Chapter 40
The mage Finn was Elysia’s next partner.
Upon hearing this information, the Crown Prince was silent for a moment.
“…You’re joking, right?”
After a brief pause, he asked again.
“No, it’s true.”
“It really is!”
Backed by Jerome’s testimony, Elysia drove the nail in. With a triumphant tone, she added,
“You’re not planning to forcefully take someone who already has a partner, are you? I didn’t take you for that type.”
“Haa…”
The Crown Prince responded in a low voice, clearly displeased.
“Ely, you might not realize it, but this isn’t just a matter of choosing a partner.”
“Of course not.”
It was probably a matter of pride for him as well. But not everything could go his way.
The Crown Prince muttered coldly, irritation creeping into his voice.
“If what you’re saying is true, I’m honestly surprised. If it’s really true, that is.”
Then he nodded, as if letting go of his regrets.
“…Then I guess there’s nothing I can do.”
‘He gave up more easily than I expected?’
It was a surprisingly quick surrender, unlike his usual persistent self.
‘Well, we’re only halfway through this whole thing. Maybe he doesn’t want to look too pathetic this early on.’
For Elysia, this was good news. She was finally free of the Crown Prince’s partner proposal. Before she realized it, Leonard was already looking at her with a calm smile, as if nothing had happened.
“Then, Ely, shall we head back to the ballroom together?”
The Crown Prince extended his hand as if offering reconciliation.
He clearly expected her to take it without hesitation. But Elysia didn’t oblige so easily.
“Hold on. Why would we go back together? I’m not your partner tonight either.”
It had been such a natural gesture that she’d nearly grabbed his hand without thinking.
The Crown Prince flinched, as if he hadn’t anticipated her refusal. He added with a humorless, dry tone,
“Think about it, Ely. If a man and woman who left together return separately, imagine the gossip. This is for both of our sakes.”
“…Hmm.”
Elysia tilted her head thoughtfully. As annoying as the Crown Prince was, she remembered what happened before she ran out of the ballroom. Leonard had stood up for her.
He’d even humbled himself to admit, “I lost to Ely in swordsmanship.”
She didn’t like him in many ways, but he seemed to draw a clear line and act accordingly.
Even now, he had cleanly backed off upon hearing she already had a partner.
And Elysia didn’t particularly want to feed the gossip mill either. Rather than looking like she’d fallen out with the Crown Prince, it might be better—for future convenience—to appear to be on decent terms.
“Alright. Let’s go back together just for tonight.”
Having made up her mind, Elysia placed her hand on his outstretched one. The Crown Prince’s eyes widened slightly at that moment. But as if nothing had happened, he smiled and naturally held her hand.
Now that they were holding hands, they began to walk forward when—
“…Thank you, Ely.”
The Crown Prince whispered softly.
Elysia didn’t look back at him. Somehow, his grip on her hand seemed tighter than before.
Was it just her imagination, or did his hand feel firmer now compared to the formal escort they had the first time?
The moment they entered the ballroom hand in hand, a suffocating silence fell over the room.
Then came the hushed whispers.
“Look over there—His Highness and Lady Sempherion have returned!”
“So the rumor that they were partners was true after all!”
“How did she even become his partner? She probably begged for it.”
“Seriously, I don’t understand why His Highness keeps defending that lady.”
The comments were mostly the same as before, but the volume had dropped significantly. It seemed the Crown Prince’s presence was making them tread carefully.
‘It’s not pleasant, but at least it’s quiet.’
Elysia shook her head. For now, it seemed the Crown Prince still intended to protect her. But she doubted it would last long.
After all, the real protagonist was coming.
‘Frillien, the protagonist.’
Once she appeared, the Crown Prince would surely pair up with her. Then rumors would spread that Elysia had been abandoned by him.
All the resentment that had built up until now would probably explode once she lost his protection.
‘But it doesn’t matter!’
Elysia smiled in relief.
∥“I just have to leave this place. Honestly, if it weren’t for the quest, I would’ve left this country long ago.”∥
Whether she saved enough money to return to Earth or waited for the story to end and traveled the world—it didn’t matter. Just thinking about leaving made her feel free.
Let them gossip all they want—Elysia was going her own way!
She was smiling with satisfaction when—
“Ely, are you sure you don’t want anything else to eat? You said earlier that the whole reason you came to the ball was for dessert.”
Apparently remembering her comment in the garden, the Crown Prince asked.
“I’m fine. I already tried two of everything earlier on purpose.”
“…You ate all of that?”
‘Well, I didn’t eat everything… I stashed a few in my inventory.’
To a stranger, it might look like she was a huge glutton. As Elysia wondered how to explain herself—
“The High Priest approaches!”
A loud voice rang out between them.
‘The High Priest?!’
The temple figure who was supposed to deliver the prophecy! Today’s main event!
The moment she remembered, Elysia forgot all about responding to the Crown Prince and whipped her head around.
The doors at the entrance opened, and a large group of people entered. But it was the figure walking gracefully at the front who drew the most attention.
A handsome young man with blue hair.
‘Is that him?’
From what Elysia remembered, that was exactly the character design for the High Priest. Just in case, she didn’t forget to point her camera at him.
∥“Dear viewers! Look over here! The High Priest is finally making his entrance! That’s him, right?”∥
LOL this commentary tho
This is supposed to be a solemn scene and suddenly it feels like a YouTube live
Why don’t you know who he is??
Omg that’s him!!! It is the High Priest!!
‘A solemn scene?’
Now that she thought about it, the ballroom music had been completely cut off, replaced by the choir behind the High Priest. A sacred chant echoed through the hall.
∥“Wow, it’s really grand when you hear it in person. Can you all hear it clearly?”∥
This scene had probably never appeared in the game. It happened before Frillien showed up. Maybe the viewers would enjoy this rare sight even more?
Elysia remembered that and continued.
∥“Yes, and now I will bring you the world’s first live broadcast of the High Priest’s prophecy! If you look over here—”∥
She was adjusting the camera when—
“Silence, all of you.”
A cold voice cut off Elysia mid-sentence.
‘…What?’
Elysia slowly turned to the center of the hall.
It was the High Priest who had interrupted her. He had spoken from far away, yet his voice pierced her eardrums like a blade.
‘…Is it some kind of skill?’
There were plenty of in-game skills that allowed characters to speak audibly across distances. There were also items for that.
Perhaps it was a divine power granted to someone with the unique status of High Priest.
Just as Elysia came to that conclusion—
The chat exploded.
Um…
What’s with that guy???
Is he looking this way?
He’s making eye contact with the camera???
Message after message filled the chat window.
Alarmed, Elysia turned back to the High Priest. Standing in the now-silent center of the hall, his blue eyes were fixed not on her, but on the floating holographic camera by her side.
‘No way…’
Could he actually see the broadcast or the camera?
No, no—he must’ve just looked in that direction by coincidence. There’s no way a character could be aware of the stream.
Just as she was thinking that—
Their eyes met.
He was no longer looking at the camera. His piercing blue eyes met hers directly. In that moment, she felt a strange discomfort from his penetrating gaze.
Then—
He smirked.
“…”
‘What is with this guy?’
Did he just smile… at me? Why??
Elysia frowned. As her focus sharpened, a faint notification popped up in her vision.
Above the High Priest’s head, the message read:
??Heart 124535678%
“…Huh?”
