Mina couldn't shake the feeling that everything was moving too fast, but there was no turning back now. She had already crossed the threshold of this new life, and there was no going back to the world she once knew. The game world—her prison, her cage—was starting to show its cracks, and she wasn't about to wait around for it to fix itself.
As she stood in the royal garden with Prince Alden, the air between them felt thick with unspoken words. The calm, peaceful atmosphere of the garden contrasted sharply with the storm brewing inside her. Every moment she spent in this world, she felt more and more like a puppet, caught in a play she never agreed to. But now, standing in front of a prince—a central character in the game's plot—she had the chance to change everything.
Prince Alden, the eldest of the three princes, turned his attention fully to her, his gaze sharp and curious. His polished, noble appearance made him the perfect hero in the game's plot, but Mina knew better. He was just another character meant to follow the story's script. A character that she was going to break free from.
"So, Miss Mina," Alden began, his voice warm, but with an underlying seriousness. "You say you wish to change the way things are. But are you truly prepared for the consequences? The people, the kingdom, they all have expectations of the princess. And of the prince."
Mina stood straighter, her heart pounding in her chest. His words were laced with caution, but she wasn't one to be swayed by fear. She was here to shatter this world's illusions and break free from the constraints of its rigid narrative.
"I know what the kingdom expects, Your Highness," Mina said, her voice steady. "But what if I told you that I don't care about those expectations? What if I told you that this entire plot is nothing more than a cage for everyone involved?"
Alden blinked, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. He took a step closer, studying her with more intensity, as if trying to decipher her true intentions. "You're serious," he murmured, almost to himself.
"I've seen it," Mina continued, her tone unwavering. "I've seen how this game plays out. The princess falls in love with one of the princes, and everything follows a predictable path. But what if I'm not content to be a bystander? What if I want to change things, to stop the inevitable from happening?"
Alden's expression softened, and he took a step back. "I've heard rumors of… something strange happening in the kingdom. But I never thought it would involve you, Mina." He seemed almost hesitant, as though unsure whether to trust her words or dismiss them as the ramblings of a confused maid.
Mina didn't wait for him to respond. She turned away, walking toward the edge of the garden where a small bench sat beneath the shade of a willow tree. She needed space to think, to plan. There was no turning back now, and she couldn't afford to waste any more time.
As she sat down, Alden followed her, taking a seat beside her. He didn't say anything for a while, but his presence lingered, heavy with expectation. Mina glanced at him briefly, and for the first time, she noticed the vulnerability in his eyes. It wasn't something the game had shown her. The prince, so perfectly crafted, so noble and unshakable, had doubts of his own.
"You're asking a lot, Mina," Alden said after a long pause. "Changing the course of the kingdom, the fate of the princess… It's not something anyone can do lightly. There will be consequences, not just for you, but for everyone involved. For the princess, for the princes, and for the kingdom itself."
Mina turned her gaze to the distant horizon, where the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the kingdom. The world seemed so peaceful, yet she knew the underlying tension—the rigid paths the characters were bound to follow.
"I'm not afraid of consequences," she said, her voice low but resolute. "I'd rather take control of my own life than live by a script someone else wrote for me."
Alden was quiet, and Mina could feel his eyes on her, weighing her words. Finally, he spoke, his voice softer this time. "And what if you fail?"
Mina didn't flinch. She looked him straight in the eye. "Then I'll fail, but at least I'll know I tried."
Alden seemed to consider this, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he nodded slowly. "I don't know if you'll succeed, Mina. But I won't stop you. If this is what you truly want, then I'll support you. Even if it means disrupting everything."
Her heart skipped a beat. Was he really on her side?
"Thank you, Your Highness," Mina said, the weight of his words settling over her like a warm cloak. "But there's something I need to do first. I can't fight the game's narrative alone. I need help."
Alden raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And who would you ask for help?"
Mina smiled, a hint of mischief in her expression. "The other two princes, of course."
---
Later that evening, after the garden meeting, Mina took her first steps into the palace's grand dining hall, her mind racing with plans. She was going to disrupt the course of this story, but she couldn't do it alone. She needed allies—people who weren't bound by the rules of the game.
As she walked through the long corridors of the palace, she couldn't help but notice how the air seemed charged with an unsettling stillness. There were whispers behind every door, glances that followed her every move. Mina wasn't sure if they were aware of her strange behavior, but the unsettling feeling never left her. The NPCs, the servants, the knights—they all moved like clockwork, playing their parts in the ever-running cycle of the game.
It didn't matter. Mina had a purpose now, and nothing could shake her resolve.
She arrived at the door of the royal library, where the second prince, Finn, was often found. The mischievous, playful prince was known for his sharp wit and a devil-may-care attitude, but there was more to him than the game let on. Mina knew that if anyone would understand the desire to break free from the game's constraints, it would be him.
Mina hesitated only for a moment before she knocked on the heavy wooden door.
"Enter," came Finn's voice from within, smooth and inviting.
Mina stepped inside, her heart pounding with anticipation. The library was massive, filled with towering shelves of ancient books and scrolls. Finn was seated at a desk, his back to her, scribbling something on parchment. He looked up as she entered, his sharp blue eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Mina, is it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What brings the maid to the royal library?"
"I need to talk," she said, her voice steady. "And I think you're the only one who can help me."
Finn smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Oh? And what could I possibly help a maid with?"
Mina locked eyes with him, her resolve solidifying. "I need you to help me change this kingdom's story. I need you to help me change everything.