I was nearly five, and nearing the time I’d head out to the Dungeon, which I heard from Winthrop was getting much worse.

  It wasn’t just fun and games all this time, Mama had made sure I got ready as well. She gave me a few books on dungeons. Some were picture books clearly aimed at illiterate adventurers, while others were thoroughly detailed, giving information on how to deal with specific monsters or traps, and even solutions for mazes and puzzles, almost like a walkthrough!

  She also handed me a book on an escape spell, [Hasted Steps], probably because I had said I needed one. This time, she wasn’t shocked that I learned it in a day.

  I can get a little too focused when I’m excited.

  Again with the vague descriptions. This time, however, it was fairly easy to test. The "short time" was close to a minute, which wasn't much, but having my steps doubled felt like a gut punch when it kicked in. It was also the first spell that affected my body directly, so I found it fascinating to observe how its magic flowed through me.

  As we approached the time for me to leave, Mama also made sure I did some training with the knights. For some reason, there was a scuffle over who would teach me, with the tight-curl-haired knight from before ultimately winning. His name was Leon, and he and Captain Soren took turns evaluating me before giving me lessons.

  Standing out there in the dirt field, facing them, brought me back to another field in another time, when I stood in front of my men getting ready for drills. No salutes this time. Instead, the two of them politely asked me to go through a few simple forms with a wooden sword. The wooden sword felt like a toy in my hand, impossibly light compared to the familiar heft of steel. Raise the sword high, swing down, parry, and thrust… Finally, we moved on to a few rounds of light sparring.

  I couldn’t help but evaluate them in turn. As I suspected, my raw attributes were higher than either of theirs, though Captain Soren's were at least within breathing distance. The sensation when our practice blades pushed against each other, his movements weaving around my thrusts and parrying my sword away, felt comparable. In contrast, I could easily read Leon's movements and could have countered his attacks if I had wanted to.

  Of course, I was gracious enough to let them win.

  One does not break their men’s pride.

  Leon smiled encouragingly at me after our session, while Captain Soren regarded me with a careful, measured gaze.

  They bowed to me, and I almost dismissed them out of habit before I caught myself, offering a formal curtsy instead.

  Even though I had been taking it easy, my attributes and stats had progressed quite a bit over the last two years, most likely due to my conditions.

  All the old ‘dump attributes’ as Joan, [Agility], [Toughness], and [Intellect], were now out of [Sync Penalty], so their growth should have been slowing down. However, it seemed that all the lessons and reading with Mama, combined with my obsessive need to maintain a network of [Shadow Fingers] to watch out for Father or Elise whenever I explored the House, helped keep up my [Intellect] growth.

  All that work also seemed to have helped raise my dark spells rank to [Dark Spells III], but for some reason, the warning message was still on [Shadow Spike]. Is this some insane tier spell that I had stumbled upon?

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  I also reached [Shadow Mastery III] and [Multi Cast III] which was great for spamming [Shadow Fingers] for that spy network.

  I got [Mind Mastery I] from casting [Dazzle] on those poor squirrels, rabbits and birds as well. Hopefully none of them were permanently traumatized by staring at me for so long.

  Really? All my spells and skills have rather sinister contexts. The worst offender being [Drain Touch]. After creating several large patches of wilted plants, I got to:

  What does deepening my affinity with the void mean?

  I have no idea.

  But I had a good guess as to why [Drain Touch] led to [Void Mastery I]. Casting the spell required directing the flow of magic to create an area of total emptiness in my palm with a funnel-like tail leading back to me. It was basically using a void to suck the life from others.

  As for new spells, I really only figured out one new spell, and that mostly by mistake. When I was trying to use [Shadow Fingers] to disguise my hair and skin as a maid, I accidentally expanded the base shadow instead and then the new spell message appeared.

  Yeah, no units on Area, so I had to basically estimate by feel.

  The thing that was surprising to me was that my [Charisma] was my highest attribute. I really have no idea how that happened.

  How does one even train charisma?

  But [Strength] being the second lowest was definitely due to the fact that I had let loose.

  Even so, I was still stronger than almost all the knights.

  My guess that even the lowest base stat for a general was still higher than the rest of the population was spot on.

  I was also fairly sure that the increase in my attributes had driven a significant boost in my stats as well, with the boost seeming to grow progressively larger with the higher attributes.

  Maybe it is a multiplier?

  And one final, big thing was that [Voice of The Maiden] had unlocked, most likely due to my higher [Charisma]. The description for it read.

  I guess for abilities from the other game, all I get is the description. But I’d played the game so many times that I still knew this ability cost 60 [Spirit], while [Divine Guidance] was 50. Somehow, even as Joan I had felt those numbers.

  —

  A few weeks before my fifth birthday, I was invited to a party: a fifth birthday party, but not mine. And I was required to attend.

  “So when was this decided?” I reclined back against the seat of the carriage, staring out at a much different, yet all too familiar countryside streaming by. The grid fields, patches of forests, villagers carrying buckets of water over paths between the crops, slid like paintings past the window.

  “Several years back.” Winthrop, seated opposite, cleared his throat and shifted nervously. He was dressed in a blue jacket with tassels and badges on his chest, a uniform.

  So he’s wearing his military colors for this party. I suppose it is for royalty.

  “This wouldn’t happen to be related to that incident two years ago, would it?” I rested my chin in hand as another village drifted past. Kids appeared, chasing each other in some game of tag. A little girl with pig-tails tripped, fell and cried.

  That’s what a normal five-year-old looked like. I was just pretending.

  “It was… related.”

  I let out a soft, breathy chuckle. “So appeasement?”

  “No, I assure you, it’s not. It’s more like we recognize the need for alignment after that.”

  “How would giving me away help with that? I was told that I had no support.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “The queen. This was during My Lady's first birthday,” Mama, who was sitting beside me, clarified.

  “The Bloomcrest name is support enough. And this isn’t to the crown prince. A betrothal isn’t giving you away, Josephine. Married ladies can still visit their families.”

  “It would be for me.” I corrected him. There was no need to explain further. I smiled at another thought. “You know, this might be what was intended all along.”

  Silence hung heavy in the air, interrupted by the sound of wheels grumbling over cobbled rocks.

  The palace appeared up ahead. The summer one apparently: crystal spires, marble arches and a blue glass dome. Luxury, extravagance, and power. I wrinkled my nose at the display.

  “Is this why you wanted me to go fix the Dungeon as soon as possible?”

  “What? No! You’ve got to believe me, Josephine. Those guys really need your help. They don’t have the resources for much else, and they don’t want our men to break the dungeon. It’s their livelihood, and many lives are at stake.”

  I shook my head and laughed, a short, humorless sound. “Relax. I already said I’d do it.”

  Yes, one problem at a time. First, I need to deal with the [Dark Binding] and ensure I won’t hurt Mama and the others. After that, I need to take care of whatever this is.

  I can’t even tell HIM no because he refuses to look me in the eyes.

  —

  That person, Elise, and Ben went ahead on the coach in front of us. After they disembarked, our carriage pulled up to the entrance.

  Winthrop offered me a hand, but I ignored it, stepping forward on my own.

  He knew for years. He had plenty of time to warn me, and yet he chose not to.

  I was dressed in a purple ball gown. The maids had piled on me with so much excitement that I couldn’t really refuse them. I managed to push back on the corset and the structured boning, but the bodice still hugged me far too tight, showing off the curves and length of a body that no five-year-old should have. It had a high-neck front that covered my chest, but the air caressing my exposed back made me feel self-conscious.

  Do people really want to see my strange musculature there?

  The maids, however, insisted that my body and skin were exquisite, and that all eyes would be captivated by the sight of me.

  I gave up after that.

  My body was definitely weird, and my skin even more so. It had refused to tan even after all my time in the sun.

  Another sign that I’m just a sword. I should be glad I didn’t rust after playing in the water so much.

  I refused the hand of the footman waiting outside and exited the carriage on my own. Mama trailed behind me.

  The eyes of all the servants standing in wait and the people exiting the other carriages converged on me.

  This dress really was beautiful. It was made of sheer iridescent silk that changed from shimmering violet to deep purple depending on the way the light hit it or the contours of my body. A trail of beaded rubies and pearls spiraled from the ruby necklace at my neck, down around my body to my narrow waist, and then splayed outwards over layers of luminous silk.

  It was far too much. And I knew it meant they most likely knew. If so, then Mama did as well.

  But I couldn’t be mad at them…

  I pulled at the pearl-white, long-sleeved gloves that they had paired with my dress.

  ‘To accentuate your long, elegant fingers,’ they had said.

  I was already feeling tired of this party.

  —

  The party was, of course, grand and opulent, in a giant ballroom under the dome of blue glass. All around us the tables were littered with trays of exotic food stacked in gaudy, contrived displays. There were plenty of beautiful people milling about in their fancy makeup, intricate hair and extravagant dresses.

  So why did they have to look at me?

  The answer was obvious enough, everyone already knew I was the intended lamb.

  I turned to Mama, and she knew from my eyes what I wanted to say.

  She smoothed out a few nonexistent wrinkles on her charcoal-grey dinner dress. “Yes, I knew, for a while.” Her voice was a soft, pained whisper. “But I wanted you to just live free for a little while longer. You were so happy.”

  I wanted to scream.

  How am I supposed to react to that?!

  Well-dressed attendants ushered me behind the others.

  Ben turned, his eyes large. His lips trembled on the precipice of some hesitant words, some big reveal. I stared back at him, daring him to stab me with another round of betrayals.

  “You look lovely today, dear. Absolutely dazzling. We’re all very proud of you,” Elise’s saccharine voice drifted over from beside him.

  “Thank you, Lady Mother. I’ve been well wrapped.”

  Her lips peeled back, revealing the whites of her teeth. She stepped closer, causing Mama to stiffen. “If you’d like to join us for dinner, I can talk with your father and make something work,” she whispered softly into my ear.

  I kept my gaze fixed forward. “No, thank you, I have problems eating in front of strangers.”

  My family was introduced to a beautiful woman sitting on a high throne-like seat. Her long silver hair was matched by the silvery threads running along her extravagant dress of shiny gold and platinum. She was the First Consort, Lady Evelyn de Contellas.

  Her hand, elongated by long fingernails, swiped through the air as she welcomed them. Then HE presented me.

  “This is my daughter, Lady Josephine de Bloomcrest.”

  I stepped forward, and just as I was about to sink into a low curtsy, our eyes met. Hints of that familiar rage, pain, and perhaps even confusion swirled in the chaos of his gray eyes. His eyebrows twitched as he wrenched his gaze away from me.

  I lowered my head.

  “Simply gorgeous. Your blood is strong in this one, Leopold. That blue is just stunning,” The Consort said and waved her hand to the side. “This is my son, Second Prince Tomas.”

  A lanky, tall boy stepped out of the shadows. He had light-grey hair and golden eyes that reminded me of Anthony. His blue jacket had a sharp, military cut, with neatly pressed fabric and square shoulders. A stripe of silver buttons ran down the right side.

  He looked about five, like a normal five-year-old.

  “You two children go dance, and then we can settle this,” Evelyn said impatiently from her throne.

  Tomas extended his hand to me and asked in a polite, polished voice. “If you will, Lady Josephine?”

  Our gazes met. My eyes roamed over his face: young, with a boyish chub. His eyes held some innocence, but his thinly pressed lips and jaw muscles held the strain of mature reservation.

  At least he isn’t some pompous ass. And it’s not like refusing would get me anywhere.

  I put my gloved hand in his, and stood up. I was a head taller than him. Unperturbed by this, he led me to the dance floor.

  The music started. At first the string instruments whined melodically, then they were joined by flute notes and harpsichord keys. Toots of horns punctuated the slow, swaying notes, and the drums tapped a slow beat that was easy to follow.

  “You’re really good at dancing,” the Prince said as the two of us swayed across the dance floor. It was mostly the simple three-step sequences that Mama had taught me, though I got bored enough that I led him into a few spins and quick double-steps.

  “I dance with my brother at the town festivals.” We had returned to the square quite a few times actually. Ben seemed to like the attention, and it was more “letting loose” for me.

  I spotted him in the crowd, his eyes glued to me. He looked miserable enough to make me feel guilty about not talking to him.

  Why do I always feel like an ass with him?

  “You don’t want to marry me?”

  I blinked, meeting the Prince’s golden eyes. Am I really that much of an open book?

  My fingers slipped around his hand as I swung away and then twisted back into him in sync with the music. “I don’t know you. What do you think of this?”

  He shrugged, his face growing more guarded again. “Mother says I need to.”

  His hand pulled mine along with me, his steps were well practiced, but stiff. I stepped into him, forcing him off beat and then pulled him back into me. “Relax. They can say what they want, but it’s still our lives.”

  Tomas bit his lips as his steps grew a little lighter, off-beat, but he flowed. “I want to know you. You… smell nice.” He had a blush on his round cheek.

  I afforded him a smile, and lifted my dress in a twirl around him.

  This body refused to be anything but graceful.

  When we returned to her, the Consort was applauding along with everyone else. “That’s wonderful! Such a beautiful display. Tell me, future daughter-in-law, how do you find my Tomas?”

  I held my head down. “It’s obvious he’s prepared well for me, so clearly he’s diligent.” It was obvious she was hunting for compliments. “His Highness… has good eyes, through which I felt a good heart. His magnificence overwhelms me.”

  A sharp intake of breath. “My, my… such words for one so young, and such grace.”

  “My governess has taught me well. Words and grace are, after all, the sword and shield of a lady.”

  “Superb!” She gushed giddily, clapping her hands again. “You’ll do nicely. Leopold, you sly fox, I can’t believe you’ve been hiding such a treasure all this time.”