The wagon wheels rolled, churning through slushy snow. The smell of smoke filled the carriage, and Riley jerked awake. She looked at the princess and her friends; each was either dozing or in a dazed state of boredom.

Standing, Riley grabbed the door, popped it open, and stepped out. Hanging from the side, she shut the door and leapt.

Landing lightly, she sprinted and flailed slightly. Nicole chuckled and grinned.

Riley stabilized, and her hands flashed. “Want to have some fun?”

“What?”

“When they go to the dungeons, want to pretend to be me again?” Riley grinned at her.

Nicole grinned back and nodded. “What are you stealing?”

“Dungeon run.” Riley smirked.

Nicole laughed. “Sure.” She chuckled.

Riley grinned and looked at the capital. Smoke hung over the city, and the caravan veered toward the back entrance.

Nicole winked and vanished in a cloud of snow.

Riley blinked. Her father was gone. Those two are good at hiding. She looked at her class and stopped herself from laughing. As if you aren’t.

Following the group up the steep hill, Riley entered the palace grounds and looked at the academy.

So many things to seek out.

So many things to take.

Some fun and time. My chance to shine.

Mischief, guide my way!

[That’s more like it! ~Mischief]

Riley chuckled and walked across the grounds. Her eyes flickered toward the dorm and her room.

Magus Victoria bustled across the grounds. “Students, your final dungeon run will be this weekend. You may do it tomorrow morning or now.” She paused and looked at Riley. “Riley, follow me, please.”

Riley jogged up. And here is where I find out I’m not getting any more. She stopped and smiled. “Magus?”

“I hope you are doing well. I heard about some close calls,” Victoria said with a smile, walking toward the academy. “The palace has asked for some healing potions and enchantments to aid on the front.”

Riley felt like screaming. She scowled.

“A knight is expected to earn their pay,” Victoria said, her smile fading.

“What pay? It’s all going to a barony that I don’t own and don’t control,” Riley said, letting her anger be visible. “As I see it, the palace now wishes my time and skills for no pay. I also assume that I won’t get another dungeon run?” She crossed her arms and huffed.

“You had your eight runs already,” Victoria said sternly.

Riley scowled. “Grouped up so that two royals benefited at my expense.”

“Riley, don’t cause a scene.”

Riley shook her head. “I can’t spend all my time enchanting for free, Magus. That’s the simple truth.”

Victoria sighed. “The contribution will go toward your debt. The prices are listed in the shops.”

“And my time here is done?” Riley asked. Is that what this is about? Why’d they have me come back?

“The palace has another offer for you. Do understand they are busy and typically don’t handle such matters directly.” Victoria paused. “How’d you manage to reach B-tier so quickly?”

“I had crystals stashed away,” Riley replied. “And the knights wanted me to advance quickly.”

“Then why the fuss?” Victoria asked, her exasperation visible.

“Because it isn’t fair,” Riley replied. “I shouldn’t lose my place here because of the war.”

Victoria sighed and walked toward the academy.

Riley followed her. Gods, the royals here are beyond arrogant. Walking into the academy, she followed the magus down the halls and into an office.

Victoria shut the door. “Riley, knights vow to obey orders. You need to obey yours.”

Riley sat and rolled her eyes. “Let us not play games, Magus. What is it you want? I know I’m not getting another run. Am I expelled?”

Victoria looked down and frowned. “We need to discuss that. The next term is important. It’ll prepare you for your barony.”

“And my duchy?” Riley asked, masking her smile.

“Riley, don’t start. Your family is in massive debt, and it must be cleared before you can purchase another term.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Riley stood and walked to the door. Well, that answers that.

“Sit down, Riley,” Victoria said, massaging her brow. “I am trying to help you. There are other options. I have two.”

Riley turned and studied the magus.

“You may sign a contract that will transfer your barony to another as your grandparents get old.”

“And that would allow me dungeon runs?”

“No, that’s to attend next term as a knight. The cost would come out of your salary and future salary. Given your current level, the price will be high.”

Riley nodded. “How many years to pay that off?”

“A decade.” Magus sighed. “I admit that it is expensive.”

“And if I wish to be a baroness?”

“You can keep the debt and be assigned to a border colony. All future dungeon runs would be forfeit until you repay the debt.”

“How much do they owe?” Riley asked.

Victoria opened her desk drawer and pulled out a piece of paper. “The current debt stands at roughly eleven thousand nobles. There is a charge for each day that it is unpaid. It is also growing due to war shortages.”

“So, really, there is no way to keep it,” Riley said, nodding.

Victoria nodded sadly. “It would require most of your life, but I do have a contract for you to relinquish it.” She placed the paper on the table.

Yeah. I don’t care anymore. Riley looked at the magus and smiled. “Do you play cards, Magus?”

Victoria looked up. “Pardon?”

“Do you play cards?”

Confusion spread across the magus’s face. “No, why?”

Riley smiled. “The problem with bluffing is that eventually someone will call it.” She paused to pray. “Beauty, I need your help. I need my levels to look like they’ve reset, and I need to break my oath with anyone loyal to the royals, along with breaking my oath to the king.”

“This isn’t cards or a bluff,” Victoria said. “The king drafted this offer. It’s the best that you’ll get.”

[Alright, but I’m giving you a quest later. ~Beauty]

Riley cleared the message away and turned to her focus back to the magus. “A good bluff, but I’m calling. It’s time for the royals to reap their rewards.” She stood and triggered Assume Disguise. “Good luck with your war. I reject my family position and my oaths.”

[You have broken your Knightly Oath and have lost access to the royal auras.]

[You have broken the oaths with mixed loyalty subjects.]

An audible gasp filled the room.

Darting to the door, Riley shot out of the room and down the halls. “Servant time!” She triggered Assume Disguise again. Her attire and appearance shifted to that of a maid. She moved swiftly into the kitchens, walked through them, and headed to the back door, leaving the magus behind. Burning mana, she went invisible and studied the grounds. Now… Where do I go from here?

~~~

Victoria sat at her desk, her mouth opened wide. She—she—what? The shock rolled through her. Jolting up from her chair, she strode down the halls. Gods, I can’t believe she’d throw it all away.

Dread swirled through her. Our Void Mage is gone. She grimaced and headed to the cathedral. What do we do now?

Moving briskly across the grounds, she entered and saw the archway flash as if someone had entered. Ignoring it, she looked at the seeker and priest. “We have a problem.”

Seeker Holt spun. “What?”

“Riley.” Victoria swallowed. “She heard the offers and did the unthinkable.”

The seeker froze. He shook his head, his mouth dropping open. “She wouldn’t do that. No one would do that.”

“She did. I heard it and saw it. She said something about cards and bluffing. Then she said, ‘Good luck with the war. I reject my family position and oaths.’ Then she ran off before I could say a thing.” Victoria swallowed. “We just lost our Void Mage.”

The seeker stared. “She just reset it all?”

“If she had crystals stashed, maybe she thought it was worth it since she was losing the barony anyway.” Victoria grimaced. “What do we do?”

“We need to inform the palace.” Holt grimaced and walked out the door.

Victoria followed. Why did they push so far? She grimaced and shook her head. Her thoughts echoed the answer. No other noble would have broken that oath.

Walking up to the door, she steadied herself and walked through the palace halls before stopping in front of the throne room. The servant looked at them and knocked. “Seeker Holt and Magus Victoria,” he said through the door.

The door swung open, and she walked inside. Dropping into a curtsy, she stood and looked at the king and queen.

King Titus frowned. “Seeker?”

“Apologies, your majesties. You are likely aware. Riley has broken her oath to you.”

Lisa’s eyes went wide. “No.”

Titus shook his head, confusion spreading across his face. It shifted to surprise. “Condemnation, she did.”

Lisa turned. She went quiet. “May the gods judge.”

“They did. I saw her levels reset,” Victoria said softly. “She said that she rejected the family position and her oaths.”

A quiet spread through the room. Victoria recalled her oath and the countless times the terms had been altered. Maybe I should have done the same. She looked at the royals and, for the first time, considered it.

[Gods’ Judgment: Niland Royal Oath was deemed as unjust and has broken. You may remove the oath, alter the oath, or keep the oath.

Approved alterations:

- Like for like: Remove the penalty for breaking the oath.

- Like for like: Loyalty to others is allowed.

- Divine Intervention: The gods’ will overrides the royal will.

- Coercion: Loyalty to you is required -or- Loyalty clause is removed.

- Terms Not Kept (x31): You may end this contract when you wish.]

Victoria forced a mask on her face. Thirty-one times; they broke it that much?

“It was her choice,” Lisa said, interrupting the silence. “We will have wanted papers drawn up.”

Victoria curtsied, turned, and walked to the door. A flicker of doubt passed over her, and her eyes widened. I need to talk to a knight.

~~~

Riley burst into the rundown cottage. She looked at the three people gathered and smirked, shutting the door behind her.

Nicole sighed and wriggled against Althea’s hug. “You can let me go now.”

“Nope.” Althea turned and smiled.

Roger looked at Riley and raised a brow. “Problem?”

“I’ll say. They want to end our barony and weren’t going to get me anything.” Riley swallowed. “Dad. I broke my vow. They’ll know.”

Roger stood. “I understand. Stay with Althea. I need to have a word with your grandparents.” He pulled out a bag of crystals and handed it to Althea.

Riley swallowed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was inevitable when you became a void mage,” Roger said, pulling her into a hug. “Change your disguise and be safe.”

“I am sorry,” Riley whispered.

“It was inevitable, Riley. Why do you think I ran off?” Roger released her. “Be safe and have some fun.” He paused.

Riley dropped her disguise and looked at him.

Roger smiled. “You look great.” He let her go and vanished out the door.

Riley turned and looked at the two who remained. Nicole struggled in the iron arms around her.

“Don’t even start,” Nicole said, sighing at Althea.

“You owed me this,” Althea replied, releasing her. “I suppose the royals will come looking.”

“Likely.” Riley triggered Assume Disguise and became a blonde-haired girl.

[Your name is Melody! ~Beauty]

Riley chuckled and looked back at the two.

Althea smiled. “It’s good to see you, Riley. I’ll send word and get some things done.” She turned and headed for the door. “It will take a little time.” She stepped outside and vanished.

Riley turned and looked at the only one remaining.

“Don’t worry. We can still have some fun.” Nicole took Riley’s arm. “After all, we have a palace to torment, and runs to steal.” She grinned and pulled Riley toward the door.