Once all the gifts had been given, the King rose from his seat and raised his cup high.

"Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful gifts!"

Though the King's voice was not loud, it carried effortlessly across the entire ballroom, silencing idle chatter.

"Now, please enjoy the party at your leisure."

A round of polite applause followed. The music swelled, more vibrant than before. As the King leaned down to speak with his youngest son, the rest of the court returned to motion. Nobles began forming circles, laughter and hushed whispers filling the hall as politics resumed behind wine and smiles.

"Hey, Lucen, do you think you can make another one of those boards made from the dragon's scales, with your signature on it?"

"Sorry, Robert, but if I did that, then the value of the gift I gave would diminish. Why are you asking for something like that? I thought you said before that the board is just a tool to play the game, it doesn't matter what it's made of."

When Robert heard Lucen's response, he, for the first time in a long time, actually felt a little embarrassed.

"Fine, I'll tell you. I wanted to use that board to exchange for the original journal of Lunavere Aeromont."

Robert confessed with a shrug, prompting Lucen to sigh in mild exasperation.

"That plan won't work. The only reason Duchess Seraphina is even interested in that board of the third prince is not fully because of the materials used or my signature in it."

"Huh? Then why is she so interested in it?"

"It's because it's the only one of its kind, of her current favorite board game. If I create another one, then it's no longer as valuable as before."

That doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't it be better if something like that were shared? Like knowledge, something everyone should have access to." Robert said confused by the idea.

"Humans are like that. They desire things that they cannot have. Because humans are never satisfied, we can only keep on moving forward."

"Every time I talk to you, it's like I'm talking to the old man. I always forget that you're a thirteen-year-old kid."

Lucen simply smiled at that.

***

As Lucen chatted with Robert, the clinking of glasses and echo of laughter carried across the hall. Not far from them, Kaelvar had cornered Vardon, his voice sharp with mischief.

"It seems that you have grown stronger, Vardon. Let's have a duel."

"Not today, Kaelvar. The ending of our duel will be the same as last time if we fight now."

"How can you know that, without even trying?"

"Then I forfeit this match and you win."

"Tsk, you know that I don't like that... Fine, I won't bother you with a duel for now," Kaelvar responded while shrugging his shoulders. "Hey, how about having our children have a match?"

"... I would ask Lucen if he wants to, but not now, on a different day. Today is supposed to be about the third prince as it is his birthday."

"How boring, you and Elandor really don't know how to have fun."

***

Lucen noticed a girl with golden blond hair and deep blue eyes approach him. Her look was what most people think of when they hear the word princess.

Her steps were light, her expression bright and innocent. But Lucen knew better.

Despite being much younger than the version he remembered from the game, he recognized her instantly. That radiant smile of hers, both a mask and her true self.

One who uses her naive demeanor to trick people into lowering their guards and learning many secrets from them. The future spymaster, and depending on the route taken by the protagonist, Alexander, the leader of the revolutionaries, Lysette Crowlorne.

'She's also the source of many bad endings for the protagonist. She's not a bad person, as most of her actions in the future are for the commoners, but she's quick to make a move. If she thinks you're a traitor or a hindrance to the revolution, she will end your life.'

Lucen remembered that the difficulty of the revolutionary route was mostly because of her. Depending on the choices made, there was also the route that she would not become the leader of the revolutionaries.

'Even when she's just a spymaster, her dialogue has a lot of thorns to it. Many players have been tricked by that innocent look of hers... The problem is that she is most of the time truly innocent, and it is that innocent behavior that gets people killed. Among the named characters, her existence is the most contradictory and hard to guess.'

As Lucen watched Lysette get closer to him, he was already sighing in his mind. In the game, Lysette was a challenge not due to her strength, but her dialogue. It was a fun challenge back when it was a game, but now that they were in reality, Lucen thinks it will become very stressful talking to Lysette.

"Good day, Sir Lucen. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Lysette did a polite curtsy in front of Lucen. "I'm the youngest daughter of Marquess Crowlorne, my name is Lysette."

"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Lysette."

Lucen returned her curtsy with a polite knight's salute, masking the flicker of unease rising in his chest. This was a girl who smiled amidst the chaos. Lysette then also did a curtsy as she looked at Robert.

"I greet you as well, Sir Robert."

"Sure, sure, greetings and all that," Robert replied dryly.

"So to what do we owe the honor of Lady Lysette's presence?" Lucen asked.

"I just wanted to meet you personally, Sir Lucen. You have been quite the center of attention these past few months. The stories about you are slowly becoming quite the legend. The young heir of the Iron Duke, one who many dismissed as a sickly person, has become someone who's able to slay dragons and become champion of the underground arena." Lysette spoke her curiosity ablaze.

"That's too much. I did not slay dragons; I only defeated one, and he was injured and young, and I did it with my trusted allies of Thornefang. As for becoming the underground arena champion, that did happen, only because the actual arena champion had placed many restrictions on himself."

"Even so, that does not diminish what you have done. I hope when they tell your stories in the future, I can become even just a footnote in the epic of your life."

Lucen knew better than to take her words at face value. Every sentence was a step in a dance whose tempo he had yet to master. But, of course, there was also the possibility that this younger version of Lysette wasn't like that just yet and was simply telling him what she truly felt.

'Yeah, even her older version in the game would mostly tell the truth about what she was feeling. The problem was interpreting that truth.'

"Thank you, I do not deserve such praise."

"No, I mean it, and if anyone should be thanking anyone, it's me. The game you made, Sir Lucen, is the most fun thing I have ever played. Thank you for making Territory War."

"I only made it to pass the time. I didn't expect others to enjoy it so much." Lucen responded, obviously that was not the whole truth, but it was close enough.

"Is that so... Then are you going to make more games?"

"Maybe, in the future. For now, I'm going to try my hand at writing a play."

Lucen was not aware of it, but he had said something more, even though Lysette didn't even ask for it directly. The flow of the conversation was already out of his hands, and he had noticed it.

Talking to Lysette was somehow relaxing; the way she spoke was calming, and her smile made her feel like a friend you have known for years.

"A play? That's fascinating. So you also know how to write plays, Sir Lucen. It would seem that you truly have many talents."

"I wouldn't go that far, Lady Lysette. I simply dabble in many things to keep myself entertained." Lucen gave a modest shrug, his tone light. "Besides, writing is easier when you're not aiming to impress, only to explore an idea."

"You truly are a humble person, Sir Lucen. I would very much like to watch that play of yours if you ever put it on show."

"I would contact you first, Lady Lysette, if I ever do."

The way the two teenagers were talking was very polite, and both sounded more mature than their ages.

Robert, who was listening in, was already feeling tired simply from listening to their conversation. Robert let out an exaggerated sigh and crossed his arms.

"Can you two stop talking like some old nobles? You're both thirteen. You guys should be playing outside or something."

"What were you doing when you were our age, Sir Robert?" Lysette asked, brimming with curiosity.

"What else? I was reading books, experimenting, and doing alchemy."

"That doesn't sound like something a thirteen-year-old would do," Lucen replied.

Lysette giggled, a soft, melodious sound that felt at odds with the cunning hidden behind her eyes. "I think Sir Robert just wants us to have fun in his way."

Robert huffed. "I was having fun. It's not my fault you two enjoy talking about nonsensical things like plays and games. We should be talking about advancing our knowledge."

As the three of them were having quite an intriguing conversation, one of the royal guards approached Lucen. The three stopped their conversation and waited to hear what the royal guard had to say.

"Lucen Thornehart, please follow me. His majesty wishes to meet you."

Hearing what the royal guard said, Lysette tilted her head, eyes glinting with curiosity, as if she'd expected this too.