Aria's veiled threat hung in the air, thicker than the scent of jasmine and pastries. Her sweet smile hadn't wavered, but the undercurrent of steel in her voice had been unmistakable. The [Heroine's Counterattack] warning on my FlagVision was blinking like a neon sign in a dark alley, screaming "DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!"
I took a slow, deliberate sip of my tea, trying to buy myself a few seconds to process. The original Veronica would have launched into a scathing tirade, probably flinging a scone or two for dramatic effect. But I wasn't the original Veronica. And escalating this into a public catfight in a picturesque pavilion felt like a one-way ticket to Bad End #5: "Death by Social Ruin and Subsequent Scone-Related Choking Incident."
"Misunderstandings can indeed be… unfortunate, Aria," I said, my voice carefully neutral. I tried to channel Beatrice's unflappable calm. "I assure you, my only intention is to… conduct myself with the decorum expected of my station." Vague. Non-committal. Hopefully, boring enough to de-escalate.
Aria's eyes, those pretty windows to a surprisingly competitive soul, searched mine. "Decorum is admirable, Lady Veronica. As is… knowing one's place."
Ouch. The claws were definitely out, just wrapped in velvet.
Her FlagVision pulsed: [Aria Linette: Warning Reinforced. Assessing Veronica's Reaction. STATUS: Guarded - Ready to Escalate if Provoked.]
"My place," I said, setting my teacup down with a soft click, "is as the daughter of Duke Everhart and, as you so astutely pointed out, the fiancée of Prince Lucian. A position I take… with all due seriousness." I let a hint of steel enter my own voice. Two could play at this subtle intimidation game, even if one of them was internally screaming like a startled goat.
It was a gamble. Asserting my claim, even mildly, could backfire spectacularly. But letting her walk all over me felt like rolling over and inviting the guillotine salesman in for a demonstration.
For a moment, the air crackled with unspoken tension. Then, Aria's smile softened, the predatory glint in her eyes receding slightly. "Of course, Lady Veronica. And I wish you nothing but happiness in that position."
The FlagVision flickered: [Aria Linette: Tactical Retreat - Reassessment of Veronica's Resolve. STATUS: Temporary Truce - Hostilities Paused.]
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Okay, crisis momentarily averted. Or at least, postponed.
The rest of the tea party was a masterpiece of polite, surface-level conversation. We talked about flowers, about the upcoming harvest festival, about anything and everything except Prince Lucian or our respective "places." It was exhausting. Every word felt like a chess move.
As we were preparing to leave, Aria turned to me, her expression once again one of sweet concern. "I do hope your… unsteadiness… has passed, Lady Veronica. It would be a shame if you were to take another tumble."
The implication was clear: I'm watching you. One wrong step…
"I'm feeling much more… grounded, thank you, Aria," I replied, meeting her gaze evenly.
We parted with polite farewells, but as I walked away from the Willow Creek Pavilion, I felt a chill despite the warm afternoon sun. Aria Linette was not the simple, pure-hearted heroine I'd initially pegged her as, not anymore. She was a player. A formidable one. And she saw me as a threat.
Beatrice was waiting for me with the carriage, her expression unreadable.
"Well?" she asked quietly as we settled inside.
"Well," I echoed, slumping back against the velvet squabs. "It seems Miss Linette is less 'sunshine and rainbows' and more 'passive-aggressive honey-trap with a competitive streak a mile wide.'"
Beatrice's eyebrow rose. "She made her intentions clear, then?"
"As clear as mud pies, but with sharper edges. Basically, stay away from the Prince, or things will get… unpleasant."
"A predictable move," Beatrice mused. "She is, after all, the 'chosen one' according to certain prophecies. She likely feels her destiny is being… encroached upon."
"Prophecies?" I perked up. "The game lore mentioned a 'Heroine's Prophecy System' that only Aria could read. Is that… real magic here?"
Beatrice nodded. "It is said to be an ancient form of divination, tied to the royal bloodline and the well-being of the kingdom. Miss Linette's arrival was foretold. Her success in… certain endeavors… is considered vital for Aurelia's future."
"Certain endeavors meaning bagging a royal husband and saving the kingdom from… something?"
"Essentially, yes," Beatrice confirmed. "Though the specifics of the prophecy are known only to a select few, including, it is rumored, the King himself and the High Council."
This was getting more complicated by the minute. I wasn't just dealing with game mechanics; I was dealing with actual magical destiny. And I was the wrench in its perfectly oiled gears.
Back in my chambers, I paced restlessly. The encounter with Aria had shaken me. It wasn't just about avoiding death flags anymore. It was about navigating a complex web of political intrigue, magical prophecies, and unexpected emotional entanglements, all while trying to remember which fork to use for the fish course.
I needed more information. I needed to understand how this world really worked, beyond the surface-level otome game tropes.
And I needed to figure out this damn FlagVision.
I closed my eyes, concentrating. Show me something. Anything.
At first, nothing. Then, a faint shimmer at the edge of my vision. I focused harder, trying to will it into clarity.
Suddenly, the room was overlaid with a faint, grid-like pattern. Text boxes flickered erratically, too fast to read. Icons flashed and disappeared. It was like looking at a corrupted video game display.
[Sys…Warning… Overload… Calibrat… Error 404: User Not Found in Designated Role Paramet…s…]
A sharp pain lanced through my temples. I gasped, clutching my head. The visual glitches intensified, colors bleeding into each other, the text becoming an unreadable scrawl.
[FlagVision.exe has encountered a crit…err… Rebo…ng in safe m…de?]
Then, as quickly as it started, it stopped. The room returned to normal. My head throbbed, but the overwhelming visual noise was gone.
What the hell was that? User Not Found? Designated Role Parameters? Was the system itself confused by my presence? By a dude inhabiting the villainess?
A knock on the door made me jump.
"My Lady?" It was Riven Thorne's voice. Calm, steady.
My heart did a strange little flip-flop. After the stable incident, I hadn't expected to see him again so soon, especially not seeking me out.
"C-come in, Commander," I called out, trying to smooth my hair and regain my composure.
He entered, his expression serious. He wasn't in his full armor, just his practical tunic and breeches, which somehow made him look less like a formal knight and more like… well, just a very capable, very observant man.
"Forgive the intrusion, Lady Veronica," he said, his grey eyes scanning my face. "I was… concerned. I heard you had tea with Miss Linette at the Willow Creek Pavilion."
News traveled fast in this castle.
"I did," I confirmed. "It was… illuminating."
His gaze sharpened. "Illuminating in what way, My Lady?"
There was a quiet intensity about him, a sense of protective concern that was surprisingly disarming.
Above his head, the FlagVision icon was back, but it was… different. It was slightly fuzzy around the edges, and the text within it flickered, as if struggling to resolve.
[Knight Commander Riven: Gen…ne C…cern +7. Susp…ion of Aria's Motives +4. STATUS: Protective Instincts… [Data Corruption Detected] …ing.]
Data Corruption Detected? What did that mean? Was my FlagVision malfunctioning because of my earlier… system crash?
"Miss Linette is… more complex than she appears," I said carefully, choosing my words.
Riven nodded slowly. "She has many admirers. And she wields a certain… influence." He paused. "Some might say she is very good at getting what she wants."
There was no judgment in his tone, just a statement of fact. But I sensed an undercurrent of… something. Disquiet? He was supposed to be her loyal knight, her devoted protector. Was he having second thoughts? Or was this just his natural caution?
"And what is it you think she wants, Commander?" I asked, genuinely curious.
He looked at me, his grey eyes unwavering. "Perhaps what everyone in her position wants, My Lady. Security. Favor. The successful fulfillment of her… destiny."
He didn't say "love" or "the Prince's heart." He spoke of destiny. Like Beatrice.
"And if someone… or something… were to stand in the way of that destiny?" I pressed gently.
A shadow flickered in his eyes. "Those who stand against the tide often find themselves… swept away." It wasn't a threat, more a somber observation. But the implication was clear.
He then changed the subject. "I also came to apologize, My Lady. For my… abruptness at the stables yesterday. If my catching you caused you any further discomfort or embarrassment…"
"Not at all, Commander," I said quickly, feeling a blush creep up my neck. "You saved me from a rather undignified landing. I should be thanking you."
His lips curved into a small, almost shy smile. It transformed his usually stern face, making him look younger, more approachable.
The fuzzy FlagVision above his head flickered again: [Knight Commander Riven: Reassurance Received +5. Personal Affection… [Recalculating due to Anomaly K-AI-T0] … +2. STATUS: Guarded Warmth.]
Anomaly K-AI-T0?
My blood turned to ice.
K-AI-T0.
Kaito.
The system… it knew. It knew my name.