Chapter 1: Prologue

“I’ll get going now. Good night.”

“Yeah. Don’t be late tomorrow.”

“I won’t.”

After exchanging those final goodbyes with my coworkers, I finally managed to get the hell away from the construction site.

Yeah… I’m a laborer. Working on the site all day, covered in dust and sweat, hauling materials like some disposable background character in someone else’s story. It’s not glamorous, but it pays enough to survive.

And right now? Survival is all I can really aim for.

I walked a few blocks with my boots dragging against the pavement, the streetlights flickering like they were just as tired as I was. My shoulders ached. My back was killing me. Every step felt heavier than the last.

Finally, I spotted the bus pulling up at the stop.

I hopped on, tapped my card with a half-dead beep, and collapsed into the nearest seat by the window. The city lights blurred past as we rolled down the road. I leaned my head against the cool glass and closed my eyes, just for a second.

Buzz.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I sighed and pulled it out.

[Minji]: Did you try the game yet?

[Minji]: It’s so funnnn. You’d love it. C’mon, at least make your character tonight!

[Minji]: Hellooo???

[Minji]: You alive or what?

I groaned and tilted my head back, staring at the stained ceiling of the bus.

“Why does she always pick that exact moment to be clingy…”

Don’t get me wrong, I love my sister—but after hauling bricks and getting yelled at by the foreman all day, the last thing I want to do is play some fantasy RPG she won’t shut up about.

[Me]: I always play a little, but I don’t have time to be on the computer screen all the time like you.

[Me]: I’ll play again it later. Maybe. Stop spamming me.

I hit send. Three seconds later, the read receipt popped up. Then, another message.

[Minji]: Boooring. That’s why you don’t even have girlfriend at this age.

I scoffed. “Yeah, yeah.”

But even as I stuffed my phone back in my pocket, I couldn’t help but wonder what was so good about that game?

She’d been obsessed for weeks, and if I knew anything about Minji, it was that she didn’t waste her time on boring stuff.

“Maybe I should try it out for seriously this time?”

I couldn’t help but mumbled under my breath.

Tomorrow is a night shift, so technically, I have the evening off.

Does that count as free time? Not really. My body’s screaming for rest, and my brain feels like mashed potatoes. But still… I couldn’t shake the thought.

Maybe I should try it out. Seriously, this time.

By the time the bus reached my stop, the streets had grown quieter. Most of the neighborhood lights were out, except for the occasional flickering lamp or the dull glow of someone’s TV behind a curtain. I trudged the last few minutes home, climbed the stairs to my shoebox apartment, and tossed my boots in the corner.

The smell of instant noodles still lingered in the air. Probably from this morning.

I dropped my bag, cracked my back with a satisfying pop, and sat down at the small desk where my ancient desktop sat—the fan already whirring like it was preparing for takeoff.

“…Alright, Minji. Let’s see what this game of yours is all about.”

At the moment, Time is 11:20 pm.

…..

….

…Few hours later.

The glow of my monitor was the only light in my cramped apartment, casting long shadows across empty ramen cups and a half-dead cactus I’d named Carl.

It was 2 a.m., and I, Kael Renner, 23-year-old college dropout and professional avoider of adult responsibilities and part time constructor worker, was knee-deep in a game called Echoes of the Crimson Throne.

Also, it was It’s a romance simulation game for women, that’s why I was avoiding this game and not playing seriously.

Anyway, that’s all in the past.

I always play this game but only for like 20 to 25 minutes and even then I’m not seriously playing.

But today was different. I was playing it seriously.

But still I couldn’t help but ask myself,

“Why on earth am I playing this game…”

Normally, as a guy, I wouldn’t have any reason to play this game. There are so many games out there, and I wouldn’t choose one that’s so far from my interests.

It’s all because of my sister bad influence on me.

At the moment, a particular secen was going on my computer screen.

[How can a prince be so cruel to her?! Did Alice, prince fiance managed to deceive him?!]

Even through the computer screen, the voice actor’s passionate performance struck a chord in my heart.

My eyes were glued to the screen.

My eyes were glued to the screen.

The heroine—Lilia, I think her name was—stood in the rain, drenched and trembling, her hands clenched at her sides. Across from her, the prince—Elric, golden-haired and sharp-eyed—looked down at her like she was something filthy stuck to his boots.

“I never want to see your face again,” he said coldly. “You’ve shamed this palace enough.”

Ouch.

I winced, almost unconsciously. The guy was acting like she murdered someone. And the worst part? Lilia hadn’t done a damn thing.

“Wow,” I muttered, dragging a hand down my face. “What a prick.”

Even Carl the cactus looked disappointed from his corner.

The scene ended with Lilia falling to her knees in the mud as the prince walked away, cape fluttering like he was some kind of tragic Shakespearean idiot. The screen faded to black with melancholy piano music echoing through my cheap speakers.

Then came the choice prompt.

> [Option 1: Chase after Prince Elric and beg him to listen.]

[Option 2: Stay silent and watch him leave.]

[Option 3: Stand up and shout, ’I’m not the one who betrayed you!’]

I stared at the options.

My mouse hovered over Option 3.

“…No way I’m picking Option 1. That’s just pathetic,” I said to no one.

I clicked Option 3.

Lilia stood up slowly, her voice trembling but firm. “I’m not the one who betrayed you, Elric!” she shouted, eyes blazing through her tears. “If you can’t see that, then you don’t deserve to call yourself a prince!”

The camera zoomed in on Elric’s stunned expression. His eyes widened slightly. For a second, just a second, he looked… conflicted.

And for some reason, I felt a weird flicker in my chest.

Was that… satisfaction?

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, watching the next few lines of dialogue unfold. My mouth twitched.

“…Tch. This game is manipulative as hell.”

I didn’t even notice the time.

Not until my phone buzzed again—this time, a blinding alert.

[Time: 3:03 AM]

[Battery Low: 5% Remaining]

“Crap,” I muttered. I quickly plugged the charger in and stretched.

My entire lower body felt numb. My neck cracked. My eyes were dry. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen next in the story.

How did a dumb romance sim get me this hooked?

I glanced at Carl. “You seeing this? I’m emotionally invested now. In a game where you romance a bunch of guys with trust issues.”

The cactus said nothing, as usual.

Anyway, that was only the beginning. The game was nowhere near its end.

For now, I just needed sleep.

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