Chaos Girl Rewrites the Script novel Chapter 97

The black and red pieces clashed back and forth across the board.

The tea shimmered under the bright sun, and the chirping of cicadas was the most pleasant clamor of summer.

Cyril moved a pawn, his expression calm and composed. "Check."

The moment the game was decided, Caspian was both surprised and thoroughly thrilled.

"Impressive! Sacrificing your bishop and rook just to provide cover for your most inconspicuous pawn... Your strategy is cunning and your attacks are decisive. Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Caspian picked up his teacup and savored the brew, seemingly still relishing the memory of their recent battle on the board.

Cyril's expression was composed. He wasn't concerned with the outcome of a single game. "You underestimated me at the beginning, Grandfather," he said objectively. "If you had been serious from the start, the result wouldn't have changed, but you probably could have held out for another twenty minutes."

Caspian paused, then raised an eyebrow and studied the young man before him. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.

Excellent.

He had worried before that Cyril's gentle nature meant he couldn't handle pressure. Now he saw that gentleness was just his way of dealing with the world; the young man's edges were still sharp. From the battle they just had, Caspian could clearly sense his opponent's confidence, his ability to strategize and see the whole picture.

The old man stared at the board, replaying the game in his mind, and shook his head in admiration. "I'm getting old! My mind isn't what it used to be. In a few days, I'll take you to meet my old chess buddies. You can help me knock them down a peg!"

Cedric glanced at Cyril discreetly and silently refilled the teacups.

Caspian's so-called chess buddies were no ordinary people; a single stomp of their feet could make all of Aurestead City tremble. His willingness to take Cyril out to meet them showed how much he approved of this grandson.

Cyril understood the deep meaning behind the offer, and the smile in his eyes softened. "Alright."

Not "Thank you, Grandfather," but "Alright."

His youthful pride was revealed in that single moment.

Caspian patted his shoulder, gratified. "Cyril, I am truly glad you are a child of the Ravenshire family."

Vivienne pulled two slips of paper from her pocket and stuck them to her forehead.

Caspian's expression grew even more complicated.

Unhinged?

Lazy?

Cyril was speechless.

Vivienne suddenly perked up, as if experiencing a final burst of energy, and sat bolt upright. "Grandfather, I might have moments of... craziness from time to time. I'll try to control that. But the laziness... that might be permanent. You have to promise not to hate me, okay?"

Caspian pressed a hand to his forehead. "Vivienne, I can play this game with you, but... can't you pick a different persona? Like 'Grandpa's good girl,' where you come home at whatever time I tell you to. That's a pretty good persona."

Vivienne's face suddenly fell, and she looked on the verge of tears. "I can't change it. I'm useless. Two hundred and thirty items... that's four hundred and sixty thousand words. That's longer than my lifespan."