“Who in the world is that?”
Jaws dropped as I entered and murmurs spread across the floor like webs. I knew how to give the Nobles their greetings, even if it felt like groveling. Yet they only stared at me. The music that played before Twig and I entered ceased and voices only spoke in intrigued whispers. There were stairs at the end as the crowd dispersed before me, leading to the rest of my so-called Family’s rooms. Bohun stood beside Elara on the landing, watching me in silence. Surprisingly, Charles II also stood at the foot of the stairs, with a thicker coat on to hide his scarred neck. Only Elaine was missing. What say you three? Shall we fight today?
On second thought, the outline of blue hair standing dutifully behind them scared me away from that idea. I’d need backup for that monster. O, Emma, you just wait. An arm rubbed against my side for a moment, pulling me out of my desire to fight.
Twig stood proud, though his heart was beating rapidly. I suddenly wondered if they were asking who Twig was instead of me, but someone marched up the stairs past Charles II with a scroll in his hand.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Master’s Daughter has arrived,” the man, whose status declared him as a Bard, unfolded the scroll and announced with a hint of smugness in his voice. “And an unexpected guest!”
“Who is this by your side, O Daughter of mine?” Bohun asked me. Twig cleared his throat, but I cut him off. I have already seen the statuses of Leonreim and those Noble ladies surrounding him.
“This is my partner for tonight, Father,” I grinned. “For the Fiance is busy with others, I see.”
I gestured to the fat boy, while the crowd of Nobles stared at him. Billy appeared to be unapologetic, at least, seeming uninterested on the outside. I still could see the stains on his suit from the meeting with his father and the overwhelming fear beneath his dim eyes. The Bard clapped loudly as Bohun remained silent. The Leonreim Master stepped out with his wife and joined his clapping, with Borr trailing behind him. I greeted them with my eyes, but they did not seem to be interested in talking, instead stepping back into the crowd of nameless Nobles. The brute’s eyes were fixated on me, though everyone around the Leonreims seemed to want nothing to do with him.
“Celebrations are in order! This night marks the beginning of the Bohun-Leonreim allegiance! May the Light bless this night and the Houses to prosper!”
The music began once again. The joyful noise polluted my ears even though I knew the old Charlotte would have loved to listen to their sounds, but I didn’t! A hand tugged mine, the same one that burned as it guided me to my room. Twig’s.
“Well, shall we?” He smiled widely, while I wondered if the courage he had was because his Skill recharged. No such Skill existed? What does that mean, Wisdom?
“I’m sorry,” I told him. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a—”
“Follow my lead, then,” he drew me closer to him. A Demon Queen, dancing? “One step here, another there, match the tempo.”
The motions were graceful, while jealous eyes remained on me. It was someone shorter than Twig, amidst the other dancing Nobles. It was Green Dress, in a blue dress! What a twist! Kiara, you are alone! Where is your Prince now? I smirked and stuck my tongue out at her, but felt Twig’s arms pull me in. Wah! I stepped on his foot and nearly toppled into him. The notes started to play more sounds, but that’s all they were to me. Simply changing the order and tuning of their strings did not appease me! His hand gently lifted my hand off his chest and I peered up at him. He seemed embarrassed, with his cheeks going pink again and his other hand moving to his pocket. I seized it before it could escape and nodded to the outside balcony.
“Whoops,” I apologized. “Shall we take a break from this dancing and cool off outside, Sir Twig?”
The hand was sweating in mine as it relaxed. I’m sure it was because of my smile, inflicting the Terrified Debuff on him. Such a useful Passive Skill! Before Twig could speak, I felt someone else’s hands on my shoulder. A new challenger?
“He’s mine, back off!” I spoke to the offender over my shoulder. My toy!
“I’ve been meaning to speak with you, Sister.” It was Charles II! I didn’t realize he wanted to dance once more with me!
“I’ll wait for you outside, Charlotte,” Twig reassured me, but based off the sweat on his brow and relief in his eyes I could tell he was wanting to run from me! There shall be a small reprieve before my storm will claim you again, O Twig!
“Come to challenge me again, Dear Brother?” I did not take my eyes off Twig, but he sped up his pace towards the doors leading out. “One so bereft of Light like you, on an evening like this?”
“You can put those away, Charlotte,” Charles II sighed. Put what away? Ah, my Mage Link was activated already. He was holding a glass of wine, a poisonous drink. Do Humans willingly poison themselves like that? The look in his eyes told me to follow him with a slight nod towards a spot beneath the stairs past a table with a huge bowl of more poison. Still, he was only level 18. “I know you’re stronger than me.”
He leaned against the wall and took another sip of the wine.
“I don’t really know how I fell behind both of you, yet I am the one to be next in the Bohun’s line. Pathetic…”
Brooding? Is that what that poison does to him? I hated to admit it, but this new side of his was too boring for me! His eyes peered over at me above the glass and a fire inside them grew.
“I meant to take that gem of yours,” he admitted. “For my Lady, the one in line to be Saintess for Elaine. Yet she was banished by Kiera. I thought that if I could touch that gemstone’s Light, I could become more powerful and have it my way but I was wrong. I’ll not ask for forgiveness. I won’t forget what you called it. A trinket. Tch. It made me realize that true strength is gained beyond just a Goddess’s religion.”
“Well, being strong helps,” I trailed off. A scoff, followed by a clink of glass came in response to that. Pretty stones like that held the world’s elements and memories within them, much like my Demon Stones. Unlocking their power through invocation yielded some of the Humans powerful Skills to wield against my Demons during our battles, but those gems were far larger than a mere T7 Stone. Does this mean Charles II has the ability to use a gemstone?
“What bothers me the most about you, and I mean it,” he stared at his glass and tilted it towards a familiar fat Noble. “Why are you choosing to go with him? You could stay here and rule this place.”
“And work with you?” I chuckled at his disappointment. “As for the blob– er, Billy. I think you know why I’m going with him. You pretenders have given me more than enough suffering.”
“You got that right,” the boy sighed. This brooding and boring boy was annoying me enough, so I decided to take my leave and get back to my toy. “I must ask you a favor, Charlotte. When you get to the Royal Academy come to me. There’s no more pretending anymore left for my studies. I’ll not stand by and let that pig of a Noble get away with ruling it alone. I swear I’ll make this place something you can work with. I promise.”
My bad habit of smiling when someone was desperate around me must have shown, because the boy fell deathly quiet. Part of me wondered if my servants put a Body Spider in him since he was acting strange. Whoops! Gotta go! This place already had enough humans for the Spiders, but the idea of having the Leonreim territory sounded too good to pass up. I was planning to escape the carriage through whatever means necessary anyways, but a few weeks of sightseeing couldn’t hurt anyone besides the Humans, right? I stopped by the table of drinks, where a servant waiting smiled at me. Hey, I know this guy! He’s the strongest man in the building!
“Fredrick!” I greeted the man.
“Aye, Lady Charlotte,” He bowed, before pouring me a glass of wine. “We wish our warmest of blessings for you and your future family!”
I looked at the blood red liquid. It was a poisonous drink, but that should not affect me, right? Since Fredrick was a powerful man hiding his level much like me among these people, he wouldn’t have a reason to use a weak poison to eliminate me through such clandestine methods. Therefore, it had to be harmless! I thanked him and scooted closer to the door, contemplating if I should drink the wine or not. Speaking of poison, I glanced over and saw Lady Kiara glaring at me. I had a few webs with her name on it. All I had to do is walk over to her!
“You there,” a Noble Lady in a pink dress called to me. Everything about her was pink, from her nails to her cheeks. The wine glass in her hand was empty. “You must be the wonderful Lady Charlotte, are you not?”
“I am,” I told her, but she was lurching towards me. Perhaps the Debuff [Inebriated] was the result of drinking that poison. Surprisingly, she took my drink when I handed it to her and placed the empty one on Fredrick’s table again. I won’t fall for his tricks!
“You are so much more beautiful than what those other pompous Noble women tell me,” Pink Dress told me, but her eyes had mischievous intentions. She was too close! My webs were about to string her up, traveling from my shoulders towards her neck from above when another called out to her. A red haired woman in a red dress tugged her away before her lips got to close.
“Mei, Mei! I was searching for you everywhere,” Red Dress scolded her. “Forgive my drunk friend, let us… Hey, I have heard of you! You’re the Master’s daughter!”
“How have you not heard of me?” I pondered aloud. Pink Dress giggled, nearly spilling her wine on her friend. This whole thing tonight was kind of celebrating my departure.
“Knowing is for my Father’s business, not me,” she held onto Red Dress for support. Red Dress agreed and nodded profusely. “I’m merely here because I can’t pass up a good party!”
“It’s true, it’s true!” Red Dress pulled her away from me again. “Come now, Darling! We can speak of what love novels your page has read for you!”
“Be seeing you,” I curtsied politely to them. Before Red Dress departed with her inebriated friend, she stopped and turned. “Hm?”
“You should come to us tonight,” she giggled. Pink Dress turned as well, but too quickly, dropping her wine on the floor. Several onlookers gasped, while servers were quickly coming to clean the commotion. “What a foolish girl you are, Mei! I apologize, forgive us!”
“Forgib ush,” Pink Dress clasped her hands together and bowed. “Help me upsh, Reya!”
“Right, we’ll be in the West wing here,” Red Dress hurried and stepped around the servants. “We’re partaking in some… dark things!”
“Dark things?” I was intrigued, but I was not sure what a drunken pair of Noble ladies classified as dark. Pink Dress giggled once more before tripping on the stairs.
“Come to ush, Lady Shar… We can show you who your True Love ish!”
True Love? I watched them hobble up the stairs. Wisdom appeared in my mind, but I didn’t mind seeing her again through whatever rituals those Noble ladies had in store for me. Another face appeared in my mind. A boy’s? Why was Twig in my mind all of a sudden? I made a funny face at Kiara and briskly walked my way towards the balcony. I shall spare you for now, O Green Dress who is wearing a Blue Dress this time!
“Twig, O Twig,” I approached him. He was looking off into the distance, as if he was waiting for something besides me. “I am hurt.”
“Hurt?” He immediately turned and inspected me, but confirmed with his hands that I was not injured. I crossed my arms and feigned my anger. “What’s wrong?”
The hands were becoming sweaty again, as if they were burning from Kiara’s prank spell. I let the silence and romantic murmurs of other nearby couples overtake the ambiance. I love being in control and intense! I just had to wait for the right moment in order to release my new plan for Twig. [Operation Blackmail For Information] begins! Haha! Although, now that I thought about it, the plan’s name I realized it could use some work.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“You’ve been hiding secrets from me, haven’t you?” I looked away as if I was still upset. The Messenger Spider observing us revealed that his face changed to a much darker expression. “Prowling around with Commoners, investigating the dirt beneath this city… The Owl Circle is your idea, no? And you didn’t even think once to invite me on it?”
“H-How did you find out about us?” Twig sounded like he was cornered, but relaxed when I waved him off.
“Oh, don’t you worry, my dear,” I traced his sweaty hand and plucked it off of my shoulder. “I understand, the meanest girl simply wouldn’t be a good partner or fit to get information from. Yet that meanest girl can easily find what she wants from the nicer bird serving her in a cage, you understand?”
“Hannah… what did you do to her?” Twig suddenly looked angry, but my eyes shut him down. “No, you’re kinder now. Despite what you say or do, you wouldn’t hurt that girl. Still, the fact that the Circle hasn’t been compromised means you don’t know—“
“It’s too late now, silly,” I poked him. “Hannah and I are departing to Tiltoast a few days from now. Your little adventures can continue, I just wish I could have shared what I know about the Uralta Seals you’re so interested in, you know?”
“Right, you’re leaving so soon. You didn’t even express interest in me, so I didn’t even know you’d want to join us,” Twig smacked the railing suddenly, making me jump. Thank Geer’Sha, he was looking up at a certain section of the sky to notice. The Ule Constillacioun right? “I never had a chance to even…”
Oh yeah, I forgot the Old Charlotte probably was mean to this toy. How could she treat such an adorable face like his a nuisance? I’d give him a Body Spider so I can keep him forever in my webs. My face probably was scaring him, so I tried to force a blank expression on again. The Messenger Spider shuddered and cowered as I adjusted my face. Hey, buddy, you’re not helping me!
“To even say what?” I urged him after giving him time to think. Was studying these twinkling stars banned because they were too beautiful? They shined with great light tirelessly and from a great distance away, yet even the foolish are spared in their rays. Did the Goddess of Light forbid it because she was jealous? I felt Twig’s hand tug mine as we leaned on the balcony.
“How ever much of a consolation prize I feel like right now,” he started, but looked at me through all the Debuffs and threats his Status must be warning him about me. “I’ll miss you a lot, Charlotte. I lo—”
A loud boom exploded above us, covering us in a cascading shower of beautiful sparks of different colors. An explosive attack? My Crafting Skill labeled those bombs as fireworks. How terrifying! What was Twig saying? I turned to look at him, but like the other people he was watching the explosions crash to the ground like a Starfall. Sweat poured down his forehead, as if he was embarrassed and nervous. What a terrifying Human device— Another screaming firework blasted much closer to us, making me clutch Twig’s arm instinctively. Why are you smiling? This was like the time I crashed into my Tower with Blanche on my shoulder!
After a few more fireworks painted the night sky, I got used to them. It appeared they were celebratory inventions, lighting the air up with magic and explosive powders. The people here are happy that I’m leaving, huh? I released Twig’s shoulder and was about to go when his hand clasped my own. Eh? There was a different look on his face this time, but I recognized it. I’ve seen that slight smile of his at the bookstore. That heroic Skill must have been refreshed!
“We’ll be headed to the city’s Uralta Seal tomorrow night,” he whispered to me, then slipped something in my hand. A letter? I peeked at it, noticing that there were Nature Mana runes bombarding it with a sharp blue light. A small scroll crafted from a Skill, huh? “When the Circle Street’s Bell strikes midnight, we will gather to investigate it! You in?”
I scoffed, but grinned when he started to.
“You know it,” I held out my free hand. Twig gripped it tightly for a second, then released it and looked relieved. “I look forward to working with you.”
A small adventure before leaving for Tiltoast couldn’t hurt right? Though the looming shadow of Borr observing us as I left might interrupt that little plan, I pretended not to notice the brute hiding behind a pillar and went back inside. Through my Queen’s Eyes, I watched the man disappear into the Manor while Twig departed safely. Was I in love with Twig? I shuddered. Why was I scared for him? I better visit those Noble Ladies to see if he is my True Love, though I hoped not. I was wildly inexperienced with such a concept! I fought off the feeling stirring my worry for Twig and balled my fists.
You just wait, O mysterious creature! The Seven Night Auction you plan on taking me to will be your last mistake! I’ll make you pay for making me feel feelings like love! A noise interrupted my gleeful scheming, making me stop. Another attack? All I passed by in the Ballroom were quiet couples and servants cleaning up the place! Most were outside unwinding from the party. Something in the atmosphere changed, as the high pitched noise flickered before me. A ward?
— Warning: Hostile Spell “Ward” triggered.
I sighed.
“Another prank I presume, Lady Kiara?”
“I don’t know h-how you managed to clean yourself up after the last attack,” Kiara stood before me on the stairs, but confidently stood at the edge of the Ward’s barrier. She nearly shrunk away as I approached the first step and tapped the Ward’s magic. “Beautiful or not— You won’t get away this time. You won’t even catch the Prince’s eyes ever again! Ever again, you hear me?”
“And how shall you stop me? You’re dead!” I smiled, releasing thin Steel webs through a portal behind her head and stabbed her brain. Horror filled her eyes in her last moments, before blood painted them red. She quietly collapsed and immediately the Ward vanished. “I'll have you know something. I love pranking people just as much as you do, Lady Kiara!”
The corpse lay motionless-- no different than the other sleeping Nobles, but I could see eight tiny holes piercing her scalp. The experience points I got from her barely made a dent in my Level's growth, but the Spider Queen’s title notified me that the Divine Seed was growing! So that’s what Geer’Sha spoke about, I tangled the invisible webs back into myself and hopped over her. Slaying a magical caster or a warrior with the Light element powers that Seed. No matter, I had things to do before I get kidnapped! Mainly, I had a harrowing feeling on what dark magic Lady Mei had in store for me.
The giggling girl peered out at me from behind a darkened room, before waving for me to enter.
“You came, you came!” Pink Dress clapped. “Lady Charlotte’s here!”
“What’s with the lights being out?” I questioned. When my eyes adjusted, I noticed four giggling girls were surrounding a small magical seal on the ground. No hostile notifications warned me, but Lady Mei ushered me over to sit beside Lady Reya, the red dress girl.
“Oh? Hoho?” Mei gave me a friendly shove. She was less drunk now, but had a mischievous smile on her face. “Cold feet? You’re so mysterious and even dressed in a gorgeous black dress, yet the beautiful and great Lady of the Party is scared of the dark arts?”
“Quit it!” Reya swatted Mei’s hand off of me. “It’s so much fun, Charlotte! Every Lady is doing it!”
The giggling girls were using dark magic? Ah, to be young and chasing trends, I supposed as I inspected the seal’s magic. Wait, those runes were the same as Geer’Sha's! Were they trying to call upon her? That's heresy, is it not? I hesitated. How grumpy can a Goddess get if she gets woken up?
“I say the invocation, twice— not thrice— and you stand in the circle’s center,” Mei called for me. “Then your Truest Love, your Soulmate shall appear in a vision before us! Ah, just like the novels!”
She swooned, as the chorus of girls chanted my name. My Soulmate was easy to guess, I smiled at the thought of Wisdom. They didn’t seem to care since they were drunk, but I guessed I was supposed to play along with them for now. Let it be Wisdom, not Twig!
“Charlotte! Charlotte! You can do it!”
“F-Fine, fine,” I threw on my acting voice. “I’ll do it!”
“You will for real?” Mei looked surprised. A wave of gasps and hushed laughter spread amongst the girls as I stood up.
“Yeah,” I agreed. Show yourself to me, O Wisdom! Mei looked nervous, but Reya pushed her to the side of the glowing seal.
“When I say the phrase, step into the seal!”
“Do it! Do it!” The three other girls clapped. Mei cleared her throat and began the chant.
“O Stars above who watch over the Forbidden Forest’s home—
We seek the council in the Deep One’s Loam
Reveal to us in your wondrous gloam
the truest of love for this servant ever to be grown.”
The seal began to fill with Divine mana. There was no mistaking it, these cheering girls were calling upon Geer’Sha! I shifted from a rising guilt in my throat. I hope she won’t be too mad if she decides to wake up. Red Dress tugged my sleeve, her face glowing from mischief and wonder from the magic’s aura.
“Stand in it after she says it again!”
I nodded so Mei repeated herself to continue the ritual.
“O Stars above who watch over the Forbidden Forest’s home—
We seek the council in the Deep One’s Loam
Reveal to us in your wondrous gloam
the truest of love for this servant ever to be grown.”
Her voice shook, and her Status revealed that she was actually using her Mana Pool. The invocation was working! I gulped, but stepped into the center of the seal. The Divine runes began to seep inside my skin, indicating that the Goddess was awake or at least listening to us. I suddenly felt an embrace warm enough to make me feel safe.
O, child, a soft voice giggled in my head.
“I’m not a child,” I pouted. "Sorry for waking you."
“It’s working!”
“Whoa!”
“If it’s Twig, I swear Geer’Sha…” I muttered. The soft giggling echoed in my head and faded further away.
“Okay, step out!” Mei cheered. The girls gathered around me at the edge of the seal as we all waited for the magic to show us my supposed True Love. Or Soulmate? Or something! “This is so exciting! The dark arts never worked before!”
The glowing seal ceased its light, as if a candle was snuffed out and a quiet whisper permeated throughout the room. The girls grasped their ears, but I could hear what it was saying.
“Your Soulmate is Lumine, the First,” the voice giggled. “The one who your heart shall belong to and hers shall be yours forever…”
“Who?” I blurted aloud, but then the seal of magic returned its glow. Above it, the countenance of a beautiful and stern blonde woman shone in an illusionary magic orb. Her eyes were closed, but it appeared she was asleep. That’s not Wisdom or Twig! What a rip off!
“You’re one of those people?” Mei smiled at me coyly. “None of the men here tickle your heart’s fancy?”
“I guess not,” I shrugged. “I’ve never seen that woman before.”
“Ooooo!” Lady Mei swooned, but her cheeks were as pink as her dress. “Your secret shall be ours to keep, isn’t that right, girls?”
“Cross our hearts and hope to die!” They chanted. This ritual was eye-opening somehow, but I had to leave. Lumine the First seemed like a Dungeon Boss’s name. The more I read about adventurers and going into Dungeons, the more I became interested. Destroying monsters with ease could yield a lot of experience points! Especially if I destroy the adventurer party I team up with! I'll get double the prizes! That was enough distraction, I sighed. I had preparations to make for the kidnapping!
Mainly, my Wand! I tossed the thing into my Quick Slot. Check!
A different set of clothes! Into the bag you go! Check!
A bunch of potions for emergency healing! also there! Check!
Ah, that was it, I supposed as I tossed the bag into my Quick Slot. What a useful ability! Speaking of being useful, a distress call came from the Messenger Spider in the hall. It was a warning to me that Borr’s large figure was traveling straight to my castle. Anticipation wove itself in my body and I shuddered from the excitement. A knocking slammed against my door, before I could shake it off.
“If that’s you, Billy, I don’t even want to see your face!” I feigned being heartbroken. “How could you be with someone else tonight! Go away!”
Suddenly, the door split apart as a fist tore through it. The punch was slow, but too close! I raised my steel Webs in a guard, but the impact sent my world flying! Pain tore through me from behind. The stone bed frame shattered into my back! That’s a level 30’s strength, I guessed. I’m deeply in trouble! I struggled to stand up and fight off the laughing brute, but the familiar tone of Light magic stabbed through the air. Another assassin? I glared at Borr, but he was fixated on the bubbles of Light gathering around my window.
The bubbles burst apart, blinding me in their explosion. I heard footsteps approaching us and could see that Borr’s status did not move. He was standing there as this new challenger approached me through the wreckage. A two versus one? How unfair! A groan escaped my lips instead of a complaint.
“O Lightless One, omen of House Bohun,” a soft and feminine voice pierced through the shadows. I recognized that voice. It belonged to the Church lady, Holy Sage Sara! “You shall be eliminated for the good of the Convergence— Who are you?”
A Hostile Skill constricted my wrists, forcing me to hold them up from my sides. This magic… I scanned the Skill through my status’s notification.
—Hostile Spell “Golden Crucifix.” A Legendary Spell that hangs its target on a golden crucifix.
My body began to rise as the Light magic burned into my back, with pieces from the stone wreckage falling out of my bloody wounds. The footsteps drew closer as the hooded Sara approached. A foreboding feeling sank my guts as the ring of the sword being drawn from her hip invaded my ears. I gritted my teeth and held on for my life. I can’t die like this, since they’ll find out about my Skill: Divine Equalizer. Sara aimed her sword at Borr instead. Anyone but me, O Holy Sage!
“Boss sent me to retrieve merchandise,” Borr explained to Sara. He laughed. “I claim this as mine, but fighting over it is fine by Borr!”
At the mention of his own name, Sara sheathed her blade.
“I’ll not interfere,” she sighed and turned back to the massive hole in my wall. You’ll pay for that wall! I thought angrily, but the Light magic restricted me from speaking. “Make her disappear, and the Church shall spare your name, criminal. For now.”
“At the Goddess’s service,” Borr laughed, but Sara disappeared already. By the time he realized she was gone, he sighed and pulled out a familiar yet empty bottle with the Seven Nights auction emblem on it. The cork plug at its top popped from his massive thumb, while I tried to free myself from the cross. This was really bad and a pain in my side! I grew frustrated. It’s what I get for scheming instead of gaining the upper hand against this brute from the start! “In you go, little fiancée.”
My insides began to twist and burn, but I was too restricted to do anything about the cross. My wrists were pierced into its magical surface by Light, but that pain meant nothing! I still had my servants! I looked frantically around for them, but realized they were trapped behind a timed Ward. In the mirror next to them, I saw my body and the cross slowly dissolving into black mist. I was shrinking and going into the bottle! The brute's ugly face was staring down at me before the cork plug's shadow completely eclipsed my vision.