Episode 14| How did it turn out like this?
Riley had one simple goal that morning.
Distribute food.
Help flood victims.
Return to the temple.
No complications.
No drama.
No main characters.
"...This should be easy," she muttered under her breath.
Famous last words.
---
The small town on the outskirts of the capital had been devastated by floods.
Homes were damaged.
Roads were muddy.
Families huddled together, relying on aid from the temple.
Riley-currently Ryan-stood at the center of the relief station, sleeves slightly rolled, golden hair catching the sunlight as she worked efficiently.
"Alright, next-one bag per family, please don't push-"
Everything was going smoothly.
Peacefully.
Suspiciously peacefully.
Until-
"Ryan."
Her hand froze mid-motion.
That voice.
Playful.
Dangerous.
No.
She turned slowly.
Crown Prince Raymond Lucille stood there casually, smiling like he owned the entire situation.
"I thought you might need help."
Of course you did.
Before she could respond-
"Priest Ryan."
Duke Edward White approached from the opposite direction, calm and imposing as ever.
"I was informed this area required assistance."
You too?
And then-
"Ryan!"
Seraphina arrived, graceful even in the mud, her presence drawing attention effortlessly.
"I came to assist as well."
Riley stared at all three of them.
Her expression blank.
Her soul? Gone.
...How did it turn out like this?
---
"Ryan, I'll carry those."
Raymond had already taken the supply bags from her hands.
"No. I will handle it," Edward said, lifting even more with ease.
"Trying to compete?" Raymond smirked.
"Simply being efficient."
"...I can carry-" Riley tried.
"No."
Both men.
Again.
"...Right."
---
"Ryan, you should rest."
Edward's tone was firm.
"I agree," Raymond added, handing her water. "You're working too hard."
Before she could respond-
"Wait."
Seraphina stepped forward, gently wiping dirt from Riley's cheek with a handkerchief.
"...You should be more careful."
Her tone was composed.
But her touch lingered.
Riley froze.
Raymond narrowed his eyes.
Edward's expression darkened.
Seraphina stepped back as if nothing had happened.
"...There."
"...Thank you," Riley said slowly.
---
"Ryan, I'll handle that side."
"No, I already assigned it to myself," Edward replied.
"Then reassign it."
"...You are not in a position to give orders."
"And you are not in a position to stop me."
"...Please don't fight," Riley said weakly.
They both paused immediately.
"...Of course."
"Anything for you."
I can't do this.
---
And just when Riley thought it couldn't get worse-
"Ryan."
A calm, familiar voice.
Her entire body stiffened.
No way.
She turned-
And there he was.
Archmage Michael.
Of course.
Of course he would be here too.
Because why wouldn't all four of them show up at once?
"I heard you were assigned here," Michael said, walking toward her with quiet confidence. "So I came to assist."
Riley stared at him.
"...You're an Archmage."
"Yes."
"...You don't need to volunteer."
"I wanted to."
Simple.
Direct.
Dangerous.
Raymond's smile faded slightly.
Edward's gaze sharpened.
Seraphina's expression cooled.
Ah.
Tension.
New tension.
Great.
---
Now-
It was no longer chaos.
It was war.
"Ryan, here-eat something."
"I brought better provisions," Edward added.
"I ensured the water is purified," Michael said calmly.
Seraphina stepped in.
"He needs space."
Silence.
All four of them looked at each other.
Riley slowly stepped back.
I am not part of this.
---
At one point-
Riley tried to escape.
Keyword: tried.
She took one step back-
"Ryan, where are you going?" Raymond asked.
"I'll accompany you," Edward added.
"I'll come as well," Michael said.
Seraphina folded her arms.
"...You'll need supervision."
Riley: "...I was just going to breathe."
---
Meanwhile, the villagers whispered among themselves.
"Is that priest... important?"
"He must be."
"Look at the people around him..."
"Is that the Crown Prince?!"
"And the Duke-?!"
"And... the Archmage?!"
"And Lady Seraphina?!"
"...Who is that priest?!"
Riley: I would also like to know.
---
As the sun began to set, the work finally slowed.
The town was calmer.
Relief had been delivered.
People were safe.
Riley stood at the edge of the settlement, staring at the horizon.
Peace.
Finally.
"...Long day?"
Raymond.
"...You overworked yourself," Edward added.
Michael stood slightly closer than necessary.
"You should rest."
Seraphina's voice followed.
"You pushed yourself too much."
Riley turned slowly.
Looking at all four of them.
The Crown Prince.
The Duke.
The Archmage.
The Villainess.
All here.
All watching her.
All-
Focused on her.
Her eye twitched slightly.
This is a nightmare.
She let out a long sigh.
"...How did it turn out like this?"
No one answered.
But the tension between them-
The unspoken competition-
The way each of them looked at her-
Said everything.
And deep down-
Riley realized something terrifying.
She wasn't avoiding the story anymore.
She was at the center of it.
Surrounded.
Cornered.
And completely-
Entangled.
"...I need a drink," she muttered under her breath.
Unfortunately for her-
Four voices responded at the same time.
"I'll join you."
Riley closed her eyes.
...I'm finished.
The chaos had finally... finally settled.
The villagers had been fed.
The supplies distributed.
Even the relentless attention from certain individuals had, for the moment, eased.
For the first time all day-
Riley was alone.
Or so she thought.
---
The late afternoon sky stretched across the horizon, painted in deep ambers and soft golds. The fading sunlight cast a gentle glow over the quiet edges of the town, wrapping everything in a warmth that felt almost... sacred.
Riley stood near the outskirts, her golden hair catching the light, her green eyes reflecting the calm after the storm.
For a brief moment-
She allowed herself to breathe.
"To think you would come somewhere like this willingly."
Riley froze.
She didn't need to turn.
"...Lady Seraphina."
Seraphina stepped forward, her presence elegant as ever, though softer now-less guarded than usual.
"I've been looking for you," she said.
Riley turned slowly, offering a polite smile.
"My apologies. I didn't realize I was needed."
"...You weren't."
That answer caught her off guard.
Seraphina walked closer, stopping just a step away from her.
"I simply... wanted to speak with you."
Riley blinked.
Alone?
With me?
Voluntarily?
This feels dangerous.
---
For a moment, neither spoke.
The quiet stretched between them, filled only by the distant sounds of the village settling for the night.
Seraphina's gaze lingered on Riley.
Longer than usual.
Her eyes traced the soft glow of the fading sunlight against Ryan's features-
Golden hair.
Clear green eyes.
That calm, almost unreal presence.
For a brief moment-
She forgot to speak.
...This is unfair.
"...Is something wrong, Lady Seraphina?" Riley asked gently.
Seraphina blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
"...No."
A pause.
"...I was just thinking."
Riley tilted her head slightly.
"About?"
Seraphina hesitated.
Then, surprisingly-
She answered honestly.
"...About how someone can look so... unreal."
Riley froze.
"...Pardon?"
Seraphina looked away immediately, clearing her throat.
"...Nothing. Forget I said that."
Did she just-
No.
No, no, we're not doing this today.
---
Seraphina exhaled softly, regaining her composure.
"There is something I wanted to tell you."
Riley straightened slightly.
"Of course."
A pause.
Then-
"I used to admire the Crown Prince."
Riley blinked.
...Ah.
That made sense.
That was supposed to happen.
"That's understandable," Riley replied carefully. "His Highness is... admirable."
Seraphina gave a small, almost amused smile.
"Is he?"
Riley hesitated.
"...I suppose that depends on perspective."
That earned a quiet huff of laughter from Seraphina.
"...Perhaps."
Her expression softened slightly.
"I once believed I would marry him."
Riley's eyes widened just a fraction.
That is definitely the original plot.
"So... is that still the case?" Riley asked cautiously.
Seraphina was quiet for a moment.
Then-
"...No."
Riley blinked.
"...No?"
That answer came too easily.
Too definitively.
Seraphina shook her head.
"...Not anymore."
Riley studied her carefully.
That's... different.
That's very different.
"What changed?" Riley asked before she could stop herself.
Seraphina didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at Ryan again.
Really looked.
And for once-
There was no arrogance.
No cold distance.
Just something... softer.
"...Someone," she said quietly.
Riley's heart skipped.
Someone?
Seraphina clasped her hands lightly in front of her, her usual composure slipping just slightly.
"I used to think kindness was weakness," she continued. "That emotions... only made people vulnerable."
Riley listened silently.
"But then," Seraphina added, her voice softer now, "I met someone who proved me wrong."
A pause.
"They didn't hesitate."
Riley's breath slowed.
"They helped others without expecting anything in return."
Her chest tightened.
"They treated commoners and nobles the same."
Riley's fingers twitched slightly.
"And they... changed the way I see things."
Silence.
Heavy.
Intentional.
Riley swallowed.
"...They sound like a remarkable person."
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"They are."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then-
"...They're also incredibly dense."
Riley blinked.
"...Pardon?"
Seraphina turned to her fully now.
Her gaze steady.
Direct.
"...They have no idea how much they've affected me."
Riley's brain stalled.
...Wait.
No.
No, no, no-
Who is she talking about?
Her mind raced.
It can't be me.
It's definitely not me.
There's no way-
"...Do you know who I'm referring to?" Seraphina asked suddenly.
Riley froze.
"...I-"
Say no.
Say no immediately.
"...I'm not sure."
Good answer.
Safe.
Neutral.
Distant.
Seraphina watched her for a long moment.
Then-
She smiled.
Softly.
"...I thought so."
Riley let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
That was close.
Too close.
---
The sun dipped lower, casting a deeper golden glow across the land.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then-
"Ryan."
Her name-no, his name-fell from Seraphina's lips more gently than before.
Riley looked at her.
"...Yes?"
Seraphina hesitated.
Just slightly.
"...Do you believe people can change?"
Riley paused.
Then answered honestly.
"...I do."
Seraphina nodded slowly.
"...So do I."
A faint breeze passed between them.
Soft.
Quiet.
Carrying something unspoken.
Seraphina took a small step back.
Her usual composure returning.
"...You should rest."
Riley blinked.
"...You too, Lady Seraphina."
Seraphina turned to leave.
But just before she did-
"...Ryan."
Riley looked at her again.
"Yes?"
Seraphina's gaze lingered.
Just for a moment.
"...Don't let anyone change you."
A pause.
"...Not even the temple."
And with that-
She walked away.
---
Riley stood there.
Frozen.
Processing.
Replaying every word.
Every look.
Every pause.
Her eye twitched slightly.
"...No."
She ran a hand through her hair.
"...No, no, no-"
Her heart started racing.
"...There's no way."
A beat.
"...Right?"
Silence answered her.
And for the first time-
Riley felt something unfamiliar creeping into her carefully controlled situation.
Not danger.
Not strategy.
Not calculation.
Something far more complicated.
"...This is getting out of hand."
Because deep down-
She already knew the truth.
Even if she refused to say it out loud.
Seraphina hadn't been speaking in riddles.
She hadn't been vague.
She hadn't been unclear.
Riley had simply chosen-
Not to understand.
"...I need to stay focused."
Her voice was quieter now.
More uncertain than before.
"...This is just part of the story changing."
Right?
But as the last light of the sun faded-
Even Riley wasn't entirely convinced.