“I apologize, Lady Liliana. If you wish for some time to yourself I can leave,” The crown princess didn’t meet her eyes and away from her parents she seemed far more unsure and delicate than before. With the dim light of the moon and stars shining on her, she looked ever more ethereal than before, delicate as a wisp of fog before the wind.

“Do not let me scare you off, Princess. I do not mind the company,” Liliana answered easily, even as her heart thumped in her chest. There were many things she’d love to ask her.

Was this how someone felt when they met an idol or a celebrity? In her last life, Liliana had never paid close attention to celebrities of any kind, too stuck in her games and books to care much for them. She supposed the characters she’d played and met in those fantasy worlds were her celebrities, people she admired and wished to be.

“I-Are you sure?” the princess asked, her hands fisted in her dress skirts and Liliana let her cool mask drop a bit in the safety of the shadows. A warm smile graced her face as she looked at the other girl.

“Yes, it is fine. I simply needed a break from the overbearing attention of the nobility.” Liliana inclined her head towards the doors, where light leaked through from the ball, and music and voices formed an almost physical wall.

“It is… a lot,” the princess responded, turning to look for a moment at the doorway, fear flashing across her face.

She really hasn’t been around nobility much, unlike me, though she hasn’t seemed to learn how to hide her emotions too well, Liliana noted as the girl turned from the door and back to the railing.

“Is it your first ball?” Liliana asked, and Marianne nodded hesitantly before fixing Liliana with her ruby red gaze.

“I heard it is yours as well,” Marianne stated. Liliana nodded, a wry smile quirking her lips.

“So the two beginners to balls have both fled from it,” Liliana jested lightly as she leaned further on the railing, one hand coming up to hold her summoning stone. The familiar feeling of Lelantos’ soul calmed her further.

“Your Bond?” Marianne asked, leaning forward with interest as she stared at the stone.

“Yes, Lelantos, he was a bit upset to not be able to properly enjoy the ball with me,” and to not be here to eat anyone who bothered me, Liliana thought with amusement. The tiger had been rather upset to find out he’d be going, but more or less trapped while she was within the wards.

“What is it like? To bond with a beast?” Marianne asked, and Liliana raised an eyebrow. Her curiosity would be odd if it wasn’t for the fact that one day she’d be Queen with her own bonded Knights.

“Painful, something they don’t warn you about. But… there’s nothing like it. The power you hold, it’s indescribable. Though I think the true benefit is knowing you have someone with you for the rest of your life. Someone that will never betray you, or turn on you. Someone that will always be an ally, no matter what happens,” Liliana commented, fingers trailing over the stone as she spoke. Truly, the best gift she had been given in this life was when Lelantos accepted her contract, binding himself to her for all their lives. Someone she could trust with her whole heart and soul, for they shared one soul now.

“That sounds… lovely,” Marianne spoke softly, her eyes holding a sadness inside of them that tugged at Liliana’s heartstrings.

“I imagine life as a crown princess is not an easy one,” Liliana spoke as softly as the princess, her own words filled with understanding. She might not understand what it was like to be in such a prominent position, always sought after by ladder climbers and foreign dignitaries seeking to use you for your position, or power, or money. But she could understand the pain Marianne had faced for a good deal of her life, being sick and weak. Feeling like a burden, like you were worthless.

“We all have our fates,” Marianne responded with a shrug, pulling back and looking away from the summoning stone.

“Would you like to see him someday?” Liliana asked after a few moments of silence. Marianne startled, eyes wide, and she reminded Liliana a bit of a rabbit.

“W-What?” Marianne asked and Liliana smirked, holding in a giggle.

“Lelantos, would you like to meet him? One day?” Liliana clarified, and Marianne flushed, looking aside, and Liliana wondered who Marianne had thought she meant.

“Yes, that would be nice, I suppose,” Marianne answered and Liliana hummed. Silence settled between the two of them as the princess shifted a bit nervously and Liliana turned her attention back to the stars.

“So Shines The Light Of The Heavens,

Bathing All Under The Light Of Truth

She Hears In The Night All Confessions

Her Silver Ears Open For Old and Youth,” Liliana recited, voice clear as she turned her gaze to the moon. Beside her, Marianne startled once more, eyes widening in shock and delight.

“Lucinda?” Marianne asked excitedly, and Liliana hid a smile. So Marianne’s interest in books was the same in this world as in the games.

“Yes, do you read her works?” Liliana asked curiously, tilting her head. Marianne nodded eagerly, and it was like Liliana had broken down a dam as the previously shy and reserved girl filled her ears with her favorite stories. Liliana responded where she could. She had read some of the books Marianne mentioned. Some forced by Miss Beckett, some for pleasure when she needed a break from the fever pace her life had been set to.

“But you simply must read the Baroness’s Fancy. I know it’s not a great work of literature but the romance in it is simply bea-” Marianne gushed, a cough at the entrance to the balcony cutting the princess off. A servant stood there and Liliana watched with interest as all the life and energy seemed to drain from the princess. She really did not enjoy balls at all, it would seem.

“Crown Princess Marianne, your mother wishes for you to return to the ball,” the servant informed the princess, bowing before turning and vanishing back into the ball himself.

“Well, I suppose duty calls,” Liliana commented and Marianne winced, exhaling.

“I can stay with you, if it would make it easier. If you have someone talking to you, others will be less likely to approach you,” Liliana offered, and the princess turned wide eyes to her, desperate hope in them. Liliana expected [Persuasion] would see at least one level up today, if not more.

If I had evil intentions for her, it would be far too easy to take advantage of her. She really is sheltered, Liliana thought with amusement, a protective urge rising in her heart that surprised her. She had never felt the urge to protect something, or someone, other than perhaps Polaris. Yet the way Marianne’s eyes sparkled with pure hope seemed to crack her stone heart. Or maybe it was that Liliana was already per-disposed to liking her, with the similarities they shared.

“Come, let’s survive this ball together,” Liliana offered her arm and Marianne slid a small arm into it. So close Liliana could see she stood a few inches taller than the other girl, a surmising feat as she herself was barely 5 feet 2 inches.

As they emerged back into the ball, it took a few moments for the other nobles to notice, but as they did, Liliana could almost feel a tidal wave of whispers following in their wake. Marianne’s hand tightened on her arm, though her face didn’t shift. Liliana looked over at the nobles, eyes stopping when she saw her father and stepmother.

Her father was smiling, pride clear in his eyes as he saw his daughter befriending the crown princess. Imogen’s face had blanched. Even under her makeup and illusions, she seemed pallid. Anger flared brightly in the woman’s eyes soon after, and Liliana turned her head to hide her smirk.

“Do you suppose The Brownness’s Fancy is based on any of the nobles here?” Liliana leaned close to whisper the question to the princess, smiling when the other girl couldn’t keep a small giggle from escaping, her own eyes raking over the assembled peerage.

“Maybe Baroness Musgrave? Look at the eyes she’s making at that serving man!” Marianne whispered back, voice sounding delighted and scandalized all at once. Liliana hummed as she tapped her lip, looking around.

“Perhaps Baroness Hargreave? She has been said to have a few… liasons” Liliana countered, and the princess laughed truly then, laughter that seemed to light up the room.

Liliana turned her head, instincts flaring. She spotted a girl coming towards them, looking half drunk as she carried a full goblet of wine in her hands, tilting dangerously under the heavy weights of her large dress. Liliana knew she could dodge but the girl on her arm could not. She could drag her aside, but she felt so delicate. Liliana feared she may hurt her if she did. Turning her body slightly, she blocked off the smaller girl moments before the other noble collided with her, spilling the dark red wine across her dress.

“O-Oh I-I’m so sorrry,” the girl slurred, stumbling a step before falling. Liliana looked down at the noble coldly before looking at her own dress with a sigh. Wine had stained a swathe of her skirt, dying lace a burgundy and darkening the silk of her dress.

“Lady Liliana!” Marianne pulled on her arm, and even if the girl’s Strength was pathetically weak, Liliana let Marianne turn her, the princess gasping over her ruined dress.

“C-Crown princess!” The girl on the floor stammered out, words still slurred from alcohol. A Knight appeared, from where exactly Liliana wasn’t too sure, to pick the girl up.

“I believe it’s time you return home, Lady Wilde,” the Knight told her, practically dragging the girl away. All eyes were on them as the princess fussed over Liliana’s dress. Liliana’s eyes were drawn back to her stepmother, and the smug smirk on her face said everything she needed to know. The vile woman had sent the girl her way, to embarrass her before the nobility. Before the crown princess. Undoubtedly with the intent to ‘put her in her place’.

I truly expected better of you stepmother, this is childish, Liliana thought as she turned to the princess with a kind smile, stilling her hands from where they were patting at her dress with a handkerchief.

“It’s okay, Princess. I’m just glad none of it got on you. I’m sure that was rather startling. Are you alright?” Liliana asked, layering her words with warmth that didn’t need to be faked a she looked over the princess’ dress.

“I’m alright, Lady Liliana. I wasn’t the one who was attacked!” Marianne looked on the verge of tears and Liliana’s lips quirked into a higher smile. Out of all the heroes in the story, she could believe Marianne was perhaps the only one who deserved such a title. The girl oozed goodness and kindness.

“It’s alright, it was an honest accident and it is just a dress. It can be replaced,” Liliana soothed, laying a hand on the princess’s shaking hand.

“Marianne, perhaps you and your friend should retire for a small time, I’m sure we can get Lady Liliana cleaned up,” a regal voice sent shivers down Liliana’s spine and she found herself straightening as the nobles cleared a path for the queen. The woman’s aura was overwhelming, even controlled as it was. Liliana had gotten used to her father’s aura from time spent with him at dinners, and even in a room full of high leveled nobles she had been mostly managing. Yet the Queen’s aura was almost smothering and Liliana had a feeling the woman was doing it on purpose, for it hadn’t been like this at first.

“Your Majesty,” Liliana dipped into a deep curtsy, barely avoiding grimacing she her hands gripped alcohol soaked skirts.

“I must apologize that such a thing has happened under my roof, let us take care of you Lady Liliana,” the queen said as Liliana rose, the woman’s gaze was assessing and Liliana felt her heart and breath stop as she stood under the woman’s full attention. It felt like she was prying her apart, layer by layer, and examining every piece of her.

She saw me with her daughter, and is seeing if I’m a threat to her, Liliana realized as the woman finally tore her eyes off of her and laid them on her daughter. The aura surrounding her receded and her expression melted to one full of love and adoration. If there was ever a doubt that the queen loved her daughter, it was banished, simply by seeing how the woman looked at Marianne, like she was the most precious thing in the world.

That’s a woman who would wage a war for her daughter, would challenge the gods for her. Liliana realized, and she thanked every deity she knew she had never planned on using Marianne, or meaning her harm. She didn’t want to know what the Queen would do to someone who tried.

“Thank you mama,” Marianne curtsied to her mother and Liliana let the other lead her from the ballroom, which was slowly filling once more with voices. Liliana was fairly certain she knew what was on their tongues as the two girls left.

“You know, at the very least we got permission from the Queen herself to leave the ball,” Liliana remarked as they entered a fairly empty hall. She noticed the two Knights trailing them, obviously meant as bodyguards for the princess.

“Well… you’re not wrong,” Marianne remarked, a small smile on her lips as they distanced themselves from the drama. Liliana looked around at the palace eagerly, taking in the ornate paintings and decorations. She had thought the Rosengarde manor was impressive. It felt almost poor in comparison to what she saw on display here, and this was simply the royal’s vacation house. What must the palace in the capital look like?

“Here, we can wait in here and a servant should come with something to help you get clean.” Marianne reached towards a door, a Knight materializing and opening it. Liliana looked behind them and saw only one, meaning that Knight had crossed the distance in the blink of an eye.

Out of curiosity, Liliana used [Identify] on the man, and almost immediately turned the skill off in fear.

Zacharias Shawcross

Rank: 2

Knight

It wasn’t just the fact that somehow, even if her [Identify] was up to Level 42 and could show a good amount of information yet she didn’t even get the man’s level; it was the fact she’d just used [Identify] on someone who was Rank 2. Who had apparently noticed if his brown-eyed gaze that rested on her for a moment was any sign.

Was Rank 2 the highest for the Knights, or did the Queen keep higher ones around her? Had she just been dancing around carefree while there were Rank 1’s in the crowd? People who held power as close to gods as any human could come?

“Liliana? Are you alright?” Marianne’s voice broke her out of her fear laden musing as the princess sat her down in a plush seat that felt like resting on a cloud.

“I-I’m” Liliana cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure, “I’m fine, just a bit overwhelmed,” Liliana finished as she looked down and at her dress.

“That’s understandable. We’ll get you cleaned up,” Marianne promised, and she waved a hand. Liliana didn’t know what she did to summon the maids, but in seconds there were several in the room, surrounding her and dragging her behind a screen. They removed her from her dress in seconds, a much more subdued replacement put on her as the maids carted her dress out to presumably clean it. Liliana tugged at the dress with a small frown. It was small on her and she could see her shoes and ankles now as she left the privacy screen to rejoin Marianne.

“Here, have some of this. It’ll help calm you,” the princess pushed a cup of tea at her that Liliana accepted easily.

“I apologize for making such a ruckus of your debut, and taking your time, Princess,” Liliana apologized, bowing her head as she sipped her tea. A tinkling laugh filled the room and Liliana looked up, bemused.

“I should thank you for giving me a proper excuse to leave. I really don’t enjoy being stared at by so many eyes.” Marianne shivered, rubbing a hand across her arm as she shuddered.

“Then you’ve picked the wrong career, I’m afraid,” Liliana answered with a smirk. Marianne laughed and shook her head before a small frown took over her face.

“Such is the working of fate,” Marianne sighed, a forlorn look on her face.

“If you could choose your fate, what would you choose?” Liliana asked, the question rising unbidden to her lips. She blinked in surprise, matching the princess’. Marianne’s face contorted in thought as she seemed to honestly consider the question.

“Travel. I’d love to see the violet sea. I want to know if it truly is such a rich deep purple that it looks like the gods spilled wine over the waters. I want to explore the Alfein Empire, see if the rumors of their metal and magic marvels are true. If they’ve conquered the skies themselves as the ambassador claims. I want to visit the Krelari continent, and meet the many cultures that inhabit its lands.” Marianne’s voice got more confident as she spoke, her eyes sparkling with desire as she spoke of the marvels of their world. Marvels Liliana had only read of herself, places the game had never explored.

“I want to have an adventure, something that Bards sing about for ages to come. I want to face off against monstrous opponents and fell them. I want to experience the rush of adrenaline flooding my body as I best Death again and again, as I taunt him the way he taunted me for thirteen years,” Marianne’s speech struck a cord with Liliana as the princess echoed some of the very things that Liliana herself wished for.

“I want to see a Leviathan, I want to meet a Dragon, and trade for one of its treasures with knowledge. I want to go to the Archives and comb their hidden secrets. I want to see the Crystal River and watch the nymphs in it frolicking. I want to taste a fruit from The World Tree, fresh from a branch,” Marianne trailed off, her eyes faraway now as she detailed adventures and goals fit for a legend. Liliana smiled, drawn in by the princess’ charisma as she spun a tale of wishes and wants and wonder. As she reminded Liliana of all the beauty this world offered her, and not just the dark and bloody side it had shown her so far.

“Perhaps you can,” Liliana commented when the princess trailed off. Marianne turned disbelieving eyes to her and Liliana held up a hand to forestall any objections.

“Not now, not yet. But in a few years you’ll be going to the Academy, right?” Liliana asked, though she knew the princess would go. If not because of the game, then because every royal had. Marianne nodded to the question and Liliana smiled.

“Well, they send students on tasks, projects. The longer you’re there, the more arduous the task set for you. Some include going to other countries. And if you don’t get to see all the sights you want then, there’s always after you graduate. Your mother is well, and still climbing in levels. You have hundreds of years before you’ll wear the crown, and many years to fill with marvels and wonders,” Liliana explained, and she smiled as the princess’ eyes filled with hope once more. Something in Liliana’s chest ached so hard it almost brought tears to her eyes. What would she herself have given in her last life to have such an opportunity before her?

You have it now, a voice reminded her, and Liliana smiled, the pain fading. Yes, she might not have had a chance to live in her last life. But in this one, perhaps she could.

“Where would you want to go first?” Marianne asked her, surprising Liliana. For the next hour, the girls discussed different places they’d want to visit, different races they’d like to meet. And in Liliana’s case, different beasts she dreamed of bonding to. Beasts she’d only heard vague mentions of, or in fictitious tales and legends, written in books discovered in the manor’s library.

Even after Liliana’s dress had been returned, cleaned and fresh, and she’d changed into it, the two girls stayed in their quiet sanctuary. Until a Knight informed them that the ball was ending and Liliana’s parents were looking for her.

“Will you come back?” Marianne asked, her face flushed a light pink as her hand gripped tight to Liliana’s own as they paused outside the door to the ballroom. Liliana smiled, a true and sweet one.

“Yes, if you send me an invitation, I’d delight in spending more time in your company,” Liliana informed her, and Marianne’s smile lit the room up. As Liliana rejoined her family, even her stepmother’s venomous glares didn’t put a dent in her mood, for once her father’s pride filled remarks didn’t send a poisonous mix of loathing and happiness through her.

I made a friend, Liliana thought, giddy as she joined the boys in the carriage.