How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game-Chapter 373: Date 3

Explaining and introducing Alice to the two felt like I was disarming a live bomb in front of my lovers—except instead of diffusing tension, I was setting it off.

At first, their reactions were pure shock. Then came the slow nods of understanding—an expectation they had seemingly prepared themselves for. And finally, absurdity.

"So, you're telling me… Senior Alice is your third girlfriend?" Snow's voice was measured, but her blue eyes were sharp as she eyed both Alice and me.

Sitting right next to me, Alice let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of her head. "Ehehe~"

I nodded. "Yes…"

Rose, arms crossed, looked between us with a deadpan expression. Then, she muttered, "First the white cat… now even the pink capybara… does that mean even the black rat???"

"…What are you talking about, Rose?" I asked, confused.

She didn't answer. Instead, she simply narrowed her golden eyes, scrutinizing Alice and me with an unreadable expression.

And honestly? I understood their reactions completely.

It hadn't even been that long since I officially started dating them.

Yes, Snow and I had technically been together since the end of my first year at the academy, but calling it official was a bit of a stretch—especially considering the emperor had only recently approved of our relationship.

As for Rose, we had only been dating for about a week.

A week.

Bringing in a third girl this soon was, by all means, rushing things.

Harem or not, rushing relationships usually caused more harm than good.

But with everything that was coming—the ordeals I knew I would have to face—it was better to be upfront with them now rather than deal with misunderstandings later.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself.

This was going to be a long conversation.

...

"So… Riley assaulted you?"

The question hung in the air like a guillotine, Snow's cold stare piercing straight through Alice as if trying to see into the depths of her soul.

"Ah! No, no, no!" Alice frantically waved her hands, her pink hair swaying as she shook her head. "I—I was the one who initiated the k-kiss! A-And it was my fault for living in his room during that time anyway, ah-hahaha~"

Her nervous laughter only made things worse.

Snow's eyes narrowed dangerously. Rose, beside her, crossed her arms, her golden eyes glinting with a newfound sharpness.

"…You were living in his room?"

Alice stiffened.

"Ah… T-That's really not important, right, Miss Rose?" she tried to deflect, sending an awkward, pleading smile in Rose's direction.

"It is!"

The two girls spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping in a synchronized attack.

Alice nearly shrank in her seat.

Despite all the absurd and crazy things she had witnessed in the world, this situation still felt beyond weird.

She was here on what was technically an introductory date with her beloved juniors—an icebreaker of sorts.

Unlike them, she had already been made aware of what this meeting was truly about. She knew that this wasn't just a normal gathering—it was about officially integrating her into Riley's harem.

And while she had accepted the idea… she wasn't exactly sure how well the other two had.

The atmosphere felt thick with something other than just casual conversation.

Meanwhile, Riley, who had been subtly pushed to the corner of the table by an angry Snow and Rose, casually sipped on his now-cold iced coffee, a subtle smile on his lips as he watched the interaction unfold.

'Looks like they're already getting closer…'

A part of him wondered if he should step in.

…But then again, maybe it was better to let them work this out themselves.

Although the two girls acted like bad cops toward Alice, Riley could see the subtle signs of acceptance forming between them.

Beneath the sharp words and relentless questioning, there was a natural closeness beginning to take root.

It wasn't obvious—not yet—but in the way Snow's eyes softened ever so slightly or how Rose's sharp remarks became less like interrogations and more like banter, he could tell.

Watching the three of them interact like this, Riley felt a warm sensation in his chest.

It was a unique and oddly fun experience to witness—an aspect of them he hadn't seen before.

Usually, his interactions with them were either one-on-one or under more controlled circumstances.

But here? This was raw, unfiltered, and something completely different.

A part of him wanted to join the conversation, maybe steer it in a way that wouldn't make Alice feel like she was being cross-examined.

But after receiving nothing but blunt, angry responses from both Snow and Rose earlier, he knew better than to throw oil onto an already burning fire.

At some point, open conversations like this were necessary—especially if he wanted the happy ending he sought for all of them.

Relationships weren't just about love and affection; conflicts were inevitable.

There would be misunderstandings, complications, and even fights.

He wasn't naive enough to believe otherwise.

But Riley had already made up his mind.

No matter what happened, no matter how difficult things got, he was going to ensure that the future he created for them would be the happiest possible outcome—not just for them, but for himself as well.

His lips curled into an unintentional smile as he watched them, completely absorbed in their bickering.

"Why are you smiling?"

Snow, who had noticed him staring, looked at him with a slightly annoyed expression.

"Nothing," he replied, quickly wiping the smile off his face.

"You know we're not done with you yet, right?"

Riley let out a nervous chuckle.

Although he was a fan of harems, complications like this weren't something he'd ever get used to. He could only imagine what would happen if Seo was already part of the fray…

...

Meanwhile, up above in the clear night sky, a certain cat lounged lazily on a rooftop, sipping orange juice through a straw.

With a mischievous grin stretching from ear to ear, Cheshire finally lowered the small telescope he had been peering through, nodding in satisfaction.

"Hmm~ Hmm~ Looks like everything's going well. I was worried for nothing~"

His tail flicked playfully as he stretched his limbs, still watching the scene unfold below.

He had been concerned that his beloved master would be bombarded by troublesome situations—after all, young maidens' hearts were fickle things.

It wouldn't have been surprising if things had devolved into chaos, but instead, there was a certain sense of affection and understanding between Rose and Snow.

Sure, there was anger and confusion too, but Cheshire could tell that most of it was directed at Riley rather than Alice. The irritation, especially—that was definitely aimed at their shared fool of a boyfriend.

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"Well, they all fell for the same young man, so maybe they understand each other's situations better than they realize~" He swished his tail thoughtfully, rolling onto his back as he tapped his chin. "I wonder… if I were human, would I fall for Riley too? Maybe I should try it?"

His emerald eyes gleamed with mischief as he seriously considered polymorphing into a human girl.

The sheer chaos he could bring into Riley's life, the endless teasing, the fun ways he could stir up trouble—oh, it was tempting.

But after a moment, Cheshire shook his head, sighing dramatically.

"Nah, Master would probably seriously kill me~"

He chuckled to himself, tossing the empty juice box over his shoulder as he settled back in to enjoy the show.

He knew he shouldn't pry too much into his master's private life, so he'd probably stick around for just a little while longer. Just enough to satisfy his curiosity.

Still, a tinge of sadness crept into his heart as he watched Alice from afar.

His master, once just a reckless young girl, was now slowly blossoming into a maiden in love.

Soon, this love of hers would shape her into the fine young woman—no, the queen—she was always meant to be.

And when that time came… the innocent, carefree Alice he knew would inevitably change.

Sure, she'd probably retain most of her usual quirks, but that unshaken reliance she had on him, the way she'd always look to him first—one day, all of that would shift.

Her trust, her dependence, her heart—they would belong to Riley.

Cheshire flicked his tail, the familiar weight of bittersweet emotions settling in his chest. He was both happy and sad.

But that was just how things were, weren't they?

Humans grow up before you even realize it.

Alice wasn't just his master—she was like a young daughter to him, a precious niece he cherished with all his heart.

He had protected her, guided her, and watched over her every step of the way.

The thought of leaving her in someone else's hands, of trusting another with her happiness… it should have filled him with unease.

And yet—when he looked at Riley now, when he sensed the hidden power that lingered within him—he knew.

Alice would be safe.

For the first time, Cheshire felt like he could truly let go, even if just a little.

Because he had found someone he could trust.

Someone he could leave everything to.

And that, more than anything, brought him peace.