Why didn’t you bow?

Standing there in the banquet hall, my mind spun as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. The princess the real, living, breathing version of Xyra Eldarion was right in front of me. She looked exactly like she did in Crimson Destiny.

The same long, flowing silver hair, those piercing icy blue eyes that seemed to see right through you, the graceful way she carried herself as if she ruled not just the room, but the world itself. It was her. There was no mistaking it.

But how? How was she here? Was I… in the game?

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart. This couldn't be real. Could it? I'd played Crimson Destiny so many times, but I didn't care about the story or the romance arcs, or any of the other characters.

Honestly, I couldn't even remember their names. I hadn't paid attention to the choices that led to love interests or the dramatic plot twists that unfolded as the story progressed.

No. My attention had always been on Xyra, the villainous princess who dominated every scene she was in. She was ruthless, intelligent, and utterly captivating.

The way she schemed, manipulated, and outwitted every other character in the game it was pure art. It wasn't just her beauty, though that was a huge part of it.

It was the way she was unapologetically herself, cold, calculating, and powerful. She had no need for the fawning suitors or the drama of court. She was focused on one thing: control. And it was glorious.

So, naturally, I ignored the rest of the game. I had no clue what the story was really about, just that Xyra was the best part of it.

I even joined fan clubs for her. Other players talked about their favorite romance routes or dramatic betrayals, and I was just there for more Xyra content. I never expected her to actually be real. 

Could I really be inside the world of Crimson Destiny? Everything around me felt too vivid, too detailed to be a game, but Xyra's presence was the only thing I cared about.

It was as if the universe had finally decided to reward my obsession with her by plopping me right into her world. But… how?

I racked my brain, trying to remember any other details from the game that could help me understand what was happening. But of course, I hadn't paid attention to anything else. There was no point. The love interests were boring.

The political intrigue? Blah. My focus had always been on Xyra. And now that I was here, in front of her, I felt like my brain was short-circuiting. 

What if this really was the game world? What if Xyra was exactly like she was in Crimson Destiny? And more importantly, how did I wait, why was everyone so quiet?

A heavy, awkward silence filled the hall, dragging me out of my frantic thoughts. I blinked, realizing for the first time that everyone around me had bowed.

The nobles, my parents, even my brothe heads bent, eyes down, showing deference to the princess.

Everyone except me.

I was just… standing there, frozen like an idiot, staring at her with wide eyes. Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I could feel the weight of a thousand gazes on me. Everyone was staring, including Xyra.

My heart jumped into my throat, my skin prickling with embarrassment as I finally understood the gravity of my mistake.

Slowly, I tore my gaze away from the princess and glanced around the room. Yep, everyone had bowed. Everyone except me. Of course.

This was bad. Really bad. My legs felt like they had turned to jelly, and my heart raced even faster. How had I not noticed? Why did I have to get so distracted with my internal fan monologue that I forgot the most basic social rule?

Before I could even think about how to fix this, a voice as cold as ice sliced through the silence.

"Why didn't you bow?"

I froze.

Xyra's voice was exactly as I had imagined it sharp, commanding, and dripping with menace. Her words sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn't bring myself to move.

I could feel her eyes locked onto me, those piercing blue eyes that had always made my heart race in the game. Now they were terrifying. And they were fixed right on me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. My throat was dry, and I was suddenly aware of just how heavy the silence around me had become.

My mind scrambled for an excuse, for something to say that wouldn't make me look like a complete fool.

But all I could think about was how I had dreamed of this moment of meeting Xyra Eldarion and now I was blowing it in the worst way possible.

She was waiting for an answer. Everyone was waiting.

Why didn't I bow? Well, because I was too busy being a ridiculous, starstruck fan. But I couldn't exactly say that. My brain whirled, trying to come up with something, anything that wouldn't make me sound like a complete idiot.

"I… I…"

Great. Fantastic. That's exactly what I needed stammering like a nervous wreck in front of the person I admired most. Perfect.

I couldn't even look her in the eyes anymore. The room felt like it was closing in on me, my skin prickling with the heat of embarrassment.

I had no idea how to fix this, no idea how to make it less humiliating. All I knew was that Xyra Eldarion was standing right in front of me, and I had royally screwed up.

Her gaze didn't waver. She was still waiting for an explanation, and I could tell by the way her voice had dropped that I wasn't going to get away with a weak excuse.

"Well?" she said, her voice smooth yet dangerous, as if she were daring me to give her a reason she wouldn't like.

I was going to die. Right here. In front of everyone. By sheer embarrassment.

But honestly, part of me still couldn't believe I was in this situation. Xyra Eldarion was talking to me.

Yes, she was probably moments away from smiting me where I stood, but still. She was real. She was terrifying. And somehow, that just made me admire her even more.

I opened my mouth again, desperate to come up with something clever, but all that came out was a shaky breath.

"I-I didn't… I didn't see…" I muttered weakly, immediately wincing at how pathetic it sounded.

The silence that followed was even worse. Xyra hadn't moved, hadn't said anything. But I could feel the weight of her stare, and it felt like my skin was burning under it. She was going to tear me apart, wasn't she?

In my head, I tried to imagine what the other players in the Crimson Destiny fan club would say if they saw me now. Probably something like, "Ren, how could you be so dumb?" or "This is your chance, don't ruin it!" But I had already ruined it.

And now I was standing in front of the one person I had admired for so long, feeling like a complete fool.

This wasn't how I imagined our first meeting going. Not at all. 

Finally, Xyra took a step toward me, her boots clicking against the marble floor. I barely breathed, my heart hammering in my chest. Her eyes were still locked onto mine, and I could feel the chill of her gaze as if it were slicing right through me.

This was it. This was how I died crushed by the weight of my own stupidity and the gaze of the most intimidating princess in existence.

"Why didn't you bow?" she repeated, her voice even icier than before.

I swallowed hard, unable to move, unable to think.

What now?