Riker led me into a backstage room that was as chaotic as a battlefield—and just as noisy.

  The air buzzed with a symphony of voices calling out instrus, the hum of equipment, and the occasional sharp ugh from a stressed tei.

  Makeup artists flitted between cospyers like caffeinated hummingbirds, their hands moving in a blur. Garment racks crowded the walls, filled with glittering es and absurdly over-the-top outfits that looked like they belonged in an Imperial jester fever dream.

  He guided me to a chair in the er, directly in front of a vanity mirror surrounded by blinding bulbs.

  Before I could protest, a bubbly makeup artist practically danced into view, her cheerful energy radiating like sunshier having ten whiskeys.

  “Hello, darling! I’m Mia, and we’re going to make you sparkle today!” she trilled, snapping open a ridiculously cute pink briefcase pstered with stickers of bunnies, bows, and motivational quotes. If a uni exploded, it would look like that case.

  First Riker, now this…

  I barely had time to react before she gestured for me to sit. Riker, of course, was already grinning like a proud peacock at my obvious disfort.

  “As you’re likely aware, my schedule is quite demanding,” Riker began, his tone full of smug self-importao ensure you receive the attention and guidance you deserve, I’d like to introduce you to someone from my team who will assist you throughout the day. Would you prefer that arra with someone specific?”

  “The only one I know on your team is the bru the side door…” I muttered under my breath as Mia gently nudged me into the chair.

  “Splendid!” Riker decred with theatrical fir, clearly having heard me. “She’s on her way as we speak!”

  Mia, uerred by my sour expression, pulled out a hydrating primer from her arsenal of beauty magic. “Close your eyes, sweetie,” she instructed in a voice so sweet it should’ve e with a dental warning. The cool gel spread over my skin, refreshing but oddly invasive, as if I were being spritzed by an overly enthusiastic gardener.

  “Mister Riker! That’s…” I started, my words muffled by the brush she was now wielding like a paitag a vas. “Very well…”

  The primer wasn’t even dry before Mia moved on, dabbing foundation ay face with rapid, precise movements. “You have such lovely features,” she cooed, blending expertly. “This’ll just evehing out. You’ll look radiant, darling!”

  Before I could form a snarky reply, Riker’s r voice sounded over the chaos. “Ah, behold, the woman of the hour!”

  I groaned inwardly and g the mirror.

  Standing nervously in the doorway was the brue from earlier, her wide eyes darting around the room as if expeg an ambush. She clutched her tablet like it was a shield, her knuckles white.

  “You need me, Mister Riker?” she asked timidly, her voice almost a whisper. It was like watg a rabbit trying to iate with a lion.

  “Yes, my dear!” Riker called out, his arms spread wide as if addressing an ad crowd again. “Lady Charlie herself has personally summoned you to be her manager! you rise to the occasion and bask in the glory of her request?”

  Mia, meanwhile, moved on to powder, setting my foundation with a flurry of quick pats. “Look at you! Perfect already,” she said, dusting off her brush dramatically as if she’d just sculpted the imperial queen herself.

  “Manager?” I muttered under my breath, gring daggers at Riker through the mirror. But my gre softened when I saw the girl’s expression—equal parts terror and disbelief. “You’ll do great,” I said, surprising even myself.

  Mia handed me a handheld mirror. “See, darling? Geous already!”

  “I do it, Mister Riker,” the girl said, her voice trembling slightly befaining strength. “It would be my honor!” She looked genuinely happy, her nervous energy transf into a shy but determined smile.

  “Splendid news!” Riker announced, g his hands together with theatrical delight. “I’ve got a whirlwind of preparations to attend to, but fear not—I shall see you soon during the grand introdu. Ah, yes, I’ll add it! Toodles for now, darling!”

  And just like that, he spun around, his blinding coat shimmering obnoxiously as he vahrough the doorway. I hadn’t even mustered a response before the light-show that was Riker disappeared.

  Mia, unbothered by his dramatic exit, moved on to tour and highlight. Her hands worked with the precision of a surgeon, except she was far too cheerful for someone wielding a brush as sharp as her cheekbone goals.

  “Lady Charlie, my name is… Lo,” the girl said hesitantly, her voice wavering. She closed her eyes as if expeg a sp, her shoulders tensed in quiet anticipation.

  I blinked, caught off guard by her behavior. “o meet you, Lo,” I replied, my tone even though my gaze flickered warily toward Mia. She was furiously rummaging through her pink briefcase like a squirrel digging for a long-lost a, muttering to herself as stickers of bunnies and rainbows jostled with every motion.

  It was both chaotid strangely adorable.

  “You… don’t think my name is weird?” Lo asked timidly, stepping closer to me, her holo-tablet clutched protectively against her chest.

  I looked at her, genuinely perplexed. “Why would I? It’s a beautiful name.” I meant it, but I couldn’t hide my fusion about why she’d brought it up. Before I could press further, Mia popped back up, triumphantly holding a small pact.

  “Oh, darling, yoing to love this!” Mia decred, brandishing the brightest pink blush I’d ever seen. “This will be perfect for you!”

  I had my doubts, but before I could protest, Mia was already applying it with the enthusiasm of an artist painting a masterpiece.

  “Lady Charlie,” Lo spoke up again, her voice quieter this time, “I know you don’t have the key on you, but do you have… permissio up? you… share them?”

  I g her, momentarily unsure of what she was asking, before Jerry’s voice chimed in smoothly. “I do that, Miss Charlie. Tell her to open a BT el.”

  “Of course, Lo,” I said with a small smile. “Open your BT el.”

  Lo’s face lit up with relief, and she began fiddling with her holo-tablet. Meanwhile, Mia leaned in close, her brows furrowed in intense tration. “Your eyes, darling, they are stunning already, but we’re going to make them pop!” She produced a palette of dazzling eyeshadows with shades so vibrant they practically screamed, look at me!

  Her brush swept ay eyelids with precision, yering shades of icy silver and deep blue. “Almost there!” Mia chirped, her voice filled with excitement.

  “Woah!” Lo suddenly jumped slightly, her holo-tablet beeping angrily in her hands. “You’re fast, Lady Charlie! I got it!”

  “Me? Oh, of course, yeah… Lo,” I replied with a grin, my eyes watering slightly from the makeup assault.

  “Oh, uh!” Lo stammered, her voice hitg as her wide eyes darted toward the door. “That’s…”

  “What’s going on, Lo?” I asked, my tone wary as I caught sight of at least terolling into the room. Dressed like forest bandits I’d seen in-game with Katheriheir outfits were a chaotic mix ed leathers, faded tunics, and mismatched boots. My body tensed slightly, instincts kig in. “Lo?”

  “They… They’re here to talk about…” Lo trailed off, flustered, before blurting out, “Did you know you o perform a stunt fight in thirty minutes?”

  “Plenty of time, darling,” Mia chirped cheerfully from behind me, entirely unbothered by the sudden influx of scruffy strangers. She was already rummaging through her pink briefcase again, stickers wobbling as she muttered something about the perfect eyeliner.

  Meanwhile, the bandits kept advang, their boots thudding softly against the polished floor.

  “Ah, I see…” Lo excimed, a nervous ugh bubbling out as she g her holo-tablet. “Mister Riker added it a few minutes ago, just as he left…”

  “Of course he did,” I muttered, shaking my head as one bandit stepped forward, his fident swagger clearly marking him as their leader. His dark hair was tied ba a loose ponytail, and a fake scar ran jaggedly across his jawline, giving him the perfect “generic tough guy” vibe.

  What an excellent actor and e!

  “And you are?” I asked, keeping my toral but my eyes sharp.

  “Hello, Sword Queen,” he said with a grin that was more cocky than charming. “I’m Bandit Leader, and the boss told us you’d join us during the opening speech.”

  “I… was informed just now, yes,” I replied, f a polite smile. “Never dohat before.”

  Mia, meanwhile, had finally uhed an eyeliner and swooped ba like a hawk spotting prey. “Hold still, darling,” she instructed, her tone bright and unwavering as she began applying the eyeliner with a fevered iy.

  The Bandit Leader barely seemed to notice my predit, his grin widening. “It’s simple—just follow my lead. We’ll make it look good for the audience.”

  “Great,” I muttered through ched teeth, as Mia’s hand tilted my upward. “Because that’s exactly what I need right now—st-minute chraphy with bandits.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Mia said breezily, stepping back to examine her work. “You’ll look fabulous while doing it.”

  The leader looked at me, his fident smirk faltering as his gaze lingered. His mouth opened as if to speak, but closed again just as quickly. Clearly, he was a bit speechless.

  I would be too if I saw myself.

  Damn.

  He cleared his throat, finally managing, “We… uh, we’re using martial arts for the performance, but, you know, with useless flourishes or spins to make it look more dramatic. … uh… will you do that with us?”

  I couldn’t help it—I giggled. Mia immediately shot me a scolding look, her perfectly arched brow raised in judgment. “Sorry,” I said, holding my hands up to pcate her before turning back to the leader. “In a game, that kind of thing actually works, y’know. Superpowers and all that. So yeah, I think I’ll manage.”

  Mia huffed but pulled out a tube of mascara with an air of exaggerated grace, like she was wielding a legendary artifact. She leaned in, her expression intense as she started coating my shes.

  Lo’s voice broke the moment, a chirp of nervous excitement. “Mister Riker just added a note… uh…” She g her holo-tablet, her lips twitg as if holding back ughter. “He wrote, ‘These people are so ughably inpetent, I might as well roll up my sleeves and do it myself!’”

  I fought the urge to ugh ht, biting my lip instead. “What a sacrifice! Our shy Riker will present to a crowd!” I said with mock seriousness, my tone dry.

  That did it.

  The room erupted into ughter, even Mia chug softly as she fihe mascara and reached for her brow pencil.

  The Bandit Leader straightened, his smirk returning with renewed fidence. “So yeah, boss,” he said, gesturing toward the door, “see you on stage.”

  The rest of the bandits gave awkward bows, their movements stiff but respectful, before filtering out one by one.

  Mia was already focused on my eyebrows, her pencil moving with the precision of a draftsmag blueprints. “Hold still, darling,” she murmured, the ughter still lingering faintly in her voice. “We ’t have uneven brows during a big performance.”

  “No, that we don’t want…” I said, watg as Mia leaned in to finish the st step of her work. With a flourish, she applied a deep color to my lips, her hand steady as she paihem with a precision that felt almost artistic. The result was bold, striking, and—annoyingly—perfect.

  “There! Now you’re ready to quer the world, darling!” Mia decred, stepping bad admiring her masterpiece with a satisfied grin.

  Lo shifted nervously beside me, her holo-tablet clutched tightly. “We o go, Lady Charlie,” she said, her tone polite but insistent. “Your dressing room is down the hallway.”

  Mia csped her hands together in a gesture of exaggerated ess, her face lighting up like a proud parent. “Go, go, my darling star! Shine brightly and make them all swoon!” she excimed, waving us off.

  I gave her a quiod, stifling a ugh as Lo ushered me toward the door.

  The hallway stretched ahead, quiet but buzzing with an undercurrent of anticipation. Lo led the way, her steps quid purposeful. When we reached a door marked with an ornate sign, very simir to my signature in-game, she hesitated before pushing it open.

  As the door creaked slightly on its hinges, I stepped inside, and my breath caught.

  What… is this?