical prowess, refined over decades, far surpasses mine. It’s not even a contest.

But stats aren’t everything.

With my current skillset, I should be able to fend off most of his offensive bursts—at least for a little while.

I’ll probably need to go all out from the very beginning, though. There won’t be room to ease into it.

And even then, the chances of me actually winning?

Slim. Very slim.

Still, it’s not really about winning, is it?

Knowing his personality, just one proper hit—just one—might be enough.

Enough for him to acknowledge me, or at the very least, take me seriously.

Whether or not he sees anything in me remains a mystery, but I’m still planning to ask him for a favor once the real threat on the horizon starts rolling in.

For that alone, making a strong impression is critical.

The real issue is that if I truly go all out… if I unleash the full extent of the [Blessing of Change]…

There’s a chance I might accidentally kill him.

It’s a power that even I don’t fully understand the full limits of.

And in a real fight, things can escalate without warning.

One miscalculation, and things could go from impressive to catastrophic.

Honestly it would be good if the effects of [Divine Will] works on him but knowing the sheer level of his stubbornness I doubt that…

So that leaves me with two choices:

Hold back and willingly lose… or give it my all and risk everything in hopes of landing just a single, decisive strike.

Both options suck.

Both will be painful in their own ways.

But if I want tomorrow to matter—if I want him to matter in the future I’m trying to shape—then impressing him has to be my top priority.

With that in mind, I exhaled slowly and pushed the thoughts aside for now.

There’s no point getting lost in worry before the battle even begins.

I glanced around the streets of Hamen City as I walked, the evening sky bathing the buildings in hues of fading orange and soft indigo.

The shops were still open, their displays catching my eye.

Trinkets, accessories, magical charms, even snacks—nothing too flashy, but each holding its own charm.

Since I was already here in the city…

Maybe picking up a gift or two for the girls wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Now that I think about it—I’ve never actually given them anything.

Entering a nearby shop, I brushed off the light dusting of snow that had gathered on my shoulders.

The warmth inside was a welcome contrast to the wintry chill outside, and I was greeted politely by one of the clerks.

It was the kind of place where everything was neatly displayed, each corner housing a different brand or specialty store under the same roof.

A high-end boutique mall, essentially—prestigious, polished, and intimidating if you didn’t know what you were doing.

Still, I took my time. Wandering carefully through the aisles, letting my eyes drift across the countless choices.

They say accessories are a woman’s gold.

Maybe a pair of matching earrings?

Rings?

No, maybe bracelets would suit them better?

But then again… Snow and Rose probably already have tons of those. Elegant, custom-made, enchanted—probably even some passed down from their own lineages.

So, maybe clothing?

No.

They’re not the type to care much about brand value or price tags.

They prefer things that feel… personal.

Thoughtful.

A matching set of accessories could still work, but it needs to mean something. Something they’ll remember me by.

What about perfume?

I already know what kinds of scents they prefer.

Snow leans toward lighter, floral notes—something gentle but persistent.

Rose prefers deeper, musky tones with an edge of spice.

And Alice well… she just likes everything…

But coordinating that with something they can share or pair between them?

That’s harder than it sounds.

“Damn… Buying a proper gift is harder than I thought.”

I didn’t want it to be something generic.

I wanted it to mean something.

Something they’d wear or keep close every day—not just toss in a drawer.

That’s when I saw it—displayed in a velvet-lined case near the back of the store.

A necklace.

Simple in design, but refined.

A circular pendant made of fine silver, with a mana stone embedded in its center—glimmering faintly like starlight trapped in crystal.

[Reflection Necklace].

In the game, it was one of the few gift items that every heroine liked.

A general-purpose favorite. It didn’t hold any unique stats, but the emotional value and flavor text made it a fan favorite.

A safe option, sure—but also one that carried a quiet sense of sincerity.

And right now, sincerity was what I needed most.

“This one,” I said, pointing at the necklace in the case. “I’ll take five.”

The staff member nodded gracefully and retrieved the items. As they carefully boxed each one, she gave a polite warning.

“Please be reminded that the mana stone embedded inside can only take up to nine unique mana signatures, dear customer. Any more than that, and the necklace might lose stability or even shatter under pressure.”

“Understood. I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied with a nod.

“Thank you for your purchase. Please come again.”

With the boxes neatly placed in a small, enchanted bag for easy carrying, I stepped out of the shop once more, the winter air biting gently at my face.

Five [Reflection Necklaces].

Once someone pours their mana into the stone at its center, the gem will resonate with their signature and change its hue accordingly—becoming a visual reflection of that individual’s essence.

A living memory of the person it’s connected to. As long as they think about that person that is…

I smiled faintly as I glanced down at the bag in my hand.

…I wonder what color mine would turn if I thought about all the girls at the same time?

Probably some chaotic mess of colors.

Or maybe, something entirely new.

Either way, I hope it’s something they’ll treasure.

“Now that I think about it… where is Alice staying right now?”

It struck me out of nowhere—I’d bought five necklaces, one for each of the girls, but I didn’t even know where Alice was at the moment.

She wasn’t back at home earlier this morning, I couldn’t give her the gift if I didn’t know where to find her.

“…Don’t tell me she’s mad about not being included last night, right?”

The others hadn’t been included either.

I just hoped she hadn’t taken it to heart.

I closed my eyes for a moment to stretch out my mana, trying to search for her mana signature.

If she was nearby, I might be able to pick up on it, even faintly.

But before I could focus—

Bump!

I collided with someone.

“Ah—!”

A soft yelp rang out in front of me as a woman stumbled backward.

Reflexively, I stepped forward and caught her by the arm before she could fall fully into the snow.

“O-Ow…”

“Sorry about that, miss. Are you alright?” I asked quickly, steadying her.

“Haha… I’m fine. Seems like this clumsy me wasn’t paying attention,” she said, brushing off the snow clinging to her sleeves.

“No, I wasn’t paying attention either… My bad.”

I blinked as I got a clearer look at her—and paused.

‘How did I not notice her presence until just now?’

Even up close, her mana was faint—almost nonexistent, as if it blended in perfectly with the surroundings.

A strange, almost deliberate kind of silence clung to her. It wasn’t just subtle. It was unnaturally quiet.

I helped her fully to her feet, and she gave a light huff as she dusted herself off.

“Thank you, young man.”

“It’s nothing…”

She smiled—a soft, fox-like grin that tugged gently at the corners of her mouth.

Her eyes were a striking crimson, half-lidded and sharp, yet strangely calming.

Her red hair shimmered beneath the lantern lights of the snowy street, a vivid contrast against the dusk-toned sky.

Despite the oversized coat she wore, I caught a glimpse of the clothing underneath.

It wasn’t from around here—not by a long shot.

The fabric patterns and delicate embroidery looked distinctly Eastern.

She definitely wasn’t from the Empire.

A tourist from the Eastern Empire, perhaps?

…Or something else?

“Hehe~ I guess we were both too busy thinking about something and ended up bumping into each other, hm?” she said with a playful chuckle, then tilted her head. “Ah—wait. That logo… Isn’t that from the Christine store?”

She pointed to the bag I held.

“Uhm, could you tell me where to find their boutique around here?”

“…There’s a branch shop just across the street, inside the larger boutique building,” I replied, pointing behind her.

“I see~ I see. Thank you~” she said with a gentle bow of her head.

I watched her more closely.

That fox-like grin.

The quiet presence.

The strange way she spoke, like she was only half in the moment, half somewhere else.

Why did she feel familiar?

Something about her stirred a faint memory—but I couldn’t place it.

Then, she reached forward and gently grabbed my hand.

“As a thank-you, please accept this, young man.”

“Huh? No, you don’t need to—”

I started to refuse her, but the moment I looked down and touched what she had placed in my hand, something strange happened.

She was gone.

Completely.

No sound, no sign, no mana trail.

It wasn’t even teleportation—it was like she’d never been there at all.

I stood there frozen for a moment, staring at the small envelope in my hand. It was warm to the touch. Ornate. Unmarked. Sealed.

“…What the hell was that about?”

I looked around the street. No trace. No scent. Not even a footprint in the snow where she had stood.

Just the letter in my palm.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep