𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒' 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐆 | 𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘵𝘥 𝘹 𝘔.𝘺/𝘯 |

(52) Changes Of Events.

"........,"

I carefully shifted, wincing slightly at the unfamiliar stiffness in my muscles.

As I stretched my arms above my head, a flash of movement at the doorway caught my eye.

There, bathed in the soft glow of the light, stood a figure cloaked in a dark, hooded robe.

A single strand of magenta hair peeked out from under the hood.

My breath hitched in my throat.

'Penelope...?'

Across from the figure stood Winter, my supposed lover, his back to me.

"........,"

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

"...I am a Sorcerer,"

He declared, his voice never strained.

"It means I can offer to do things that are impossible for ordinary humans."

Penelope remained silent for a long moment.

"... I will seek you again if there is anything I need then,"

She finally replied, her voice a low murmur that I barely caught.

"Though, that won't happen."

Penelope's eyes, the same shade of turquoise I knew so well, flickered across the room.

My heart hammered in my chest.

I knew, with a horrifying certainty, that her gaze had landed on me.

With a forced gesture, I closed my eyes again, feigning sleep.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation.

Penelope, visiting the mage guild in secret?

This was a different change from the game I knew - a significant one.

As the sound of footsteps faded away, I stole a peek through barely open eyelids.

Winter stood alone in the doorway, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Had he failed to convince Penelope?

Or was there something else at play here, something the game never revealed?

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips.

I was naive.

Even as we're lovers, the game would always bend reality in favor of either the heroine or villainess.