I enjoy that little trip outside of our palace.

Now, I bitterly stare at the entrance of my own house.

The giant building stands at the very center of this settlement. Compared to a fortress or well-fortified settlement, we only have one set of walls. These walls surround our home. Walking through the front gateway, I only sigh at the horrible placement of our domain.

To be honest, I am afraid of what the enemies would do. If this settlement was under siege, we will be trapped.

And by we, I mean MY FAMILY!

My mom advised Eadric to build walls around the entire settlement first, but my stubborn dad just ignored her. He built a wall around us! This was a stupid move! Even Ethan agreed with this wholeheartedly. With catapults, they can easily kill us with a volley.

This only proves how stupid my dad was. He would avoid the huge cost of building walls around the entire settlement for our security. His excuse was, “The commoners do not need protection!” or “I rather set walls around us! This is to secure our safety!”

Safety my ass! His mindset made him an idiot. Every time I see these damn walls, I can only sigh in disbelief. Several of my knights sighed as well, understanding the worst-case scenario.

Luckily, we are close to Emperor Titus and away from any potential enemies. Getting off the road onto the pathway towards the palace, we walk through the front yard. Plants are aligned next to the stone pathway with fountains located on the left and right. Statues of my great grandfathers are scattered on the front yard as well. I stopped myself from stating any more about the family front yard, my attention turned towards the servants attending to these plants. Noticing our approach, they bow at us, We would do a simple bow back, gesturing them to resume their work. Jennifer and Jessica rush up the stairs towards the front doors. How I love the sight of those two, giggling and chatting with one another. It was quite adorable.

The guards opened the doors upon our approach, bowing as well. For obvious reasons, they showed great respect for everyone... other than me. Most of the guards and soldiers of my faction would ignore me due to my bodyguards. It might be due to jealousy, but I feel like they do this to ignore my protectors. They wish that I would have to choose someone of higher status compared to my Black Knights. Such insolence. The light flashed through those doors, blinding me for a few seconds. Once I regain my vision, the entrance hall seems to have a few guests.

Wait, huh?

There are guests in our house already? It’s too early- No, I know why. Ethan and Olivia reveal a perplexed look at our guests. Seems like Ethan is still in the dark about the guest’s notorious reputation while Olivia would not understand as much since she is still learning.

“You guys! Go to your rooms and get dressed! Tonight will be a rather special night!” A blonde-haired man approaches us, twirling around with his cape following his movements. He has a very… annoying voice. It’s a young, high pitched voice. I sometimes assume that this man before me has not hit puberty. This man is my older brother, Patrick Being two years older than me, he is the head of security around the palace. He adorns a fancy silver set of armor, adjusted to his physic. It’s very slim compared to a regular set of armor. He specifically asked our father for a modified set to increase his survivability. To me, the armor does not suit his style and creates more of a problem than anything. I shall explain why later. As he is now, he is a rank eleven warrior, two levels higher than me.

Patrick has a prince charming face. His hair runs down to his neck, looking quite flamboyant. His light blue eyes shine with glee, his very presence making me... sick. Uh, sorry… I just don’t like him. He is popular with a lot of noblewomen though, but I am not fond of him. Olivia, Jennifer, and Jessica dislike him, but they will not hate him as much. Although I feel like they will hate him eventually. His personality and attitude are too much. He’s too cocky as well. I wish he hid his face under a helmet sometimes. Even though he’s my brother, his face reminds me of the many noblemen trying to woo me. My mother barely talks to him or associates with him.

“Heh… I bet you’re wondering what the hell is going on, right little man?” Patrick towers over Ethan. Their eyes lock onto each other, the air around them starts to boil. Both brothers despise each other. Patrick hates how Ethan opens up to commoners. Ever since my dad installed the idea of commoners being trash to my brothers and sisters, some of them took those words to heart. When Ethan socializes with the butlers and maids, Patrick insults him. He calls him a pathetic excuse of a noble and any other insults he can come up with. Of course, Ethan did not retaliate. Even to this day, Patrick still insults my younger brother. Their hatred against one another escalated with a certain incident.

When my mother was away, Patrick raped one of the maids. This became a very pressing matter. Purposely, my father ignored this. If my mother was around, Patrick would not have done such an action, but he did it just to provoke Ethan. And it worked. Ethan’s response was a punch to Patrick’s manhood. Due to the childish behavior, my father intervened and told them to challenge each other in a duel. Patrick planned this all along. He wanted to beat the hell out of Ethan in this duel, and Ethan fell for it. My little brother stood no chance against Patrick. It would be a one-sided beating. At the time, I stepped in as Ethan’s substitute. Father agreed to this, knowing full well that I would lose.

Or so he thought.

Patrick's skills lie with his rapier. When we fought, he becomes too eager. He got real cocky, bragging about how it will be an easy win. During our engagement, I only dodged his attacks. Using his usual tactics to provoke people, I ignored it with relative ease. Thanks to Gallant’s teaching, he was nothing more than a weakling boasting about his skills. Gallant first taught me this. When engaging someone, understand their techniques, movements, and themselves. Know your enemy. I never saw Patrick’s fighting style, so I observed. I took the time to understand how he fought. With his harsh taunts, I easily figured out what he liked doing. He was trying to reel me in, hoping that I would show an opening. It was a pathetic display. As he flings insults at me, I learned his attack patterns, the techniques he used, and his movements. And ultimately I learned a bit about him. Now, I did not know about all of his techniques, just the ones he kept using. When I went on the offensive, I easily pushed him back. He had a few techniques up his sleeve, but that did not stop me. As a dual-wielder, I had an edge over one-handed weapon users. Once I know my enemy, do not give them any quarter, bombard them with attacks.

Gallant demonstrated this with Dan. The pervert only had a sword to defend himself. Dan is okay with the sword, but not an expert on it. Gallant viciously charged at him, unleashing a fury of attacks nonstop. Every attack on Dan’s defense was followed by another swing of Gallant’s blades. There was no rest for Dan. I thought he stood no chance against Gallant relentless onslaught. At that moment, I was inspired by Gallant’s fury. Dan, however, decided to give me another lesson. What happens when they can keep up. He unleashed a quick, strong warcry that forced Gallant back for a second. My teacher quickly lunged forward, but Dan swung his blade, countering each of Gallant’s attack. It ended as a tie, Dan kept up with Gallant’s speed.

Patrick had that same warcry technique that Dan used. He forced me back for a few seconds, but I immediately sprung back into action. Patrick dropped his guard. He did not expect a speedy recovery. I remember how I just appear in front of him, ending the match with [Dual Barrage]. The technique [Dual Barrage] stabs their opponent repeatedly with two blades. My wooden swords furiously stabbed at his body. Given a few seconds, one could unleash at least ten to twenty stabs onto the target’s body. He conceded, acknowledging my strength. Unlike my father, Patrick respected me as a powerful warrior. I would have given him pointers on our match, informing him of why he lost, but I knew he would ignore it. His armor was the cause of his downfall. I know that he trains without it sometimes. His movements are faster without the stupid thing. Even though his armor increases his survivability, he should have dawn something lighter than heavy armor. Pushing all that aside, I simply thanked him for the match. He thanked me as well. All in all, he did not apologize to Ethan whatsoever. He just waved it off, pretending as if nothing ever happened.

When my mom came back from her trip, she heard about this, yet she did nothing. The damage was done. Ethan can never see Patrick as a decent man ever again.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Ethan glares at Patrick.

“Oh… So father didn’t tell you the great news. Heh, it seems like he favors me more than your sorry ass. Commoner wannabe…” Patrick brags.

“Sir Patrick, we have to go over security details! We need you over here!” an armored knight yells.

“Humph. I got important things to attend to. Go get ready.” He walks towards the knights, waving his hand nonchalantly at us.

“I swear… He’s an eyesore,” muttered Ethan. Turning to me, he bows slightly, “I shall see you at the gathering sister. Hopefully, we will see this special guest.” Olivia, Jennifer, and Jessica also turn to me and bow. They left with Ethan, going up the stairs to the second floor.

“Well, I will report to the queen. Titan, watch over Aisha for us. Excuse us.” Bowing as well, I watch the rest of my bodyguards leave with the leader. Before I head up to my quarters, I felt a pair of eyes lock onto me. Looking around, I notice a woman staring right at me. Huh? Being caught in her act, the woman excuses herself with the party she was with, walking towards us. Is she a mage? I notice her rank from afar. Okay, I am a bit baffled.

Why is she here?

She wears a sleeveless low cut black gown. With her large br- I mean chest, we can see a decent amount of cleavage. Her long dark blue hair gentle sways with her movement. Even from this distance, I can see her stunning features. This woman, having a lot of human characteristics, has one thing that caught my attention. Her blue catlike ears protruding off of her head.

This woman is a Demihumans, specifically, a neko. This world has a lot of mixed beings, ranging from lizard people, merfolks, cat people (nekos), and many more. Well, this being is a neko, but as her subspecies, I have no clue. Subspecies have their unique racial ability. This does not apply to just demihumans. Orcs, humans, elves, and other races can have their subspecies as well. For example, Blood Elves and Rozen Elves are subspecies for elves. Blood Elves can use Blood Magic while Rozen Elves are known for their special techniques. With other races in this world, there will always be discrimination and slavery. Demihumans are treated like trash... sometimes. It ultimately depends on the policies running around along with the kingdom or faction they are in. My father has no grudge against demihumans, letting them do as they please… as long as they pay their taxes. Eadric would have allowed slave traders to conduct their business here, but my mother denied such actions. Out of respect, my father banned slavery in our settlement along with any dealings with slave traders. The thought of slavery did not sit too well with me either. Even though I have not seen a slave, I know that I would never allow such atrocities to happen if I run my city. The thought surely left a bitter taste in my mouth.

My attention went back on the approaching neko, noticing her yellow cat-like eyes. With her gown, her tail is hidden underneath it. As I marvel at this woman, I never met a neko up close. A beauty finally stands before me. My first thoughts would be ‘cute,’ but I am wrong. This woman that stands before me has a very strong scent. A scent of strawberries? She must have used perfume, maybe to appeal to someone. She’s an adult, standing a few inches higher than me. She might be around twenty-eight years old. Her gaze is quite deadly, captivating me when I stare into them. Titan lets out a low hum. I forget he was with me. I broke my gaze from the catgirl, knowing full well what will happen next.

“Titan… don’t do it.” I whispered.

“Greetings Archmage, you look quite alluring today…” I elbowed him, the knight looking down at me. I nervously chuckled, waving my hands at the woman.

“S-Sorry about that your lordship… My knight tends to speak his mind.” Apologizing for my knight’s odd behavior.

“I don’t mind.” the woman giggles. Her mood instantly changed though. “Although… I remember this guy when he was traveling around the place. If I remember correctly, he pulled on my tail. You know… I was trying to find you.”

Oh? Titan made an enemy?

Wait, what?! He pulled on her tail!? I find that rather hard to believe, yet this only reveals my suspicion with my knights. They are stronger than a rank nine warrior. Whatever their story is, I want to hear it. My body froze at the thought, dreading the horrible sensations I felt when I pondered on Nero’s words. Dismissing these thoughts immediately, I went back onto the topic at hand. Nekos are sensitive creatures. They have enhanced hearing, sight, and movement compared to a human. The same traits like a cat, but amplified to a larger scale. Sneaking up behind a neko would be impossible. One has to be good at stealth or something else must have kicked in.

“Eh… D-Did I do that…?” Titan nervously asked.

“Before the culprit escaped, I noticed the knight wearing black armor and two greatswords on his back. I have no proof, but I have a feeling that you know something about this. I asked around the place, and they told me that there’s only one person in this entire faction that can hold two giant greatswords on their back. Princess, permission to take this knight from you for a while?” Her eyes show a fierce determination that intimidated me for a second. W-W-Wait… Her expression changed into something else. Her stern gaze turned into a cute one. Her pleading eyes made a sudden attack on my soul. I struggle to cope with this strange feeling, wanting to pet the woman. Luckily, I stopped myself. It would be bad to pet the archmage. I think? A cough could be heard, catching my attention. Titan was doing it on purpose, doing it several more times until I looked back at him. The armored man looks at me, shaking his head no. Oh… He doesn’t want to go?

“Sure.” I just ignored his request, “Do give him a beating… if you can.” I wonder how Titan will fare against an archmage.

“Thank you, princess! Come!” Cheering at her success, she pulls on his arm, dragging the knight away from me. That was a strange sight. Usually, Titan would not be pushed around that easily. When my father tried to push him down one time, he ended up falling on the ground instead. Maybe Titan has a weakness for girls? Or maybe he lets them do what they want. As I ponder on these thoughts, I can hear his voice screaming for me.

“W-Wait… Princess! Princess!” I watch them disappear from the entrance hall. I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.

“That’s a strange sight. Seeing Archmage Aly and Titan together…” Mel appears beside me. I jumped at her voice, surprised to see her right behind me. When did she get here?! Ignoring my shock, I can agree with her statement. She took the same words right out of my mouth. “Princess, we should get you ready for tonight’s gathering.”

My expression change into a slight frown.

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!

“Are you going to dress me up again?”

“Your mom’s orders.” I just let out a sigh, heading to my room. I just hang my head in defeat, silently telling myself, ‘Let’s get it over with.’

Hours later...

The maids placed me in a very fancy outfit. I would have worn something casual, plain, nothing too exquisite, but this… this was something else. My mother handpicked a dark ball gown. Compared to my white evening gown, this gown is composed of fine satin, lace, and silk. Wearing a corset underneath this outfit along with two layers of petticoats, the gown skirt reveals its puffy shape. Ruffles cover my shoulders and run down towards the end of my skirt in two lines. My arms are covered in sleeves until it reached the cuffs. At the cuffs, it forms into bell sleeves that slightly hides my hands. The outfit covers most of my body, the ball gown revealing a bit of my collarbone region, but not as much. It was a bit tight around my breasts, but it did not bother me that badly. After they placed the gown on me, they worked on my hair. They placed my hair into a messy voluminous ponytail. Tonight was a special night, so I decided to be a bit true to myself. I hated the fancy bun my hair would be placed in, so I proposed this hairstyle instead. At first, I thought it would be impossible since there was nothing to hold my hair in place. Nodding their heads, the maids easily tackled this with relative ease. Surprisingly, the maids had something called hairspray. I never heard of the strange contraption. Mel explained that it was like makeup, just for hair. Or something like that. It seems like they were in a hurry, leaving out the process or explanation of how it works. I shrugged my shoulders, letting them do their stuff. They didn’t place makeup on me. They know how much I hate using makeup.

Once everything was done, I can hear the maids squeal and awe at my transformation. I looked at the mirror, admiring the ball gown and my amazing appearance. This was the first time I look like a princess. Even though my messy ponytail doesn’t look proper, I can see all of my womanly charms kicking in. The curves, my alluring gaze, my slender body… I felt good about myself. My cheeks were red, but I didn’t care. Unable to look away from the mirror, I decided to twirl around in this dress, watching the skirt rise a bit. A charming giggle broke me out of my trance. Realizing who it was, my cheeks burn a brighter red.

My mom stands at the door with a very simple dress. It was a dark sleeveless ball gown made up of the same material as my own. The maids were a bit puzzled as well. Amelia would usually wear a fancy gown in all of our banquets. This felt weird. Troubled by her appearance, I quickly asked her, “Mom… A-Aren’t you going to get dressed?”

She lets out a hmm.

“Ah. You see. I plan to wear this. I am a bit tired of wearing fancy gowns. Seems like we reverse our styles for tonight.” My mom lets out a rather loose reply, showing a side I never saw before. She giggles again, using her gloved hand to cover her lips.

Wearing that simple gown, she is still stunning. Her bright platinum hair just cascades down her face, resting on top of her breasts. The outfit, despite its plain design, highlights my mom’s grand features. Every aspect of her body can make any guy fall for her, effortlessly. I can see why Eadric still wants her although I doubt he will get anything due to his greedy nature.

I still question my mom’s age.

The maids left the room, closing the door behind them. My mother sat on my bed, patting the space next to her.

“Come here Aisha,” she commanded. I guess it was time. I nod my head, sitting next to my beautiful mother. She lets out a sigh, showing a smile that also displayed a great sense of anguish.

“Where do I begin…?” She pauses for a bit. Answering her question, she continues, “You might be wondering how I met a genius? Or how I was able to contact this genius, right?” I just nod my head. Seems like Nero told Amelia everything that transpired earlier. “Let’s just say your mommy used to be an adventurer. I knew these geniuses before they became geniuses. You see, I only revealed my past to your knights. Anyone else, your sisters, brothers, even your father, I never told them about my past. A genius is visiting us tonight due to a deal I made with Eadric years ago when your childhood friend left us. I made sure that Eadric allowed you to train, stay under our roof, and behave himself. I even asked him to stay his hand with your marriages. He can give you candidates and intimidate you, but you have the final say. If he forced you into any marriage, I will forever deny his chance of meeting a genius. And here we are. Keeping his end of our bargain, I arrange a genius to be our special guest tonight.” She pauses, looking up at the ceiling.

Wow. I never knew Eadric restrained himself. He commanded one of my sisters to marry someone they did not even like. The bastard father just ignored their protest, threatening them if they did not obey him. I was afraid of Eadric doing the same thing to me. I didn’t know Amelia saved me from such a terrible fate. Why me though? It must have been out of favoritism? Or grief of my only childhood friend leaving? I have no clue, but I can only thank the divine beings for giving me a loving mom. I hate myself for being an imbecile. Gazing at my mom, she displays a youth I never have seen before. She looked like… me? I felt weird, puzzled by these things. I knew my mom was great, but what happened to her?

“Ah, that face… you’re easy to read Aisha.” My mom pokes my nose, giggling a bit at whatever expression I had on, “You might be wondering why I am a rank one warrior then? How was I an adventurer? You see sweetie, your mom used to be a High God.” Huh?

“High God? Wait… I-Isn’t that-!?”

“Yes. It’s a rank that exceeds past Demigod. I know you have not learned about ranks past the Demigod level. Nero and the others will teach you about the higher ranks later. For now, I will state this, being a former High God, most of the perks I obtained are still with me. When one reaches the rank of a Demigod or above, they will be able to become immortals. It’s not like they can die, but it prevents them from dying of old age. Depending on when one reaches Demigod rank, they will stop aging... Actually, it’s hard to explain. You will know what I mean when you hit the Demigod rank.” As I listen to my mom, I could only sit there dumbstruck.

She use to be this powerful?!

“W-What happened to you!? How did you lose your rank?!” I blurted out. I realize that Amelia was boasting about her past accomplishments. There was a smile on her face. Asking these questions killed it, her cheerful attitude turned bitter, then descended into sorrow. She cups her hands together, letting out a sigh.

“Aisha, do you know anything about the Dark Arts?” I raise a brow at those words. Rubbing my chin, I know I heard those words somewhere. Maybe I picked them up from a book. Right, I think I did. When I was reading about certain creatures, some of them used some Dark Arts. Deciphering what these Dark Arts are, I tried using the local library and our archives to figure out what this was, but there was no information on it. I asked several scholars as well, but they knew nothing about the Dark Arts. From my expression, Amelia continued, “Dark Arts is a forbidden use. Only those aligned with evil can use it. The Dark Arts contain a lot of… inhumane acts. Rituals to summon demons and other sorts are nothing compared to the Dark Arts. This goes beyond that of a necromancer binding someone’s soul to their rotten body. You can view the Dark Arts as a method to gain levels by devouring souls or sapping away one’s hard work. What I mean by the latter statement is that a creature can steal all of your skills. It might not steal everything, but it will take away the things you worked on the most. Curses and hexes are also part of the Dark Arts. Though hexes and curses can be used by anyone, not just evil people.”

Hearing those familiar words, I know what these two things are. They are technically the same in definition, but when it comes to real-life applications, they’re different. Hexes are cursed spells that would last for a while or a few days. They could be annoying to deal with, but they will disappear eventually. Curses, on the other hand, are permanent perks. When I say perks, I mean in a bad way like a debuff. A curse cannot be removed unless they die or the one who placed the curse dispels it. Some creatures like Lycans and vampires can apply a curse to their foes. Undoing their curse is a different story. Once they place a curse on their victim, they are stuck with it until death.

“The reason why I brought this up is that I got attacked by a Dark Art when I was an adventurer. This sapped most of my skills along with my techniques. Not only that, but there’s also a curse on me that prevents me from leveling up.” This sudden revelation felt a bit too cruel. The same questions pop up in my head. Why and how, yet my mouth remains silent. I can feel a chilling sensation engulf my entire body. Amelia’s face displays aguish. Her body was trembling a bit as well, her hands shaking in her lap.

What was my mother doing? What did she fight against that made her receive this punishment? I wanted to know, but I can see that my mother was coping with her own emotions. She was fighting the urge to cry. It must have taken a good amount of strength just to tell me this story.

I hug my mom, pressing my body against her. I nuzzled into her chest, saying, “Mom… I love you. Please, you’re not alone anymore. You have us.” She jumped at my action. My mom said nothing until I can feel her hands wrap around my back, hugging me.

“I know. I am happy that I got to fulfill my wish,” she whispers in a soothing voice.

“Y-You don’t need to continue.” I said, “You already answered most of my questions.” After that, we remained silent for a few minutes, enjoying each other's warm embrace. A knock can be heard at the door. We break away from our hug, getting up from my bed.

“Come in,” said Amelia, returning to normal. Standing at the door, Nero stands there with another knight behind him, “Your highness, Eadric needs to speak with you. We shall walk with you.” Sighing, my mother turns to me, saying, “Well, I will see you at the banquet, Aisha.” I pick up the edge of my skirt, gesturing a ladylike bow. I watch them leave my room, the door closing right behind her. This was a lot to take in, yet I am glad we had that conversation. I can’t help but marvel at how great my mom is.

Change of Perspective 3rd Person Nero

Amelia walks with the utmost confidence. As the years went by, Nero witness this queen being rather dead, not literally, but in the sense of being unhappy. When the queen requests a private audience with the knights, she explained everything to them. Her very sad tale about her times when she was an adventurer and friends, who then became the newest geniuses of this world. Yes, geniuses- two geniuses due to Amelia’s actions. Geniuses come to every thousand of years, but having two at the same time is extremely rare. Not only that, but Amelia’s friends are also really young. One of them is coming to tonight’s banquet, while the other is a devious genius. Devious in the terms of vile, wicked, ruthless, and selfish. The latter genius is known far and wide. Amelia did not reveal the fact that she knew two geniuses. She just mentioned that one of them is coming tonight. What troubled Nero was the unexplained truth. Earlier, Nero eavesdropped on their conversation. He knows full well on HOW and WHY Amelia is a rank one. This did not go unnoticed. As if she can read into Nero’s mind, Amelia says this, “I do not want sympathy Nero. Amelia needs to know the truth but not the entire truth. She is still clueless about the harshness of this world. The Pillars of Gluttony, the Black Knights, Death Knights, Valarie, and et cetera. It is your duty for your soldiers to protect her and forge her into what she wants to be. I have no one else to trust, former General of the Black Knights.”

Nero just scoffs at his old title. Right, he was a general back in the day. Amelia asked them why they were here. The old general thought that Amelia could not handle the little curse that might haunt her if he told her. But that never happened. Amelia, despite her rank, listened to everything they had to say. Apparently, when she was at the Pillars of Gluttony, she fought against some Black Knights and heard the same tale. The knights lost their faction and lost their lands. They have lost the people they protected and their leader. Being leaderless, they scattered through this world and the other realms. Most knights went about as mercenaries or lived a normal life. There was no need to risk a confrontation from their powerful rivals. Yet Nero thinks otherwise. He is fulfilling his last orders.

The task to find a new leader for the Black Knights and rebuild its former glory.

It was odd that the strange power he felt was oozing off of a thirteen-year-old girl. Amelia knew that the knights were attracted to one of her daughters. When they went towards Aisha, the queen was not surprised. Nero explains the strange energy coming out of Aisha and wanted an explanation. Amelia could see Aisha’s potential, yet she could not understand why. Nero could not believe it at first. There had to be some mistake? Out of everyone in the world, it was her? Doubt lingered throughout his party. Amelia provided them a place in their household as long as they train her. With no place to go, they accepted Amelia’s proposal. After a few months, they realize Aisha’s limitless potential. She was leveling up at a faster pace compared to other individuals.

Well, not everyone. Other beings could do much better and faster...

In all honesty, Nero was attracted to Aisha for some reason.

Now, at the age of twenty-one, she’s a rank nine warrior AND mage. That is a huge feat in itself. Males tend to have a high rank with warrior and mage. It was very rare to see a woman with high levels in both fields. Technically speaking, immortals and nonhuman species can have high ranks in mage and warrior, but for a young female human, this is different. Although Nero digresses from the topic at hand, shoving these thoughts aside for now.

“As you say, your highness. We will teach her about this in time. I only wish you could give her some hints of your previous life. It’s a shame that we know about your story, and she, your beloved daughter, does not know about it.” Nero stated.

“In time.” she sighs. Amelia stops for a brief moment, looking towards the ceiling. She wanted to say something else, yet she walked onwards. “Aisha will learn about your tale soon. I know that the curse prevents her from listening. After tonight, she can listen to your reasons and you’ll get your answer soon.”

“Oh? How come?” This was unexpected. Amelia just started this out of the blue. She wants Aisha to know of the Black Knight’s story.

“In due time,” Amelia answers, smiling at Nero. They end their conversation, entering the palace region where the regular knights roam about.

Aisha’s Point of View

After Nero and Amelia left the room, Titan enters my room, shaking his head at me.

“Leaving me with that archmage- what were you thinking?! Oh wow… You look like an actual princess for once-” On instinct, my hands immediately toss a pillow at his face. It didn’t do much against him due to his protection.

“Shut up. I don’t need you to compliment me as well. How was your session with the cat lady?”

“I ran. She was trying to cook me! Said I might be tasty for the dragons. I know that the dragons wouldn’t want an armored corpse!” Titan replied.

“You know… pulling on a neko’s tail is a grave sin.” I pointed out.

“Eh? I thought that was nonsense.”

“Nonsense?! Some nekos would take it to heart. Like pulling on their tail could be compared to a marriage proposal.”

“Marriage proposal?! What?! I didn’t mean to pull on her tail! I was wondering if it was fake!”

“Fake!? Why would you think it’s fake?! I thought you saw a lot of things in your life?!” I yelled. Oh right, I will have to bother Nero about that.

“You see… We never have seen nekos before. We have seen draconian and merfolks, but not nekos. Specifically, we have met several demihuman groups with tails, but I never saw one with a cattail. My curiosity got the best of me, okay. Oh, don’t tell Aly I pulled on her tail.” Titan added in that last part rather hastily. I can’t believe that he has never seen a neko before! He has seen all of these other nonhumans, but he never met a cat woman?! It seems like my knights came from the northern part of this world or some other dimension. I want to know what they were scheming.

“Hmmm, why have you guys come here? It seems like you could have gone somewhere else, but you chose to work for this family. I thought you guys were friends with my mom but you’re not. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy you are serving under me, but why us? Surely, a genius or being above a Demigod could see how valuable you guys are.”

“You know… you ask a lot of questions sometimes princess.” Titan stated.

“I do this to be informed. Ignorance can lead to one’s downfall and stupidity.” I explained. “Besides, this was bound to happen. Amazing individuals have been questioned constantly for their strength and their grand accomplishments!”

“Nero will tell you about this. That’s what he said, remember? Wait for the old geezer to come back.” scolded Titan. He is purposely delaying the truth of their history, although it’s true that Nero said he’ll discuss it with me after Amelia’s revelation.

“Ugh. You know, by the time he gets back, I bet we will be going to the grand party though.” It seems like I forget to ask my mom about the guest. Who was this person? What did they do exactly? A genius did something incredible to earn their notorious title. I lie against my bed, staring at the white ceiling. It must be some guy. Amelia always had some lovestruck face when she reminiscence about the past. Still...

“Hey Titan, do you know who this genius is?” The armored knight made some slight movement.

“Nope.”

“Not even a tiny bit of info?”

“Nope.”

“Come on…” I whine, getting up from the bed, “Are you just hiding information from me again?”

“Aren’t you getting a bit impatient.” Titan shot back, “I mean, it’s almost time.” I was not backing out of this topic. Before I could say anything, Titan asked me a perplexing question. It was something that I never considered.

“Are you into girls?” The man asks. I froze in place. What?

“What?” Apparently my entire brain stopped working, my thoughts disappeared from my head.

“Are you into girls?” He asks again. I blinked several times before my mind starts to think. My hand shifts to my face, rubbing the side of my cheeks as I ponder heavily on this thought.

Was I into girls? Why would he ask me that? And this was rather odd? What the hell? This was something… I never really put a lot of thought into it. I mean, this isn’t normal. Of course, it’s not! Well, who in the right mind would say what’s right and what’s wrong. I know that my father would disapprove of this… maybe? What would he say if I suddenly agree to marry a rich noblewoman? Would he be okay with that?

Ugh… what the hell am I thinking?!

A same-sex relationship is present in this world. Depending on the society one lives in, same-sex relationship or marriage is either okay or it’s not. I have read some stories about same-sex relationships and it never bothered me. I haven’t seen the same-sex couple. Hmm…. I let out a humming sound, trying to find an answer to Titan’s question.

“Why do you ask?” I don’t plan to hide anything from him, but I am curious as to why he would ask that question in the first place.

“Aly said you have the vibe of a lesbian?”

“The hell? Aly said that?” That shocked me. Out of everyone I know, I did not think the archmage would say that. Ah right, Aly is the archmage who serves under Emperor Titus. She does what she wants, visits the other kings and queens, and sometimes aids the townsfolk. It seems like she was invited to tonight’s gathering. Her rank was that of a Demigod. This was not the first time I bump into her. I saw her with my dad, but we rarely speak with one another. We only introduced ourselves a couple of times and had some exchanges with one another.

Still, a lesbian? Me? Why did she said I have the vibe of one? I never dated a girl or thought…

“Did I have a stupid expression when I looked at her?” This might have created some misunderstandings. My expressions can be a bit too exaggerated.

“Yeah. Aly said that when you looked at her, you were blushing. I remember several other events where you were blushing at well-dressed, gorgeous, captivating women.” Eh? EH!? I turn towards him, getting up from the bed.

“No way! I didn’t-”

“How about the time with your one older sister… Elana? She was quite stunning. Her physic and her outfit outlined her beauty. You remember, right?” Since he brought this up, some years ago one of my older sisters came by the palace. Out of all my sisters, Elana was quite the princess, displaying a lot of her feminine charms and walked around in long puffy dresses. This one time, however, she wore a very exquisite outfit that made her look like a Goddess. She has long pink hair- WHOA!

“W-Wait! That’s admiration for my older sister! I am not going to do anything to someone of the same blood!” I rejected such a thought. I almost fell for it too! Was Titan trying to lead me astray and see if I had any dirty intentions?! The hell man?!

“Oh… right. Well, how about that one noblewoman who talks with Amelia… I can’t remember her name. The one with blonde hair wearing that suit?” Ah, that woman. She was an odd one. The reason why I looked at her was due to her taste more than her actual appearance. Hell, I never got a good look at her face because of that top hat she wears. Wearing an odd white suit, she appeared in our banquets frequently. She chats with Amelia every time. When I try to read her rank, I saw her with different numbers. A rank one, two, five, thirteen, seven, it seems like I could not get a clear number out of her. I know she’s a woman though due to the sight of her breasts and curves, but still, she has mystery written all over her.

“I don’t think she counts.” After I carefully evaluate my thoughts, “I have not seen her face at all.”

“Hmm… So you haven’t seen this person’s face as well…” Titan muttered. He quickly asked me about this other person, “How about the one with orange hair?”

“She had a strange outfit on, the only reason why I looked her way,” I explained. Titan was referring to some crazy noblewoman who would wear strange themed like gowns. She even strolled in with an outfit that’s close to a peacock. Eh, she was alright, but not that dazzling.

“How about the one woman with purple hair?” Titan continues.

“Purple hair? Oh, that woman... she was a brat. I stared at her since she bitched about the men watching me and not her. She’s too talkative. I will admit, her figure is up there, just that her personality is shit.” As Titan goes on and asks about almost every woman who I laid my eyes on, I feel like we’re gossiping a bit too much. I am slightly impressed at Titan’s persistence and his method of killing time.

“...How about the woman with dark hair that secludes herself away from the others?” My mouth opened up, but nothing came out. This woman was a beauty. She could rival my mom if possible.

The woman Titan brought up is noble from some faraway land. She avoids the large crowds, secretly keeping to herself. She seems to like Lolita fashion as well. This woman dressed up in a lot of dark outfits. I like the theme she has going sometimes, impressed by her taste. Though most of the guests call her abnormal and avoid her. Her fashion is up there, but I also admire the way she does her hair. It seems like, after learning a bit about hairspray, the woman has tampered with her hair. She has so many intricate hairstyles that I never saw before. Not only that, but her hair color also changes from time to time. It was black with purple highlights, then it was a dark pink. Later, she dyed her hair again to a silver color, then white, etc.

“Ah-ha! You are blushing!” Titan points at me, “You doing it right now!”

“Shut up…” I softly mutter, “She is pretty… I am impressed more than anything… This does not show any proof that I am into girls though! Admiration! Ad-mi-ra-tion! I never even thought of doing anything with another girl!” Yes, shut up Titan! I know I am blushing, but it’s due to your stupid accusations! Why does he want to know my sexuality!?

A knock appears on the door, Nero popping it open.

“It’s time.” This ended our silly conversation. Thank god Nero arrived.

That’s the cue for my grand appearance. The moment I let the room, I can hear the faint chatter from the entrance hall. I guess the gathering had begun already. As a ‘suitable’ princess, Eadric purposely has me pop up after the initial start of the gathering. He wants everyone to know that I am single and beautiful. I have no choice but to attend them. Hopefully, this will be the last one for the rest of my life.

Before I arrive at the gathering, he makes sure to announce my arrival. Once again, It is his way of saying, “I have a beautiful daughter who is single!” Fucking prick. Shoving those thoughts aside, I want to get it over with immediately. Rubbing my head, I walk out of my room. Nero and the other knights quickly form ranks beside me. They stand tall, walking in sync. It will take a while before I arrive at the top of the stairs leading towards the grand entrance hall. I would like to talk with Nero about his past and other sorts, but I can see unwanted eyes on my group. The other knights are whispering to each other. They still call my knights weak, despite their accomplishments already. I swear, this behavior makes me want to kick them. My knights can ignore them, but I seriously wish they had better treatment. They deserved it for all they have done. I dismiss these thoughts, sighing to myself. With these unwanted ears as well, I will have to ask Nero about his history later.

Why do I keep feeling that dread every time I think about it?! No, no, no… just push these thoughts away again. Save it for later… If I continue to think about this stuff, I might do something stupid. Relax me… Think of the idiots that I will bump into later. That thought killed my entire mood. My emotionless expression I had turned into disgust. I hope that my beauty is so stunning that the guys would avoid me.

Ha, yeah… right.

After a few minutes, we arrive at the staircase. I can hear the chatter coming from the main floor. My bodyguards just sigh beneath their helmets. It will be the same as any other performance. A silver knight saw me as he walks down the stairs and faced the entrance.

“Presenting the twentieth daughter, Princess Aisha Graham!” The loud chatter dies down immediately once the knight announced my arrival. I can hear Dan silently whisper, “Showtime!”

“Shut up Dan,” Gallant muttered.

Ignoring my knights, I descend the staircase. I made sure to look like a ‘princess’ as I have my right hand gently glide against the railings. Taking slow, deliberate steps and standing tall, I can hear a lot of whispers coming from the audience below. All eyes were on me. I showed no happiness or shyness, placing a graceful composure. I stared straight ahead, ignoring the audience that watched me. My other hand lifted my skirt a bit off the ground so I did not trip. Once again, Eadric purposely did this to showcase his single daughter. My knights followed suit, lined up on my left. As I walked down the last flight of stairs, I see a packed room filled with many, many nobles and high ranking individuals. My mother and my father stood at the base of the staircase.

Ah… the bastard himself.

My father is wearing a suit of yellow armor. There’s no helmet covering his stern, cold gaze. There’s a scar across his right cheek with another one located under his left green eye. His messy greyish brown hair covers his forehead, his towering figure looking down at me. Wrinkles can be seen across his face due to his old age along with his beard. His mouth twitched a bit, but I did not waver in front of him. He can easily crush me, intimidate me, but I refuse to back down. I grip the edge of my dress, picking it up slightly and tilt my body forward. Bowing, I address my old fool, “Dear father, how is the gathering?”

He, too, was placing a facade of his own. He just lets out a grand smile, laughing violently through the air, “It is glorious my dear daughter! We shall receive a blessing very soon for all those to see! Come, let us continue! AHAHHAHAHAHA! Let’s resume the celebration!" On cue, the audience resumes their previous activities. I flash my gaze towards my mother, smiling at her. Dismissing myself, I retreated towards my usual location. This was what I would usually do at every event. A burning irritation roars inside my body during my confrontation with the old man. It always annoyed me, but I had to play my part. Shaking my head, I calmed myself, tossing that man’s existence down the drain. Retreating towards the corner of this massive hall, I rendezvous with Ethan, Olivia, Jennifer, and Jessica. The twin sisters latched onto my waist, nuzzling their warm bodies against me.

“H-H-Hey! Why are you hugging me all of a sudden!?” I lost my composure, Ethan and Olivia laugh at my predicament. Olivia was wearing a red Victorian like outfit. Ruffles swirl around the skirt while the gown covers most of her upper body. Her arms are covered in long black sleeves. Ethan wears a white button-up shirt underneath his dark button-up tailcoat jacket. He wears dark shoes, pants, and a cravat necktie. I chuckle slightly at his attire. Ethan still looks like a butler but with more class. Jennifer and Jessica dawn a similar gown. It was hard to figure out who was who. It was a very puffy gown with a lot of ruffles almost everywhere. They look like adorable dolls you just want to hug and keep to yourself.

“I am impressed. I never thought you would look so graceful with exquisite clothing, sister.” Ethan awed. Olivia, Jessica, and Jennifer agreed with him. I raise my eyebrow at these words.

“Please… I doubt that.”

“No, I was impressed. This is the first time you wore something nice.” Aly chimed in, holding a goblet in her hands,

“Archmage, this isn’t your first time at the gathering?” Olivia asked.

“I do come to these events, just that I don’t stay long. Due to my reputation, I can come and go. I don’t need a formal invitation to come to Eadric’s parties, but I noticed how you, Princess Aisha, never wore a dress. At the same time, I was scouting if that big fellow behind ya was the only person with two giant swords and black armor.” Aly explains.

“Jeez… She doesn’t let go,” muttered Titan.

“Oh? You got yourself a Catwoman?” nudged Dan.

“Shut it…” Titan slapped his arm away from him.

“Archmage, do you know why there are so many people tonight? Is it related to the special guest that might come here tonight?” Ethan is still in the dark about tonight’s celebration. The archmage strokes her chin, purring a bit. Her ears move in and out, listening to the nearby conversations.

“The guest is an interesting gal. That’s all I will say,” she replied.

“A girl?” I was a bit surprised about that. Hm, I thought the genius was a male. Well, then again, Nero and Amelia never stated said gender. I thought it was a male since mom had some sort of relationship with said genius.

Was I mistaken?

I scratch my head, thinking about how old this woman might be. For them to be a genius, they have to be fairly old. They discovered something so grand that it must have taken them years to make the said product.

“Aisha, Aisha, it’s a kitty!” Jessica and Jennifer looked at Aly with fascination. Oh, these two never seen a neko before. Letting go of me, the two sisters crowd around Aly. The archmage could not resist my cute sisters, kneeling to their level. They pat Aly’s head, amused by Aly’s cat ears. Ethan admits a sign of defeat, saying to me, “I want to know more details before this person shows up, but I guess I’ll have to wait.”

“Sister… a lot of guys are looking your way.” Olivia whispered. Obviously. My grand entrance caught a lot of attention. A lot of boys want to woo me. Or try to. When I attended these stupid parties, I did give these guys a chance to chat with me.

It didn’t go too well. Sadly, a scholar could entertain me better than these dimwits. Most of these nobles start their conversation with compliments.

Of course, any woman would like that, but it was like… what else can they talk about?

They would always talk about how beautiful I am then going off onto a long monologue about what they can provide me. They talk about their riches and their ‘promises’ they will give to me.

Promises!?

They barely know me, and here they are, proposing to me just because I’m pretty. They ‘promise’ to make me happy. How the hell can they make me happy when they did not let me speak! Let alone know my actual needs and or wants! I feel like my interests have been tossed out the window like it’s non-negotiable. It’s a one-sided agreement.

Ohhhhh and what ticks me off the most is their unwillingness to start an intelligent conversation with me.

Ah, the ignorance they show! It aggravates me.

When they stick with me and resume our conversations, after their bullshit, they would lose interest in the things I bring up. Sometimes I see them walk away, unable to comprehend the topic at hand. I brought up the topic of slavery once, the guy was for slavery. I asked that question to test him, and when a guy says yes to that question, I will automatically dislike him. It sickens me that some people are for slavery. I bet if he became a slave, he’ll think otherwise.

After a while, I just got fed up with these idiots. Genuinely, there have been some people I like. I wouldn’t say love since they didn’t get my heart beating, but I enjoyed the conversations. Yeah, yeah, these men staring at me with lust want to bore me again, but I’m not having it!

“Screw them,” I stated coldly, “I had enough of their idiocy and rather hang with you lot. Separating from this group will unleash the hornet’s nest. I seriously loathe these…” When I look towards the males watching me, they quickly avert their gaze. Huh? Why are they turning away so suddenly? Answering my question, I realize a familiar face approach us.

“Princess Aisha.” It was the woman who secluded herself from the crowds. She has white hair mixed with dark purple and dark blue highlights. She has eyeliner around her almond-shaped eyes. Her pale complexion mixed well with her dark lolita outfit. My god, the gown has a lot of ruffles, yet her dress reveals her nice curves and slim body. The skirt did not touch the floor, stopping around the knee. With high laced boots and socks, they cover her slender legs. Her long hair is a bit messy, but it seems like it stays in place. Appearing before me, she bows slightly, grabbing the edge of her skirt. I return the bow, “Hello there….”

“Melantha,” She answers in a toneless voice, “I had to compliment on your outfit, Princess Aisha. I was in awe at your spectacular appearance.” I smiled, thanking her for the compliment. This was a bit strange. This woman confronts me now? Was it because of this outfit? Is it really that powerful? I was also surprised at this woman’s voice. I thought it would sound… evil. Seductive? Strong? This was the complete opposite, Her voice was devoid of any emotions. Was it on purpose though?

“Lady Melantha, you look lovely today.” Oh god, Titan shut up. On cue, I hear a grunt escape his lips. Aly and Dan punched him on both sides. I was confused as to why those two did such an action. I could understand why Dan would do it, out of respect or jealousy, but Aly? Why did she punch him? Melantha said something that surprised us all.

“Sorry, I like women a lot more than guys.”

“Eh?” Aly, Olivia, Ethan, and I let out. What? Did she really reveal her sexuality? In public!? Don’t smile at me like that! Why are you even saying that?!

She closed the gap between us, smelling a nice scent from her body. Her voice sweetly whispers into my ear, saying, “I will keep my eyes on you from here on out.” I notice that her toneless voice became quite… threatening. It was alluring yes, but it shows a hidden hint of power. That was strange… It felt like time froze for a second. Lady Melantha stood there, showing a gentle smile.

“Oh… Not trying to flirt with you or anything milady, just a compliment.” Titan corrected himself, “Didn’t have to spill the beans.”

“Is this country against same-sex relationships?” she asks.

“No. But you should be careful Lady Melantha, some people cannot stand lesbians or bipolar.” Aly warns.

“Ohhhhhhh…” Lady Melantha says softly. It sounds like she was trying to sound disappointed, but once again, she had a toneless voice. Scratching my head, I feel like the others didn’t hear what she just whispered to me. And the way she changed her voice, she definitely had something schemed up for me.

Am I that interesting?

“Thank you for the advice, Aly.” Staring at her, I notice that Lady Melantha is a rank twelve mage. She never talked to anyone. I wonder what’s her story.

“A few males are staring your way, Aisha. Aren’t you going to do something about it?” Aly motion towards the looking crowd. A slight irritation rings through me. I bet they’re interested in our conversation now, especially because of this mysterious woman.

Who wouldn’t be?

Three beautiful girls are talking with each other. Honestly, I would have talked in a private area compared to an open space such as this. I glance around the giant room, feeling a sense of deja vu.

A huge chandelier hangs above us, flooding the first floor with light. Pillars line against the edge of the huge hall, supporting the second floor. I could barely see the tables that are located on the other side of our location. Nobles, warriors, generals, high ranking individuals filled up this spacious hall. Music is being played in the background, the orchestra somewhere close to the stairs. Every man and woman dressed to their best, showing their worth. Some of these individuals knew each other, some did not. It was a banquet, a place where the rich and powerful would converse with one another.

“Ah, excuse me.” A young male appears before me. “Can I-”

“Hold on!” One of my knights stepped in, “Can I ask you your name, sir?”

“W-What are you doing?!” the blonde hair noble exclaimed, “A-Are you-” I shake my head, rubbing my forehead. This guy must be new. They should have learned the little system I have in place. The knight in front of me, Gale, was selected to be my interrogator. Specifically, Gale acted as a test for any redeemable, respectable suitors who I can chat with. Even though I surround myself with my siblings, these pestering bugs will not stop their futile attempts. In response, Gale took the liberty of weeding them out with his methods. He would ask them a series of questions and see if they have any intentions other than the obvious (sex and beauty). If they pass his test, they have permission to speak with me. If they failed, they will not speak with me.

“I am Harry! A single man trying his attempts to woo the fair maiden behind you!” The man yelled. Some nobles turn towards us, watching the scene unfold. Obviously, I can hear some snickers and gossip, most of them know what will happen with this man. The others continue to watch the show. “I demand that you move aside…”

“Oh? What makes her fair? And why would you want her? Other fair maidens are single. Why would you chase after this princess? And Harry? I know that name is not of a prince! Other than asking her hand in marriage, why would you seek an audience with the princess?”

Bombarded with these questions, the young man hesitantly opens his mouth and closes it immediately. Sweat can be seen across his forehead, the blonde male struggling against Gale’s towering figure. Pitying this poor fool, two males approached him. Grabbing his shoulders, they pulled him away from Gale. I can hear them whisper, “Dude, don’t you know who she is?”

“Her knights are an iron wall. You have no chance.” The other stated. Harry slumps in defeat, allowing the two males to drag him away. I felt a bit bad for the man, but I will not give him any mercy, even if he was new. The sheer fact that they still view me only for my looks sickens me. A giggle escapes Melantha’s lips, shocking my party. She stops herself, coughing at her action.

“Apologies. I find it a bit sad and funny that they would constantly bother you like that. It must be troublesome for males to be so simple-minded.” Drinking out of her goblet, she lets out another slight giggle. This one seems a bit more… malicious. The others did not address the nature of her action, Gale laughing it off.

“She’s been harassed too much for this to continue. I took the liberty to act as her shield now. I would have tested you as well… But Aisha replied to you with relative ease. I will let it slide.” He said.

“Oh? How do you know I don’t intend to woo her for myself. I just confessed my sexuality you know.” Gale went silent. He scratches his armored head, contemplating what he would do.

“I barely know you.” I corrected, “Can’t sway me that much if I-”

“Oh… Then let me tell you that I am very powerful then. You should understand that what you see is not entirely true.” Ushering those words, I can feel a great deal of tension erupt around me. It was a brief second, confusing me and some people like Aly. Melantha continues, “You will understand a lot about this world very soon.”

Her tone did not change, but I can feel my knights’ intense glare.

What was the sensation earlier? Planning to retreat into my mind, the strange woman with the suit appeared between Melantha and me. Her sudden arrival shocked us. Getting a good look at her face, I never thought a woman like her would look like a prince and princess at the same time. The stranger that usually hangs with my mother appears with her long blonde hair swaying slightly in the air. Her narrow eyes focus on Melantha and me, unleashing a confident smirk. People close by watched from afar.

“Greetings. My name is Jamie. I was planning to introduce myself to Aisha, but I felt a disturbance here. Is there a problem Melantha?” she asks.

“No. Not at all.” Melantha responded, “I shall isolate myself now. Farewell.” She bows slightly, leaving us. Jamie did not stop her, turning her attention to me.

What was that about? I was going to stop Melantha, but I guess she doesn’t like the unwanted company. Although why would Jamie seek an audience with me? I see my mother come into view.

“Jamie, you should have waited for me at least. You know you can move a bit too fast.” My mother whines.

“Hahahaha, right… Sorry about that Amelia.” Jamie apologizes, laughing it off.

“Aisha, this is my friend Jamie. You can think of this person as an old friend of mine. She has a lot of fancy gizmos and other contraptions that might interest you. Although I would say be careful of her personality.” Amelia lets out a giggle.

“Hey! Do not say anything about it!” Jamie yells, blushing a bit. She lets out a sigh, taking out a paper card from her suit jacket. “Here you go.” I took the card from her, handing it right to Titan. He picks it up and stores it in his storage ring. “I shall excuse myself. Enjoy the rest of your evening, princess.” Bowing, Jamie left my sights. My mother follows the blonde woman, disappearing into the crowd. Something unusual just happened. I wanted to reflect on the events that unfolded, but my twin sisters tugs at my sleeves.

“Sis, sis, play with us!” Jennifer exclaim. Hopefully, the twin on my left is Jennifer.

“Yes, play with us!” Jessica echoes. I sigh, giving into my sister’s demands…

POV Change, 3rd Person

Amelia and Jamie approach Lady Melantha. She secludes herself in a dark hallway, spying on Princess Aisha. The woman smiles at the sight of Aisha’s figure playing with her adorable little sisters. The queen should have noticed one thing about this woman. At first, Amelia never paid any attention to her because of her bizarre nature, but that sudden sensation she felt some minutes ago cleared any doubt. Jamie approaches the scene quickly to interrupt any sort of dispute.

Luckily, there was none, but that sensation was a threat. The knights know that little trick Melantha pulled off. If things went wrong, the banquet would become a slaughter fest.

Jamie eavesdropped on Aisha’s conversation, informing the queen immediately about this shocking discovery. The white-haired woman stood there, sipping down the Dragon’s Breathe offered at the refreshment table. Seeing their approach, she chugs the remaining drink down her throat. Instantly, the goblet turned into nothingness. The queen knows full well that Melantha is a dangerous being. A rank that exceeds Jamie’s rank. Despite the curse forcing Amelia to be a level one, she would never forget the uneasy feeling of [God’s Pressure].

[God’s Pressure] is a handy perk given to God rank status or above. When they activate this skill, it changes the pressure in the air. It will be like an invisible force pushing down on someone. This pressure will not kill anyone, but this will hinder one’s movements. Depending on one’s rank, they can be neutralized by this technique alone or fight at a fraction of their strength and mobility.

The lesser version of this is [Demigod’s Pressure], but this cannot affect a God, Angel, or titled one. There are several ways to combat against [God Pressure], but the technique targeted Aisha’s knights. They would have been kneeling, but they quickly countered with their own [God Pressure]. The fact that they were singled out threatened them. The actin itself can be seen as hostile intentions. Not only that, but she would also have jeopardized the knight's identity.

Amelia could not let that happen. Not yet. Her plans will fall to ruins if there’s any slip-up.

“Melantha the Forgotten One. The last of her kind, but also strongest being that made her name a few hundred years ago. An undisputed terror that single-handedly wiped out demon armies invading her lands. A queen that lead her people when they had cities. A being that would use all sorts of magic to fulfill their satisfaction. A traitor towards her people that made her the sole survivor…” Amelia glares at Melantha, “What are you doing at our gathering?!” Melantha seemed impressed by Amelia’s words. She drops her toneless voice, letting out an evil laugh.

“Seems like I won’t need a fake alibi for you two. Ah, it has been ages since anyone identified me or even stated my past accomplishment. Truly, your majesty, you have pleased this old one. Maybe as a reward, we can go to a bedroom and…” The queen was not fazed by her statement, cutting her off.

“Are you targeting my daughter Melantha?” Amelia sternly asks.

“Don’t word it like that,” she replied, rolling her eyes as she leans against the wall, “If I wanted to kill her, I would have done so. Pathetically, you would have been dead long ago. It took you this long to identify me? I made it obvious that I was weird. Oh, I forget… You are a rank one warrior.” Jamie stepped forward, her hand raised in the air. Amelia stops her, shaking her head.

“Insult me all you want, but what do you want with my daughter.” Amelia pressed for answers.

“I want her. Admittedly, I thought she was useless and weak. Anyone caged in their palace for years should be deemed as a tool. I swear, standing at the top dulls my mind. I never looked at her rank until now. A rank nine mage and warrior? That’s quite impressive. What is she doing here holed up in this dull palace? If she is caged to this place, her rank displays her impressive determination and value. She can learn at a magnificent rate. With the right teachers, she can advance even further, maybe that of a God in a couple of years. I can assume that her teachers are those Black Knights. Those armored tin cans were another obvious hint that she was special. Ugh, my all-powerful being is losing its brain cells. They want her because of these reasons. I only release my [God’s Pressure] to show them that they’re not the only ones hiding their true rank. Your friend next to you is doing that as we speak.”

“Obviously.” Jamie replied, folding her arms, “Know that even if you are a Forgotten One, I can destroy you right here and right now. Although Amelia wouldn’t want that.” Amelia lets out a sigh, not expecting another strong individual to be at the banquet. This might complicate things. She rubs her forehead, sorting her thoughts.

“Look, Lady Melantha, I wish that you won’t do anything rash throughout the rest of this evening. A special guest will be arriving. She will show no mercy if you test her.” warned Amelia. The white hair woman raises an eyebrow, stroking her chin.

“Oh? A special guest? Do tell your majesty.”

“The genius Brynhild will be attending our banquet tonight. You can figure out who that is without even using your [God Pressure].” The woman’s eyes went wide for a few seconds, returning to their normal state. She eyes at Amelia with a concerned look.

“For a genius to appear out of the blue, you must have known her from before her grand change of titles or you pulled a couple of strings for this momentous occasion. I am leaning on the first statement though.” Amelia did not confirm or deny her conclusion.

“Anyways, I can feel her presence in the vicinity. Jamie, keep an eye on her. I do not trust her. Not one bit.” Amelia said harshly. Melantha shrugs her shoulders, “The feeling is mutual.” Watching the queen leave their sights, Jamie watches Melantha very closely. “Please, I have no gains on doing anything stupid from here on out. I want to be on Aisha’s good side. Besides, isn’t that genius, Brynhild, being hunted down by another genius? Valerie? Valarie? Something like that.” Jamie’s face turns pale.

“Hopefully that bitch doesn’t show up... “ Jamie silently muttered, praying to whatever higher being oversees this world.

Aisha’s POV

I sneaked my way out of that banquet. Playing with my sisters for ten minutes straight, I decided to take the chance to sneak out. My adorable sisters whined about this, wanting me to stay longer until the party was over. Ethan and Olivia already know how much I hate these things, playing with my identical sisters instead. The arrival of this guest and my sudden appearance should not change my usual plans. My dad would try to speak with this genius before she even talks to me. What’s worse, the higher nobles and ranked individuals would then line up to speak with this grand figure. I might as well wait it out and start the next thing on my agenda.

Training.

I would sneak out of these parties to enter our private gardens. Not only that, but there was also even an open field where I would usually spar with my knights. Gale, Nero, Zen, Titan, Golem, Dan, and Gallant accompanied me. The other seven stayed at the banquet, protecting my younger siblings. I still don’t trust some of those nobles. They might make advances on them. The thought disturbed me greatly, making me a bit sick. The knight named Zen is mute. Nero never explained how he became like that. He makes this up with his intelligence, loyalty, and combat. What makes this man so interesting is his affinity with magic. Specifically, weapon conjurations and empowerment. I never heard about this magic until I met him.

Gallant explained to me that this magic can summon forth weapons of any kind. Depending on one’s mana pool, he or she can create numerous magical weapons. Controlling them, however, is a different story. Even though one can conjure up weapons from their minds, they will need to learn some basic spells to manipulate their weapons. Levitation magic, for example, can improve the combat effectiveness of these conjured weapons. Zen demonstrated his magic by summoning at least twenty swords behind his body. They hover behind him, waiting for a command. With a motion of his wrist, he flings them through the air. With so many swords dancing about, the sheer amount of blades would overwhelm anyone.

I would stand no chance against Zen’s attacks.

If Zen was a pure mage with no offensive capabilities, I would have a slight chance against him. Gallant explains that a mage using conjuration magic is forced to stay in one place. There seems to be a warrior rank requirement to move depending on how many weapons they summon. If they summon twenty weapons, they have to be a rank nine warrior to move around.

Another downfall with summoning weapons is the sheer fact that all other types of magic are disabled. One could not summon a basic shield over their body or cast buffs on themselves. This explains the lack of conjuration magic used in this world. If one was a conjuration mage, they would have invested in something else like summoning a creature or summoning a few amounts of weapons.

Yet Zen did not lack any physical capabilities.

As a rank nine warrior, he can moves swiftly across the field with his magical weapons behind him. He can be his one-man army. Gallant and Dan demonstrated how strong Zen was, the two were being overwhelmed by his magical weapons alone.

Magical empowerment transform his weapons into a dangerous element of his choosing. For one to align their weapon to a certain element, they need one skill of said element. Zen has a large array of spells, coating his weapons to whatever element he desires. I thought it wasn’t that bad. Only his physical weapons would be empowered.

Or so I thought.

Zen can apply this empowerment to each one of his summoned blades. A flaming sword, an ice spear, a dark scythe, all of the weapons he conjured up can be coated in an element. What’s worse is the effects of these empowered weapons. A flaming sword would leave a trail of fire behind its swings. An ice spear can freeze whatever it touches. A thunder hammer can unleash lightning upon impact. Golem fought against Zen, demonstrating the dangers of the combined magic. It would be easy for Golem if Zen was immobilized, but he is fast and strong. With Golem’s bulky figure, I thought it’ll be hard to force the man back with physical strength alone. Zen, having an average build for a male human, pushed the giant back with a swing of his sword.

Once again, I can’t believe that these guys are being treated like shit. Nero and Zen never demonstrate their powers in front of anyone other than our small group. My mom realizes the potential of these guys right off the bat- wait.

Does she know the history behind these guys? Or did she bump into other knights when she was an adventurer?

I feel quite stupid. I missed a golden opportunity to ask all of these questions earlier.

Oh, I should bother my knights about what transpired earlier.

“Oh, why did your mood change when Melantha said that?” The knights shift their gaze amongst each other. Gale spoke up, “She is scheming up something, your highness. We would want to avoid any confrontation with her. She also has an eerie presence about her.” I frown, disliking this response. It was the first time that the woman spoke to me. Yes, it was strange, but I want to befriend her. If she wants to woo me, she can try. I doubt I have any sort of thing for girls.

I think.

“She’s strange, yes, but I think she’s being awkward. I want to befriend her and know her a bit more. There should be no harm in this. I do need to expand my contacts. Besides, if she wants to woo me, she can try, but I doubt I can get into that sort of relationship.” As we travel through the gardens, I can see the uneasiness around my knights. Seriously? Why are they-

Ouch! I bumped into someone, falling onto my butt. It felt like I ran into a soft wall. Looking up, I can see an armored woman standing before me. She stares at me, tilting her head. With long blonde hair with pink color at the end of her hair, her light purple eyes examine me.

Her armor seems to be a tight fit around her, covering vital parts of her body. A defined silvery chest plate covers her breasts to her stomach. A thin coat of chainmail can be seen under the armored piece. I can see a black tank top underneath the chainmail. Round pauldrons cover her shoulders, but the upper part of her arms reveal her porcelain skin. Gauntlets run from her elbows to her hands. Armored greaves cover her lower legs and the dark boots behind it. Other than that, the woman wears black shorts with a belt running around her waist. A metal sheath is strapped to her belt, revealing a rare sword in her possession. This woman was not wearing the right attire for combat. It barely protected her! Noticing the way she dressed, this woman was not from this area.

“Oops. Are you alright?” She offers her hand to me.

Eh? EH!? I feel flustered for some reason.

Gawking at her figure once more, I can see that she has a stunning body. In her outfit, she lacks a lot of protection, but she displays her nice assets.

No, bad me!

This woman has an overwhelming presence about her. Maybe that was why I was acting funny. Or lovestruck?

I shyly take her hand, feeling her pull me up with ease. I was up against her body, releasing a yelp from my lips. Being this close to her, I can smell a rosy scent coming from her hair. We did not move away from each other, our faces inches away from one another.

Oh god! I was so close to her! She’s an adult, having sharp features like my mom. Beautiful deep-set eyes, perfectly arched brows, high cheekbones, full lips with a heart-shaped face. She is screaming with youth though, and she is dead gorgeous. My mind cannot shut up. It repeats the same message over and over again. She’s charming. Elegant. Splendid. Her voice snaps me out of this endless cycle.

“Well? You are part of the Graham family, right?” she asks. Her voice sounds rich and vibrant, revealing a carefree and lively personality.

Words! I need to respond to her question me, come on! I am acting like a silly girl right now. Oh god, why does she smell so nice though? Too nice! Unable to respond, I nod instead.

“What are you doing with my daughter Brynhild? Don’t tell me you are doing this on purpose now?” Amelia appears from my right, entering my view. She folds her arm, glaring at the woman in front of me. “Well?”

“Jeez… Daughter!? My god Amelia, she looks like you a bit! Minus the silver hair.” Brynhild laughs, having a blast. “But I love it… What’s your name?”

“A-Aisha.” I stuttered.

“You need to…” Before my mom can say anything, Brynhild rolls her eyes and grab my mom by her collar. Pulling her in, the scene that unfolded shocked me on so many levels. It wasn’t like the woman just killed my mom. No. It was something I didn’t expect. Something that left my mouth hangs at the sudden event before us. My knights were watching the scene in disbelief. Except one.

“HOLY SHIT!” Dan yells out, Gallant sweeps him immediately. The knights fall headfirst into the ground.

Brynhild is kissing my mom!??!?!

I am mesmerized by this, blushing heavily. I know I am. This was new to me.

My mom is a lesbian? Or was it Brynhild? I was going to push aside the ridiculous notion that my mom was a lesbian, yet she was enjoying their passionate kiss.

My mother’s face displays a livelier expression compared to her time with Eadric. Of course, there are some lewd expressions, but I can see the love in Amelia’s eyes. Or maybe old feelings just for this moment?

Ugh. My mind is getting overheated by this scene. Why do I have front seats to this!?

Brynhild initiated the kiss, but my mom pushed it further. I can see their tongues go into each other’s mouth, french kissing each other. They pulled their lips apart for a few centimeters till they kiss again. I can hear subtle moans through their kiss, their eyes closed, ignoring everything around them. It seems like they were in their world. They embrace each other, pressing their bodies against one another. They have their hands slide down their backs, feeling the contours of their bodies I have no clue if she did this to Eadric, but my god, the scene before me shows how experienced Amelia is.

Hell, Amelia never had this sort of expression. Eadric could not make her show such a face- maybe when they were together and he wasn’t a greedy bastard, but right now, my mom resonates with a bright radiance I never saw.

Where are their hands going…?

“AHEM!” Nero interrupts the two. Breaking out of their trance, they broke away from each other, giggling at the refreshing reunion. I stood there, dumbfounded. What I just witnessed went beyond my normal comprehension levels.

My mom was that intimate with a girl?! Holy shit… And not only that, it was hot- I mean… Oh god, I can’t stop the replays in my head. They backed off of each other, standing at arm’s length. Amelia returns to normal, dusting off her gown.

“A-Aisha, this is Brynhild. She is my old friend.” Wait…

“Is this our so-called genius?” Nero asked with caution. Genius...?

“EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!??!?!?!!”