Chapter 4: Lady Sardonna Enters

"I think shadow will be best for you." The fortune teller decided, "It's up to you whether you use it for good or bad, you will become awakened at the age of ten."

"Thank you for coming." I smiled.

Shadow… In the otome game, I visually remembered Ivory had wind, not shadow. I wonder what I would do with this power?

"I'll get going now, my next appointment is coming up." The fortune teller informed, stuffing her equipment away.

As soon as she left, I rushed to my bedroom and grabbed a notebook. If I was correct, Lady Sardonna's family would be visiting us in just a few minutes time to discuss how to push back the anti-noble faction. I had to be quick! I flipped to a blank page and recorded what I remembered today:

Prince Raven: Shadow Power: Becomes an advisor for his brother in the future, uses it hide and read and to also slightly manipulate other King's minds to agree to help our country and form alliances.

Prince Kyle: Earth Control: Uses Earth magic to adjust his armour and sword during battle, depending on his opponent.

Lord Luke: Water Magic: He became a loyal knight to Prince Kyle, and on the battlefields, healed his comrades who were injured and fought enemies with his waterpower.

Ivory: Wind Enchantments: She would use her power to sabotage the heroine, Emilia, with her best friend, Lady Sardonna. She would use wind to steal precious items and place them in Emilia's bag, to frame her, luckily, Prince Kyle always defended Emilia.

Hmm, if I remembered correctly, there was a route where Emilia found forbidden books containing incredibly powerful darkness spells in room behind a portrait in school. Being the perfect goody-good she was, she burned it. The spells inside they book were so strong, if someone decided to test a spell and did not have enough mana, it would destroy their body and turn them into a shadow.

Scary.

"Excuse me Young Miss." A butler knocked at the door, "The Madam has requested you come downstairs. Guests are waiting."

It had to be Lady Sardonna and her family!

Honestly, I was a little nervous. Lady Sardonna was Ivory's closest friend in the otome game. Sardonna had fire ability and used it to threaten students she particularly didn't like, especially Emilia. She only pretended to be Ivory's 'friend' to get closer to her crush, Luke, once Ivory wasn't around, Sardonna enjoyed spreading slander about Ivory. When Ivory was sent to court for attempting a murder on Emilia, Sardonna did not support her whatsoever and even shed a few fake tears to pretend Ivory bullied her as well.

I'm scared.

"It's an honour to be at your manor, Duke." Lady Sardonna's father greeted.

"How about we move to the sitting room to discuss tactics, Marquess? The children can go and play." Father smiled politely.

As the adults left the room, Luke and I were left with Sardonna, who was currently ignoring us and playing with her dolls.

"Uh… Hello Lady Sardonna, it's a pleasure to be your acquaintance." I smiled.

Sardonna's magenta eyes swept to me, before deciding I was unworthy of her attention and continued playing with her dolls.

"Give it up, sis." Luke sighed, leaned against the wall, "Don't waste your time trying to talk to people who don't deserve your attention. How about I take you outside to teach you sword tips?!" He eyes gleamed at the prospect of having some time to have fun.

Sardonna glanced at him, and her cheeks flushed a crimson hue,

Sigh… I knew this was going to happen.

"Hi, my name's Lady Sardonna!" She squealed, pressing her blond pigtails against his arm, "But you're lucky that I like you! You can call me Donna!"

"No thanks." Luke replied dryly, peeling her off his arm. "Let's go, sis."

Sardonna's attention diverted towards me and the wheels in her head began to move.

"Wooow! Your pretty! Not as pretty as me though...!" Sardonna gushed, clinging on to me like glue, "How about you, me and your adorable brother, play together?!"

This little girl lacked subtleness…

"I don't want to teach you sword." Luke argued, glaring at Sardonna. "I'm only teaching my sister!"

"Awww! Don't be like that!" Sardonna suddenly clung to Luke, "But, tsunderes are the best!"

Tsundere…? Was Sardonna having a misunderstanding?

"Pffft!" I stood there, laughing, trying to muffle the sounds of my glee by covering my mouth.

Luke glared at me and mouthed, 'Help… Me…!"

I pointed at him and mouthed, 'You're…' I sliced the air above my neck horizontally, 'Dead.'

"Let's go!" Sardonna chirped, "We're going to have so much fun!"

"Betrayal!" Luke gasped.

***

"Continue slicing the air vertically." Luke instructed as Sardonna and I swiped at the air with our wooden swords.

It had only been two minutes since we started this exercise and I began to enjoy this, maybe it was because I upgraded my stats, but it was easier than I expected it to be.

"I'm so tired!" Sardonna suddenly gasped, and collapsed onto Luke, "I'm delicate! These manly exercises are too much for a fragile flower like me!"

"You aren't even sweating…" Luke argued with logic.

Sardonna averted her eyes and giggled nervously.

"You are so much like your brother, Ivory!" Sardonna cooed, staying in Luke's arms, despite his many attempts to push her off. "Be careful not to get muscular arms, or no man will want to marry you!" (Translation: The only thing special about you right now is your looks, other than that, your useless as a wife.)

"Hmm… it looks like my brother doesn't like you much." I retorted, keeping a smile on, "I heard men like smart females." (Translation: Stop being so stupid and get off my brother.)

*Ding Ding Ding!*

Ivory:1

Sardonna:0

"Hmph!" Sardonna whipped her head away and frowned.

I'll consider that a win.

***

It had been a week since Sardonna had come over and I was preparing to go outside.

"Young Miss?" My handmaiden asked, "Where are you going? Do you want me to prepare an escourt."

"Ah… Don't mind me. I'm going to go play with some friends." I lied.

"Be careful, Young Miss." She replied, her eyebrows wrinkling.

I stepped into the carriage.

"Where to?" The driver asked.

"To the market." I replied.

As the carriage started, I checked if my sword was secured safely under my skirt. Although I didn't know how to use it, if I became in danger, I would some form of protection.

As the carriage halted, I climbed out.

"Return here after an hour." I instructed, heading off before they could try to station an escort for me, "Don't tell my parents that I'm here, tell them I'm at Lady Sardonna's house."

I rushed off and headed towards a blue building. As soon as I entered, I headed towards the reception,

"Lady Ivory. Appointment scheduled in two minutes." I informed.

"Thank you." The receptionist replied, checking in a book for my name before stamping my hand with a golden triangle. "Please take a seat."

I sat down in a plushy, red chair and waited impatiently. After what seemed like two hours, a mage with their face covered in a hood appeared,

"Lady Ivory?" they asked, "I'm Sir Leonarth, please follow me."

We stepped down a dark and dreary hallway and entered a dark room to the right.

"Now how can I help you?" he asked, gesturing to sit down.

"I would like to alter my appearance by seeming older, change my appearance and provide me a new ID card with a completely different identity." I requested.

"A new ID card?" He gasped, "I'm sorry, but those are illegal! I'm afraid I have to declin-!"

I plopped a small bag of gold I had earned from the café, in front of his desk. Inside, were estimated to be around 1000 gold pieces.

"You were saying?" I smiled innocently, "I didn't quite catch what you were saying."

"I-I… I guess it's fine if you don't tell anyone…" He muttered, reaching for his staff that was propped in the corner of the room. "Please close your eyes and imagine what you want to look like."

I closed my eyes and imagined a female, around twenty years old, with brown hair and brown eyes. Nothing unusual, nothing worth remembering about.

"Done!" He declared, revealing a small silver ring that could only fit on my pinkie, "The ring is only for one use, it'll disintegrate after you take it off. Here's the ID card, it'll also vanish once the ring disappears."

"Thank you for your services." I smiled saccharinely, "Remember, I was never here. If you tell anyone I'll use my family's power and keep you silent forever."

I wasn't actually going to murder him; I was just threatening him. He gulped and blanched.

"Y-yes, I understand." he smiled weakly.

I swept out of the room and headed for the reception.

"Here." I paid the correct amount of money.

I looked at my hand, the triangle was gone.

"Thank you!" the receptionist thanked, "Please come again!"

I could feel Sir Leonarth's gaze at the back of my head, as though he was beseeching me not to come again.

***

I stepped out of the blue building.

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Teleport to the slave auctioning?:

Yes

No

__________________________________________________

Perfect timing! I was going to the slave auctioning to buy a love capture. In the otome game, the heroine's family was supposed to buy him next year, out of pity. Since they bought him, he became extremely loyal and grateful towards them and killed Lady Ivory in one of the routes. Alas, I didn't want to die, so I was going to buy him.

I placed a plain, white mask and my ring and pressed 'yes'