Alia giggled at Elio's words, then turned to Isolde with a mock-serious expression.
"You're complaining a lot, Isolde… You're acting like a total monster! Maybe you should be the final boss of the game!"
Elio immediately burst out laughing and jumped on the idea.
"HAHAHA! For real! She really can be a monster sometimes!"
Isolde's smile faded in an instant. She turned her head away, avoiding their eyes. Her voice came out soft and hurt, but controlled.
"You're making me play even when I don't want to… and now I'm the monster, too? That's not fair."
Elio caught the sudden change in Isolde's face. She was clearly pulling away, and if he didn't do something, she might quit the game altogether.
He touched his chin thoughtfully and went silent for a moment.
"Okay then… Let's not decide ourselves. We'll leave it to chance. How about a coin flip?"
Isolde still looked a bit unsure, but the suggestion seemed to soften her mood. She narrowed her eyes, then gave a small nod.
"Alright… I guess that's fine."
Elio quickly turned to Alia.
"Alia? What do you say?"
Alia gave a happy nod, clearly still in a good mood.
"Alright then. Who's picking heads?"
Without missing a beat, Isolde raised her hand. Her voice was clear and certain.
"I choose heads."
Elio blinked, a little caught off guard by her eagerness. The seriousness in Isolde's expression told him she wasn't messing around.
"Very well," Elio said, narrowing his eyes and speaking in an overly serious tone.
"If it lands on heads, you'll be the princess and Alia will be the monster. But if it's tails, then you're the monster and Alia becomes the princess."
He turned his head to Alia.
"We good?"
Alia smiled and nodded.
Elio reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gold coin, still bright and shiny. He placed it carefully on his thumb and paused dramatically, as if summoning fate—then flipped it high into the air.
The coin flew higher than expected. Elio lost sight of it for a second, but with a quick jump, he caught it mid-air.
Slowly, he opened his palm.
"Tails."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Alia threw her arms into the air, her face glowing with pure joy.
"Haaha! I'm the princess!"
Isolde's face crumpled immediately. With a scowl, she rushed toward Elio.
"What? Let me see that coin!"
Elio handed it to her with a slightly guilty look.
"It's really tails, Isolde… just bad luck."
Letting out a long sigh, Isolde turned and began walking toward the tree's shade, dragging her feet a little. She mumbled in a frustrated tone,
"Nothing ever goes easy for me anyway…"
Elio followed after her and gently tapped her shoulder.
"That's because you're always complaining, Isolde. Try enjoying life a little. Next game, we'll play whatever you want."
The corner of Isolde's mouth twitched, just slightly. She liked the offer—but had no intention of showing it.
She turned her head sharply to the side.
"Hmph… fine."