Succession Ceremony (3)
The Gallery had endured for so long that even its origins were shrouded in mystery. Countless head mods had come and gone over those years, and with each change, the rules shifted too. Some were overly strict, others far too lenient. But amid all that turmoil, one rule had never wavered: no real-life friendships. Not the kind forged in the Gallery, but the ones spilling over into reality.
Why had real-life mingling become such a taboo? There were many reasons, but the decisive one was a massive scandal that erupted long ago.
Title: Gallery Offline Meetup Peak Output (A photo of elves gathered together)
Pretty and handsome elves posing for a group photo.
Who are those people?
The great elven ancestors who banished the dark elves.
They always hated on dark elves in the Gallery, but then they held an offline meetup and actually went through with it lol
Didn't the dark elves say anything?
Of course they fought back. But those guys had their fingers in politics too;;
Once they started inciting riots, there was no stopping it.
Historically, there've been tons of cases where "offline meetups" turned into plotting rebellions.
The Dark Elf Expulsion Incident.
Originally, dark elves weren't so much a distinct race as a "people" who'd long inhabited a certain region. Much like the myriad ethnic groups among humans, dark elves were just one branch. But elves were no different from humans discriminating over something as trivial as skin color. Especially elves, with their ingrained chosen-people ideology.
At one point, hate posts targeting dark elves flooded the Gallery, and elves who agreed held an offline meetup. Up to that point, it was just a meetup—nothing wrong with it. But what came after was the problem. One person alone is timid; two or three build courage. And with numbers, that courage can cross lines.
The elves ranting about dark elf hate didn't stop at words—they took action. The result? The Dark Elf Expulsion Incident. That's why real-life friendships—offline meetups—became the ultimate taboo.
But isn't the ban only for fixed-nicks? Doesn't apply to floaters or semi-fixed, right?
Nah, that's about fixed-nicks, but there are other reasons too.
What reasons?
Too many floaters and fixed-nicks vanished after going out for a casual meal.
Whoa whoa whoa
Offline meetups themselves carry a high risk of getting tangled in crimes. Who in their right mind meets strangers in this dangerous world?
Offline meetups between floaters and semi-fixed users were riddled with risks. Naturally, they became outright forbidden, and most fixed-nicks avoided real-life bonds entirely—unless they stumbled upon a shared secret like being a Gallery fixed-nick.
"...It's real."
SwordTasteStar—Aeshy—stared at the beauty before her. Eyes like jewels, a figure straight out of a painting. Not just her face; her body was enough to rattle any man's heart. Even veiled in a white dress, her standout curves couldn't be hidden.
Considering her actions, she has to be StarlightPrincess.
Aeshy had pieced it together not just from steady elixir support, but from StarlightPrincess's Gallery trail. As someone buried in the Gallery, Aeshy knew the quirks of countless fixed-nicks. StarlightPrincess's hallmark? Prayers for a cure.
She'd appeared one day and posted daily pleas for healing. And the young lady of the ducal house before her, Selena, was rumored to suffer from an incurable illness.
There are countless incurables in the world, sure...
Selena had just admitted it outright. She was the fixed-nick connected to YasaengGrill—StarlightPrincess. Even if it was a probing response, it counted as confirmation. A true denial would've muddied things, but Selena hadn't dodged.
So why had Aeshy approached first and essentially outed herself? Pure curiosity.
Even if my Gallery use gets exposed, rumors won't spread.
If it'd been just Aeshy spilling, it might've been trouble. But Selena had reciprocated. The Gallery was one of those taboo topics among nobles. Being outed as a fixed-nick alone could tarnish one's honor. But that only mattered if actions leaked. Most nobles secretly browsed to stave off boredom anyway—they all played dumb. It was private life, after all.
Even if Selena stabbed her in the back, it'd backfire. Everyone would clock her Gallery use too. Mutual assured destruction. Besides, Aeshy had only dropped sword tips—nothing too scandalous.
...Except those occasional "marry me" pleas.
Embarrassing even as jokes, but if exposed, a few kicks under the covers and done.
She's pretty tame in her Gallery antics anyway.
StarlightPrincess's posts were mild too. Look at Cheonma—no weird concepts there? Plenty of fixed-nicks were far from normal. This level? Fine to know each other. So Aeshy stepped up first, and Selena got the hint. Their secret. Betray it, and you'd burn too.
Instead, they could swap YasaengGrill stories a bit.
"Have you found a good connection too, milady?"
"Of course. My parents, my sister Mary... Bonds I can't imagine life without."
"Sounds like me. If it's not too rude, could we chat privately sometime?"
"I'm sorry. I want to spend today with family. Visit our estate when you have time. My parents would welcome Count Aeshy warmly."
"That might be tricky for me. I've got pressing matters lately."
Pressing matters? Gallery, obviously. Selena intuited. Cheonma and SwordTasteStar commented on every YasaengGrill post. SwordTasteStar was famous for sword tips too. Selena was no different—devouring his posts, even jotting them in her diary. And supplying goods on top.
Better to keep distance. For both our sakes.
Friendly with SwordTasteStar? Fine. But Aeshy? Continental top-tier. Getting close meant rumors, inevitably. Worst case, both exposed as fixed-nicks. Quiet separation was best.
"By the way, what exercise do you do daily, Count?"
"Oh, simple routines every day. Do you exercise too, milady?"
"Yes. Hooked since my illness cleared. But I'm no expert—struggling a bit."
"If I may advise..."
Distance grew, but she gleaned plenty of real tips. Bonus: Dropped them loud enough for Mary to overhear. Filler chatter to kill time, really. Easier than strangers—comfy with a like-minded soul.
"Have a good time then."
"It was a pleasure."
But stays can't last. They parted after a suitable chat.
The moment Aeshy left, ladies swarmed Selena. What was their connection? Old acquaintances? As expected, she handled it coolly.
Mercedes lady's sharp mind aided her house greatly, right?
Aeshy pondered Selena en route. Gifting elixirs to YasaengGrill—homemade, no less. Casual chat revealed she'd brewed everything under the sun for her illness, "accidentally" hitting a cure. That accident? YasaengGrill's adult mandrake, thick as thieves.
No need to guard against her.
Selena's vibe? No exploiting YasaengGrill. Reverse, even. Chat showed she saw him as a benefactor. Joy laced her voice whenever his name dropped.
Makes sense—he cured her "incurable."
Only Four Seasons Forest survivor YasaengGrill could pull that off. He didn't know, but he'd swayed Messia Empire via a ducal lady. Zero leak risk included, meeting "StarlightPrincess" shifted Aeshy's view.
Better help her keep supporting YasaengGrill steadily.
StarlightPrincess supplied his elixirs—directly boosting survival odds. Best to pretend ignorance, but her trouble meant his too. Plus...
Can't let a promising sprout wither now.
Nurture it healthy, let sweet fruit bloom. Soon, harvest it herself. Tiny desire, biggest wish.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor arrives!"
First, wrap the succession. Aeshy turned at the booming voice. Emperor Arnold strode boldly through the audience hall doors, Gorgon Count and retinue trailing.
Arnold approached the throne only he could claim. Gorgon stood beside like a trusted aide. Obvious favoritism. Nobles, Aeshy included, wondered—then Arnold spoke.
"I thank you all for attending the succession. It reaffirms the Empire's bright future."
Formal opener. Aeshy, Selena, nobles listened rapt. His first words as throne-rightful—setting Empire's course, pivotal.
"The Empire..."
Arnold's gist: Empire steady, surroundings not. Landslides drag neighbors—Empire could suffer too. Thus, focus diplomacy ahead. Don't screw around. Textbook, considering state. Aeshy sipped wine leisurely.
"And henceforth..."
Thud. Hand on Gorgon's shoulder. Count's nose rose, pride beaming.
"Gorgon Count here will aid the Empire great and small. When Father Emperor fell ill, he stepped up. Thanks to him, Father passed the crown to me."
"Gorgon Count?"
"Didn't they say his illness was incurable?"
Gorgon treated former Emperor Robert? Shocking—nobles buzzed. Aeshy too, muttering inwardly.
No way... right?
Fresh off Selena "example," suspicion stirred. Glancing at her—eyes met. Silent understanding. Things just got complicated.
*****
While Messia Empire's succession raged, YasaengGrill headed to the arena post-morning rise. Check happenings, bring Kkobong along too.
"Roooar!"
"That's it! Go Kkobong!"
Cheering hard in the morning tournament. Stakes? Three Wall Valley Pills. Ppareumbo eyed him hard, but YasaengGrill yelled:
"I'll pay you back. And Kkobong just needs to win, yeah?"
"..."
Ppareumbo grudgingly cheered too. While YasaengGrill hyped Kkobong...
"...This the place?"
At his Shelter Cave, the Holy Knight on giraffe arrived. As mystic ties formed at the Empire ceremony, Four Seasons Forest prepped its own bonds.