Lady Charlotte immediately turned to Captain Jacob, “Find the servant boy who gave this to me right away.”

He nodded as he turned away, looking for the serving boy.

Sir Kelman, who had stood by us all day, spoke “Was that... poison Lady Charlotte?”

“I’m afraid so, Sir Kelman. That is part of the reason that my friend, Drew, Priest of Maria is here with me tonight.” Lady Charlotte sent me a grateful glance as she spoke.

All of the nobles gave me a second glance, the ones who had ignored me earlier grimaced, no doubt sorry for stubbing me.

“That was quite an impressive display, Kinsman Drew. Your goddess has indeed blessed you greatly.” An elderly man said to me. Wrinkles covered what must have been a handsome face and two horns peaked out of an elegant mane of silver hair, as kind brown eyes studied me.

I studied him in turn, my gaze noticing a sword and buckler at his waist as well as a muscular body, turned wiry with age. He held a cane in his hands, but wasn’t leaning on it. “Forgive me Kinsman,” I responded, tilting my head in a questioning manner. “But I didn’t catch your name.”

“Ah. Of course.” He bowed his head to me as he spoke, “My name is Dellon, High Priest Of Dios, Swordsmaster of the parish. I didn’t catch your name as well, could you please enlighten me?”

I smiled, impressed by his poise, I copy his politeness as best as I can. “My name is Drew, Priest Of Maria. Tell me Kinsman Dellon, from what I understand, your… order, has tried to kick all of my brethren from this city. Why are you treating me so politely?”

He stroked his chin, “I try to stay out of the politics of my order. And even if there is some tension between our orders, that doesn’t mean I have to forego politeness.” His gaze saw something in the distance, “Forgive me kinsman, but I have to go deal with something else. May enlightenment be upon you.”

“May enlightenment be upon you as well, Kinsman.” I responded as he walked away from me.

“What an interesting acquaintance you just made Drew.” Lady Charlotte said, a spark of playfulness in her eyes. She took a sip of water, resting for a moment as people finally mingled amongst themselves, giving her a moment of respite.

“What do you mean?” I asked still staring at the Priest who had just walked away from me.

She glanced up at me, before turning her gaze back to a group of nobles, “Just that the man you just met, may be one of the most powerful in this room. That is, if he chose to use his power.”

“You know, I think I preferred the old you.” I said, realizing a moment later that I actually said that out loud.

She raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean by that?” She asked quizzically

I frowned, worried that what I was going to say next, might come across as rude. “I liked it better when we first met. When you forgot to put on your mask of nobility.”

Lady Charlotte was about to respond when a man that I hadn’t seen introduced by the herald interrupted her, “I am afraid that we must always have that mask on, it is part of our nature. You are… Mr. Drew, correct?”

I turned my attention to the newcomer. He was a middle aged man, with black hair turning gray and two lion-like ears on top of his head. His brown cat-like eyes took in my appearance before he dismissed me to look at Lady Charlotte.

Lady Charlotte stood up and curtsied to him, “Lord Blackwell, I didn’t hear the harold announce your presence.”

“I asked him not to.” Lord Blackwell responded. “This is quite a fabulous party you have thrown for yourself Lady Charlotte.” He made a show of looking around the room, “If you don’t mind me asking, where might your father be?”

“Baron Luthor is currently indisposed. But you know that I am always at your service if you need me.” She responded, giving him a graceful smile.

My grip tightened on the sword at my side as Lord Blackwell gave her a lecherous smile, “I will let you know when I need your services, Lady Charlotte.” He turned around, walking towards a group of nobles.

Lady Charlotte’s expression never changed, but I could see a slight trembling in her shoulders. “Drew, could you please accompany me?”

I nodded. All of this political manipulation was irritating me. I could see the undercurrents to their words, the little barbs hidden in their pleasantries. To be honest, it was sickening to watch. It reminded me too much of high school.

Every noble in the room watched as we left the room. I could see the thoughts in their eyes, hear the whispers as they gossiped.

Is she snubbing us, by leaving the room?

Do you see that trembling in her shoulders? She just talked to Lord Blackwell. He obviously scared her.

The little girl couldn’t handle being a noble and hosting a party? I always knew she would amount to nothing.

Have you set the trap? Good. She should be dead before the night is over.

I stopped in my tracks, searching for the person who said that. I was surprised that someone would say that within hearing range, but it might be because of my levels. I had been noticing an increase in strength, speed, sight and hearing ever since my first level up. It had been slight but it was there.

I had always wondered what happened to the stat system since I came to this world. It seemed that it had become automatic for levels to increase certain game stats, like strength and perception.

I couldn’t find the person who said those words, they had disappeared in the crowd. So I decided to continue following Lady Charlotte. We already knew that someone wanted her dead anyway, the fact that someone had confirmed that meant little.

Lady Charlotte hadn’t stopped with me. I lengthened my stride to catch up with her.

We left the ballroom and entered a hallway, she took a left and reached a door, she opened it, starting to walk in.

I moved to follow her, but she held a hand up, stopping me. “Thank you Drew. But I don’t need you to follow me into the ladies room.”

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I blushed as I realized where I was about to go. I spun around and leaned against the wall. “Of course, I will wait out here.”

She smiled a tired smile at me, then closed the door.

I watched the hallway, making it a point to not listen to what was going on in the bathroom.

“Drew?” A voice spoke up from the other side of the door.

“Yes, Lady Charlotte?” I responded.

“Do you think that I am doing a good job?”

“What do you mean exactly?” My gaze turned to the door, before I dragged my attention back to the hallway.

“Am I failing as a noble? Have I failed my father and all of the people counting on me?”

I furrowed my eyebrows, surprised by the question. “What makes you say that?”

Silence is my answer for a minute, before she started in a quiet voice, “No one outside of my personal guard and a few select servants know this, but my father has disappeared. He is probably dead. And it is probably my fault. If I had been here, supporting my father instead of leaving, he might still be around.” A muffled sob comes from the other side of the door. “I am all that stands between Lord Blackwell and becoming baron. I- I don’t think I can do it.”

“No.” I said.

I heard a sad laugh “No what?”

“No, you aren’t failing as a noble. You are doing everything in your power to stop Lord Blackwell and protect yourself.” I drew my dagger and stared at it. “And with all of this scary shit going on, I have seen you serenely greet every noble and merchant that has walked through those ballroom doors. You are the definition of elegant. You will succeed tonight and every night after.” I paused for a moment. “And you did something absolutely brilliant.”

“What was that?”

I gave a cheeky smile, even though she couldn’t see me. “You asked for my help.”

The door opened as she walked out of the bathroom. She still looked elegant, but her eyes were red from crying. “Thank you.” She said with a smile.

She turned to walk back to the ballroom, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to look at me.

“It is my pleasure. [Heal]” I said, manipulating my spell to remove the redness from her eyes.

“What was that for?” She asked, surprised by the spell.

“Nothing, let’s go back to the party.”

“Also, why do you have a dagger in your hand?” She asked as we started to move back towards the ballroom.

I looked down at my hand guiltily before putting it away. “Also nothing.” I gently removed my other hand from hers, realizing that I had left it there.

And so the party continued.

***

Saron

“That meeting is certainly taking a while.” Timon spoke gruffly, moving a piece in our game of Lo`ctor.

“Drew can take care of himself.” I responded, countering his move by flanking him with my heavy cavalry piece.

He moved his pikeman to intercept.

“I still don’t see why we needed to buy a pristine game of Lo`ctor. The money could have been spent elsewhere.” Anna spoke from beside me, watching as we play the game.

“It’s good for keeping your mind sharp.” I spoke, my full attention on the game.

Christopher walked into the room, sitting next to Timon. “Whatever happened to that fire girl that Drew brought to us?” Christopher asked.

I attacked Timon's command camp with my archers, rolling the dice to see how many points were taken. “I sent her to the camp.”

Timon reached for his own archers, but Christopher spoke up. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Timon pulled his hand back “And why wouldn’t you be doing that?”

“Sir Saron is trying to trap you between his shieldmen and his archers, see?” He pointed to each piece as he spoke.

“Christopher.” I said sharply.

“Yes, sir?” He responded looking up at me.

“Don’t interrupt our game.” I spoke, keeping his eyes locked with mine.

He gulped. “Sorry sir.”

I ignored his apology as I turned my attention back to the game.

Timon moved his hand towards his infantry, but stopped as Christopher coughed. We both turned to look at him.

Christopher looked at us innocently, “What? It was just a cough.”

Timon moved his hand to his face, stroking his beard in thought. Finally, he moved his hand back towards the archers.

We were interrupted by footsteps as Shay opened the door to the room and walked in.

“Where have you been Shay?” I asked, turning away from the game.

“Nowhere important, I just dropped in on the manor that Drew was visiting. Is that a Lo`ctor board?” She asked, taking off the hood she had been wearing.

“It is.” I responded, watching as Timon finally moved his cavalry to flank my archers.

“What is happening at the manor?” Christopher asked.

Shay ignored Christopher as she sat down in a position to watch our game. “I will play against whoever wins.”

“Shay. Answer his question.” I said, moving my shieldmen to attack his pikemen. I rolled the dice, winning a complete victory. Timon cursed.

Shay sighed and directed her answer to me. “The lady there is throwing some kind of ball. She hired Drew to protect her for some reason.”

A couple more moves passed in quick succession as I sacrificed my infantry to destroy his archers, then protected my own archers with pikemen.

“I surrender.” Timon said.

I hold my hand out. Coins clink as he hands me a couple copper. “You said you wanted to play me next Shay? That will be three copper.”

Shay placed the copper on the table as she switched places with Timon.

“Shouldn't we be worried about Drew?” Christopher asked.

I responded “Drew has proven that he can take care of himself.” At Christopher’s unsatisfied expression, I continue, “But, after this game, I will send Shay to keep an eye on him. Keep a mental connection with her, she will tell you if he needs our help.”

“Very well.” Christopher said, still a little worried by the whole thing.

For the next thirty minutes, Shay proceeded to destroy me in our game.

She smiled at me as I handed her three copper. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.” She said as she stood up.

“Thank you for your valuable lesson in humility, Shay.” I responded, giving her a bow of my head.

“For you? Anytime.” She winked as she stepped out of the room.

“She has changed a lot.” Anna remarked.

“We all have. Slavery does that to you.” I responded, the mood in the room darkening at my words.

I realized my mistake. Setting up the game board, I try to think of a way to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, lightheartedness was never my strong suit.

Anna came to my rescue, “Thank the gods that is in the past. We are free now. That is a gift that many do not get to enjoy.”

Christopher spoke up, “It’s amazing, all of the things that have happened since then. If you really think about it.”

We all took a moment of silence, remembering the things that had happened. It felt like it had been so long since we had left slavery, but it couldn’t have been more than a week.

I looked down at the game of Lo`ctor. “So who is up for another game?”

Christopher practically jumped into the empty chair across from me. “Shay has proven that you can be beaten. Let me give it a try.” He handed his three coppers to me.

“Are you up for a three man game? I happened to buy an extra set of pieces.” Anna said, pulling out a bag and dumping the pieces out on the board. “I will play the Fae.”

“Ok. But I call the devils.” Christopher said, rearranging the board so that the right pieces are in front of him.

“I suppose that leaves me with the Angels?” I responded, taking my pieces and setting them up. “Since there are three of us, you have to bet five copper coins to play.”

“What?” Christopher said, already reaching for his coin purse. “That’s highway robbery that is.”

Anna simply sighed as she pulled five coins out, putting them on the table.

We each take two dice and rolled to see who goes first.

Anna smiled as she looked at the numbers, moving her cavalry forward.

“Let the game begin.” I whispered.