How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 736: Liyana’s Visit interlude (3)

Liyana and Riley’s little ”date” carried on without interruption as they moved deeper through the academy.

The commercial district alone was big enough to feel like its own city, and no matter where they turned, there was always something new—another stall, another street, another small detail Riley could point out.

He didn’t run out of things to show her.

And she didn’t get bored.

If anything, Liyana stayed closer with each step, her attention shifting between the surroundings... and him.

From the outside, it looked simple.

Just two loving couple walking together.

Talking.

Laughing, occasionally.

But for her—

It felt different.

Strangely so.

Because in the past, they were never apart.

At least, not on her end.

She had always stayed by his side, followed him, watched him, claimed his time as if it naturally belonged to her. There was nothing unusual about it back then.

It was normal.

So, this should’ve felt the same.

And yet—

It didn’t.

Now, every small thing felt... clearer.

More defined.

The feeling of his hand in hers.

The warmth of his arm when she leaned against him.

The sound of his voice when he explained something, calm and steady.

Even the way he would pause, just slightly, before choosing what to show her next—

Like he was actually thinking about her.

Trying to make sure she enjoyed it.

That she was having fun.

That effort...

That intent...

It made everything feel different.

More real.

More... special.

Liyana’s gaze softened slightly as she walked beside him, her fingers tightening just a bit around his hand.

Back then, staying with him had been simple.

Something driven by curiosity.

By interest.

She liked him—there was no doubt about that.

But looking back now...

That feeling wasn’t quite the same as this.

”....”

Her eyes lowered slightly, her thoughts drifting.

Because right now—

This moment—

It wasn’t just about being near him.

It was about wanting to be here.

Wanting to stay like this.

Wanting it to continue.

The way her chest felt—

The subtle, unfamiliar tightness.

The quiet warmth that didn’t fade.

It was new.

Confusing.

And yet...

She didn’t dislike it.

’Have I... truly come to love him?’

The question surfaced naturally in her mind.

For someone like her—someone whose heart didn’t even beat in the way it should—

Feelings were always... distant.

Undefined.

Different from others.

But ever since Riley entered the academy...

Ever since things started changing—

So had she.

Something inside her had shifted.

Her emotions felt... restrained in a way they never were before.

Not weaker.

Just... held back.

Controlled.

Like she was becoming more aware of them.

More careful with them.

She didn’t fully understand it yet.

Didn’t know how to define what she was feeling.

But one thing was certain—

A part of her...

A large part—

Wanted this to be real.

Not temporary.

Not fleeting.

But something that stayed.

Something that wouldn’t break.

So as she walked beside him, leaning just a little closer without thinking—

Liyana closed her eyes briefly.

And held onto that feeling.

Even if she didn’t fully understand it yet—

She didn’t want to let it go.

...

By the time Riley and Liyana’s walk came to an end, the academy had already quieted down.

The lively noise of the commercial district had faded into something softer, the streets lit by dim lanterns and scattered lights from still-open shops.

Most students had already returned to their dorms, leaving only a few stragglers behind.

”...Fufu~ I had fun, darling.”

Liyana’s voice carried lightly in the night air as she turned to face him, her expression relaxed, satisfied.

”But it looks like time’s up~”

There was a faint hint of disappointment beneath her smile, though she didn’t linger on it.

”I wanted to spend more time with you, but... I still have official duties to take care of,” she continued, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. ”And I haven’t informed uncle about my presence here yet either.”

She let out a small sigh, though it didn’t sound too serious.

Then, almost immediately, her mood lifted again.

”But if I’m not too busy tomorrow...” she leaned in slightly, her eyes gleaming with that familiar playful spark, ”you wouldn’t mind being dragged around by me again, right?”

”Of course not,” Riley answered without hesitation.

”Hehe~ is that so?”

Her smile widened.

”Then to make it more fun... why don’t my sisters join us as well?” she added, sounding genuinely excited at the thought. ”It’s been a while since I last saw them.”

A brief pause.

”Ah—but don’t tell them I’m here yet. I want to surprise them.”

”Alright,” Riley nodded, though he added after a moment, ”they have matches tomorrow, so setting up the timing might be—”

”Fufu~ you don’t have to worry about that,” Liyana cut in smoothly. ”I told you, right? I’ll be busy too.”

She waved it off like it was nothing.

”We’ll just set it up when everyone’s free~”

”...Got it.”

Their conversation settled naturally after that, both of them falling into a quiet understanding without needing to say much more.

For a moment, they simply stood there.

Then—

”Goodnight, darling~”

”...Yeah. Goodnight.”

Liyana gave him one last look—lingering, soft—before turning away, her figure gradually disappearing into the direction of the Royal Hall.

Riley watched until she was completely out of sight.

Only then did he turn around.

And start walking.

At first, everything felt... fine.

Calm.

Even satisfying.

The day had gone well.

Better than expected.

But—

After a few steps—

Riley slowed slightly.

His hand rose, pressing lightly against his forehead.

”....”

Something wasn’t sitting right.

’Why is Liyana here?’

Even after everything she told him, the answer didn’t sit right with Riley.

On the surface, it made sense. Official duties, her father’s absence, her role as a substitute—it all lined up cleanly.

Too cleanly.

And that was exactly the problem.

Things were moving faster than they should.

Faster than what he could comfortably control.

His gaze lowered slightly as he walked, thoughts tightening again.

’Tomorrow...’

That was the real issue.

’I need to prepare... in case Liyana and Lucas meet—’

”Why the heavy face?”

The sudden voice cut through his thoughts cleanly.

Riley stopped.

Then turned.

”...Evelyn.”

She stood there like she had always been there, calm, composed, her presence quiet but impossible to ignore.

”Hi, original,” she greeted lightly, her tone almost casual. ”Although you just spent your day with our beloved Liyana... you don’t look very relaxed.”

Riley didn’t respond immediately.

His expression barely changed, as usual.

But Evelyn didn’t need more than that.

As something born from him—his memories, his thoughts—she could read him far too easily.

”...So you were watching,” he said after a moment. ”Did you know she was coming?”

”Not at all,” Evelyn replied without hesitation. ”Seeing you in the commercial district was pure coincidence as well.”

”....”

Riley’s eyes lingered on her.

There was no clear reason to doubt her

And yet—

He wasn’t satisfied.

Still, he didn’t press further.

There was no point.

Evelyn wasn’t someone who would lie to him without reason... and more importantly, everything she did ultimately aligned with him.

For his sake.

”...You’re quite the sneaky one,” he muttered, almost under his breath. ”But I don’t think you had anything to do with Liyana coming here.”

A small pause.

”Her whims are enough to explain that.”

”Fufu... that’s true,” Evelyn smiled faintly. ”Liyana has always been... selfish in that way.”

”You know that’s a problem, right?” Riley said, his tone turning more serious.

”I know. That’s exactly why I had to postpone most of my plans and come meet you, original.”

Riley’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”...What are you getting at?”

Evelyn stepped a little closer, her gaze steady.

”Another unpredictable variable right now would only complicate things,” she said calmly. ”And you already know what the most immediate risk is.”

She didn’t need to say it.

He already understood.

Lucas.

”....”

”I’ll handle it,” Evelyn continued. ”I’ll keep Lucas occupied for the next few days. And in the meantime,” she added, her eyes locking onto his.

”Liyana is already here. So, you do your part, make sure they never meet.”

”That’s going to be hard... considering the ongoing competition.”

Riley’s voice was low, more to himself than to her, but Evelyn heard it clearly.

The academy wasn’t some quiet corner he could control.

This was a public event.

Crowded.

Unpredictable.

And Liyana—on top of everything—was here under official duties. With the Emperor present as a guest, there was no way she wouldn’t attend at least a few matches.

Maybe out of obligation.

Maybe out of curiosity.

Or maybe...

Just because she wanted to.

And if she did—

Then the chances of her crossing paths with Lucas weren’t just possible.

They were high.

”Fufu~ well... that’s your problem now,” Evelyn replied lightly, as if she had just handed him something trivial.

Riley let out a slow breath, lifting a hand to brush back his golden bangs, his fingers lingering there for a moment as if trying to ease the pressure building in his head.

”...Do you think there’ll be a problem if they actually meet?”

It wasn’t a question he liked asking.

But he asked it anyway.

Evelyn didn’t answer immediately.

For once, she paused.

”.....Honestly?”

Her tone softened slightly.

”I don’t know.”

Riley’s eyes shifted toward her.

”I’m just a copy,” she continued calmly. ”A version of you that carries the memories of those broken worlds.”

Her gaze lowered slightly, thoughtful.

”So to me... Liyana is still unpredictable.”

A faint smile formed on her lips.

”As much as I love her... that doesn’t change.”

She looked back at him.

”That’s exactly why it’s better to be cautious now instead of regretting it later.”

A small pause.

Then—

”And besides...”

Her voice dropped just a little.

”I don’t think you have the resolve to fight her... if things really go south.”

Silence.

Riley didn’t respond.

Didn’t deny it.

Didn’t agree either.

But that hesitation—

That slight stillness—

Was answer enough.

Evelyn watched him for a second longer, then simply smiled, like she had expected that reaction from the start.

Without saying anything else, she turned around.

”I’ll take my leave now, original...”

Her figure moved away slowly, blending back into the quiet of the night as if she had never been there to begin with.

And just like that—

Riley was alone again.

”....”

He let out a quiet breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly as the tension settled into something heavier, more focused.

His eyes—cold, blue—grew still.

Empty for a moment.

Thinking.

Calculating.

’...I need to inform Alice at least.’

The thought came naturally.

Even if it meant breaking his promise to Liyana—

This wasn’t something he could take lightly.

Informing Alice beforehand...

Was the bare minimum.

A precaution.

One he couldn’t afford to skip.

”....”