“You don’t even have to try. People just... flock to you. That’s why I took the quest from Irwen,” Ian spat, his voice tight with frustration.

“You did what?!” I shot to my feet, nearly knocking over the delicate porcelain teacup in front of me. The sharp clink of it hitting the saucer echoed through the room.

Kai lifted a hand, his fingers gracefully arcing downward as if pressing invisible ripples back into place. “Miss Charlie, embrace calmness, like the moonlight settling over a still lake—gentle, unwavering, and clear.”

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to take a deep breath.

Calm, like moonlight... sure.

I exhaled slowly, settling back into my seat, though my heart still hammered in my chest. “You’re right…” I muttered, my glare softening as I shot Kai a brief nod. “Fine.” I turned back to Ian, narrowing my eyes. “I’m listening, Ian, my former friend. What did you do?”

Ian scoffed, sharp and condescending. “I just played the game,” he said, leaning back with an infuriating smirk, his fingers drumming lazily on the table as though he’d just delivered a finishing blow to a boss.

My eyes locked onto his, trying to read the storm behind them.

Where was all this anger coming from? Was it just jealousy, or was there something more? Is there truth in what he said? I wondered, a flicker of self-doubt creeping in. I did have knowledge about the future. I did have a knack for games.

Maybe it was easy for me in ways it wasn’t for others.

Am I a proud snob?

Kai interjected, his tone steady, as if oblivious to the rising tension. “Yes, knowing our flaws is the first step toward a better future. It is like seeing cracks in the earth before planting—only with awareness can growth take root.”

Ian snorted, slamming his cup down on the table with a force that made the tea ripple. “Nonsense. You always were clueless!” His voice rose. His hands gestured wildly, as if trying to physically throw his frustration at me. “Do you remember Dominica? I was trying to get her attention, but she had eyes only for you!”

“Dominica?” I blinked, thrown completely off-guard by the sudden shift in topic. “Who’s that?”

Ian’s eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed with a fury that radiated off him in waves. He rose to his feet, his fists clenched tight, knuckles white. “You bastard! She loved you!”

What?

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could even process his accusation, Kai’s calm yet commanding voice stopped us. “Bèn Dàn. You. Will. Not. Give in to anger—lest you become like a wildfire, burning all without purpose, leaving only ash behind.”

Kai’s gaze shifted to me, his eyes perceptive, as though he could see straight into my thoughts. “Please, ignore this foolish apprentice. He enters this meeting with a clouded view of you, like mist obscuring the morning sun. But I have seen the real you—both in the way you wield your sword and in the strength of your actions.”

I glanced at Ian, whose chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface. What the hell is going on? Why is he so angry at me? My mind was spinning, trying to piece together what I’d done to ignite this level of animosity.

A forgotten girl?

A missed signal?

“The last year in high school. She even sent you a Valentine’s gift, and you ignored her. She was heartbroken, and I was her friend. It was so frustrating…” Ian said, his voice calmer now, though the tension lingered. “You don’t remember her? How cold you were?”

I blinked, a memory flickering to life—crumpled red paper, a heart-shaped box. I did not know who sent it back then, and in typical clueless-John fashion, I responded by getting wasted at the bar.

“I… had no idea. I’m sorry,” I whispered, the words tasting bitter. “My social skills were in the negative back then. No, scratch that—they’re still bad… despite my recent improvement.”

Great.

Just what I needed today. As if one friend betraying me wasn’t enough. Now two? Fantastic. Truly, life’s on a roll.

Ian grinned, a sharp, sour thing that didn’t reach his eyes. “Fine. You’re safe in the real world, so they’re targeting you in the game. As much as I’d like to see you fall, even I don’t like this. I sent her all the info she wanted, and now I’m going to join her. Sorry, not sorry.”

“They can’t target… me? Who?” I shot to my feet, my movements quick. Lola flinched at my sudden motion, and I gestured for her to stand too. My voice was strained, teetering on the edge of breaking. “That’s the last thing I want to know before I go. Thanks for the tea, Kai.”

Kai nodded slowly. “Your path is yours to choose, like a river deciding its course through the valley. I am thankful for your attempt, however turbulent it may have been.”

Sure talk like a philosophy book.

Whatever.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

We all turned toward Ian. He let out an exaggerated sigh, as if we were inconveniencing him. “Fine. Some lady contacted me. Said she wants to ruin your game. I agreed. What’s done is done. You’ll lose everything. I don’t know how, but it’s inevitable. It’s my revenge, so… enjoy.”

I stared at him, my heart thudding painfully in my chest.

A million responses formed in my mind—anger, sarcasm, confusion—but none of them made it past my lips. What was the point? He was already gone, in his mind, and I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Without a word, I turned on my heel and left the room, my steps steady but my insides crumbling like brittle glass. The moment we were outside, my facade shattered. Tears welled up and spilled over before I could stop them, hot and bitter against my cheeks.

“Uhm, Charlie…” Lola whispered, her voice soft, hesitant, like she was afraid touching the wrong nerve would make me fall apart completely. “I don’t know what happened, but…”

“Me neither, Lola.” My voice cracked, and I sniffed hard, trying to steady myself. It didn’t work. “This… will take some time to soak in.” I rubbed furiously at my face with my sleeves, as if wiping the tears away could erase the mess of emotions swirling inside me. “Sorry. Can I ask you to take me outside through a side entrance? Somewhere with fewer people? I… I need to get home.” I pulled myself together enough to add, “Jerry’ll call a taxi. Don’t worry.”

“Done.” Jerry was quick.

Lola hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her usual bright expression dimmed by worry. “Of course, Lady Charlie. Follow me.”

I followed in silence, each step feeling heavier than the last.

One betrayal. Two betrayals.

How many more before I break completely?

But I wasn’t broken yet. Not today.

Roberto was available again, and the moment his brakes screeched to an exaggerated halt, I stepped in, still in my cosplay.

The car smelled good again, the engine’s low rumble vibrating through the floor. I glanced at the mirror, noting how surprisingly flawless my makeup looked despite everything.

Mia must’ve used some next-level sci-fi cosmetics—because even after crying like a waterfall, it’s holding up.

“Woah, signorina! You look fantastica!” Roberto exclaimed, his grin as wide as ever. “Just like on stage, eh?” He punctuated his words by revving the engine with a roar, clearly delighted to be driving me around again.

“Ah, you saw that?” My voice came out quieter than I intended, still tinged with lingering sadness.

“Of course! Mio cugino made sure I didn’t miss it!” he said with a hearty laugh, looking as cheerful as ever—a stark contrast to the storm inside me.

“Sorry, Roberto… but I’m…” I hesitated, staring out of the window as the world blurred by neon signs reflecting off the glass like ghostly afterimages. “Two people I thought were my friends stabbed a dagger in my back. One I could forgive, but the other…” My voice faltered, barely above a whisper now. “He hates me, and I don’t even know why…”

My throat tightened, and despite my best efforts, tears pricked at my eyes again. I blinked rapidly, trying to push them back, but they slipped through anyway, hot and unwelcome.

Roberto’s grin faded slightly as he glanced at me, concern flickering in his eyes. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just letting the engine’s steady hum fill the silence.

Then, in a gentler tone, he said, “Signorina, life… it can be like a rough road—full of potholes and sharp turns. But you? You’re a racer. You keep going, even when it feels like you’ll crash.”

I let out a shaky breath, managing a weak smile despite myself.

A racer, huh? More like a wreck waiting to happen.

“Today was… supposed to be fun,” I muttered, leaning back in the seat as the city lights streaked past in colorful blurs. “I even enjoyed it. Pushed my feelings about Lucas out of my mind…”

“The boyfriend from the tower?” Roberto cut in, eyebrows raised, his grin already forming.

“He’s not—” I shot back quickly, my voice agitated. “Despite him thinking so. He… loves me, but not me, me? Ugh, damn, that’s complicated…” I rubbed my temple, as if trying to physically smooth out the tangled mess of emotions. “He used to be my dear friend long ago, and I forgot…” I trailed off, shaking my head to dispel the thought. “Sorry, you’re not Jerry. That’s apparently my therapist AI.”

Roberto let out a booming laugh, his hands tightening briefly on the steering wheel as he navigated a sharp turn with ease. “Signorina, the things I hear! A boyfriend who’s not a boyfriend, a therapist AI, and friends stabbing you in the back—it’s like I’m driving a character from a drama series!”

Despite myself, I couldn’t help but let out a small, tired laugh. “Yeah, well, drama queen fits the Sword Queen, doesn’t it?”

As always, Roberto was quick—too quick, honestly. We were already slowing down before he even responded. “Hey, signorina, Roberto’s here—always ready to drive. And talk,” he added with a grin, turning off the engine with a smooth flick of his wrist. “Gratis, no worries. Free of charge.”

“I have to catch a prince waiting,” I said, flashing him a genuine smile for the first time today. “Don’t ask—long story.” I sent him the payment anyway, with a nice, fat tip. “Thanks for the offer, Roberto. But seriously, take this.”

He glanced at the transfer notification and gave me an exaggerated shrug. “No worries! Ci vediamo la prossima volta!” he called out with a cheerful wave before speeding away, the engine roaring like it was thrilled to be free.

I stared after the receding car, puzzled. “Uhm… see you later?”

Jerry’s voice chimed in with his usual precision. “It means ‘see you next time’ in Italian, according to a translation database.”

“I didn’t need… okay, thanks anyway, therapist,” I muttered, already walking toward home. The cool evening air nipped at my arms, the distant hum of traffic blending with the occasional chirp of night insects.

“Were you serious when you—” Jerry started, sounding oddly excited for an AI.

“No.” I cut him off before he could get any ideas. “At least not now. That was… a mess, Jerry.” I sighed, the weight of the day settling back onto my shoulders.

“You need time to process everything that happened. I suggest you take it easy for the next few days,” Jerry said, his tone unusually concerned as I stepped into my apartment.

“Yes and no, Jerry.” I kicked off my amazing heels, the soft thud echoing in the quiet space. “I won’t push myself too hard, but the battle with Irwen means a lot to me; I need to win.” I glanced around. “Where should I put you?”

“You can place me on the strip next to the capsule’s console,” Jerry replied, sounding a little too excited. “Thank you for doing this for me. I’ve learned so many new things today and… well, I felt alive.”

“Sure, anytime, my dear friend,” I said with a faint grin, carefully placing him where he’d asked. His words lingered with me for a second longer than I liked. Jerry, an AI, talking about feeling alive?

Maybe he’s still human?

Strange times. “And I wasn’t joking—I still have a few places to visit today. Let’s just hope the Duchess doesn’t blow a fuse when I… borrow that thing.”

I peeled off my cosplay; the fabric clinging stubbornly from all the movement earlier. The cool air of my apartment brushed against my skin, a welcome contrast after the heat of the day. Without wasting another second, I stepped into the capsule. The familiar hum surrounded me as the lid sealed shut.

Time to get to work.

I popped back into Rimelion, exactly where I had logged off. I took a slow breath, taking it all in—the more vivid, tangible world of Rimelion. My world. My reality. I smiled, the tension of earlier fading just a little.

“Pretender! You are late!”