[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game":3,"chapter-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-625":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1218962,1604,"Chapter 625: A night to discuss 2","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-625",625,"\u003Cp>Aera Nari Gyeoul—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very beginning, she had always seen the world as a structured, almost mechanical system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her, everything had an order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People lived according to their status, their duties, their usefulness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even emotions, she believed, had a place and a limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world was a great design — every piece interconnected, every cog in motion, every flaw meant to be cut out before it ruined the whole machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how she was raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how she lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standards, loyalty, discipline, and honesty — these were the cornerstones of her belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because she was a moralist, but because order brought predictability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And predictability... was safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no surprise then that she rose among the Nari line as one of its most unorthodox assassins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold, calculating, and precise — she killed without hatred and spared without sympathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was why she loved her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was, in many ways, the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Methodical. Efficient. Pragmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were two people bound not by romance, but by understanding — by mutual respect of one another’s structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their marriage was one built on alignment rather than affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clean, effective, and to Aera, perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something was beneficial, she would overlook the details. If there was profit, she would tolerate inconvenience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as she could obtain her share, she would take care of everything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a peaceful cycle of controlled gains —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until that woman appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Mistress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera turned, hearing the faint, soft voice of a stranger at her doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her husband’s smile was unusually bright that day as he stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aera,\" he said, \"this young woman is an old friend of mine from my earlier days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hope you’ll treat her well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her lips remained curved in a gentle, polite smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman he brought with him... was beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too beautiful, in fact — the kind of beauty that didn’t need to ask for attention because the world offered it unbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her presence was serene yet unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything about her — from her posture to the quiet grace of her steps — spoke of someone who didn’t belong in a place like theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mysterious woman, her origins wrapped in vagueness, appearing out of nowhere like a ghost from a forgotten story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explanation was simple enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A noblewoman whose household had fallen into ruin and became a commoner, now seeking refuge with an old friend — a tale repeated countless times across the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera had no reason to doubt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she welcomed her into their home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of courtesy — and because it was what a proper wife was supposed to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman took on work as a maid, helping around the estate to earn her keep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her demeanor was polite, quiet, and almost unnervingly humble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even then... something about her never sat right with Aera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t jealousy — at least, that’s what Aera told herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An instinct whispering that this woman’s existence would disrupt the perfect structure Aera had built her life around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that whisper... would soon prove itself true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want to upset her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their marriage might have started from mutual interest and political alignment, but somewhere along the way, she knew — love had quietly taken root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the romantic, fiery kind, but the kind that grew out of time, respect, and shared struggles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she swallowed her doubts and silenced the unease in her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting her grievous thoughts fade, she carried on with her days as if nothing had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She told herself everything was fine — that whatever was happening was temporary, harmless, and beneath her to question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But maybe that was when she made her first mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When her husband began spending more time with the maid, the signs were clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pattern, the distance, the excuses — all of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera was too perceptive not to notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She understood it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet... she did nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked herself that countless times since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because, in the end, she still held his loyalty — that no matter who else entered his life, she was the wife, the mistress of the Gyeoul house, the one who bore his legacy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was it because that legacy — her daughter and son, her pride — had already been born, and she believed nothing could shake her position now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps, deep down, she simply thought it was natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men of his stature often had... needs. Temptations. Entanglements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unbecoming of a woman of her discipline to let emotion cloud her composure over something so \"common.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, she hated that memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hated how it made her feel—small, uncertain, human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And maybe... she let it pass because, at the time, she thought it was beneficial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her husband had been under immense pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constantly compared to her father-in-law, the unfathomable Clan Head of Gyeoul — a man whose shadow crushed everyone beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this small indulgence, this little escape with that woman, helped ease his mind, then perhaps it was for the best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what she told herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how she justified it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was simply because she trusted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that trust shattered the day her shame was born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Seo came into this world — the living proof of her husband’s betrayal — it was the first and only time Aera Nari Gyeoul had ever truly felt heartbreak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that deep, silent kind of pain that crawls beneath your skin and never quite leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child wasn’t at fault. She knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet every time Aera looked at her, she saw that woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sin that destroyed her pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reminder of her mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Riley didn’t know every single detail behind Aera’s personal grudge against Seo, he understood the general shape of it — the direction of her hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, their stories were deeply intertwined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera’s past was always a key part of Seo’s route — her resentment, her shame, and the reason behind Seo’s broken family were all pieces of that puzzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the kind of backstory that made her more than just a simple villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, to Riley, Aera Nari Gyeoul had always been one of those understandable antagonists — the type who wasn’t evil for the sake of being evil, but rather someone twisted by circumstance and pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of person you could almost sympathize with... until she crossed a line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, things were different now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The events that should’ve played out in the original timeline — the cruelty Aera inflicted on Seo, the manipulation, the humiliation — they hadn’t fully happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because she had changed, but because Riley’s very existence had disrupted that future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, Aera had been a shadow that haunted Seo’s route — an ever-present obstacle who schemed quietly from the sidelines, never showing her face until it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here she was now, sitting right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So, this is how it feels to be in the same room with someone who was supposed to remain behind the scenes,’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera broke the silence first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I only really want one thing,\" she said, her voice cool and deliberate. \"And that is to erase the shame of our family from the historical record.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sure are blunt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips curved in a faint, knowing smile. \"My, I thought you’d appreciate it that way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he quietly assessed her — the tone of her voice, the calculated weight behind every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This situation shouldn’t have existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the original story, Aera was never the type to be so open in meet ups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She always worked from the shadows, manipulating pieces from behind the curtain while pretending to be uninvolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, she’d changed her approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was because of the impression he’d left the night before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe, after feeling the influence he carried— she decided to approach the threat head-on instead of trying to play around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, Riley could tell she was wary now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know I won’t let you do that, right?\" Riley said, voice low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera only laughed softly, amusement dancing in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fufu—oh, I know. Frankly, I still don’t understand how that shameless brat managed to grab hold of you. But it’s clear you think highly of her. You genuinely care for her... Is that a trait from her mother? Whatever the reason, I can’t move freely while you stand in her shadow. And, as stubborn as I am, I’ve already received pressures from your side. I can’t ignore them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley’s mind flicked through possibilities for a heartbeat — the duke, the emperor — the only people who could reach her quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera’s smile turned colder, more businesslike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But—even if she’s your partner—this remains family matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are limits to what you call family matters,\" Riley replied, and the warmth in his voice drained away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It grew small and hard, like winter stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pressure settled in the room, quiet and dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera’s practiced smile wavered for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" she conceded, smoothing her expression. \"From what I’ve learned, I cannot simply tear her away while you watch. That’s why I came with a compromise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Compromise?\" Riley echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aera reached into her sleeve and produced a small orb. It wasn’t large—no bigger than a fist—but it glowed with a dull, red pulse, like a heartbeat trapped under glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is an artifact,\" she said, voice flat. \"It contains the child’s emotions. I will give you the orb if you let me do as I please with her for the next few days—no interference from you. If she escapes me, I will leave her in peace forever. If not... she remains under my influence and I do as I please with her....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a beat, Riley’s face twitched. anger and a sick, cold nausea warred under his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orb’s red light painted Aera’s features in a cruel glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he already had his answer to begin with...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I refuse...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1701,"2026-06-03T14:41:08.744Z",1,"novelbin.me","ac5092653eacb08f1bcfff9f0a681d01c0ec8a768020a128e2bf115cd2c5a8e8","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-519","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-518",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]