The murmurs were first to return, people talking in the background.

My body felt as though it was bound tightly, an oppressive weight pressing me down, unable to open my eyes.

"Don't you think this is a step too far?

The smooth voice sounded familiar, it's underlying concern genuine.

But, I couldn't quite pinpoint it's owner, as if their name lingered on the tip of my tongue.

"Nothing I can do about." an unfamiliar elderly voice replied calmly.

I didn't want to eavesdrop, but it wasn't like I had any choice anyway.

And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued.

"You may not be able to, but I can." the smooth voice said firmly, by now I was certain it belonged to one of the main characters in the game.

"What are you implying?"

"Nothing of your concern. I don't want to drag you into this."

"All right, if you say so. I'll take care of this really quick. Can you please look after her while I am gone?"

"Sure thing."

The room fell into absolute silence after the man left.

No murmurs from outside, no ticking clock, only the occasional rustle of a page being turned.

Gradually, rays of light pierced the darkness behind my eyelids.

I blinked, the blurry outlines of the room swimming into focus.

It was curiosity that truly jolted awake, and her.

Cropped light brown hair framed her sharp, striking face, and her hazel eyes stayed fixed on the small book in her hands,

turning one page after another. There was no doubt: in front of me sat the villainess of Calamity, princess Isabel.

"Oh, you're awake." her voice broke through my daze, realising she was watching me now.

"Isabel?" My voice cracked

"The one and only." she flashed me a smile that was both charming and infuriating.

"I am glad you remember me."

Right, she held a speech at the ceremony.

"What are you doing here? Your highness?"

"Checking on you, of course," she said smoothly, leaning back in her chair.

"You've left quite the impression, after all."

"Great," I muttered, falling back against the pillows.

"So now I am the talk of the school."

"Legendary even!" Her grin widened, "unforgettable, really."

I narrowed my eyes, irritation bubbling to the surface.

This was the Isabel I remembered, always eager to gloat over someone else's misfortune.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She tilted her head, her eyes glinting with mischief. "A little."

"If you're just here to gloat," I began, but she interrupted me, her tone softening.

"Actually, there is something I need to tell you," she said, leaning forward.

Her voice low, and deliberate, the sudden shift in tone caught me off guard.

"You’ve destroyed a very rare and valuable magical crystal.

You injured yourself and risked the lives of many noble heirs present.

Do you know what penalty awaits you?" She paused for a long moment, letting her words sink in.

A cold shiver ran down my spine, "It was an accident." I tried to argue,

but her seriousness didn't leave room for interpretation, she meant every word.

"What penalty?" She asked again, her tone unyielding.

"Banishment?" I guessed, trying to stay optimistic.

"At the very least," she said, her tone tinged with concern.

My heart skipped a beat. Drowning in her eyes, as the shook settled in.

"Become my knight."

"What?" I hesitated, the room felt smaller, suffocating, as if the walls were closing in.

"As such, you'd be protected." her words hung in the air. Heavy, promise and threat alike.

Become her knight, it sounded so simple. An easy answer. A lifeline.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

But was it?

I clenched my hands into fists, my nails biting into my palms. Did I even have other options?

Could I refuse? Insist on my innocence, throw myself at the mercy of the academy, of the nobles, of whomever would decide my fate.

What if she's lying?

No. The old man was talking about it. Nothing he could do about.

Banishment, at the very least. That meant exile, alone, without resources, at the mercy of other nobles from another country.

And if exile was the best case, what would be the worst?

Execution? A lifetime of improsment? Or something even crueler? Being handed over to a noble that wanted to make an example of me?

All because of an accident?

A chill ran down my spine.

I could try to run. Escape before they made their decision for me. But where would I go? A lone fugitive, a criminal.

My breath came shallow. I had no way out, no good choices.

"But why safe me?"

"I can't let someone with your potential go to waste," Isabel said, her eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"Besides, it would be such a shame to lose someone so… fascinating."

Isabel's offer wasn't salvation, it was a trap. A beautiful, golden gilded snare.

And we both knew it.

The way she watched me now, her eyes gleaming with quiet amusement, made it perfectly clear. Like a cat playing with its pray.

And still, it was the only safe option.

Slowly, I looked up at her.

"And if I agree?" My voice was quiet. But I knew she heard me.

"Then you'll be my faithful knight."

I stared at her, the weight of her proposal settling over me like a heavy cloak.

Was this really the only way to salvage what was left of my life?

And why did her confidence make it feel like I was stepping into a carefully laid snare?

The door creaked open suddenly and the old man from before stepped in.

Followed closely by two royal guards and the principal.

"Oh, she’s awake?"

"Yes," Isabel replied, her voice steady. "She's well enough to be discharged."

As she stood, her eyes met mine, a concerned look flickering across her face.

Then, without a sound, her lips shaped the words: "Now or never."

Was she really telling the truth?

Royal guards wouldn't waste their time on trivial matters.

Was this really the only way?

The guards stepped closer, their armour clinking ominously with each step.

My chest tightened, panic clawing at the edges of my mind.

Now is not the time to think.

I threw the blanket aside and jumped out of bed, grabbed Isabel’s hand as I dropped on one knee.

The guards reacted instantly, their swords half-drawn as they surrounded us.

"I hereby solemnly swear to protect my princess and kingdom," I began, the words tumbling out of me like stones.

"To serve the good of both. Though it may cost me my life, I shall serve faithfully and with honour."

As the final word left my lips, a sudden heat flared at the right base of my neck.

I winced, reaching up instinctively, but the sensation faded just as quickly as it had come.

I glanced at Isabel, whose eyes gleamed with something between amusement and intrigue.

"It suits you better than I thought." she mused.

The room felt unnaturally still, as if the air itself been holding it's breath.

My knee remained pressed against the cold stone floor, the lingering heat at my neck a stark reminder of what I'd just done.

Of my sworn oath to Isabel.

The guards hadn't moved yet. Their hands still hovering near the hilts of their swords, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

Even the principal hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line before he let out a long, tired sigh.

"This will complicate things," he muttered, rubbing his temple. "But what's done is done."

Complicate things? I hoped it would make things easier.

My heart still pounded in my chest, unable to fully grasp the full weight of my decision.

I dared a glance at Isabel.

Her gaze firmly on me, not with the smugness I expected, but with quiet intrigue,

as if I were a puzzle she had yet to solve, a toy.

It was infuriating.

"What happens now?" I asked, my voice unsettlingly steady given how I felt.

The old man, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward, carrying a wooden box in his hands.

The moment he opened it, a strange energy filled the air, the crystal inside pulsing faintly with an eerie glow.

I stiffened.

"Your assessment must be redone, I am afraid," the principal started, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"This time, with a crystal that... shouldn't burst into pieces."

A lump formed in my throat, I didn't like the way he said that.

Glancing back at Isabel, hoping for some sort of lifeline, or some hint that she knew what was coming.

But she only smiled, tilting her head slightly. Amused. Waiting.

I swallowed hard. She wasn't going to help me.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud thud, slamming against the wall.

"Isabel?!" a man's voice rang out, striking with urgency.

I flinched at the sudden intrusion, my pulse still unsteady from everything that had just happened.

My gaze snapped to the newcomer.

A young man whose striking features bore an undeniable resemblance to Isabel's.

The same captivating aura, the same hazel eyes, though his were storming with frustration.

His dark hair, slightly tousled, framed his face in a way that made him look both regal and imposing.

Isabel sighed, exasperation evident in the way she barely turned her head to acknowledge him. "What do you need, William?"

"Father wants to speak with you," he said, his gaze narrowing at the scene before him. "Now!"

She rolled her eyes, "of course, he always does in the worst possible moments."

Then, as if remembering something amusing, she turned back to the principal.

"Can I trust you'll treat my knight due respect?"

The principal hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Naturally. Though, if I may ask... .

Why here, of all places? Why not in a proper hall, with witnesses and a ceremony worthy of a royal oath?"

Isabel smirked, tilting her head as if she found his curiosity adorable.

"Not telling~."

Then, as she turned to leave, her glance wandered back at me, her expression full of amusement.

"Oh, and Lucille," she added smoothly, "I expect you at my dorm room tomorrow morning. Before classes."

I opened my mouth to argue, to ask why, to demand any reasoning, but the look in her eyes made it clear.

She had just issued my first order.

"As you wish..." I muttered.

With that, she strode past William without another glance, flickering her hand in a lazy wave.

I clenched my fists.

She had played me.

Even worse, I had let her.

My fingers drifted to my neck, tracing the warmth, still lingering there.

I couldn't see it, but I could feel it, my decision burned into my skin.

That night, I would learn the full truth of what I had done.

The mark, a winged sword, drawn like a tattoo into my flesh.

A brand of servitude. A binding promise. Proof that I now belonged to her.