How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 317: Golden Bomb

After releasing Rose from her temporary imprisonment, I was immediately summoned by the Emperor to provide a detailed briefing on the situation.

Now, I found myself standing in His Majesty’s private office—a space that, despite its surprisingly minimalist design, still exuded the grandeur and authority befitting the leader of the empire.

Polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of golden chandeliers, and the intricate carvings on the dark oak furniture subtly hinted at the history and power that defined this place.

It was an office meant to intimidate and inspire, but today, it felt unusually heavy with tension.

As I explained the events leading up to the incident, I couldn’t help but notice the Emperor’s expression shift subtly with every detail I revealed.

His brows furrowed, and his mouth hung slightly ajar as he struggled to fully process the enormity of the situation.

It wasn’t every day that the imperial palace was thrown into chaos by someone who teleported directly into a restricted area, wreaking havoc in the process.

The Emperor knew of Rose, of course.

Her reputation extended far beyond the academy. She was widely hailed as a future archmage, a prodigy with unmatched talent.

That much made it easier to convince him of the sheer scale of her power, but even then, comparing her to a traditional archmage felt almost laughable.

Rose wasn’t just a potential archmage—she was a monster of unparalleled potential, already outclassing most seasoned mages in terms of magical control, sensitivity, and sheer knowledge.

Still, despite my efforts to frame the incident as an unfortunate but manageable misunderstanding, I could tell the Emperor wasn’t entirely convinced.

The magnitude of the damage Rose had caused couldn’t simply be dismissed as a.

”mere incident.”

Her actions had exposed vulnerabilities within the imperial palace that couldn’t be ignored, and the repercussions extended far beyond her impressive magical prowess.

I had asked Snow to vouch for Rose’s innocence and provide some context for her actions.

Her words carried significant weight within the imperial court, and I hoped they would help sway the Emperor’s judgment.

The Duke, who had acted swiftly to contain the situation, might have been able to provide some additional insight, but his interactions with Rose were limited.

He could only do so much to fill in the gaps.

The Emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his sharp eyes studying me as though trying to peel away any layer of dishonesty or omission.

I stood firm, my demeanor calm and measured, but inwardly I couldn’t help but feel the weight of his scrutiny.

”This is no trivial matter,” the Emperor finally said, his voice steady but laced with authority. ”Rose may be a remarkable talent, but her actions have caused a disruption of unprecedented scale. I trust you understand the gravity of this situation, Riley.”

”Yes, Your Majesty,” I replied, bowing slightly. ”I do. And I take full responsibility for ensuring that such an incident doesn’t occur again. Rose acted impulsively, but her intentions were not malicious. She values the empire deeply, and I believe her actions stemmed from… personal motivations.”

The Emperor’s gaze softened slightly at my words, though his expression remained guarded.

”Personal motivations, you say?”

His voice carried a faint trace of curiosity, but it was far from relaxed.

He began rifling through the stack of papers in front of him, his movements precise yet deliberate.

From the way his eyes scanned the text, it was clear he was reviewing an intelligence report—likely one prepared by the emperor’s Shadow Knights.

The Shadow Knights were notorious for their efficiency in gathering information, particularly on individuals deemed valuable or potentially dangerous to the empire.

They kept meticulous tabs on future assets, from talented mages like Rose or Senior Alice to even future political and economic figures like Clara, ensuring that no potential threat—or opportunity—went unnoticed.

It made sense that Rose would be on their radar, but I couldn’t shake the unease growing in my chest.

’It’s probably about Rose… right? So why does he keep looking at me?’

His eyes flicked up from the document to meet mine every so often, scrutinizing me with an intensity that felt like he was peeling back every layer of my soul.

I forced myself to remain calm, my expression neutral, but the weight of his gaze was palpable, to say the least.

Then, as he turned one of the pages aside, I caught a glimpse of something that made my heart skip a beat.

’Why, did I just see my name on that page?’

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been able to notice such details.

But thanks to my newly acquired skill, [Skill: True Sight], I could now see intricate details even at a distance, as well as discern information that might otherwise be imperceptible.

It wasn’t perfect since the letter itself seemed to be encrypted with some sort of protection magic but with the help of my [Skill: True sight] which reveals also the truth of the things I’m looking at it was far enough.

’Student Rose Brilliance, contacted with student Riley Hell occasionally, information regarding situation unknown—’

’Student Rose often seen together with three individuals, Riley Hell, Seo—’

’Student Rose, mana rank Archon (High likely)—’

’Student Rose, relationship with Student Riley suspicious—’

’Student Rose emotional state often unstable—’

’Weird rumors regarding Student Riley and Student Rose—’

’Student Riley Hell associated with unfathomable rumors—’

’Student Riley Hell classified as confirmed playboy—’

My eyes darted back and forth, processing the snippets I’d glimpsed from the reports as the Emperor turned each page.

From what I could gather, the bulk of the documents centered on Rose—her extraordinary talent, unstable emotions, and interactions at the academy.

It wasn’t surprising that the empire’s intelligence unit was keeping tabs on her, given her potential as an Archmage.

But the real problem?

My name.

For whatever reason, my name kept appearing throughout the reports, almost always in connection with hers.

Every other paragraph seemed to loop back to me.

’Why am I mentioned so much? And why do some pages seem more focused on me than her?’

It was suspicious—no, it was outright alarming.

’I knew I should’ve been more careful with the girls back in the academy…’

These weren’t casual observations; they were detailed accounts.

The kind of scrutiny that made you wonder if someone had it out for you—or if they were preparing for something worse.

’If reports regarding my interactions with Seo came to light in there… then I can probably kiss his small sense of approval for me goodbye right….?’

The Emperor, clearly catching onto my discomfort, leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand as his piercing eyes locked onto me.

”So, she’s really just a friend of yours?”

”Yes…”

”And you’re the reason that she came here?”

”…Yes,”

”All just because she wanted to see you?”

”…Yes?”

The Emperor’s gaze narrowed as he regarded me silently, the weight of his presence suffocating in the quiet office.

”Hmm…”

That single sound, drawn out and thoughtful, sent shivers down my spine.

He wasn’t convinced. Not entirely, at least.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold his gaze.

The truth was, explaining Rose and her motives in a way that sounded rational—especially to someone as sharp as the Emperor—wasn’t easy.

Because, honestly, Rose’s actions often defied logic.

And I can’t exactly tell him that Rose has some weird obsession with me either...

Remaining quiet, I watched as the Emperor leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes still fixed on the papers in front of him.

The tension in the room had stabilized for now, but I could feel his silent scrutiny pressing down on me.

He was likely reassessing his opinions of me already.

Considering how rumors tend to spread wildly, it’s not hard to imagine how unreliable some of these reports might be.

After all, the truth often gets lost in the noise of speculation and gossip.

If most of the reports about me are just baseless rumors, then I’m probably safe for now.

The Emperor isn’t the type to act rashly or rely solely on hearsay—his decisions are rooted in logic and evidence, not fleeting opinions.

But still, I couldn’t afford to take that for granted.

The best course of action would be to reassure him about my relationship with Rose and clarify that it’s nothing more than friendship.

’For now, at least...’

I took a deep breath, keeping my tone calm and steady.

”Your Majesty, I know this may sound a bit biased, but Rose is a truly good girl. I’m not asking for leniency or for you to overlook her actions. I simply want to express my trust in her as her friend. So, please, could I ask you not to be too harsh on her when the time comes for any eventual punishment?”

The Emperor’s sharp eyes shifted to me, his expression unreadable.

After a moment of silence, he spoke, his tone measured.

”I wasn’t planning on imposing any harsh punishment on the Lady Rose herself, so you can rest assured about that. However...” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. ”A repercussion toward her family and their standing is another matter entirely.”

Of course, it was naive to think this situation wouldn’t affect Rose’s family.

Given the scale of what she’d done—something that could be interpreted as treason or even grounds for the immediate execution of an entire noble bloodline—it made sense that consequences would ripple beyond just her.

”I understand,” I said, letting a small smile tug at the corner of my lips.

For now, at least, I’d managed to keep Rose from being dragged into unnecessary cascading complications in the future.

That was one less thing to worry about—at least for now.

”It seems you’re quite fond of her,” the Emperor remarked, his sharp gaze narrowing slightly, as if probing for something beneath the surface.

”Haha...” I chuckled nervously, my voice wavering just slightly before I quickly recomposed myself. ”Well, even though Rose can be a little awkward at times, the way she expresses her emotions is probably the most sincere I’ve ever seen. Most people I’ve met... they wear masks, hiding what they truly feel. But Rose? She’s different.”

My thoughts trailed briefly to the moments where her sincerity almost bordered on bluntness, sometimes to the point of being a little overwhelming.

But it was that same honesty that made her stand out in a world filled with half-truths.

Though….

Sometimes she can be a bit too sincere.

A problem upon which Seo and her shares… though Seo is more on the innocent side so I allow it…

The room seemed to grow into another heavy atmosphere once more, his piercing gaze weighing my words and intentions as if trying to peel back layers I hadn’t even realized I was wearing.

Finally, he spoke again, his voice steady but final. ”That’s all I wished to discuss with you regarding Lady Rose for now. You are dismissed.”

I bowed respectfully, acknowledging his words.

His tone was calm, but I could sense the weight of the situation hadn’t left his mind.

Internal matters related to fixing the fallout from Rose’s actions were likely still in full swing.

If anything, the Emperor’s schedule would probably become even tighter and busier until everything was resolved.

But...

’For now... huh...’

I guess he’ll probably call for me again.

”I understand, Your Majesty—”

I spoke calmly, bowing respectfully again as I turned to leave the room.

But just as my hand reached for the door, an overwhelming burst of mana froze me in place.

I wasn’t the only one caught off guard—out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Emperor himself stiffen, his sharp gaze snapping toward me in confusion.

His wide eyes mirrored my own thoughts: What the hell was that?!

The confusion, however, didn’t last long.

A wave of familiar mana washed over me, making my body tense instinctively.

This mana... Rose?

Before I could process the thought, red-blue sparks crackled in the air behind me, a distortion ripping open reality as the source of the mana burst became painfully clear.

I turned slowly, dread creeping up my spine.

Standing there, with lifeless golden eyes fixed squarely on me, was Rose. Her presence filled the room like a thunderstorm, oppressive and unstable.

She teleported here?

”R-Rose?” I managed, my voice trembling slightly, caught between shock and a sinking realization.

Her gaze didn’t waver, and for a moment, she didn’t speak.

But then her lips parted, and the words that came out were enough to send chills through me.

”I knew I should’ve locked you up... now a bitch has got her way with you...again...” she muttered, her tone laced with venom and... heartbreak?

”What?” I stammered, trying to make sense of her words, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

In an instant, mana circles flared around her, forming intricate, glowing sigils that wrapped around my body like chains.

My limbs felt heavy as the bindings tightened, and I could barely move under the pressure.

”Huh? Rose, what are you—”

”Kiss this, kiss that... I’m sure that damn black rat and that pink-haired tramp probably had their share as well, right?!” Enjoy new stories from

Her voice cracked, rising with frustration, and a searing pain that echoed in the room.

Her golden eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she glared at me, her emotions teetering on the edge of control.

Why is she suddenly like this?

What the heck happened with Snow?

”Rose, calm down—”

”It’s not fair!!!” she screamed, her voice shaking as tears spilled freely down her cheeks.

Her emotions seemed to overflow, causing her mana to ripple violently around us, the sheer intensity making the air heavy.

I tried to speak, to defuse the situation, but before I could react, she moved.

In one swift motion, she closed the distance between us. Her face was suddenly so close, her expression an unreadable mix of desperation and determination.

And then it happened.

”Mm~?”

Her lips crashed against mine in a deep, intense kiss that stole the breath from my lungs.

My mind went blank, overwhelmed by the suddenness of it all.

tried to push her away, but the celestial spell she had placed on me was far too strong.

Even with my current strength stats, breaking free was impossible.

Using an alternative like [Divine Will] was plausible and would likely help me escape, but there was a major risk: the mana threads she wove into her spell were directly connected to her body.

If I forcibly severed the spell, it could result in serious harm to her.

Damn it.

-Hmng~

-Hang~

-Mmph~

Her breath mingled with mine, the soft, intimate sounds filling the tense silence of the room.

The kiss deepened, our tongues brushing against one another as though caught in their own chaotic dance. Every second, the intensity grew, and I couldn’t do a thing to stop it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the Emperor.

His expression was utterly priceless—wide-eyed, his mouth slightly agape, his face a mix of shock and disbelief.

The leader of an entire empire was standing there, frozen, his usually sharp and calculating mind clearly struggling to process the situation unfolding before him.

Hahahaha…

’I want to die.’