"Are you done?" I asked, staring in disbelief as Selene emptied her fifteenth bowl of soba. FIFTEENTH. At this point, I wasn't even sure if she was eating for fun, hunger, or an emotional bonding ritual with noodles.
"I want more," she said casually, like we were at an all-you-can-eat buffet and not in a place where people were starting to stare.
"Oh, seriously? So we're just going to spend the whole day watching you eat soba? Do you even eat at home?" I said, standing up and hitting the table lightly for emphasis. "Is this a date or your personal soba mukbang?"
"Okay, okay. Let's go," she finally sighed like I had interrupted something important. Then she looked at Ice like it was normal royal behavior. "Ice, handle the bill."
Ice nodded like a loyal robot, walked to the counter, and dropped a pouch of shimmering crystal diamonds on the table like that was a normal currency and not something people kill for.
We stepped out into the sunlight, the warm breeze blowing through the busy streets. My stomach was full, my patience was empty, and the so-called 'date' had turned into a soba marathon I never signed up for.
"So, what do we do next?" Selene asked, stretching her arms like she just finished an intense workout. All she did was eat. I was the one doing emotional gymnastics over here.
"I don't know. You spent the whole day falling in love with soba instead of showing me any love," I muttered, crossing my arms.
"Ugh, yeah… that's true." She gave a cheeky grin. "But you're the one who made me taste it! And when I like something… I want it forever."
She said that last part while looking at me. Dead in the eyes. And wow. I felt my soul twitch.
"Yeah. Like me. You saw me, and now you want me forever, right?" I said, glancing sideways.
"Correct!" she said with that terrifyingly bright smile. Before I could react, she gasped. "Oh! Look—masquerades! I've never seen one. Let's go!" And just like that, she grabbed my wrist like I was a stuffed animal she refused to let go of and dragged me toward the crowd.
We pushed through people until we reached a small street play, full of handmade costumes and laughter. One person wore a giant dragon outfit, and another person sat on its neck, pretending to steer it like it was some sort of float. Actors dressed like villagers were running around, screaming dramatically.
"Oh no! It's the evil Ice Queen!" someone shouted.
"Run before she freezes us!" another cried.
Then came the so-called queen herself, dressed in blue rags, a plastic tiara crooked on her head, and her face painted white like a ghost.
"I'll destroy you all and feed you to my dragon! Because I am the cold-hearted Ice Queen! Mwahaha!" she shouted.
I blinked. Then blinked again. Wow. I didn't even know what to say. That wasn't just an exaggeration—that was slander. Sure, Selene did kill a few people in the original story, but she wasn't a villain like this.
Then I turned to Selene.
Her face was completely unreadable.
No smile. No frown. Just a flat, frozen expression that made my stomach drop.
"Are you okay, Selene?" I asked, already sensing the emotional storm forming behind that calm face.
"I'm fine," she said coolly. "But they're acting it all wrong. That costume is horrible, and that voice? I do not sound like that. Let me show them how it's done."
Without warning, she strutted through the crowd like a queen reclaiming her throne.
"I don't think that's how the Ice Queen sounds," Selene said, crossing her arms with a cold smirk.
"Oh yeah? Then how does she sound?" the fake Ice Queen said, stepping down from the dragon costume and flipping her plastic wig with attitude.
"She sounds like me," Selene replied. "Also, your costume is embarrassing. My hair isn't tied like that. And FYI, the Ice Queen has never frozen any innocent lands or people—only those who deserved it."
"Oop," someone in the crowd whispered.
"Well if you think you know her so well, why don't you act it out?" the fake queen said, clearly not realizing who she was challenging.
"She kind of does look like the Ice Queen..." someone murmured behind me.
Panic shot through my veins.
Oh no. Nope. Not today. I had to fix this.
"Haha—she's just joking!" I said quickly, jumping in between them. "You're great at acting. Honestly. Five stars. Please keep going. Selene, let's go, okay?"
But she stood still.
"Are you dragging me away, Kisaragi?" she said slowly, her voice dropping like winter wind. "I don't like it when people force me. I was going to show her how to act."
Her tone flipped from sunshine to blizzard. What happened to sweet, bubbly Selene from earlier?
"Hey! I wasn't done!" she shouted, turning back to the stage. "Yes, you're bad at acting. Now let me show you the real Ice Queen."
Before anyone could stop her, she raised her hand, and a glowing orb of actual ice formed in her palm. She stepped forward, and silence dropped over the crowd like a thick blanket.
"This is what the Ice Queen does," Selene said slowly. "I take what I want. And if anyone dares stand in my way..." she leaned in close, eyes gleaming, "I freeze them."
The way she said it. The way her words sliced through the air. It didn't just send chills down my spine—everyone else felt it too.
"You… You're the real Ice Queen!" the actor stammered.
And then—chaos.
People screamed, scattered, tripped over chairs and each other. The fake queen dropped her crown. The dragon fell apart. Even the actor playing the 'hero' ran off without his fake sword.
Now it was just me, Selene, and Ice standing in a silent street.
Selene turned to me with that same innocent smile she had earlier. Like nothing happened. "Okay! Let's continue our date!"
"No. I want to go home right now," I said, taking a step back.
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head like I was the dramatic one.
"Because you're scary. And I don't want to hang out with someone like that."
She frowned slightly. "I was just showing them how to act properly. They were doing it wrong."
"Wrong? Selene, it was comedy. They were joking, having fun!"
"Comedy?" she repeated. "That wasn't funny. They don't even know me, and they pretend like they understand my life? That's not funny. That's mockery."
"That's because everyone fears you," I said, my voice rising with frustration. "You're the villainess! That's how the world sees you—heartless, cold, and evil!"
She flinched slightly, but I kept going. "No one wants to hang out with you. The moment they realized it was you, they all ran away! It doesn't matter how sweet you act, how beautiful you look, how many dates we go on—you'll always be the villainess of this story!"
And just like that, I turned my back to her.
I walked away, each step heavy, but firm. That should do it. That had to hurt. Maybe now she'd finally back off and leave me alone.
But then—
I felt something wrap around my waist like vines.
I gasped as I was yanked backward—right into her arms.
"What are you doing?!" I shouted, struggling.
"Our date isn't over," she said with a gentle smile. Her voice was soft again, but her grip wasn't.
"You don't get to leave, Kisaragi. Not now. Not when the real show is just starting."
She smiled wider, holding me close.
Why?! Why do my words never work on her?! What kind of love spell is this?!