How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

"Now I understand why Darling fell for all of you…" Liyana said suddenly, her voice soft but clear as she looked around at the others with genuine wonder in her eyes. "You're all so pretty."

The compliment, unexpected and sincere, softened the atmosphere for a fleeting moment—until that all-too-familiar glint sparked in Liyana's eyes.

"Hmm~" she hummed, and then slowly turned her head toward me with an expression that spelled nothing but mischief. "Darling," she purred, "which one of us do you think is more beautiful?"

The mood, which had only just begun to settle, snapped taut like a string pulled too tight.

"Huh?" I blinked, already sensing the trap but powerless to escape it.

She tilted her head innocently, though her tone remained playful. "Between Sister Snow and I… who do you think is more beautiful?"

A breathless silence hung in the air.

Even the soft clink of a teacup being set down seemed to echo too loudly.

Snow's expression didn't change, though a subtle shift in her eyes revealed she was now listening more intently.

Rose paused mid-sip, her gaze sharp as ever, and Alice leaned forward ever so slightly, clearly curious to see how I'd handle this mess.

"…I think you're both equally beautiful," I said, trying to sound as neutral—and as sincere—as humanly possible.

"Hmm~ but that's not what you said earlier, though, was it?" Liyana replied with a subtle pout and narrowed eyes that glimmered with accusation.

"I don't think I said anything like that…" I muttered, my brow furrowing.

"You did," she said with a dramatic little sniff. "When we were walking together earlier, enjoying the beautiful snowy morning… you looked at me and said that I was the prettiest in your eyes. That basically implies I'm the most beautiful, right?"

Her lower lip trembled slightly, eyes now shimmering with the faintest suggestion of tears. "Were you… lying to me, Darling?"

It was impressive, really—the way she weaponized affection and vulnerability so seamlessly.

Now the three other girls turned toward me in unison, eyes narrowed—not that I could tell if their disapproval was directed at me… or at Liyana for cornering me like this.

"I wasn't lying," I said quickly, lifting my hands in a weak defense. "Liyana, you know I think you're the cutest girl in the world. You're amazing and I meant every word of what I said earlier. But…" I cleared my throat, doing my best to salvage the situation. "Beauty is subjective. It's not something I can measure or rank. I think all of you are incredibly beautiful in your own unique ways. Like… like a field of flowers."

"Flowers?" Alice echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Right," I nodded. "You can't really say one flower is more beautiful than the other, right? Each has its own color, scent, and charm. That's how I see all of you. You're not competing—you're all blooming in your own way."

There was a pause. A long, heavy pause.

Then, finally, Liyana let out a soft giggle, her voice sweet like honey but carrying an unmistakable undertone of mischief.

"Fufu~ what a poetic answer, Darling. But you know…" she leaned in slightly, her smile widening with a glint in her eyes, "old flowers tend to wither easily and lose all their charm over time, don't they? Their petals fall, their fragrance fades… That's why fresh, newly blooming flowers are better. Their beauty lasts longer. They're livelier, more vibrant—objectively more beautiful. And the best part," she added with a teasing lilt, "is watching them bloom right before your eyes. That experience alone is priceless, wouldn't you say?"

A heavy silence followed her words.

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden venom coated in sugar.

That's… not at all what I was trying to say.

"I think so? Maybe?" I muttered vaguely, unsure of how to respond. "But that's beside the point anyway…"

I straightened up slightly, attempting to regain some control.

"I'm not trying to compare you girls. I don't think it's fair or right. You each have your own charm, and I meant what I said earlier—so let's not keep talking about this, alright? I mean… Liyana, you wouldn't want me to start comparing you to Snow, would you?"

There was a small pause.

Then Liyana smiled sweetly, as if she hadn't just implied a subtle insult to the oldest girl in the room.

"Hmm~ well, if you say so, Darling. Hehe, just knowing I'm the most beautiful girl in your eyes is more than enough for me~"

She playfully rested her head on my shoulder, clearly satisfied.

Fuu… I exhaled inwardly.

Okay, I think I handled that well enough.

'Dodged that landmine.'

But as I turned to glance at Snow and the others, hoping to see at least some signs of relief… I was met with an entirely different sight.

They were all still staring at me.

Hard.

Snow's expression hadn't changed, but there was a distinct coldness in her eyes now—a subtle chill that hadn't been there before.

Rose was holding her teacup, unmoving, her golden eyes sharp as they flicked from me to Liyana, then back again, as if calculating something.

And Alice—Alice just gave me the kind of tight-lipped smile people give when they're pretending not to be pissed off.

Even my mother, who had remained quiet this whole time, was now staring at me with an expression that could only be described as… disappointed.

Wait… what?

What did I do?

Did I say something wrong again? I was being fair, right? I was trying not to pick sides!

I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my neck.

Shit. I definitely messed something up.

And as if that wasn't enough, Liyana—completely oblivious to the tension tightening like a noose around my neck—pressed herself even closer to me, her arms clinging possessively around mine.

At this point, she was practically a koala, attached without a care in the world.

Her body, soft and silky against mine, gave off a warmth that made it hard to think straight.

And yet, despite my increasingly subtle efforts to shift away or even loosen her hold, I couldn't move her an inch.

It was like trying to push a marble statue carved in the shape of a girl.

Graceful, delicate, and absolutely immovable.

A dragon in human form is still a dragon, I thought grimly.

No wonder nothing I do works…

Then, right on cue—like a blade of ice slicing through the moment—Snow's voice rang out.

"Liyana."

It wasn't loud. It wasn't sharp. But it was unmistakably cold. The entire room seemed to freeze as that single word left her lips.

Liyana blinked, then turned her head toward Snow with her usual airy smile. "Hm? What is it, sister Snow?"

Snow didn't answer immediately.

Instead, her blue eyes quietly scanned the scene before her.

Her gaze fell directly on the narrow space—or rather, lack of space—between Liyana and me.

Her eyes lingered for a moment longer than necessary, a silent accusation flickering behind their calm surface.

"…Shouldn't you stop pressing yourself against Riley like that?" she asked finally, her tone as cool and level as ever. "I believe you're making him uncomfortable."

A long pause followed.

Then, as if baffled by the idea, Liyana tilted her head and looked up at me with innocent eyes. "Uncomfortable? That's strange… I think Darling enjoys it though."

And then—just to pour more oil into the growing fire—she turned fully toward me, her crimson eyes gleaming with a dangerous, teasing light. "Right, Darling?"

Shit.

Now all eyes were on me again.

I glanced toward Snow.

Her face was unreadable, but that made it worse.

Rose didn't say a word, but the way her golden eyes narrowed slightly spoke volumes.

Alice was clearly trying to suppress a sigh, her fingers gently stirring her teacup though her focus never left me.

Even my mother subtly raised an eyebrow.

I was standing on the edge of a cliff, and no matter which direction I turned, I was going to fall.

I sighed internally—for what felt like the twentieth time today. "Haha… it's fine, Snow," I said, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "I don't really mind Liyana's… actions."

Liyana beamed triumphantly, her arms tightening slightly around mine. "See~? Darling doesn't mind it. Hehe~"

There was a brief silence again. Except this time, it was heavier.

"Even if you say so…" Snow's voice remained calm, but there was a distinct edge in her tone, one that could cut ice. "It's rude to display such behavior in front of guests… especially toward your future co-wives."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop another few degrees.

Liyana blinked, as if only now realizing the issue. "Oh~? I see, I see," she said with a sweet but oddly unsettling smile.

Then, with a graceful motion, she gently released my arm and stepped back just enough to give the illusion of personal space.

Lightly, she dipped into a polite bow.

"I completely forgot," she continued in a sing-song tone. "I suppose I was being a little greedy~ Hogging Darling all to myself like that. I didn't consider how it must've looked to everyone else. Hehe, I guess it's only natural to feel jealous seeing how close we are. I'm really sorry, sisters. I'm still not used to this whole... sharing Darling's affection thing."

Her crimson eyes glinted with something unreadable—genuine regret, or amusement? I couldn't tell.

"But… if it's for everyone's happiness, then I suppose I'll just have to adapt to a new lifestyle when it comes to my love life, won't I?" she said with a flourish of mock drama. "Don't worry, I'll do my very best to be mindful from now on! Ah, but—" she clasped her hands together, eyes turning to me with a playful glint, "—I will still try to keep Darling all to myself when we're alone. That's okay, right?"

"…Yes," Snow replied after a pause, clearly caught off-guard by Liyana's sudden shift in tone. Her cool expression softened ever so slightly in surprise.

The other girls—Rose, Alice, and even my mother—seemed momentarily stunned. Rose's eyes flicked to me, then back to Liyana, as if reassessing her.

Alice tilted her head, a slight blush forming on her cheeks, while even Mom raised a hand over her mouth, quietly amused.