When Camellia didn’t show up at the academy again the next day, I felt myself getting increasingly restless. It was time to do something about the situation.

I found Asa in the library, as usual. She was sitting at a table looking over the edge of an upside down book at you-know-who. I swear she was giving me such a bad reputation. There was clearly no studying happening here.

“You know, your plan about us pretending to date each other is not going to work if everyone thinks 'Prince Vel' is only interested in men.”

I slid into the seat across from her, blocking her vision of the tendrils of lilac hair that swung as the man himself walked around a bookcase.

She perked up. “So you agree to go along with it?”

“I agree that the idea is not entirely abhorrent.” She gave me a caustic look in response to my remark. “But I definitely need to tell Camellia about everything first, or this is going to seem like a betrayal.”

“You’re going to tell her about your true identity, too?”

It was not how I wanted this to go, but she had been gone so long… “I am going to try. She might not believe me.”

“Better that she has an idea of what’s going on before we start acting all lovey-dovey in front of her.” 

I nodded. “Are you going to be okay?” I jerked my head towards the bookshelf the librarian had passed. “I’m not the only one who stands to lose something by pretending to be romantically involved with someone.”

Asa blushed. “He doesn’t see me romantically anyway. I mean, how could he?” She gestured down at my original body in its princely garb. “Even if he did swing that way, it would suck to switch back to a female body and find he was longer interested.”

“You never know.” I pondered. “He might be the type to be interested in both genders, or even regardless of gender. Maybe he will love you as you are, and not just how you present yourself on the outside.”

As soon as the word “love” came out of my mouth, Asa blushed even harder.

“Gosh…Vel, you really…”

“What?”

“You’re very frank. Are you like this around Camellia?”

I scowled. “Even if I am, she probably hates my guts now, and will not listen to anything I have to say.” The thought made my stomach feel like lead. “Anyway, enough about that, we need to talk about the ‘love interests’ in game scenarios. I found some more clues about who might be seeking to usurp the throne.”

I told her about Luce’s party, the mysterious invitations, and about the conversations I had with Roy, Marion, and Rixton.

“I feel like these four are still the most probable options for a character who would start a rebellion in the game. There’s a possibility it is a minor character, but the fact that it occurs during the second playthrough makes me think the rebellion is triggered as part of a romantic route.”

Asa nodded along with my explanation. “Yes, because the heroine doesn't interact much with the minor characters. And even if she did, their actions should be the same whether it is the first or second playthrough.”

“However,” I held up a finger, “If it is a reincarnator, it could be anyone.”

Our heads thudded onto the table almost simultaneously.

“So we’re right where we started,” Asa groaned.

“Not necessarily,” I raised my head a fraction, “If they are a reincarnator, they are very likely to have chosen to enter the body of a major character, like you did.”

Asa nodded eagerly.

“We need to at least try to eliminate suspects. Asa, do you remember if any of the routes you played could lead to a rebellion in the second playthrough?”

“Well, I really only focused on your and Roy’s routes …”

“Sounds like you were playing favorites.”

“Maybe I did!” Asa said loudly, raising her head completely off the desk. “I only liked you for your face anyway,” she grumbled. I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Besides, if Elai had been an option I wouldn’t even have bothered.” She gazed in the direction of the librarian and let out a gusty sigh full of longing. It was very disturbing to hear that sound coming out of my body.

“Elai?”

“Elai Clematis of course!” She pounded the table with her fist. “How do you not know his name by now??”

“Clematis, huh?” I gripped my chin thoughtfully. “Maybe he really is a hidden character. Most of the love interests in the game have flower-themed names due to the game’s concept, right?”

“It is called Garden of Dreams…” Asa started to sound worried.

“It seems like the flower name reflects their character as well as their theme ‘color.’” I pondered. “For instance, my surname, Amsonia. Amsonia are also called blue star flowers, and they represent determination and resilience. A fitting name for my family. There is even a type called 'Blue ice' amsonia.” I smiled. “Looks like the creator of the game had a sense of humor.”

Asa looked nonplussed. “How do you know all this stuff?”

I shrugged. “Luce got me a little interested. We were talking about camellias the other day…” I shook my head free of where it started to wander, which was back to my fiancée. “Regardless, I’ll have to look up the meaning of clematis for some clues about his character.”

“Or you can just ask me.” She crossed her arms. “I talk to him all the time! I know him.”

“Do you really?” I cocked an eyebrow. Suddenly, I was struck with a thought.

“Asa, you said you played through my route. Did I act any…differently in the game than I do in reality?”

She chuckled. “Of course you did. You weren't completely obsessed with Camellia.”

“No, I mean…” my hands curled around the edge of the table. “How did I feel about my father?”

Asa’s eyebrows shot into her hairline. “Are you saying you might have been the rebellion leader in the second playthrough?”

“Don’t get me wrong…I am very loyal to my father. But this world might be different than that of the game.”

She paused to think. “As I recall, you were just as loyal in the game as you are here. But…”

I felt my heart thump. “What?”

“Well, I already told you that part of completing the game is helping the love interests find their own dreams. The Vel in the game would not have needed to stage a rebellion because he was in line for the throne anyway. But it makes me think… Vel, do you really want to become king?”

I sat back in my chair.

I had never thought about it.