How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 263: Calm down my ladies...???

Walking along the now quiet halls of Killian Hall, Seo moved with her usual composed and apathetic expression, her footsteps echoing faintly against the marble floors.

She held a small satchel close to her chest, its contents clinking lightly with each step.

Inside were three vials: one filled with a red, glowing liquid, and the other two containing green and pink liquids, their hues vibrant even in the dim light.

As she glanced down at the vials, Seoʼs mind wandered back to the enthusiastic instructions given by her personal maid, Lina. ”Lady Seo, remember, itʼs best to push when a man is vulnerable!”

Linaʼs words echoed in her mind, brimming with confidence and determination. Seo had been left somewhat bewildered by the intensity of the advice but had listened nonetheless. ”But make sure not to rush it, okay, Lady Seo? Take your time, enjoy his company, and make him feel cared for and appreciated, as much as you enjoy his presence.”

Seo recalled Linaʼs animated gestures and the sincerity in her voice.

It was clear her maid was fully invested in ensuring Seoʼs success in whatever this... plan was. Seo, however, still felt perplexed by much of what Lina had said.

The advice seemed layered with nuances she didnʼt entirely grasp, but since it involved Riley, she was willing to trust Linaʼs judgment.

Her crimson eyes shifted to the vials in her hand as she repeated Linaʼs instructions in her head. ”The red vial first, then the green... and lastly, the pink.”

Seoʼs brow furrowed slightly as she tried to remember the rationale behind the sequence. Lina had insisted that the order was crucial, especially when it came to the pink vial. ”And when Riley takes the pink vial,” Lina had added with an almost conspiratorial grin, ”loosen the top of your dress just a little. Trust me, Lady Seo, itʼs all about creating the right atmosphere.”

Seoʼs cheeks tinged faintly with warmth at the memory, though her face remained mostly neutral. She wasnʼt entirely sure what ”creating the right atmosphere” meant, nor why loosening her dress was a necessary step. Still, Lina had spoken with such conviction that Seo had chosen not to question it further. ”Red first,” Seo murmured under her breath, clutching the vial with the glowing liquid tightly. ”Then the green... and then...”

Her fingers brushed the pink vial, and she hesitated, her expression momentarily conflicted. ”Things might seem a bit rushed,” Lina had said with a sly smile earlier, her voice tinged with playful mischief. ”But considering your current position-despite being the one actually closest to him all this time Iʼm sure youʼll appreciate my efforts once Riley starts making a move. The alchemist did mention the effects arenʼt that strong, but accidents could always happen... then again, Lady Seo, youʼre strong. Iʼm sure you can handle him if he gets too pushy.” ”What do you mean by that?” Seo had asked, her tone blank but with an undertone of genuine curiosity. ”Itʼs nothing, my lady!” Lina had replied, waving her hand dismissively before pushing Seo towards the exit. ”Now, go! Make him fall for you so hard this time!” ”Okay?” Seo had replied hesitantly, her voice barely audible.

Taking Linaʼs advice to heart, Seo now moved stealthily through Killian Hall, her breath held momentarily as she activated her [Shadow Steps] technique.

Her presence vanished like a flickering shadow, blending seamlessly into the surrounding darkness.

The technique was so precise that even the faintest noise from her steps dissipated into nothingness.

As she passed an open hallway, she froze momentarily at the sound of a familiar, exasperated voice. ”Haaah... kids these days!” ”This makes it the third case this week....”

It was the annoyed tone of the dorm master of Killian Hall, a middle-aged woman whose authority in the academy was nearly absolute within these walls.

Seo instinctively shrank into the shadows, her heart skipping a beat.

The dorm masterʼs reputation preceded her-strict and unyielding, especially when it came to enforcing rules.

Boys and girls entering each otherʼs dormitory sectors was strictly forbidden, and Seo knew all too well the consequences of being caught.

She couldnʼt help but recall the last time she had faced the dorm masterʼs wrath.

It had been a humiliating experience: a stern lecture that left her ears ringing, a temporary restriction on her movements, and a deep sense of shame she couldnʼt easily shake off.

That scolding had come after one of her late-night escapades to visit Riley one time when she was still a first year-something that still made her cheeks warm slightly in embarrassment when she thought about it.

The dorm masterʼs steps echoed ominously as she approached Seoʼs position.

Seoʼs fingers tightened around the vials in her hand, and she willed her breathing to steady.

She didnʼt dare move a muscle, not even to brush a stray strand of her crimson hair from her face.

As the dorm masterʼs shadow passed by, Seo exhaled silently in relief.

Once the footsteps faded entirely, she allowed herself to relax, her grip on the vials loosening just slightly. ʼThat was close....ʼ she murmured under her breath, her expression remaining composed despite the slight flutter in her chest.

Finally arriving at Rileyʼs room, Seo stopped in front of the large, looming door, her heart beating slightly faster than usual.

A tensity crept over her, a feeling she had never experienced before in this familiar hallway.

If before she didnʼt mind-or even think twice about-walking into Rileyʼs space, this time was different.

There was an unease bubbling within her, a subtle difference she couldnʼt quite place or understand.

Her crimson eyes flicked to the door handle before glancing down the empty corridor.

Should she knock? It seemed like the polite thing to do, but the memory of Rileyʼs clearly sick state from the day before gave her pause.

What if he was asleep? Would it be right to disturb him in that state?

Her fingers hovered hesitantly over the wood.

Then... should I sneak in again like last time?

The thought crossed her mind, but it brought with it an immediate wave of reluctance.

Sneaking into Rileyʼs room had been her go-to method in the past, climbing up to his balcony with the practiced ease of someone used to bending rules.

But the last time she had done so, Riley had scolded her thoroughly, his expression more disappointed than angry.

It wasnʼt a lecture she wanted to repeat-especially not now.

Her gaze shifted to the intricate runes etched into the doorframe, glowing faintly with magic.

She knew the protections placed on it were formidable; the door wouldnʼt budge unless Riley willed it or deactivated the enchantments himself.

She could break it, of course-her strength and abilities made that much clear-but doing so would not only alert the dorm master but also bring trouble crashing down on both of them. ʼI donʼt want to disturb Riley...ʼ she thought, biting her lip softly.

Yet, turning back didnʼt feel like an option either.

She imagined Linaʼs disappointed face if she returned now, empty-handed and without taking any action.

But beyond that, there was a more personal reason driving her forward.

Seo couldnʼt deny the uncertainty and confusion she felt lately-emotions that swirled in her chest whenever she saw Riley laughing or interacting with other girls.

She had thought coming here today would give her clarity, but even now, standing at his doorstep, she wasnʼt sure what she was hoping to confirm.

Seo sighed deeply, her shoulders rising and falling with a mix of resignation and determination as she took a hesitant step forward.

With her free arm, she raised her hand, preparing to knock. But just as her knuckles were about to connect with the door- ”Oya~ Oya~?”

A sudden, mischievous voice cut through the silence, halting her in her tracks.

Seoʼs crimson eyes widened slightly as a large catʼs head materialized through the solid wooden door, phasing through it as if it were nothing but smoke.

Itʼs now emerald-green eyes gleamed with amusement, and an unnervingly wide grin stretched across its face from ear to ear.

A floating cat head, radiating an aura of whimsy and chaos-the most recognizable familiar in the entire academy.

Seoʼs lips parted slightly, her brows knitting together as she immediately recognized the troublesome creature before her. ”Cheshire?” she mumbled quietly, her voice tinged with confusion as her mind scrambled to understand why Rileyʼs familiar was here now.

The cat chuckled, its bodyless head floating lazily in the air as its grin grew even wider. ”Well, isnʼt this a delightful surprise~? I always knew Riley had a knack for inviting the unexpected and chaotic into his life, but this... oh my, are the gods conspiring for entertainment today~?

Just what kind of sins did he commit in his past life to deserve such divine meddling, I wonder?” ”What are you talking about?” Seo asked flatly, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly.

Cheshireʼs grin didnʼt falter as it floated closer to her, tilting its head to one side with exaggerated curiosity. ”Oh, nothing at all~ nothing at all~! Just a bit of idle musing, my dear. But now that youʼre here, the gods must be practically begging me to have a bit of fun, wouldnʼt you agree~?” Seoʼs brows furrowed further as her confusion deepened. She stared at Cheshire quietly, her expression unreadable but her thoughts swirling in an attempt to keep up with his nonsensical chatter. ”...?”

The cat, however, seemed unfazed by her silence, its grin remaining firmly in place. After a moment, Cheshireʼs vibrant green eyes fixed on her directly, the playful glint in them replaced by something far sharper-calculated, almost.

It was as if the familiar were sizing her up, deciding what to do next. ”Ah, but you are ever so serious, arenʼt you?” Cheshire finally said, its tone dripping with exaggerated exasperation. ”Let me guess, youʼre here for Riley again~? Well, of course, you are. Isnʼt that just your specialty~?”

Cheshire tilted its floating head, the mischievous gleam in its emerald-green eyes intensifying as if a particularly devilish idea had taken root in its mind.

It floated silently for a moment, almost contemplative, before its grin widened with renewed delight. ”Hehehe... Master might scold me for this later,” Cheshire mused, chuckling to itself, ”but oh well! Whatʼs life without a little chaos, right? Canʼt have fun if you donʼt live in the moment~!”

Its words were half-muttered, more for its own amusement than anyone elseʼs, but Seo caught the playful undertone laced with a hint of something deeper-something dangerous. Cheshireʼs grin faltered for a fleeting moment as its eyes narrowed sharply, glancing off into the distance as if perceiving something far beyond the confines of the dormitory hall. ”That blank of a queen... always meddling at the worst possible times. Tch, just when things were about to get interesting. I guess Iʼll just have to watch through the mushroom records later,” it muttered, exasperation dripping from its voice.

Then, without warning, Cheshireʼs focus snapped back to Seo, the playful glint in its eyes reigniting with full force. ”Make sure to make it fun, okay~?”

Before Seo could even question what was happening, the floating cat head gave a dramatic sigh and-

Swoosh!

Out of nowhere, a pair of hands appeared, eerily human-like but covered in fur that matched Cheshireʼs smoky form.

They floated in midair, unattached to any body, adding an extra layer of surrealness to the moment. ”Now then, off you go~!” Cheshire exclaimed, its grin as wide as ever. With a theatrical snap of its disembodied fingers, the world around Seo shifted in an instant.

A rush of wind.

A swirl of colors.

By the time Seo realized what had happened, she was no longer standing in the quiet hallway outside Rileyʼs room.

Instead, she found herself in an entirely different place, a world unfamiliar yet strangely vivid. ”Ah, Mama! Youʼre here as well~!!”

A sweet, excited voice rang out, breaking through Seoʼs dazed thoughts.

Before she could even react, a small figure came rushing toward her, wrapping her tightly in a hug. ʼMama?ʼ

Seoʼs mind reeled with confusion, her crimson eyes widening as she instinctively looked down.

The child clinging to her was impossibly beautiful, with golden hair that shimmered like sunlight and radiant crimson eyes that bore an uncanny resemblance to her own.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Seoʼs gaze shifted, catching sight of the others around her.

Two familiar faces stood nearby, their expressions unreadable but their gazes cold, sharp, and full of suspicion.

It was as if Seo had been dropped into the middle of a war zone disguised as a peaceful setting, the tension palpable despite the childʼs joyous embrace. ʼWhat... is going on?ʼ

Unbeknownst to everyone involved, the young girlʼs whimsical smile was hidden beneath the warmth of her embrace.

Her small arms tightened around Seo as if seeking comfort, but the glimmer in her crimson eyes betrayed something far more deliberate.

The childʼs face, pressed against Seoʼs side, was carefully angled away from the others.

Her expression softened into one of pure innocence, but just before she buried her cheek completely against Seo, she gave a quick, mischievous wink to the only young man standing among the group.