House Moore, while not one of the ancient founding houses, still holds a rather significant status due to the fruitful business of the late family lords and lately thanks to the expansion in the New World, the Isle of Avalon.

But even with the House Lord holding the title of a Count, many felt threatened by the rise of the Moores to be the sixth of the Five Great Noble families and most notably with Vivian's engagement to Prince Liam.

With the breakup of the engagement, the Royal Family seemed to be trying to break the pride of House Moore and not create another behemoth of a House to add to their trouble, that's the reason why the Royal Court let the actions of Prince Liam pass.

And now that Vivian was to marry that ugly piggy son of a Baron, House Moore will be shamed and its constant rising will face a setback.

I don't know if I could understand all that political whatnot as Nadia but the Adept Diplomat of Vivian is making some serious analysis in my head.

Anyway, I am now sitting in line with my father, Lord Julian Moore, my stepmother, Saskia Moore, and my half brother Robert, facing the other side where the Baron, his son, and young Lord Edmond Black, the Prince's right hand, were seated.

Both my brother Robert and Edmond Black are "Capture Targets" from the game. Their current aim for this event is to make it proceed smoothly despite the clear agitation on my father's face. My brother, on the other hand, is clearly not on my side, judging by the way he leads the conversation instead of my father.

"So, Baron Hewes. How do you like the capital so far?"

"It is as magnificent as ever, young lord Robert. I have come here many times before back in the days of the campaign."

"To Avalon?"

"No, to Sauran, the Southern Continent. I was young back in the day and worked as a lieutenant in the Black League."

"Ah... I see." Robert looked at the man with approval then looked at me with satisfaction.

On the other hand, father's face darkened.

To explain things, the Kingdom of Elgard is in the northern continent, Albion. Prior to the industrial revolution, the kingdoms of Albion went out to colonize the southern continent Sauran and the Eastern Continent Longdi. The Black League is an organization that plays the role of an international mercenary company operating in the colonies, but their real fame comes from capturing and trading slaves.

In other words, this Baron is a slaver, a job even frowned upon even by commoners. However, Robert seemed pleased with the fact that they found me such a shameful pairing.

Just what did the Game Devs think when they added such a nasty person as a capture target. In the game, he is someone charitable and likes to encourage people but in reality, he is an envious person and rotten to the core.

I had to stay silent during the boring conversation between Robert and the Baron. I also took the chance to try out opening the System in plain sight and closing it again to confirm that no one can see it except me. With that confirmed, I started browsing the System's Shop for anything in the range of the SP I have to help with this dilemma.

To be honest, I may have strayed a little bit browsing the shop... old habits, I suppose.

"Vivian, Vivian." All of a sudden, it was Robert calling for me.

Everyone was looking at me for some reason.

"Sorry... I dozed off." I said without thinking until inspiration came by itself, "Guess I got bored. What is it, little brother?"

Observing Robert's facial expression contort was a curious experience. It was evident that he harbored a strong aversion to being addressed as "Little Brother," and any attempt to diminish his importance or belittle him in general was met with evident displeasure.

However, his displeasure soon turned into a smile and he spoke calmly.

"We were saying you should show young lord Hewes around the Mansion while we discuss the matters of your engagement, dear sister." Robert said making sure that the word engagement comes out as clear as possible.

"Is that so, dear little brother? You haven't talked about the important matters yet? I apologize on behalf of my brother, my Lord. He is quite the talkative Little Boy when he gets too excited." I spoke directly to the old pig.

"Ohoho! It is okay, Young Miss. We all are excited." The old pig replied.

"Sister." Robert seemed to be trying to sound intimidating. "Can you… please… show young lord Hewes around while we discuss the important matters?"

"Dear little brother, is it by any chance you are saying that someone in the age of young lord Hewes is not competent enough to attend such an important matter and let it be discussed by others?"

The reaction around the room was priceless. The old Vivian wasn't the kind to talk back too much and me talking just now caused a bit of a tense atmosphere already.

"No." Robert was already glaring as he answered my question.

"Silly little brother, I was just teasing you."

Getting rid of me right now means Robert and Edmond can arrange everything with the Baron hastily without my father being able to complain about it. An engagement with the blessing of the Royal Family is a bit of a hurdle even for a Count to stop.

"Vivian, my dear. Will you please do as your brother asked and tour the young lord around? Get a chance for conversation." At that moment, the old hag Saskia (aka. Stepmother) butted in. She is what you can call an eternal source of trouble and an inexhaustible cesspool of unrest.

"Dear stepmother, if you say so."

I then turned at the little pig and spoke while pointing around.

"The front garden, the back garden, the stables, the gun range, the servants quarters, the greenhouse, the bathroom, the kitchen, aaaaaaand... the Door."

"..." "..." "..." "..." "..." "... pft!"

An excellent tour even if I say so myself. Good job, me. Even Edmond is barely holding it while covering his mouth. His shoulder movements exposed him though.

"Sir Edmond." I decided to evade the mood and speak directly to Edmond.

"Ehem… Young Lady Moore." He replied.

"It is Lady Moore now. I'm over 18. The only youngster in our house is Robert."

"Oh! I see. And when did Lady Moore become 18?"

"Three days ago."

"Three days... Oh! That day?"

Edmond seemed to have realized it too. The same very day of my destruction.

"Indeed. However, long time no see. Even though Sir Edmond is His Highness's assistant, we don't get the chance to see you that much in the Academy."

"Oh! You know how it goes being an assistant to His Highness. Ever since I graduated last year, I have been involved in a lot of duties while his highness studies in the Academy."

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"Oh! How marvelous, my Lord! Diligent indeed. And how is Highness doing, by the by?" I wanted to bring up this subject for some time.

Looking at the Baron's reaction to the sight of a former fiancee mentioning her ex-fiance with such longing in front of the supposedly new one, it surely made him frown.

Edmond, however, smiled.

"His Highness is doing well in his studies. This morning, he accompanied Miss Matilda to the De Clare gallery and bought her a marvelous gemstone that just arrived from Avalon."

Somehow, Edmond's mentioning of the matter caused my heart to tighten. This former Vivian is still like that... tsk!

I felt that my expressions betrayed me for a second there and the ones around took note of it but all for the good. I put on a smile once again and took a breather.

"Well, it is good to know that His Highness is still energetic. Please, deliver my best to His Highness and remind him that the finals are just two weeks from today." I said.

Edmond looked at me with a cold glare. The son of House Black is truly fitting for his role as the protector of the Crown Prince and Heir to the Great House Black, the House that protects the Kingdom from the darkness.

"I will." He said and looked away.

His tone was cold and it gave me shivers. A Graduate Knight such as him can surely make a powerless person like me feel so weak.

"Ehem... If you may Lord Moore, we were saying that we would like to set a date for the engagement. Say… can it be by next week?" Baron Hewes spoke to my father.

"..." Father only looked at him without putting up any expressions but before he could reply, Robert butted in.

"Sure. Next week sounds perfect."

"That would be impossible." I said as it seemed I had to fend for myself, "I have my final exams in two weeks from now."

My interference caused another pause in the conversation.

"Dear sister, in such conversation, women should not speak unless spoken to." Robert said in a stern voice.

"And neither do kids."

"You..."

"Enough!" And at long last, father spoke.

No one dared to utter a word after that. The lord of the house has finally spoken, almost for the first time this evening, and he seemed displeased.

"Vivian." Father spoke to me.

"Yes, father."

"Are you still going to attend the Academy?" He asked.

"Indeed, father. A noble's true power comes from their wits and knowledge. I have spent a decade sharpening those skills to perfection, not to quit in the last two weeks." I replied.

"Alright. But are you aware of the situation you are in right now?"

"I'm very aware of it. From now on and while participating in social life, I will be the very soul of caution."

"I see." Father replied then he made the announcement, "The engagement can't be before the exams."

"But Father..." "Lord Julian..."

"Silence."

Robert and the Baron were about to retort but father was already giving them the glares.

Nice assist, pops!

"Then, the engagement will be held after the exams?" At that time, Edmond spoke.

Can I just go poke his eyes?

"Yes, Lord Julian. If it can't be in a week from now then let's make it right after those exams." The Baron spoke along with Edmond.

"..." Father decided not to reply or give any comment.

"It... It would be best to move on about the marriage date and..." Robert wanted to affirm the opinion on our side but I can't let him do what he wants.

"Sadly, we can't discuss that now." I spoke.

"And why is that?" Edmond himself took me on realizing that I would roast Robert or Baron Hewes if they spoke.

"If you haven't noticed, Sir Edmond of the Great House Black, it is almost midnight by now. By our Noble customs and traditions, guests can't stay till midnight unless they are invited to. The matter regarding that engagement can wait until tomorrow's afternoon." I said and continued, "Also… Robert should be in bed before midnight, kids need to sleep well in order to grow healthy."

I just couldn't help it with that last part.

Robert was about to retort but so I continued anyway.

"And Father, don't you have that super important meeting tomorrow morning?"

Another assist here, pops.

"Yes… Ehem… The Chamber of Commerce has an… emergency meeting tomorrow." Father willingly assisted.

Yep, we're rocking it here father and daughter duo.

As the ringleader of this meeting was cornered, Edmond was left with no options but to withdraw till tomorrow.

"It is as Lord Julian says." And so he said and stood up.

***

As everyone was up, Vivian finally decided to make the purchase spending all the 100 SP she has on a single item.

"Lord Hewes, this way."

Edmond led the Baron out followed by Robert and finally the Baron's son. Surprisingly, the one on their tail was Vivian.

"Young Lord Hewes, you forgot this."

Personally, Vivian was handing something to the young pig.

"Isn't this yours?" She said with a fast wink only the young boy could see.

Flustered, the boy took it anyway.

"Thank you."

It was nothing but a wrapped piece of candy that she obviously picked up from the coffee table and used her feminine charms to pass it to the sweaty awkward young man.

The ones ahead and behind paused to observe the situation and frowned. However, as soon as the boy turned around, the angelic smile on Vivian's face turned demonic, devilish, and diabolical.

Just like that, the little pig left through the door.

Outside the mansion and as soon as the four passed enough distance to the carriage, Edmond opened his hands to the Baron's son.

"Give it."

The Baron's son handed over the wrapped candy to Edmond feeling the coldness of his tone. Edmond looked at the candy and kept it in his pocket.

"That is..." The Baron muttered.

"Obviously poison. We told you not to take anything they offer and she noticed you eyeing the candy on the table earlier. She then disappeared for some time upstairs and returned with a poisoned one. Just don't trust every pretty face you see." Edmond said and turned around to the carriage waiting for him.

The Baron and his son felt the chills from what Edmond said. It was indeed true, a weak woman can only kill with her charms and her poison.

Edmond, Robert, the Baron, and his Son all went inside the carriage and left for the tightly secured mansion that was prepared to protect Baron Hewes and his son from any assassins sent by the Moores.

***

An hour has passed, I am back at my room… waiting.

Patiently waiting.

====================

« Quests »

* [Avoid Forced Marriage]: Avoid the Forced Marriage by any means necessary.

— Time Limit: 10 Hours (7 Remaining)

— Reward: SP (Amount depends on your method) + Random Gift

— Fail: System Termination

====================

Things are just too slow when you wait for it to happen.

Should I go out there and deliver the killing blow myself or what?

Hundreds of ideas roamed my mind. It is my first time killing after all... as Vivian, I mean... Nadia surely killed a lot.

I would rather distract myself.

Standing off the bed I was lying on, I found myself in front of my clothing room.

Funny! Noble kids have rooms for their clothes too. Nadia only had a dresser and a lousy locker.

I wasn't really interested in what's in there but all that I found were those dresses... ridiculously big gowns, bloody tight corsets, heavy bulky multi-layered clothes, stupidly uncomfortable shoes.

Hell is real... I suppose.

"System Shop, please tell me you have some comfy undergarments."

« Searching… 14 Results Found! »

"Bless you, son. Bless you."

Look at those things... I never thought the sight of a bra could make me so tearful. Hellish as it may feel after a work day, it is still far better than a corset.

But I need System Points now, these things are not cheap. I also need something different than those dresses or whatever. They look great and fun to wear and all but I can't move well in them.

Maybe, the old Vivian was okay with them but now as Nadia added her memories about comfy clothing, I would say we can just burn this whole collection down and replace it with jeans and t-shirts.

While thinking of what to wear and browsing the system shop for a new outfit, my eyes were averted to the 'Push Dagger' I bought with the 100 SP.

This bad boy appeared to me right before I went down and met the so-called guests. Choosing between it and the Karambit Knife was hard but I assessed the situation and judged that the Push Dagger will be more concealed.

« Push Dagger - Common Grade »

Push Daggers are shaped like a 'T' as the horizontal section is grip and the vertical section a leaf-shaped thin blade.

This weapon was designed for the sole purpose of stabbing people to death.

Now imagine this bad boy stabbing through a tight waist belt and layers of muscles and fat that were numb from sitting around for some time.

Thanks to the tight waist belt, no wounds can open until the belt is removed.

« Mission Complete! »

« 590 SP have been awarded! »

« Rare Grade item [Storage Bag] has been awarded! »

« The Dormant Record [Assassin] has reawakened. »

« New Trait: [Novice Assassin?] »

About bloody time.