Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game?

“How am I supposed to convince that guy…?”

 

Eden’s self-mocking murmur caught the attention of her colleague standing nearby, who turned to her in surprise.

 

“Huh?”

 

“It’s just… really amazing, this founding banquet,” Eden quickly replied with a bright smile. Her colleague nodded enthusiastically.

 

“Isn’t it? Truly, this is the Imperial Palace!”

 

Nodding in agreement, Eden waited until her colleague’s attention returned to the opulent banquet hall before resuming her sharp search for her target characters.

 

Her gaze settled on a man with golden hair sitting across from Ivatan.

 

“Karon…!”

 

Eden’s eyes sparkled with recognition as she spotted her second target.

 

Karon Citriel.

 

That was the name of the man with gleaming blond hair and golden eyes to match, the captain of Hesmore’s Holy Knights and the empire’s most powerful sword master.

 

It was no exaggeration to say that half the monsters threatening the empire perished by Karon’s sword.

 

“Wow…”

 

Eden murmured in admiration. Perhaps the archangel himself looked like Karon: golden hair, golden eyes, and a face so divinely handsome that even monsters might pause to admire him.

 

Karon’s expression was far gentler than Ivatan’s, fitting for a holy knight, but Eden knew all too well from previous experiences that he wasn’t easy to sway either.

 

“…”

 

Eden calmly shifted her gaze again, but could find no other familiar faces near the front. Finally, after scanning the room, her eyes landed on a silver-haired man seated in a corner, casually swirling his wine glass as he watched the scene unfold.

 

Upon spotting Zephar, Eden’s expression grew tense.

 

Zephar Uren.

 

A grand duke from the Uren family, one of the founding families of the empire, Zephar held immense power rivaling that of the royal family itself, maintained through multiple imperial reigns.

 

“They say he holds more power than anyone else after the emperor. Zephar might be the most critical ally to secure.”

 

Aligning with him could very well be the easiest path to the throne. His relaxed blue eyes reflected his confidence in this fact.

 

But Eden also remembered from her first playthrough that Zephar was one of the most challenging characters to win over.

 

“Ha…”

 

Her excitement over seeing these impressive characters in person had faded long ago, replaced by an overwhelming reality.

 

This might be a game, but to Eden, this was also her current reality, and these people were all too real. Facing characters she had only known as in-game avatars made her feel anxious and uncertain.

 

“I couldn’t even clear the game when I could observe everything. Can I really persuade and manipulate all of them on my own?”

 

Feeling discouraged, Eden suddenly remembered something crucial and lifted her head abruptly.

 

“Asmun.”

 

At that very moment, the grand doors of the banquet hall swung open, drawing everyone’s gaze.

 

The lively atmosphere of the banquet stilled instantly as a man entered, bathed in the light spilling through the open doors. Eden’s heart skipped a beat with a strange sense of foreboding.

 

“…”

 

The man walked in with unruffled composure, slicing through the silence. Eden couldn’t tear her eyes away as he approached.

 

Jet-black hair and eyes like burning embers at dusk. His serene face carried a chilling aloofness.

 

This was her first quest and her one and only hope of returning.

 

The third prince, Asmun Declend.

 

Asmun’s arrival stirred whispers among the guests. Being late to such a solemn event as the Founding Day banquet would have drawn attention, but Asmun’s disheveled state added to the murmurs.

 

“That smell of blood…”

 

Eden frowned involuntarily. Every time Asmun took a step, a metallic scent wafted from the ends of his cloak.

 

“Asmun Declend, greetings to His Majesty. Apologies for my tardiness.”

 

Asmun bowed respectfully before the emperor, who looked at him with a mix of annoyance and pity, clicking his tongue.

 

“Why are you late on such an important day?”

 

“The carriage broke down on my way here,” Asmun replied smoothly. But Eden knew it was a lie; Asmun had been ambushed en route, a scheme orchestrated by the first prince, Kyris.

 

Eden’s heart pounded heavily in her chest.

 

“Ambush Asmun on his way to the Founding Banquet” had been one of her quests when she played as the first prince. It wasn’t an attempt to kill Asmun, just an effort to keep him in the emperor’s disfavor.

 

“Very well, go on in.”

 

Scolding a flawed prince publicly would reflect poorly on the emperor himself. With a click of his tongue, the emperor refrained from further reproach, and Asmun bowed again before turning away.

 

Straining to get a better view, Eden edged forward, her eyes fixed on Asmun. He looked every bit as striking as his meticulously drawn illustration.

 

The black hair tinged with red and his burning crimson eyes suited him perfectly. His sharp, slightly rebellious features were enough to make every woman in the hall’s heart race.

 

“…”

 

But more than his beauty, it was his icy gaze that left Eden feeling captivated and slightly intimidated.

 

Seeing those unflinching, emotionless eyes made Eden momentarily regret choosing Asmun. And yet, a strange satisfaction and thrill simmered within her.

 

It would indeed be challenging to win his trust, but if she could…

 

“He has far more potential than the lackluster first and second princes.”

 

This certainty stirred something within her, a deep resolve she wouldn’t have felt if she hadn’t been thrust into this world, faced with their tangible presence.

 

Asmun, with that mysterious aura, was nothing like the lifeless illustration. The true protagonist of this game was Asmun.

 

“Sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”

 

Inwardly apologizing, Eden took a deep breath, steadying herself.

 

The banquet resumed, and soon enough, the first prince’s plan was set to unfold.

 

And right on cue, it happened.

 

“Ah!”

 

A maid carrying a tray let out a startled gasp.

 

“Oh, no… I’m so sorry!”

 

Everyone’s attention shifted toward the commotion, where Asmun now stood with wine spilled all over his shoulder. The maid had tripped and poured the wine she was carrying onto Asmun, who had been standing behind her.

 

As the scene unfolded with precise accuracy, Eden’s tension grew, and her gaze hardened.

 

“F-forgive me…”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Asmun replied curtly, taking a handkerchief from one of his attendants and wiping the wine away.

 

The maid, flustered, quickly scurried off, and the guests, finding no further excitement, returned their focus to the banquet.

 

“Are you all right?”

 

One of Asmun’s attendants asked quietly, to which Asmun responded by holding out the stained handkerchief.

 

“Aside from the smell of rot, I’m fine.”

 

The attendant’s expression turned uncomfortable at Asmun’s indifferent reply.

 

“Would you like to change…?”

 

“No.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

The attendant respectfully took the handkerchief and stepped back, while Asmun glanced around the room, unfazed.

 

No one approached him, wary of crossing the first prince, who was favored to inherit the throne. But Asmun seemed utterly indifferent to the distance others kept.

 

“…”

 

Eden stole a glance toward the first prince. As expected, Kyris was watching Asmun, whispering instructions to someone.

 

Noting this, Eden realized things were about to escalate and discreetly checked the item she had brought in her pocket.

 

It didn’t take long. The peaceful banquet soon descended into chaos.

 

“Who’s that?”

 

A man cloaked in black had appeared, moving through the hall toward the emperor, who was busy greeting foreign envoys. His strange appearance quickly drew the eyes of the guests.

 

Noticing the suspicious figure, the head of the Imperial Knights swiftly blocked his path.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“…”

 

The cloaked man remained silent, but Eden knew who he was. Kyris had hired him, promising to clear his family’s debt and guarantee their safety in exchange for this one task—to be used and discarded.

 

Eden clenched her jaw, watching the man’s trembling shoulders.

 

“I asked who you are. Show your invitation.”

 

The knight commander’s tone turned harsh as he drew his sword. The man, shaking, reached into his robes and quickly pulled something out.

 

The knight’s eyes widened, and his voice boomed through the banquet hall.

 

“Protect His Majesty!”

 

At his command, knights rushed to shield the emperor, forming a protective barrier.

 

The emperor, who had been inspecting gifts from neighboring countries, looked up in surprise.

 

“What’s this commotion?”

 

Everyone gathered in groups, watching the man holding the ominous black orb.

 

The man hesitated, but upon seeing Kyris’s narrowed eyes, he squeezed his own shut and spoke.

 

“Y-you foolish humans… You… shall… face… the Demon King’s wrath…!”

 

Even through his trembling voice, the words “Demon King” were unmistakable, and the eyes of everyone in the hall grew wide with shock.