The snow crunched under heavy footfalls as Rain staggered forward. The strain from his burden was immense. It was even more difficult than running laps with the Prince.

10... 20... 30. Perhaps 40? No. Definitely 50.

He huffed under the exertion, his breath visible in the chilling air. This was a test of his abilities. A devious stratagem conjured by a wile mind. It only made him respect the First Princess more. To find such an austere way to increase his strength while also serving. It was ingenious. He would have to request more training like this so he could quickly catch up to his peers.

"Here. Take this Rain."

"Oof."

The 52nd shopping bag was the straw that broke the camel's back. Rain crumpled under the pressure. His legs struggled to get underneath him, and he couldn't see straight, blinking away tears. His muscles burned and shook. Rain circled mana through his body like he was trained to do. With a surge of magical adrenaline and a triumphant roar, he lifted himself back to his feet. Panting hard. A miracle.

"Thank. You. Princess."

"No problem."

Irene leaned over in a stage whisper.

"Is this really a secret training method that will allow him to become a martial artist?"

Lecil guffawed.

"No. But it is fun to see how high I can stack everything. Here. You try."

Lecil handed over a small box containing a simple silver chain necklace to Irene. She accepted it, looking at the colorfully wrapped box and then at Rain. Her face contorted as she couldn't actually see Rain behind the towering bags and boxes. She glanced back at Lecil, who gave her a 'go on' motion—urging her forward.

Irene carefully examined the remaining space. There wasn't anywhere to put it. Each of Rain's fingers held different strings. Boxes balanced along his arms and towered up past his head. Irene looked back to Lecil. The Princess made a scissor motion with two fingers. Irene looked skeptical but decided to do it anyway.

"Rain? I have a small box; I am going to place it between your fingers. Are you ready?"

"Hrrum."

"Rain."

"Haap."

"..."

"Grraah!"

Lecil was chittering, and even Irene was smiling broadly.

"Alright, I am placing it now. Do you feel it?"

"Kaack."

Rain's fingers parted ever so slightly to grip the corner of the box. Irene backed away and watched the entire ensemble of goods wobble. Rain centered his stance and poked his head out like a turtle. His expression was half strained and half ecstatic. Sweat dripped down his face; his eyes were white saucers.

"Is... Is that all?"

There was a moment of pause as the wind whistled.

"Pfffft."

Lecil bent over, laughing. She had to hold onto Irene, who had a much gentler and attractive laugh than the princess.

"Do I have something on my face?"

His voice was deep and strained while his eyes were wide open and shaking—a horror movie.

"Pffft...HaHaHa-hiccup-Hahaha!"

Lecil lost it, her knees buckled, and she was only still standing in the loosest terms. Irene held her up with both arms. It would be wrong for a Princess to fall to the floor for any reason. Irene admonished Rain harshly while holding in her giggle.

"Rain, do you know how creepy you look?"

"Huh?"

The princess let out a snort and was slapping Irene's arm, pointing at Rain.

"He... Ha! He-He said. Haha, He, 'huh'? HAHAHA!"

Irene wiped Lecil's tears for her as the princess laughed in her face. Lecil's laughter was nearly as terrifying as Rain. Irene suddenly realized she was the only sane one in their group.

Lecil relapsed into laughter twice more before she finally calmed

"Should... hmm. Should we tell him that he has to make the walk back to the carriage now or later?"

Irene tilted her head and strained a smile.

=

Lecil hadn't laughed like that in forever. She couldn't remember the last time she did. It was worth it to test Rain and figure out his personality using the 'super-secret-training-method'. Lecil determined he wasn't the brightest individual but was hardworking and determined. He was unconditionally loyal and didn't need to be bought over. Unless it was with an 'ultra-mega-secret-lifting-technique'.

Irene led Rain back to the carriage like an air traffic controller playing Marco-Polo. It was another sight that made a Lecil's smile relapse.

The last stop was a specific jewelry store Celia recalled from the Renegade forums. It sold jewelry items to high clientele but was, in actuality, much more.

"Can I get you anything else, Princess? A sapphire necklace? I believe it would match the underlying colors in your hair?"

The well-dressed merchant standing in the doorway knew what he was talking about. Her hair was black, but it carried dark blues and purples in its shadows. The mustached man managed to sell the Princess on more items than she planned on buying. They both knew the bill was going to the King anyway.

It is good to be a princess.

"I think I have most of what I came for; I just require a few more items."

The merchant looked overjoyed, leading Lecil back into the shop. She removed her hat and placed it on the counter. Her hair fell naturally and looked beautiful despite recently being tucked into a hat. Maybe it was a game mechanic? A perk of being Princess? Coincidence? Perhaps God was drawing her in good lighting?

"What can I interest you in? I would be happy to assist you in making a selection."

"I've come for something more valuable than jewelry. A trade, actually."

Lecil managed not to jump at a sudden blue screen.

-

Hidden Event: Information Trader

Rewards:?

Consequences:?

-

What a shit game.

Why did it appear even after she chose the free route? Was the game still constraining her? There isn't even any useful information.

The merchant's grin widened. He turned and made a head motion to a guard reading a newspaper. The guard got up, stretched, then went to lock the door. Lecil thought she felt a thrum pass through her body as the lock clicked.

Magic.

Likely enough to block sounds, maybe more.

The merchant didn't act any different, but his word choices were slightly less deferring.

"I have to say you're not the character I remember, Ghost Princess."

The intended jab might have connect if Celia didn't think Ghost Princess was a badass moniker.

"I am intelligent enough to know you won't harm me when others know where I am."

The merchant was aghast.

"Never would I. Who said anything about harming? I am only curious why you've venture out of your castle instead of sending a proxy."

"It is precisely the reason that I cannot trust anyone that I have come myself."

"Oooh. How cavalier, Princess."

Lecil felt like she was being mocked but let it go.

The merchant went around his counter and placed his hands wide, leaning forward. The guard went back to reading his newspaper.

"You are aware it is information you are after, and that information needs to be paid in kind?"

"Fully. I also know that you have already received a few juicy bits from my words and actions. I am expecting to be paid for that."

The merchant tilted his head, weighing his options.

"Very well. I see little harm in being courteous. It, of course, depends on what you are after. I recommend you hurry, though. Your companions will return in less than ten minutes."

"Twenty. I made preparations."

=

Rain collapsed onto his back, laying in the snow unmoving. Nothing was damaged and all the bags were loaded onto the carriage. The four horses would have their work cut out for them.

"There. That is everything."

Irene put her hands on her hips. A groaning sound caught her ear. Rain shook his head saying it wasn't him.

*Crack*

One of the wheels of the carriage cracked conspicuously.

The driver came over and inspected the damage.

"Ah. It needs to be replaced. I have extras, but I'll need you both to help."

Irene paled.

Rain looked up from the ground, moving only his eyes.

"Is this more secret training?"

=

"What is it you wish to know?"

Normally. This event was triggered by paying real currency to access exclusive information. A way for the devs to milk more money for content they should have provided for free. She had expected the information to leak to the web, but it disappeared whenever it was uploaded. Lecil tried asking her friends, but they weren't the type to pay extra for in-game benefits.

Celia was the thrifty one normally. Unfortunately, she blew her most recent paycheck on gacha capsules and pocky. She decided to forgo asking her parents for money. They were kind enough to give her a little if she asked, but not if they knew she was blowing it on a game.

With paying to win no longer an option, her only option was to trade using her future knowledge of the game. Celia knew several delectable pieces of information about this world that no one currently knew.

Information was power. It was a mistake for this merchant to believe he knew more. It was regrettable that he still had the information she wanted. Not everything was exactly as described in the game. There was much more detail in a real world versus a virtual one.

"I want information on the Dukes. The young Dukes. Klein Raiden, Daven Astor, and Bellavarn Sallow."

"You will have to be more specific. There is a lot of information on all of them. Do you want to know about their recent activity? Their life stories? Their favorite meals?"

"Give me the recent activity and rumors surrounding each of them."

"Oi, oi. This isn't a free business. What do I get in return?"

"You already know that I don't trust anyone else and that I am interested in the Dukes. You will at least pay me for that first."

The merchant held up his hands. He also gleaned that the First Princess was a fox despite her reputation. Most thought she was just a pawn to link the Ducal households closer to the throne. The fact that the princess actually had a decent head on her shoulders was worth quite a lot to the right people. So, he decided to be a little forthcoming."

"Fair enough. Raiden just finished a campaign into the badlands. Word is that he defeated a two-thousand-man cavalry charge in a desert with only fifty warriors. Later, he fought another pitched battle against a sultan's son. The numbers were 20,000 to 5,000. Yet, Raiden wiped the floor with them and held the sultan's son for ransom. The sultan paid an obscene bounty. Afterward, Raiden held a celebration for three days and three nights before marching his way out of the badlands. He's due to arrive back in the capital in a couple week."

Lecil was blank-faced. How useful was this information? She already knew Raiden was a war hero and extremely strong. He carried a famed sword. It started out unknown but became a named weapon in only four years. His Knight Commander Ash served as his shield, and his right hand Jerome served as the genius strategist who planned his battles.

The 400 to 1 odds was clearly exaggerated, but the rest sounds true.

The most useful information was that the Duke ransomed the Sultan's son instead of killing him. It showed he wasn't an idiot. The fact that he celebrated afterward meant that he was prideful and/or cared about his soldiers. At first glance, Raiden seemed like an amazing person.

"Tell me how he treats women."

The merchant winced. It must have been pretty bad to make him react outwardly.

"He treats them well. He gives gifts and treats, making sure they are happy."

"I heard that Raiden fancies exotic ladies and that he goes through attractive women like mint leaves."

"..."

The merchant chose silence as his answer. He wouldn't tell her any of those stories unless she asked specifically. She was barely a woman at the age of 18.

Lecil waved her hand. Celia a lot about Raiden from her friends, so she decided to move on.

"What about Astor."

"What will you pay?"

"It turns out that the Kingdom of Eul to the west stumbled into a gem mine on our border. They have been covering it up, saying that it is a spider lair, and have volunteered to clear it out since it was they who unearthed it. In reality, they used the excuse to send troops closer in order to protect the resource from prying eyes. It's only been about a week since it was discovered. I assume... that is something you can use?"

The merchant's eyes started bugging out the longer she talked. The merchant's synapses were in overdrive, trying to figure out how she knew this, how he would take advantage of it, and why she would give this up for basic information. What angle was the Princess working?

Lecil's poker face was perfect.

The reason she gave it away was that it would become known within a few days, and Duke Astor would move in to seize it and cement his economic superiority. This jewel merchant was part of Astor's association; if he were the one to bring this information to Astor, his status in the inner hierarchy would rise.

The merchant was practically salivating at the prospect and wanted report in immediately.

"I'd like to know more before you run off. You can spare several minutes longer."

The merchant's eye twitched. What was this woman? Was she really the reclusive First Princess?

"Fine. I won't get in trouble for giving you general information."

Since he was in Astor's circle, he had to be more choosy with what he revealed, but with the windfall that suddenly landed in his lap the Princess could have asked for a lot more.

"Astor is the richest, youngest, and most influential of the Dukes. He is a prodigious genius and isn't afraid to use his power. Raiden? He will spear you through the gut if you wrong him. Astor? He will poison you and keep you bedridden while he dismantles your entire house and assassinates your loved ones before finally letting you perish. That is the persona he's built up, and as far as I know, it's true."

It felt like he was laying it on a bit thick. The merchant raised a finger.

"However, if you are his ally, he will shower you in riches and ensure you live in luxury. All his power and accomplishments when he is only eighteen? Most fear his overwhelming potential."

"And what does he desire?"

The merchant looked quizzical at the question. This was Lecil's main concern. A man like Astor was unpredictable. Knowing what he wants would help Lecil figure out how to win him over.

"His desire? Hm... A worthy adversary? Not to be underestimated? To write his name in history books? I'll be honest. It could be all or none of these things. You will have to ask him yourself. Now, if that is all, I must insist we conclude our business here."

"Wait. Tell me about Bellavarn Sallow. I will give you a bonus related to the gem mine."

The merchant was turning to leave but pivoted back. He examined the Princess's stone-cold face. He couldn't tell if she was bluffing, using her previous tidbit to bait him to come back for more.

A fox indeed.

He bit his lip, wondering if it was worth the time. Time was money when it came to information. Ultimately, the Sallows were of little consequence. Most people knew the rumor anyway.

"The Sallow family is a neutral Dukedom that balances the power between Astor and Raiden. They hold the largest amount of land and serve as a mediating force between all other houses. They keep a large military to combat the northern invaders who cross the cold sea. They run an abundance of crafters and mercantile businesses. The Winterland is said to be a gem that outshines the capital."

The merchant stuck out a finger for every sentence he said. All of it was generic information.

"They supply cold iron to most of the Kingdom. Braster Sallow continued to keep the peace even after his Father passed the baton. The Duchess is pregnant. It is unknown whether it is a boy or a girl. Most are expecting the child to succeed the house regardless."

He ran out of fingers.

Lecil's eyebrows knitted for the first time. Was that why Bellavarn ended up killing his father? All Celia knew was that the Duchess would go on a rampage whenever a player offed Bellavarn, which was the cause for no one lasting longer than a week after Bellavarn dies. Lecil's memories confirmed that she had the power to do it too.

"I asked about Bellavarn. Why would someone who isn't even born succeed the house if Bellavarn is only a year from the twenty?."

"I expected you to know already. It is everywhere. Bellavarn Sallow forced himself on a maid, brutally assaulted her, and then cast her out. The family paid the maid to keep quiet, but it got out anyway. It is the biggest scandal right now. "

Was this part of the original background? Lecil needed to know more. Lecil spent too many hours watching Celia's memories. The bad endings involving Bellavarn Sallow were always terrible and bloody.

"What happened after?"

The merchant looked at a watch on his wrist. He hurried things along so he could leave.

"Bellavarn stayed away from the public eye. Braster was buying up books about magic, history, engineering... romance novels. House Astor concluded Bellavarn is conducting some type of research. He went to commission blacksmiths, but they all turned him away on account of his reputation. He's spent the last week in a ceramic workshop creating something himself. I don't know why he isn't working in a smithy, so don't ask."

So he's already inventing weapons.

Bellavarn was the evil renegade who would bring about the fall of the Kingdom with his designs. War would be raged and countless would lay dead. Lecil just couldn't figure out what caused all of it. Why was the villain a romance option? Was it just a huge "Fuck You" from the developers?

Lecil bit her nail. This couldn't be it. She was missing something. Something important. What was the cause? She was running out of time. Getting answers required asking the right questions

"What happened to the maid?

"Time is up. Tell me what else you have."

Lecil wanted to curse. Begrudgingly, she gave the information.

"The mine has 50 guards inside and out. Double that will arrive as reinforcement within three days."

The Merchant smiled wide. He gestured to the guard, who got up again and unlocked the door—another faint thrum. The guard turned to her. Intimidating, he didn't speak, but Lecil knew what he wanted.

She replaced her winter hat and walked out the door herself. The merchant called out.

"No one knows what happened to the maid. Duke Astor has a bounty on her. Come back if you stumble on to anything."

Lecil stepped outside. Fresh snowflakes trickled down to create an ethereal atmosphere. Pedestrians passed by while children ran and played. It was a happy scene. But why did it feel so hollow? Like this wasn't her moment to be happy. She still had more questions than answers. She desperately wanted someone to bounce ideas off of.

But Lecil and Celia were alone with their thoughts.

"Princess? The carriage is waiting. Are you ready to return?"

Irene's voice was clear. Cutting through the dampened acoustics. With the grey sky above and Irene standing in her peripheral, Lecil watched a snowflake dance and twirl into her open palm.

"Yes."

It melted into the dark color of her glove.

"I am ready."

She lied.

=

After returning to the Palace, Lecil opened the door to her room. Looking inside, she came to the realization that she really should have expected this.

The room was bare. Everything was gone save the clapper chandelier.

Lecil's hand collided with her face, eliciting a smack.

"You win this round, Anne."