[Vol. 7] Chapter 165: The First Signs of Unease
When Princess Carinvega suddenly mentioned that name, the golden-haired girl’s delicate eyebrows twitched slightly, as if reacting instinctively. She hesitated for a moment, then subtly turned her head away, looking a little guilty.
“P-Probably just… having a really bad stomachache, you know? It might take a while to settle…” She let out an awkward laugh. “I already sent someone to look for her, so she should be back soon… haha…”
"Hmm...?"
Carinvega tilted her head slightly, eyeing the girl with suspicion.
She might not think of herself as particularly sharp, but she wasn’t clueless either.
And the girl sitting in front of her, despite her pure and delicate appearance, was someone Carinvega knew better than anyone else in this world.
Rosie.
She was an exceptionally gifted light magic user, hailed as one of the "Twin Lotus Stars" alongside Gladys, bearing the title "Lotus Shield."
Originally, however, Rosie was just an ordinary village girl from the outskirts of Lion City, aka Frederick City, the capital of the Austre Empire.
And more importantly, she was the protagonist of the entire [Starlight Concerto] series.
At the age of twelve, a passing professor from the Royal Academy discovered her extraordinary affinity for light magic and immense mana reserves. She was recommended for a special enrollment, allowing her to attend the Austre Empire’s most prestigious academy and study there for six years.
This was the opening premise of the first [Starlight Concerto] game.
Having played the entire series extensively in her past life, Carinvega knew everything about this heroine, even before the two had ever met in this world.
She had memorized every choice, every line of dialogue, every little trait that the game had shown.
Rosie wasn’t just some naive, goody-two-shoes heroine.
Yes, she had a natural talent for light magic.
Yes, she was kind-hearted and always willing to help others.
Yes, she was smart and quick-witted.
But beneath that pure and innocent exterior… hid the heart of a mischievous little devil.
She loved teasing people. Never in a cruel way, but just enough to fluster and frustrate them.
With strangers, she mastered the art of playing the sweet, innocent girl, using her angelic charm as a mask.
She held grudges, too.
If someone wronged her, she would always find a way to get back at them. Subtly, cleverly, and in a way they’d never see coming.
Her mind was full of sneaky, unpredictable ideas, and she had a knack for pulling off pranks that left people completely bewildered.
And, of course, she always made sure to keep her hands clean, ensuring that her victims had no idea she was the mastermind behind it all.
This was Rosie, the protagonist of [Starlight Concerto], a yuri romance game.
At her core, she was a girl with a strong presence. Kind, smart, reliable, and open-minded. She always managed to surprise people in the best ways, which was exactly how she, a commoner, had managed to capture the hearts of so many noble heroines.
But…
After spending four years together, Carinvega had noticed something.
Rosie’s personality wasn’t quite the same as in the game.
Ever since that unexpected "oath of loyalty" event, which wasn’t in the original story, she had become more mature and composed.
And whenever something involved Carinvega directly, she became exceptionally serious about it.
How should she put it…?
It felt like she had gone from a lively teenage girl to a devoted, married woman.
But she was only 16!
While this change had its advantages, it also gave Carinvega constant headaches.
Many major events had taken unexpected turns because Rosie had been secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Yes, these incidents had skyrocketed Carinvega’s prestige and brought her unimaginable benefits…
But they had also tripled the frequency of her stomachaches.
Like right now.
That guilty look on Rosie’s face?
It practically screamed that she was scheming something again.
But this wasn’t the capital city.
Here in Sainz, she was just a 16-year-old girl.
Her clever little tricks might fool some nobles back home, but among the real power players gathered here?
She’d be seen through in an instant. And if she caused a serious diplomatic incident, it would be a disaster.
Carinvega gave the blonde girl a pointed stare.
“Listen… We just got to Sainz. Please, I’m begging you. Don't. Stir. Up. Trouble. I already had to deal with my idiot brother and Lord Shutak causing a public scandal. That was headache enough. I do NOT want to go around apologizing to people again…!"
Her only intention was to warn Rosie before she did something reckless. After all, even without the game’s story, the two of them had spent four years living together. They were close friends.
Rosie had even publicly sworn loyalty to her. And if she really did mess up?
Well… The one who would have to take responsibility in the end… Would still be Carinvega.
But for some reason, after hearing the princess say that, the blonde girl’s expression became even more guilty.
She instinctively pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. Her gaze darted around as she mumbled a weak defense.
“A-Another apology? So I really couldn’t hide it from you, huh…?”
“But we couldn’t just let that slide! That guy, he was mocking you behind your back, saying all your achievements were just luck, that you were nothing without your subordinates…”
“Even though you've done so much for the Austre Empire, even though your achievements and abilities far surpass anyone else your age…”
“And you… you just didn’t care? You weren’t angry? You just laughed it off like it was nothing? But we—”
“Hmm…?”
Just as Carinvega frowned slightly, about to question her further—
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the far end of the banquet hall!
The ceiling partially collapsed, and a massive shadow came crashing down, slamming into the ground with a thunderous impact.
“RUMBLE!!!”
"!?!"
Both Carinvega and Rosie’s expressions changed in an instant.
They abandoned their conversation without hesitation, standing up in unison as their sharp, surprised gazes locked onto the source of the sound.
What’s going on?!
This is the middle of Sainz City!
“Eeeeeeek!!!”
“A MONSTER! THERE’S A MONSTER!!!”
The once peaceful banquet descended into chaos. Especially near where the massive creature had fallen, order had completely collapsed.
Terrified guests screamed and scattered, frantically trying to find a safe place to hide.
The sudden stampede of panicked people caused the weaker ones to be shoved aside or knocked over, some even getting trampled underfoot.
Throughout the banquet hall, flashing red lights signaled the emergency alarm.
The two toy bears hosting the event seemed to be shouting something, but with the overwhelming sirens and screams, their voices were completely drowned out.
The Lotus Blade, Gladys, who was sitting at the same table as them, swiftly drew her sword. In a flash, she positioned herself in front of the princess, shielding her with a wary stance.
At the same time, Rosie summoned her staff, instantly conjuring a shimmering white light shield, ready for battle.
“Protect Her Highness!!!”
“Yes!!”
The guards accompanying them rushed forward, forming a human wall around Carinvega, the only one here without combat abilities, in an attempt to escort her to safety.
But Carinvega was no stranger to chaos. Having already experienced three full arcs of the main storyline, she had seen her fair share of crises.
Rather than panicking, she took advantage of a small gap between the guards, straining to look past them.
And then, she spotted a familiar figure, locked in a struggle with the monstrous creature.
Her pupils shrank.
“Orluk… That’s Orluk! She’s stuck fighting that thing! Gladys, go help her!”
One of the main heroines was caught up in this. This is it. This is a major event! A huge, plot-critical moment!
Damn it, if she had known the story in advance, she wouldn’t have to deal with this so unprepared!
Gladys, one of the Twin Lotus Stars, had an even sharper eye than Carinvega. She had already noticed her comrade’s predicament. Although the situation was still unclear, it didn’t stop Gladys from making the right call.
“Understood! Rosie, Noelle, protect Her Highness! If things go south, evacuate immediately!”
“Got it!”
“Understood. You be careful too.”
The golden-haired girl, another powerful light-element mage, responded firmly, though her gaze remained locked on the massive creature, which was several meters long and still clashing with their ally.
Her expression was grim.
“Be careful… That thing gives me a terrible feeling. It’s not normal. If it’s impossible, focus on getting Orluk out and retreat as fast as possible.”