Bronya's first exception

**The snow kept falling.**

The cold wind wrapped around Bronya, just like everyone's icy stares, penetrating to the bone.

Heavy snowflakes fell on her, mixed with Cocolia's scolding and the gaze of the Silvermane Guards, pressing down on her with unbearable weight.

Bronya possessed all the qualities of an excellent High Guardian, except confidence.

Cocolia's control over her life was pervasive, gradually trapping her in a cage of her own making.

To rebut her mother's military orders in front of the Guards and explain her opinions logically, Bronya had already exhausted her strength.

But the cold wind and Cocolia's words, along with the Guards' gazes, were even harsher than the snow—

Not only did her mother dismiss her opinions, but the entire Guard force remained silent, with no one supporting her.

I really can't become a competent High Guardian...

Bronya tightened her coat around her, her once-proud grey eyes dimming, lifeless.

She turned to leave the training ground but felt her legs weaken, her head spinning, about to collapse.

After all, she was still just a teenage girl.

She couldn't withstand such pressure.

"Are you alright?"

A steady voice came from behind, and Bronya felt herself falling into a cold embrace, the steel armor digging into her painfully—

But she felt warmth from it, her pride shattering as she leaned into Ron.

Bronya's proud and aloof facade crumbled, revealing the vulnerability of a young girl beneath.

Her mother's misunderstanding, her confusion about the future, the shame of being rebuked... all the pressure flowed out through the torrents of tears in her silver-grey eyes.

But Bronya stubbornly buried her face in the shadows, back to everyone, letting the tears silently fall.

"Don't cry, Bronya... Stand firm, you're not the one who should leave today."

Ron's gentle voice came, but Bronya stubbornly responded in a trembling tone:

"I'm not crying."

She sniffled, lowering her voice:

"…It's just the snow melting, running down my hair."

"A High Guardian protects Belobog. A High Guardian has no tears."

"But a High Guardian isn't an automaton, and there's no oil running through their body."

Ron spoke plainly: "Whether it's snow or tears... the emotions you stubbornly try to discard are, in my eyes, an indispensable part of you."

"I am your guard, Bronya. Until you dismiss me, I will always be your protector."

"Would you want to see Belobog incomplete, to see Belobog cry?"

Bronya was silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.

"Neither do I."

Ron helped Bronya to her feet and guided her to sit on a nearby ammunition box.

After settling her, he carefully put on the Builder's badge she had given him, then turned towards the now chaotic training ground due to his defiance of orders.

Amid the stunned and confused stares, he walked steadily up to the platform.

"Cocolia, have you been to the market in Belobog? Do you know how much a bottle of Roger's Bread-flavored Soda costs now?"

"How dare you—?! Guards, take him..."

Cocolia's face darkened, about to reprimand Ron, but he interrupted her with a booming voice.

He held up five fingers:

"A whopping 5200 credits! 5200 credits! That number can only be casually stored in those ancient personal terminals!"

The guards, who were about to pull Ron down from the platform, gradually slowed their steps.

Ron's words echoed like thunder, awakening everyone from their illusions, their gaze shifting to reality—to the 3200 credit sausages, 5200 credit sodas, and 500 credit instant meals.

Compared to those fantasies, this was their life.

Ron paused, his voice sighing:

"I used to think Belobog's greatest enemy was the unending cold wave."

"But relying on geothermics to get through the cold wave, I found the rift eroding the city, turning the familiar world into a twisted illusion. The rift became Belobog's bane."

"I led the troops to repel the rift army, dispel the rift's erosion, reclaim the Belobog commercial district. It should have been a complete victory, but the Silvermane Guards still need to shed blood and fight."

"Now I understand more and more, the true bane of Belobog isn't outside, it's within Belobog, right here in Klipperfort!"

Ron pointed at Cocolia—

"Right on High Guardian Cocolia!"

"As long as the High Guardian's orders are corrupt, Belobog will rot piece by piece."

"If the High Guardian's orders are entirely corrupt, Belobog will be lost to the wind and snow, and we will all die without a burial place!"

"Think about it! How long has it been since High Guardian Herta died in an old ammunition box? Have you all forgotten?"

"That old ammunition box is still watching you from the cliff outside the city!"

The screen faded, replaced by two prompt messages:

[Your personal guard Ron consoled you, reducing your stress and significantly increasing your favorability towards him.]

[Your favorability towards Ron is now—82]

The two messages faded, and new text appeared:

[Your personal guard Ron refuted all of Cocolia Rand's military orders.]

[He described Cocolia's orders as inhumane and like the ravings of a madman.]

[He criticized High Guardian Cocolia Rand for inciting the guards with ill intentions.]

[He praised your suggestions highly, stating they were infinitely superior to Cocolia's orders.]

[On the training ground, Ron made a more profound analysis, helping everyone understand your ideas better.]

[Many guards gradually woke from Cocolia's incitement, seeming to come to their senses.]

[Cocolia's orders were temporarily halted due to Ron's influence.]

[Cocolia, furious, scolded your personal guard Ron for insubordination and defying orders.]

[Ron was taken to the front-line military prison to await judgment.]

[According to procedure, the Belobog Military Court will prosecute Ron and put him on trial.]

Looking at the text on the screen, Bronya's expression became complex.

No one understood herself better than she did.

She knew her pride better than anyone and was therefore particularly troubled by whether she could become a qualified High Guardian to protect Belobog.

Reflecting on it, if she encountered the same situation in reality, voicing her thoughts in front of the guards and her mother, only to be rebuked by her mother and coldly eyed by everyone...

She would likely collapse from her expectations of the future, unable to piece her confidence back together.

Thankfully... Ron was there.

He seemed to believe he was the guardian of the High Guardian...

Pondering this, Bronya looked at the new options on the screen with mixed emotions:

[Because Ron was imprisoned in the front-line military prison, you had a sleepless night, with many thoughts running through your mind.]

[Please choose—]

[1. Go to Klipperfort. Seek out your mother, Cocolia Rand, and ask her to release Ron.

Due to Cocolia's hatred for Ron, the likelihood of her agreeing to release him is 25%.]

[2. Go to the Military Court. Wait for Ron to be brought to trial, where you will act as his lawyer to argue for his acquittal.

Due to Ron's clear violation of Belobog military law, the likelihood of you securing his acquittal is 0%.]

[3. Go to the front-line prison. You will disregard any rules to free your personal guard Ron.

Due to your reputation among the Silvermane Guards and Ron's influence, the likelihood of successfully freeing Ron is 100%.]

As the princess of Belobog, the High Guardian's heir, and acting commander of the Silvermane Guards, Bronya had always been strict and unyielding.

Facing lawbreakers, she had always been firm and just, without exception.

She would undoubtedly choose the second option, or at the very least the first option, never violating Belobog's laws...

But looking at the options on the screen, Bronya didn't hesitate.

She clicked on the third option.

For the first time, Bronya made an exception.