I shrank back in my seat. I couldn’t help it. The Monarch just looked scary at that moment. Like he was staring down at us, ready to cut us down if we gave the wrong answer. I knew that to be wrong of course. The Monarch was just and would not kill us just for giving the wrong answer. But it was still scary. Perhaps even more for me since I knew just how powerful he was.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself as Rowan went ahead and answered the Monarch.

Sighing as he let himself hang back in a rather clear expression of defeat, he said, “Of course not.”

A silence filled the room. The Monarch clearly expecting more from him while Rowan just sat silent. I waited too. This was one of my favorite scenes from the book. Heck, it was one of the few scenes I liked. But the silence was going on for a bit too long.

Wasn’t this where he declared that he would solve this? That since there was a need for someone to step up and stop such a collapse from happening? Why was he silent?

I looked at Rowan expectantly. Then I turned to the Monarch that was looking at him. What had gone wrong? There were a lot of things that had changed. Oh my gosh, what had I done? Had I just destroyed the story?

If Rowan didn’t say those words then…the story would not progress. This was the setting of the story. The thing that made me want to read it. What had I just done? Who would deal with the Duke now?

“Hmm.” the Monarch hummed. “What do you think then, Lord Eldanveir? Do you have any ideas?”

“T-tha-that-” I stuttered, a bit taken aback by him asking me. What should I say? I couldn’t just take away Rowan’s dialogue. Not to mention I would not be able to handle it. Rowan had been able to do it because he was the protagonist and had tons of talent. I didn’t have that shit going for me.

“Do you have not any ideas? I am surprised. I was so sure you would.” the Monarch said, picking up a strawberry and biting into it. This was the first time he had eaten something in the meeting. That probably meant something, but I could not bring myself to think of that at the moment.

“There is a need for another faction, one that is not only powerful enough to take over the empire once it collapses but also not use that chance to commit evil.” I said, turning to look at Rowan. Come on, that should be enough to get him to understand what I meant right?

“What do you think, Rowan?” the Monarch asked.

“I -” Rowan looked down, seeming nervous for some reason. I admit I was shocked. In the book he was quite self-assured. Even just a few minutes ago he seemed very confident. What had happened now, to make him hesitate?

“I think it is a good idea.” Rowan said.

“I see. Is there anything else you wish to say?”

I looked at Rowan, who just looked back at me. What was this? How come he wasn’t saying anything? I had given him as many prompts as I could.

“What about you, Lord Eldanveir? Have you decided whether you wish to leave this planet yet?” the Monarch asked, sounding a bit bored.

“Yes!” I replied enthusiastically.

“And what is your answer?” the Monarch now sounded curious, his golden eyes turning to me. And once again I felt a pressure way down on me, informing me of who I was facing. A Monarch. There really wasn’t a need for a reminder, but I guess the universe was feeling nervous or something.

“I wish to leave! Please send me to a peaceful and nice world with magic!” I requested. I kinda felt guilty about just running away but like… I didn’t wanna be stuck as an Eldanveir anymore! Rowan could deal with it, he was the protagonist anyway.

“I see.” the Monarch replied, tilting his head as he looked at me.

“I fear I cannot do that.”

I groaned. Come on, why would he offer that if he wasn’t going to do it? This had been another test hadn’t it? And why was Rowan looking at me like I had just killed his sis…oh.

Elena would die if I left. The Duke did not allow servants to leave the mansion unless they were already dead. If the person she served disappeared, they would probably blame her and kill her. I hadn’t thought of that.

Now I felt guilty. Rowan thought she was dead already, but it had really hurt him to find out that he could have saved her. If he had asked the Monarch to do it, then it could be done. But he had thought her already dead. And thus missed his chance.

I felt even more guilty now. I hadn’t thought that through…had I? Yes, I should have asked for the Monarch to save her too. I opened my mouth to do just that, but was interrupted by the Monarch.

“I have a principle I follow when dispatching justice.” the Monarch’s gaze held my eyes, and I shrunk back despite myself. What was up with him staring at me so much?

“Don’t do anything that would harm the planet in the long term. I know.” I said, hoping to get him to stop staring at me. A smile appeared on his face instead.

“If you know that, then you should be able to tell me why I cannot help you escape.”

Oh, this again? What was up with him asking me questions? This guy was the Monarch! Why was he asking me for answers? The questions were even hard ones. I did not come here because I missed exams!

“Think about it, what would the world lack once you are gone?”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

How was I so important that the world couldn’t—oh. Aphra was the one that had caused Leif’s death in the end. But I mean, I didn’t even know how he did it. The event was just heard of second hand.

“I am not sure if I can do that, your majesty.” I said.

“That is true. I do not think you can either.” the Monarch nodded. Ok, that hurt. Yes, it was true, but it still hurt. Why was it standing in the way of my escaping though?

“I’m stuck in the Eldanvier mansion, I don’t think I can even escape by myself. How am I supposed to help save the world?”

“That is true. Escaping that mansion alone will be difficult. Surviving outside shall be next to impossible.” the Monarch replied calmly.

I looked at him. “What am I supposed to do then?”

The Monarch chuckled at my answer, as if he thought it were something funny. “There is very little you can do. That, young lord, is why you sit here is it not?”

Golden lights began to swirl around us, spinning around us in a manner that was frankly dizzying.

“This is the Court of Justice.” the Monarch said, his voice louder than it had been before.

“I shall ask you this one last time before I make my decision.” the Monarch said, his voice softer once more. But it felt different. Like this time, it was just an act.

“Is there anything else you wish to say?” he asked.

Rowan gulped, looking at me as if he was asking me a question. But for the life of me, I could not figure out what it was.

“I will do it.” he said in the end. “I will form this faction of yours, stabilize the empire or whatever. That is what you wish, is it not?”

The Monarch nodded. “Then this is my answer.”

Prince Verlinaus of the House Manevorus, Monarch of Justice, Power and Fame, Prince of Magic, Death, and Destruction looked at us.

There was little change in his posture. Perhaps he turned his head a little. But it seemed like the world had changed. Like I was sitting inside a bubbling ocean, ready to burst. The space around me felt fragile, like it would break at any moment, as if it were warning me to stay very still.

“I am not in the business of giving powers.” the Monarch said. “I have found that such things rarely lead to pleasant results. There are few things a person can have that are worse than unearned power. I shall not be the one to give it to you.”

“But even I am not so blind to see that you are in need of aid. Perhaps you could escape alone, but it is unlikely. I do not see it happening. So instead I tell you this.”

“Prove yourselves. I shall support you as you form this faction, and should you succeed, I shall aid you in dealing with those that stand against justice. I shall give you not power, but ways that you may achieve it.”

The Monarch raised his hand, threads of black and gold reaching out from his outstretched fingers and intertwining around Rowan as he spoke.

“The ones that hold you captive lay dead.

The door to your cage lays open.

If you wish to follow your words, then walk into your captor’s palace. And hear my words well, for if you shall do so then you shall start upon a path that is not easy to leave.”

“For then you shall no longer be Rowan the slave but instead Lord Rowan, illegitimate son and heir of the now dead Viscount that once held you captive. In place of rags you shall wear the colors of the house that hurt you. In place of anger you shall wear a smile as you speak to those that would see you dead. The world you wish to enter is not one of kindness, but that of lies and hypocrisy.”

“Think well before you decide, for I shall not reverse my decision easily.”

I sighed in relief. That was what the Monarch had given him even in the book. Not the kindest introduction. But it wasn’t exactly unnecessary either.

“Aphra of Eldanveir and Blade.” the Monarch said, sending threads of black and gold to revolve around me. “There is little need for me to warn you of what you face, for you are already aware of it. For now, I cannot kill your enemies, though perhaps a day shall come that I may do so. Till such a day comes, I shall aid you in what way I find appropriate.”

“To the north of the Eldanveir mansion lies the Forest of Tragedy. There you may gain power of darkness, if you prove yourself worthy. Twenty-four hours I shall give you. For twenty-four hours shall the Court display its presence, and the powers that oppose you shall be weakened.”

Story magic. That was Story magic. The Monarch was going to lend us a bit of the Court of Justice’s power so that we would be abnormally lucky. The Monarch had done that in the book too…but hadn’t that been for only six hours?

“If you wish to form a Story of your own, then I would suggest you do it now.”

“ What?!” Rowan yelled, but I knew he would not receive an answer. Not from this Monarch. Not now.

“There is another thing I shall provide you that may aid your growth in power. Use it carefully, for I shall not be administering it. This power is that of the Fae Queen, the Monarch of Trickery, and it is better used carefully.”

I could feel myself smile. Yes! The Fae Queen’s System was one of the best in the universe, especially if you were aiming for Story magic. After all, she was the one who invented Story magic.

“That will be all. I hope we may meet once more.” the Monarch pronounced, and I felt my surroundings fade. A force pushed me back, abruptly yanking me onto my ass.

I looked up, trying to make sure that I had landed myself back in Aphra’s room. But a large pink text box blocked my vision.

Hello, Aphra of the Blade.

I smiled. The Fae Queen had come.

“Hello -” I began, only for the Fae Queen to cut me off.

I do not like this.

I blinked. What did she not like?

This is not a System for the willing.

What? Wait a second. Please, no, not a price -

There has to be a price. Verlinaus gave you twenty-four hours, did he not?

I shall take twelve.

Don’t worry, this is good for you.