One of the things that I enjoyed as Madame Potts was a degree of separation between myself and the story.

I could change things. I could make a difference… but always from the comfort of my kitchen table. .

Even when I was interacting with the main characters, Gerda the Bridge Troll wasn’t a character that showed up in the storyline and she wasn’t accounted for in the scenarios. The times I’d come close to a scenario before this could be counted on one hand; the time I’d helped rescue the Dark Lord in distress, and recently when I’d rescued Julia.

The bridge battle didn’t count because it, again, was in response to an oracle. Fate had seen fit to show me the assassination battle in the eastern woods, so I decided to hold off the army.

I’d acted entirely on my own accord to stop the army in their tracks on my bridge, without Fate to guide me.

And I’d rocked it, if I did say so myself.

Which was why I had to take a second to really think about Julian’s question…

“Because I don’t show up in prophecies… it’s just never happened?” I said, delicately.

He leaned towards me and the way he was looking at me made my toes curl. Intense and curious. “Never?”

I shook my head and resisted the urge to seek the comfort of distance, holding my ground. “Never.”

His gaze fell to my lips at my answer and I instinctively licked them. Why did he have to be so pretty? It was a personal triumph that I'd gotten to dance with the half-elf, but anything else would just be wild imagination.

And I had a pretty unhinged mind.

“So we have to find a missing Saintess,” He said, “And we need to survive an assassination attempt, plus that thing you aren’t telling me about.”

“What thing?” I asked innocently. “I mean, I could tell you that Pirate Abra and her undead crew successfully escape Sumbria. Or that Julia is going to run off with Chloe tonight and travel to the Empire of Sands on a secret honeymoon trip where no one can find and disturb them. Or maybe you're referring to the Herald of Void currently leaving the Dark Enchanted Forest after narrowly escaping naga soldiers?”

He stood, “Julia is what?”

I pulled him back down. He didn't resist. “Oh, let your sister have some fun. She deserves it.”

“Is that all you're not telling me?” He asked. My hands were still on his sleeve, and he covered it with his own.

I didn't know what to make of that, and reminded myself that I shouldn't be outright flirting with the Duke of the North…

Or if I was going to flirt I should just accept fate and ask for a kiss from the half-elf.

“There is one more thing… I think Lady Amy might be having an affair with your assassin?” I casually dropped my suspicion.

Julian stared at me, his warm hand not letting go of my own.

“That's everything so you can stop with the smolder.” I told him, pushing him away playfully. “You want to know more then close your eyes.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I don't want you staring at me while I work.” I told him, and he raised both hands in surrender before closing his eyes but had an annoying smile plastered on his face.

I wanted to squeeze his cheeks. Where did my grumpy Duke of the North go?

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

To start with, I opened my map.

[You have activated the Perk: Map, a mini-map revealing the area’s you have explored is available…]

[Sooth] showed me where scenarios were going to happen, and it highlighted the ballroom only. I wished that Lady Amy was a Chosen, as it would be so much easier to track her.

Sadly, she was the saintess of a dungeon, not a god.

I opened [Oracle] next. Sadly, it showed me what I thought it would– nothing. I'd already seen the available scenarios.

I sighed, closing my character sheet. “We will have to check back at midnight and see if any new scenarios are ready.”

“So you can only see the future once a day?” He opened his eyes and blinked twice.

He was prying for more information.

Since we were going to be traveling together soon, I corrected, “Some of them. One Perk let me know you were going to be shot, remember?”

“And now we are back to that, should I go get it over with?” Julian stood and pulled her up with him this time. His free hand scooped up my glass and he offered it to me. “We should be there for the unmasking.”

I took the poison glass and sighed. “Before we go, is John with us?”

Julian leaned forward and whispered. “No, he's not… why?”

Damn his low voice and striking silver eyes. If I didn't know any better I'd swear he was trying to seduce me.

“I just want to know what kind of poison is in my drink.” I said lifting the glass between us.

He started in surprise and then his mood darkened. “Since when?”

I shrugged, “It wasn't poisoned from the start. It happened right before the toast.”

He cursed. “Let's go back.”

We returned with some time to spare before the unmasking, deciding to check in with Duchess Callisto first.

“There you are!” The grand duchess tsked. “Henrietta wanted you to know she found Lady Amy.”

Relief washed over me.

“Already?” Julian squeezed my hand.

“Yes. The saintess is currently dancing over there.” Calisto pointed towards a couple. I wouldn't have been able to tell, since the elf had changed her skin color to gold and her hair black. The person she was dancing with was also a mystery in green satin.

“Thank the gods.” That was one less thing to worry about.

“Yes. Turns out they were caught kissing in a hidden alcove in the West Wing.” The duchess snorted. “Ah, to be young again.”

“Her father is going to be furious.” I said. I'd promised I wouldn't reveal her tryst… but Henrietta had made no such vow.

“I can't wait to meet the man.” Duchess Callisto smiled. “After this dance we are going to do the unmasking.”

Callisto herself was wearing an elegant dark blue feathered mask. She poked it.

“In the meantime. John, could you come tell me what this is?” Julian plucked my drink out of my hand and waved it. The man didn't appear, but a voice came from a shadow on the wall behind us. “Belladonna powder.”

Grand Duchess Callisto frowned. “That's a legal poison.”

“The Joy of being Madame Potts - my first official assassination attempt.” I shrugged. “Speaking of, Julian was supposed to get shot soon, so we were thinking of moving to a harder to reach spot.”

“Son; why haven't you put up a shield?” The grand duchess inquired.

“Because it is rude to push people aside with a magical barrier they can't see?” Julian summoned a shield around both of us and the dome stuck out at an awkward arc, pushing against Calisto’s dress. “and with a personal barrier I wouldn't be able to hold Miss Gerda's hand.”

He hugged me closer and I let him. I did tease him with a quick, “I could go and dance with Erik, or Sir Tully, and leave you to stand in the corner with your barrier up. You'd make a very handsome wallflower, Your Grace.”

His mother choked.

“You flatter me, but I think I'll just enjoy a walk around the hall and another dance. Without the barrier.” His shield faded away. “It's for a battle, not ballroom."

The song was half way done. We distanced ourselves from the grand duchess and found a quiet spot in a corner, tucked out of the way so we could watch the unmasking without being in the thick of things.

Lady Amy's date was still my number one suspect, so I positioned the duke at an angle inconvenient for stabbing.

And then the music stopped. Couples left the dance floor. The clock tower chimed the hour, and a hum of excitement rose.

“Maybe you should shield up for the unmasking?” I recommended. “You know, just in case.”

“If that is what you wish.” He activated another shield around the both of us.

Grand Duchess Calisto announced that we take off our disguise. I simply unequipped my mask and put it in my storage ring.

Julian did the same.

Nothing happened.

Exhilarated from escaping another near fate, I asked, “Wanna go grab a bite to eat?”

The waiters walked around with drinks, while the buffet in the corner had a variety of delicious foods I'd only heard tell of.

“After you, Miss Gerda “ he waved me forward and I laughed. He dropped the shield and we had to squeeze through the crowd a bit to get there.

“How do I know it's not poisoned?” I shoved a roasted Rosemary and garlic floofpoof and phillo pastry square into my face. It was heavenly.

When I turned around to show Duke Julian my selection, I saw it. I perceived it. The feeling of magic in the air, the subtle electricity of power.

And then a bolt of cold iron shot directly into my heart from a human standing right beside me. He had an adorably small crossbow in hand that had loosed the offending arrow that pierced my chest...

Or should have.