How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 564: Innocent Worry

Sigh…!

“What’s wrong, Emmy?”

At the quiet corner of the academy’s grand church, Emilia and Vanessa sat side by side on the cold stone steps, their shoulders brushing lightly as the morning breeze swept through.

The last prayers of dawn had just finished, and the lingering sound of chiming bells drifted like silver threads in the air.

From inside the church, faint hymns and the deep, harmonious voices of the choir spilled outward, wrapping the courtyard in a solemn tranquility.

Emilia let out another small sigh, this one internal, but Vanessa—sharp as always—caught the shift in her eyes.

She tilted her head, her long ears twitching ever so slightly in irritation.

“It’s nothing…” Emilia muttered, forcing a smile as she shook her head.

Vanessa raised a brow, unconvinced. “It’s clearly not just nothing. You can tell me what’s bothering you, you know.”

Her voice was firm, but beneath it was that quiet gentleness that Emilia both admired and dreaded. Emilia’s lips pressed together.

For a long moment she hesitated, her thoughts pulling her in two directions.

If she tried to brush it off with another lie, she knew Vanessa would corner her eventually.

But if she admitted what was on her mind now… it was too embarrassing.

“We’re back, Saintess—”

Both girls turned. Behind them stood Amon and Anna, Emilia’s personal guards.

The tall man held a bundle of still-warm bread tucked under one arm, the scent of yeast and butter wafting toward them, mingling with the crisp morning air.

In his other hand, he balanced a small wooden tray filled with bottles of light, refreshing drinks.

Anna walked beside him, her expression already weary. The moment Amon spoke, she sighed and gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs.

“O-Ow! What was that for?” he hissed, wincing.

“Need I remind you? It’s Lady Enna right now,” Anna scolded, her eyes narrowing as if she were scolding a child.

“Tch… it’s not like there are other people around,” Amon muttered. “Besides, thanks to Lady Vanessa’s Elven arts, we’re basically camouflaged. Anyone who passes will just ignore us.”

Anna’s gaze grew sharper. “There are limits to how lenient one can be. Perhaps you’ve gotten too used to this… relaxation. Maybe I should report this back to the Pope.”

“You—!”

“Now, now, you two, please calm down.”

Emilia quickly interjected, raising her hand before their bickering escalated.

Her smile was a little strained, but her voice carried its usual warmth.

“I appreciate your responsible words, Anna, but… I think Amon is kind of right here. When we’re alone, please address me as freely as you want. But at the same time, Amon, do try to be aware of your surroundings. Anna is also right about that.”

The two froze, then exchanged reluctant glances, muttering under their breaths as they backed down.

Amon stepped forward, holding out the small cloth bag filled with warm pastries and a pair of chilled drinks wrapped in paper.

The aroma of fresh bread—sweet cream, roasted grains, and a faint buttery crispness—drifted into the air.

Anna followed beside him, her posture straight and disciplined as always, though her eyes flicked once toward the tray as if she herself were tempted.

“Wow, Vanessa, look!” Emilia’s voice brightened as she peeked inside the bag. “It’s a phoenix creampuff and a fresh bull loaf—hehe, these two are my favorites! And… oh, there’s even an elva bread here. You like this one, right?”

Vanessa gave a soft smile, her fingers brushing against the braided loaf wrapped in golden paper. “Yes. Thank you for bringing us such fresh pastries, Sir Amon, Dame Anna.”

At the sound of her formal tone, both guards stiffened slightly.

Despite being assigned to Emilia for so long, they had never fully gotten used to the presence of Vanessa.

It wasn’t dislike—no, rather, it was the quiet weight she carried.

Even when she simply smiled, Vanessa exuded a noble aura, graceful and composed, like someone born to rule.

The kind of presence that demanded respect without ever raising her voice.

They exchanged a quick glance with one another, then bowed their heads slightly in unison.

“It is our pleasure, Lady Vanessa,” Anna said, her voice crisp.

“Always,” Amon added, a little more awkward but still earnest.

Vanessa inclined her head politely before taking her share.

Emilia, meanwhile, chuckled softly at their stiff interaction, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

She reached into the bag again, taking two small pieces and offering them back to her guards.

“Here. Share some with me. You went through the trouble of buying them, it’s only fair.”

Anna immediately raised her hands, refusing. “It’s fine, Saintess. We are already full.”

Amon shook his head as well, his expression firm. “Even more so, it is not proper for guards to take from their Saintess. We are here to serve and protect, not to be served.”

Emilia puffed her cheeks, feigning annoyance, though her eyes betrayed more amusement than real frustration. “Come on, it’s not like Grandpa is around to monitor us.”

“Even if that’s the case,” Amon said, straightening his back further, “our duty does not change. We would dishonor ourselves if we failed to uphold it.”

Anna nodded in agreement, her expression unyielding.

For a moment Emilia simply stared at the both of them, her lips tightening into a pout.

Then, finally, she let out a sigh and leaned back against the stone wall. “Alright then… but no regrets, okay?”

The two guards nodded at once, their faces as rigid as ever.

Emilia couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. “Honestly… you two are way too serious.”

Vanessa, watching the exchange, allowed herself a small chuckle as well, though her gaze lingered longer on Emilia than on the guards.

She could see how much Emilia wanted to break through their formality, and how—despite being adored as the Saintess—she yearned for just a little normalcy.

Emilia, though a little dissatisfied that her guards wouldn’t share, let the matter go.

Her own stomach had already been grumbling, and breakfast was long overdue.

She lifted the warm loaf closer to her face, inhaling deeply.

The aroma of fresh cream, butter, and soft wheat filled her senses, and before long she took her first eager bite.

“Mm~ so delicious!” she said, her cheeks lifting in a small smile.

Beside her, Vanessa nibbled more delicately on her own bread, chewing slowly before giving a small nod. “It’s sweeter than usual… but it’s good.”

“Hehe, what are you talking about, Vanessa? The sweeter the bread, the better!” Emilia’s laugh was bright and unrestrained, but in her excitement she didn’t notice a smear of cream sticking to the corner of her lips.

Vanessa did. She watched for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.

“What? What’s wrong?” Emilia asked, tilting her head, eyes wide in innocent confusion.

“It’s nothing,” Vanessa replied with an amused smile.

Emilia blinked, then puffed her cheeks lightly, but soon she broke into laughter herself.

Their mirth lingered between them as they continued their quiet breakfast, the bells of the church in the distance softening into the hum of morning bustle.

But eventually, Vanessa’s gaze sharpened, her laughter fading into a quiet seriousness. She turned slightly to face Emilia more directly.

“So, Emmy… Mind telling me what’s really on your mind?”

“Huh?” Emilia stiffened, caught mid-bite.

“The reason you were sighing so much a while ago.”

“I-I wasn’t sighing…”

Vanessa arched a brow. “Yes, yes, and I suppose I have no eyes either. I would have let the topic rest if I hadn’t seen you practically go blank during the prayer ceremony.”

“W-Well…” Emilia’s voice faltered as she shrunk back against the bench, her hands fidgeting with the bread in her lap.

Now that Vanessa had pressed the matter openly, and with Amon and Anna standing not far from them, the air seemed to grow heavier.

The two guards, though they said nothing, were still present—still watching with their quiet loyalty.

Emilia could, of course, dismiss them. She could order them to step aside, to cover their ears, or even to not listen.

A part of her wondered if hearing multiple perspectives might help.

“Is it about what happened in the dungeon a few days ago, perhaps?” Vanessa asked gently, her voice patient.

Emilia immediately shook her head. “N-No, not at all.”

“Then is it because you couldn’t spend as much time with the others as you expected?”

Again, Emilia shook her head, a little too quickly this time, as if brushing away something sticky that clung to her thoughts.

“Then what is it, Emmy? Don’t worry—I might be able to help you out.”

Emilia fidgeted with her bread, her fingers pulling lightly at its crust as though it could absorb her nervousness. “W-Well… I’ve just been having these recent thoughts… a-and they might come off as a bit disturbing and… sensitive.”

Vanessa tilted her head. “Hm? Disturbing thoughts? A sensitive topic? Did the goddess perhaps give you another oracle? You’ve been saying you could hear her voice more often lately, right?”

Emilia’s shoulders twitched at the suggestion, but she shook her head again, her golden hair brushing softly against her cheeks.

“It’s not about the goddess. Although… it’s true that I’ve been hearing her voice more often during prayers, this isn’t… exactly about her.”

“Then what is it that troubles you?”

For a long moment, Emilia hesitated.

Her eyes shifted toward Amon and Anna, the two guards still standing dutifully nearby, their expressions calm but their ears unmistakably listening. Then, with a small swallow, she turned back to Vanessa, as if gathering courage.

“U-Uhm… I just had a question about something…”

Vanessa leaned in slightly. “Go on.”

Emilia squeezed her bread tighter, her cheeks flushing a faint pink. “…I-It’s about Senior Riley. D-Do you think there would ever be… a limit to his harem?”

“……”

“…”

The words slipped out like an arrow loosed without aim.

Silence followed.

Vanessa blinked, momentarily stunned.

Anna, though stone-faced, shifted her gaze ever so slightly, while Amon nearly choked on his own breath before catching himself.

Riley? Harem?

The three of them shared a moment of quiet bewilderment, but Vanessa—more than anyone—knew this question wasn’t random.

She had always known Emilia’s heart leaned toward Riley, but to hear her frame it in that way, so openly… even Vanessa had to pause.

“…Why the sudden curiosity, Emmy? And what do you mean by limit?” Vanessa asked, though her eyes were already narrowing with a flicker of interest.

Emilia’s lips trembled as if the words themselves embarrassed her. “I heard he… u-uhm… impregnated Lady Seo the other day…”

“E-Excuse me?” Vanessa nearly lost her composure.

“And that she’s officially going to become another bride for him… so maybe… Senior doesn’t have a limit?”

Amon and Anna, who had been silent until now, both straightened subtly.

Amon’s brows twitched, while Anna pressed her lips together in faint disapproval, though she didn’t speak.

Vanessa, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly.

“Emmy, slow down for a bit… I think you’re getting your information from rumors again.”

But Emilia pressed forward, her voice trembling but earnest. “An imperial princess… a duke’s daughter… a future archmage… and a lady from the most renowned clan in the world. S-Senior’s prestige and degree can’t even be questioned anymore, right? H-He also has the emperor’s and the grand duke’s blessing. So, if it’s like that… there would be no problem if he… if he claimed someone considered holy, right?”