My heels clacked as I walked down a pearl-gray cobblestone path. Blue crystal-like roses and transparent twirling pink turnips twinkled in the overhead sun on thick wooden walls of foliage on both sides of the path. I stopped in front of a black-glossy fountain shaped like a hexagon covered in white moss, water gushing from several holes and floating into spirals before splashing back down.

The capitol district’s labyrinth of a garden was as grand as the castle itself. The dancing lights on the castle walls seen at night were thanks to special flowers called the ‘Queen’s Vale’ that carried her spirit and love of the flowers after her death.

Despite being just a game, the world itself is rich in history, probably the only thing worth delving into.

I turned around to Reign, traveling behind with his eyes fixed on the ground. He’s been acting like this ever since we got into the game and it’s starting to piss me off. It’s bad enough he’d rather talk in a game than in the real world, but now I have to be his therapist? And please don’t tell me he thinks we’re close enough for me to hear some sob story. I honestly couldn’t care less, but I suppose I have to keep appearance and at least act like I give a damn.

「What’s wrong? I thought you said we were going to talk.」 I said while taking a seat at the edge of the fountain.

Reign smiled and took a seat beside me. 「Do you want to know the real reason I enjoy games?」

Not really.

「Sure.」 I replied.

「It started as a place I could go to escape; Escape the expectations of my family, friends... Here, no one knows me except as Reign. It’s easier to just create a new persona, but also retain the part of myself I can’t show anyone else.」

「Why would you need to escape? I’m sure your family and peers are proud of you.」

Reign chuckled and leaned back to gaze at a passing cloud. 「That’s just it. I began thinking I could never let them down, never be a disappointment. Though my last district was a lot poorer than Yenagree, I was looked at as a role model, and for a moment I felt proud. And then…」

I slightly raised my brow. 「And then…?」

He sighed and planted his fist on the stone. 「Then, Mr. Homura and his son came to my district. Said he was prospecting students for his academy and that my grades made the cut.」

「But isn’t that good? Seya is a great academy in one of the best districts south of the white wall.」

「Ha, yeah. You sound just like my father when he tried to talk me into it the first time.」

Reign’s hand then flattened as he took a deep breath. 「But I didn’t want to leave the fam and friends behind. I planned to work at my dad’s tech repair shop with my brother. But he refused, said I was meant for greater things. I went behind his back and refused the offer. Dad’s shop was associated with Homura and they sent him spare parts. The only reason they knew about me was because my father bragged to his supervisor about how well I was doing.」

「Okay? That still doesn’t explain why Toshi and you don’t like each other.」

Reign smoothed back his hair and rested his hands on his neck with a groan. 「Toshiaki… came to me a day later saying he wanted to talk. He said his father hates being disappointed, so he made an offer that I couldn’t refuse. If I didn’t enroll in Seya, he’d shut down my father’s shop, then construct a new Homura building on the foundation... that bastard.」

I padded my dress while glancing to the side. 「I… did not know he said that.」

Reign clenched his hands into fists, his nose scrunched and eyes narrowed. 「He knew that the shop was a staple in our community. Kids would come to learn about tech and PCs from me and pop. He knew we lived there for years and that business was keeping us afloat. And he even knew that my moms… died giving birth to me there…」

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The tension in his arms and face faded as he leaned back to look up at the sky once more. He then chuckled and looked over at me, his chestnut-brown eyes glinting in the sunlight.

「You’re the first person I’ve been able to talk to about this since I’ve moved here, since ever really. I’ve been bottling it up and feel a lot better now, thank you.」

I pressed a hand against my chest and closed my eyes. God, this intimacy is going to kill me! Fuck these girl hormones telling me to fucking care! And does he think he can say all this because we’re friends? We’re acquaintances at best!

I walked over to a nearby flower wall, grazing a gold three-leafed flower that produced light as I grazed its surface. But if it is true, then he needs this to succeed. I can’t decide right now if I truly care or not, but it’s best to act now. This could be a useful circumstance to have in the future. I don’t have an actual reason to decline anyway.

「If… all of what you said is genuine, then I’ll accept the position of Patrician. I’ll also make sure the contracts are agreeable to you and your club members. I don’t know how else I’ll be able to help but…」

「Thank you, Yoka.」 Reign said with a smile.

「You’re welcome, but I’m so confused. Isn’t that my game name or whatever?」

「Yeah.」

「But we know each other in the real world? Why can’t I just call you Tig—」

「Shh! It’s just an unspoken rule about keeping players’ identities a secret!」

「That’s a stupid rule.」

Reign chuckled and stood from the fountain with a stretch. 「Yeah, maybe it is.」

『… Yokalen, dorogoy. Teper’ zdes’ to, gde ty skryvalsya.』 (Yokalen, dear. Now this is where you’ve been hiding.)

Lady Cheykina strode down the cobble path with her black heels clacking, midnight-dress dancing, and crimson-diamond-shaped earrings swaying with her every step. Her signature red-streaked curls, contrasting her cinnamon brown hair, bobbed as she leaned over and kissed me on the forehead while caressing my hair.

I closed my eyes and took in her sweet, flowery scent. 『Zdravstvuy Matër.』 (Hello mama.)

『Ochen’ khorosho. Ty uzhe mozhesh’ bleskavitsa na Inaskovskom dovol’no plyushe. No ne slishkom udivitel’no. Ty vsegda byl bystrym uchitelyom.』 (Very good. You’re able to speak Inascovian fluently now. But not too surprising. You were always a fast learner.)

Lady Cheykina then moved to the side to glance at Reign. 『And who is your young friend? I can feel his eyes lusting after us from here.』

『M-mother!』 I laughed while guiding her over.

「Reign. This is Lady Ramazayunov, Queen of Inascovia.」

He stood for a second, gawking, then blinked before bowing his head.

「L-Lady Ramazayunov! It’s a pleasure to meet royalty in the capital! I’m just a humble adventurer that met your daughter—」

Lady Cheykina raised her hand for a delicate laugh, then nodded. 「Ha ha… I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. I’m just not use to how you mainlanders address each other. So formal, even though we’re not in a formal setting.」

「Aha… my apologies. I just wanted to show my respect.」 Reign replied.

「It is alright. I’m used to such a submissive tone and words. It was quite prevalent in the past wars once our enemies came to beg for mercy. It is so endearing to know they teach such pleasantries in Vogran.」 Lady Cheykina said with a smile.

Reign’s eyes widened. I could tell the response took him by surprise. But because of her genuine words and cheerful demeanor, he didn’t know whether it was an insult or a compliment. However, as someone who didn't pay attention to her womanly aspects, it was neither an insult nor a compliment, but her telling the truth.

「Speaking of Vogran and pleasantries, could I steal Yokalen away for a moment? This city has many places of interest and I promised her a day out full of adventure!」

「O-of course! We just finished talking anyway! You two have fun sightseeing! Lady Cheykina, Lady Yokalen.」 Reign said, bent down to kiss Lady Cheykina’s hand, then ran off into a growth of shrubs.

Lady Cheykina narrowed her eyes. 『That one is easily pliable. You should keep him.』

『What do you mean by that?』 I asked.

『He trusts you. And he’s also expressive, meaning he’s easy to read. Their deceit and caution will be evident, meaning you can say the right things and think for them.』

『Wait, mother. I still don’t understand…』

『You should surround yourself with predictable friends and emotional allies while you stay here. Just from my few meetings last night, this is a place of blood and lies. You must be cautious of the characters who attempt to approach you.』

She then hummed a merry tune while walking past the fountain.

Why did she say that just now? Truth be told, I’d been thinking the same thing since I met him, but it was like she’d made it apparent why I thought about it in the first place. The way she could say such things without it being derisive, using her charm and intelligence as a weapon…

It was like she was teaching me something. And something made me want to learn even more.

Lady Cheykina looked back with a smile and held out her hand. 『I want to see more of the city, dorogoy. Let us go.』 (darling)