All of the ladies in the room began pulling out their chairs to sit down and Maude followed suit. Maids and servers came out of the woodwork, each bearing one of the three teas to serve to the table.

Lady Cristyne strode carefully across the ballroom, over to Maude’s table.

“So you’re the famous sword saint, huh?” the young lady to Maude’s right asked her.

“Ah, yes,” Maude replied, faking a smile. I don’t want to talk about being a sword saint, she thought.

“What is it like?” the lady asked, smiling back at Maude, her shining amethyst colored eyes sparking in the light.

“Battle?” Maude asked. The lady’s eye lit up brighter, and she nodded enthusiastically. Maude couldn’t help but grimace. “It’s gruesome,” she answered. “I’m not sure that I’d wish going into battle on my worst enemies.”

“Interesting,” the woman said, crinkling her nose. “How does it feel when you use your ability?”

“Hmm,” Maude paused. “I’d liken it to taking a hot bath but from the inside out.”

“Wow, how fascinating! I envy your capabilities, Lady Maude.”

“Lady Melissa,” Lady Cristyne’s soft, sweet voice said.

Is she trying to be stern? It’s hard to tell because of how sweet she sounds.

“Sorry, sorry,” Lady Melissa said with a wicked grin. “My father is one of the generals in the war but he won’t tell me anything about what it’s like. Yet he’ll gladly use my war strategies.”

Maude felt her stomach doing flip flops. This was the last kind of person she’d want to talk to. Someone who’d quickly be able to pick up on her faults and weaknesses and would be able to use that to their advantage. Someone who knows a lot more about war than I do.

Maude smiled weakly at Lady Melissa. “I’m so envious of you,” Lady Melissa continued. “You’ve gotten to go out and see new parts of the world! And you’re allowed to be strong and defend yourself.”

One of the maid’s poured the Jasmine tea in front of them into their cups. Between the scent that was steaming from her cup, and the words that Lady Melissa was saying, Maude was reminded of Lady Sara from the empire.

It’s been so long since I thought about her. Maude studied the patterns of the table cloth’s weaving. I wonder how she’s doing...did her brother or her lover return from the war? Maude’s heart skipped a beat. What if Sara’s brother or her lover had been in my battalion? What if they died in front of me? Would Sara be able to forgive me? What would she think of me if she knew that I had just run away from the fight? Does she know that I ran away? Does she blame me for killing them?

“What do you think, Lady Maude?” Lady Melissa asked.

Maude shook her head quickly, breaking herself out of her swirling thoughts.

“I’m sorry, Lady Melissa,” Maude said. “I was lost in thought. What were you asking for my opinion on?”

Lady Melissa smiled warmly. “I was asking if you think it’s fair that, in general, young ladies are prohibited from learning any weapon usage.”

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Is that true in the empire? Maude couldn’t help but wonder. Perhaps that could explain why Sara had been so envious of me.

“Ah,” Maude said. “I don’t really have much of an opinion,” she admitted.

“That’s fair,” Lady Melissa said with a sniff. “You never had to deal with being told you’re incapable of fighting.”

“Lady Melissa,” Lady Cristyne warned softly from Maude’s left.

Lady Melissa glanced at Lady Cristyne then looked back at Maude. “Say, Lady Maude. How did you get your powers in the first place? They say only the most well-trained swordmasters can manifest them, or that the person was put in an incredibly distressing situation. What was it for you?”

Maude felt her heart rate increase. She squirmed in her seat. Her breath started coming in short gasps. Who is this woman? And why is she so interested in me?

“Um, uh,” she said, looking around the table to see if there would be anyone willing to help her. She felt beads of perspiration building up on her forehead.

“Are you alright, Lady Maude?” Lady Cristyne asked her.

Maude was so overwhelmed that she was unable to find her voice. This had never happened to her before. She shook her head in response to Lady Cristyne’s question.

“Let me get you to the powder room,” Lady Melissa said, looking genuinely concerned. Maude nodded. Her body was weak and shaking. Lady Melissa wasn’t Maude’s preferred person at the moment, but from the look on her face, she did seem genuinely upset.

Lady Melissa stood up, and Lady Maude wrapped her arm over Lady Melissa’s soldier to help keep herself steady. They caught several glances from the other ladies as the two of them walked to the powder room together.

“Based on your reaction,” Lady Melissa said, “I’m guessing your powers manifested from the difficult situation.” Maude nodded, still trying to catch her breath. “Sorry,” Lady Melissa said. “If I’d have known I would have never brought it up.” Maude nodded again. “I’m just jealous,” Lady Melissa continued.

“Killing others is nothing to be jealous of,” Maude managed to get out. Lady Melissa opened the door to the powder room, and they stumbled toward the couch together. Then, Lady Melissa slowly lowered Maude onto it.

“But being able to defend oneself and loved ones is noble,” Lady Melissa replied. “And having the capability to try to defend myself and die trying is preferable to being taken in as a slave in the empire.”

Slaves again, Maude thought. What if what Duke Rosenberg had told me was actually true?

“Do you really think that will happen?” Maude asked, her voice still weak.

Lady Melissa smirked at her. “With you on our side, I don’t think so. But still, it was the first thing that came to mind when the empire declared war on us.” She pulled the handkerchief from Maude’s bag and began carefully dotting at the beads of sweat on Maude’s forehead. “I greatly admire the courage it took to switch sides,” Lady Melissa said with a soft smile. “That could not have been easy.”

Honestly, what has Duke Rosenberg been telling these people? They have nothing to be grateful towards me for.

Maude just nodded, unsure of what to say.

“Now I have confidence we will make it through,” Melissa said. Maude smiled at her weakly, her breath finally starting to calm down. “Can I get you anything?” Melissa asked.

Maude nodded. “Water, please,” she said.

“Of course,” Melissa replied, standing up, off the couch. “I’ll be right back then.” Maude nodded at her again.

As Melissa was leaving the room, Maude leaned her head back on the back of the sofa and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.

With her eyes closed, she could see him again. His beard was unkempt and scraggly. His hair growing out of his head was half silver and greasy. His teeth were half-rotted out of his skull. His skin was pulled tight over his cheekbones, and his breath reeked of alcohol. Maude recognized the leer on his face.

She opened her eyes in the present, feeling her heart rate starting to pick back up. What an absolute failure I am, she thought to herself. I’ve tried so hard to forget him, but here I am, still remembering that moment whenever someone asks me the origin of my ability. She sighed out loud.

“Maude?” a lady’s voice asked. Maude snapped her head up off the couch. Who is this person to just call me by my name?

Standing in front of her was a petite blond haired, blue eyed lady. She wore one of the most frilly gowns that Maude had ever seen in her life. Maude squirted at her, but the lady did not look familiar at all. Whoever she was, she was certainly being rude.