《I Only Love My Greatest Enemy》


 Prologue: A Bloody Night

    Blood pooled under Eris Hapsburg¡¯s body. She gazed at the dagger embedded in her chest with glassy eyes. The figure above her was cloaked in the darkness of the room. Eris couldn¡¯t see his face, but she was sure who he was.


    ¡°You finally killed me,¡± Eris spat with vitriol. ¡°I guess this means you won, Count Armand Richelieu Concord.¡±


    Eris felt nothing less than sheer hatred towards this man. She recalled their first duel when they were just 14 years old.


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    Armand stood across from her with rapier in hand. The dawn Sun was rising to his right. They stood in a wide field of emerald grass with a stone castle in the background. Farms and fields of livestock covered the countryside. There was a smug smirk on Eris¡¯ face.


    ¡°Today¡¯s the day my house triumphs over yours! I will run my sword through your heart!¡± she said.


    The boy saluted her with his weapon.


    ¡°When I send you to your ancestors, tell them that you fought well,¡± he stated.


    Rage pulsed through Eris.


    ¡°You dare mock me?¡± she shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯m merely being courteous,¡± Armand replied.


    ¡°Courteous? After all our houses have done to each other¡­there¡¯s no room for courtesy between us!¡± Eris said.


    She charged him with sword in hand. Their blades clashed together, making a scraping sound.


    The two of them fought from dawn till dusk. They were covered in wounds at the end, but none of the blows were fatal. It was the law of the land that no duel could continue past Sunset. So, when the Sun sank below the horizon, Eris threw her sword into the ground in rage and stormed off.


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    Back at the present, Eris¡¯ glassy eyes followed her assailant¡¯s back as he walked to the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say? No bragging, no last mocking salute, nothing?¡± she asked.


    There was no response. That just infuriated Eris even more. She would have clenched her fists with rage, but her body was too weak.


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    Another memory came to her. She and Armand were at a feast, each holding a glass of wine. They both had polite smiles.


    ¡°Duke Armand, I heard something happened to your trade caravan to Zhao,¡± Eris said.


    A feeling of smug satisfaction filled her.


    ¡°They were attacked by bandits,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s such a shame. All the money and time you put into that expedition was all for nothing,¡± her smile turned mocking.


    ¡°It¡¯s strange how you know about this when I only found out yesterday,¡± he said.


    ¡°News travels faster than you think, noble duke,¡± Eris chuckled.


    She was enjoying every last moment of this.


    ¡°I will make you pay for this,¡± Armand leaned in and whispered.


    ¡°You are welcome to try, but I will crush you,¡± Eris whispered back.


    ¡°If anyone crushes me, it will be you. You¡¯re the only person allowed to defeat me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then I will make you beg for death,¡± she replied.


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    A bit of smug satisfaction came over Eris as the figure reached the door. She might have lost, but she didn¡¯t go down without a fight.


    ¡°I hope you suffer a thousand humiliations for this, you sick bastard,¡± Eris said.


    No response once more. Somehow, this was more humiliating than being killed by Armand. Everything started turning black, and another memory came to Eris.


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    Armand sat on horseback with a lance in hand and pike block at his back. They guarded a narrow mountain pass, preventing any entry. The cliffs to their sides were too high for horses to have any chance of scaling. Arquebusiers had their weapons trained on Eris as she approached his line with a force of hussars, a form of light cavalry. The girl clutched a lance. She forced a smile on her face, trying to hide her fury.


    ¡°I see that you predicted my raiding path, COUNT Armand,¡± Eris said.


    She made sure to emphasize the title.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t prediction. I just trusted you,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°Trusted me? Is that some kind of joke?¡± she scoffed.


    ¡°I trusted you to know the best path for invading my lands, and I trusted you to be competent enough to use it. My trust wasn¡¯t misplaced,¡± he said.


    ¡°And now, you¡¯ve blocked my hussars¡¯ path. I have no chance against your pikes without heavy cavalry with pistols, you fucking piece of shit.¡±


    ¡°I trust that you¡¯ll make the wise decision to retreat,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°I will, but only after you answer one question: why the fuck did you get His Majesty to abolish serfdom? Do you have any idea how much wealth I lost because of you? You lost so much because of it too! Do you hate me so much that you¡¯d hurt yourself just to hurt me?¡± Eris shouted.


    Her hands clenched on her lance and reins with pure rage.


    ¡°This has nothing to do with you. I led the anti-serfdom faction because serfdom is wrong,¡± he stated.


    ¡°You really are an idiot, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I can understand why you¡¯d hate me for this, and we¡¯re enemies besides. Let¡¯s have another duel, this time on horseback,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Today, you die. Hussars, don¡¯t interfere!¡± Eris replied.


    Armand cast a spell, and a third arm grew from his back. It grasped his sword as his main arms held his lance.


    ¡°Don¡¯t interfere either!¡± he commanded his men.


    Then, he and Eris charged each other.


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    That memory left a bitter taste in Eris¡¯ mouth. The woman couldn¡¯t see anymore. She had no idea where the figure had gone. Eris closed her eyes.


    ¡°Armand, when we meet again, I will make you regret ever being my enemy,¡± Eris promised.


    She felt hands grasp her head and tears drip onto her face. Sadness and resignation filled her.


    ¡°Who am I kidding?¡± she muttered. ¡°With all the terrible things I¡¯ve done, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to the same place you are. You might have been ruthless at times, but the only thing I ever cared about was power.¡±


    Eris felt a sudden warmth. She could move once more. Upon opening her eyes, Eris saw that she stood before a great brass gate. Just standing close to it burned her. The noblewoman stepped forward with a deep breath. Then, everything faded.


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    The next thing Eris knew, the sounds of sackbuts, trumpets, and recorders flowed into her ears. She was looking up at several people. One was a tall, blonde man with golden eyes and a regal bearing. Next to him was a woman with similar features. They were talking to a black-haired man with a grim countenance. Eris¡¯ eyes widened, and tears burst from her eyes. She ran over and hugged the man¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Father! What are you doing here? You shouldn¡¯t be in Hell!¡± she said.


    Confusion crossed the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°Eris, what are you talking about?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I died and went to Hell, and now you¡¯re here too,¡± Eris answered.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± the blonde woman knelt so her eyes met the girl¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re not dead, Eris.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not, mother?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into you. I¡¯d think this was a joke, but you¡¯re not faking your distress,¡± her father said.


    Eris then looked down. She realized she was much shorter than she was a few moments ago. The gears in her head turned fast. Her parents were alive, she was shorter than even her mother, and her clothes¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m in the past,¡± she realized. ¡°I somehow traveled back in time.¡±


    ¡°I apologize for my outburst. A bout of hysteria must have gotten to me,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°You¡¯re too young to have hysteria. We¡¯ll have to have a doctor take a look at you,¡± her mother stated.


    ¡°Can I go and sit down somewhere, then?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Of course, dear. You shouldn¡¯t push yourself if you¡¯re feeling bad.¡±


    Eris walked over to a velvet couch and sat down. She looked around the room. Numerous nobles were present. Some were feasting at tables, others were dancing, and still others were talking with glasses of wine in their hands. The room was decorated with purple and red. Even the servants wore the finest clothes.


    ¡°This is¡­the¡­¡± Eris tried to recall what this event was.


    ¡°King Acrisius¡¯ Grand Ara Ara Ball,¡± a boy with light brown hair sat next to her. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t get used to calling him His Majesty again. We both know he''s going to die in a jousting accident two months from now.¡±


    Eris looked him right in the eyes. There was great relief on his face.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I remember too, future Countess Hapsburg,¡± the boy said.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. This is where we first met, Lord Concord,¡± she glared. ¡°So, you remember too?¡±


    ¡°I do. I¡¯m the one who sent us both back in time, after all,¡± Armand replied.


    ¡°What? Why? You just killed me, and then you reset everything?¡± Eris said.


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken about something, Eris. I didn¡¯t kill you.¡±


    ¡°Then who did?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Armand said. ¡°I turned back time the moment I saw your corpse.¡±


    Eris looked on in stunned silence.


    "How did you do that?" she asked.


    "A boon from Chronos. A 1-time ability to turn back time," Armand answered.


    "Chronos? It''s almost impossible for a human to get a favor from him, and Armand used it when I died? Why? Why would Armand of all people turn back time when he saw my corpse? There must be some reason for it. I can only think of one possible reason, but that can''t be. It''s impossible."


    ¡°When we were fighting, I really was trying to kill you, but I never truly wanted you dead,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. All this time, I hated him, and I thought he hated me, but all this time¡­¡± Eris thought. ¡°My greatest enemy loved me!¡±

 Chapter 1: My Greatest Enemy Loves Me?!?

    Armand Richelieu Concord felt a sinking feeling in his gut. The door to Eris'' study was open. There was no way she¡¯d leave it open. He rushed through the door and saw Eris¡¯ body on the floor. A dagger stuck out of her chest, and her eyes were closed.


    ¡°Armand, when we meet again, I will make you regret ever being my enemy,¡± Eris promised.


    Normally, Armand would feel nothing at a remark like this. Eris said that sort of thing all the time. However¡­


    A memory flashed through Armand¡¯s mind. His arms clutched his younger brother¡¯s body, pulling him back. He pressed his back against his sisters to push them away from the room before them.


    Armand¡¯s parents were lying in bed. Buboes the size of eggs covered their necks. There were five layers of blankets over them, yet the two shivered as if they were naked in the middle of a blizzard.


    A doctor in black robes stood by their bed. He had a mask that resembled a bird¡¯s beak, and he prodded Armand¡¯s parents with a cane.


    ¡°Please! Let me see mommy and daddy again!¡± tears streamed from Armand¡¯s younger brother¡¯s eyes.


    Armand felt his sisters trying to push harder as his brother wriggled around in his arms.


    ¡°Keep your siblings away from them! If they get exposed to the bad smells, they could get infected too!¡± the doctor said.


    The boy steeled himself. He pushed harder, driving his sisters back as he tightened his hold on his brother. Armand shut the door with his foot when they left the room. After a few moments, the doctor exited.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s nothing I can do. The infection has progressed too far,¡± he said.


    ¡°No! You¡¯ve got to do something! Save our parents!¡± one of Armand¡¯s sisters begged.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but they won¡¯t last the night.¡±


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    Back at the present, Armand rushed over to Eris¡¯ body.


    ¡°No, no, please don¡¯t be dead,¡± he thought. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be my greatest enemy! We couldn¡¯t kill each other, no matter how hard we tried, and¡­and¡­and¡­¡±


    He clutched her head in his hands. Tears welled from his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one I have left.¡±


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    Another memory came to Armand¡¯s mind. He sat at a feasting table, tears flowing down his face. That was just a few months after his parents¡¯ deaths. He was now faced with his siblings¡¯ bodies slumped over on the table. A tall, gaunt man gazed down upon the boy with cruel eyes.


    ¡°And now, you are the last,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Mortimer, call a doctor!¡± Armand ran over to his elder sister.


    He grabbed her and shook her.


    ¡°Please, wake up!¡± he begged.


    Mortimer lashed out, slamming his fist into Armand¡¯s cheek. White lights danced in the boy''s eyes as pain overcame him. A look of utter betrayal haunted Armand¡¯s face as he looked up at the man.


    ¡°Why?¡± was all he could say.


    ¡°There¡¯s no point in getting a doctor. Your siblings were poisoned, and you will too if you defy me,¡± Mortimer said.


    ¡°Did you¡­¡± Armand¡¯s eyes widened in terror.


    ¡°Consider me your regent for life now. Do not expect to get your family¡¯s lands when you come of age. They¡¯re mine.¡±


    ¡°Why did you kill them?¡± the boy said.


    Armand tried to stand up, but Mortimer kicked him back down.


    ¡°Dealing with you will be enough of a handful, and your siblings would have just caused more trouble. Now, be a good boy and go to your room.¡±


    Mortimer would later on be slowly poisoned to death by Armand. It was an assassination he didn¡¯t regret for a second. The slowness wasn¡¯t to be cruel. Unlike Mortimer, Armand didn¡¯t have enough influence at the time to cover up a sudden death. He had to make sure that Mortimer¡¯s assassination looked like he died of a disease.


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    This memory faded into a third; this time he was 17. He swayed through a field scattered with corpses of men and monsters alike. Pikes split in half, shattered greatswords, broken halberds, crushed swords, and smashed arquebus littered the ground. Armand¡¯s eyes gazed upon the corpse of an armored man.


    ¡°Sir Felix the Red,¡± his heart sank.


    Armand¡¯s teary gaze turned to several other corpses.


    ¡°Duke Cumberland, Sir Oliver, Sir Kayne, Count Mirabeau¡­¡± The boy clasped his head in his gauntlets.


    He saw movement in the corner of his eye. Hope flowed through Armand. Had someone other than him survived? Turning, the boy saw a raven pulling Sir Felix¡¯s eye out of his dead skull.


    Armand collapsed to his knees. He let out a grief-stricken cry so loud that it could wake the dead.


    By the time he turned 20, all of Armand¡¯s friends and family were dead.


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    ¡°And now, I¡¯ve lost my greatest enemy, the only person I had left,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Who am I kidding?¡± Eris muttered. ¡°With all the terrible things I¡¯ve done, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to the same place you are. You might have been ruthless at times, but the only thing I ever cared about was power.¡±


    Armand felt the life fade from her body. However, his grief was gone.


    ¡°Dammit all! You might be a villain, but I¡¯m no hero! I¡¯m just a coward!¡±


    He pulled out a slip of paper.


    ¡°I should have used this a long time ago, but I was too afraid. I thought I¡¯d make things worse, that I¡¯d just screw up again. But how could things possibly be worse than this?¡± Armand shouted.


    Then, he tore the paper in two.


    ¡°Chronos, great God of Time, I call upon you! You gave me this in my hour of greatest despair when I was certain that the gods had all abandoned me! Now I¡¯m using it!¡±


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    There was a flash of light. Armand was at the Ara Ara Ball, many years before he called upon Chronos. He smiled with relief as he gazed at Eris. He made sure the two of them were the only people who remembered the original timeline. Anyone else could complicate things.


    ¡°Of course, Eris will complicate things anyway,¡± Armand thought. ¡°But right now, I¡¯m just happy that I¡¯ll get to fight her again.¡±


    Eris¡¯ thoughts went along a very different path.


    ¡°Why the fuck does Armand love me? I always hated him, he was a thorn in my side, and I was a thorn in his side! We were bitter enemies, even our noble houses hated each other! No, wait, calm down. Maybe you¡¯re just seeing something where there¡¯s nothing. Armand might be lying to manipulate me. Remember all the times he insulted you?¡±


    A massive blush crept over her face.


    ¡°He never insulted me! He was always respectful! He really does love me!¡±


    ¡°Your face is red. Are you alright?¡± Armand asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just have hysteria,¡± Eris answered.


    ¡°Hysteria doesn¡¯t make your face turn red, and you¡¯re too young to have hysteria anyway,¡± he said.


    ¡°Calm down, Eris,¡± she thought. ¡°Even if Armand loves you, he¡¯s still your enemy. You can use this against him. Just toy with his feelings, lead him on, get him to do stuff with you, and then stab him in the back. It¡¯ll be perfect! Now, I just need to think of something romantic.¡±


    ¡°I think I need some fresh air. Could you accompany me to the balcony?¡± Eris asked.


    She stood up.


    ¡°There. That¡¯s a nice, romantic place where I can start manipulating Armand,¡± she thought.


    ¡°What¡¯s Eris up to now? She might want to push me off the balcony. No one would expect someone of her age to deliberately kill someone. No. That scheme¡¯s too obvious. She knows that I won¡¯t fall for something like that. I''ll play along for now to find out what she''s up to,¡± Armand thought.


    He stood up and smiled.


    ¡°Of course, my lady. I will escort you,¡± Armand said.


    He hooked his arm, and Eris grabbed it.


    ¡°That confirms it. Armand¡¯s crazy for me,¡± she thought.


    The two of them walked to the balcony. As they moved, Eris plotted.


    ¡°Armand¡¯s clever, so it¡¯ll take years for me to convince him that I love him back. But it¡¯ll all be worth it. After all, I¡¯ll get to humiliate my biggest enemy. I can make him pay for every single time he got in my way after I use him for all he¡¯s worth. Then, I can go back to living my life like I used to. No one loved me then, and¡­¡±


    That realization crashed into Eris like a charging elephant on crack. It took every bit of her self-control to keep walking like nothing was wrong.


    ¡°No one loved me. I was never married, and any man who married me would just do it for my lands anyway. There was no one I could really talk to, no one that could hold me tight in their arms, no one I could trust.¡±


    Eris glanced at Armand. She was 8, too young to feel sexual attraction. Instead, Eris felt a tinge of admiration when she looked at his face. The girl made sure to look away fast.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, Eris! No amount of love can get you more power! And this man was the number one reason why you didn¡¯t get more power. He is a cunning manipulator, a brilliant tactician and strategist, a skilled and strong fighter, and someone with charisma worthy of an emperor. Just imagine what you could accomplish together!¡± Eris¡¯ eyes widened as she thought. ¡°I hate Armand, but would loving him be that bad? Maybe I could try this romance thing for real?¡±


    The two of them made it to the balcony. Eris let go of Armand¡¯s arm and walked over to the railing. A moat was two stories below. Eris recalled that she learned how to swim a few years after this. She was certain she could still swim, but she was the only one who knew that.


    ¡°Armand¡­¡± she said.


    ¡°Armand? Not Lord Concord? What is she scheming?¡± he thought before speaking. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s changed between us. Our families still hate each other. We¡¯re supposed to be enemies,¡± Eris stated.


    ¡°I know that,¡± Armand spoke before thinking, ¡°And I¡¯d be enemies with someone as evil as you even if our families didn¡¯t hate each other.¡±


    ¡°I like using people. I especially like using commoners, but they¡¯re not people, so I throw them out as I please,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done that for years. I know that,¡± his voice turned cold.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t I use our families for our sake?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Armand said.


    Eris smiled.


    She turned around and leaned over the railing. Eris leaned so far that she fell over. The girl crashed into the moat below.


    ¡°You idiot!¡± Armand shouted.


    ¡°I know this is some scheme of hers, but I just brought her back to life! I should want her dead, but I¡¯m not losing my greatest enemy again!¡± he thought.


    Armand leaped over the railing and dived into the moat. He swam down hard and fast, water rushing up his nose. Every swing of his arm sent an incredible pulse of pain through his body.


    ¡°I almost forgot how sickly I was.¡±


    Eris floated in the middle of the water. Her eyes were closed. Armand grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her body. He kicked his legs, desperately pushing up. The added weight of carrying Eris dragged Armand down further into the depths. His lungs burned like a raging wildfire.


    ¡°Did you intend to get us both killed?¡± Armand thought.


    Then, Eris kicked her feet, aiding their ascent. Armand felt them rising. A surge of determination pulsed through him. He swam as hard as he could, dragging himself and Eris to the surface. They gasped, letting air flow into their lungs.


    Strong hands grasped the two of them. Armand turned to see that Eris¡¯ father was pulling them ashore. Soon, the two children were on solid ground. Countess Hapsburg grabbed her daughter in a tight hug as the count examined Eris to make sure she wasn¡¯t hurt.


    ¡°Eris, are you alright?¡± Count Hapsburg¡¯s voice was frantic.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay now. This boy saved me,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± the count said. ¡°You have my gratitude. What is your name?¡±


    A man with light brown hair walked over.


    ¡°It¡¯s Armand Richelieu Concord,¡± he said.


    Eris¡¯ father¡¯s face went as pale as ice.


    ¡°I see, Count Concord, your son saved my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Yes. That will make their scheduled duel very awkward, seeing as your family now ow¡­¡± Count Concord started.


    ¡°Father!¡± Eris didn¡¯t let him finish. ¡°I want to thank Armand for saving me! Can he come over to our castle for a party? Oh, maybe we could go to Carnival together?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Now that Armand¡¯s saved my life, my parents won''t be able to bring themselves to hate him. This could start to bridge the gap between us. It¡¯s a perfect romance story too. A boy saves a girl, and she starts to fall for him. People will see us as the perfect couple, two lovers who bridged the gap between rival houses. They¡¯ll look to us for romantic advice, and then they¡¯ll fall under our influence,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Oh, fuck. Eris wants to take me to her house so she can poison me. Carnival would be even better for that since it''d be easier to make it look like someone else poisoned me,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m certain that Armand has different thoughts on the matter,¡± Eris¡¯ father said.


    ¡°He¡¯d be happy to go. I¡¯m certain that you¡¯ll host a gracious feast for him,¡± Count Concord stated. ¡°I will come too, of course, to discuss certain matters. After all, I think there is much to gain from this incident.¡±


    Armand didn¡¯t like how much his father was milking this.


    ¡°Father, I would have saved anyone if this happened to them,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know that,¡± Count Concord nodded. ¡°But the fact remains that you saved her.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m getting the feeling that this one action changed so much. Just what is Eris planning?¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°Eris, stay here. I¡¯m getting a doctor,¡± Countess Hapsburg moved off.


    As the adults began to talk among themselves while keeping an eye on the children, Eris smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s all going according to plan,¡± she thought.


    Eris leaned close to Armand and whispered.


    ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡±


    ¡°From drowning?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Eris answered. ¡°I know how to swim; though, I didn¡¯t learn how to swim at this age. I was never in any real danger, and no one but me knew that.¡±


    ¡°Why is she telling me this? Eris kept her plans hidden under layer after layer of intrigue.¡±


    ¡°Then what are you thanking me for saving you from?¡± Armand said.


    ¡°My assassination. You reversed time, bringing me back to life. And just in time too. I almost walked into Hell,¡± Eris stated.


    ¡°Now that you know you¡¯re going to Hell, are you going to repent?¡± he questioned.


    ¡°I always knew I was going to Hell. Nothing¡¯s changed. I will get what I want, I will crush anyone who gets in my way, and I will use and throw away anyone I have to,¡± Eris stated.


    ¡°Dammit. I shouldn¡¯t have turned back time. Eris is the same as ever, and she won¡¯t make the same mistakes she did last time. Countless people will suffer, and it¡¯s all my fault,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°You¡¯re every bit as cunning as ever. What are you planning?¡± he said, not expecting a straight answer.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to fabricate a romance story between us so we can get married,¡± Eris replied.


    Armand sat in stunned silence.


    ¡°I see that you¡¯re too happy to speak. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll have our grand wedding when we¡¯re 14.¡±

 Chapter 2: Recalling the Past Future

    Eris gazed out the carriage window as it rolled down a country road, fields of wheat surrounding it. Her family was with her, but her eyes were fixed on a massive castle that was being built in the distance.


    ¡°I remember going to the banquet Count Staufer held when he finished building it. That was when Rozwiazly made his first appearance. He was smart for a commoner, somehow able to get into the king and queen¡¯s good graces. I¡¯d have assassinated him for not knowing his place, but someone got to him before I could,¡± she thought.


    Eris gazed at her parents for a moment.


    ¡°They died twelve years before I did. They died in an accident, but I was able to use it to accuse one of my rivals of assassinating them. Well, I¡¯m happy to see them, so I should keep them alive. I just need to keep that accident from happening.¡±


    Having reassured herself on this point, she was able to refocus her mind toward her main objectives.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be easy, so I can focus on my main goals: Marrying Armand, getting more power, and figuring out who killed me. Armand¡¯s father has a lot of leverage now that Armand saved me. He¡¯s going to pressure my parents into arranging a marriage between myself and Armand. I have no brothers, so my parents¡¯ property will go to me and Armand through me. His house has essentially won our feud, but I don''t care. My personal power and relationship with Armand is all that matters. It¡¯s amazing how much can change from an action as pointless as saving a life. To get more power, I can just recycle my old plans. I¡¯ll just make sure to fix my mistakes and find some way to get Armand to go along with them. He loves me, so I might be able to use that to manipulate him. Of course, if we¡¯re going to romance each other, I¡¯ll need to help him with some of his schemes. Maybe I¡¯ll support him in ending serfdom? I thought that was a bad joke until he actually did it. Ending serfdom is a terrible idea, but I won¡¯t be harmed too much now that I¡¯ll have access to his lands too. That means I just need to figure out who killed me and kill them first. I¡¯m certain that a man killed me, he looked like a man, but he could have been a hired assassin or a masculine woman. So, I should consider women who wanted me dead too.¡±


    A list of suspects formed in her head. The first was a red-haired duelist woman with a rapier.


    ¡°I shot Lady Abene¡¯s boyfriend in the back and later strangled her girlfriend to death. She has every reason to hate me, but she¡¯s the type who¡¯d want to kill me herself. She¡¯d never let an assassin take away the pleasure of killing me.¡±


    Another image formed in her head, this one of a mustached man wearing a black wig and elaborate clothing.


    ¡°It could have been Duke Brutus Medici. He was one of my biggest political rivals, second only to Armand. His family¡¯s very old and well-respected. If he hired an assassin to kill me, he¡¯d have access to the best.¡±


    Then, she thought of a thin old man. He was clean-shaven and wore priest¡¯s robes.


    ¡°Primate Jean hated me ever since the Capital Massacre. Of course, I can¡¯t be blamed for that incident. Commoners shouldn''t have the right to seek sanctuary in churches, so nobles like myself should have every right to ignore their rights. I doubt someone as devoted to the gods as he would assassinate someone, but I can¡¯t rule him out.¡±


    Eris pictured a young woman with blonde hair and courtly robes.


    ¡°I always hated that bitch, Countess Theresa Lorraine. She thought she could dominate the royal court with her charm and feminine wiles. I tried spreading rumors to break her down, but the bitch endured them. She might have hired an assassin to kill me. Well, I was about to hire one to kill her, so I guess I should have had her killed earlier than I planned.¡±


    The image of a young, clean-shaven, well-dressed man came into her head.


    ¡°Diomedes Robespierre, a disgusting commoner who should have been beheaded. He always went on and on about the rights of the commons and the nobility and having to kill us all and being bad and blah blah blah. If I had the time, I¡¯d have scoured the countryside to find that rat¡¯s hiding hole and had him hung, drawn, and quartered. But I didn¡¯t. Well, I doubt he¡¯d arranged my assassination. The fool had bigger things to worry about. He ruined his reputation among the commons after he called for Armand and the other nobles who ended serfdom to be murdered.¡±


    Then, Eris recalled a well-built man in plate armor.


    ¡°Sir Edward Charny, a commoner knighted by Armand and who served Medici. As a subhuman commoner pretending to be one of his betters, he had every reason to hate me. He also owed everything he had to two of my enemies. I also hired bandits to raid his lands to keep him from aiding his lord. And as much as I hate to admit it, he would have had a chance to kill me in an even fight.¡±


    An image formed in her head of a middle-aged bearded man wearing the garments of a judge.


    ¡°Justiciar Tiberius, Duke of Basset. He was very dedicated to the law. His sense of duty was incredible. And incredibly foolish. Following the law is for commoners, not nobles. Basset always hated how I kept hiring bandits and using my influence to keep them from getting arrested. At least I can understand that. They were commoners, so they should have been executed for their crimes. But they were also useful to me. As far as I¡¯m concerned, as long as they¡¯re useful, they can rape and murder as many other commoners as they want as long as those commoners aren¡¯t also useful to me.¡±


    Eris continued her contemplation.


    ¡°Honestly, almost every commoner has a reason to hate me. The nobles of opposing factions at court probably wanted me dead too. There¡¯s also Count¡­¡±


    A sudden realization came to her.


    ¡°I had a lot of enemies. I probably also had enemies that I didn¡¯t even know about. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d ever be able to figure out who killed me with all those suspects. Maybe Armand can help me with this? He¡¯s probably worrying about it right now, how he can protect his beloved from her future death.¡±


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    Armand sat in his carriage. His family was with him, but he was gazing at his lap. In his hands were a knife and a piece of wood. He scraped the wood with the knife. Bits were cut away.


    ¡°Once again, Eris is my biggest threat. She probably plans on marrying me, having a child with me, and then assassinating me. When I¡¯m dead, the line of inheritance will pass to my son. She¡¯ll have control of two noble houses and not one,¡± he thought. ¡°And worse still, Eris is going to kill a lot of innocent people. No matter what, I have to stop her. I have to save as many of the innocents she killed as I can.¡±


    Armand concocted a plan.


    ¡°Marrying Eris is dangerous, and I¡¯m certain my father wants us married now. I wouldn¡¯t be able to talk him out of this. But I could use ours to my advantage. It¡¯d give me access to Eris¡¯ family¡¯s lands. I could use this to get rid of the bandits she used to do her dirty work. That alone would save a lot of lives.¡±


    A look of determination crossed Armand¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯ll also need to save the people I care about, and I¡¯ll need to save the kingdom as a whole from the great disasters. They¡¯ll strike one after the other, only separated by a few years. By the time I died, they¡¯d damaged the kingdom so much that it was hanging on by a thread.¡±


    Armand grimaced as painful memories flooded through him.


    ¡°The first disaster is the plague that took my parents: the Orlock Plague spread by the Bird of Death and his minions. It will last for a year. The plague will drain and kill adults. Children who get infected don¡¯t show symptoms right away, but the plague will surface in them three years later, causing a second outbreak. That would be known as the second disaster. My parents were some of the first nobles to die. The plague also hit several areas at the same time. For a 9-year-old, stopping the entire plague is impossible. But I can at least stop it in some areas.¡±


    Turning the piece of wood in his hands, Armand felt proud of his handiwork. It was a perfect wooden stake.


    ¡°I can find a mallet from anywhere. I¡¯ll just need an axe. Still, there¡¯s another problem. The king¡¯s youngest son will be one of the people infected. The king and queen will bring in Rozwiazly to try to save him. Most people think Rozwiazly was just a con artist, but the truth is that he¡¯s a genius of magic. He can use magic spells that most people wouldn¡¯t even be able to grasp the basics of. He saved a lot of lives from the plague. However, he¡¯d become the king and queen¡¯s favorite after. They¡¯d rely on Rozwiazly for advice, and his inexperience in politics and leadership would lead him to give them horrible advice. That damaged their reputation and the kingdom. Even Rozwiazly¡¯s assassination damaged their reputation. Nobles and commoners alike were disappointed that the king couldn¡¯t protect his closest companion. And that would cause the country to suffer even more in the fourth disaster. I don¡¯t want to have to kill him. But if I do, he must die after the second disaster and before he became the king and queen¡¯s favorite. It took over a dozen nobles to assassinate him, and half of them died. I couldn¡¯t possibly get that many people together to kill him before he starts damaging the king¡¯s reputation. It''d be best if I didn''t have to kill him at all. He wasn''t evil, just incompetent at politics. And his magic could have saved countless more lives if he was competent.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t said anything since we left,¡± Countess Concord spoke up. ¡°Is there a problem, Armand?¡±


    ¡°Are you worried about the girl you saved?¡± his younger brother asked.


    ¡°Maybe they could help me come up with a plan,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m not, Charles. I was just thinking of a story I heard at the party,¡± he said.


    ¡°Is it a scary story?¡± his brother wondered.


    ¡°Yes, a very scary story,¡± Armand stated. ¡°In a land far away, there was a big, tall man with a fire in his eyes. He had healing powers and used them to get the king to do whatever he wanted.¡±


    ¡°Is it a true story?¡± his older sister questioned.


    ¡°It¡¯s a fairy tale, Lucia,¡± he assured her. ¡°They¡¯d never believe me if I told them the truth. They¡¯ll probably just forget about this story anyway.¡±


    ¡°This man slept with all the women at the palace¡­¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Who told a child like you this story?¡± the Countess Concord interrupted him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    His mother sighed in exasperation.


    ¡°This man began destroying his host kingdom, so a bunch of nobles decided that he had to die,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°You should stop telling this story,¡± Countess Concord said. ¡°Children like you should at least have some innocence.¡±


    ¡°Now, now, let him continue. Stories like these will help him prepare for the brutal realities of life,¡± Count Concord insisted.


    ¡°The nobles invited the man to visit them at one of their manor houses,¡± Armand continued. ¡°They put magic poison in his wine. He drank it all, and he was fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely a fairy tale. No one could be fine after drinking magic poison. Even if they lived, they¡¯d be injured,¡± Count Concord said.


    ¡°Great. I¡¯m not scared anymore,¡± Charles huffed.


    ¡°But it gets scarier. After the poison didn¡¯t work, they shot him in the back of the head. He used a magic spell to create a blast of wind that slammed one of the nobles into the wall. His spine shattered into a hundred pieces!¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Eek!¡± another of his sisters huddled back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eleanor,¡± Countess Concord assured her. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Even the fastest spells take half a minute to cast. If magic seems instant, it¡¯s only because it was set up ahead of time. This man didn¡¯t have the time to do that, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Armand nodded. ¡°He didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s just a story.¡±


    ¡°How did they kill him?¡± Charles asked.


    ¡°The nobles shot him four more times and then pulled out their swords and stabbed the man a dozen times, but that didn¡¯t stop him. The man wasn¡¯t wearing armor either. He used his magic to kill them one by one. Their magic wasn¡¯t fast enough to stop him. But the noble who owned the manor house expected a war to start soon, so he kept a loaded organ gun in his bedroom,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°What kind of paranoia lunatic would go that far?¡± Count Concord questioned.


    ¡°Marquis Felix of Barboa.¡±


    ¡°I dunno. It¡¯s just a fairy tale,¡± Armand shrugged.


    ¡°Did the organ gun work?¡± Charles wondered.


    ¡°No. It put all sorts of holes in him and stopped him from moving, but he was still alive. And that¡¯s just because the nobles already hurt him. The nobles threw him into a river, and he froze to death.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a scary man,¡± Armand¡¯s third and youngest sister said.


    ¡°He really is, Cat,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Well, we don¡¯t have to worry about anyone like that,¡± Countess Concord stated. ¡°If this was real, he wouldn¡¯t have made it to the organ gun. No man can survive getting shot five times, stabbed a dozen times, and hit point-blank with an organ gun. Even if he was a powerful sorcerer, no magic could save you from all that.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Most defensive magic manipulates luck to keep you from getting hit in the first place. Magic that makes a human more durable can¡¯t make you strong enough to take a gunshot to the head. You¡¯d need magic that reinforces armor to do that, and that won¡¯t protect you from the power of an organ gun,¡± Count Concord added.


    ¡°You have no idea how wrong you are. Rozwialzy was the most durable spellcaster, but he¡¯s far from the only one who used magic to survive getting shot in the head,¡± Armand recalled a searing pain he once felt in his forehead. ¡°I hope Eris doesn¡¯t do that again.¡±


    ¡°Armand, you¡¯re clutching your head. Are you alright?¡± his mother asked.


    He pulled his hand away. Armand hadn¡¯t even noticed that he put down the stake and grasped his forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said. ¡°When I think about that story, I wonder if the scary man could have become a good guy? Is there any way to stop him from making the king his pawn?¡±


    ¡°I know! We could tell him to stop being a bad guy!¡± Charles smiled.


    ¡°Charles, I¡¯m not sure if I would classify what he did as evil. He manipulated the king, yes, but there might not be anything wrong with that. The king might have needed someone like him to make decisions,¡± Count Concord stated.


    ¡°And even if he was bad, louts like him don¡¯t change. Anyone who¡¯d sleep with that many women will never be anything more than a degenerate,¡± Countess Concord said.


    ¡°Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn¡¯t. But I don¡¯t want to kill him or anyone else if I don¡¯t have to,¡± Armand thought.


    He picked up his stake again and looked out the window. An idea formed in his mind.


    ¡°I have a plan. It might not work, but I think there¡¯s a good chance that it will,¡± a slight smile crossed his face.

 Chapter 3: A Love Letter and A Ritual

    Eris sat in her family¡¯s solar. She leaned on a desk. There was a goose quill in her hand. To her left was a pot of ink, and there were several sheets of paper in front of her. The smoky smell of burning wood wafted into her nose as the flames in the fireplace danced. Eris heard people moving on the floor below her; however, she paid them no mind.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to make political moves until I¡¯m 12. Then, I¡¯ll be old enough that people will take me seriously. Since Armand loves me, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to get him involved in my first scheme. It was so long ago that I don¡¯t remember all of it, so I should try to piece whatever memories I have together,¡± Eris thought.


    She drew a few names on the piece of paper.


    ¡°Viscount Salm has incredibly fertile lands, and I want direct control of those lands. He¡¯ll be on the verge of death from old age when I¡¯m 12. But Salm has a son who¡¯ll inherit his property. As his family¡¯s a vassal of mine, if he dies without a trueborn heir, their lands will go to my family. I had his son assassinated so I could control his lands. But I can¡¯t remember how,¡± she recalled.


    Eris scrunched the paper together and threw it into the fireplace.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let anyone know about my future plans. I also can¡¯t let anyone see my adult handwriting. I¡¯ll have to write my next letter like a little girl.¡±


    A smile crossed her face.


    ¡°Something I heard from people who were in love was that they wrote letters to their lover. I¡¯m sure Armand will be happy to receive one of those letters from me. I can¡¯t make it truly romantic right away, people will find it strange that an 8-year-old was capable of anything other than puppy love, but I can put in secret messages that only he will understand. Well, I don¡¯t love Armand right now, but I want to fall for him eventually. My father won''t send this letter without reading it himself. So I will need to make sure it will make him happier about me marrying Armand,¡± Eris thought.


    She wrote the letter.


    ¡°Dear Armand, thank you so much for saving me! I¡¯m so happy that I got to meet you! I know our families don¡¯t like each other, but we don¡¯t have to keep fighting! You and me can be the sole light that stops the hatred!¡±


    ¡°The sole light. I remember being furious when I heard Armand got that nickname after he returned from the battle that stopped the fourth disaster. He was the only survivor of that battle, and people wanted to honor him for surviving when no one else did. Putting this in my letter should tell him that I intend to honor him too,¡± Eris thought.


    She kept writing.


    ¡°I hope that you come over to see me too. We can have a nice tea party. You could tell me about your family and Viscount Carad. I heard he¡¯s close to you all. Hugs and kisses, your dear Eris Hapsburg.¡±


    ¡°Viscount Mortimer Carad. He was Armand¡¯s regent when he was young. He died when Armand was 10. From what I¡¯ve heard of him, he was like a brother to Armand¡¯s father. Armand lost his parents and his siblings when he was 9, and Carad was the only person he had left,¡± then a sudden thought came to Eris. ¡°I never thought about it before because I didn¡¯t care, but it¡¯s fairly suspicious that all of Armand¡¯s siblings died shortly after his parents did. They couldn¡¯t have died of the Orlock Plague, and Armand wouldn¡¯t have assassinated them.¡±


    A realization came to her.


    ¡°Viscount Carad killed them. Then, Armand killed him. I guess I¡¯ll have to destroy this letter and start over. If I¡¯m going to romance Armand, I don¡¯t want to bring up bad memories. It¡¯s ironic, really. I¡¯d have never let him hear the end of this if I found out that Carad killed them the first time around. I don''t want to do that now,¡± she thought.


    Eris grabbed the letter; however, footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see that her father had entered the solar.


    ¡°What are you writing?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A letter to Armand, but it isn¡¯t very good,¡± she answered.


    Count Hapsburg took the letter and looked through it. At first, fear overtook his face. His emotions then changed to shocked realization.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°Our families have been feuding for far too long.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought he¡¯d say when I wrote this letter. It was carefully calculated to get just this reaction,¡± Eris thought before speaking. ¡°So, I don¡¯t have to fight Armand?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t. Quite the opposite. Count Concord was going to pressure me into having you marry Armand, but I¡¯m starting to agree with him. Our families have been fighting for generations, and the only way to end it is with a marriage.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to marry Armand?¡± she made sure to look excited.


    ¡°If all goes well. I¡¯m not sure if you should be so happy about it, considering you¡¯ve only met once, but you¡¯ll hopefully come to love each other. You already like the boy, and most nobles don¡¯t get the chance to marry someone they fell in love with. They have to settle with marrying and then falling in love,¡± Count Hapsburg said.


    ¡°It¡¯s all going according to plan. I¡¯ll marry Armand, and we¡¯ll become an invincible couple. No one will stand in our way as we carve a bloody path through our enemies. I can already see the looks of terror on their faces as they beg for mercy, just to be answered with a blade piercing their throats,¡± Eris thought.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send this letter to him right away,¡± her father stated.


    ¡°What? No. It¡¯s no good,¡± she said.


    ¡°It¡¯s perfectly fine. In fact, your handwriting has gotten a lot better. Though, you¡¯ve still a long way to go,¡± he told her.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want Armand to be disappointed,¡± Eris replied.


    ¡°I promise you that he won¡¯t be, and I¡¯m about to send a carrier bird with a letter to his father. I¡¯ll send the letters together. In the meantime, go to the courtyard and continue your training with Karl.¡± Count Hapsburg walked off.


    ¡°Fuck! I¡¯ll need to think of some way to smooth things over. I¡¯ll ask Armand if Viscount Carad killed his siblings. If he did, then I¡¯ll prove my devotion to Armand by helping him kill Carad,¡± she thought.


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    Armand sat alone in his family¡¯s bedroom with a knife in hand. Several bandages were on the bed next to him. A bottle of alcohol was at his side. Armand''s arm dangled over a bucket to the side of the bed. There was also a freshly hunted dead rabbit on the bed.


    ¡°When I was 10, after I killed Mortimer, I took a dangerous journey across the Eastern Steppe to find the Kingdom of Etgan. I heard they had magic that could fix my condition there. I just hope I can still use the magic I learned there at this age,¡± he thought.


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    The boy took a deep breath.


    ¡°This is going to be painful.¡±


    Armand plunged the short knife into the flesh of his arm, burying it up to the hilt. It took every bit of self-control he had to avoid screaming.


    ¡°I call¡­upon thee¡­mine own flesh¡­¡± he forced himself to say as he pulled the knife up his arm. ¡°Strengthen¡­that which¡­was once weak¡­¡±


    The boy turned the knife in one direction, curving it. Blood trickled down from his arm into the bucket. Armand smelled the iron scent of the fluid as he pulled the knife back to the main line it carved in his arm.


    ¡°¡­and make¡­¡±


    Armand panted out his words with ragged breaths. He pulled the knife to the other side, curving it once more. The boy felt faint as more blood poured out.


    ¡°¡­ it strong.¡±


    An anchor-shaped scar had formed on Armand¡¯s arm. He pulled the knife out of his body, plunging it into the rabbit. Armand grabbed the bottle of alcohol and poured it onto his wound. The pain was so great that he thought he¡¯d pass out. However, Armand endured. He wrapped his arm in bandages and then prepared for the final stage of the ritual.


    Armand plunged his head into the bucket that had filled with his blood. He didn¡¯t hold his breath. Instead, he let the liquid seep into him. The boy then pulled his head out of the liquid. His face and hair were completely dry.


    Ten minutes passed between Armand plunging the knife into his arm and him taking his head out of the bucket of blood.


    A servant girl walked into the room and saw the scene.


    ¡°Lord Armand, you¡¯re injured!¡± she rushed over to him.


    ¡°I was trying to skin the rabbit, and I cut myself,¡± he said.


    ¡°Trying to skin a rabbit in the bedroom? And you tried to treat your wounds yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mary.¡±


    ¡°Your parents are going to be furious!¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mary,¡± Armand looked down.


    ¡°The ritual had to be in a place of rest,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Let me see how bad the cut is,¡± Mary walked over.


    She placed her hands on his bandages, closing her eyes and uttering a quiet incantation. Mary opened her eyes again a minute later.


    ¡°The cut didn¡¯t even break your skin,¡± she said.


    ¡°Then the ritual worked,¡± Armand thought.


    Mary removed the bandages. There was a small line in his skin and nothing more. Even the bindings didn¡¯t have a single drop of blood on them.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell mother and father,¡± he said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t if you promise to get help before you try skinning any animals in the future,¡± Mary replied.


    ¡°I promise,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°The next ritual should be easier. My sickliness hasn¡¯t been cured yet, but I¡¯m at least stronger. I¡¯ll need to complete the two other rituals before the plague comes around. Otherwise, I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll be able to slow the plague down. I wish there was a spell that numbed the pain.¡±


    Mary sighed and grabbed the rabbit. Armand picked up the bucket.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to do that, Lord Armand,¡± she said.


    ¡°But I¡¯m the one who made the mess,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I forgot this is before I ordered the servants to let me help clean up messes I make with my magical experiments,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°Yes, but you¡¯re the heir to the Concord family. This is servant¡¯s work. Honestly, you should know better by now,¡± Mary stated.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said.


    Armand walked to the door and opened it, just to see Mortimer right in front of him. Fear struck the boy like a lightning bolt.


    ¡°Is something wrong, Armand? You look pale,¡± Mortimer said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just going outside to exercise,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea? We all know how sickly you are.¡±


    ¡°If I take it slow, it should be fine,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°I need to start my training again to make sure my skills don¡¯t get rusty, but people will get suspicious if I start running all over the place,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Do be careful. I¡¯m very concerned about your safety,¡± Mortimer said.


    ¡°You lying bastard,¡± Armand thought before speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful. I promise.¡±


    The boy walked away before Mortimer could say anything else.


    ¡°I swear that I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    In her family¡¯s courtyard, Eris trained with a tall, blonde man. He smiled as he swung his practice sword. She parried the blow but stepped back as she did. Eris stayed on the defensive, making sure to appear unskilled.


    ¡°In a fair fight, I couldn¡¯t beat Karl with my current body. But with my years of experience, I could catch him off guard and maybe land a blow. I don''t want to make him suspicious,¡± Eris thought.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing very well, Eris. You¡¯re getting better,¡± Karl said.


    ¡°I forgot how nice Karl was. He always praised me when we were training, and he saved me from assassins when I was 6. Why did I have him assassinated again?¡± she pondered.


    Her training partner lowered his sword, leaving a deliberate opening. Eris did not attack.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t fall for that trap. You¡¯re learning,¡± Karl smiled with pride.


    ¡°Oh, right, I didn¡¯t have him assassinated. I had Karl Kant assassinated, not Karl Hapsburg. Then how did my cousin die? He was killed by Lady Abene, wasn¡¯t he? No, no, that was some peasant soldier named Karl. Why did I remember that peasant''s name?¡± Eris thought.


    ¡°Now, try being a bit more aggressive. You haven¡¯t attacked me once,¡± he stated.


    Eris swung her sword. Karl deflected it.


    ¡°A good strike, especially for someone your age,¡± the man nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! I remember now! Karl died of the Orlock Plague in the first disaster! I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t kill him. He¡¯s far too useful to just throw away. Perhaps I could make use of him before he dies?¡± she thought.


    ¡°Karl, can I ask you to do something for me?¡± Eris asked.


    ¡°Anything for my cousin,¡± Karl gave her his widest smile.


    ¡°Go to Giftbluhen Mountain. There are some pretty blue and purple flowers there. Please pick some for me,¡± she said.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that when we''re finished training. I''ll have them for you a few hours after that,¡± he stated.


    Then, a thought came to him.


    ¡°What do you want them for?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re a present for Armand,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°You really like that kid, don¡¯t you?¡± Karl pondered with narrowed eyes. "Even though he''s one of our family''s enemies?"


    ¡°I do,¡± she smiled.


    ¡°A herbalist on that mountain taught me how to extract my favorite poison from those flowers. It¡¯s odorless, tasteless, and it mimics the symptoms of the flux perfectly. You just need one drop to kill someone too, so there¡¯s no need to poison someone with multiple doses over a period of time like with other slow-killing poisons. When I give Armand a vial of this poison, he¡¯ll be able to kill Mortimer without anyone ever suspecting him. I just need to remember to assassinate the herbalist again so she can¡¯t teach anyone else how to make that poison.¡±


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    Armand thrust a short pike through the air. He then swept it to the side in a parrying motion. Then, Armand thrusted again.


    ¡°The moves are still in my muscle memory. Now, it¡¯s just a matter of building up my strength,¡± he thought.


    Then, the boy heard the sound of footsteps. He turned to see Lucia approaching him. Her long, light brown hair fluttered in the breeze. She glanced from Armand¡¯s spear to him.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been training, just like Charles said you were,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to stop soon. I¡¯ll get too tired,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°Why bother training? You can¡¯t fight your way out of being sickly,¡± Lucia replied.


    ¡°Even if I¡¯m sickly, I¡¯m still stronger than you, our sisters, and our brother. I have to protect you,¡± he said.


    ¡°This was around the time I started training harder, but I took it much slower than I am now. Without the first ritual, my arms would be burning,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°You¡¯re really annoying, you know that?¡± Lucia huffed.


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m the oldest, but it always felt like you were my older brother,¡± she answered.


    ¡°You¡¯re only a year older than me,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°It¡¯s still frustrating! You¡¯re even getting married when I¡¯m not,¡± Lucia stated.


    ¡°Father told you his plans?¡± he questioned.


    ¡°He always does. He says that I¡¯m going to have to know how to scheme if I¡¯m going to help my husband, just like mother helps him,¡± Lucia said.


    ¡°Father never told me his schemes. I just figured them out,¡± Armand replied.


    Guilt flowed across Lucia¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I just got jealous,¡± she said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be sorry about that. It should make you happy. Father thinks you¡¯re mature enough to trust with things that he doesn¡¯t trust me with,¡± Armand stated.


    Lucia looked down. Her body trembled as if she was in the middle of a blizzard.


    ¡°Armand, do you know the rest of our parents¡¯ plans for you?¡±


    ¡°What is she talking about?¡± he thought.


    ¡°I don¡¯t, just that they want me to marry Lady Hapsburg,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Armand, you said that you were training to protect us, and you¡¯re trying to make me happy even now that I¡¯m not the most important girl in your life. But I¡¯m the big sister. I should protect my younger brother,¡± Lucia stated.


    ¡°She never said anything like this before. It¡¯s amazing how even one circumstance being different can change so much.¡±


    ¡°The reason why mother and father tell me their plans isn¡¯t because I¡¯m older than you. They tell them to Charles too. They made us both swear to not tell anyone else, especially you,¡± Lucia said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to like this, am I?¡± Armand questioned.


    ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± she nodded. ¡°Mother and Father have no faith in you. They think you¡¯re too kind to be his successor. They always intended to disinherit you and make you join the church. And now that you¡¯re getting married, our parents want to give you to the Hapsburgs in a matrilineal marriage. You¡¯ll take the Hapsburg name, and they think your kindness will destroy their noble house. Our parents want the Hapsburg family to be brought to ruin by you.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°I never thought she¡¯d tell me that, no matter how much things changed.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°I honestly never wanted to inherit our lands. I was just going to be lord because it was my duty to. I don¡¯t mind being the Hapsburg lord,¡± Armand said before thinking. ¡°I¡¯m more worried about Eris. She wants to marry me so she can take my family¡¯s lands, and she¡¯ll try to assassinate my family to get them, but she¡¯d try that regardless of whether or not I¡¯m disinherited.¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you mad? Mother and Father betrayed you! Charles betrayed you! I betrayed you! Please, slap me, punch me in the face, do something!¡± she begged.


    ¡°Maybe I would have gotten mad at one point, but not now. The only thing I care about is saving as many people as possible,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll believe me, but I think now¡¯s the time to tell her,¡± he thought.


    ¡°You really are too nice. You have no place in politics. You should go join a monastery,¡± Lucia said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that, Lucia. Because I know that if I don¡¯t act, you, our parents, Charles, and our sisters are all going to die. I¡¯m from the future.¡±

 Chapter 4: A Brother-Sister Adventure

    ¡°You¡¯re from the future? No way!¡± Lucia shouted.


    ¡°I received a blessing from Chronos. He let me turn back time, but only once,¡± Armand didn¡¯t bother hiding his more mature speech patterns.


    ¡°Why would Chronos bless you? He hates humans,¡± she said.


    ¡°That¡¯s a long story, but right now, I believe you require proof that I¡¯m from the future,¡± he stated.


    ¡°Yeah! If you¡¯re from the future, prove it!¡± Lucia demanded.


    ¡°Our father has a secret compartment where he keeps a book known as the Inheritance Book. The only people who should know about this book are him, Mother, you, Charles, and Mortimer. That book is to be taken out upon the head of the household¡¯s death and given to the new head or the regent,¡± Armand said.


    Lucia¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°That book contains a list of everyone who was ever considered for leadership of the house, as well as all our records of succession. Mother and Father showed it to you because if Charles dies, they intend for you to be his next heir. That¡¯s why Father hasn¡¯t arranged a marriage for you yet. He¡¯s been trying to find a noble family that¡¯s willing to matrilineally marry you.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­you already knew,¡± she said.


    ¡°I didn''t. I told you that I''m from the future. That''s how I knew. I''ll give you more proof,¡± Armand nodded.


    Armand unleashed a barrage of thrusts with his short pike. He went hard and fast through the air. The boy ended by throwing his pike into a tree. Then, he drew his sword so fast that Lucia almost thought he¡¯d had it in his hand from the start. Still, Armand breathed heavily.


    ¡°You should have collapsed after that,¡± Lucia stated.


    ¡°In the future, I learned magic that took away my sickliness. I used one of those spells already, and I have two more left,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Then¡­you really are from the future! That¡¯s so cool!¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell anyone,¡± he told her.


    ¡°Why not?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Because no one would believe you. And even if they did, if certain people found out I was from the future, they¡¯d assassinate me. I''m too much of a risk for them to leave me alive. It would also complicate things. If more people know I''m from the future, it''ll change the timeline more. That could remove my ability to predict future events,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°I only trusted Eris with this because I know that she doesn¡¯t share knowledge easily, and some of her enemies might try to use my knowledge of the future to benefit them. So, I can hold the fact that I remember the future over her head if I have to.¡±


    ¡°How old were you when you came back?¡± Lucia wondered.


    ¡°I was 25,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Were you the head of the house?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Mother and Father said you wouldn¡¯t last more than three years if you were the leader, but you made it to¡­how long were you head?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°I became head of the house when I was 10, so 15 years,¡± he answered.


    "Well, I was technically the head since I was 9, but Mortimer was in charge until I assassinated him. I couldn''t call myself the head of House Concord while he lived," Armand thought.


    ¡°Then Mother and Father were wrong about you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s not important,¡± Armand stated. ¡°In the future, everyone in our family except me is going to die.¡±


    Lucia¡¯s face turned grim.


    ¡°We are?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we can stop it, and I want your help,¡± he said.


    ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re the head of the house!¡± Lucia nodded.


    ¡°All that matters is that I have influence in House Concord. I don¡¯t need to be its leader,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°No! We¡¯re not losing you to the Hapsburgs! I won¡¯t let it happen!¡±


    ¡°We''ll talk about this later,¡± he said. ¡°First, I need to perform the second ritual. The second ritual I need to cure my sickliness is easier than the first, but it also takes more time. I need you to keep anyone from seeing me.¡±


    ¡°You got it! I¡¯ll¡­¡±


    Lucia started; however, the clip-clop of hooves drew her attention away. Their parents approached on horseback. Mortimer was with them. Armand kept his composure, forcing a smile.


    ¡°Father, Mother, Mortimer, you were going for a ride?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No. We received some important letters,¡± Count Concord dismounted.


    He approached Armand and handed him an envelope. The boy looked at it. Armand grimaced when he saw the Hapsburg family crest on its seal. He opened it, pulling out the letter that Eris sent him. Armand read it with care.


    ¡°The sole light? Eris always knows how to bring up bad memories. Every time people called me that, I remembered how all my friends died. She mentioned Mortimer too. Does she know the truth about what he did? No, she couldn¡¯t have known. Eris would have used it to torment me if she did. Eris must have figured it out. Well, I doubt Eris knows for sure, but she should at least be almost certain of it.¡±


    ¡°House Hapsburg wishes for you to marry their daughter,¡± Countess Concord smiled. ¡°And she seems to have taken a liking to you.¡±


    ¡°I must object to this marriage once again. There is no need for any of your children to marry into a rival house,¡± Mortimer said.


    ¡°Because that will put me out of your influence, at least how my parents plan it,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°We can gain too much from this marriage. Armand, we¡¯re leaving tomorrow. You¡¯ll stay at House Hapsburg for a month to get to know them better. I¡¯ll convince Count Hapsburg to let you stay myself,¡± Count Concord stated.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Armand thought.


    With that, the count, the countess, and Mortimer rode off.


    ¡°Lucia, if we¡¯re going to save our parents, we need to hurry,¡± Armand said.


    Armand grabbed an axe, a wooden stake, a mallet, a knife, and a chicken. He then ran out of the castle with Lucia following him.


    ¡°Dammit all! Eris always finds new ways to frustrate me! I should have killed her when I had the chance. Because of her, I have to risk turning Lucia¡­¡± he grits his teeth.


    ¡°Do we have to be this fast?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°By the time I get back, it¡¯ll be too late. Lucia, a month from now, a plague will hit Concord County. A month and a half from now, our parents will die from it,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t my parents have waited a bit longer? I know they want to make sure I marry into the Hapsburg family, but they couldn¡¯t have waited 15 days for my 9th birthday?¡± he thought.


    ¡°How can we save them?¡± Lucia questioned.


    ¡°At least she¡¯s calm under pressure,¡± that brought a smile of pride to Armand¡¯s face. ¡°First, I need to do the second ritual.¡±


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    The chicken struggled in Armand¡¯s arms as he carried it.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯m going to need your help. Even with that ritual, I won¡¯t be strong enough to do this on my own. But we might be able to together.¡±


    ¡°What do you need?¡± Lucia spoke.


    ¡°We¡¯re going into the basement of the abandoned church on the outskirts of the city. Then, we¡¯re going to open a coffin in it,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°There aren¡¯t any coffins there,¡± she stated.


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be, but there is one. We¡¯re going to drive this wooden stake into the heart of the corpse in the coffin. Then, we¡¯re going to cut its head off,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Why are we doing something that barbaric?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there. But I just need your help opening the coffin. After that, you should leave before I start. Keep a watch and make sure no one comes inside,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°The Nosfer aren¡¯t the only ones behind this plague, and I don¡¯t want Lucia to suffer the fate I did. She should at least be an adult before something like that happens.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lucia said.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t fully trust Lucia. She kept a lot of information hidden from me for years, but she''s still my sister. She must have been conflicted between her loyalty to me and to our parents. Hopefully, I¡¯ll be able to keep that loyalty on my side and keep her safe,¡± Armand thought.


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    ¡°Stay at the door and keep anyone from getting inside,¡± Armand commanded. ¡°And no matter what I do, what you hear, don¡¯t stop the ritual.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lucia nodded.


    The boy went behind a stone pillar and took a deep breath. He put the stake and axe to the side.


    ¡°I consecrate thee to my flesh,¡± Armand said.


    He raised the chicken above his head with one hand and slit its throat with the other. Blood poured over his head. Armand kept his eyes open, letting the liquid fill them. His eyes stung as they turned red.


    ¡°May my weakness fade like the night fades into dawn,¡± he opened his mouth, letting the chicken¡¯s blood drain into it.


    Armand grasped the chicken with both hands. He slowly crushed it. Over 15 minutes, the chicken¡¯s blood, organs, flesh, and bones were squeezed out of its body and into Armand¡¯s mouth.


    When there was nothing left of the chicken, Armand collapsed to his knees. He gagged and hacked. Blood poured out of his eyes, pooling on the ground below him. Armand heaved. His body convulsed as his eyes returned to their normal color.


    Black bile spewed from Armand¡¯s mouth. It was coated in bones and feathers. The boy threw up so much of the substance that he should have died from dehydration. When the bile touched the ground, it evaporated into the air.


    Armand took deep breaths after the last of the bile was expelled from his body. He stood up, reinvigorated. A smile crossed his face.


    ¡°My sickliness is almost gone. I just need one last ritual to get rid of it entirely and banish it forever. Then, the other rituals I know will improve my healthy body,¡± he thought.


    The boy walked to the door. Lucia was waiting there. She hugged her brother the moment she saw him.


    ¡°Armand, I was so worried about you! I heard all sorts of horrible sounds! I was so scared!¡± tears leaked from her eyes.


    ¡°I wish I could hold her in my arms and comfort her, but we don¡¯t have much time. People in the castle will probably wonder where we¡¯re at, and someone might have seen us going to the church,¡± he thought.


    Armand gave his sister a quick hug that he broke fast. He picked up the stake, mallet, and axe.


    ¡°Follow me into the church¡¯s basement.¡±


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    Armand and Lucia walked down the stairs behind the pulpit, the stench of stale air flowing into their nostrils. They stepped into a long and wide room. Streams of sunlight from the cracks in the church floor above illuminated the room. There was a lone stone coffin in the center. Armand marched to it. He put down the stake, mallet, and axe. Then, Armand grabbed the lid.


    ¡°Lucia, over here,¡± he said.


    ¡°Are you sure we should do this?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I am. Trust me. You¡¯ll know why when you see what¡¯s inside,¡± Armand stated.


    Lucia walked over with reluctant steps. The two of them pushed the coffin lid with all their might. Their muscles strained, but they managed to push it off. Then, Lucia looked inside. Her eyes widened in shock and terror.


    There was an emaciated, hairless, naked man in the coffin. He had two slits where his nose should be, pointed ears, and massive eyes. Armand reached down to open the man¡¯s mouth. Jagged, rat-like teeth lined the jaws.


    ¡°What is that thing?¡± Lucia shuddered.


    ¡°He¡¯s a Nosfer. They¡¯re undead monsters that spread plagues. We need to kill as many of them as we possibly can. Now, go up the stairs to the basement entrance and make sure no one comes down here,¡± Armand instructed.


    ¡°No,¡± Lucia said.


    ¡°What do you mean, no?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you alone down here with that thing!¡± she answered.


    ¡°I mean it, Lucia. You don¡¯t want to be down here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but I don¡¯t care!"


    ¡°Please, Lucia, trust me,¡± Armand begged.


    ¡°I do, but I don¡¯t want you to be alone with that monster! What if it wakes up?¡± she said.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t the Nosfer that I¡¯m worried about,¡± he thought.


    ¡°If the Nosfer wakes up, you won¡¯t be able to stop it. I need you at the entrance to get help if it does.¡±


    Lucia pondered that for a moment.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay there. But don¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± she commanded.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Armand promised.


    Lucia left the room, and Armand took a deep breath. He picked up the stake and mallet. The boy placed the stake over the Nosfer¡¯s heart and slammed the mallet into it. Red blood welled up from the creature. Armand slammed the mallet down again and again. Soon, the stake was embedded deep in the Nosfer.


    Then, Armand picked up the axe. He hoisted it in two hands and climbed into the coffin. Armand stood over the Nosfer¡¯s body and slammed his weapon onto its neck. It smashed down. The creature¡¯s throat split open.


    Armand swung the axe again. It took six swings before he decapitated the monster. By then, the boy¡¯s arms were sore, and he was taking heavy breaths.


    A faint noise came to Armand¡¯s ears. He sensed a presence behind him. The boy closed his eyes and prepared for what would come next.


    ¡°To think that a mere child would kill a Nosfer. And that you¡¯d know what they were already. That is most impressive," a voice said.


    ¡°Just turn me into a moroi already, Dominus Nerva,¡± Armand replied.


    ¡°You also know who and what I am. Quite fascinating. And here I thought we kept our existence a secret so well,¡± the voice stated. ¡°I could use someone like you.¡±


    Armand felt himself getting raised into the air.


    ¡°I trust that I don¡¯t need to tell you what a moroi is?¡± Nerva asked.


    ¡°A living vampire. I¡¯ll grow normally, be slightly more durable, and heal much faster than a normal human. And I¡¯ll feel horrible pain when I haven¡¯t had enough blood to drink. It¡¯ll be so much pain that I¡¯ll wish I was dead. And when I die, I¡¯ll turn from a moroi into a strigoi,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°Very good. Don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t lose yourself. Now, to¡­¡±


    ¡°I have one question first,¡± Armand interrupted him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop me from killing the Nosfer?¡±


    ¡°Quite bold of you to interrupt a strigoi. However, I respect your courage. So, I will answer you: just because I fear the Bird of Death doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m a friend of the Nosfer.¡±


    With that, Armand felt hollow fangs pierce his neck. Dominus Nerva drained the boy''s blood and replaced it with his own.


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    Armand exited the church basement with a heavy heart.


    ¡°Thank the gods that moroi can drink animal blood, but how can I get that at the Hapsburg estate without being seen? Eris will be keeping a close watch on me. I can¡¯t let her know that I¡¯m a moroi,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Did everything go alright?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°I killed the Nosfer,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my clever sister. And to answer your question, no. I was hit by a curse, but I knew this would happen. I didn¡¯t tell you to spare you from getting hit too,¡± he said.


    ¡°Becoming a Moroi is a horrible thing, but it has its advantages. Some people would welcome it as a blessing. I''ll give Lucia the option of becoming a moroi, but only when she¡¯s an adult and can make the decision for herself. And after I¡¯m sure I can trust her,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°A curse? Shouldn¡¯t we get it cured?¡± worry crossed Lucia¡¯s face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I lived with this curse for 15 years before. I can handle it. Besides, there is no cure.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s horrible,¡± Lucia said.


    ¡°Yes, but let¡¯s get on to other business. First, do you still intend to make me our family¡¯s heir?¡± Armand asked.


    ¡°I do,¡± she answered. ¡°You know the future! You¡¯d be perfect!¡±


    ¡°I only know the future until I¡¯m 25. I know nothing beyond that point,¡± he said.


    ¡°There are probably more disasters waiting for us after then.¡±


    ¡°That still means you¡¯re more experienced,¡± Lucia replied.


    ¡°Are you certain? Me becoming the heir could lead to problems. Charles and I might become enemies. You and I might become enemies,¡± Armand pointed out.


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Charles about this. He¡¯ll agree with me,¡± she stated. ¡°And if you don¡¯t let me make you the heir, I won¡¯t help you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Then it looks like I don¡¯t have any choice. In any case, me being the heir isn''t a bad thing. It''ll ensure that I have influence in the House of Concord,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Meet me in the solar tonight. I¡¯ll tell you what I need you to do,¡± Armand said


    Armand and Lucia returned to the castle, getting scolded by their mother for staying away too long without telling anyone where they went. The children went to bed, and Armand snuck out first. Lucia joined him half an hour later.


    ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°First, don¡¯t talk to father or mother about me being from the future. They won¡¯t listen to a child,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded.


    ¡°Next, do you have a way of getting to the Inheritance Book?¡± he said.


    ¡°I do. I know where Father, Mother, and Mortimer keep their keys. They always leave one set at home in case something happens to the other two when they¡¯re traveling.¡±


    ¡°Then, take the book after we leave and before Mother and Father get back. Hide it somewhere they¡¯ll never find it, and put this letter in the secret compartment,¡± Armand stated.


    He handed Lucia the letter.


    ¡°You will not steal my birthright. It¡¯s amazing how much saving just one person can change,¡± she read it.


    Lucia seemed confused.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d make some big scheme.¡±


    ¡°Big schemes have their place, but I¡¯ve never been a fan of them. The larger the scheme, the more likely it is that someone will figure it out. This letter will be enough until I get back from the Hapsburg estate,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°What can one letter do?¡± Lucia asked.


    ¡°A few things. First, the words ¡°you will not steal my birthright.¡± This is me telling our parents that I know about their plan. They don¡¯t know that you told me, so they¡¯ll think I¡¯m somehow spying on them. If they ask you if you told me, lie to them. Make sure it¡¯s convincing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± she stated.


    ¡°Next, ¡°It¡¯s amazing how much saving just one person can change.¡± This will imply that I¡¯m more in contact with the Hapsburgs than they think and that I saved Eris to get the Hapsburgs on my side. That should make them think I¡¯m not hopelessly nice,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Is that why you saved her?¡± Lucia questioned.


    ¡°No. And me saving her was a horrible mistake on my part,¡± he sighed. ¡°Just know this: do not trust Eris. She is not a good person.¡±

 Chapter 5: What? She Loves Me?

    Eris was dressed in her finest gown, bedecked with jewelry. There was a wide smile on her face as she walked to the portcullis of her castle. Her parents were walking alongside her.


    ¡°You¡¯re certainly excited,¡± Count Hapsburg said.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to see Armand again!¡± Eris smiled.


    ¡°A month of plotting and scheming with my fianc¨¦. I can¡¯t wait to see what we can accomplish together. My greatest enemy will become my greatest ally,¡± she thought.


    The portcullis lifted. A dozen horses stepped into the castle. On top of them were Count Concord, Countess Concord, Mortimer, Armand, and a group of knights.


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve brought plenty of guards,¡± Count Hapsburg said.


    ¡°This is a very important visit,¡± Count Concord gave him a smug smirk. ¡°After all, the future of our families is at stake here.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I hope this will bring an era of peace between us.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you all once again,¡± Eris gave the Concords her best curtsy.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you too,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Time to throw a wrench in my parents¡¯ matrilineal marriage plans,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Eris, I heard we¡¯re getting married,¡± Armand stated.


    He saw his father¡¯s face fill with shock for just a moment.


    ¡°But if you take my name, that¡¯ll be the end of your branch of the Hapsburgs.¡±


    ¡°I have a living cousin. He¡¯s close enough that he counts as part of the branch,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°Armand¡¯s father seemed surprised. Armand must be planning something, but what? Maybe he¡¯s testing me or trying to lure his father into some trap or both?¡± she thought.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s okay?¡± Armand asked.


    ¡°Yes. I want to take the name of the man who saved me,¡± Eris answered.


    ¡°Children rarely know what they¡¯re saying. The idea of the Hapsburg name dying, even in just one branch, must be unthinkable,¡± Count Concord said.


    ¡°There aren¡¯t any other options if we¡¯re going to have this marriage,¡± Count Hapsburg pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, there are. We can discuss them more in private.¡±


    ¡°Other options? The only other option is a matrilineal marriage. But his family will lose their name if his heir is married matrilineally. That means¡­¡± Eris held in a grimace. ¡°He wants to disinherit Armand. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m giving up Armand¡¯s estate.¡±


    ¡°Eris probably figured things out by now. It¡¯s hard to believe that my parents are this bad at scheming. Well, they¡¯re country nobles who¡¯ve only been to the capital a few times. And they don¡¯t know the truth about myself and Eris. We might be enemies, but at the moment, we have the same goal,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°The problem is that matrilineal marriages are so rare that I shouldn¡¯t even know about them yet. I need to stop them from discussing the marriage at all,¡± Eris contemplated.


    ¡°How long will you be staying?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll only be here for a day, but Armand will stay for a month,¡± Countess Concord answered.


    ¡°Perfect.¡±


    ¡°I have some things to show you while you¡¯re here! Come with me!¡± Eris made a cute face and grabbed Count Concord¡¯s hand.


    ¡°We have to talk to your parents right now,¡± he said.


    Tears welled up in Eris¡¯ eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t¡­want to see¡­¡± she sniffled.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. I can talk to them later. The marriage won¡¯t happen for five years anyway,¡± guilt formed on Count Concord¡¯s face.


    ¡°Even if father is ruthless, he still has some morals,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°What a pathetic weakling, delaying his plans because a little girl cried,¡± Eris thought.


    <div>


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    Soon, Count Concord, Countess Concord, and Armand were in the Hapsburg grand hall. Eris opened a chest full of toys. Her parents stood nearby.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m entertaining a Hapsburg child,¡± Count Concord muttered.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to marry Armand, so we should at least have good relations with her,¡± his wife whispered back.


    ¡°Well, if it helps bring down this Hapsburg branch, I¡¯ll put up with it,¡± he muttered.


    Armand looked into the toy chest. It was filled with dolls that were in pristine condition. The dolls were carefully placed in rows so they wouldn¡¯t bump into each other from normal carrying. Eris gently pulled out a beautiful doll.


    ¡°This is Princess Apple. She¡¯s married to Sir Stumpy,¡± she said.


    ¡°That¡¯s an unusual name,¡± Countess Concord noted.


    ¡°He¡¯s called that because he lost his arms and legs protecting the princess. That just made her love him more,¡± Eris stated.


    Count Concord felt like throwing up.


    ¡°So, she got a wizard to grow back his arms and legs,¡± the little girl continued.


    ¡°A stray dog got into her toys. We drove it off, but her favorite toy knight was mangled. We were going to throw it out, but Eris cried until we promised to get it fixed,¡± Count Hapsburg explained.


    Armand looked into the toy chest again. Sure enough, there was a doll knight with stitched-on arms and legs.


    Eris put her doll back and pulled out another.


    ¡°This is Countess Crumpet¡­¡±


    She spent the rest of the day telling everyone about all of her toys. Count and Countess Concord looked like they wished they were dead.


    ¡°We¡­should¡­get going now,¡± Count Concord sighed.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s getting late,¡± his wife nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have a servant escort you out,¡± Count Hapsburg said.


    The Concords, save Armand, left. Then, the Count and Countess Hapsburg went to their solar. Armand and Eris scanned the room. It was empty.


    ¡°Your parents didn¡¯t like my dolls very much,¡± Eris¡¯ voice dripped with sarcasm.


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    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you even have dolls. And your parents said you cried when one of them was chewed up by a dog,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°I was a normal little girl once. I liked all the things other little girls liked,¡± she replied.


    ¡°What changed?¡±


    ¡°Power. When I became head of my house, I felt incredible. I had so much control over everyone and everything. I just had to have more,¡± Eris said.


    Armand took a deep breath.


    ¡°Eris,¡± he spoke. ¡°You¡¯re being more honest with me than you ever have before. Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re my fianc¨¦. We¡¯re partners now,¡± Eris smiled.


    ¡°Armand still doesn¡¯t trust me. Maybe now¡¯s the time to earn it by bringing him into one of my schemes?¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, I have a project for us,¡± she said.


    ¡°What sort of project?¡± Armand asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to like this, am I?¡±


    ¡°One of my family¡¯s vassals is Viscount Salm. He¡¯s going to die of old age, and I want to kill his son. Then, his family¡¯s property will go to us,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°Is Viscount Salm disloyal?¡±


    ¡°No. He¡¯d die protecting me.¡±


    ¡°Is his son disloyal?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s as loyal as his father is.¡±


    Armand took another deep breath.


    ¡°Eris, I know that you don¡¯t know the meaning of gratitude, but I do. You¡¯ve been honest with me, so I¡¯ll be honest with you back,¡± he said.


    ¡°Go on,¡± Eris nodded.


    ¡°I acknowledge you. I acknowledge you as a worthy opponent, and I always did,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°That confirms that he respects me,¡± she thought.


    ¡°But you disgust me,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I messed up! I can¡¯t have Armand hate me! If he¡¯s my enemy again, he¡¯ll just get in my way! I know that Armand loves me, but he also cares about things like kindness. He must be deeply conflicted inside, and I''m pushing him towards the side that hates me!¡± sweat poured down Eris¡¯ forehead.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe the gods allow someone like you to exist,¡± he stated.


    ¡°No, fuck, shit, no! I can¡¯t let it end like this! This is my only chance to marry someone who loves me! They say love and hate are two sides of the same coin, so maybe I can flip it back to love?¡±


    ¡°If it really means that much to you, I won¡¯t assassinate anyone who is loyal to me anymore,¡± she said.


    ¡°Will you send them on suicide missions?¡± Armand asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Eris answered.


    ¡°Provoke them into duels so you can have an excuse to kill them?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°Let people attack you so that they die protecting you?¡± Armand questioned.


    ¡°I swear, on my honor¡­no, I don¡¯t have that. I swear on my life that I will not intentionally kill someone who is loyal to me,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that for a second, but I can at least keep Viscount Salm¡¯s son safe. Eris will probably change her target now that she knows I have my eye on him,¡± he thought.


    ¡°I¡¯ll accept that for now,¡± Armand stated.


    Eris breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I just dodged a bullet. We¡¯ve been enemies for a long time, so I don¡¯t blame Armand for not trusting me. And I should have expected that he wouldn¡¯t want me to kill someone loyal to me just to take his land. Armand¡¯s probably questioning every single thing I say and do,¡± she thought.


    The girl remembered the poison she had gotten for Armand.


    ¡°If I gave Armand the poison now, he¡¯d think that I was pulling some trick. He¡¯d also think that I have an antidote to it, so he won¡¯t try to poison me. Armand will trust me less in the short term if I give him the poison. But he¡¯ll trust me more in the long term. That assumes we get to the long term,¡± Eris contemplated.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say that Eris doesn¡¯t want to kill me. She wouldn¡¯t reveal so much if she did, even if she wanted to wait until we had a child. But then what does she really want? She knows that I hate everything she stands for. Then, why would she tell me about her plans,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°Maybe if I ease him into the poison?¡± Eris made up her mind. ¡°Armand, did Mortimer kill your siblings?¡±


    ¡°You really do hate me, don¡¯t you?¡± he said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± she assured him.


    ¡°If you must know, yes, Mortimer killed my siblings. I thought you¡¯d figured that out, but I didn¡¯t expect you to just outright ask me. Even when I¡¯m your fianc¨¦, you still try to piss me off, always bringing up bad memories,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to anger you,¡± Eris held up her hands.


    ¡°Then why did you bring up the sole light in your letter?¡± he asked.


    Eris felt something she hadn¡¯t felt since the first time she was a little girl: guilt.


    ¡°Oh, oh fuck. I was trying to honor Armand, but I hurt him. Dammit! Why is making my former worst enemy like me so hard? Calm down, Eris, you can do this. You still have a card to play.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d like, we can kill Mortimer together,¡± Eris smiled.


    She reached into her skirt and pulled out a vial.


    ¡°This is my favorite poison. Just one drop of this, and it¡¯ll look like Mortimer died of the flux. You can just sit back, relax, and watch his slow, painful death. We can even think of a way to poison him together. Doesn¡¯t that sound like a fun couples activity?¡± Eris said.


    Armand¡¯s eyes widened in shock. A mixture of disgust, hatred, and confusion slowly replaced his surprise.


    ¡°By the gods, I¡¯ve figured it out. All this time, I thought Eris hated me, but she really loved me! She¡¯s trying to use this second chance at life to be in the relationship she always wanted. No, wait, that can¡¯t be the case. Eris always plotted against me. She killed so many innocent people just to piss me off. But some girls act harsh when they like a guy so people won¡¯t find out they like him. For a monster like Eris¡­¡± he thought.


    The boy internally punched himself. He forced himself to calm down, to think rationally. Armand''s disgust and hatred subsided. His confusion went next. It was replaced with cold, calculating logic combined with a deep melancholy.


    ¡°Thank you for the poison,¡± Armand said. ¡°But I won¡¯t take it.¡±


    ¡°This could still be a trap. Eris might want to poison someone and pin the blame on me. I just can¡¯t take the risk. But this marriage is a great opportunity. If I¡¯m right and Eris loves me, I could use that to keep her from killing any more innocents. I could save so many lives, and all it would cost is my happiness.¡±


    He suppressed a sad smile.


    ¡°All it¡¯ll cost is something I don¡¯t have.¡±


    Eris noticed the melancholy. A sense of confusion flowed through her, but she replaced it with her own cold logic.


    ¡°Armand¡¯s sad, but he¡¯s trying to hide it. It looks like revenge won¡¯t cheer him up. He¡¯s a strange man, but wives are supposed to make their husbands happy, right?¡± Eris thought.


    ¡°Armand, is there anything you want to do?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, there is. It¡¯ll be something that benefits you too, so I can trust you with this,¡± Armand answered. ¡°I hope.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be cheering him up, but Armand¡¯s still trying to be a good fianc¨¦ to me. I can still salvage this evening,¡± Eris smiled. ¡°Very well, Armand. Tell me what you want to do.¡±


    ¡°You must know that the first disaster will hit your lands too. I want to stop it. Though, I¡¯m sure you already plan on that,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, I see. I didn¡¯t have any plans to stop it myself,¡± she stated.


    ¡°A lot of people who pay your family taxes will die in that plague,¡± Armand replied.


    ¡°Yes, stopping the plague would benefit me, but I didn¡¯t think it was worth the effort it would take to stop,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°The church with the Nosfer isn¡¯t even a block away from your castle.¡±


    ¡°I know. But why should I go that far to save some peasants, even if they give me tax money?¡±


    ¡°I could never love an evil bitch like her, but I could at least pretend. I can¡¯t just start being all lovey-dovey, she¡¯ll get suspicious. I¡¯ll have to build up my pretence that my affection¡¯s building up over time,¡± Armand thought before speaking. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you hate commoners that much.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate them, but would you go out of your way to save some flies?¡± Eris asked.


    Armand swung his hand at her, stopping an inch away from her face. He pulled his hand back.


    ¡°Dammit. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll even be able to pretend to love her. I¡¯ve been far too honest with this bitch,¡± he thought.


    ¡°I apologize for that. I almost struck you, and a man should never hit his wife or fianc¨¦,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Eris wondered.


    ¡°Do you want me to hit you?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But I don¡¯t understand why it¡¯s wrong. I mean, if it can control someone, what¡¯s the problem?¡±


    ¡°I see. The only thing you care about is power, even now,¡± Armand narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°No, no, no, I¡¯ve almost lost him! I need to act, fast,¡± Eris thought.


    ¡°I care about things other than that! I care about my parents and about you, Armand,¡± she said.


    ¡°Prove it. Say one thing you like about me,¡± he replied.


    ¡°You remember that time when you were going to give a gift to the queen for her birthday, but I stole it and gave it to her instead? Then, you didn¡¯t have anything to give her and had to rush for the first present you could get?¡±


    ¡°I do. That was one of the few times where we were supposed to be on the same side, and you stabbed me in the back,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Well, I remember your reaction to it. You didn¡¯t show how mad you were or anything. You smiled, said I was a clever girl, and left to get your present,¡± Eris stated.


    ¡°What am I even saying? This is a horrible thing to bring up,¡± she thought.


    ¡°You were so composed. It really pissed me off at the time, but looking back on it, you were a worthy opponent,¡± Eris continued. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯d break under pressure. I¡¯ll be able to rely on you, no matter how tough things get."


    ¡°That runs in the family, but it¡¯s quite amazing how every word you say just pisses me off more,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Oh, I have a great idea for a couples game. Couples do things that they like together, and we loved pissing each other off!¡± Eris smiled.


    ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Armand, do your best to piss me off. Bring up one of the times you humiliated me,¡± she answered.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t, but she¡¯s pissed me off so much today! Dammit! Why am I letting my guard down? Is her honesty getting to me? Well, there¡¯s no way Eris would ask me to piss her off if she didn¡¯t love me. I can¡¯t pretend to love her, but I¡¯ll at least be able to use this to my advantage,¡± Armand thought before speaking. ¡°You remember that time when you fired 10 arquebuses and five pistols at me and they all misfired?¡±


    ¡°That was embarrassing,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°That was my doing. I found out you were stockpiling guns and had one of my agents use magic to wet your gunpowder,¡± he replied.


    ¡°You¡­humiliate me¡­you¡­¡± Eris took a deep breath. ¡°You pissed me off just now, just like I asked you to.¡±


    ¡°She took that better than expected,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Dammit! I feel bad again. Armand stopped himself from hitting me when I royally pissed him off. Making me mad must have been painful for him. Why do I keep messing this up?¡± she thought.


    ¡°Eris only cares about power, but she¡¯s somehow come to love me. Maybe I can use this against her somehow, get her to at least stay out of my way?¡± Armand pondered before speaking. ¡°Honestly, even now, you¡¯re constantly getting in my way without even trying to. You¡¯re still my greatest enemy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fuck! Fuck! He still hates me! I don¡¯t love Armand yet,¡± or so Eris told herself, ¡°But maybe if I say I do, he¡¯ll come around?¡±


    ¡°And I only love you, my greatest enemy,¡± she said.


    ¡°Well, that didn¡¯t go as expected,¡± Armand contemplated.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do a couples activity tomorrow. We can kill that Nosfer,¡± Eris suggested.


    ¡°And let¡¯s find some way to kill Nosfer in other cities,¡± he said.


    ¡°That sounds like the perfect couples activity,¡± she smiled.


    ¡°I was hoping that we¡¯d just kill the Nosfer in my family¡¯s lands. Then, the other houses would suffer from the plague while mine wouldn¡¯t. But Armand¡¯s so soft-hearted that I messed things up with him already. I can¡¯t let this opportunity go to waste.¡±

 Chapter 6: Into the Darkness

    The pig had two bite marks on one of its legs. Count Hapsburg looked at the animal with puzzled eyes. The pig was happily eating its slop. Hapsburg looked at the other animals. Each of them had several sets of bite marks scattered across their bodies.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange. Something bit all our pigs,¡± he said.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a swarm of mosquitos?¡± his wife suggested.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably that,¡± Count Hapsburg admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like these bite marks, but it could just be some strange type of mosquito.¡±


    ¡°I haven''t seen mosquito bites like this either. If this continues, we might have to call in someone who knows animals better.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but for now, let¡¯s keep things quiet. Our future son-in-law just showed up, and we don¡¯t want to freak him out over some mosquitos.¡±


    Armand was around the corner, listening to the conversation. He breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Thank the gods my plan worked. I didn¡¯t have time to buy animals yesterday, especially since I had to carve another stake, and I had to drink blood. I only took a little bit of blood from each pig so they wouldn¡¯t die. Then, I made sure to bite them in multiple places so it would look like a swarm of mosquitos bit them. I¡¯ll need to make sure to get some animals I can feed off of today. I can¡¯t risk Eris finding out that I¡¯m a moroi,¡± Armand thought.


    He walked across the castle courtyard, making his way to a secret exit that Eris shouldn¡¯t have known about for a few years and he only found out when she told him this morning.


    ¡°Did you see what happened to the pigs?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, a swarm of mosquitos,¡± he answered.


    ¡°They looked like Nosfer bite marks, but the Nosfer didn¡¯t attack our livestock last time,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°Did Armand¡¯s presence somehow change its behavior?¡± she thought.


    ¡°They look like Nosfer bite marks, but they¡¯re a bit different. I¡¯ve seen these before, and I can assure you they are from mosquitos,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°Thank the gods Eris doesn¡¯t know there are multiple types of vampires.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get moving. I don¡¯t want to be gone too long,¡± Eris brushed her hair to the side, walking past Armand.


    She had an axe in her hand. Armand gave a quick glance at the side of his shirt. A slight bulge stuck out of it.


    ¡°I¡¯m certain that Eris doesn¡¯t want me dead, but I¡¯ll keep this wheellock pistol at my side just in case,¡± he thought.


    Eris and Armand moved into an abandoned building covered in dirt and dust. Rotting wood surrounded them. The smell of decay pervaded the air. With every step Eris and Armand took, the floorboards creaked and groaned. Armand made sure that Eris was ahead of him. He kept his hand near his wheellock pistol. The boy was ready to draw it at any moment.


    ¡°Maybe I should shoot Eris in the back after we kill the Nosfer? I could save so many people by doing this. She¡¯s never changing her ways, and even if she loves me, I won¡¯t be able to convince her,¡± Armand thought.


    He gazed right at Eris¡¯ head.


    ¡°I could hit it¡­¡±


    Eris interrupted his thoughts, ¡°Armand, why do you care so much about the commoners?¡±


    ¡°A leader doesn¡¯t need a reason to care about their people,¡± Armand answered.


    ¡°I will never understand you, Armand. Why don¡¯t you look down on the commoners? Why don¡¯t you see them as the subhumans they are? Why can¡¯t you realize that the best thing you can do for yourself is use commoners and throw them away when they¡¯re no longer useful?¡± she thought.


    ¡°Armand, how did you get so far caring about commoners? You were my greatest enemy, and I don¡¯t think you¡¯re inferior or superior to me,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°Treating commoners well has its benefits. For one thing, they¡¯re less likely to betray or rebel against you,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°But so does using them and throwing them away. You won¡¯t have to waste time and resources protecting them unless you have no other choice,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect someone like you to understand,¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t understand, but I know it¡¯s important to you,¡± Eris told him. ¡°And I¡¯m serious about our marriage, Armand. So, why don¡¯t we make a deal? I will not allow bandits to harm my commoners in exchange for the power I¡¯ll get through our marriage. If you can get me more power than I would get from using the commons and throwing them away, I will treat my commoners better.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay the bandits to attack other lords¡¯ commoners instead of letting them attack mine. The wealth I¡¯ll get from Armand¡¯s lands should be more than enough to cover the cost,¡± she thought.


    ¡°She¡¯s just going to get the bandits to attack other lords¡¯ commoners, but I was planning on killing those bandits anyway. In any case, this gives me a way to keep Eris from troubling the commons. Maybe Eris really is slowly changing her ways? I¡¯ll hold off on shooting her,¡± Armand contemplated.


    ¡°I accept that deal,¡± he said.


    ¡°By the way, you¡¯re not planning on killing all the bandits the moment we¡¯re married, are you?¡± Eris asked.


    ¡°If I was, would I tell you?¡± Armand questioned.


    She responded with a smirk.


    ¡°You know, now that I¡¯m trying to romance Armand, this dance of manipulation of ours is actually pretty fun,¡± Eris thought.


    <div>


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    The building¡¯s cellar was a dark place with the smell of decay wafting through the air. This air was so dry that the spit in Armand and Eris¡¯ mouths evaporated. Armand felt something squishy under his foot. He looked down to see a rotting rat. Hundreds of ants were consuming the creature. They dragged its organs away to feed their colony. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Armand stepped off the rat and shook his foot to get the ants off it.


    Armand looked around. Numerous barrels filled the room. They towered above him and Eris, forming a maze through the cellar. Armand sniffed a barrel.


    ¡°They¡¯re full of gunpowder. I knew this place used to be a powder store, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be full,¡± he said.


    ¡°The Nosfer probably put these barrels here to hide his coffin. It might be covered by them,¡± Eris stated.


    ¡°Or hidden somewhere behind a few,¡± Armand speculated. ¡°We don¡¯t have the time to search all over this place. Your parents will figure out we¡¯re missing pretty soon.¡±


    ¡°Why even bother searching? We can make a trail of gunpowder, ignite the trail with that pistol you¡¯re concealing, and run for it. The fire of the explosion will kill the Nosfer,¡± she suggested.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°I¡¯m not even surprised she figured out I was hiding a weapon,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Even if we get out of the way, it¡¯ll destroy more than this building,¡± Armand pointed out.


    ¡°All the nobles should be in the castle still,¡± Eris said.


    She realized what she just said and talked fast.


    ¡°Right, sorry, you want to keep commoners from dying,¡± she held her hands up in a placating gesture.


    ¡°We could just tell your parents about the gunpowder. If they find the Nosfer and figure out how to kill it, the plague might end sooner,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Yes, but then I¡¯d get in trouble with them. It would also limit our future movements. I never snuck out of the castle before, which is why they haven¡¯t been keeping a strict eye on me,¡± Eris replied.


    Armand¡¯s brow furrowed as he thought.


    ¡°Eris, you¡¯re really good at pretending to still be a normal little girl,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°What would a normal little girl do if she and her puppy love crush were kidnapped by a Nosfer and she managed to get away?¡±


    ¡°Go right to her parents with tears in her eyes,¡± Eris replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you know what to do. I¡¯ll stay here. I have a plan,¡± Armand said.


    Eris ran out of the building, tears streaming from her eyes. She ran through the front gate of her castle and right to her parents.


    ¡°Mother! Father!¡± she hugged her father¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Eris? What¡¯s wrong? Where¡¯s Armand?¡± worry crossed his face.


    ¡°A¡­a big scary man took us! He was scary and¡­Armand saved me¡­I got away¡­but the man still has him!¡± Eris made choking noises.


    ¡°Knights! To me!¡± Count Hapsburg shouted. ¡°Eris, did the man leave the city?¡±


    ¡°N¡­No¡­he¡¯s in a building.¡±


    ¡°Eris, I need you to calm down and show us where he took you.¡±


    Armand sat on the basement stairs, listening with intent. He held the pistol in his hand. The boy pointed the gun away from the barrels of gunpowder and into a patch of dirt that the shot would go right into rather than bounce off.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that Nosfer are next to impossible to wake up when they¡¯re sleeping. They sleep like they¡¯re dead. Well, I suppose they are,¡± Armand thought.


    The sound of footsteps and voices came from above. Armand pulled the trigger.


    With a loud bang! the gun fired its ball into the dirt below. Armand threw the gun away, screamed, and ran up the stairs. Several knights ran down with Count Hapsburg at their head. One of the knights grabbed Armand and pulled him back while the rest rushed into the basement.


    <div>


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    The knights searched the entire basement. They removed the gunpowder barrels from it and found a coffin tucked away in a corner. Inside was the Nosfer. Eris and Armand said he was the man who kidnapped them.


    It took hours before the knights gave up waking up the Nosfer for questioning. They threw it in the dungeon. But then, the next morning¡­


    ¡°Dammit!¡± Count Hapsburg punched a wall. ¡°Our prisoner was murdered!¡±


    ¡°Right in the dungeon?¡± his wife asked.


    ¡°Yes. Someone rammed a stake through his heart and cut his head off. Either someone decided to silence him, or one of my knights thought he deserved a death like that.¡±


    Armand was listening to the conversation from around a corner.


    ¡°Eris knows this castle incredibly well. No one saw her kill the Nosfer,¡± he thought.


    Count Hapsburg noticed him and marched over. His wife did the same. For a moment, Armand felt nervous. He felt sweat trickle down his brow. Then, Count Hapsburg knelt down and rubbed his hair. He gave Armand a wide smile. Countess Hapsburg picked the boy up in her arms and held him close. Tears leaked from her eyes.


    ¡°Thank you so much for saving our daughter!¡± she said.


    ¡°Eris must have said that I saved her from the Nosfer, as I expected. I don¡¯t want her parents to think they owe me when they don¡¯t, but I don¡¯t know how they¡¯d react to hearing the full truth. Thankfully, I planned for this,¡± Armand thought before speaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t save Eris. She saved herself. She saved me by bringing you there.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very modest,¡± Countess Hapsburg stated.


    ¡°And trying to give Eris credit,¡± Count Hapsburg said. ¡°You must feel a great puppy love for her already.¡±


    He stood up.


    ¡°I was skeptical of marrying my daughter to a Concord for the longest time, but you saved her twice. My doubts are gone. I know that you¡¯ll protect her no matter what,¡± he smiled.


    ¡°We never got to throw that feast we talked about before,¡± the countess said. ¡°Your parents brought you here too quickly to prepare anything. Maybe we should start preparing now? Your birthday¡¯s coming up too, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want a feast. There¡¯s something else I want,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Count Hapsburg asked.


    ¡°I got sick a lot since I was little. I¡¯m weak because of it. I don¡¯t want to get any of you sick, so can I have a private room for my stay here instead of sleeping in the grand hall?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the count nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll find some room you can stay in. I¡¯ll have my servants fix it up so it¡¯s fit for a king.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Armand smiled.


    ¡°I can perform the third ritual in that room where I can guarantee some measure of privacy. I can also bring some chickens or other small livestock there. That way, I can drink their blood without risking getting caught,¡± he thought.


    <div>


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    A few hours later, Karl Hapsburg burst into the castle. He ran right over to Eris.


    ¡°I heard what happened. Are you okay? Were you hurt?¡± Karl asked.


    ¡°It was scary, but I¡¯m fine. Armand kept me safe,¡± she answered.


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± his face turned grim. ¡°The Concord boy.¡±


    ¡°Armand¡¯s really nice. I¡¯m so happy that I get to be his wife,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°Something tells me that he won¡¯t be easily convinced,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Eris, are you sure he isn¡¯t just using you? I know that he saved your life, but he is a Concord. We cannot trust them,¡± Karl stated.


    ¡°We can trust Armand! He¡¯s a good guy!¡± Eris assured her cousin.


    ¡°Just because he¡¯s a good guy doesn¡¯t mean he won¡¯t be our enemy. As painful as it is, the forces of good fight each other almost as much as the forces of evil. Duty can cause even the kindest men to face each other in combat,¡± he said.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t fight Armand,¡± she begged with puppy dog eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to fight a child. If we were to fight, it¡¯d be when he¡¯s older. And as long as he doesn¡¯t betray you, he has nothing to worry about.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Even if you somehow escape the Orlock Plague, if you fight Armand when his body develops even slightly more, he¡¯d cut you to pieces. Even if he was armed with a dagger and you had a spear,¡± Eris thought.


    The two heard footsteps as Count Hapsburg, Countess Hapsburg, and Armand entered the room.


    ¡°Albert, is the castle safe?¡± Karl asked.


    ¡°Yes. We increased security,¡± Count Hapsburg answered.


    Karl breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Then I can rest easy on my trip to Bergschwarz,¡± he said.


    ¡°That¡¯s one of the places the plague hit hardest. That explains why I never even heard of this Karl before,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce you,¡± Count Hapsburg said. ¡°Armand, this is Sir Karl Hapsburg. He¡¯s my cousin and a fine knight. Karl, this is Lord Armand Concord.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Concord,¡± Karl smiled with his mouth but not his eyes.


    ¡°Karl doesn¡¯t like me, but I might be able to get him to kill the Nosfer in Bergschwarz,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t go to Bergschwarz! There¡¯s a scary monster there!¡± he begged.


    ¡°A monster?¡± Countess Hapsburg asked.


    ¡°People in my lands talk about a monster with pointed ears, a bald head, fangs¡­¡± Armand feigned panic.


    The count and countess shared a look of dread. Karl interrupted the boy.


    ¡°There is no such monster,¡± Karl said.


    Count Hapsburg spoke with a tinge of fear in his voice.


    ¡°We should take these rumors more seriously. The man who kidnapped Eris and Armand looked like that,¡± he stated.


    ¡°I see. Do these rumors say where the monster is?¡±


    ¡°Under an abandoned castle.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s only one castle like that in Bergschwarz. I¡¯ll investigate this, Concord,¡± Karl said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go at night! Monsters like coming out at night!¡± Eris begged.


    ¡°I promise you, Eris, that I¡¯ll go to the castle in the day,¡± he gave her a reassuring smile.


    ¡°Now, I just need to make sure he can actually kill the Nosfer. Fireworks, but it takes a while. The best method is a stake to the heart followed by decapitation,¡± Armand thought.


    ¡°People say that the monster doesn¡¯t die like humans do. You have to stab it in the heart with a wooden stake and cut its head off,¡± the boy said.


    ¡°That¡¯s how the man we captured was killed,¡± Countess Hapsburg noted.


    ¡°Well, if I have to kill him, I¡¯ll try that. But I think that just cutting his head off should be fine,¡± Karl stated. ¡°I should get going now. Don¡¯t worry about your training, Eris. A friend of mine¡¯s coming over to teach you while I¡¯m away. His name is Sir Felix the Red. He was recently knighted, but I can assure you that he¡¯s a fine warrior.¡±


    Armand hid his shock.


    ¡°Sir Felix trained Eris? He always said he had a history with her, but I didn¡¯t know it was this,¡± he thought.


    <div>


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    Soon after Karl left, Eris dragged Armand to the side. She waited until they were out of earshot of the grand hall to speak.


    ¡°Armand, you know how husbands are supposed to do things for their wives?¡± Eris asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush. Just tell me what you want,¡± Armand said.


    ¡°Sir Felix became an enemy of mine soon after I became the head of my house, but he was a close friend of yours. I¡¯m sure he talked about me a lot,¡± she stated.


    ¡°He only did when we were plotting against you. And the most he said about your relationship was that you had a history.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bruise to my ego,¡± Eris sighed.


    ¡°I always assumed that you seduced him to get him to do something, and then you threw him away,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°I seduced a lot of people, but Sir Felix wasn¡¯t one of them,¡± she said.


    Then worry crossed her face.


    ¡°I never had sex with them! I died a virgin!¡± Eris assured her fianc¨¦.


    ¡°I¡¯ll believe that when a giant purple elephant with tiny bat wings flies through the sky and turns the grass blue,¡± Armand stated.


    ¡°Fuck. I should change the subject,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Never mind that. Armand, I need you to make sure Sir Felix stays on our side. He¡¯s a good knight, and he could be very useful to us,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be easy, considering what you¡¯re like,¡± Armand replied. ¡°But it isn¡¯t impossible as long as you don¡¯t do too much evil. I will do my best.¡±


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to, but¡­¡± shock covered her face.


    She gazed at Armand.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do it just like that?¡± Eris asked.


    ¡°If we¡¯re going to get married, I¡¯m going to be a good husband to you. I¡¯m not refusing this request from my wife,¡± Armand answered.


    A wide smile crossed Eris¡¯ face. Armand felt uneasy. She took a bow.


    ¡°Thank you, my dear fianc¨¦. I¡¯m happy to work with you,¡± Eris said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe how happy I am. Armand did something for me! Even if he also benefits from it, I asked him to do this, and he wants to be a good husband! I never thought I¡¯d be this happy about something Armand did,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Eris, don¡¯t think that this means I¡¯ll be subservient to you. I¡¯m not letting you hurt innocent people,¡± Armand glared.


    ¡°Good. I still intend to do what I have to to get power, so long as it doesn¡¯t involve betraying you. Now, let''s have more fun manipulating each other,¡± Eris smiled.


    ¡°What kind of horrible relationship have I gotten myself into?¡± he thought.

 Chapter 7: Sir Felix the Red

    Armand, Lord Hapsburg, and Lady Hapsburg stood in front of a beautiful room. The inside was decorated with gold and red. Expensive scented candles covered a set of shelves on it. He stepped inside and felt the bed. It was filled with the finest feathers.


    ¡°We made sure that this room was of the highest quality,¡± Lord Hapsburg stated.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Armand said.


    "They put so many expensive things there Lord and Lady Hapsburg must be very grateful that I ¡°saved¡± their daughter. I don¡¯t know how they died the last time around, but I swear that I will keep them alive, no matter what,¡± he thought.


    "There''s no need to thank us. You''ve done more than enough for our family," Lady Hapsburg smiled widely. "And we''ll make sure that every member of our house will understand that you''re perfect for Eris."


    "If they knew the full truth, they wouldn''t say that."


    The sound of footsteps reached my ear. We turned to see a servant approaching us.


    "You may speak," Lord Hapsburg said.


    "Sir Felix the Red has arrived," she stated.


    "Ah, good. Let''s get Eris and greet our guest."


    <div>


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Sir Felix the Red was a tall man with red hair. His blue eyes shimmered like stars. The blue eyes that adorned his face contained both the hardness of war and a kindness to them. He wore a suit of shining armor.


    "He should be 17 around this time. Most knights aren''t dubbed until they''re 21. I''ll try to befriend him again, but I''m not sure if I''ll be able to. I don''t even know why he switched sides from the Hapsburgs to my faction," Armand thought.


    "Welcome, Sir Felix. I''m honored to have you instruct Eris," Lord Hapsburg said.


    "The honor is all mine," the knight replied.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "You''re a friend of Karl''s?" Eris asked, putting on an innocent face.


    "That''s right. It was my honor to fight alongside him in bandit hunts," Sir Felix answered.


    "Maybe Armand can make sure he stays on my side?" Eris thought.


    Sir Felix''s gaze turned from Eris to Armand.


    "You must be the Concord boy," he said.


    "My name''s Armand. It''s nice to meet you."


    "So it is," Sir Felix''s voice was cold. "I must say that this marriage is foolish. I do not approve of it."


    "This marriage is perfect. It''ll end the feud between the Hapsburg and Concord families, increase the power of both by merging our lands, and Armand is a perfect little gentleman. If anyone can make Eris happy, it''s him. Eris took a shining to him too," Lady Hapsburg said.


    "Most nobles don''t get the opportunity to marry someone they love, so I''m glad that my daughter has this chance," Lord Hapsburg stated.


    "Then perhaps I should train Armand too? This could give him and Eris a chance to bond," Felix suggested.


    "That''s a good idea. Just make sure to not be too hard on either of them."


    Despite agreeing, there was suspicion in Lord Hapsburg''s voice.


    "What is Sir Felix plotting? He wouldn''t assassinate a child, so he can''t be planning on killing me," Armand thought.


    "Karl must have put him up to this. Having me train with Armand wouldn''t be too unusual but anyone who objects to our marriage would try to keep us separate without a plan," Eris pondered.


    "Don''t worry," Felix said. "I understand that Armand is a weak, sickly boy. I''ll make sure that Eris goes easy on him too. I have no doubt that she''s the stronger of the two."


    Lord Hapsburg turned to his daughter.


    "Armand might be sickly now, but he''ll get over it sooner or later. Then, he''ll get much stronger," he assured her.


    "That''s right. Armand was sickly as a child. I almost forgot," Eris thought.


    "Many women like men who are stronger than they are. Felix must think Eris is one of those women," Armand contemplated.


    "Which means that if we train together, it''ll become clear that Armand is too sickly to fight me to a standstill at this point," Eris pondered.


    "Then that means Sir Felix''s plan..." Armand realized.


    The two of them came to the same conclusion at the same time.


    "Is to make Eris/me fall out of love with me/Armand."


    "At full strength, Eris was my equal. I can''t win as I am now. Dammit. If only I could have performed the final ritual before now, I''d be able to fight her to a standstill. Now, Eris could humiliate me if she wanted to. She might love me, but she''s still a monster," Armand thought.


    Eris'' mind pondered her next move.


    "Now''s my best chance to humiliate Armand. I could make him pay for all the trouble he''s caused me. And why shouldn''t I? He was a nuisance at every turn. That bastard..."


    She had to resist slapping her face.


    "What am I doing? If I did that, Armand would hate me. I need to make him like me."


    "I don''t want to hurt Armand," Eris said. "Sir Felix, I promise that I''ll go easy on him."


    "As if she''d do that. This is the perfect opportunity for Eris to get payback," Armand thought. "If she does go easy on me, I''ll get her some flowers."


    Sir Felix''s face was coated with surprise.


    "You don''t mind him being sickly and weak, Eris?" he asked.


    "No. I like Armand. I don''t care if he''s weak," she answered.


    "By the gods," Sir Felix muttered. "I hope Armand''s parents realize how lucky he is."


    He turned to Count Hapsburg.


    "Could you show me to your training grounds?" he asked.


    "Of course. It''s right this way."


    Eris and Armand followed the two of them. As they walked, Eris approached Armand.


    "How are you feeling, Armand?" she asked in a whisper. "Still sickly?"


    "Yes," he answered and thought. "She''ll figure it out when we spar, so there''s no point in hiding it."


    "Don''t worry, Armand. I wasn''t lying when I said I''ll go easy on you. You''re going to be my husband, so you should stand proud at my side. I don''t want anyone to think you''re unworthy of me," Eris said.


    "I''ll see if your words are true when we train together," Armand replied.


    She nodded and took a deep breath.


    "Armand, I will make sure you keep loving me. So, please make me fall for you," she thought.

 Chapter 8: The Middle Ages are Over, Knights are Obsolete

    Armand and Eris stood in a training yard. The two children wore padded clothing. Sir Felix the Red observed the two.


    "There''s no tension in the air. I wonder if they''re looking forward to this? Maybe Eris wants a boyfriend who trains with her?" the knight thought.


    Armand''s thoughts were different, "By the gods, I hope he doesn''t notice anything. Sir Felix was a good friend of mine, but he''s allied with my enemies right now. I can''t be too careful."


    Eris thought, "Armand''s pretty tense, but he''s also trying to hide it. I''ll prove that he can trust me."


    "Let''s start with sword practice. On the battlefield, polearms are more important weapons, but you''re more likely to get into duels for a while," Sir Felix said.


    "I think knights should use guns more," Armand spoke up.


    "Is Armand trying to get out of our spar? No, he''d try something more likely to work than suggesting gun practice," Eris thought.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Guns, eh?" Sir Felix asked.


    "They''re really cool! You point them, and they make a big noise! Bang!" Armand said before thinking. "There goes the rest of my dignity. Hopefully, Sir Felix will figure things out. If knights don''t change with the times, they might get dropped like a broken blade."


    "I understand. Sir Felix was one of Armand''s friends. He must be trying to get him to adapt to modern warfare," Eris concluded.


    "Yeah, guns are pretty cool," Sir Felix smiled. "Still, I''d rather trust in my lance than an inaccurate weapon that jams a lot. But I do practice shooting just in case I need to use them."


    "I have no idea why knights are still important, even if they are a shadow of what they once were. If I need heavy cavalry, I''d rather hire reiter mercenaries than knights any day of the weak. Reiters are cheaper than knights. They''re more expendable because you don''t have to spend years training them. And they circle enemy formations and shoot them with pistols, making them a more difficult target than knights who charge head-on. And chivalry...knights should take their pathetic, old-fashioned sense of chivalry and shove it in fantasy books where it belongs," Eris thought.


    Eris was glad that Sir Felix couldn''t read minds. She didn''t want to think about what he would do to her if he could.

 Chapter 9: Sparring or Dancing?

    Eris and Armand stood across from each other. They wore padded armor. Practice rapiers were in their hands. The sword weighed on Armand''s sickly body. He did his best to look strong despite that.


    Sir Felix the Red looked over the two. A grimace crossed his face.


    "I''m sorry, Armand. You and Eris are a great couple, but my friend asked me to tear you apart. It''s time for you to be humiliated by your fiance," he thought before speaking. "Begin!"


    Eris struck first, going at Armand with a lunge. Her decade of experience helped her aim the attack. It would have been impossible to parry for most children. However...


    "In Armand''s state, being aggressive is a bad idea for him. If I just attack, he can sit back and defend. He should be able to handle a light blow like this," Eris thought.


    Armand deflected the blade with ease. He then counter-thrust, aiming at Eris'' leg. She stepped back to dodge the attack.


    "Thank the gods, Eris is holding back. Hopefully, it''ll stay this way. I just need to show Eris that I''m not trying to take advantage of her leniency," Armand thought.


    "Why is Armand attacking back? He doesn''t have to do that? Is he trying to trick Felix into thinking that this is a normal spar?" Eris thought.


    Armand pressed his attack, moving closer to Eris and thrusting at her arm. He went slower than he would normally. She parried the attack without difficulty. Then, Armand swung his sword around in a cut. Eris blocked it with ease.


    "I was right. Armand''s definitely trying to trick Felix. He''d have thrust and not cut if he wasn''t," Eris thought.


    She thrust with her sword, aiming for the top of Armand''s shoulder. He deflected the blade with ease. Then, Armand unleashed a barrage of thrusts. These blows weren''t aimed to hit; however, Armand used his experience to stab at angles that would make Felix think they were. Eris batted them to the side.


    "This is...starting to get fun. I never thought I''d feel anything other than hatred when fighting Armand," Eris thought. "Every day where I do something with Armand is fun. I''m glad that he is by my side. I hope we can do some actual sparring soon."


    Eris unleashed a barrage of blows back. She kept them slow enough that Armand could deflect them with his sickly body. He parried and counter-thrust while Eris did the same. It became a rhythm of moves, none intended to hit.


    As the two traded attacks and parries, their eyes widened in shock. A revelation dawned upon them.


    "By the gods, we''re not fighting at all," Armand thought.


    "I move, and Armand moves in response. Then he moves, and I move in response. We lead and follow each other. We''re not trying to get any advantage," Eris thought.


    "This isn''t a sparring match, not really, it''s a..." Armand gulped.


    "A dance!" a wide smile crossed Eris'' face. "I''m dancing with my fiance! This is so romantic! I can''t believe how happy I am!"


    The two danced their dance of steel blades. Eris moved closer to Armand as they continued. A smile crossed his face too.


    "Eris is a monster. I can''t trust her, and I hate her. She''s my greatest enemy. But would it really be wrong to enjoy dancing with her? She''s my fiance, so I might as well make the best of it," Armand thought.


    He stepped towards Eris. The two were too close to thrust at each other, so they cut instead. Their swings became wider as their motions became more graceful than practical. Armand grabbed Eris'' hand at one point and spun her around. She twirled with the movement.


    "Calm down, Eris. Don''t dance too hard. Felix still has to think that we''re sparring," Eris thought.


    Then, Sir Felix''s voice rang out.


    "That''s enough. We''re doing sword work today, not grappling," he said.


    Eris and Armand stopped in their tracks. The two bowed to each other as was expected of nobles who finished a dance. They turned to Felix, whose face was stone.


    "I think we''ve trained enough for today. I''m going to talk to your parents now, Eris," the knight stated.


    Sir Felix walked out of the room at a rapid pace. The moment he was gone, Armand collapsed onto the ground. He took ragged and heavy breaths.


    "Do you think he figured out that we weren''t fighting?" Eris asked.


    Worry was plain on her face.


    "I hope not," Armand said.


    <div>


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    Outside of the room, Felix rushed through the castle. He found the Lord and Lady Hapsburg sitting in the solar. They were drinking tea. The knight was covered in sweat.


    "Sir Felix, you''re finished so soon?" Lord Hapsburg asked.


    Lady Hapsburg noticed the knight''s state. She jolted up.


    "You''re covered in sweat! Is Eris hurt?"


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Not at all," Sir Felix the Red said. "There''s something I need to tell you two right away."


    "What is it?" Lord Hapsburg wondered, standing up.


    "Your daughter and Armand are prodigies, geniuses with the sword. I''ve never seen anyone their age fight as well as they do. It''s as if they have an incredible amount of innate talent and over a decade of experience."


    "That''s incredible news!" Lord Hapsburg smiled. "I wonder why Karl hasn''t picked up on that?"


    "If she''s as skilled as Sir Felix claims, she probably didn''t want to make him feel bad," his wife speculated.


    "I''m sure you know that she''s worrying about nothing. Sir Karl will be proud when he learns how skilled his cousin is," Sir Felix said.


    <div>


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    Back at the sparring grounds, Armand stood up. His knees shook, and his breath was ragged. However, the boy still stood firm.


    "You''re not as sickly as I thought," Eris stated.


    "Thank you," Armand wasn''t sure how to respond.


    "I never looked into your sickly childhood during our first life, but I''m certain that an eight-year-old child would be worse off than you are," she said.


    "Is there some secret to Armand''s recovery, or is it just natural?" Eris wondered.


    "There''s no damn way I''m letting Eris know about my rituals," Armand thought.


    "You are mistaken," he stated.


    "Are you sure? Perhaps you''re doing something different this time around?" Eris suggested.


    "No. Nothing''s different," Armand replied.


    "Are you sure about that? Maybe you have some new medicine?" she said.


    "If it''s medicine, Armand might be able to do more with it than recover from sickliness. He might be able to save someone I want dead."


    "There''s no medicine. It''s just my body naturally recovering," Armand assured her.


    "The most I can do is deny things while looking for an opening," he thought.


    "If it isn''t medicine, maybe it''s magic?" Eris suggested.


    Armand kept his face the same as it had been throughout their conversation.


    "I''m not using magic," he said.


    "Are you telling the truth or not? It''s hard to tell, but I hope you''re lying. I want to have more fun manipulating you. Wait a minute, there was something Armand did," Eris thought.


    A smug smirk crossed her face.


    "I recall that you made a trip to some foreign city when you were young. When you returned, you knew magic spells that no one else did, spells that manipulate the human body. I wonder if you used that magic to recover?" Eris pondered.


    "She''s on the right track. I can''t give anything away," Armand thought.


    "If I was using magic to get rid of my sickliness, it''d be gone already," he said.


    "Unless the ritual takes a truly long time. Or unless you''re keeping some sickliness to avoid making people suspicious," Eris replied.


    "With you around, I want to be healthy as fast as possible," Armand stated.


    "It''s safe to say that Eris won''t assassinate me, but I still can''t bring myself to trust her," he thought.


    "That''s right. Armand still doesn''t trust me, even though he loves me. He''s telling the truth about not using magic," Eris thought.


    She sighed before smiling.


    "I''m glad you''re recovering, Armand," she said.


    "Thank you, Eris," he replied.


    "Even if she is a monster, Eris still loves me. She''s probably telling the truth," Armand thought.


    The Lord and Lady Hapsburg entered the room with Sir Felix the Red. There were wide smiles on Eris'' parents'' faces. Lord Hapsburg knelt down and hugged his daughter.


    "Eris, I''m so proud of you!" he said. "You''re a prodigy!"


    "A prodigy?" shock covered Eris'' face.


    "Sir Felix told us all about it. You''re a genius of the sword," Lord Hapsburg stated.


    He turned to Armand.


    "And to think that my daughter''s marrying another prodigy. Your children will be the best fighters in the world," Lord Hapsburg said.


    "That''s so cool!" Armand replied.


    "Why, in the name of all the gods, does Sir Felix think we''re prodigies? Armand and I held back so much. Is Sir Felix trying to get something from my parents? I''ll have to ask Armand about this later. In the meantime, I should take advantage of this," Eris thought before speaking. "I want everyone to know I''m a progidy!"


    She said prodigy wrong on purpose to make herself sound more childlike.


    "Introducing you as one might not be a bad idea. It''d bring prestige to you and our family," Lady Hapsburg stated.


    "Perfect. I just need to keep up the image of a prodigy. If we assume that Sir Felix actually believes Armand and I are progidies, he most likely...," Eris thought.


    "Thinks we''re prodigies because we fought at a level beyond children. We have years of experience, and that might have shown up in our dance," Armand thought.


    "If Armand and I keep training with each other, we can keep that experience advantage. When we''re in our 20s, we''ll have the experience of someone in their 30s and young bodies. We can increase this advantage by training like hell with each other."


    "But this means we''ll have to train hard. I''ll need to perform the final ritual as soon as possible. Then, Eris won''t have to hold back when we''re training."


    "Armand, I hope you fully get over your sickliness soon. Then, we''ll train more in secret. You can bring out your third arm, and I''ll bring out the magic I used to keep up with you," Eris thought.


    Sir Felix sighed.


    "I''m sorry, my friend, but I won''t be able to break Eris and Armand apart now. They''re too perfect for each other," he thought.


    "Lord Hapsburg, can we go into town? There''s something I want to buy," Armand said.


    "Of course. As long as it''s not too expensive, we''ll get it. Just give us a few moments to get ready and get ready yourself."


    <div>


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    Several minutes later, Armand was out of his sparring suit and back in his normal clothes. He stood in the courtyard near the gate. Armand felt a cool breeze wash over his face. The sound of bird songs flowed into his ears. A sense of peace came over him. Even Eris showing up didn''t break it.


    "What do you want to buy?" she asked.


    "There''s no point hiding most of what I''m buying from her. She''ll see it during our trip anyway," Armand thought.


    "A few things. The first is a chicken," he answered.


    "Why would you want to buy that?" Eris questioned.


    "So I can keep it in my room and have eggs whenever I want," Armand said.


    "That doesn''t make sense. We have chickens in the courtyard," she stated.


    "There must be something more to this," Eris thought.


    "It''s time to throw Eris off," Armand thought.


    "Okay, I''ll tell you the truth: I''m actually a Moroi. I''m bringing the chicken into my room so I can have a source of blood," he said.


    Eris looked at him with utter shock on her face. Armand burst out laughing.


    "I can''t believe you actually fell for that!" he stated.


    She joined his laughter.


    "That was pretty funny!" Eris agreed.


    "As expected of you, Armand. If you are a Moroi, you wouldn''t say you''re a Moroi. Unless, that is, you were trying to hide that you''re a Moroi by saying you were and making it look like a joke. But that''s a big risk for you to take. I know that if you''re a Moroi, you''ll be able to hide it from me. If you really are a Moroi, I think you''re worried that I''ll kill you for being one. But this means you''re comfortable making jokes around me if you aren''t. You don''t need to worry either way, Armand. If you are a Moroi, all I''ll do is ask for you to turn me," she thought.


    "Eris, I have something I want you to do," Armand''s face turned serious.


    "I don''t want to have to rely on her for this, but she''s the only person who has memories of the future," he thought.


    "What is it?" she asked.


    "When we''re in town, could you keep an eye out for commoners doing strange things, anything suspicious? And if you see something strange, could you at least listen into it?" Armand answered.


    "Why do I have to give those subhumans any attention?" Eris glared.


    "Because they might have information we need. Not me, we. It''s something that affects us both. I''ll look out too, but I''ll be in the flower shop. Please do it, Eris. Please help me."


    "If you insist," she sighed.


    "Dammit! Why did Armand have to ask me to spy on commoners for him? I''m happy that he''s relying on me, but I''d prefer it if he asked me to do something that isn''t a waste of time."


    Eris'' parents arrived, fully dressed for the trip into town.


    "Are you ready for our trip," Lord Hapsburg smiled.


    "We are, father," Eris said.


    "Armand, where do you want to go first?" he asked.


    "The flower shop," the boy answered.


    "Why there?"


    "I keep my promises, even if they''re made to myself in my head," Armand thought.


    He said, "I want to buy Eris some flowers."


    Eris fainted, overwhelmed by the romantic gesture.

 Chapter 10: A Heartfelt Talk

    The Hapsburgs and Armand rode through cobbled streets on a carriage. Whitewashed houses of wood and brick stood tall around them. Vendors lined the side of the road, selling various wares. Sweet smells, those from baked goods, flowed over Armand and Eris. Then, another pleasant scent came upon them. They had arrived at the flower shop.


    Lord Hapsburg exited the carriage first. He helped his wife down before making sure Armand and Eris got out alright. The four then walked into the flower shop.


    "Can Eris stay outside? I want to surprise her," Armand said.


    "Of course, Armand. I''ll stay out with her," Lady Hapsburg stated.


    Armand and Lord Hapsburg went inside the shop. Eris then noticed a boy running through the streets. He was struggling to carry a large stack of papers. The boy went into the shop right next to the flower store.


    "Armand asked me to spy on commoners. I shouldn''t have to lower myself to this, but Armand''s relying on me. If that subhuman''s carrying all those papers, they might have something Armand''s interested in," she thought.


    The girl leaned against the wooden wall of the shop, taking a brief glance at the printing press inside.


    "Eris, what are you doing?" Lady Hapsburg asked.


    "I''m resting," her daughter answered.


    "Alright, then. Just don''t ruin your dress."


    "I won''t."


    Eris pressed her ear against the wall. She heard a man''s voice.


    "Looks like we''ve got a lot of orders today. What''s in them?"


    "Some fliers for plays, a few religious pamphlets, Robespierre''s latest..." the boy started.


    "Burn Robespierre''s order, now!" the man commanded.


    "Why?"


    "The bastard insulted the king!"


    "By the gods, he did?"


    "Yes."


    "He''s got some points about the nobles, but insulting the king''s going too far. I hope that criminal gets his tongue cut off."


    A smile crossed Eris'' face.


    "I didn''t know Robespierre was operating this early. Well, this is a perfect opportunity. He shouldn''t be hiding yet, and I don''t have to spend any time plotting against Armand. The moment I get old enough, I''ll hunt that fool down. I''ll have him hung, drawn, and quartered. If I can manipulate Armand into helping me, it''ll be easy," she thought.


    Armand and Lord Hapsburg exited the flower shop. Eris ran right over to them.


    "What did you get me?" she asked.


    "These flowers," Armand answered.


    He handed her a bouquet of roses, daffodils, and lilacs. A massive smile crossed Eris'' face. Eris took a deep breath. The girl did a curtsey and took the flowers.


    "Thank you, Armand," she said. "This is so nice!"


    "Making Armand my fiance was the best decision I ever made! I''ve never been this happy before!" Eris thought.


    "I''m glad you like the flowers," Armand replied.


    "I hope Eris really likes them. There''s no telling what she''ll do if I disappoint her," he thought.


    Eris patted Armand on the head in an intentionally childish display of affection. The Lord and Lady Hapsburg had wide smiles on their faces. A sense of adorable affection came over them at the sight of their daughter''s puppy love.


    "Is Eris trying to annoy me?" Armand thought.


    "I hope Armand doesn''t mind this. I need to think of what my younger self would have done," Eris thought.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Hours passed. Armand bought his chicken, the nobles returned to their castle, and they did the rest of their business for the day. When night came, Armand crept out of his room. He had a dagger in his right hand. A bag of salt was over his shoulder. His left hand clutched a bucket. The boy went into the courtyard.


    "This is going to be painful, but it''ll get rid of my sickliness once and for all," he muttered.


    Then, Armand heard the sound of footsteps. He quickly tossed the salt, dagger, and bucket into a nearby bush. Armand turned to see Eris walking towards him.


    "You''re up awfully late," Eris said.


    "I could say the same for you," Armand replied.


    "She must have seen me leave. Eris probably suspects that I''m up to something," he thought.


    "I was looking for you in your room, but you weren''t there. You aren''t the type to go on late-night strolls," Eris noted.


    "Just what are you doing?" she thought.


    "Sometimes, I need fresh night air to think," Armand said.


    "Is that so?" Eris questioned.


    She continuously walked in a circle around him.


    "There are many things you can do at night, Armand. Few of them are pleasant. I should know, considering how many of those things I did."


    "Do you think I''m doing something bad?" Armand asked.


    "That depends on how you define the word bad. I doubt you''re doing something that''s bad for me, but it could be bad for someone else," Eris answered. "And my spies never saw you going out at night on your own."


    "That''s because you would have tried to assassinate me if I did."


    "A fair point, but you know what they say about old habits dying hard."


    "Why were you looking for me, Eris?" Armand wondered.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Don''t change the subject. What are you doing out here this late at night?" Eris said.


    "If I don''t tell her something, she''ll just get more suspicious. But it''ll have to be something believable," he thought.


    "If Armand''s a Moroi, this would be a good chance to get blood. Then again, he could use the chicken in his room for that. Though, I don''t know how much blood a Moroi needs. A chicken might not be enough," Eris thought.


    "Is it that hard to believe that I just wanted to spend some time outside alone at night without worrying about getting killed?" Armand sighed.


    "You''re right, it''s not," she said before contemplating. "I can''t believe I''m thinking this, but finding out what Armand''s doing isn''t worth the effort. We have more important things to talk about."


    "Now, tell me why you were looking for me," Armand ordered.


    "To begin tonight''s game of manipulation, of course. To begin with, I recently found out that Robespierre''s sending out fliers preaching his foolish nonsense," Eris said.


    "It looks like my suspicions were confirmed. This was before Robespierre started operating openly the last time around, but our engagement might have sped things up. Two feuding houses making peace isn''t good for his plans. It makes the nobility more unified and look more reasonable," he stated.


    Concern crossed Armand''s face.


    "It''ll be a few years before we can assassinate him, but I intend to have Robespierre killed. And I want your help," Eris stated.


    "I''ll help you so long as we don''t get any innocents involved," Armand replied.


    "If there''s one thing I''ll believe at face value from Eris, it''s that she wants Robespierre dead," he thought.


    Shock flowed through Eris.


    "What? Why? Don''t you want to help the commons like Robespierre does? Wouldn''t you like it better if he was on your side?"


    "I want to help the commoners. Robespierre wants to use the commoners'' resentment of the nobility to get power. Why do you think he spoke against the anti-serfdom faction?" Armand asked.


    "That''s ridiculous," Eris thought.


    "Oh, please. A subhuman like him isn''t smart enough to come up with a plan like that. He must want to help the other commoners," she said.


    "The commoners aren''t as stupid as you think they are," Armand replied.


    "Some of them trusted me. Isn''t that proof that they''re stupid?" Eris asked.


    "Don''t belittle yourself. You''re very good at getting people to trust you. There are plenty of nobles who fell for your tricks," he stated.


    "Just because some nobles are stupid doesn''t mean that there are smart commoners."


    "Robespierre almost killed Duke Tilly and Count Majoram. The only reason why he didn''t is because you got to them first," Armand said.


    Shock covered Eris'' face.


    "I didn''t kill Duke Tilly. I just killed Count Majoram, and I wasn''t even trying to kill him."


    "I have trouble believing that," Armand replied.


    Eris said, "I was trying to kill you. Count Majoram just got in the way."


    "I believe that," he thought.


    "Then Robespierre might have really killed Duke Tilly," Armand stated.


    "I will concede that Robespierre is unusually smart for a commoner, but he''s still a subhuman," Eris said. "He probably isn''t tricking the commons and just hates nobles, but he still might be smart enough to kill one."


    "That''s as good a concession I''ll get from Eris," Armand thought.


    "Robespierre might be smart, but he''s also a fool. He could have ended serfdom faster if he hadn''t let his emotions get the better of him and worked with the anti-serfdom faction. Instead, he caused them no end of trouble. He might as well have been their...worst..." Eris'' eyes widened in shock.


    Jealousy covered her face.


    "What is it, Eris?" Armand asked.


    "Armand, who caused more trouble for your anti-serfdom faction: Robespierre or me?"


    "You, of course."


    Relief crossed Eris'' face.


    "Thank the gods. Now, how can I turn this to my benefit? Perhaps I could use this chance to learn about the anti-serfdom faction? If Armand can get me the power I want, I''ll end up working with them in the future, after all. Still, I doubt Armand will just give me information about his faction. Perhaps I should put his mind at ease with a joke?" Eris thought before speaking. "Armand, did you ever have spinal problems?"


    "No. Why did you ask? Did you use some weird poison on me?" he questioned.


    "I was just wondering if you hurt your back carrying the anti-serfdom faction."


    "Saying I carried it is an exaggeration. Everyone in it did plenty of good work," Armand said.


    "Eris is trying to pry some information about the anti-serfdom faction out of me. I won''t tell her anything," he thought.


    "You still did the most work out of everyone there, even giving up the dukedom you earned to end serfdom. I didn''t see anyone else sacrifice that much for the cause," Eris stated.


    "I always thought the anti-serfdom faction was made up of idealistic fools, but Armand''s the only one who actually sacrificed anything for their cause. I know for a fact that he is neither a fool nor an idealist. The faction broke up after serfdom ended, so I didn''t look into it back then. But I should now."


    "Brutus did a lot too. Not as much as me, but a lot. The other members did their part," Armand said.


    "If I try to sacrifice my dukedom again, Eris would turn on me in a heartbeat. She probably wants to learn some way to manipulate the other members of the anti-serfdom faction so I won''t have to give it up. I don''t want to sacrifice my future dukedom if I don''t have to, but I can''t trust her," he thought.


    "Yet, you had a bigger part than them. Is it because you were the faction''s leader? No, it can''t be that. People sacrifice themselves for leaders, not the other way around. That''s true even within the hierarchy of the nobility," Eris stated.


    "You are willing to sacrifice a lot for those below you, Armand, but even you send men to their deaths in war. Human nature is inescapable," she thought.


    "Do you expect me to sacrifice lesser nobles to end serfdom?" Armand asked.


    "Yes," Eris answered. "You''re a good person, Armand. For you, defeating evil is worth getting people killed over. Just remember all the people who died when you were fighting against my schemes, think about the mercenaries who died in your wars against other houses, and remember commoners and knights you sacrificed to stop the Fourth Disaster."


    Armand collapsed to his knees. He put his head in his hands, tears leaking from his eyes.


    "I hate you, Eris. I hate you with every fiber of my being. You''ve caused me so much pain, and even now, you just can''t stop yourself!" he shouted.


    Shock overcame Eris'' face. Then, Armand took a deep breath. He shook his head.


    "I''m sorry that I yelled. You''re right, Eris. I''m a monster, no better than you. I just didn''t want to accept it," Armand said.


    "No! No! No! That''s not what I''m saying!" Eris put her hand on his shoulder.


    Armand pushed it off. Eris took a deep breath.


    "Listen, Armand. I don''t understand everything that you do, but what I do understand is that sacrifice is necessary to achieve good goals. And you''re willing to do what you have to," she stated.


    "You''re right, you don''t understand. How can someone like you know how horrible sending men to their deaths is? How can you understand how it feels to have to sacrifice people? How can you understand that compared to the sacrifices the commoners made for me, giving up my dukedom for them was nothing? You only care about yourself!" Armand shouted through his tears.


    Eris gazed at Armand with pity in her eyes. A sinking feeling flowed into her gut.


    "I made Armand cry. After everything he did to me, a part of me wants to feel happy. I was never able to do this before, and he''s now suffering. But I don''t feel happy. I feel horrible," she thought.


    "I''m sorry, Armand," Eris looked him in the eyes.


    Shock covered his face.


    "You apologized?" he asked.


    "Yes. I''m sorry that I hurt you. In the end, you''re right, Armand. I don''t understand how you feel. I bet that if you talked to the other nobles in the anti-serfdom faction, they would," Eris said.


    "No, not most of them. Most of them didn''t give a single shit about serfs!" Armand bashed his hands against the ground. "Most nobles don''t even have serfs anymore. They just wanted to make sure that if they didn''t have serfs, no one did! And then there are the egotists who want to hear praise from the commons wherever they go!"


    "I thought most of the nobles in the anti-serfdom faction were idealistic fools, but this changes things. Getting rid of serfdom is a terrible idea, even for people with no serfs, because it might give commoners ideas. But I can understand why the anti-serfdom faction had so much support," Eris thought. "I suppose that''s the information I needed. Now, I..."


    She gazed upon Armand''s crying face.


    "What am I doing? The moment Armand let that slip, I was ready to abandon him. I want to be a good wife, I don''t want Armand to hate me, and I...I...I made Armand cry."


    Eris knelt down to Armand''s level. She wrapped her arms around him, embracing her fiance in a hug. He tried to resist, but Eris tightened her embrace. Tears leaked from her eyes.


    "I''m sorry, Armand. I had no idea how horrible sacrificing people makes you feel. But I can tell you this: you''re not a monster like me. A monster wouldn''t feel bad about killing people, a monster wouldn''t sacrifice anything to end serfdom, a monster would have attacked me for daring to make you cry," Eris said.


    Armand didn''t respond.


    "I really liked the flowers you gave me. I wanted to thank you more for them. It was the first time you''ve done something for me that wasn''t mutually beneficial. It made me so happy. I couldn''t even believe how happy it made me," she continued.


    Then, Armand spoke.


    "Eris, are you still my enemy?"


    "Would you believe me if I said no?" she asked.


    "Not in the slightest," he answered.


    Armand''s tears had dried. Eris gave him a soft smile as her tears dried too.


    "I can''t promise that I won''t make you cry again, but I''ll do my best to not," Eris said. "I don''t want you to cry, and I want you to enjoy our manipulation games too."


    "Eris, I shouldn''t have been hasty. I don''t believe you''re not my enemy, but I do believe that you didn''t want me to cry," Armand thought.


    "I''ll do my best to enjoy them," he said before thinking. "You''re starting to know how I think, but you don''t understand it. You''ve never had someone you truly cared about after you were consumed by your lust for power. Maybe if your parents lived longer, you''d have been less cruel, but they died when you were still young."


    "Let''s go back inside now. You look like you need rest," Eris said.


    She stood up.


    "I do," Armand nodded.


    He made sure to not glance at where he hid his ritual supplies in the bush.


    Eris turned and began walking back to the castle. Armand joined her.


    "I know how I can change you for the better, Eris. You can be redeemed. You just need someone you truly care about. Then, you''ll understand how I think. I promise you, Eris, that I will be that person for you."

 Chapter 11: Birthday Feast

    A grand table was decorated with red and gold cloth. Candles covered it, lighting up the room. Dishes of roast capon, swan pie, pottage, and numerous others filled the table.


    "You didn''t have to throw a party for me," Armand said.


    "It isn''t as big as we''d like to make it since you don''t want a big party, but we couldn''t leave you out. We throw these parties for Eris, and you''ll be our son-in-law in the future," Lord Hapsburg stated.


    "Happy birthday, Armand," Lady Hapsburg smiled.


    Some servants washed Armand''s hands. He then sat at the table. He held his pinky up as he grabbed a leg of capon and put it on his trencher. After that, Armand put his pinky in some spices. The boy spread them over his capon.


    After getting her hands washed, Eris sat next to Armand. She took some swan pie.


    "It''s a shame no one in your family came," Eris said.


    "Is she trying to get more information about them?" Armand thought.


    "My parents are busy. They''d throw a birthday party for me if I was with them, but they couldn''t make it here," he stated.


    "And that''s the truth. They''ll probably be especially busy wondering where their little book is."


    "If I say anything else about Armand''s family, he''ll get suspicious. No, wait, he''s probably already suspicious. He''ll get even more suspicious. I should drop that topic for now. Armand''s birthday is the perfect chance to get closer to him. I can''t mess this up," Eris thought.


    "So, you''re nine now. How did your last ninth birthday feel?" she asked.


    "The same as my last eighth birthday," Armand answered.


    "Why did I say that? I need to make sure that Eris truly cares about me. My birthday is the perfect chance to get closer to her, even more than just staying at her family''s castle. I''ll try some simple questions to break the ice," he thought.


    "Eris, what do you think of the swan pie?" Armand questioned.


    "I can''t just say it tastes good. I need to impress Armand somehow, but I don''t know anything about cooking. He probably won''t check what I''m saying, so maybe I should make something up?" Eris thought.


    "The core is grilled to perfection. I can tell that the spices have been boiled in a stew of thick lime. The crust is a perfect blend of saltines and margarine," she said.


    "I have no idea what Eris is talking about. She could just be making things up, or she might know things about cooking that I don''t. I can''t have Eris thinking I''m an idiot, and I can''t bluff her if she actually knows about cooking. I need to find some other way to impress her," Armand thought.


    "Yes, it is. I also noticed that the tablecloth has some fantastic craftsmanship. It seems to be of Eastern origin, perhaps made in the style of a foreign land?" he pondered.


    "Does Armand know that much about tablecloths, or is he making things up too? Either way, I...by the gods, I''m not impressing him, am I?" Eris thought.


    "I doubt Eris was actually impressed by what I said. It looks like I''m back at square one," Armand thought.


    Then, they both smiled as the same revelation came to them.


    "Maybe trying to impress him/her is the wrong way to go about this?"


    "Tell me, Eris, do you really know about cooking, or were you just making what you said up?" Armand asked.


    "It''s a risk, but if I ask her this question, I could transition to some complement," he thought.


    "I find that if you say something with enough confidence, people will often believe you. Even if you don''t know what you''re talking about," Eris said.


    "Reminding Armand of our past life is a bad idea. Thankfully, there''s plenty of things to praise about him in this life," she thought before speaking. "And yet you managed to see through it. That''s the brilliant cunning I expect from you."


    "Good. This is perfect for a complement. I don''t trust Eris, but she already saw me cry. Admitting a bit of weakness is nothing compared to that," Armand thought.


    "I wasn''t certain if you were lying or not. I suspected you were, but this was just me calling your bluff. I know nothing about cooking, so if I called you out publicly, you could have made me look like an idiot," he said.


    "Armand turned that compliment on me," Eris smiled while thinking. "I love it. Even now, we''re having another game of manipulation! Armand, you know how to make me happy."


    "Come, now, Armand. You''re far too clever to make me look like a fool. If this was public, you''d bring in someone who knows about cooking before calling me out," Eris stated.


    "True, I would, however..." Armand thought with a smirk.


    "We''re in a city owned by your family. There isn''t a cook here who would dare contradict a member of your family," he said.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "You''re right, Armand, but it''s a moot point," Eris thought before speaking. "There are cooks in your family''s lands that you could bring over."


    "You''re as persistent as ever, Eris," Armand thought.


    "That''s too far away. I wouldn''t bother bringing one in just to call a bluff about cooking," he said. "A bluff you wouldn''t make in public. You have nothing to gain from it, and there is a chance that a noble in the room would know about cooking. Then, they''d be able to call you out on it. I wouldn''t even be involved."


    "Then, to sum things up," Eris replied. "I wouldn''t have made a public bluff about cooking."


    There was a moment of silence between the two. Armand grabbed a slice of swan pie.


    "That conversation was stupid," he said.


    "It was very stupid," Eris agreed.


    "At least I managed to give Eris some compliments. Hopefully, she likes me more now. She loves me, but there is a difference between mild love and truly caring for someone," Armand thought.


    "I hope Armand enjoyed our game of manipulation as much as I did. I don''t know if couples have pointless, stupid conversations like that. If they do, that''s a good sign," Eris thought.


    The two of them spent a few moments eating. A smile crossed Armand''s face.


    "Do you like the pie?" Eris asked.


    "Yes," Armand answered. "I never liked the taste of swan, I always preferred pigeon, but your cook made it work."


    Eris'' smile turned to a smug smirk.


    "At our wedding feast, I''ll make sure that every pigeon in the city is killed and cooked. Armand will have a grand pigeon pie," she thought.


    Armand saw her smirk.


    "Every time Eris made that smile, something bad happened. If I had to guess, she''s probably plotting to massacre the city''s pigeons and feed them to me," Armand thought.


    "Pigeons are tasty birds, but I''ve always liked the taste of peacock the most," he said before thinking. "Having one imported to eat will cost a lot of money, but at least it''ll stop Eris from massacring the pigeons. If they''re gone, the insects they eat will ravage farms."


    "Peacocks? I think Armand''s only been to one feast where peacock was served. I could be mistaken, or that feast could have given him an incredible impression of peacocks. Or Armand could have figured out what I was planning and objects to it for some reason. In any case, I have nothing against serving peacock," Eris thought.


    She gave Armand a smile.


    "I agree that peacocks taste good," she said.


    Armand smiled back.


    "What sorts of food do you like, Eris?" he asked.


    "The least I can do as her fiance is get Eris some food she likes," Armand thought.


    Eris put a finger to her lips and pondered for a moment.


    "I once tasted something incredible, but I forgot what it was called," she stated.


    "You''re not going to straight-up tell me, are you, Eris? You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?" Armand thought.


    A hint of anger flashed through him; however, he forced it down.


    "Stay calm. Eris might be trying to enrage you, but this is a small matter. I''ll just beat her at her own game and try to get the answer out of her."


    "What was this sort of food like?" Armand asked.


    "This is perfect! Armand can help me remember what I ate. He wasn''t at that feast, but he might know what it was," Eris thought before speaking. "It had a strange taste. It wasn''t anything I''ve eaten before or since."


    "Why don''t we start with what the food looked like?" Armand asked.


    "It was roundish, not a perfect circle but more like a lumpy oval," she answered.


    "Something oval-shaped that has a strange taste. You''ve given me too much information, Eris," Armand thought before saying. "Was it brown or yellow in color?"


    "It was brown," Eris replied.


    "Was it a pineapple?" he questioned.


    "A what?" she asked.


    "They''re a sort of fruit some explorers brought from overseas. They''re brown or yellowish, spiky, and have some green leaves on top," Armand said.


    "I didn''t eat anything spiky. And the food didn''t have any leaves," Eris stated before thinking. "It looks like we''re back to square one."


    Armand''s thoughts were different.


    "Eris is probably laughing at me internally. I fell right into her trap. I''ll need to get more details before guessing."


    "Was this food a fruit, a vegetable, or meat?" he asked.


    "I think it was a plant," Eris answered.


    "Think? That leaves a lot of room for error while also giving a vague hint. Very cunning of her," Armand thought before speaking. "Did it taste meaty?"


    "Yes, it tasted like meat," she nodded.


    Armand furrowed his brow and placed his hand on his chin.


    "You told me that right away? This must be some trick," he thought.


    "Armand''s thinking hard. We might be on the right track," Eris thought.


    "It also tasted like mushrooms," she added.


    "Mushrooms and meat? There''s only one thing I can think of that''s like that, but Eris is practically giving me the answer. She must know some type of food I haven''t heard of," Armand contemplated before muttering. "It can''t be truffles."


    A wide smile crossed Eris'' face.


    "Truffles! Yes! That''s what it was!"


    Shock blasted through Armand.


    "It really was truffles? Is Eris messing with me?" he thought before speaking. "You''ve only had truffles once?"


    "Yes," Eris nodded.


    Armand thought back. He recalled all the feasts he''d ever gone to.


    "Come to think of it, I didn''t see truffles at many feasts. The truffle hunters always told me they were incredibly expensive outside of my family''s lands, but I never cared enough about food to look into it," Armand said.


    "Then they aren''t expensive there?" Eris asked.


    "They''re still not cheap, but they grow in the forests of Concord County. We even have farmers who specialize in breeding truffle hogs," he answered. "I eat truffles all the time."


    Eris'' eye twitched. Anger flashed through her.


    "All this time, Armand''s been eating a luxurious food I''ve only ever eaten once! He''s humiliated me again without even trying! I...I guess this is how Armand felt about me," she thought.


    Controlling her anger, Eris simply huffed and dug into her pie. Worry floated into Armand.


    "Oh, crap, I made Eris mad. I wanted to make sending her the food a surprise, but I need to calm her down before she does something bad," Armand thought before speaking. "When I get back to my family, I''ll send some truffles over as soon as I can."


    Eris'' anger faded. She turned to Armand with a smile on her face.


    "Thank you, Armand. I appreciate that," she said.


    "I can''t believe Armand''s going that far for me! It''s just food, but he only gave me flowers before! And before then, everything we did together benefited us both! I just can''t believe it! I''m finally getting through to him! Soon, everyone will look at Armand and I with awe and fear! We''ll rise higher and get more power than either of us could have alone!" she thought.


    Armand''s gaze turned to his food. He ate it listlessly. His mind churned like a storm at sea.


    "My one-month stay with Eris'' family is almost over. Soon, I''ll be back in my family''s lands. We''ll write to each other, but I won''t see Eris for years after this. What will she do while I''m not here? I won''t be able to stop her or even know until I can get some spies over here."


    He hid a grimace.


    "And what awaits me when I return to Concord County? My parents will start considering me a possible heir, but they won''t just disinherit Lucia and Charles. They''ll probably make us compete in some way for inheritance. I have Lucia on my side. She thinks she can bring Charles over, but I doubt it. He might end up being my enemy. And then there''s Mortimer. My parents won''t die of the Orlock Plague this time, but he might have some other plan to take power."


    Pain pulsed through Armand''s heart.


    "I might have saved my family, but I traded their lives for internal conflict. By the gods, I hope Lucia can convince Charles!"


    Eris noticed Armand''s listlessness.


    "Armand, what are you worrying about?" she asked.


    "Politics," he answered.


    "He''s probably thinking of all the things I did to people before he turned back time. I''m still going to do them, but maybe I can assuage Armand''s worries?" Eris thought before speaking. "I understand your concerns, Armand, but you don''t have to worry too much. If someone goes against you, they''ll have to deal with both of us."


    Armand shivered internally.


    "That thought scares me more than anything else."

 Chapter 12: Temporary Separation

    Armand sat in the castle''s courtyard with a heavy expression. There was no moon in the sky that night, but stars shined down on him. The boy held a dagger, a bag of salt, and a bucket. He scanned the area with great caution.


    "Eris didn''t follow me this time. It''s time for the final ritual. I''ll get rid of my sickliness once and for all," he thought.


    The boy poured salt in a circle around him. Then, Armand made sure he was sitting in the center of it. He placed the bucket at his feet and took a deep breath.


    "May my weakness be banished forever more. May my sickness come nevermore," he said.


    Armand plunged the dagger into his eye. Immense pain washed over him. He let the eye drop in the bucket as blood trickled from his face. The boy stabbed the same eye socket with his dagger, pulling out another eye and letting it fall into the bucket.


    Pain was all Armand felt as he dropped eye after eye. Soon, the bucket was filled with eyes. Armand then slammed his foot into the container. The eyes turned into a bloody slush.


    Armand planted his face into the bucket. He swallowed, the liquid that was once eyes pouring into his mouth. The boy drank the entire bucket dry.


    When the container was empty, Armand breathed a sigh of relief. All the pain and remaining sickliness had flowed out of his body.


    "It''s a shame that it''s my last night here. I never got to go all-out when training with Eris," he thought.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Morning came, and a carriage pulled up to the castle. Armand''s parents stepped outside. The Hapsburgs came out to greet them. There was a degree of tension in the air; however, it remained small.


    "It''s hard to believe that it''s just been a month since Armand arrived. It felt like years," Count Hapsburg said.


    "Did he cause you that much trouble?" Count Concord asked.


    "Quite the opposite. Armand''s endeared himself to us in such a short time. We''re happy to accept his marriage to Eris."


    "Very good," Count Concord nodded. "Now, it''s time for us to depart. Come, Armand."


    Eris ran over to Armand and gave him a big hug.


    "I''m going to miss you!" she said.


    "It''ll just be a few years, and I''ll send letters," Armand promised.


    "Thank you so much, Armand!" Eris smiled and hugged him closer.


    She slipped a vial of poison into one of Armand''s pockets.


    "Remember, all it takes is one drop," she whispered in his ear.


    "I''ll remember," he said in a hush.


    "After what he did the last time around, Mortimer''s too big a threat to be allowed to live," Armand thought.


    Eris broke the hug and waved goodbye as Armand was escorted into the carriage.


    "Mortimer isn''t here," he thought as the vehicle took off. "He must be with my siblings."


    Armand turned to his parents. Their faces were stern. He saw anger flash in his father''s eyes. The man''s glare could freeze water, and his teeth ground together.


    "Armand, tell me how you knew about the book," Count Concord ordered.


    "This is it. I have to convince my parents to make me their heir. Compared to dealing with Eris, this is nothing," Armand thought before speaking. "No."


    His father leaned forward. He gazed right into Armand''s eyes.


    "Why not?" he asked.


    "I''m not going to bother talking like a child. That would make this more difficult," the boy thought.


    "Because if I tell you, you''ll be able to stop me from spying on you," Armand stated.


    Count Concord grinned from ear to ear. The countess smiled as well.


    "Good answer," he said. "Now, tell me where the book is."


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "No," Armand replied.


    "I could force you to give it to me," Count Concord stated.


    "If you try to force me, I will have it burned."


    His father leaned back and clapped his hands.


    "You''ve made me proud, Armand. I will admit that I underestimated you," Count Concord laughed. "So, I presume you have demands?"


    "Never even think of putting me in a matrilineal marriage again. I am your heir, and I will stay that way," Armand replied.


    "You''re talking like an adult. Were you feigning childishness?" Countess Concord asked.


    "I''m smarter than I seem," he answered.


    "I need to prove that you''re the best possible heir for House Concord. I''ll put you in a competition against your siblings. The winner gets to inherit House Concord. The losers are sent to join other houses," Count Concord said.


    "Inheritance being decided by merit could help the world a lot, so I''ll have to prove I deserve to be the head of House Concord," Armand thought before speaking. "Why would I compete when I already won?"


    "Explain. Surely you don''t think stealing that book is enough to make you the heir?"


    "Of course not. But having the backing of Eris'' branch of the House of Hapsburg will be," Armand spoke before thinking. "That won''t be enough to convince him, but the process of it might be."


    "You know that I want that branch of the House of Hapsburg destroyed by any means," Count Concord said.


    It wasn''t a question but a statement of fact.


    "That is your agenda. I have my own agenda, Father, and mine is more important than yours," Armand replied.


    "Spoken like a true leader," Countess Concord beamed with pride.


    "Very much so. Tell me, Armand, did you push Eris off the balcony that night? Was this all part of your plan?" Count Concord questioned.


    "No. Eris fell on purpose. She came up with the marriage idea. We''ve known each other far longer than you think. And neither you nor her parents were any the wiser," Armand said.


    "The best lies have a bit of truth in them, and everything I said just now was true," he thought.


    He leaned forward, making sure to look his father right in the eyes.


    "So, all this time, you''ve been collaborating with a member of our family''s greatest enemy behind our backs," Count Concord narrowed his eyes. "And you did it so that you could defy our wishes and become the heir to House Concord? You betrayed us for your own personal benefit?"


    "Yes," Armand replied.


    Count Concord''s entire being beamed with pride.


    "Well done, well done indeed. I also noticed that you''ve been moving more smoothly since you came here. You''ve gotten over your sickliness awfully fast," he said.


    "I was sickly at one point. But ever since then, I faked it," Armand stated.


    "If Father sees through my lie, he''ll be impressed that I made a lie that big. Otherwise, he''ll be impressed I fooled everyone," the boy thought.


    "Why would you fake being sickly? What would you hope to accomplish?" Count Concord asked.


    "I wanted everyone to underestimate me," Armand answered.


    "Wouldn''t you prefer for everyone to think you''re incredible? You''d benefit more if everyone knew your skills."


    Armand pretended to think for a moment.


    "I don''t know about that," he said. "I''m going to inherit the lands of House Concord and a branch of House Hapsburg. I have the most important book in our family in my clutches. I know all your plans. And I have more powerful allies than you know. It seems to me that making you underestimate me was the best decision I''ve ever made."


    The boy then smirked as smugly as he could.


    "I''m still a child, but I''ve already surpassed you both."


    "You indeed have," Count Concord smiled. "I never thought I''d feel this proud of you, Armand. You are a more than worthy heir."


    After Armand left, Eris made a childish show of being heartbroken at being apart from him for a few years. She then went into her family''s solar. Eris grabbed some ink, a quill, and some paper before sitting down on a desk.


    "I might be too young to make any political moves, but I can still at least try some subtle maneuvers. I promised Armand that I wouldn''t kill Viscount Salm''s son, so I''m not doing that."


    Eris pondered a moment.


    "What''s the next big event aside from the Orlock Plague? The kingdom was pretty much ground to a halt by that plague. All our efforts were on halting it. So, not much happened."


    Then, a flicker of memory flashed through her.


    "Oh, that''s right. The Ulugs tried to take advantage of the plague by invading our Eastern border. I''d have thought that Armand would want to stop it, but I guess he was too focused on the plague. Or maybe he forgot too? I can''t blame him. The Ulugs didn''t even make it past the first castle."


    Eris pressed the feather of the quill to her chin.


    "I remember reading about the Ulugs in a history book. It said that they were once the most powerful force on the planet. Their horse archers were unbeatable in battle. My ancestors survived their attacks by hiding in castles until they left. Some people even say that the Ulugs formed the largest empire the world had ever seen. And now, their invasion was so pathetic it wasn''t worth remembering. Their horse archers are no match for our pike and shot. The only noble who was even hurt in their invasion was..."


    A smirk crossed Eris'' face.


    "Sir Jean Baske, the future Primate Jean. If I remember right, he got hit in the leg with a cannonball. His military career ended, and he became a priest. I could alter the course of history if I act now. I''ll probably still carry out the Capital Massacre. I won''t be able to assassinate Primate Jean just yet, but I could get him away from the capital. Then, someone more understanding of the rights of nobles might become the Primate of Orfluss."


    Eris stood up. She looked through her family''s bookshelves before pulling out several maps. The girl laid the various charts on the table. While the general shape of the world on them was somewhat similar, they heavily varied aside from that. Some depicted continents as being incredibly large while others made them much smaller. And that was just their part of the world.


    Three maps depicted mostly unexplored lands. One showed them as a series of islands, another made them look like two continents, and a third showed a single continent.


    "Few people in Foldzar care about what''s going on overseas. We''re a landlocked kingdom, so there isn''t much we can do there anyway. But maybe I could find some way to convince Primate Jean to care? It''d get him as far away from me as he could possibly be," Eris thought.


    Then, she hesitated.


    "Primate Jean will become a very important person a few years from now. He''ll be involved in a number of important events. If he goes across the ocean, it will massively change events. I might not even be able to figure out all the changes it would make. My biggest advantage is that I know the future, but what if the future changes because of my actions? I''d lose the advantage I have. I need to think carefully before I act."


    Eris sighed.


    "Primate Jean was a thorn in my side, but he wasn''t a big one and it''s years before we''ll be enemies. Getting rid of him now isn''t worth potentially losing my knowledge of the future."


    She leaned back in her chair, gazing at the ceiling. The girl tapped her quill against the paper.


    "I''ll need to be more careful in the future. Armand''s going to try to make things better for everyone, so he''ll really only care about keeping me from doing evil and stopping the disasters. I''ll need to keep him from changing things too much," she thought. "As long as I get the crown prince and oldest princess'' favor again, I''ll be fine. They were key to my rise to power the last time around. With them and Armand at my side, nothing will stop me."


    Then, Eris smiled.


    "And that will be easy. I just have to show them that I''ll be useful to them again. All they have to know is that I have no morals and will do anything for power."

 Chapter 13: The Reply of Brutus Medici

    Three months had passed since Armand departed from the Hapsburg castle. He stood in a room with Lucia and Charles. The latter had his back turned to them.


    "Charles, please! We can be friends again!" Lucia begged.


    "No! I won''t forgive Armand!" Charles hugged.


    "He''s from the future! He knows what''s going to happen! He''ll be the best Count Concord ever!"


    "I don''t care if he''s from the future! Mom and Dad said me or you would get to be the count! They broke their promise!"


    "Charles, I''d be willing to give up on being count," I said.


    "It''s too late! I won''t forgive you!" he declared.


    "I need to get him to forgive me. Having your title stolen isn''t the sort of thing he''ll get over with age. Charles'' resentment will build up until he leads an army against me. I...I can''t fight my own brother," Armand thought before speaking. "Charles, I will do everything in my power to get you whatever you want. You want to be a duke? I''ll get you that title. You want money, fame, power? I''ll get you it."


    Charles turned to Armand. His eyes contained skepticism.


    "I want to marry the oldest princess," he said.


    Armand hesitated.


    "If you want to marry the oldest princess, I will do everything in my power to get you married to her. But I beg of you to ask for something else," Armand said.


    "Why? Will your pwecious widdle Hapsbuwg get mad?" Charles mocked.


    "For the first time since I turned back time, Eris isn''t the person I''m worried about," Armand thought before speaking. "The crown prince and oldest princess are...not the sort of people you want to be around. You won''t live long if you marry the oldest princess."


    Rage pulsed through Charles.


    "You just don''t want me to marry the princess!" he shouted.


    "I will do everything I can to marry you to her if that''s really what you want. I just beg of you to reconsider," Armand said before thinking. "I''ll have to get some evidence together. Eris should be able to help with that, but I''ll have to promise her that I''ll destroy it after. Getting the crown prince and oldest princess'' favor is part of how she got power."


    Charles huffed again.


    He stated, "I won''t forgive you until I''m married to the princess."


    "I understand," Armand replied.


    Lucia looked between them. Worry was clear on her face.


    "Charles, please, the prince is gonna hurt you if you marry the princess. They''re enemies," she said.


    "They''re not enemies. They just pretend to be," Armand stated.


    Charles and Lucia''s eyes locked on him.


    "But everyone knows they''re enemies," the former objected.


    "Is this something from the future?" Lucia asked.


    "Yes," Armand shivered in disgust. "Don''t tell anyone this. If you do, your life will be in danger. I can only think of three people who knew this secret in the future, but the crown prince and oldest princess are actually..."


    Before Armand could continue, his parents barged into the room with his other sisters.


    "Get in your finest clothes, now!" Count Concord ordered.


    The children rushed to obey his command. After a few moments, they looked like they were attending a royal ball.


    "To the great hall," the count commanded.


    They rushed there as fast as they could. Then, the family stood in an orderly line. Servants checked their clothes to make sure everything was in place. A knight walked over to Count Concord.


    "Your Excellency, the Primate is here," he said.


    Count and Countess Concord walked to the door. A servant opened it, the two nobles taking deep bows.


    "Ah, Your Excellency, come on in. Even if we weren''t aware of your arrival, we''re always ready to accept guests," Count Concord stated.


    A man in his 50s stepped into the room. He wore robes of purple and white with a long, pointy hat adorning his head. His body looked like it couldn''t even lift a dagger. Yet, the stern look on the Primate''s face conveyed an incredible sense of intimidation.


    There was a leash in the primate''s hand. It led to a collar that was around the neck of a tiger. The animal gazed around the great hall with predatory eyes.


    They were accompanied by several men in red robes. They carried thick rapiers and pistols at their hips. Some had halberds in their hands. Others carried arquebus. The sight of these armed men put the Concords on edge.


    "Count Concord," the Primate said. "I am here for business, not pleasure."


    "I will do whatever I can to aid you, Your Excellency."


    "Good. If all goes well, you will be cleared of any wrongdoing."


    A hint of fear pulsed through Count Concord''s eyes.


    "Am I being accused of something, Your Excellency?" he asked.


    "I''m certain you are aware of the plague that''s been ravaging Foldzar," the Primate replied.


    Sadness entered Armand''s heart.


    "I did everything I could, but many people are still dying from the plague," he thought.


    "Of course, I am. Who can''t be aware of it?" Count Concord said.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "I''m certain you are also aware that your lands are free of the plague."


    Count Concord nodded.


    "We have been blessed by the gods," he said.


    "Perhaps you have been, perhaps not. There are some who think you are in league with those that caused the plague," the Primate stated.


    Confusion flowed through most of the people in the room.


    "What do you mean, Your Excellency? Plagues are sent by the gods, not caused by something," Count Concord replied.


    "This one is. It''s caused by monsters. Two months ago, we found a creature in an abandoned church in the capital. It was some undead abomination called a nosfer. Upon interrogation, it revealed that its kind were responsible for the plague. We investigated the lands that were unaffected by the plague after that. They all had one thing in common: a nosfer was killed. One of the knights involved in the killings reported that stories of the nosfer come from Concordia."


    "I can assure you that we are not working with any monsters."


    "If we can find the nosfer''s body, that will confirm what you''re saying. Until then, your family is under house arrest," the Primate said. "And make sure that you keep your family''s women in line."


    "We will cooperate," Count Concord promised.


    "Good. Now, I must start my search. Should any of my guards come under harm, I will hold you responsible," the priest said.


    The men in red who entered the room stayed while Primate Calvin left with his pet tiger. After that, the Concords went to their solar. Count and Countess Concord collapsed into chairs.


    "Of all the Primates in the world, they had to send that misogynist, Primate Calvin. It couldn''t come at a worse time, either. Mortimer''s down with the flux," Countess Concord groaned.


    "That old bastard will turn over every single stone in the city to find what he''s looking for. We could be stuck in here for months," Count Concord stated. "If things go wrong, we can''t even bribe him. Why couldn''t they have sent a corrupt Primate like Borgia?"


    "It should take him less than a week if he inspects abandoned buildings first. When he gets back, I''ll hopefully have a chance to leave a good impression on him. Primate Jean''s his successor, and I''d like Primate Calvin to praise me when we first meet," Armand thought.


    Lucia looked at her brother, seeing his contemplation.


    "Is something wrong?" she asked.


    "Of course, something''s wrong," Count Concord sighed. "I just hope there actually is a dead Nosfer here. We''ll be in deep trouble if there isn''t one."


    "Why else would the plague not appear in our lands if these...Nosfer are controlling it?" his wife questioned.


    "I don''t know, and that''s exactly the problem. I''ll bet the Hapsburgs know more about this plague than us. They''re just one branch of a greater house," he said.


    Then, he turned to Armand.


    "Perhaps we could use our contact there to get that information?" Count Concord suggested.


    "I''ll send a letter to Eris," Armand replied.


    "Good. A child like her might not be able to get us much information, but it''ll be better than nothing."


    "Hopefully, it''ll make those birthday presents you sent her worth it," Countess Concord turned to her eldest son.


    "If they can make Eris care about me more, they''re already worth it," Armand thought.


    Elsewhere, Eris was eating truffles in her family''s great hall with a wide smile. Two swords were on the table in front of her. One was a rapier. The other was a schiavona, a type of cut-and-thrust basket-hilt sword.


    "A dueling sword and a battlefield sword, both of the highest quality. I love your birthday presents, Armand!" she thought.


    Eris gazed upon the beautiful guard of the rapier. It was a swept hilt with numerous shining bands of steel circling around the weapon. The sword was a deadly work of art. A hint of sadness crossed Eris'' face.


    "I didn''t get Armand anything this good for his birthday. He didn''t want anything, but that''s no excuse. I''ll have to get him something even better for his next birthday. Maybe a rapier, a schiavona, and a pistol?"


    Then, an idea formed in her head.


    "Duke Brutus Medici was one of Armand''s biggest political allies and my biggest enemies. He''s still a child now, but we might both be able to benefit from him if we contact him. Armand and he might even become friends. Most of all, I''d remove a massive thorn from my side. He won''t get in the way of my rise to power. It wouldn''t change history too much either, just speed things along."


    Eris went to her family''s solar. There was a stack of papers there, letters Armand sent to Eris. A warm feeling flowed through Eris when she saw them. She sat down and started writing a letter.


    It read, "Dear Brutus Medichi, I heard about how awesome your family is! You''re the coolest kid out there! You''re a duke''s son, but could you go to my wedding? You and Armand will be best friends! Signed, Eris Hapsburg."


    "This flattery wouldn''t work on an adult, but it should be fine for a child," she thought.


    Then, Eris sent the letter.


    The next day, two letters arrived at Eris'' household. One was from Armand, and the other was from Brutus. A hint of shock flowed through Eris.


    "I didn''t expect Brutus to respond so fast. His lands are near mine, but he''s still a child. We''ve never met before, so this is his first impression of me. Something isn''t right," she thought.


    Suspicion flowed through Eris. The girl opened Armand''s letter first.


    "Eris, my parents want to know what your family knows about the Orlock Plague. Could you send a letter giving us information? My parents will want to read it themselves, so I can''t just tell them what I know. Don''t bother writing like a child either. I want you to impress my parents. I already spoke like an adult to them," it read.


    "That shouldn''t be much trouble. I doubt Armand''s parents will ask mine any questions about the plague, so I can put as much information as I can there," Eris thought.


    She then looked at the other letter.


    "Dear Eris, you are the most vile woman I''ve ever met. You might as well be the King of Hell''s secretary. Fuck your mother! You eat the shit of demons. I would rather, you horrendous bitch, suck the devil''s cock than attend your wedding. I don''t fear you or anything you can do. Fuck your mother! I have no clue how you tricked Armand''s parents into making him your fiance, but I won''t fall for your schemes. You wicked witch, harlot of Hapsburg, goatfucker, daughter of a Bactrian pig, enemy of the gods, grand fucker of our kingdom, drunkard of the capital, idiot of Epistol, donkey''s ass, bear''s cock, griffon''s milkmaid, thief of demons, fuck your own father! I declare this, you lowlife. You might have harmed so many people the first time around, but I will stop whatever schemes you hatch. You can kiss my ass!"


    The first thing Eris felt was rage so great she felt like she''d explode. She imagined Brutus getting shot, stabbed, crucified, and put through all manner of torture. Then, Eris took a deep breath.


    "Brutus remembers," she thought. "I don''t know how, but he remembers everything. And he either knows that I remember, or he hates me so much that he doesn''t care that he called a nine-year-old girl a goatfucker."


    Eris slammed her fists against the table.


    "I''ll kill that bastard! I''ll have him strangled to death with his own intestines! When I turn twelve, I''ll get every bandit I can and send them to slaughter his people!"


    She grabbed the letter, hatred in her eyes.


    "If I show this to most people, they''ll think someone intercepted Brutus'' letter and sent this instead as a sick joke. If I show this to Armand, he''ll think I''m trying to turn him against Brutus. Armand won''t believe anything I say about Brutus anyway. This letter getting out might even lead to people sympathizing with that shithead."


    Eris threw the letter into the fireplace. She watched as it burned with incredible satisfaction on her face.


    "Brutus, you have no idea who you''re fucking with. You are not Armand''s equal. He was the only reason I didn''t crush you. I swear to all the gods, I will make you pay for this insult."


    She pulled out a dagger and cut into her palm. Eris let the blood drip into the fire as she uttered an incantation over and over. There was a great flash of light from the fireplace. The girl would keep chanting for another 20 minutes. Then, she let out a wicked grin.


    "Your family''s wards are too powerful for me to curse you when you''re in your castle," Eris thought. "But if you ever step foot in my castle, I will know it. And then..."


    She went to a bookshelf and took out a spellbook.


    "...I will make you wish you were never born."

 Chapter 14: Time Passes

    The rain beat down on the funeral. The house of Concord and their servants stood in dark clothes. There were veils over the women''s faces while the men carried small daggers. A coffin was being lowered into a grave in front of them. Count and Countess Concord''s faces were kept stoic; however, tears leaked from their eyes. Professional wailers cried out for the dead. Their children were letting tears flow down their faces. That is, except for Armand.


    "Goodbye, Mortimer, you bastard. I don''t even know why I hesitated to poison you," he thought.


    Primate Calvin stepped forward to perform the last rites, the wailers quieting when he did. He gazed over the gathered crowd with a heavy heart. The priest did not enjoy giving funeral services and didn''t like that he had to let the Concords outside of their castle for the funeral. But this was his duty as a priest.


    "We come here to mourn the loss of Viscount Mortimer Carad. He was a good man, a loyal man," Calvin said.


    "Bullshit! That bastard would have poisoned my siblings to get control of the house! He was only ever using us," Armand thought.


    "The will of the gods is rarely known, and even I cannot say why they took Viscount Mortimer from us. However, I am certain that he is in a better place now."


    Primate Calvin put his hands together in prayer. Everyone else did the same.


    "Gods, I pray that Mortimer is burning in Hell," Armand thought. "Who knows how many plots he was hatching behind our backs?"


    A moment of silence was held. Primate Calvin gave the mourners a moment to still their tears. Then, the priest spoke.


    "It''s time to return to your castle," he stated.


    The members of House Concord turned, leaving the graveyard. Primate Calvin followed them with his guards.


    "Now''s my chance to leave an impression," Armand thought.


    He lagged behind, letting his family go ahead of him. The boy stayed between them and the primate''s guards. Calvin approached him.


    "You are Armand Concord, the heir to House Concord, correct?" the primate questioned.


    "I am, Your Excellency," Armand replied.


    "You weren''t crying at the funeral," Calvin recalled.


    "I had to stay strong for my siblings," the boy said.


    For a moment, Primate Calvin inspected Armand''s face. The child kept his expression stoic.


    "Please underestimate me because I''m a child," Armand thought.


    "That''s admirable of you," the priest noted.


    "Thank you, Your Excellency," Armand said.


    "You seem fairly intelligent for your age, Armand. You''re talking more like an adult than a child."


    Armand nodded.


    "Thank you, Your Excellency. I study all the time so I can be a good leader," he stated.


    "Then do you know what is contained in Chronos 8:17 of the scriptures?"


    "Humans are weak, feeble, and sinful, worthy of my hatred. And yet, other gods love you. I will concede to their wishes in hope of learning to love you too."


    "An exact quote. Very impressive. Tell me, what are your thoughts on women?" Primate Calvin asked.


    "This is it, the key question. I won''t insult women as a whole, it''s foolish to hate an entire group of people, but I need to leave a good impression on Primate Calvin. He''s a powerful man, and he''ll be Primate Jean''s mentor in the future. Getting the connection with the primate of the capital will be very useful," Armand thought before speaking. "The place of a woman is important, and women should know it."


    "That could be interpreted in many ways. Are you being vague on purpose so I''ll interpret it the way I want to? Are you trying to deceive me?"


    "As expected of Primate Calvin, always clever. Thankfully, he thinks I''m just a smart child," Armand thought.


    "What?" the boy made a face of confusion.


    Primate Calvin observed Armand''s face for a moment.


    "A smart child is still a child after all," the priest said. "Still, you have potential. And you''re the heir to House Concord. How would you like to receive a church education in the capital?"


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "And now, everything falls in place. Primate Calvin and my parents don''t like each other. House Concord is not a very important house, but I''ve impressed him enough that he wants to bring me under the church''s influence. If he does that, House Concord will come with me when I become the head. But I can''t afford for that to happen. I need to at least stay near my house. And Primate Calvin''s hoping to pull this off under my parents'' noses," Armand thought.


    "If my parents approve. Zelus 8:04, the child must obey the parents," he said.


    A look of frustration crossed Calvin''s face.


    "Another direct quote," the priest sighed. "You are correct. I must talk to them."


    "I didn''t outright accept. This means Calvin won''t be able to drum up enough church support to force my parents to send me to them. Now, I''ve left a good impression on Calvin without paying any price for it," Armand thought. "I never had a close relationship with the church or anyone in it before. But I''ll build up some sort of relationship now. The church is powerful, and I promised Eris that I would get her more power."


    Primate Calvin would soon find the dead Nosfer. The Concord family was cleared of suspicion.


    Years passed. The first disaster came and went. It was named the Orlock Plague after the name of the head Nosfer. Sir Karl Hapsburg survived the plague because he killed the Nosfer that spread the plague in the place he was staying before the plague started.


    Primate Calvin kept pressuring House Concord to send Armand to be educated by the church. His efforts failed. Eris and Armand grew older, sending letters and gifts to each other. Eventually, they turned 12 as the second disaster ravaged the land.


    In Foldzar, 12 was the age of majority. Men of that age were expected to join manhunts for dangerous criminals. If there was a war, they might end up being conscripted if they were serfs. Marriage was also possible at that age. However, almost no one got married that young, and cohabitation wasn''t allowed until the person turned 14.


    However, 12-year-olds were still thought of as adults. And they''d be taken as seriously as any young man or woman would.


    An old woman stepped out of a cabin in the woods. It was a small, quaint shack made of wattle and daub. The lady hummed a jaunty tune as she went to her garden.


    There were numerous plants in it. Some were beautiful flowers, others were crops like turnips, there were medicinal herbs too, and others were poisonous. The old woman smiled as she inspected them.


    "They''re turning out nicely. I should make a killing when I take them to market," she said.


    Then, the woman heard a noise from the woods. She turned and gazed out. Nothing was in sight. Her eyes narrowed. The old lady concentrated as well as she could.


    Bang!


    Before the old woman knew it, there was a hole in her chest. Red liquid spewed out. She tried to scream, but blood poured out of her mouth. The lady collapsed to the ground. Her body twitched and spasmed.


    Several bandits exited the woods. They held arquebus, swords, and wheellock pistols. Their bodies were clad in brigandine armor. The group surrounded the old woman.


    "I''ll be, she''s still alive," a bandit with an arquebus said.


    "That''s because you''re a shit shot," another replied. "You missed her heart. Now, she''s just choking to death on her own blood."


    Then, he called out.


    "My Lady, should we finish her off, or do you want her to suffer?"


    The clip-clop of horse steps came to their ears. A black stallion exited the woods. Eris Hapsburg rode on it, a black cloak around her body. She had a pistol on one hip and a sword on the other. A large sack of coin was concealed in her cloak. Her expression was stoic.


    "I don''t care what you do with her as long as she dies," Eris stated.


    The bandit pulled out a dagger and finished the old woman off.


    "What now, my Lady?" he asked.


    "Burn down her house. Make sure nothing remains but ashes. Don''t go inside it before burning it."


    The bandits did as commanded. They used gunpowder to set the place on fire. Eris watched as the flames spread. She felt heat wash over her face as they gradually swept over the building. A smile crossed the girl''s face.


    "Now, if there is a cure to my favorite poison, no one will ever find it. No one other than me will know how to make it either. Far sooner than the last time around too," Eris thought.


    When the house had burned to the ground, Eris inspected the ashes. Nothing was left. She rode over to the bandits, pulled out the bag of coins, and tossed it to them. A brigand caught it. He counted the coins before smiling.


    "Everything''s here," he said.


    "There''s more where that came from," Eris stated. "Just make sure that all your bandit activities target the lands of House Medici in the future."


    The man took a bow.


    "Of course, my Lady."


    Eris looked down at him.


    "I''ll pay you extra whenever you capture a member of House Medici," she said.


    "What should we do with them?" the bandit leader asked.


    Eris shrugged.


    "Hold them for ransom, torture them, kill them, rape them, do whatever you want as long as it''s unpleasant," she answered. "And I hope you aren''t thinking of taking me hostage."


    The bandit leader held up his hands.


    "You don''t have to worry, my Lady. You''re going to be the head of a branch of House Hapsburg someday, and you''re exactly the type of noble we like," he smiled.


    Another bandit nodded.


    "Ruthless, cruel, no morals, easily bribed, and don''t care at all about commoners and other nobles," that brigand added.


    "Good," Eris said.


    Then, she pointed a finger in the air.


    "There is one member of House Medici that I have a specific fate in mind for."


    The bandit leader bowed again.


    "As long as you can give us money and keep the law off our backs, our wish is your command, my Lady," he said.


    "If you capture Brutus Medici, cut off his ears, put out his eyes, cut out his tongue, and cut his balls off. Then, send him back to his family," Eris instructed. "If you do this, I will pay you three times what his ransom would have been."


    The bandits gazed at her with greedy eyes.


    "Yeah, you''re exactly the sort of noble we like," the leader grinned from ear to ear.


    They parted ways after that. Eris rode back to her family''s castle, deep in thought.


    "My next step is finding every other bandit group in my family''s lands. I''ll have them pillage the Medici lands too. When I travel to other nobles'' lands, I''ll do the same with the bandits there. Even if no member of House Medici is captured, their economy will be wrecked, and their commoners will have lost faith in them. The best part is that Brutus knows I used bandits. He''ll know exactly who sent them, but he won''t be able to do anything to me. I can''t wait to see the look on that little shit''s face."


    Eris smiled, gazing at the sky above her.


    "The bandits in my land were always useful. It''s a shame that Armand''s going to kill them all."


    Then, a different sort of contemplation came to Eris.


    "Count Staufer''s castle should be finished. It''ll be a few days before he announces his banquet. If I remember right, it was also a charity auction where all the funds went to helping people with the plague. Most of the plans I made since I last saw Armand are based around that banquet. So many important people will be there. It''s the perfect opportunity to get more power. Soon, I''ll be the favorite of the crown prince and eldest princess once more," excitement flowed through her. "And there''s another bonus. I''m certain Armand will be there too. He wasn''t at the banquet the last time around, but he knows how important it is. I never had a chance to spend years making plans without Armand interfering. Now, I can show him exactly what I can do when no one gets in my way. I will make Armand..."


    Eris'' smile became soft and loving.


    "...think I''m the most wonderful woman in the world."

 Chapter 15: Banquet Preparations

    Eris walked over to her parents with a smile. They were sitting in the solar, looking over some documents. The girl held a flier in her hands. She tapped her foot lightly until her parents turned to her.


    "Mother, father, look at this," Eris said.


    Count Hapsburg took the flier and looked through it. Then, he handed it to his wife. She did the same.


    "Count Staufer''s castle is finished, and he''s having a banquet and charity auction," Countess Hapsburg stated.


    "Yes," Eris said before thinking. "They would have found out soon enough. Staufer''s messengers will make sure every noble in South Foldzar knows about his banquet. As per my plans, I''ll tell my parents now."


    She looked between them.


    "That way, I can keep them from going. I''m an adult, but my father is still the head of House Hapsburg. He''ll want to interfere in any political actions I take. My mother will be at his side, like the good wife she is, as ever. Either of them interfering is unacceptable."


    "I''m going," Eris said.


    Count Hapsburg nodded.


    "It seems like a good opportunity. I''ll go too," he stated.


    Eris curtseyed.


    "Father, Mother, I must ask that you stay in our castle. I want to go by myself," Eris said.


    Count Hapsburg shook his head.


    "Eris, this banquet is going to be as much a political meeting as a party. We must secure the future of House Hapsburg," he replied.


    "Armand''s going. I want to have some time to talk to him. It might be awkward if either of our parents show up," Eris stated.


    "He is? Did you get a letter from him saying he''ll go?" Countess Hapsburg asked.


    "No, but I know Armand better than anyone," she answered.


    "This banquet was Rozwiazly''s first public appearance. Armand will want to make contact with an important commoner like him. There will also be several members of the anti-serfdom faction there. The faction won''t be founded for another year, and Armand didn''t join until he was 14. He''ll want to get a head start on everything. And, most of all, Armand still doesn''t trust me. He knows I was at the feast, that I will be there again, and he''ll want to stop me from doing anything too cruel. And Armand will want to go without his parents so they won''t interfere with his plans, same as me."


    Count Hapsburg stood up.


    "Even so, I cannot allow you to go without us. You''re still new to politics. We can''t leave this in your hands," he said.


    "Exactly what I expected you to say," Eris thought before speaking. "Armand will go alone too. His family trusts him to bring glory to their house. What will people say if you don''t trust me to do the same? I''m your heir, just like he''s their heir."


    Count Hapsburg mused over that idea for a moment. His wife, on the other hand, shook her head. She sighed.


    "What if one of our enemies shows up?" she asked.


    "I will make Brutus Medici publicly humiliate himself. I might even poison him if I have the chance," Eris thought.


    "What enemies? The Concords are on our side, and they were our biggest rival. The other branches of our house have more enemies, but we''re too minor to get much attention," the girl answered.


    "That doesn''t mean you won''t be in danger," Countess Hapsburg said.


    Eris'' expression turned serious.


    "What do you think Armand will do to anyone who hurts me? Don''t you trust him? He''s my fiance, and that makes him your heir too. I could show you letters from him. His parents have given him more control of House Concord. A year from now, he''ll be running it," she stated.


    "He could just be lying to impress you. Men will do whatever they can to make the woman they love happy," Countess Hapsburg replied.


    "And it isn''t an issue of trust. Armand is inexperienced," her husband added.


    Eris held down her laugh with expert precision.


    "If only they knew," she thought with smugness.


    "I''m not just worried about our house. I''m worried about Armand''s too. People might say that you don''t trust your heir, or they might say that Armand''s parents abandoned him. If he goes by himself, I have to too," Eris said.


    Her parents paused in thought. They moved to the side and talked to each other. Eris merely smiled.


    "I have them now," she thought.


    The Count and Countess Hapsburg walked back to their daughter.


    "You can go without us, but you''ll have double the usual amount of guards with you," Count Hapsburg said.


    "Of course," Eris replied.


    "You''ll also have double the number of maidservants with you," Countess Hapsburg added.


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    "Good. I''ll make quite the impression for the daughter of an unimportant Hapsburg branch. But won''t you be lonely without all those servants?" Eris said before thinking. "It''s what I''d have asked the first time around, but I have no idea how commoners could be any sort of company for nobles."


    "Don''t worry, Eris. I''ll be fine. I''m the one who should be worried about you," her mother assured her.


    "If you knew how much power I''m getting, you wouldn''t worry at all."


    After the Hapsburgs finished their talk, the castle was a flurry of activity. Servants went to and fro to prepare for Eris'' trip. The carriage was made as beautiful as possible, the horses were thoroughly checked for any health issues, and Eris was brought into a fitting room.


    Her family brought in a professional clothesmaker. He took her measurements with as much precision as he could. Eris watched him with a smile on her face.


    "Make this dress beautiful. I want to look as good as I can for Armand," she ordered.


    "As my Lady wishes," the clothesmaker said.


    "I wonder how Armand will react to me? He only complimented my looks as a courtesy before, and now he''s at the age where people start feeling physical attraction. I can''t wait to see him too! It''s been years, and I''ll get to see how handsome he''s grown. I hated him too much to find him attractive before, but now..." Eris giggled.


    The clothesmaker spoke up.


    "My Lady, I must ask you to stand still," he stated.


    "Of course. I just got excited," she said.


    In her head, Eris stood in front of a grand orchestral. Every single musician was a noble who would be at the banquet. She held a baton in her hand. With every motion Eris made, the nobles played to her tune.


    "When I show up to the banquet, every lady of my status will be jealous of me. I''ll have more guards, more servants, and my fianc¨¦ with me. A marriage that is both a love and political match is perfect. Some of them will try to kiss my ass. Others will try to ruin me. They will all fall before me, one way or another."


    Eris was elated.


    "Years of planning, finally coming to fruition. I know exactly who I need to manipulate."


    Armand stood before his parents. They gazed at him with cold eyes. He had a look of determination on his face.


    "You want us to put your siblings'' marriages in your hands?" Countess Concord asked.


    "Yes," he said.


    "I''ve given you management of the lesser manservants, control of the Southern forest, and lordship over the village of Blakesburg. For some ungodly reason, you freed all the serfs there," Count Concord replied.


    "Don''t forget that I am in charge of hunting bandits," Armand stated.


    His father pinched the bridge of his nose.


    "You have more than enough, Armand," he said.


    "The only thing I''ve done that you don''t approve of is freeing serfs. Aside from that, have I failed you?" Armand asked.


    His father glared.


    "You have not, but I will not give you any more power."


    "I knew he''d say that. But now, here comes an opportunity," Armand thought.


    "Why do you want to arrange your siblings'' marriages anyway?" Countess Hapsburg questioned.


    "Because I have an agenda that contradicts yours. I will not allow you to fulfill your agenda," Armand said.


    His parents said nothing, but the boy could see their faces swell with pride. He smiled.


    "Tell me, how much would it humiliate you if I arranged marriages for my siblings behind your backs?" Armand asked.


    "You wouldn''t dare," his father said.


    "I would. Even if you locked me in my room, I already sent letters to Eris giving her specific instructions. As my fiance, she can relay messages from me as long as they have my seal. And when we get married, she can act on my behalf," the boy replied.


    "Of course, I haven''t sent Eris any letters like that, but my parents don''t know," he thought.


    Count Concord smiled. His wife did the same.


    "You are a worthy heir, Armand. However, I still can''t let you decide who your siblings will marry. I have a deal for you instead."


    "And that would be?" Armand asked.


    "I will not arrange marriages for your siblings for 3 years. If you can prove yourself politically before then, I will put their weddings in your hands," Count Concord answered.


    "Perfect. I predicted exactly what he would say," the boy thought.


    Armand pretended to contemplate that offer for a few moments. Then, he spoke.


    "Very well, father. I will prove myself soon. Thankfully for me, I have the perfect opportunity to advance our family''s standing more than you ever could," Armand said.


    Both his parents grinned wider.


    "Tell us more, Armand," Countess Concord stated.


    "You remember those fliers we received from Count Staufer?" the boy asked.


    "Yes. He didn''t send letters because he wanted to make refusing attendance have no social consequences. The Orlock Plague has hit many houses hard," Count Concord answered.


    "Eris is attending his banquet, and I intend to go too," Armand said.


    "It''s been a few years since you saw her, and that will be an important political event. Kill two drakes with one arrow," he nodded.


    Armand smiled.


    "It''s more than just a political event. My spies told me that a genius spellcaster is attending. He''s so good that he''ll get the queen''s attention," Armand said before thinking. "I doubt my parents remember the story I told them years ago. So, I can reveal this information without them getting suspicious."


    "That good?" shock covered Countess Concord''s face.


    "And yet, we haven''t heard of him before. Has he been hiding for some reason?" her husband pondered.


    "I will reveal that sometime in the future," Armand said.


    Suspicion flowed over his parent''s faces.


    "And how do we know you''re not lying?" Count Concord asked.


    "I''m going to the banquet regardless of whether I''m lying or not. You''ll find out after it''s finished," Armand answered.


    He then turned away from his parents. Armand waved dismissively at them.


    "I''ll be going without you," he said before thinking. "If my parents find out that Rozwiazly is a commoner before he gets the attention of the queen, things won''t end well. It''s getting more clear that they''re more like Eris than they are like me. I can''t trust them either."


    Bitterness gurgled down Armand''s throat. He hated that revelation, but the boy couldn''t deny it.


    "Eris is lucky. She hasn''t had to spend years constantly impressing her parents."


    Armand went to one of his family''s carriages. He had some servants make it look far more upscale than it originally was. The boy then went into town, going to the best clothing maker he knew.


    When he saw Armand, the clothing maker bowed.


    "What can I do for you, my Lord?" he asked.


    "I need to make Eris like me as much as possible. Besides, she''s no doubt planning something for the banquet, and I might be able to stop her with my charms if manipulation fails," Armand thought before speaking. "Give me the best suit you can. I need to look good for my fiance."


    As his measurements were taken, the boy contemplated further.


    "I''ve been stuck with my family for the past few years. The most contact I''ve had with Eris is with letters. I have some ideas of what she''s planned, but she''s had all this time to scheme while I''ve been busy with my parents and siblings. I''m not sure if I''ll be able to stop her plans."


    He suppressed a shiver.


    "It''s hard enough to stop Eris when I can actively scheme against her. Now, I''m unprepared and she''s prepared. I''ll have to hope that I can at least stop her from doing anything too bad."

 Chapter 16: Eris Arrival at the Banquet

    The castle stood grand on the hilltop. It was massively tall. While the outer walls were purely practical, what should have been the keep was a beautiful palace. Rather than battlements, the building''s top had a slanted roof of blue bricks. Whitewash covered the castle, both the keep and the walls, stopping any stone from being shown.


    It was far larger than castles of previous eras too. Just a hundred years ago, Count Staufer''s ancestors wouldn''t have had enough men to defend something that big. Things were different now.


    Numerous carriages were lined up from outside the gate to the front of the keep. They were painted in numerous colors. Flags with the sigils of various nobles stuck out of their roofs. Guards surrounded the vehicles while servants got outside first to keep their masters from falling if they tripped.


    Eris stepped out of a carriage. She wore a beautiful dark red dress decorated with pearls. The girl stepped towards the keep with satin shoes. Her hands were covered in ermine gloves. Looking around, Eris saw that many other nobles were dressed in dark red too.


    "A popular color. Bloodstains aren''t as easy to see when you''re wearing dark red," she thought.


    With incredible grace, Eris sauntered to the keep''s door. There were two guards wielding halberds at the entrance. Their eyes fixed on her and her trail of maidservants.


    "Eris Hapsburg," she curtseyed. "Here for Count Staufer''s banquet and charity auction."


    The guards looked at the carriage she came from. They saw the two-headed eagle of House Hapsburg on it. One of them nodded.


    "Go on in, my Lady," he said.


    Eris entered the keep. The sun shone inside from grand windows, lighting up the whole building. There were several feast tables on the side. Tableclothes of grand velvet were between them and the food. In the center of the room was a large dance floor. A large chandelier hovered above the area, its glass shining bright. At the end of the room was a large table with a grand chair coated in a bearskin behind it. The girl saw a tall man with a thick beard sitting on the chair.


    With a smile, Eris walked around the room towards the man. She scanned the area as she moved. Numerous nobles were present. Some danced on the floor, others sat at feast tables, and still more stood and talked to each other. Servants ran through the room as well. Eris noticed that some people who were obviously commoners were freely speaking to nobles. A twinge of annoyance passed over her.


    "I wasn''t looking forward to dealing with those scholars, but I do what I must. More importantly, I can''t see Armand anywhere. Where is he? Is he just late, or did something happen?" Eris thought.


    Concern flowed through her. Still, the girl hid it well. She stepped up to a line that led to the table at the end of the hall. A few nobles stood in front of her. Eris waited until it was her turn and then walked to the bearded man.


    "Eris Hapsburg, here to attend your feast and auction," she curtsied.


    "Count Johan Staufer, pleased to meet you," the bearded man said.


    Then, a smile crossed his face.


    "I''m happy to tell you that, while the auction is tomorrow, my castle has enough rooms for every noble here. You won''t have to sleep in the great hall like with normal banquets," Count Staufer added.


    "Oh, that''s wonderful!" Eris smiled.


    "Hopefully, there won''t be any assassinations. There weren''t any last time, but any murders would get in the way of my plans. Especially if they make Marques Lutin paranoid. I''d prefer it if she didn''t notice the magically detonated bombs my servants are sneaking into her carriage," she thought.


    Her expression turned serious.


    "But I have a slight concern. What if there''s foul play at night? We wouldn''t know anyone was killed until morning," Eris said.


    "Don''t worry, Lady Eris. I can assure you that I hired extra mercenaries so everyone remains safe. Besides, I doubt anyone would be so crass as to kill someone during a feast and charity event," Count Staufer replied.


    The girl pretended to ponder things. She made a frightful look enter her eyes.


    "Thank you for your security, but I''m still a bit afraid. I know it''s normally inappropriate for unmarried men and women to sleep in the same room, but my fiance will arrive here soon, and I''d feel much safer if he stayed with me," Eris stated.


    Count Staufer stroked his beard.


    "This is your first banquet, isn''t it?"


    "Yes."


    "Well, I suppose it''s only natural that a vulnerable young woman would feel nervous," Count Staufer said. "I mean no offense. I''m sure that you can take care of yourself, but I saw many depraved men in the War of the Dukes. I can''t blame any woman for being paranoid anymore."


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    Eris curtsied again.


    "I took no offense, Count Staufer. You''re right that there are many depraved men around," she said before thinking. "Many useful men around."


    The girl then pretended to force a smile.


    "So, I must ask you to talk to the other guests. I would prefer it if they didn''t assume the worst of my fiance. I''d even allow doctors to inspect my hymen tomorrow to confirm that I''m a virgin," Eris stated.


    "Of course. I wouldn''t want any of my guests to suffer discomfort. And you''re barely an adult, so I''m certain that nothing will happen with your fiance," Count Staufer nodded.


    "Thank you."


    With that, Eris did a third curtsy and went to the side of the room.


    "After he talks to everyone, people will start thinking that I''m a scared young woman. Right now, I need them to underestimate me," she thought.


    Three noblewomen approached Eris. Two were walking behind another. They all wore corsets over their other clothing.


    The woman in front was a haggard woman in her late 30s. Her face had lines on it, and her blonde hair was starting to gray. She gave off the aura of an iron woman. Grand robes of blue and black coated her body. More jewelry decked her body than anyone else in the room. There was a glass of wine in her hand.


    "Duchess Katrina Anhalt, the highest-ranking woman here. Her husband died prematurely, and there were always rumors that she murdered him. She dies under mysterious circumstances a year from now, so I never had a chance to confirm those rumors," Eris thought.


    To the duchess'' left was a woman of 20 with green eyes and brown hair. She was dressed in a plain red dress. Heavy makeup covered her face, hiding bruises. There was a forced smile on her face.


    "Natalia Anhalt, daughter of Katrina Anhalt and future Duchess Anhalt. Despite her age, she''s unmarried. If I recall, she never married and the household passed to her cousin."


    The last woman was in her late 50s, a rare example of a noble who lived to old age. She may have been beautiful once, but now she was a mess. Her gray hair had almost fallen out, she had a portly body, and there was a perpetual grimace on her face. There were a dozen corsets on her body to constrain her weight.


    "Lady Elizabeth Maarten, the aunt of the current Duchess Anhalt. Right now, those three are the biggest obstacle to my plans. Hopefully, my assessment of them isn''t wrong," Eris thought.


    Aside from Elizabeth, their mouths smiled, but not their eyes. The girl feigned fear as she saw them. Eris pretended to put herself back together. She curtsied.


    "I''m honored to meet you. I am Eris Hapsburg," the girl said.


    "I am Duchess Anhalt. Tell me which branch of the Hapsburgs you are from."


    "The Felsenfurt Hapsburgs," Eris stated.


    "Ah, a small, insignificant branch," Duchess Anhalt''s eyes narrowed.


    She gripped her wine glass so hard Eris thought it would break.


    "Tell me, Lady Hapsburg. Why did you bring more servants and guards than I did?"


    Natalia Anhalt looked to the side for a moment. Eris didn''t look away from the Duchess, but she noticed swift movement.


    "What now?" Eris thought before speaking. "I was scared, your Grace. It''s my first time at a feast like this, and I wanted to be safe."


    The girl made as sympathetic an expression as she could. As the Duchess gazed at Eris, the older woman''s face softened. Her eyes remained the same. Duchess Anhalt leaned in close.


    "Did you think I would fall for your cute little face? I can tell that you''re a horrid bitch of a woman. Even if you weren''t, I didn''t get to be the head of my house by playing nice," she whispered.


    Eris'' expression didn''t change.


    "It looks like I misjudged her. I''ll have to go with one of my backup plans," the Hapsburg thought before whispering. "I know. I admire that about you."


    "Rats like you cling to people who earned their power like lint on cloth. Now, I''m going to humiliate you so badly that you never show your face in public again. And you are going to let me. If you don''t, I will make you regret being born," Duchess Anhalt said.


    "So, you have chosen death," Eris thought.


    The Duchess stood up. She then pointed at the rafters above them while keeping her eye on Eris. There was a man there. He held a bucket in his hand. Leaning back in, Duchess Anhalt whispered once more.


    "That bucket was filled from a public latrine," she said.


    Eris moved her hand as quickly as she could, making sure it remained as unseen as possible. She flicked a drop of her favorite poison into Duchess Anhalt''s wine.


    Eris thought, "All I have to do is dodge the bucket, and..."


    A familiar voice interrupted her contemplation.


    "There you are, my love," Armand said.


    He wore a fine dark red jerkin with a light red velvet doublet under it. His upper hose was also dark red while the stocking below it was white. The boy''s shoes were wide-toed and slightly pointed. A hat with a plume from an exotic bird alighted his head.


    Armand grabbed Eris'' hand.


    "Come with me," he smiled.


    "Excuse me," Dutchess Anhalt glared. "I was having a talk with this woman."


    Armand gave her a quick bow.


    "I apologize for this interruption, but I haven''t seen my fiance in years. I simply must talk to her now that I have the chance," he said.


    He dragged Eris off. She made a show of resisting, but Eris didn''t put any real effort in. As the girl looked back, she saw Dutchess Anhalt take a drink from her glass of wine.


    Armand brought Eris into a room to the side of the great hall. It was a chapel with a gold statue of a god inside. Cold stone walls surrounded them, and sunlight shone over the room from circle-shaped holes in the wall and roof. Eris and Armand were alone there. The latter gazed at the former with suspicion in his eyes.


    "Thank the gods you came when you did. I almost got shit poured on my face," Eris said.


    "Don''t thank me. Some day, I''ll be your husband. And it''s a husband''s duty to protect his wife''s honor," Armand replied before thinking. "Of course, the only way Eris is honorable is that she''s not a coward. But doing my duty as a husband before we''re married is a good way to get her to like me."


    "Armand wants to protect my honor? Even if it''s just out of duty, I''m so happy!" Eris thought.


    There was a wide smile on her face. She noticed that Armand was just pretending to look happy. Anger was clear in his eyes. Eris'' smile faded.


    "Were you trying to save Dutchess Anhalt?"


    "No. I saw you kill her. Most people wouldn''t have figured it out, but you tried to kill me 16 times the same way you killed her," Armand said.


    "Don''t worry about the Dutchess. She killed her husband, so she deserves to die," Eris replied.


    "I don''t know that for sure, but all that matters is if Armand believes it," she thought.


    "Does Eris think that matters?" Armand thought.


    "That is not why you tried to kill her," he said.


    It was not a question but a statement of fact.


    "Of course, it wasn''t. Are you mad about that?" Eris asked.


    Concern crossed her face.


    "Did I cross a line? Does Armand hate me now? Killing someone for insulting me isn''t even wrong. Nobles have to avenge slights. Maybe he''s upset that I didn''t face Dutchess Anhalt in a duel?" she thought.


    "I decided that I''d be more honest with Eris to repay her honesty with me, but is now the time to be honest? Perhaps not, but if I don''t say something, I''ll be stuck here while she tries to manipulate me into talking. I can''t waste that much time," Armand thought.


    "I''m not upset about that. If you didn''t kill her, she''d try to kill you the next time you show your face in public. Honestly, I shouldn''t be mad at all. I know that I can''t trust you at all, especially with important things," he said.


    Eris'' heart sank.


    "This is the first time I wished Armand wasn''t trying to be more honest with me. Armand should hide his anger more than that. This must be something serious," she thought before speaking. "Armand, I don''t have time to play a game of manipulation. Just tell me what I did to make you mad."


    Armand stopped pretending to be happy. He glared at Eris.


    "Why didn''t you tell me that Brutus Medici remembers what happened before I turned back time?"

 Chapter 17: Armands Arrival at the Banquet

    Armand arrived at Count Staufer''s castle an hour before Eris did. He walked towards the entrance as fast as he could while also looking dignified.


    The boy wore a red velvet doublet with a red cloak wrapped around it. He had long hose going down to his wooden shoes. A pair of pants where the upper parts poofed out adorned his legs.


    "Hopefully, Eris isn''t here yet. I need to keep an eye on her," he thought.


    The boy stepped inside the grand hall. There wasn''t much of a line in front of Count Staufer. So, Armand moved over to it. He was in front of the noble soon enough.


    "Armand Concord, at your service," the boy introduced himself.


    "Count Johan Staufer, pleased to meet you," there was a smile on the man''s face. "I have good news for you. My castle has rooms for all of my guests. You won''t have to sleep in the grand hall."


    "That sounds like the perfect opportunity for assassination. Eris won''t use it. It''s far too obvious. Still, someone else might," Armand thought before speaking. "Will we be safe, your Excellency?"


    "You will. I''ve hired extra guards just to make sure you are."


    "Thank you, your Excellency."


    Armand took a bow and moved away. He went to the side of the room. The boy scanned the area, looking for Eris or any member of the anti-serfdom faction. A voice came to Armand''s ear just when he saw someone he recognized.


    "You are Armand Concord, correct?"


    He turned in the voice''s direction. Armand found himself face-to-face with a black-haired boy his age. This newcomer had a thin face, dark brown eyes, and wore clothing several times as opulent as Armand''s.


    "He looks familiar, but there''s no way it''s him. Maybe this is just a coincidence," Armand thought before speaking. "I am."


    "My name is Brutus Medici," the boy replied.


    Armand hid his shock as best as he could.


    "I thought they looked similar, but what''s Brutus doing here? Did some change Eris or I made cause him to go to Caunt Staufer''s banquet?" Armand thought.


    "I''m honored to meet you," he said.


    "We need to talk in private. Follow me to the chapel," Brutus replied.


    The Medici guided Armand into the same chapel he''d later bring Eris to. Armand kept his face stoic, not giving anything away. Brutus looked him right in the eyes.


    "Armand, I want to confirm something: are you marrying a woman named Eris Hapsburg?" Brutus asked.


    "I am," Armand answered.


    Brutus clenched Armand''s shoulders so hard they hurt.


    "Listen to me, Armand. I''m from the future. Eris is not the woman you think she is," the Medici said.


    It took all of Armand''s willpower to hide his shock.


    "Brutus remembers the future? That shouldn''t be possible! Chronos'' control over time should be absolute! I should play dumb for now and try to get more information," Armand thought before speaking. "How do I know you''re from the future?"


    "If the fact that I''m the son of a duke introducing myself to the son of a count of an insignificant family isn''t enough, I know that a commoner named Rozwiazly will arrive at this banquet later today. Listen to what I have to say. Then, wait for Rozwialzy to show up. You''ll know I speak the truth then."


    Armand pretended to take that in.


    "If you''re from the future, what are you doing in the past?"


    "I don''t know, but I remember the future because Muninn owed me a favor. My best guess is that Eris turned back time when she died," Brutus said.


    Armand''s body turned cold.


    "He knows that Eris died. The only people who should have known about that are myself, Eris, and whoever killed her," he thought.


    "How did she die?" Armand asked.


    "She was killed in public, gunned down by a mob of peasants," Brutus answered, his voice filled with lies.


    Armand clenched his fists so hard they turned white. Rage pulsed through him.


    "You lying bastard. You killed Eris, didn''t you? No, wait, I can''t blame you for killing her. Eris was a monster. She deserved to die. I need to calm down. I know what sort of person Eris was," he thought before speaking. "Why do you think Eris turned back time?"


    "A few years ago, she sent a letter to me. Eris never did that before time was turned back," Brutus said.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "I should have expected Eris to plot against me," Armand contemplated, trying to force his rage down.


    "How did you respond?" he asked.


    "I sent the most insulting letter I possibly could. Then, nothing came of it. A normal girl would have shown her parents the letter I sent. The fact that she didn''t means that she has a more mature mind."


    So much rage pulsed through Armand that he felt like he''d burst a vein. The boy kept his voice stoic, but he couldn''t bring himself to calm down.


    "After a letter like that, Eris must have figured out that Brutus remembers the future!" Armand thought.


    "I likely exposed myself to her, but it was worth it to confirm that she remembers the future. So, listen to me, Armand. Eris is..." Brutus started.


    Armand held up his hand. Brutus grew silent.


    "When did you send Eris that letter?" Armand asked.


    "Three years ago," Brutus answered.


    Armand felt like strangling Brutus to death and using his corpse to bludgeon Eris into a bloody pulp. His anger was so great that he couldn''t hide it.


    "Eris knew Brutus remembered for three years, and she didn''t tell me. I shouldn''t be mad about this. I know that I can''t trust Eris. I know that she''s plotting behind my back. I know that she''s still a monster. I haven''t gotten any real chances to start redeeming her yet. I know this is far from the worst thing Eris did to me, even after time was reversed. I know all this, but..."


    The boy''s fist slammed right at the stone wall of the chapel. He stopped it a centimeter before impact.


    "I can''t help but be mad! I''ve never been this angry before! This was so important, but Eris never told me! I will have words with her about this!" Armand thought.


    "You''re getting unreasonably mad," Brutus said.


    Armand gave him a death glare. Brutus froze.


    "I''m good at reading people, Brutus. I know you''re telling the truth when you said you''re from the future. But you lied about how Eris died. Why would someone lie about how someone else died unless they''re the person that killed her?" Armand''s voice was ice.


    "Listen to me, Armand! Eris is a monster! She''s just..."


    Before Brutus could finish, Armand placed his hand over his mouth.


    "I don''t care what you have to say, Brutus. I won''t tell Eris that you killed her. But if she dies, no matter how, I''m taking your head and mounting it on my wall. Do you understand?" Armand said before thinking. "Eris lost the right to know that Brutus killed her when she didn''t tell me that he remembered."


    He removed his hand. Brutus took a deep breath.


    "Yes, Armand, I understand. And yes, I killed Eris. But she deserved worse than what I did to her."


    "I know. Eris deserved much worse. I don''t even know why I''m mad at you," Armand thought.


    "I hope, for your sake, that you understand. You''ve already made an enemy of Eris. Don''t make me your enemy too," he said.


    Armand stormed out of the chapel. He scanned the grand hall, hoping to see Eris. Then, the boy saw her. An older woman stood in front of the girl. Moving quickly, Armand approached the two.


    The older woman leaned close to Eris and pointed at the rafters. Armand looked up. He saw the man with a bucket there.


    "What is that woman trying to do to Eris? If she hurts her, I''ll...why am I still mad? Whatever it is, Eris deserves it! I shouldn''t be mad about this, but..." Armand thought.


    He moved closer at a faster rate. Armand saw Eris flicking her hand.


    "Eris just killed that woman. I remember when she tried that same trick on me. I don''t know what to think about this, but if she was going to insult Eris, then she''d need to avenge what little honor she has," Armand thought. "Now, I need to do my duty as a husband and protect Eris from whatever''s in that bucket."


    "There you are, my love," Armand said.


    Back at the present, Eris breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Is that all you were mad about? I''ll just tell you. First, I contacted Brutus because I wanted to introduce you to him earlier so you could actually be friends and so he wouldn''t get in the way of my rise to power. I didn''t tell you that he remembered because he sent me a letter that made me his enemy. If I showed you the letter, you''d think I wrote it to turn you against Brutus. And you wouldn''t believe me if I told you without it," Eris said.


    Armand punched himself in the face. Worry flashed through Eris.


    "Are you alright, Armand?" she asked.


    "I''m fine," he answered before thinking. "I''m still mad. I shouldn''t be at this point, but..."


    "I would have believed you that Brutus remembers without the letter, but you''re right that I''d have thought you were trying to turn me against him. If you tried, you''d have been wasting your time anyway. Brutus turned me against him today," Armand said.


    "I''m still not telling Eris that Brutus killed her. If the letter was even half as insulting as I think it was, Eris wants Brutus and his whole family dead. If she finds out he killed her, she won''t rest until every single person he rules over is dead," he thought.


    Armand leaned against a wall, desperately trying to cool his anger.


    "We should move on to other business," Eris said. "The auction is tomorrow, so we both need to accomplish whatever we''re planning today. No manipulation games."


    The two of them looked at each other and nodded.


    "Eris is right that we don''t have all day. I''ll be blunt," Armand thought before speaking. "I''m not letting you get away with whatever you''re planning, Eris."


    "And I''m not planning anything that you can stop that you think would be worth stopping, Armand," she replied.


    "So, you''re planning on doing things that I can''t stop?" Armand asked.


    Eris took a deep breath.


    "He''s not wrong, but it''s just one assassination. That isn''t a big deal," she thought.


    "Armand, I want to show you that you can rely on me. I''ve planned everything out over the three years since we last met. I have one request for you: aside from what you''ve already planned, sit on the sidelines and just watch," Eris requested.


    Armand looked at her like she was completely insane.


    "Eris, that was the stupidest thing you said in your entire life. There''s not a chance in hell that I''m not interfering," he said.


    "Listen, Armand, think of this as a concert," Eris replied. "I''m the conductor of an orchestra of manipulation, and you''re my number one audience member. You get the best seat to this."


    "Does Eris really think I''m that stupid? Then again, is she really stupid enough to try something I''d hate right in front of me? Eris wants our marriage more than I do. I''m taking the bigger risk by not interfering, but Eris no doubt thinks she has more to lose," Armand thought.


    His anger started to abate.


    "Eris, prove that I can trust you today. If you do that, I won''t interfere," he said.


    "Okay. First, I''m not asking you to stay away from me. If you''re not in one of your own schemes, I want you to be right by my side. This concert is as much for you as it is for me. So, if I do anything that you hate, you''ll be in a position to stop it. Next..." Eris took a deep breath.


    The girl reached into her clothes. She pulled out a wheellock pistol. Eris placed it on the chapel''s floor. A dagger, 7 vials of poison, and the rapier on Eris'' hip joined the weapon.


    "This is everything lethal that I''m carrying on me. Take it and bring it with you. I will have no way to kill anyone or protect myself. I''m putting my life in your hands," she said.


    Then, Eris raised her arms.


    "If you don''t believe me, search my clothes for anything else."


    Armand took Eris up on her offer. He patted down her body, being as thorough as possible. There were no other weapons or poisons. Then, Armand grabbed the dagger, wheellock pistol, and 7 vials of poison. The boy concealed them in his own clothes.


    "Put your rapier back on. I''m not leaving you completely defenseless, Eris," he said.


    The girl retained her composure as she placed the rapier on her hip.


    "Thank you, Armand. I won''t disappoint you," she smiled.


    "You''d better not. I don''t want you to die of the flux," Armand replied.


    For some reason, a sense of nostalgia flowed through Eris when Armand threatened to kill her. She smiled, made a curtsy, and held out her hand.


    "Would you do me the honor of escorting me to the banquet?" Eris asked.


    "Of course, Eris. You''re my fiance," Armand answered.


    He took her hand in his and they left the chapel together.

 Chapter 18: A Battle of Manipulation

    Armand and Eris exited the chapel and walked into the grand hall. Brutus Medici stood right in front of them. There was a fake smile on his face.


    "So, Brutus is actually showing his face to me? Good! I''ll humiliate him," Eris thought.


    "Brutus'' words couldn''t reach me, so he probably wants to expose Eris right here. Not just to me, but to everyone at the banquet," Armand clenched his fists so hard they turned white. "Eris deserves to be exposed. She murdered, raided, slaughtered, and committed all manner of crimes the last time around. And Eris has probably done the same behind my back."


    Armand took a deep breath.


    "But she''s also my fianc¨¦. If I''m going to redeem Eris, I need her to like me. And that means doing my duty as her future husband. I''m taking Eris'' side," he thought.


    Then, Eris whispered in his ear.


    "Armand, what are you thinking?" she asked.


    "That I''m going to shut Brutus down before he can do anything to you," Armand answered in a hushed voice.


    Eris'' heart fluttered.


    "I''m so happy right now! Armand''s siding with me over his old political ally! But..." she thought before speaking. "Could you stay out of this, Armand? This is between me and Brutus, and we both know he isn''t your equal."


    "Okay," Armand whispered before thinking. "Brutus, I don''t know if whether you''re lucky or unlucky that I accepted Eris'' request."


    Brutus gave a polite bow.


    "Ah, my dear Eris, it''s good to see you here. I trust that you''re doing fine? I hope that you got my response letter," he said.


    "Starting off by trying to aggravate Eris. And mentioning the letter to imply that Eris is interested in another man. Most people wouldn''t think that someone as young as her, even if she is an adult, would have those sorts of interests. But Eris still has no choice but to respond to the starting letter," Armand thought.


    Eris made an apologetic expression.


    "I''m so sorry that you won''t be able to attend my wedding. I hope that you''re able to resolve your family issues?" she asked.


    "As expected, you did a good job, Eris. You clarified things right away and diverted attention from yourself. Plus, anyone listening will now start looking into the nonexistent Medici family issues. Even if it doesn''t cause trouble, it won''t help Brutus," Armand thought.


    Brutus'' eyes were cold.


    "It''s a small matter, Eris. No need to worry," he said.


    "A good move from Brutus. He deflected the issue while also giving Eris an opening to invite him to her wedding. If she does, then it''ll give him another chance to expose her if this fails. If she doesn''t, people will assume something else is going on. Of course, I expect Eris to bring up a third option. In any case, it extends the conversation. That leaves Eris with less time to continue her plans," Armand pondered.


    Eris feigned concern.


    "Oh, I''m so sorry, Brutus!" she stated. "I''d have invited you to attend my wedding again, but the guest list is already full."


    "Eris made the obvious response. Of course, it''s a response that works. But I''m certain Brutus also expected it," Armand thought.


    The Medici boy nodded.


    "Such a shame. In any case, my family''s lands are being beset by bandits. Do you know anything about that, Eris?"


    Armand wanted to facepalm.


    "Brutus, this is the sort of thing you confront Eris about when you''re not in earshot of anyone. You''ve lost this game of intrigue."


    "You fucking idiot. You just handed me victory," Eris thought before speaking. "You''re being attacked by bandits? That''s horrible! Maybe I can help? I''m sure I can convince my parents to send some men over."


    Utter humiliation crossed Brutus'' face. He looked to the floor, trying to hide his expression. Whispers erupted from nearby nobles.


    "Eris just made it look like Brutus'' family, a duke family, was trying to get help from a count''s family that wasn''t even their vassal to deal with bandits. Dukes shouldn''t even need their own vassals'' help for brigands. She didn''t just shame Brutus. She shamed the Medici, and she did it while appearing helpful," Armand thought.


    "And since my direct feudal lord is His Majesty, he won''t object to me offering the Medici family help," Eris thought.


    Brutus shook his head.


    "I apologize, but I cannot accept your help, Lady Eris. I must leave now," he said.


    The Medici boy stormed out of the building. Eris suppressed a smug smirk. Armand held down a sigh.


    "Just a few more years, and I''ll be able to hunt down Eris'' bandits," he thought.


    Then, Armand''s and Eris'' eyes turned to a group of people in the room. Most of them wore university attire. But two of them wore far finer clothes.


    One of them was a man in his mid-20s. He had a short blonde beard with a long mustache. There was a hat with seven feathers on his head. The man had a black doublet with a white collar that puffed out around his legs. Two gloves were on his hands, several rings on them, and he had hose on his legs. Though, the man''s most distinguishing feature was that his nose was made of gold.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The other was a man of 17. His clothes were similar to the first''s except he was clean-shaven, had dark brown hair, no rings, a normal nose, and his doublet was green in color.


    "You shame the Cumberland family, talking with so many commoners like that," the second man grimaced.


    "They are not just commoners," the other well-dressed person replied. "They''re scholars, men of learning and knowledge! Would you throw away their knowledge because they''re not nobles, brother?"


    "How could commoners possibly have such knowledge?"


    "Duke Tycho Cumberland and his brother, Lord Joseph Cumberland," Eris thought. "Joseph became one of my political allies while Tycho sided with Armand. I don''t know what I''m going to do counts as stabbing Joseph in the back because I''m not allied to him this time around, but I really don''t care."


    Eris was about to approach them when she noticed that Armand looked like he was going to throw up.


    "Are you okay, Armand?" Eris asked.


    "I''m fine," he answered. "I just remembered the last time I saw Duke Cumberland."


    "Oh, right. He died in the Fifth Disaster. Armand probably saw his corpse," Eris thought before speaking. "You came here to talk to him, right?"


    "I''m not surprised Eris figured that out," Armand contemplated and then spoke. "I did."


    "Then put on a smile. You''re getting to see your old ally again," Eris said.


    "Not ally. Friend," Armand corrected before thinking. "What does Eris want with him? Is she planning on humiliating him too? Or maybe she wants to align herself with Lord Joseph again?"


    The two walked over to the Cumberlands and the scholars. Eris gazed between Joseph and a nearby woman.


    This woman was about 19. She had a head of silky blonde hair along with green eyes. Her red dress was bedecked in jewelry, and its skirt extended wide around her legs.


    "Duchess Armstrong, another key political ally of mine the last time around. She''d go on to marry Lord Joseph Cumberland. If they get married again, they''d be a threat to Armand and I," Eris thought.


    She then looked across the room. There was a bearded man who wore a cuirass standing alone there. He had a military sword at his hip, far thicker than the dueling rapier. His wide-brimmed hat had several feathers in it, and the man''s other clothes were more suited for a battlefield than a ball. No one was talking to him.


    "Marquis Richard Salm. He was the crown prince and eldest princess'' favorite before he found out their secret and refused to help them hide it. They conspired to remove him from power, getting him kicked out of his position as groom of the stool and almost succeeding at assassinating him several times. Two years from now, he''ll raise a rebellion against the crown. This will be put down by a relative of mine from one of the larger Hapsburg branches. My relative will then be the prince and princess'' favorite until he finds out their secret and refuses to help them hide it. Then, I''ll kill him and take his place," Eris thought. "If I could make myself a target, Armand and I could be the ones to put down his rebellion. Then, I''ll gain the prince and princess'' favor earlier than before. And Armand will be happy that I didn''t assassinate one of my relatives."


    A smile crossed her face.


    "Thankfully, Armand was always smart enough to keep his mouth shut about the prince and princess'' secret. So, he won''t get in the way. Now, in just a few moments, I''ll start my orchestra of manipulation."


    Armand approached the scholars with Eris at his side.


    "Commoners at a banquet for nobles? You must be incredibly talented if you''re here," he said.


    "Thank you, my Lord," one of them replied.


    "And who might you be?" Duke Cumberland asked.


    Armand bowed, and Eris curtsied.


    "I am Lord Armand Richelieu Concord," he introduced himself.


    "And I am Lady Eris Hapsburg, his fiance," she added.


    "It''s good to meet you two. I am Duke Tycho Cumberland. And this is my brother, Joseph."


    "Charmed," Joseph didn''t bother giving a fake smile.


    Armand stood up, gazing at the commoners.


    "And who might these men be? They look like scholars," he said.


    "No common scholar should be here," Joseph stated.


    "Let the men talk," Duke Cumberland commanded.


    He then gave one of the commoners, who had a tall hat, a nod.


    "We are humanists from the University of Cumberland," he said.


    "Humanists? I''ve never heard of that before," Armand spoke before thinking. "I always liked humanists."


    "Ever since the days of the Reme Empire, and even before then, humanity has accomplished great things. Art, science, magic, and architecture are all the purview of humanity," the commoner stated.


    "You have a good point," Armand replied.


    "I''m glad you think so, my Lord. The fact is that humans are filled with potential, and we must make the most of that potential. It is not just our privilege but our duty."


    "That''s what you humanists believe, but what do you do?"


    "We educate people in all the great achievements of humanity. Not just in what was accomplished, but how it was accomplished. That way, we can not just replicate those feats but surpass them," the scholar said.


    "Eris, when we have children, we should have them educated in humanism," Armand stated.


    "I doubt she''ll like humanism, but Eris can at least pretend to consider the idea," he thought.


    The Hapsburg girl contemplated things for a moment.


    "What I''m wondering is why commoners like these men are interested in humanism," Eris said.


    "We believe humanism is for everyone, not just nobles," the scholar replied.


    "As if commoners could understand any of that," Joseph scoffed.


    "I think educating commoners in humanism is a great idea," Eris said.


    "Oh, good. Eris is playing along. That should..." Armand thought.


    Then, he looked at Eris'' face. There was an excited smile on her face. Armand noticed that Eris'' eyes were smiling too.


    "Eris really likes humanism, and she thinks teaching commoners it is a good idea? Why would someone like her care about educating commoners at all? She must have some ulterior motive," he pondered.


    "I never put much stock in humanism before. I always saw it as some random foolishness, but now I see its value. If we make sure commoners know what humans have accomplished, they''ll see the futility of resisting our rule. Humanism might bring peasant revolts to an end," Eris thought.


    Then, her eyes turned to Joseph.


    "But enough of that for now. It''s time to play some music for Armand."


    Eris gave him a smile.


    "Lord Joseph, I must say that you''re an impressive figure. You must have a lot of marriage proposals coming in," she said.


    "I have a few, but not any that suit me," he replied.


    "There aren''t many appropriate matches for a duke''s brother. Perhaps you seek someone above a duchess?"


    Duchess Armstrong''s ears perked up. Eris smirked.


    "One of the princesses would be ideal," Joseph nodded.


    "Ideal, but highly unlikely. His Majesty would never consider marrying his eldest daughter to Joseph. And his youngest daughters are both far too young," Duke Cumberland stated. "It''d be best for him to marry soon, perhaps to a duchess? There are quite a few in need of heirs."


    Eris nodded.


    "I''m certain there are. But perhaps the princess herself would be interested? I''m certain that she could convince his Majesty."


    Joseph narrowed his eyes.


    "What''s your game?" he asked.


    "There''s a certain pathetic, insufferable little man that I hate. I want to see him humiliated right at this ball. I can''t do it myself, and I want him to know that I''m behind it. It just so happens that humiliating him might get you the princess'' favor. All you need to do is take public credit for it while making sure he knows I''m behind this," Eris answered.


    "Oh, I see. I know exactly who you''re talking about," Armand thought. "So, that''s your game, Eris? You''re making us a target so we can put down his revolt. I''m not against this plan. We could kill him with far less loss of life than your relative did."


    "Who is this man?" Joseph questioned.


    "Joseph, think carefully. I won''t stop you if you want to do this, but we''ll make an enemy with no gain if this fails," Duke Cumberland warned.


    "I know what I''m doing, brother. Now, tell me, Lady Eris. Who do I have to humiliate?"


    Eris smiled.


    "Marquis Richard Salm."

 Chapter 19: Ro Ro Rozwiazly

    "Richard Salm?" Joseph smirked. "I''ll do that."


    He walked off, approaching the Marquis. Armand turned to Duke Cumberland.


    "I know how he''s going to answer this, but I need to ask anyway," Armand thought before speaking. "Are you sure you want to let your brother do this?"


    "Joseph wants to stand on his own. If I don''t let him do this, he''ll never forgive me. Even if he gets injured or killed, it''s better than making my brother an enemy," a hint of sadness crossed the duke''s face.


    Armand nodded.


    "I agree. It''s a shame that the crown prince and eldest princess don''t," he said.


    That caught Eris'' attention.


    "Armand, what are you doing?" she thought.


    "Yes. Their father just became king, and they''re already fighting over succession. He hasn''t even gotten a chance to warm his throne yet," Duke Cumberland agreed.


    Rage flashed through Eris.


    "Armand, you know that getting the crown prince and eldest princess'' favor was key to my power! Are you betraying me now?"


    He looked at Eris.


    "I know exactly what you''re thinking, Eris. You''re wondering if I''ve betrayed you. Don''t worry, Eris, I will get you the power I promised. But I will take down the crown prince and eldest princess. They caused division and war between nobles in Foldzar, all to hide their disgusting secret. We can''t afford that with the disasters," Armand thought.


    The boy winked at Eris. Her heart thumped.


    "Is Armand doing this for me? Or is it mutual interest? I told him to just watch my schemes today, but was he planning this from the start? Whatever it is, it''s...nostalgic? I think that''s the right word," Eris thought.


    Armand turned back to the duke.


    "A princess who wants to steal her brother''s throne, and a prince who despises his sister. Their younger brother has his hands full, keeping the two of them from murdering each other," the boy stated.


    "Yes. I hate to think about Foldzar''s state with those two," Duke Cumberland said.


    "At least their younger brother is there. He''s a good child," Armand nodded.


    Eris'' heart thumped again.


    "Armand, are you trying to make the second eldest prince the heir? You never dared to challenge the crown prince and eldest princess. It was too much, but now...why now? This is so bold! I love it!" she thought.


    The boy gave her a quick glance with a slight smile.


    "Eris, I know you''ll like this plan. And if we work together, I''m certain we can take down the crown prince and eldest princess," Armand thought.


    A soft smile crossed Eris'' face. She was cackling with glee inside.


    "If we can put the second eldest prince on the throne, he''ll owe us more than the crown prince and eldest princess ever owed me! I''m so glad I''m going to marry you, Armand!" Eris thought.


    Then, a great need welled up in her. Eris hugged herself and started wiggling.


    "I want to have another manipulation game with you so badly! It would be so much fun! Calm down, Eris, control yourself! You''re Armand''s fiance, and he''s going to get you power. Right now, you need to have his back. We can have a private manipulation game later."


    Duke Cumberland saw this.


    "Is your fiance okay, Armand?" he asked.


    The boy looked at Eris.


    "What is she doing now? Is something actually wrong with Eris? Is she in danger? I''ve never seen Eris do something like this before," he thought.


    Worry flashed through Armand.


    "I hope she is. I''ll talk to her," he said.


    Armand walked over to Eris.


    "Are you alright, Eris?" Armand asked.


    She stopped her wiggling.


    "Oh, I''m fine, Armand. I was just really happy," Eris answered.


    "That is not a normal way to express happiness. Then again, Eris is hardly normal," Armand thought before speaking. "Perhaps you should sit down a moment? I''ll go with you."


    "Oh, no. I might have ruined Armand''s plans!" she waved it off. "There''s no need to worry. You''re talking to Duke Cumberland. I would hate to interrupt your conversation."


    "Now is not the time to worry about schemes! Unless you really are okay. But...I can''t take any chances," Armand thought.


    "Your health is more important," he said.


    Armand turned to the duke and bowed.


    "If we may be excused," the boy spoke.


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    "You may. Go on, take care of your fiance," Duke Cumberland said.


    "Thank you."


    Armand gently grabbed Eris'' arm. He guided her to a bench where they both sat down.


    "Eris, you need to be honest with me: are you okay?" Armand asked.


    "I''m fine. I''m sorry that I interrupted your scheming. You were trying to convince Duke Cumberland to help you side with the second eldest prince, right?" she replied.


    "Of course, that''s what you''re worrying about," he thought before speaking. "Somewhat. My goal was to plant the seed in his head. I''ve done that. It''ll be a while before it''s anywhere near fruition."


    Eris breathed a sigh of relief.


    "That''s good. You have a good scheme. Just make sure you don''t change things too much, or we won''t be able to know the future as well as before," she said.


    "It''s too late for that now. My parents and siblings are still alive. Things will change in ways we can''t predict," Armand replied.


    The girl sighed.


    "That''s a good point," she said.


    "And I''ll need your help for my plan. You''re still going to work for and gain the trust of the crown prince and eldest princess. I''ll help set things up so that you get your old position under them," Armand stated.


    "And then I stab them in the back when the time is right," Eris nodded.


    The boy sighed. A wretched feeling of guilt flowed through him.


    "I hate doing this. I hate betrayal, gaining peoples'' trust, and then destroying them. But in the case of the prince and princess, this is the best way to ensure they don''t cause too much damage to Foldzar," Armand said.


    Eris placed a hand on his shoulder.


    "They had me murder people to hide their secret. I''m sure that you think their actions are morally wrong," she stated.


    "Now, I just feel like a hypocrite," Armand shook his head. "I know that sometimes, you have to choose the lesser evil. But that doesn''t mean I like having to choose it. But there are times when I choose it. I really am a horrible person."


    Before Eris could deny that, a noise caught their attention. The two turned to see Marquis Salm and Joseph grappling on a table. Daggers were drawn, and blood splattered the cloth.


    "Just as predicted," Eris smiled.


    "You knew this would happen?" rage flashed through Armand.


    "By the gods, can Eris not do something evil for one day?" he thought.


    "Don''t get mad yet," Eris said. "3, 2, 1..."


    A grand voice boomed through the hall.


    "What is the meaning of this?"


    Stepping into the room was a man covered head to toe in armor. Behind him was a group of partially armored men with greatswords. And behind them was a tall man with an impressive beard and fire in his eyes.


    "Just on time," Eris said.


    "Rozwiazly," Armand muttered.


    Fury covered the armored man''s face.


    "I come to relax at a feast after putting down a rebellion, and there are men trying to murder each other!" he stated.


    Count Staufer approached the newcomers.


    "I''m just as mad as you are, Marshal Ludwig. What are those fools thinking?" he grimaced.


    "I apologize," Marquis Salm said. "But my honor was insulted."


    "What honor?" Joseph asked.


    "Enough of this! You lot are a disgrace to nobles everywhere, no discipline. You rush to your deaths over petty bickering. If I had my way, I''d have you lot replaced with my Landsknechts," Marshal Luwdig stated.


    Fear pulsed through the crowd. No one dared say a single word. Even Armand and Eris shivered.


    "But enough of that," the Marshal shook his head. "Rozwiazly, can you heal these bastards?"


    The bearded man bowed.


    "Of course, my Lord," he said.


    Rozwiazly walked over to the bleeding nobles. He placed his hands on their bodies. There was a golden glow, and their injuries faded away. Shock crossed over everyone in the room.


    "How did you do that?" Count Staufer asked.


    "Magic, my Lord," Rozwiazly answered.


    "Impossible! Healing magic speeds up the recovery process. It can''t just close wounds!"


    "Mine can."


    The Count walked over. He grabbed Rozwiazly''s hands and looked at them.


    "There''s no runes or sigils or anything," Staufer said.


    Ten minutes were spent casting a spell to determine if there was any long-term magic on Rozwialzly. There was none.


    "You didn''t cast this spell ahead of time, but that''s impossible," Staufer stated.


    "It is not for me, my Lord," Rozwiazly replied.


    "I found him in town, curing people of the plague," Marshal Ludwig stated. "It was impressive, so I brought him here after he was done."


    Rozwiazly took a bow.


    "I am unworthy of your praise. And I am truly honored to be here at this feast," he said.


    The Marshal took off his helmet, revealing that he looked a lot like Count Staufer. Armand contemplated for a moment.


    "I''m so used to hearing him be called Marshal Staufer that I almost forgot what his first name was," he stated in a whisper.


    "I don''t blame you," Eris replied. "I almost did the same. Only Marshal Staufer''s brother and wife call him Ludwig. And even they use his title."


    The Marshal walked over to the table his brother had been seated at. He sat down, grabbing an empty glass. A servant rushed over to fill it.


    "Enough of this silence. Go on, get back to enjoying the feat, you ingrates," Ludwig muttered.


    Instantly, everyone rushed into conversation. Many nobles rushed to Rozwiazly, burying him in conversation. Even people who weren''t talking with him were talking about him.


    "And now, you see my plan, Armand. When Rozwiazly was introduced the last time around, the nobles only had Marshal Staufer''s words to go by. Now, they saw his healing abilities for themselves," Eris said.


    Armand''s heart thumped.


    "I don''t approve of how you did this, Eris. You started a fight. What would have happened if Marquis Salm or Joseph were killed?" he asked.


    "It was a risk, yes, but one that I was happy to take," she answered.


    Then, Eris smiled.


    "And now, Rozwiazly will be more accepted among the nobility. That should make your plans with him easier."


    Armand''s heart thumped again.


    "Eris, your plan was brilliant, but I can''t approve of your methods. I''d say I''m disappointed, but I expected you to do something cruel," he spoke before thinking. "What''s happening? My heart''s fluttering. I feel faint. But I can''t help it. Eris impressed me. I should be terrified of what she could accomplish if I hadn''t stopped her in the past, but I just feel...what am I feeling?"


    "Oh, fuck! I backtracked! Armand might not like me anymore! I have to do something, fast!" Eris thought before speaking. "Rozwiazly was popular with women even this early. He''s going to break in some maidens tonight."


    Then, fear pulsed through her.


    "Why did I tell Armand that? I made a mistake!"


    Armand just nodded.


    "Yes. We''ll have to convince him to not do that as much. It''s only a matter of time before some people violently object. He avoided that the first time around, probably because he died," he said.


    "Maybe Eris has some ideas? Convincing someone like him to sleep around less won''t be easy, even if my plan works," Armand thought.


    Then, the boy took a deep breath.


    "Are your schemes finished, Eris?" he asked.


    "Not yet, but the rest will wait until after you''ve talked with Rozwiazly. I''ve accomplished most of what I wanted to," Eris answered.


    "Then here comes the hard part for me. Your plan to make Rozwiazly more accepted among the nobles helped me overall, but it made things more difficult for me today. I need to talk to Rozwiazly alone. Do you have a plan for that?" Armand questioned.


    "I didn''t think I needed one. You got this, Armand," she gave him a smile.


    "You''re right. I do," he nodded.


    Armand stood up. He approached the crowd around Rozwiazly.

 Chapter 20: A New Ally

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 Chapter 21: A Banquet Dance

    Armand left the chapel. Rozwiazly exited right after him, going on his own path back to the feast. Various nobles surrounded the man at this first opportunity.


    On the other hand, only Eris moved over to Armand. This wasn''t at her first chance. Instead, she waited until Rozwiazly was a bit away from Armand to walk by his side.


    "Good. Now, we can talk along without Rozwiazly listening in. I don''t think he''ll betray me, but there''s no point in taking chances," Armand thought as he smiled.


    "How did it go?" Eris asked.


    "Perfectly," he answered.


    "I didn''t expect anything less from you," she said before thinking. "I doubt Armand put Rozwiazly in his place...no, I''m certain he didn''t. But I can put up with a commoner like Rozwiazly for Armand''s sake and if it gets me more power. More if it gets me more power than for Armand''s sake."


    "Tell me, what''s your next scheme?" Armand questioned.


    Eris smiled.


    "Before we go to bed, I''ll tell Richard Salm that I was the one behind Joseph''s actions. I''ll whisper it right in his ear and say that the Crown Prince and Oldest Princess'' favor is mine," she said.


    "If Marshal Ludwig weren''t here, Richard Salm would try to kill you for that," Armand replied.


    "But he is here, and we both know that Salm won''t be able to assassinate me. He won''t dare try to either and will instead stew on how he can do nothing. But I''ll be careful just in case. I''m sure you know what he''ll do if he tries to kill me," Eris stated.


    Armand nodded.


    "He''ll probably try to poison you first," he said.


    "But I won''t eat any food unless I get it right from the kitchen tomorrow," Eris replied. "Salm will also try to put bombs in my carriage tonight."


    "And you''ll make sure to have your servants thoroughly check it before you leave," Armand stated.


    Eris smirked.


    "You know me so well," she said.


    "Well, that was what you did when I tried to blow you up," Armand replied.


    Eris'' smile widened.


    "That was a great attempt. If I was any less cautious, you''d have gotten me," she thought before something came to mind.


    "I just remembered. We''re staying in the same room tonight. I talked to Count Staufer about it, and he allowed it. Also, if there''s any question as to whether or not I''m a virgin after, we''ll have a doctor look at me."


    Armand nodded.


    "A clever move," he said.


    Eris'' heart thumped. She felt an incredible urge to hug him. It took Eris every bit of effort she could muster to restrain herself.


    "Everyone here will question your virginity. So, a doctor will examine you and confirm you''re a virgin. Then, our reputation will increase. People will think we''ve proven our virtuousness," Armand continued.


    "That''s exactly my plan," Eris spoke before thinking. "I can''t believe Armand complementing me made me that happy. Maybe I really am falling for him?"


    Armand noticed her contemplation.


    "What is Eris thinking? Is she coming up with some scheme? I shouldn''t interrupt her if she is. Most of this feast is a show Eris is putting on for me," he thought.


    "I need to make sure Armand is falling for me. What do couples do at feasts?" Eris thought.


    She scanned the area. The girl''s eyes locked on the dance floor. Eris smiled and turned to Armand. Then, she paused.


    "Are women supposed to ask men to dance with them? There is a procedure to all this, but I''ve never been involved in it before. I''ll assume men ask women to dance with them. That means I just need to get Armand to ask for a dance," Eris thought before speaking. "It''s been years since I''ve been to this banquet. I was a child back then, and I couldn''t appreciate how grand it is."


    Armand looked around.


    "What is Eris plotting? She must have some scheme," he thought.


    "It is grand," Armand said.


    "Good. I''ve set things up. Now, for the next step," Eris nodded.


    "It''s somewhat romantic too, don''t you think?"


    Armand narrowed his eyes.


    "Eris murdered someone this morning, and she''s thinking about romance. She isn''t changing as much as I''d like. Or maybe she has some plan in mind?" he thought before speaking. "Let me guess, you want to ruin that?"


    "Oh, fuck. I messed up," Eris thought.


    "There are probably some married couples here that are inconvenient to you. Love is rare among nobles, but not nonexistent. Even if it doesn''t do much, ruining the romantic atmosphere might at least slow them down," Armand said.


    "How can I fix this? I could try more manipulation games, but I want to dance now! I have to be fast. Maybe Armand will get the right idea if I do something more physical?"


    Eris grabbed Armand''s arm and pulled him close, nuzzling her face against it. The boy stopped moving.


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    "What are you doing?" Armand asked.


    A blush crossed Eris'' face. She let go of Armand''s arm.


    "Sorry. I just...umm..." Eris spoke before thinking. "How can I get out of this without being too blatant?"


    "Eris is acting strangely. Maybe she doesn''t have some sort of scheme? Maybe Eris just wants to do something romantic? No. That can''t be it. Eris would just say it outright if she..."


    Armand burst out laughing.


    "I couldn''t even think that with a strange face," he said.


    Confusion crossed Eris'' face.


    "Couldn''t think what?" she asked.


    "It''s nothing," Armand answered. "Let''s have a game of manipulation tonight, just the two of us. That''s your favorite couples'' activity, right?"


    Eris'' heart thumped. She curtsied.


    "It is. Thank you, Armand."


    Then, he held out his hand.


    "But first, may I have this dance?" Armand asked.


    Eris beamed with joy. She grabbed Armand''s hand with her own.


    "Of course," the girl answered.


    Armand walked over to the dance floor with Eris'' hand in his. The boy''s heart thumped with every step they took.


    "What''s this feeling? Why am I getting worked up? I''m just going to dance with Eris. It''s no big deal," he thought.


    Eris, meanwhile, was in complete and utter bliss.


    "It''s time that I admit this to myself," she thought. "I love Armand. I love him with all my heart. There''s no way I''d be this happy to dance with him if I didn''t."


    The two made it to the dance floor. Armand grabbed Eris'' hip with one hand while holding her other up in the air. They stepped side to side, their feet moving in a rhythmic fashion.


    Armand let go of Eris'' hip and twirled her around. When the spin stopped, Eris leaned backward with her arms raised above her head. The boy caught her in one arm. He pulled Eris back up, wrapping that limb around her waist while holding her other hand out to the side.


    "I can''t believe I''m dancing with Armand. I know we did this before, but we were supposed to be sparring. This is a dance from the start. I wonder what the old me would think of this?" Eris thought. "She''d probably wonder why I wasn''t trying to poison or stab him."


    Armand grabbed Eris and pulled her close. A massive blush crossed her face. The boy then lifted Eris up, twirling her in the air before setting the girl down. They held their right hands together while their left hands gently grabbed each other''s arms. Both Armand and Eris moved in step with each other.


    "I''m dancing with Eris of all people. It isn''t spontaneous this time but deliberate. I hope this makes her like me more. This is all for Eris'' redemption," Armand thought as his heart thumped. "I''m not enjoying this at all. Yes, this is all for my goal. I don''t have any feelings for Eris whatsoever."


    Armand pulled Eris close once more, and their dance slowed. The two moved with greater precision than before. It was a simple feat for them. After all, while they didn''t have much experience dancing, their combat training more than made up for that.


    "Eris, are you enjoying this banquet?" Armand asked.


    "Of course, I am, Armand," she answered.


    Her next words were in a whisper.


    "Even if I didn''t get any power here, and I did, I''m happy to spend time with you. We haven''t seen each other in years, but we''re together again now."


    Armand gave her a smile.


    "I''m glad to be here with you too," he spoke before thinking. "That way, I can keep an eye on you, Eris."


    "There''s something I want your help with, Armand. It won''t be relevant for another year, but I want to be ready for it. It''s something I want to stop from happening," Eris said.


    "This is probably some new assassination," Armand thought.


    "Who are we killing?" he asked.


    "No one," Eris answered. "We''re stopping my parents from dying."


    A look of concern crossed Armand''s face, but he didn''t miss a beat in his dance. He pulled Eris close.


    "I will help you save them," Armand said.


    "Thank you, Armand," Eris replied.


    He gave her a reassuring smile.


    "You don''t need to worry. With the two of us working together, we''re sure to succeed," Armand stated.


    "We are," Eris nodded.


    Then, a thought came to Armand.


    "Why do you need my help to save your parents? Is whoever killed them someone even you can''t assassinate?" he asked.


    A look of sadness crossed Eris'' face. The girl recalled when she found out about her parent''s deaths, the horrendous feelings that welled up in her. Tears threatened to overtake her once more.


    "Calm down, Eris. Don''t cry here. Now is the time to be rational. You can stop this, Eris, you can do this. Armand will help you," Eris thought before speaking. "They weren''t killed. They died in an accident. And I don''t mean that someone killed them and made it look like an accident. It was a genuine accident."


    A look of utter shock crossed Armand''s face.


    "Your parents died in an accident?" the boy couldn''t believe it. "I''ve never heard of a noble dying in a genuine accident before."


    "I know it sounds weird," Eris said. "But I investigated it every single way I could. You know me. If they were murdered, the only way I wouldn''t find out who killed them is if you stopped me."


    Armand nodded with grimness.


    "And even back then, I wouldn''t have tried to stop you from finding out who killed your parents," he stated.


    The boy looked into Eris'' eyes. He saw the faintest hints of tears welling up.


    "Let''s get to our room," Armand said. "We can talk more there."


    "Yes. We can have our game of manipulation after that," Eris replied.


    The two stopped dancing and walked over to Count Staufer. Eris leaned into Armand on the way over. They stopped in front of the banquet''s host, who was seated on his chair. Armand knew from Eris leaning on him alone exactly what he should say.


    "Excuse me, your Excellency, but my fiance is tired. I think the earlier excitement got to her. May we be shown to our room?" Armand asked.


    Count Staufer nodded.


    "Of course," he answered.


    The noble gestured to a guard who walked over.


    "Escort Lord Concord and Lady Hapsburg to room 69," Count Staufer ordered.


    "Right away, my Lord," the guard said.


    Armand and Eris'' room was fairly spacious. It had a double-sized bed in the center and was decorated with roses. The floor around the bed was sprinkled with hay. On the other side of the room was a window.


    Eris walked over to it and looked outside. The courtyard spread out below her. She saw a number of nobles running around, trying to look for each other or find places to hide. Armand joined her looking out.


    "It looks like you''ve made quite the mess, Armand," Eris said.


    "Do you care?" he asked.


    "Not in the slightest," Eris answered.


    She walked over to the bed and sat down.


    "I don''t feel any urge to bed you yet," she said. "I guess I''m still not old enough."


    Armand sat down next to her.


    "It''s the same with me. Of course, I wouldn''t do anything with you before we''re married even if I felt the urge," he stated.


    "I wouldn''t either," Eris replied.


    Armand''s face turned serious. Eris shivered, fear and nervousness flowing through her.


    "Eris, don''t feel bad if you have to cry. You''re going to relive something horrible," Armand spoke before thinking. "I''m just doing this to help redeem Eris. After everything she''s done, it would be wrong for me to feel any sympathy for her."


    The girl took a deep breath.


    "Don''t worry, Armand. I''m perfectly calm. I don''t feel anything right now," Eris said.


    "Keep calm. There''s no reason to get worked up, Eris. You can take things easy. There''s no reason for you to get upset. Armand''s going to help you save your parents, and everything will be fine. Even if you don''t save them, so what? They don''t mean all that much to you. You have no reason to cry," she thought.


    "Alright," Armand took a deep breath. "I''m going to ask you a hard question that I need to know: how did your parents die?"

 Chapter 22: Help Me Save My Parents

    Eris took a deep breath. Apprehension flowed through her. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. Armand sat, waiting patiently. The girl tried to speak again. No words came.


    "What''s happening? Why can''t I tell Armand how my parents died? I felt horrible when they did, but I''m a different person than I was back then. I''m a cold woman who would do anything for power. The only reason why I want to save my parents at all is so they can see what I''m going to achieve. It''s narcissism, not compassion," she thought.


    Armand placed a hand on Eris'' shoulder. She jumped at the sudden touch but relaxed after a second.


    "Take your time, Eris. This can''t be easy for you," he said.


    "Thank you, Armand," she replied before thinking. "Dammit, Eris, just say it! Tell Armand how your parents died! This should be easy for you!"


    Pure sympathy flowed through Armand.


    "I shouldn''t feel empathy for Eris. Whatever she''s feeling now, she deserves it after everything she did. I know I shouldn''t feel sympathy for her," he thought.


    The boy sighed internally.


    "But I can''t help it. We both lost our parents. I know exactly what Eris is feeling right now. And Eris is my fiance. I have to be there for her when she needs me."


    Eris opened her mouth, struggling with words. Then, she felt something wet hit her leg. The girl looked down. Her skirt was wet from a drop of water.


    Another drop fell on Eris'' clothes. She pressed her hand against them, feeling the wet skirt. Then, water dripped onto her outstretched limbs. Eris looked at the ceiling.


    "There''s no leak," she said.


    The girl felt water streak down her cheeks. Fear and panic flashed through her. Eris turned to her fiance.


    "Armand, what''s happening to me?" she asked.


    Tears were streaming down Eris'' face. The front of her dress was drenched in water.


    Wasting no time, Armand grabbed Eris and pulled her close to him. He held her in a tight embrace with her head next to his. The girl''s tears rolled down his back.


    "Armand?" Eris trembled.


    "It''s fine, Eris. You''re just crying. It''s perfectly normal," Armand said.


    "But I can''t cry! I''m not some little girl anymore! I..."


    "Eris, don''t worry. Just let everything out. I won''t tell anyone about this."


    "But...but...but..." the girl blubbered.


    "You comforted me when I cried," Armand stated. "So, let me return the favor."


    With that, Eris broke down. She clutched Armand with her arms, leaned into his shoulder, and wailed while using his body to muffle her noise. Tears flowed freely from her eyes. In just a few moments, Armand''s arm was drenched.


    Armand reached one of his hands up and stroked the back of Eris'' head. He felt his hands run through her hair. The boy leaned close to Eris'' ear, whispering.


    "Go on, Eris. Let it all out. I''m here for you, so don''t hold anything back."


    "I don''t want my parents to die in an accident, Armand! I want them to die of old age! I want them to live to see their grandchildren!" Eris cried.


    She gripped Armand so tightly that a wave of pain washed over him. Armand endured it.


    "And...I want to save my parents! I want to save them so much! I...I...I..."


    Eris pressed her head as close to Armand''s chest as she could. Her tears washed over his clothes.


    "I love them! I love my mother and my father! I love them almost as much as I love you, Armand!" she declared, speaking with all of her heart.


    With a great grab, Eris pulled Armand so close that he started gasping for air. The girl loosened her grip, and Armand breathed a sigh of relief.


    "I''m so sorry!" Eris spoke through her tears.


    Armand brushed the back of her head more.


    "Don''t worry about it, Eris. Just focus on letting your emotions out. I know this must be hard for you," he said.


    Eris spent the next twenty minutes crying in Armand''s arms. She spent another ten minutes in utter silence. The girl''s face was covered in tearstains, and her dress was so wet it looked like she tried swimming in it.


    With a deep breath, Eris let go of Armand. She sat back and looked at her body.


    "I can''t believe I cried so much," Eris said.


    "Don''t take it too harshly. You''re probably holding in a lot more emotions than you realize," Armand replied.


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    Eris looked away.


    "I don''t want to admit it, but Armand''s right. I don''t know how many feelings I''ve locked away in my quest for power. Is Armand bringing out these feelings? Maybe being his fiance was a mistake? No! Don''t you dare think that way, Eris! I love Armand, and I''m never letting him go!" she thought.


    "You don''t need to feel ashamed, Eris. I don''t mind," Armand said before thinking. "I''ve shown Eris more kindness than she deserves. I should stop now and get back to business."


    He reached up to Eris'' cheek and gently stroked some of her hair.


    "I''m here for you, Eris," he stated.


    "Why did I just do that?" Armand thought.


    Eris gave him a soft smile.


    "Thank you, Armand. I love you," she said. "You''re going to hear me say that a lot more."


    "You''re welcome, Eris," he replied before thinking. "At least I know I''m making Eris like me more. There''s always a silver lining, but I don''t know why I''m acting this way. I''m doing much more than I need to."


    Eris'' expression turned deadly serious.


    "I think I''ve calmed down enough to tell you how..." she took a deep breath. "How my parents died."


    "Go on," Armand nodded.


    "It was an accident like I said before. We were traveling down a mountain road, and one of our carriage''s wheels broke. One of the horses was going just a little bit too fast, and we hit a rock just a little bit too hard," Eris explained.


    She looked down, nervousness pulsing through her. Eris shivered. Armand put a hand on her shoulder, and the apprehension washed away.


    "Take your time. We have all night," Armand said.


    Eris nodded. She took another deep breath.


    "We fell off the side of a cliff. The carriage ended up in splinters. My parents died...by the gods, Armand, I can still remember what their bodies looked like! Their brains were splattered all over the carriage, bits of broken wood stuck out of them, their limbs were bending in all the wrong directions, and..." Eris'' breathing became ragged.


    Armand hugged her again. The girl held him back. Her breathing returned to normal.


    "...I''d have died too if Father hadn''t shielded me with his body," Eris said.


    "To think we were this close to thousands of lives being saved," Armand thought before speaking. "Your Father is a good man."


    "Thank you. I know that better than anyone else."


    Eris did not think about what her father would think of her if he knew how much of a monster she was. The idea that he might be disappointed in her simply never crossed Eris'' mind.


    "Saving your parents seems easy. On the face of it, we''d just have to make sure that your parents never go down that road or that the driver is more careful. So, what''s the catch?" Armand asked.


    "My parents were on that road because we were invited to a party held by His Majesty. The messenger was late because of sudden rain, so my parents got the letter at the last minute. They were rushing over to not offend His Majesty by being late. They took the mountain pass because it''s a shortcut," Eris answered.


    Armand nodded.


    "That makes things more complicated. Magic that can control the weather is more powerful than anything we''re capable of. Maybe we could make sure your parents are closer to the capital when the messenger is sent out?" he suggested.


    "The problem with that is that my parents were busy dealing with a famine," Eris explained. "They were conducting rituals to make plants grow faster. They rushed to hire spellcasters who were even close to good enough after the letter came."


    Armand entered deep contemplation.


    "That makes things much more difficult. If the famine still happens, they''ll be distracted. Magic can help a lot, but there''s only so much it can do," he thought.


    "How bad was this famine?" Armand asked.


    "I don''t remember, but even with magic, my parents were occupied for months," Eris answered.


    The boy nodded.


    "I could send over food, but it won''t be enough for a famine that''s that bad. My parents would never let me send that much over. My family has several spellcasters under us. One or two of them should be about as good as your parents need them to be," Armand said.


    "That should help, but I''m not sure if it''ll be enough," Eris replied.


    The boy thought a moment.


    "You''re getting an increasing amount of control over your family''s estate so maybe you could take charge of the food supply?" Armand suggested.


    "I don''t have any more control than I did the last time we met," Eris replied.


    Shock crossed the boy''s face.


    "What do you mean you don''t?" he asked.


    "I mean that my parents still handle everything they handled back then," Eris said before thinking. "Armand''s probably figured out that I have the bandits in my pocket. So, I don''t need to tell him about those."


    "Eris didn''t mention the bandits. There''s no way she hasn''t gotten them on her side. She''s probably not telling me about them for some stupid reason. In any case, I should just ignore them for now. I will deal with them the next time I''m at Eris'' estate," Armand thought before speaking. "I''m surprised. I thought you would have taken more power in your family like I have."


    "I can''t blame you, but there really wasn''t any need for me to. I''m an only child, and I''ll convince my parents to retire after we''re married. But that''s two years away. I considered having my parents go to petition His Majesty for help. But he wouldn''t go out of his way to solve the famine of some minor branch of the Hapsburg family. I also thought of having the wedding early, but there''s too much symbolism with its current date," Eris stated.


    "The date the heirs to both families would normally fight a duel becomes the day they get married. Changing it isn''t an option," Armand agreed.


    The power couple sat in silence for a moment, both in deep contemplation. Everything they said passed through their minds. Then, an idea flashed through both Armand''s and Eris'' heads at the same time. They spoke at once.


    ""If there were less people in the Hapsburg lands, then the famine would be less of a problem.""


    "I''ll start a building project in my family''s lands, something big, impressive, and useful. Maybe a bunch of fountains connected by a large water system? People can drink from them, they''ll look impressive to anyone going there, and the water system can be used for irrigation too," Armand suggested.


    "And you can request workers from the Hapsburg lands to help with this project. My parents would be happy to send them over. If it takes long enough that they''ll want their families to be there, we can send them over too," Eris said.


    "My family''s lands can support that many people. And, to make sure the famine won''t get too bad, I could use my connections in the church to have them encourage pilgrimages in your lands. If I could get them to start a charity program there too, it''d be perfect," Armand stated.


    A wide smile crossed the girl''s face.


    "That would be perfect!" Eris declared. "I can start showing my real competence to my parents. Then, when the famine comes, I can convince them to let me take over managing it and them to help guard pilgrims. They''ll be on their way to the capital when His Majesty''s letter arrives."


    Armand nodded.


    "And then I will manage the famine relief efforts," he said.


    "You''re already going to do a lot. You don''t have to do that too," Eris replied.


    The boy sighed.


    "Eris, I''m worried that if you dealt with the famine, you''d start killing people to reduce the population, or you''ll mismanage it from negligence," he said.


    "Armand, I''m evil, but I''m not stupid. Those subhumans that serve us are more useful alive than dead. I would get nothing from just letting them die. But if I keep them alive, they can continue to serve me," Eris replied.


    "That''s a good point," the boy admitted. "You always were generous too. Money is a great way to motivate people."


    She nodded.


    "And loyalty can be bought, especially if someone has the option of serving a stingy and cruel lord or a generous and cruel lord," Eris added.


    "They''d like it even more if it was a generous and kind lord, but that''ll have to wait. I can''t redeem Eris in one go. It''ll have to be slow, so slow that she doesn''t notice she''s changing. I''ll also need to remember to sneak out sometime tonight and drink blood. There are probably some squirrels I can catch," Armand thought before speaking. "Then, it looks like we know what to do."


    "We do. Now, let''s have some fun before we go to bed," the girl replied.


    She gave Armand a warm smile. He kindly grinned back.


    "Yes. I think we''re ready now," Armand said.


    Excitement pulsed through Eris. Her heart beat faster and faster.


    "I love Armand so much," she thought.


    "Let''s start our game of manipulation," Eris said.

 Chapter 23: A Manipulation Game

    "Now, what should we do to start our game of manipulation?" Eris pondered.


    "I''m not sure," Armand said.


    He placed a hand on his chin.


    "The game has already started, just as I thought it would. Eris is going to try to find out what I want for a game of manipulation. She''ll try to manipulate it out of me," the boy thought.


    "Thank you, Armand. We''ve already started on our game. Let''s see if I can find out what you want to do for a manipulation game," Eris thought.


    She lay down on the bed. Her eyes gazed listlessly at the ceiling. The girl looked as bored as possible.


    "I mean, I''m not sure either. I don''t think I can come up with anything," she said before thinking. "Let''s start off small. Armand will easily counter this, but it''s a good warm-up."


    Armand pondered.


    "Is this it, Eris? You can do better than that," he thought before speaking. "You must be losing your touch, Eris. I''d think that you''d easily come up with a manipulation game."


    Eris smiled.


    "Perfect counter, Armand! Let me counter with what aboutism," she thought.


    "I''d think the same of you," Eris said.


    Armand smirked.


    "It looks like I fell into Eris'' trap, but it''s an easy trap to walk out of. Eris is the one who wants the manipulation game. So, she has to make it happen," he thought before speaking. "I suppose we''re at a standstill, then."


    Eris grinned, turning her head towards Armand.


    "What would Armand want a manipulation game to be about? It can''t be about his family. He doesn''t trust me enough to tell me much about them. It could be something about him personally or something about me. I need to say something to narrow things down," Eris thought.


    "I could try to find something about you," she said.


    Armand shrugged.


    "If you want," he stated.


    "Your suggestion brought you in the wrong direction, Eris. Or maybe the right direction if you can figure things out?" Armand thought.


    Eris entered deep contemplation.


    "Armand''s response is noncommittal. If he wants a game of manipulation about finding something about himself, he''d try to deflect it more. Which means he wants a game of manipulation about me. No, wait, Armand knows I know that. That means that he actually wants me to have a manipulation game about him. Or maybe he wants one about me and is trying to make me think I want one about him?" she thought before speaking. "Such a shame. There''s a lot of things that I think you''d like to know about me."


    With a smile, Armand pondered his next move.


    "I need to think fast. Eris is trying to lure me out. She''s probably implying future plans, but those are too much for playful manipulation. Therefore, my next action is clear," Armand thought before speaking. "I already know everything about you."


    Eris grinned wide.


    "Armand''s trying to dismiss my inquiry while also baiting me into giving up information. This is so much fun! Now that..." Eris halted her train of thought.


    She became dead silent. Concern crept through Armand.


    "I shouldn''t be worried about Eris. Whatever she''s feeling now, she deserves it. But I have to do my duty as her fiance. I need to make sure she''s okay," he thought before speaking. "Eris, are you alright?"


    "I''m not having fun anymore," she answered.


    Shock flowed through Armand.


    "Why not? You seemed happy just a moment ago," he said.


    "I''m not having fun because you can''t win this game of manipulation, and you know it," Eris replied.


    Armand nodded.


    "You can win by finding out what I want to have a game of manipulation about, but I don''t have a victory condition. And I don''t have any reason to stop playing with you. There''s no way you''ll give up either. So, you''ll win sooner or later," he admitted.


    Eris sat up, her expression one of shock and confusion.


    "You set this up so I''d win, and I didn''t even notice until now. I was too excited that I''d get to play a manipulation game with you," she said.


    "But you noticed it. I suppose we can say that means you won this manipulation game," Armand replied.


    The girl clenched her fists. Rage poured through her.


    "Why? Why did you do this, Armand?" Eris asked.


    He sighed.


    "It should be obvious why. I don''t care about this manipulation game. I''m just playing it to make sure you like me. This is for you, Eris, not me. Winning or losing here are meaningless compared to my real goal," Armand thought before speaking. "I wanted you to have fun, and winning is fun."


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    Then, Eris said something that Armand didn''t expect her to say.


    "This isn''t fair," Eris stated.


    Armand stumbled backward, falling off the bed. His head raced toward the ground. Just before the boy could hit, Eris grabbed Armand and pulled him back up.


    "Are you alright?" she asked.


    "I''m fine," Armand answered. "I just didn''t expect you to complain about things being unfair in your favor."


    Eris let out a weak chuckle.


    "I didn''t expect that either," she said.


    A moment of awkward silence passed between the two. Neither of them looked at the other. Then, Armand let out a deep sigh.


    "I need to make sure Eris likes me, and I need to do the right thing," he thought before speaking. "Thanks for catching me, Eris. I see that you''ve already cast your enhanced reflexes spell."


    Eris nodded, turning her head to look at him. Armand was still gazing away.


    "I''ll need to cast it again after this. The spell lasts a few hours, and it''ll take about half an hour to recast it. Did you cast your third arm spell?" she asked.


    Armand pulled down his clothes. There was a magical rune carved into his flesh.


    "I don''t have to recast this spell every time, but it''s pretty painful to take my third arm out," Armand answered.


    "Eris told me how her spell needs to be cast. It''s only fair that I tell her about mine," he thought.


    Then, Eris took a deep breath.


    "I''m trying to have a fun couple''s activity with Armand, but I don''t think he enjoyed it at all. Is he just going through our manipulation game for my sake? I appreciate that he cares about me that much, but I care about him too," she thought before speaking. "Armand, I want you to enjoy the manipulation game too."


    "I am enjoying it," Armand lied.


    He turned to face her, trying to convey honesty.


    "Well, I''m not. I don''t think I can enjoy it when you don''t have a chance of winning. And no, I don''t want more of a challenge. I want to be fair to you," Eris spoke before thinking. "Is Armand being honest? He clearly wants me to be happy, but I don''t want that to come at the cost of his happiness. By the gods, if I knew I''d think like this before Armand turned back time, I''d have punched myself in the face. I might do it anyway."


    A twitch of annoyance crossed Armand''s face. He hid it, but not before Eris noticed.


    "Why is Eris pretending to be a nice girl now? Does she just like me that much, or is she trying to manipulate me? I know she loves me, but it''s hard to believe that Eris would want to be fair to anyone. She only ever cared about fairness when it benefitted her. And even then, she''d try to make things unfair in her favor the moment they became fair. It didn''t matter if it was a trade deal or even a game she''d been forced to play. There''s no way Eris would change that fast," Armand thought.


    He sat there in silence. A great discomfort rose in Eris.


    "Did I mess up? Does Armand hate me now? Did I go too far at the banquet? Did I say something wrong? Please, Armand, tell me what''s making you mad," she thought.


    Finally, Armand sighed.


    "Eris, you figured out that I set our manipulation game up so you would win. I didn''t think it was possible for anyone to notice it since I did it so subtly, but you did. That means you''ve won," he said.


    "No. I can''t accept this victory," she replied.


    Another twinge of annoyance crossed Armand''s face.


    "Eris, please just accept this. I''m doing this for you, not for myself," the boy stated.


    "And I''m trying to do this for you!" Eris declared. "I thought a manipulation game would be the perfect couple''s activity for us. We''re both supposed to enjoy it."


    Armand grimaced.


    "It looks like you miscalculated," he spoke before thinking. "Why did I say that? I just set myself back. I know that I want to be more honest with Eris since she''s more honest with me, but that''s too honest. I need to make sure she likes me."


    Eris sighed.


    "I''ve failed as a fiance. I thought that Armand would enjoy a manipulation game. It looked like he was having a lot of fun when we last had one. What am I going to do now? If Armand hadn''t gotten in my way the last time around, I''d have become the most powerful woman in the kingdom. But I don''t know anything about romance," she thought.


    Then, Armand grimaced harder.


    "Am I really being honest with Eris? No, am I really being honest with myself? Was I really not having fun with our manipulation game, or am I just upset that Eris doesn''t like something I set up for her? I''m just trying to make sure Eris loves me. I don''t actually love her, even if she had her admirable qualities, so I''m definitely not being honest with Eris. But am I lying to myself?" he pondered.


    Eris looked away from Armand. She put her head in her hands.


    "I should have asked Mother about romance. I shouldn''t have tried to take this on by myself. What should I do now?" Eris contemplated.


    Then, the two of them sighed at once. They turned to face each other.


    "Eris, our relationship is really messed up," Armand said.


    To his surprise, the girl burst out laughing.


    "As a drunk subhuman would put it: it''s fucked up to the max!" Eris declared.


    "You''ve been surprising me a lot recently," Armand stated.


    She sighed.


    "Honestly, I''m more surprised that we aren''t hitting each other," Eris said.


    "Do you want me to hit you on your posterior?" Armand held up his hand with an open palm. "I''ve heard some people like that."


    Then, he and Eris chuckled. A smile crossed Armand''s face.


    "Eris, I actually was enjoying our manipulation game. I was just mad that I subtly set things up so you''d have fun, and you didn''t like it. It''s completely unreasonable for me to be mad about something like that. That''s my fault, not yours," he said.


    She placed a hand on his shoulder.


    "Thank the gods. Armand was having fun," Eris thought before speaking. "After everything I did to you the last time around, I think you have the right to be unreasonable a few times. You have every right to be mad at me for so many reasons."


    Armand nodded.


    "I do, but I''m not," he said.


    "Then you aren''t mad about that time I shot you in the face?" Eris asked.


    "Which time are you talking about?" Armand replied.


    She pointed a finger into the air.


    "The time I actually hit you. I still haven''t figured out what magic you used to survive," Eris stated.


    "I''ll tell you when you get older," Armand gave her a playful smirk.


    Eris sighed before giving him a grin back.


    "I''m 12 years old, Armand. I''m old enough that we could get married right now. You could tell me about all sorts of uncouth stuff," she said.


    Then, Eris'' face turned serious.


    "But Armand, please tell me. Do you hold any grudges against me? I know that you love me, but I don''t want you to resent me," Eris stated.


    Armand looked right in her eyes.


    "Eris, I know you''re evil. I hate that about you. But I don''t have a grudge. I got over everything you did to me. Besides, I hurt you just as much as you hurt me," he said.


    "That''s true," Eris nodded. "You were more than a worthy opponent."


    "I could say the same about you," Armand stated.


    Eris hugged him.


    "Armand, I have you now. You are mine. There''s no way I''m ever letting you go. Please tell me that you won''t ever let me go either," she said.


    He sighed.


    "Eris, do you think I''m an idiot?" Armand asked.


    Shock covered the girl.


    "I don''t, Armand," Eris answered. "Why would you even ask me something like that?"


    "Because you''re worried that I''ll let you go. Now that I have you in my sights, I''m never keeping my eye off of you," Armand said.


    "Eris belongs by my side where I can keep an eye on her. If she''s ever on her own, she''ll go back to the way she used to be. And I can''t love her if she''s like that. Of course, I don''t love her. But that''s a moot point," he lied to himself.


    Then, Eris pulled Armand down. She curled up with her arms around him.


    "What are you doing?" Armand asked.


    "I''m feeling your warmth. I don''t feel any physical attraction to you yet, but touching you still feels nice," she answered.


    Armand smiled.


    "Then hold me as much as you want," he said.


    Eris shuffled closer.


    "Honestly, Armand. I''m glad we fought so many duels the last time around. You stabbed me a lot," she stated.


    "Why are you glad about that?" Armand questioned.


    "Because it''s good practice. When we''re married, you''ll be stabbing me even more. And unlike back then, I won''t be trying to stop you. In fact, I''ll be the one asking you to do it," Eris smiled.


    Armand shook his head but gave Eris a playful smirk.


    "Come, now, Eris. A rapier is different than what I''m going to stab you with," he said.


    "Yes. A sword takes life, but you have a weapon that creates life," she replied.


    Eris nuzzled her head against Armand''s shoulder.


    "I like the idea of being stabbed by a weapon like that."

 Chapter 24: Midnight Blood Drive

    Eris was sound asleep in the bed. Her and Armand''s servants had already brought up their luggage. Armand stayed awake, waiting until he was certain Eris would be out until morning. Then, he crawled out of bed as quietly as he could. The boy inched forward. It took him a full half hour to get out.


    "I''m so thirsty. I need blood soon," Armand thought.


    He looked at the door.


    "Going out that way isn''t an option. One of the guards would see me. And I want to avoid suspicion if someone finds the bite marks I''ll leave on the animal. We''re still in the middle of the Orlocks Plague''s second outbreak."


    Then, Armand walked over to the window. He scanned the courtyard with incredible care. His eyes surveyed every last bit of it.


    "There''s no one outside. I should be fine if I climb out the window. I just need to make sure Eris doesn''t notice," he thought.


    Armand grabbed a dagger. He plunged it into his hand. Pain flashed through the boy''s body, but he held down any screams and made sure no blood fell on the floor. Instead, Armand incanted words as he drew an arcane sigil on his palm. This process was 15 minutes of agony. Then, he did the exact same thing with his other hand.


    When the boy finished his spell, the wounds on his hands closed. Armand pushed open the window slowly and quietly. He reached outside and placed his hands on the castle''s exterior. They stuck on.


    Armand climbed out the window. The boy planted his legs on the wall, and he slowly climbed down. Inch by inch, Armand moved. While he didn''t rush down, he didn''t waste time either.


    Finally, Armand made it to the bottom of the wall. He moved as fast as he could without alerting any guards. The boy moved to the pens where the castle''s pigs and sheep were kept.


    The boy crawled into the sheep pen. He looked around, making sure that all the animals were sound asleep. Armand then scanned the rest of the area.


    "No one''s in sight. Still, I should be cautious," he thought.


    Armand moved behind the largest sheep so that it blocked any view of him. Then, he pushed its wool apart before leaning close to its leg. The boy bit down. His canines grew into fangs, became hollow, and pierced the creature''s skin.


    There was no danger of the sheep waking up. Armand''s fangs were so sharp that it wouldn''t feel any pain even if it was awake.


    Relief flowed through Armand''s body as his fangs slurped the blood like a hypodermic needle. He felt his thirst disappear, leaving an incredible taste in its wake.


    "Will this thirst get better or worse when I become a strigoi?" Armand thought.


    When the boy was done drinking, he withdrew from the sheep pen in incredible silence. Armand made sure to keep looking around as he made his way back to the wall. Some guards passed by, and the boy darted behind some bushes.


    The guards left after a few moments. Armand kept moving. Soon, he was at the base of the wall. Looking around, Armand saw that no one was in eyeshot.


    He placed his hands on the wall and scrambled up, doing his best to remain cautious. Armand reached the window. The boy climbed inside. His body moved with incredible quietness, not making a sound even as its feet landed on the floor.


    Eris was still sleeping on the bed. Armand walked over and lay next to her. Soon, he drifted off too.


    Morning came, and Eris woke up first. She stretched out with a yawn. Then, the girl looked at Armand''s sleeping face.


    "He''s still asleep. Well, it''s still early, and I think Armand was awake longer than I was," Eris thought.


    A smile crossed Eris'' face as she kept looking at Armand.


    "I never realized how cute Armand looks. He''s absolutely adorable! Well, we''ve just become adults, and there''s a few years before most adults start looking and thinking like adults."


    Eris looked at Armand''s cheeks. She lightly pinched them. Then, Eris started playing with the boy''s cheeks with a chuckle.


    "This is my revenge, Armand, the villain enacting cruelty upon the hero! Feel my wrath as I play with your cheeks like an old lady playing with an infant!"


    Armand woke up. He saw Eris grabbing his cheeks.


    "Eris, what are you doing?" the boy asked.


    "I''m playing with your cheeks," she answered.


    A moment of silence passed between them.


    "Why?" Armand wondered.


    "Because they''re cute," Eris said.


    "Eris, how old are you? This is something 60-year-olds do."


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    She withdrew her hands with a huff.


    "It''s also an act of villainy," Eris declared.


    Armand sighed.


    "Well, now that we''re up, we might as well get you to the doctor," he said.


    Eris nodded.


    "Yes. It''d be best to stop any rumors before they start," she stated.


    The two dressed in clothing that wasn''t tear-stained, adorning their bodies in fine garments. They then left the room and moved through the halls of the castle. Eventually, Eris and Armand arrived at a specific room.


    Upon entering, they saw a table with a variety of medical equipment on it. A cot was on one side of the room while the other had a desk. There was an old man in black robes sitting on a chair. A woman wearing similar clothing sat next to him. Their eyes turned to the two newcomers.


    "Can I help you?" the man asked.


    "Yes," Armand answered. "Are you Count Staufer''s personal doctor?"


    "I am," he said.


    He surveyed the two.


    "Judging from your appearances, you must be the nobles His Excellency told me about."


    Armand nodded.


    "I am Lord Armand Concord. And this is my fiance, Lady Eris Hapsburg. If Count Staufer told you about us, I trust that he told you why we''re here?" the boy questioned.


    "Yes," the doctor nodded. "His Excellency thought you might want to stop rumors before they started. I will have my assistant examine Eris. It won''t take long, just a few moments."


    The doctor gestured to the woman who was with him.


    Eris curtsied.


    "Thank you, doctor," she said.


    "And now, people will think Armand and I are virtuous. Well, Armand is virtuous, about as virtuous as a noble can be while still getting things done," Eris thought.


    "Yes, thank you," Armand nodded.


    The exam was, just as the doctor said, very short. When it was finished, the assistant had confirmed that nothing happened between Eris and Armand. This news would be relayed by the doctor to the guests over the course of the day.


    Armand and Eris left the room and went to the feasting hall. There, a grand breakfast was being served. Roast goose, capon, wine, and bottarga lined the tables. Eris smiled when she saw that there were truffles available for eating too.


    "I forgot they served those at this banquet," the girl said as she and Armand sat down.


    Then, something caught the boy''s eyes. It was a cup filled with a brown drink. An impressed look crossed Armand''s face.


    "Count Staufer must have spent more money than I thought on this," he stated.


    Eris gazed at the drink.


    "I forgot about that too. Well, I didn''t have any last time, so that''s only natural," she thought before speaking. "Yes. Count Staufer served chocolate at this banquet."


    Armand pondered.


    "I didn''t think there was any chocolate in Foldzar for another few years," he said.


    "Are you going to have some?" Eris asked.


    "No. I''ve never liked chocolate. It''s too bitter," Armand answered.


    Eris looked around.


    "I heard it''s less bitter if you sweeten it with sugar," she said. "But it doesn''t look like there''s any here."


    "It was probably already baked into whatever food it''s in," Armand replied.


    The two started eating. All the while, Armand was deep in thought.


    "There''s an auction today, but I don''t know anything about it. I should ask Eris if she''s going to purchase anything. Then, I''ll need to find out why she is or isn''t buying something. I should also ask her about the various other items at the auction. Some of them might be important," he pondered.


    "Eris, are you buying anything at the auction?" Armand asked.


    She nodded.


    "There are two things that I want to buy. Well, there are other things I want, but they''ll all get bidded out of my reach," Eris answered before thinking. "There''s no point in hiding what I''m buying from Armand. He''ll figure it out sooner or later. But I can at least hide why I''m buying them."


    The girl ate some goose meat before continuing.


    "It''s just two small things. The first is a small rosary with the Horn of Cernunnos as its symbol. The second is a statue of a donkey," she said.


    Armand narrowed his eyes.


    "Who does Eris think she''s fooling?" he thought before speaking. "Would this donkey statue happen to be hollow?"


    "Armand always suspected I was involved in the Renees Affair, but he couldn''t prove it. And if he finds out that this donkey is hollow, that''ll be all the proof he needs. I don''t think Armand would betray me, but he''d definitely stop me," Eris thought.


    "Any statue can be made hollow," she said.


    He nodded.


    "A fair point, but it seems strange to hollow out a donkey statue just for a scheme. Wouldn''t making a donkey out of wood be better? No. It''s more logical for the donkey to have already been hollow," Armand replied.


    "I''m going to find the truth about this one way or another. Both the donkey and the rosary are probably things Eris would have wanted when she was this age, but that doesn''t mean they wouldn''t be used in her schemes later on," he thought.


    Eris shrugged.


    "Perhaps, but why else would someone want a hollow donkey statue?" she questioned.


    "To get inside the statue and pretend it can talk. You could do that to entertain children at parties or do a con job," Armand said.


    Eris blinked. A smile crossed her face.


    "A con job? That''s a pretty good idea, Armand," she stated. "If we could find some superstitious idiots, we could convince them that some donkey god wants them to do something."


    Shock coated Armand.


    "You as good as admitted that the donkey statue''s hollow," he said.


    "Yes. And I was involved in the Renees Affair. But I didn''t get as much out of it as I wanted," Eris replied.


    She waved it off.


    "Now, how can we use this donkey statue to get more power?" the girl pondered.


    A wave of rage flowed through Armand. He forced it down, pushing it deep inside himself.


    "Eris, you bitch. 30 people died in the Renees Affair, and you''re just waving it off? I know you don''t think commoners are humans, but 10 of those people were nobles, and you don''t even care about them? You...calm down, Armand. This is exactly what you should expect from Eris. You know what she''s like. Don''t get distracted just because she''s not trying to kill you anymore. You''re trying to redeem Eris. Don''t lose focus now," Armand thought.


    He took a deep breath.


    "At least you stopped the Renees Affair from happening again. No, you didn''t. You just stopped Eris from being involved in it. Right now, the best thing you can do is keep her distracted so she never gets involved," the boy thought before speaking. "There are plenty of stupid people all over the place, but there are some places where people are stupid and superstitious. We should focus on a place like that."


    Eris nodded vigorously.


    "Yes. We''ll find someplace deep in the woods that''s isolated from the rest of the world. The people there will believe anything. Then, we..." the girl came to a sudden stop.


    Concern flowed through Armand.


    "Has Eris changed her mind?" he wondered.


    The girl gazed right into his eyes.


    "You asked about the donkey status, Armand, but not the rosary," Eris said.


    "That''s because I already know that you used it to kill Lady Abene''s girlfriend," he replied.


    Then, Armand gave her a serious expression.


    "You''re not going to murder her this time around," the boy said.


    "I''ll make sure you''re on the path of redemption long before then," he thought.


    Eris gave Armand a smile.


    "Don''t worry. I have no intention of killing her. I just want the rosary so I don''t change history too much," she spoke before thinking. "I never killed Lady Abene, but this time around, she''ll be dead long before she can get a girlfriend."


    Armand shrugged.


    "If you say so," he said.


    "Whether or not Eris is telling the truth is irrelevant. I''ll redeem her long before she can kill Sister Janet. Though, I should find which convent she''s part of just in case," Armand thought.


    Eris took a sip of chocolate.


    "There''s no way Armand believed me. He probably has some plan to stop me from killing Lady Abene''s girlfriend. If he believed me, he wouldn''t have to waste his time. Well, I can''t blame him for not believing me," she contemplated.


    As the two ate, numerous items were hauled into the room. The auction would soon be upon them.

 Chapter 25: Massacre

    The nobles, along with whatever commoners were guests in the feasting hall, were all seated at their various tables. Count Staufer and Marshal Ludwig sat at the lord''s seat of the hall, and the Landsknechts were on guard duty with Count Staufer''s men.


    Eris smiled.


    "It looks like we''re about to start the auction," she said.


    "Yes," Armand replied. "Everything''s going well."


    Several servants brought a number of items to the hall. As they did, a strange noise came into the room. It was like the faintest whispers of a haunting melody. Most of the people there dismissed it as someone singing a song.


    "That song sounds familiar," Eris thought. "But I can''t place it."


    Armand felt his chest sieze up. His face broke out in a cold sweat. The boy started hyperventilating.


    "Now that everyone''s here and this morning''s meal is over, it''s time to start the auction! All proceeds will go to fighting the second wave of the Nosfer plague," Count Staufer announced.


    Eris didn''t even hear him. Her attention was 100% on Armand. She placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him.


    "Armand, are you alright? Are you sick?" she asked.


    Images flashed through Armand''s mind, memories of a time before and after them. He saw men in full armor get torn to pieces like straw dolls. Warriors with decades of experience were mowed down like wheat before a scythe. Claws tore, teeth rended, and blood covered Armand''s vision.


    The rest of the people in the room were focused on the items the servants were bringing up. Eris was the only one paying attention to Armand. She felt his forehead, sweat drenching her hand.


    "This isn''t good. You''re burning up," Eris said. "I''ll take you to a doctor."


    Armand grabbed her hand. He shook his head.


    "We need...tell...everyone...run," he muttered.


    One of the servants unveiled a painting of a beautiful woman.


    "Up first for the auction," Count Staufer announced. "Is the Moniqua Lissette, a Buiceni Original. We''ll start the bidding at 100 silver pieces."


    The haunting melody got louder. A look of sheer terror crossed Eris'' face as she finally recognized it.


    "Oh, shit," Eris said.


    She only heard this melody once, while Armand had numerous times, but Eris would never forget it.


    "We have to get out of here," she tugged on Armand''s arms. "Now. Move."


    He shook his head.


    "No. We have to warn everyone," Armand stated.


    Various nobles were bidding around them. The two ignored them.


    "They wouldn''t believe us. Let''s go," Eris said.


    "You go. I''ll warn them," he spoke before thinking. "Dammit, Eris, just run. Be selfish. Get out of here while you still can. Don''t worry about me."


    She gave him a glare that could cut ice.


    "I''m not leaving without you," Eris said before thinking. "Dammit, Armand. Why do you have to be a hero now of all times?"


    Then, the sound of screams blasted into the hall. It drowned out the haunting melody. The bidding stopped as all eyes turned to the door. Marshal Ludwig shouted.


    "Men, form a defensive line!" he ordered.


    The guards and Landsknechts rushed towards the door. They got in formation between the guests and it, halberds and greatswords at the ready. Various nobles reached for their personal weapons. Count Staufer whispered an order to some of his other servants. Some of them ran to the castle''s upper floors to try to get a better view of the courtyard. Others grabbed arquebuses and started loading them.


    "Fuck, fuck, fuck," Armand uttered, flashes of gore filling his vision. "We''re too late."


    "Not yet," Eris grabbed him.


    She yanked Armand down as hard as she could. He didn''t resist, and the two ducked under the table.


    Then, the screaming died down. Utter silence overtook the room. One of the servants ran down, fear clear in his eyes. He ran over to Count Staufer, whispering to the lord in a frantic rave. A look of utter disbelief crossed Staufer''s face.


    There was a loud crashing sound, and the doors burst open. Splinters of wood flew everywhere as the haunting melody flowed into the room. The guards and Landsknechts stood firm, even as splinters cut across the unarmored parts of their bodies. Then, they felt like their hearts stopped beating.


    Eight polar bear-sized creatures ran into the room. They looked like a mad god had tried to create a wolf and gave up halfway through. Their jaws were caked with gore.


    One of them rushed right into the wall of halberds and greatswords. Streaks of pale blue coated the creature''s hide as the weapons grazed its flesh, but they didn''t go deep from the monster''s charge alone. The monstrous wolf''s jaws clenched upon a man''s arm and tore it from its socket. Blood sprayed everywhere.


    Another wolf tore a man''s breastplate off with its jaws before disembowling him with a swipe of its paw. Panic flashed through the soldiers, who turned and fled.


    The monsters flowed into the chamber with no one to stop them. As they moved, the haunting melody got louder.


    There was a crack of gunfire as pistols and arquebuses were shot at the wolves. One of the creatures went down, pale blood leaking from its eye. The rest tore into the guests, nobles and commoners alike, tearing off chunks of flesh. Screams echoed throughout the hall but they weren''t enough to drown out the song.


    Armand and Eris looked on as blood pooled on the floor. It flowed under the tables, soaking into their clothes.


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    "Dammit! With all these dead nobles, our knowledge of the future won''t be as valuable as it was before," Eris thought. "Focus on that later, Eris. Right now, you need to survive."


    Rozwiazly''s voice boomed through the room.


    "Wind strike!"


    A blast of wind slammed into a wolf monster that was on the verge of biting down on a man''s skull. The creature was sent flying back, crashing into a wall. There was a loud snapping sound as the wolf''s ribs cracked.


    It let out a growl and charged Rozwiazly. Another wolf joined it, attempting to flank him.


    "Wind barrier!" he shouted.


    Air moved around Rozwiazly in a circle, hitting the wolves in their faces. They slowly pushed through it. Rozwiazly looked on in shock and terror as the creatures inched toward him.


    Armand reached into his clothes and pulled out a grenade. Eris looked at the boy''s face as he did.


    "There''s no light in his eyes. Armand isn''t thinking," she thought. "He must have done this hundreds of times in the later disasters."


    One of the wolves pressed its head to the table. It pushed hard, flipping the furniture over. The monster lunged at Eris and Armand. This creature''s jaws were open so wide they could see into its throat.


    Quick as a flash, Armand lit the grenade''s fuse. He threw it into the wolf''s mouth. The monster gagged as the bomb lodged in its throat. Eris and Armand leaped away from the wolf.


    Boom.


    The grenade exploded in the wolf''s neck. It fell to the ground, dead. Armand pulled out a pistol and looked around the room. He surveyed the situation with empty eyes.


    Rozwiazly leaped to the side at the last minute, narrowly avoiding certain death as the wolves closed in on him. The spellcaster pressed his hand right at the wolf''s skull.


    "Wind strike!" he shouted.


    The monster''s head snapped around. It''s spine cracked. There was a growl as the other wolf wheeled on him, jaws aiming for his head. Rozwiazly''s eyes had an acceptance of death in them.


    "Even I can''t survive decapitation," he thought.


    There was a crack as Armand fired his gun. Pale blood oozed out of the wolf''s eyes as it fell dead, crashing into Rozwiazly. He let out a gasp of pain as his leg broke; however, Rozwiazly put his hands on his leg. They glowed, and his wound mended.


    Marshal Ludwig withdrew his dusack from the chest of one of the wolves. The creature''s breath faded as it died. Two others stood dead around him. Nearby, another wolf had been slain. Several men lay dead at its feet, and the survivors were chopping the creature into tiny pieces with their weapons.


    The stench of death filled the hall. Blood, bodies, and gore coated the room. Groans and screams still emanated from the injured. Rozwiazly''s eyes were filled with panic as he ran to the nearest hurt person and started healing her, shoving her intestines back into her body before using his magic.


    All this time, the melody had never stopped.


    Armand and Eris got up. They started pushing some of the smaller tables into a makeshift defensive barrier, Armand placing their pistols and grenades on the ground near them for easy access.


    "What...what in the name of gods...were those monsters?" Count Staufer stuttered out.


    His brother was pale with fear, despite having killed three of the wolves with just a one-handed sword.


    "I don''t know. I''ve never seen anything like them before," he said.


    Marshal Ludwig didn''t waste any time.


    "Get back in formation!" he ordered. "This time, don''t freeze up!"


    Whatever men remained stumbled back into a line. Some of the halberds had broken, and those guards had their swords in hand. All of them trembled with fear.


    "Please, please, Marshal Ludwig. Please tell me it''s over," Count Staufer begged.


    The Marshal''s eyes had no hope in them. He pointed at Armand.


    "I saw that man kill two of those abominations. He knew exactly what to do. He fought them before, and he''s getting ready for more fighting," Ludwig said.


    Count Staufer felt a string of vomit well up inside him. Other people in the hall, those who were lucky enough to not be occupied with horrible injuries, felt the same.


    "Anyone with a gun, take a flanking position!" Luwdig ordered. "Infantry, move back to give the gunners some space!"


    The nobles that could move, some healed by Rozwiazly, and had firearms moved to the sides of the hall. At the same time, the guards and mercenaries did as Ludwig commanded.


    As everyone moved, the haunting melody got louder. The words were like a vague static of nonsense that was somehow both beautiful and horrifying.


    "That song..." Count Staufer shivered as he aimed his arquebus. "It''s almost like a dirge."


    A sickly green fog wafted into the room. It floated over everyone, drenching them in coldness. They felt like a ghost was passing through them.


    Then, the sound of footsteps accompanied the dirge. They sounded like they were made by something hollow and heavy.


    Eris and Armand adjusted their aim. They had a pistol in each hand, using the overturned table as a rest for one arm while keeping their other hung at their side. The two pinpointed where the melody was coming from and aimed their guns there.


    A figure appeared in the fog. It looked like a woman wearing robes. Its hair stretched down to the ground. This creature didn''t have feet and floated above the ground, yet its movement made footsteps.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Before the figure could come into full view, Armand and Eris emptied their guns at it. They pulled out more pistols and fired them too. The other gunners took this as their signal and unleashed hell.


    Smoke accompanied the fog. The sound of thundering guns filled the hall, joined by an acrid scent. Still, the figure moved forward. She came into full view.


    Her hair was stretched thin and so oily that a trail of liquid passed down the floor below her. This creature''s skin was blue like a corpse frozen in ice. She had sunken-in eyes that contained an infinite malice, raw hatred radiating off her. There was a veil on the monster''s face, and her robes were bridal gowns. Sharp fingernails, quickly growing to the length of spears, came from her hands. While the woman had numerous gun wounds in her body, no blood came out.


    Armand and Eris lit their grenades and threw them at the monster. The woman gazed at the bombs with empty eyes. She swung her fingernails, cutting one in half. But the other exploded. Chunks of flesh flew out of the woman, and shrapnel embedded in her body.


    The creature rushed towards them, swinging her fingernails. Eris and Armand ran. Behind them, the table was bisected. They threw bombs back. One of the explosions blew the monster''s face off. What was underneath after the explosion was a mess of muscle and bone. It kept charging.


    "Wind strike!" Rozwiazly shouted.


    His hand was thrust forward, aiming at the woman. She was hit hard in the side and went flying. The monster crashed into the wall. Countless cracking noises echoed through the hall as its bones shattered.


    It got right up from that blow. The monster''s arms were mangled, twisting in all directions. Yet, it moved them as if they were perfectly fine. Then, the woman disappeared.


    Rozwiazly felt a great pain flash through his body. The creature was behind him. She swung her fingernails, lopping off one of his arms. He let out a scream of agony.


    One of the nobles next to Rozwiazly had finished reloading his pistol. She pointed it at the monster''s head and pulled the trigger. There was a bang as its blood and brains splattered.


    The woman turned to her as if nothing had happened. It swung its fingernails, and the noble didn''t even scream. Half of her body fell to one side. Half fell to the other.


    "Charge!" Ludwig shouted.


    He ran forward at the creature.


    "We''ll cut that damn thing to tiny pieces!"


    His voice reached the infantry, who rushed at the monster. A halberd came at its head. The woman swung her arm, and the polearm was cut in half. A greatsword swung at the monster. It suffered the same fate as the halberd.


    The creature swung its arm again. Its fingernails cut right through a guard''s armor. His body fell in two, intestines spilling on the ground. With another flash of its arm, the monster severed a mercenary''s leg.


    A halberd stabbed the woman from behind. It turned, slicing through the polearm with one hand while slitting the guard''s throat with the other. Ludwig sliced through what should have been her lower body. The creature''s stomach and hips fell to the ground, revealing that it had no legs. But the rest of it stayed up.


    There was a swing of fingernails, and Ludwig jumped back. A slight cut formed on his forehead. However, he managed to avoid certain death.


    Greatswords, halberds, and even some one-handed swords rained on the monster. Steel, flesh, organs, and blood flew everywhere. Then, one of the woman''s arms was severed from her body.


    Relief flowed through the mercenary who severed it. His feelings were short-lived when the arm swung around, cutting off his foot. The man fell to the ground, and the fingernails cut his face off.


    Eris and Armand ran over. The former had a piece of cloth in her hands while the latter had a jar of oil and a burning torch. They hesitated to move forward as the creature''s other arm swung around, sending a head flying from its neck.


    Then, a halberd severed that arm from the woman''s body. Eris ran over to the nearest severed arm and threw the cloth over it. Armand splashed oil on the fabric before pressing the torch to it. There was a great sound like a mixture of drying and melting. The monster let out a massive scream of pain despite the arm being severed, and her attention focused on Armand and Eris.


    It lunged forward. Her face transformed into a gaping maw, bottomless like a black hole. Ludwig jumped forward. He swung his sword, and the monster''s head flew from its body. The severed head bit and gnawed even as it rolled on the ground.


    Eris grabbed a tablecloth and threw it on the other arm. Armand set it ablaze. Once more, there was a scream of pain, but this was muffled out by Eris covering the head. It was set on fire with the body soon joining it.


    The stench of melting flesh filled the hall.

 Chapter 26: Massacres Aftermath

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 Chapter 27: Departing from a Feast

    Count Staufer and Marshal Ludwig marched out of the chapel with Armand behind them. With a grimace, Ludwig turned to some of his mercenaries.


    "Gather up the severed wolf heads and one of the bodies. Bring them to our baggage train. We''ll show them to as many lords as we can," Ludwig said.


    The Landsknechts did as ordered, moving to grab the heads. Marshal Ludwig turned to his brother next.


    "I trust you can handle everything else here?" he asked.


    "Yes. I can," Count Staufer answered.


    Ludwig''s gaze turned to Armand.


    "I apologize for shortening your reunion with your fiance, Lord Armand. But I don''t want to waste time," he stated. "Though, I don''t know your relationship with her. You might be happy to be separated."


    "I''m actually pretty sad. We would have been separated for a time after the banquet anyway, but we are deeply in love," Armand said before thinking. "Well, Eris is in love with me. There is no way I could ever love someone like her. But I am sad that I won''t be near her. I finally found something I could cooperate with Eris on that would save lives, and now we''ll be far enough away that working with her might not be possible."


    The boy ran some numbers in his head.


    "It takes, on average, half a day for one of my letters to reach Eris. And our lands share a border. If I end up in the Northern region of Foldzar, worst-case scenario, it would take over a month to send a letter to her. Even in the best-case scenario, it would take more than a week. Fast communication with Eris won''t be possible. And I can forget about getting to her quickly."


    Marshal Ludwig nodded as he surveyed Armand.


    "When are you getting married to your fiance?" the Marshal asked.


    "Two years from now," Armand answered.


    "I will make sure that you have time to get married then," Ludwig said. "Now, go ahead and say goodbye to your fiance for now. Just be quick about it. I will have my Landsknechts get your things from your room."


    Armand bowed.


    "Thank you, Marshal Ludwig," he said.


    The boy looked around the feasting hall for Eris. She was nowhere to be found. Moving outside, Armand saw several of Eris'' servants carrying bombs from a broken carriage. Standing nearby, the girl was keeping on lookout.


    When Eris saw Armand, she waved to him. He approached her.


    "What are you doing, Eris?" Armand asked.


    "Thank the gods, it was Armand that came out. I didn''t have to tell my servants to hide. Rushing things with explosives is never a good idea," she thought.


    "I was planning on assassinating someone with those magically-timed bombs," Eris answered. "But her carriage was destroyed by the Not Wolves, and she was eaten by them. So, I''m taking the bombs back and disabling the timer."


    Armand''s eye twitched, but he took a deep breath. Eris shifted with nervousness.


    "Eris, I''ll be fast. Marshal Ludwig did not give me much time to talk to you," he said.


    "Go on," Eris replied.


    "Please don''t kill my family," Armand begged.


    Shock coated Eris.


    "I wouldn''t do that," she stated before thinking. "If I killed Armand''s family, he would never forgive me. Letting some nuisances live is better than having Armand hate me."


    "I''m serious, Eris," Armand said. "My younger brother, Charles, is 11. He''s almost a man, and he hates me. I have a deal with him, but I don''t know if he will keep up his end while I''m away. He might plot against you."


    Eris grimaced, but she didn''t say anything.


    "Please, Eris, don''t kill him. If you have no choice, then...you have no choice," tears welled in Armand''s eyes. "But if there''s any alternative, keep him alive, even if it means throwing Charles in a dungeon. I don''t want my brother to die."


    Then, Marshal Ludwig''s voice came to them.


    "Lord Armand! It''s time to go!"


    The boy didn''t hesitate. He marched to Marshal Ludwig right away. There was a group of Landsknechts with him, making preparations to leave. Some of them had Armand''s luggage. Eris walked over to her carriage.


    Her servants had placed all the bombs inside. Eris stepped into the carriage, placing her hand on one of the bombs and uttering an incantation. There was a puff of smoke, and the magic timer was undone.


    "I''m glad I decided to cast the deactivation spell ahead of time. You can never be too careful," Eris said.


    She placed her hand on each of the bombs, undoing the activation spells one by one. After a few minutes, the weapons were as safe as any Early Modern explosive could be.


    Then, the girl turned to her servants.


    "Bring my baggage here. We are leaving the moment everything is together," Eris said.


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    Several servants rushed to get her things. The others made preparations to leave. Eris made sure that her horses were rounded when she left the feast hall earlier. While the animals were in a panic after the Not Wolves attacked, they thankfully were unharmed.


    "None of the horses were injured. Wild beasts would have feasted on them before attacking humans. We have less meat on us. If any noble thinks this was anything other than an attack against Foldzar''s leadership, they should be executed for their stupidity. Even a subhuman could figure it out," were Eris'' thoughts at the time.


    Now, Eris'' brow was furrowed as she sat in her carriage. Her mind was focused on a different issue.


    "That bastard Brutus survived the attack. He''s still in the hall there. I doubt that he''ll give me a chance to kill him. The best I can do is get back home and get ready for whatever he sends at me," Eris contemplated.


    The girl''s servants returned with her luggage. They placed it in the carriage and, after some incredibly swift preparations, it took off.


    Eris gazed at the castle behind her as the vehicle moved. The entrance to the main hall had been knocked off its hinges. Bodies of servants and guards were scattered in the area outside it, and there was a sheen of blood on the grass.


    "Brutus will probably take some time to get ready for any potential monster attacks after this. That will give me some breathing room, but I will have to prepare too. This attack might just be an outlier. But it could also mean the disasters are going to happen sooner. There''s too much we don''t know," Eris thought. "The worst part is Armand''s brother."


    The girl turned her gaze back to the front of the carriage. She pressed her fingers together, her eyes narrowing.


    Eris recalled scenes from before she went back in time. Armand and Brutus joining forces and getting in the way of her plans. Their mercenary forces combining to face hers, battles of intrigue in castles, and the two of them succeeding at ending serfdom.


    "If Charles is anywhere near Armand''s level, I will be in trouble if he joins forces with Brutus. Charles and Brutus shouldn''t be too distracted by other matters like Armand and Brutus were. They could pincer me because their lands are on opposite sides of mine. This would be less of a problem if I could try to kill Charles, but Armand already lost his family once. I''m not letting him lose them again. I will have to deal with Charles with kid gloves," Eris thought.


    Frustration welled up in Eris. The girl recalled everything that had happened up to the banquet and the massacre that followed.


    "Things were going so well too, and then all this had to happen. I''ve never even met Charles before. I don''t know what he looks like, and I don''t know anything about him. I can expect him to be like Armand. Or can I? Siblings are always similar, but there are bound to be differences. For now, I will assume the worst, that he''s every bit as good at manipulation as Armand. I doubt Charles is, but I cannot afford to underestimate him."


    Then, Eris'' brow loosened. A smile crossed her face. She struggled to hold in evil laughter.


    "But I have a few advantages. Even if Charles is as good as Armand, Brutus should know less about him than I do. After all, there is no way Armand would tell Brutus that Charles hates him. If I can get to Charles before Brutus does, I could turn this situation to my advantage. Even if Charles isn''t on Armand''s level, it would still be one more ally that I could use against Brutus."


    Eris leaned back, feeling the leather of her seat. The girl gazed up at the roof of the carriage.


    "Why do I get the feeling that I should be petting a white cat now?" she thought. "It doesn''t matter. I''ll need to be careful. Even if Armand loves me, I don''t think he would have said anything positive about me to his siblings. He still thinks there''s a chance that I would kill someone in his family, after all. I know Armand has several sisters as well as his brother. They''ll probably try to protect Charles from my influence. Armand also didn''t have time to tell me why Charles hates him. I need to figure that out as soon as I can."


    The girl then placed a finger to her chin as her contemplations continued.


    "I can''t trust Armand''s parents either. They might have their own agenda with my and Armand''s marriage. The two were planning on disinheriting him, after all. Armand should have dealt with that by now, but there is no such thing as being too paranoid. But I can at least be sure that they won''t try to kill me. That would waste the whole marriage."


    Then, everything clicked into place.


    "Armand''s parents were trying to disinherit him. Charles is the second eldest son, so he is the natural choice for their replacement heir. If Charles knew about his parents'' plan and Armand foiled it, then he might think that Armand stole his inheritance from him. That would explain why he hates Armand," Eris sighed. "If this is true, it means Charles is a hypocrite. A thief who gets mad when the rightful owner takes his stolen item back. I expected better from Armand''s brother."


    The girl shook her head, anger and frustration flowing through her. An expression of exasperation crossed her face.


    "Why do I even care about that? Charles is, at best, a tool. And at worst, he''s an enemy that I have to spare. I shouldn''t care if he''s a good person or not. Though, I suppose that telling a child that he is going to be the heir and then disinheriting him would make him mad. I''m not giving up Armand''s estate, and Armand is the rightful heir, but I would be mad too if I was in Charles'' position."


    Eris punched herself in the face.


    "My Lady, are you alright?" the carriage driver called out.


    "I''m fine. Just saw a fly and missed my swat," she said.


    The driver knew better than to question what Eris told him.


    "That was stupid of me. I shouldn''t sympathize with Charles, even if he is Armand''s brother. And all this is assuming that I''m right about why he hates Armand. No, no, no, the fact that Charles is Armand''s brother shouldn''t have anything to do with this. Charles is a tool or an obstacle, nothing more and nothing less. The best thing for me to do is to get to him before Brutus can. I need to have prolonged contact with him and the rest of Armand''s family. It''s about time that I get to know them anyway. I have a feeling that I will have to deal with them, even if Armand''s sisters get married off to lords halfway across the world."


    Eris allowed herself to smile again. In fact, it was a wide grin.


    "I might not be in a good position, but I can make the best of it. Armand leaving gives me the perfect excuse to spend time at his household. One of the duties of a noblewoman is to manage her husband''s affairs while he is away, and Armand has taken more power in his family. Knowing Armand, he took on a number of duties with that increased power."


    She turned her gaze to the carriage window. Eris looked over the vast farmland, woods, and villages lining the landscape.


    "I''m not Armand''s wife yet. But I can still tell his family that I''m going to handle his duties in his absence. I can even say that Armand asked me to. I''ll send a letter to Armand, telling him about my plan and asking if there''s anything I need to know about his duties. I can''t expect much help from his family, after all. But I don''t know where Armand is going, so I''m not sure how long it will take to get the letter to him. I will have to go to my family, explain things, and then go to Armand''s family as soon as possible. By then, they should know about the massacre. I should send them a letter too ahead of time."


    Determination pulsed through Eris like the beating of her heart.


    "Armand, no matter what, I will prove that you can trust me."

 Chapter 28: War Wagon Travel and Homecoming

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 Chapter 29: Arrival at Castle Concord

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

 Chapter 30: Destination Reached at Last

    Eris walked through the halls of Castle Concord, observing the various tapestries that adorned them. She stopped at each and looked over it with care.


    "Most of the tapestries are old, but they''re well-maintained enough that they look new. The Concords are too low-ranking to host many large feasts, so Armand''s family must value them a lot," Eris thought.


    The girl walked past an armory. She looked inside but did not enter it.


    "I''ll avoid weapons for now. I don''t want anyone to kill me with one of those and pretend it was an accident," the girl pondered.


    As Eris rounded a corner, she saw Charles walking the hall right towards her. A smile crossed her face.


    "Perfect," Eris thought.


    "Eris! I was looking all over for you!" Charles ran up to her.


    He looked around.


    "No one''s here," the boy said.


    "Even more perfect," Eris suppressed a chuckle. "Lucia is busy with her studies right now, so I''ll be able to evaluate and manipulate Charles without her interfering."


    The Hapsburg gave him her friendliest smile.


    "It''s good to finally talk to you, Charles! Or should I call you brother? Armand and I aren''t married yet, but we''re going to be family in just a few years," she said.


    Charles'' face turned grim.


    "Don''t call me brother. Call me husband," he commanded, his voice trying to summon an air of authority.


    Eris looked at him in stunned silence.


    "Is he...is he being serious? This has to be some sort of joke. Even if it isn''t, if I play it off as one, it''ll give me time to figure this out," she thought before forcing a laugh. "Charles, you are a very funny boy. But your sense of humor is a bit strange. You shouldn''t make jokes like that around most people."


    Charles huffed.


    "I''m serious!" he almost shouted.


    Eris'' smile faded.


    "Charles is still a foolish child. If you''re going to try to get someone you barely know to betray someone else, you can''t just spring it on them suddenly. You need to build up to it, build up trust for you, and manipulate their feelings for the person they''re betraying," she thought before speaking. "I understand that I''m beautiful, but I''m already engaged to your brother."


    Charles shook his head.


    "I don''t care if you''re beautiful or not. I should be the head of House Concord, not Armand! You can make me the head!" he said.


    "What should I do? I didn''t expect Charles to still be this childish. I''m an only child, and Armand has the mind of an adult, so that''s probably why I didn''t expect it. Still, I have to think of something," Eris thought before speaking. "Why do you think I would accept your offer? I''m already marrying the future head of your house. Why would I want to replace him?"


    Charles smiled, beaming with pride.


    "Because I''m better than Armand," he said.


    "What is your proof?" Eris questioned.


    "My parents said that me or Lucia would be the next head of House Concord," Charles stated.


    The Hapsburg girl tilted her head.


    "And their decision means you are better than Armand?" she asked.


    "Yes," Charles answered.


    "But they changed their mind, and Armand is going to be the new head," Eris replied. "Doesn''t that mean that Armand''s better than you?"


    Charles stomped his foot.


    "No! Armand tricked them somehow! Or they made a mistake!" he declared.


    "Typical. When his parents do something that benefits him, it''s because they''re right. But when they do something that harms him, they are wrong. Adults think that way all the time, so why wouldn''t a child?" Eris thought.


    "Charles, if you work with me, I can get you something better than the seat of House Concord," she said.


    "Armand says that he''ll get me married to a princess. He said he''d do it if I let him have the house," Charles replied.


    "There''s no way Armand said something that ridiculous. Charles is either lying or not telling the full story," Eris thought.


    The boy continued.


    "But that''s impossible. While Armand''s trying to get a princess to marry me, we can make me the heir," he said.


    "And if Armand succeeds?" Eris questioned.


    "This should be amusing," she thought.


    Charles crossed his arms and gave the Hapsburg a smug smirk.


    "You''d better hope that he doesn''t. If he does, then the princess will make me the head of House Concord."


    "Why would you even want House Concord''s lands if you''re a prince? They are nothing compared to a kingdom," Eris said.


    "I want them because they are mine. My parents promised me them!" Charles declared.


    The Hapsburg nodded.


    "But if you don''t go after them, you can keep Armand as an ally and potentially rule a kingdom," Eris pointed out.


    "Armand''s stealing my birthright from me! He can''t ever be my ally!"


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "But Armand is the eldest son. From his perspective, you almost stole his birthright from him."


    Charles scoffed.


    "I don''t care what he thinks," the Concord said. "House Concord is mine, not his. Mine."


    Eris sighed.


    "What approach should I go with? Charles is still an immature child, and he won''t live long if he doesn''t grow out of that immaturity fast. Armand will be sad if he dies. Though, one thing is clear. Charles isn''t a match for Armand, even if you take his age into account," she thought before speaking. "15."


    "What?" Charles asked.


    Confusion had overtaken him.


    "15. Charles, you are immature now, and I can''t blame you for that," Eris answered.


    "I''m not immature! And why are you saying 15?" Charles said.


    "Because that''s the longest you''ll live if you don''t mature. Charles, end this foolishness, or you won''t see your 16th birthday," she explained.


    The boy scoffed.


    "Is that a threat?" he asked.


    "It is a statement of fact," Eris answered.


    "Armand is too kind. He would forgive his brother for almost anything, even trying to kill him, but his patience has its limits. If Charles starts trying to overthrow Armand and doesn''t stop, Armand will have him killed around the time he''s 14 or 15," the girl speculated.


    Charles shrugged.


    "Nobles die young all the time. I don''t care when I die, as long as I''m the head of House Concord," he said.


    "He has no idea what he''s saying," Eris thought. "Armand would want me to stop Charles from betraying him, so I''ll need to figure out some way to do it."


    Eris grabbed Charles'' hands with a smile.


    "Why don''t we start off as friends and have tea together?" she asked.


    Charles moved his hands away.


    "I don''t want a friend. I want an ally. Are you going to marry me and overthrow Armand or not?" he questioned.


    "That is a big decision, and I need time to think about it," Eris stated.


    Charles grabbed one of Eris'' arms and yanked it over to him. She slipped it out with ease. The Concord tried to grab her again, but Eris evaded his grasp.


    "Tell me now! I''m not giving you another chance!" Charles shouted.


    Eris quickly glanced around, still avoiding Charles'' hands.


    "Thank the gods that there isn''t anyone in earshot," she thought before speaking. "You need to be more patient, Charles. That is key to survival as a noble. You can''t expect someone you barely know to agree to betray her fiance after one meeting."


    Charles stopped grabbing at Eris. She stood still. A glare covered his eyes.


    "Why? Why won''t you help me overthrow Armand?" he asked.


    "Even if I lie to him now, he won''t believe me," Eris thought.


    "Because I love him," she answered. "Be grateful, Charles. If I just saw Armand as a tool, I would already be plotting your assassination."


    Pure rage flowed over Charles. He placed a hand over his chest and leaned forward.


    "Why would you love someone who isn''t as good as me?"


    "I could go over all the reasons, but that would be pointless. Please, Charles, I see you as a brother. I don''t want you and Armand to fight," Eris said.


    She mimicked the look caring big sisters gave their younger brothers as best as she could. Eris leaned in close.


    "Here''s another proposal. Why don''t you help Armand get lands better than Concord lands? In exchange, he can give you the seat of House Concord. I can get him to agree to that. Then, you both can get what you want," she suggested.


    Charles slapped her in the face. A look of utter shock crossed Eris.


    "I''m not helping Armand," he said.


    Eris hadn''t even heard what he had just spoken. She placed a hand on her cheek. The Hapsburg felt a bruise well up. If Charles knew how much of a monster Eris was, he would have shat himself.


    "I will hurt you for this," Eris spoke before thinking. "I can''t kill him, for Armand''s sake, but I will make him wish he was dead."


    The war wagon Armand and Rozwiazly were in approached a massive fort. It was in the shape of a pentagon. Each point had an area that jutted out in an arrow shape. As for the walls, they were sloped.


    "I''ve never seen a castle like this before," Rozwiazly noted.


    "It isn''t a castle," Armand explained. "It''s a star fort. It''s a relatively new military technology. These sorts of forts are more common in kingdoms to the South of here."


    "Why are the walls sloping, and why are those arrows there?"


    "The arrows are called bastions. And the main purpose of this is to better deflect cannon fire. The angles will cause the cannon balls to move with the wall rather than just collide with it. This will make the cannon balls do less damage to the wall. The sloped walls also make it easier for gunmen to shoot at enemies at the base of the wall," Armand said.


    Rozwiazly nodded.


    "How soon before these become more common than castles?" he asked.


    "I think about 20 years from now, but I''m not sure," Armand answered.


    The war wagon stopped inside of the star fort. Marshal Ludwig dismounted and walked over to Armand and Rozwiazly.


    "Come on out, you two. I''ll show you to your quarters. You''ll meet my family too," Marshal Ludwig said.


    "And when will my family get here?" Rozwiazly questioned.


    "They should arrive tomorrow. Some people you''ll teach magic to will be here by the end of the week."


    A smile crossed Rozwiazly''s face.


    "Thank the gods," he said.


    Armand got out of the war wagon first, and Rozwiazly followed him. Marshal Ludwig marched forward at a brisk pace. The two followed behind him.


    A large number of soldiers were around them. Most were doing various drills or on guard duty. There were some following Ludwig, eating, or doing some other leisure activity.


    "Are all these men mercenaries?" Rozwiazly asked.


    "Most are. Some are from the professional army His Majesty''s trying to make," Marshal Ludwig answered.


    "His Majesty is doomed to fail. Other kings have made professional armies of some size, but our leader doesn''t have enough control over Foldzar to make one. His Majesty would need a lot of support from the nobles to sustain a professional army. And there is no way they''ll support that," Armand thought.


    The Marshal gestured to various places on the fort.


    "There''s where we cook food. There''s the common soldiers'' quarters. The officers have individual rooms. You''ll have some rooms there."


    Armand and Rozwiazly turned and saw a set of quarters at the base of the walls. Then, a woman walked over to Marshal Ludwig. There was a stern expression on her face.


    "It is good to see you again, Ludwig," she said.


    "Good to see you too, Lina," he replied. "These men here are going to stay on the base for a while. This is Lord Armand Richelieu Concord. He''s my new adjutant. And this is Rozwiazly. He''s a talented sorcerer. You two, this is my wife. Treat her with respect."


    Armand and Rozwiazly both bowed.


    "It is a true honor to meet you, My Lady," Rozwiazly stated.


    "I hope I prove useful to your husband," Armand said.


    Lina nodded.


    "I should hope the same. I do not tolerate useless idiots, and I hope that Ludwig was not forced to bring you two along by someone higher-ranking than him. If you do not live up to his expectations, I will crush you myself."


    She gave Armand and Rozwiazly a cold glare.


    "Lina, where are our children?" Marshal Ludwig questioned.


    "Matthew is taking Janice to the town festival. They''ll be back tomorrow," she told him.


    "Alright. They''ll meet you lot then," the Marshal turned to Armand and Rozwiazly.


    Lina nodded.


    "Yes. They will. I will take my leave now," she turned and walked away.


    A wide smile crossed Marshal Ludwig''s face.


    "By the gods, I''m glad I got a chance to marry for love," he said. "And I''m glad that marriage didn''t change my wife."


    Rozwiazly kept his mouth shut as hard as he could. On the inside, the commoner was utterly shocked that anyone could fall for a cold, stern woman like that. Armand, on the other hand...


    "It''s no wonder a woman like that won Marshal Ludwig''s heart. In fact, even if his parents wanted to put him in a political marriage, I don''t think they could stop him from marrying her after they met. Even His Majesty probably couldn''t," the boy thought.


    "Alright, let''s get you to your quarters," Marshal Ludwig started walking again. "Lord Armand, I expect you to get to writing right away. Rozwialzly, I should be able to find someone to teach you how to write here. You''ll focus on your studies until your students get here."


    The two nodded and followed him.


    "I hope things are going alright with Eris," Armand thought. "And that my brother doesn''t do anything stupid. Even if Eris loves me, and even if she''s telling the truth when she says that I can trust her, I can only hold her back so much."

 Chapter 31: Letters Arrived At Last

    Armand sat at a desk in a dark room. A single candle lit the space around the boy. There was a blank book in front of him, a bottle of ink to one side, and a swan quill in his hand. He had spent the last half an hour thinking.


    "I''ve never written a book before. I don''t know how to start it. But I can''t waste too much time. I''ll just write something down," Armand contemplated.


    The boy dipped the quill in the ink before he started writing.


    "You might believe that the creatures of myth are not real, that the monsters in the woods are stories meant to scare children. I am here to tell you that this is not the case. Monsters are very real. You''ve already seen that with the Nosfer and now an attack by Not Wolves. In this book, I will detail the various monsters of the world and how to fight them," Armand wrote.


    The boy stopped to dip his quill in the inkwell again before continuing.


    "We will start with the Woods Wolves. They are some of the largest monsters out there. But they can take the form of normal wolves. If you see a wolf in the forest, it could be a Woods Wolf, and you would never know. They are the size of elephants in their true form. But the most dangerous thing about Woods Wolves is their power over wind. They can inhale a large portion of air before blowing it out. This is powerful enough to bring houses down. However, this wind is not effective against things more solid than wood, like bricks. I recommend facing Woods Wolves from the safety of fortresses. Use cannons on them. Don''t bother with arquebus, pikes, or organ guns. Lances are able to pierce their hide, but getting close to Woods Wolves is a horrible idea."


    Before Armand could continue writing, he heard the sound of footsteps outside his door. The boy made sure his hands were in position to grab his rapier and concealed pistol as he got off his chair. Armand turned around to face the exit.


    Rozwiazly opened the door. Armand relaxed a little bit. However, the boy kept his guard up.


    "Writing about monsters is making me more paranoid than usual," he thought as his mind flashed back to times he found shapeshifters among his soldiers.


    "Lord Armand," Rozwiazly bows. "It is good to see you today. I hope you are not too busy to meet my family?"


    "I can spare a few minutes for them," Armand said.


    With a nod, Rozwiazly ushered his family in. There was an adult woman, two girls no older than six, and a boy of three. Pain flashed through Armand. He recalled his own family.


    "I hope things aren''t going too horribly between Eris and them," Armand thought.


    The family looked a bit nervous. Their children were hiding behind Rozwiazly.


    "They''re meeting a noble, so being nervous is expected," Armand contemplated. "I should do something to assuage their worries."


    He gave them a slight bow of greeting.


    "I am Armand Richelieu Concord. I''m glad that I can finally meet Rozwiazly''s family. He is a very impressive spellcaster."


    A look of pride crossed the adult woman''s face.


    "Yes. My husband is the pride of our village, despite his...uncouth traits," she gave Rozwiazly a slight glare as she spoke.


    "Heh heh. Lord Armand, this is my wife, Ani. These are my daughters, Mara and Varva. And this is my son, Dimitri," Rozwiazly introduced them.


    The entire family, Rozwiazly included, took deep bows.


    "I hope you enjoy your stay at this fortress," I said. "I know that it isn''t a place where most people would bring their families, but I''m sure you will be able to adapt."


    "Thank you for your kind words, My Lord," Ani replied.


    Armand nodded and knelt down so he could look the children in the eyes. Being a twelve-year-old, he did not need to kneel far.


    "It''s good to meet you too. I''m sure you''ll grow up into fine people," Armand said.


    Then, the boy heard more footsteps. He stood up, and an arquebusier walked into the room. This newcomer bowed before speaking.


    "Lord Armand, we received a letter for you," he stated.


    "Give it to me," the boy replied.


    Armand extended his hand, and the arquebusier gave him the letter. The boy examined it. This letter was from Eris. Opening it up incredibly quickly, Armand read it in less than a second.


    "Telling my family that I told you to manage my affairs while I was gone...that is very clever. As expected of you, Eris. I wish I could have discussed this more with her, but we didn''t have enough time," the boy thought.


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    He walked to the table and pushed the book aside. Then, Armand pulled out a blank piece of paper.


    "I apologize for cutting this meeting short, Rozwiazly, Ani, Mara, Varva, Dimitri, but I need to address this as soon as possible," Armand said.


    Rozwiazly bowed.


    "We understand, Lord Armand. None of us would get in the way of a noble''s important business," he replied.


    "Thank you," Armand nodded.


    Rozwiazly and his family left the room. Armand turned his attention to the piece of paper in front of him. The first thing he did was write down every detail he could about his affairs, especially the intricacies of managing the lands he was put in charge of.


    "I''m sure Eris does not need to know all this, but I''d rather be thorough than miss something," Armand thought.


    The boy then wrote a set of instructions for Eris. He was 100% certain that Eris would be happy that he sent her this information.


    "It''ll be truffle season a month from now. Their harvesting season lasts four months. Go to Bluerest Village. The village elder will have data on the production rate of truffles. Normally, you should eat truffles at most five days after they are unearthed. But my family uses magic to preserve truffles so they can be sold far in the future. I''ll send instructions in this letter for how to use that spell," Armand wrote.


    Then, the boy finished the letter. He didn''t have his family''s seal, but Marshal Ludwig gave him permission to use his personal seal instead. That just made things more secure. No one would dare open a letter sent by Marshal Ludwig unless it was sent to them.


    Armand then started writing another letter.


    "To my parents, I will be indisposed for a while. It could be anywhere from months to years. The banquet I attended was attacked by monsters. As hard as it is to believe, it is true. Marshal Ludwig recruited me into his service due to my performance against the monsters. I am currently his adjutant. I sent Eris to our estate so she could manage my affairs while I was gone, as a wife should do for her husband. Eris can be relied on for this, so I expect you to give her your full cooperation. If you do not, I will find out. From, your heir, Armand."


    The boy sealed the letter.


    "My parents will think that Marshal Ludwig''s seal makes this a bit suspicious, but they''ll recognize my handwriting. This is all I can do for now. I just have to put my trust in Eris. By the gods, Eris, please don''t kill my family," Armand thought.


    He gave the letters to a messenger before returning to writing his book.


    Eris was sitting in the great hall of Castle Concord with Eleanor and Catherine.


    "Despite my Father''s pressing, Count and Countess Concord haven''t let me get involved in Armand''s affairs yet. I suspect they''ll wait until he sends them a letter for that," Eris thought.


    "Look!" Catherine showed Eris a doll. "This is Sir Rolando!"


    The Hapsburg nodded.


    "From the legends, right, Cat?"


    Catherine beamed.


    "Yup! Armand used to read me stories about Sir Rolando all the time! He was so brave and strong! He killed seven evil knights to save Queen Esmera!" she said.


    Eleanor smiled with glee.


    "Sir Rolando was so handsome that every woman wanted to marry him! But he was always faithful to Queen Esmera!"


    "Aside from that time Princess Gilslaine used magic to disguise herself as Queen Esmera to bed him," Eris thought. "But that incident wasn''t Sir Rolando''s fault. He was something of the victim of that incident. If I were Queen Esmera, I''d have brutally tortured Princess Gilsaine to death. But I suppose Queen Esmera was more merciful to her cousin than I would have been."


    Catherine nodded.


    "Sir Rolando is so cool! I hope my husband is just like him!" she declared.


    "I hope that he isn''t a knight. His sisters shouldn''t marry down, especially to an irrelevant social class. An alliance like that wouldn''t benefit me or Armand at all," Eris thought before speaking. "I hope they have similar personalities."


    "Yeah! I want someone strong and brave!" Cat said.


    Footsteps came to Eris'' ears. She glanced at the hallway. After a few moments, Lucia stepped inside. The girl was pale.


    "What are you doing, Eris?" she asked.


    "Spending time with my sisters, of course," the Hapsburg gave her an innocent smile. "Well, we aren''t sisters yet, but it already feels like we''ve known each other for years!"


    Lucia narrowed her eyes. She looked at her siblings, who were smiling widely. The girl then gazed at Eris. There was a conflicted expression on Lucia''s face.


    "Eris, could you come with me for a moment?" she asked.


    "Of course, sister," the Hapsburg nodded and stood up.


    They walked out of the room and entered the hallway. Lucia''s face turned dark.


    "I know exactly what you''re doing. You couldn''t get me or Charles on your side, so you''re trying to influence our sisters instead," Lucia said.


    "That is exactly what I''m doing," Eris thought before speaking. "But is it really wrong for me to spend some time with my future family?"


    "When it''s you, it is."


    Lucia narrowed her eyes.


    "And I told you to stay away from my brother and sisters," she said.


    "And I told you that I would talk to them if they want to talk to me," Eris replied.


    "And you were lying. Charles talked to me. He said that you approached him and tried to get him to help you betray Armand," Lucia stated.


    "I thought he''d do something like that. Let''s see if the child can outmaneuver me," Eris thought before speaking. "And you actually believed him? Charles wants Armand''s inheritance."


    "So do you."


    Eris gave Lucia a warm smile.


    "I want Armand more than his inheritance. And even if I wanted his inheritance, why would I want to join forces with Charles to get it? Armand is already the heir, and I''m his fiance," the Hapsburg pointed out.


    "You might want his help to kill Armand," Lucia replied.


    "Before Armand turned time back, I spent years trying to kill him and never succeeded. I would need a lot of help to do it. Lucia must have some idea of how competent Armand is, so I can see why she suspects that I''m trying to get someone to help me kill him," Eris thought.


    The Hapsburg gave Lucia a reassuring smile.


    "I''m not going to ask you to trust me as a person, Lucia. But I will ask you to trust my self-interest and competence. If Armand thinks I''m a threat, I have to be competent, right?" Eris asked.


    "You do," Lucia admitted. "He would have crushed you by now if you weren''t."


    "True," the Hapsburg thought before speaking. "Now, tell me, what would happen if Charles and I killed Armand? Charles wants his inheritance, and after I marry Armand, his lands would pass to me unless we have children."


    "You would marry Charles, of course!"


    A look of complete and utter disgust crossed Eris'' face. She felt like she was going to throw up. The Hapsburg looked at Lucia as if the Concord was the stupidest woman on the planet. This stunned Lucia so much that she took a step back.


    "I am not marrying Charles. Ever," Eris said.


    "If that bastard thinks I''d ever marry him at this point, he deserves to be boiled alive for his stupidity. I will crush him, no matter what. I will make him regret ever crossing me," she thought.


    "I believe you," Lucia stated.


    Eris narrowed her eyes. She saw Lucia turn pale.


    "That easily?" the Hapsburg questioned.


    "Yes," Lucia assured her. "I can tell from the look on your face that you''d never even let him touch you."


    "If he tried, I''d cut off his hand," Eris said. "Charles lied to you. I did not ask him to help me betray Armand. He asked me to help him do that. And I refused."


    Lucia looked down, uncertainty crossing her face. Eris held her expression.


    "She believes me. Lucia doesn''t want to, but she knows that I''m telling the truth. Now, Lucia knows that she can''t trust Charles either. Well, if she didn''t know already," Eris thought.


    "Stay away from my siblings," Lucia turned away. "Don''t manipulate them."


    The girl ran down the hall, putting distance between herself and Eris.

 Chapter 32: Armand and Eris Affairs

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 Chapter 33: A Monarchs Visit

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 Chapter 34: A Risk Taken

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 Chapter 35: Another Year Comes

    A grimace coated Marshal Ludwig Staufer''s face. He was sitting at a table with a letter in front of him. Armand looked at the letter. Rage slowly crossed the boy''s face, his hands clenching so hard they turned white.


    "Do you think this letter is telling the truth?" the marshal asked.


    "Yes," Armand answered without hesitation. "My parents have no reason to lie about something like this."


    His face started to turn red from anger.


    "Eris might lie about it, but after hearing what Brutus had to say, I''d believe her if she sent the letter. Logically, I shouldn''t be mad that Brutus tried to assassinate Eris. Assassinations happen all the time, and Eris deserves death," Armand thought.


    The boy had to resist slamming his hands against the table.


    "So, why am I mad beyond belief? I want to have Brutus tortured to death, for the gods'' sake! This...I''ve never been this furious before! What''s happening to me?"


    Marshal Staufer looked at the letter Armand had just read.


    "I can''t have the fiance of my adjutant almost get assassinated. I will deal with this," he said.


    "You''re going to kill him," Armand stated.


    Staufer nodded.


    "I don''t like the nonsense assassinations and political games most lords get up to, but...well, you know my reputation," he said.


    The Concord hoped relief would flow through him. But it didn''t come. Instead, other thoughts clouded Armand''s mind.


    "If Brutus also remembers the old future, other people might too. Eris is a monster, and that earned her a lot of enemies the last time around. If they remember, it''s only a matter of time before they come for Eris. But why do I care so much about this? This is beyond caution and my desire to redeem Eris," the boy thought.


    Marshal Staufer observed Armand''s face.


    "Worried about your fiance, are you?" Luwdig Staufer asked.


    "I am," Armand admitted.


    "That''s only natural," the Marshal said. "Even if you just got engaged to her for political reasons, you still need her for those. And if you''ve started to like her, that''s all the more reason to worry."


    He then grabbed a piece of paper and started writing on it.


    "I can''t promise that I''ll keep that Eris girl safe, but I can make sure that people think twice before coming after her," Ludwig stated.


    "Thank you," Armand replied.


    "Most people wouldn''t go after anyone who''s under your protection," the boy thought.


    Marshal Staufer waved it off as he kept writing.


    "You don''t need to thank me. My honor as a lord demands that I keep anyone connected to me in some way safe," he said.


    Ludwig then stopped writing and moved the letter over to Armand. The boy looked at it.


    "This is a schedule," Armand stated.


    "Yes," Ludwig nodded. "Our schedule. We''ll start traveling to various lords'' homes soon. I''ve already arranged for a special carriage for you. It''ll be much easier to write on."


    "And the part of my book that I''ve already written had been taken to the presses."


    "Yes. We''ll have it copied a few times, then sent to presses in other cities to make more copies," Marshal Staufer said. "But with this business with Brutus, we''ll have to delay things a bit. I was planning on leaving in a few days, but now it''ll probably be a week or two."


    Armand nodded.


    "I apologize for the inconvenience," he stated.


    "You don''t need to apologize. This is just normal noble politics. Though, why did Duke Medici''s son try to kill your fiance?" Marshal Staufer asked.


    "Eris humiliated him at a feast. Brutus brought up his family''s bandit issues, and Eris offered to help him solve them," Armand spoke before thinking. "Marshal Staufer would probably figure out a full lie, but this is more of a half-truth."


    Marshal Staufer nodded.


    "I don''t know if Eris meant anything by it, but that''s more than enough of an insult to want someone dead over," he said.


    Then, Ludwig grabbed another piece of paper and started writing on it.


    "When I have everything settled, I will send another copy of our schedule to your parents and Eris. If they have to send us a letter, they should know where we''ll be and when," Ludwig stated.


    "And no one would dare intercept one of Marshal Staufer''s letters," Armand thought.


    The marshal shrugged.


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    "In any case, I should have the Brutus situation handled by in a week or two''s time at most," Ludwig said. "After that, we will leave. We have a lot of lords to talk to. By the end of it, we''ll speak to His Majesty about these monsters."


    "Very well. Then, I will get as much writing done as I can before then," Armand replied.


    He stood up and bowed to Marshal Staufer.


    "If I may be excused," the boy said.


    "Go ahead," Ludwig nodded.


    Armand left the tent, deep in thought.


    "I hope Marshal Staufer does not underestimate Brutus. He thinks of Brutus as an adult, but Brutus has far more experience than he could possibly know. In any case, I''ve done all I can," the boy thought.


    He clenched his fists so hard they turned white.


    "And I''m still furious. Brutus...I despise him. I truly do. But I shouldn''t. I don''t love Eris, so why am I this mad? I don''t know," Armand shook his head. "I should just push this to the side for now and focus on my book. Aside from that, the only thing I can do is wait and hope. Please, Eris, treat my family well."


    1 year passes...


    Rain lashed over the dark field, clouds coating the sky. A large cart has sunk into the mud. Its wheels are deep in the muck. Three horses are lashed to it, doing their best to pull the cart out. The animals strain with effort. Several strong men join, desperately moving. An older man oversaw this operation.


    "Dammit! We''ll have to delay the shipment at this rate," he said. "If we''re late, Lady Eris won''t pay us as much for this food."


    "But she''s known for her generosity," one of the other men pointed out.


    "That''s why we shouldn''t test her patience. Lady Eris is a generous noble, but that''s only because it benefits her to be. I''ve seen many nobles in my day, and I know how they think. And let me tell you: Lady Eris is not the sort of noble who''s generous out of the kindness of her heart."


    The men brought over another horse, a big draft animal. They lashed it to the cart and made the beast pull as hard as it could. Slowly but surely, the cart rose out of the mud. Relief flowed through the men as it was dragged back onto the road.


    They trudged further through the mud, avoiding where it sank in the most. Eventually, the men came to a narrow pass at the border of Hapsburg and Concord lands. Several hussars stood at it. Eris, now a girl of 13, was at their head. She and her warriors rode over to the men transporting the cart.


    "Not quite on schedule, but it''s excusable, given the rain," Eris said.


    The older man bowed.


    "Thank you for your understanding, Lady Eris. A noblewoman like you shouldn''t have to stand out in the rain like this," he stated.


    "Of course, I''m waiting for you here. Foolish subhuman, do you really think I''d let anyone less than myself make sure my and Armand''s plan succeeds?" the Hapsburg thought before speaking. "We all must do things that we''d rather not."


    She motioned for two hussars to go to the caravan. They searched the cart, inspecting it for traps or potential assassins hiding inside of it. The light cavalry gave the all-clear signal.


    Then, Eris got off her horse and looked under the tarp covering the cart. She made sure to not remove it so the food inside wouldn''t get affected by the rain.


    "Everything you promised is here," Eris said.


    She pulled a piece of parchment out of her clothes and handed it to the older man.


    "Two hussars will escort through to the Hapsburg lands. You will receive your payment when you reach your destination," the girl stated.


    "Thank you, Lady Eris," the older man bowed again.


    The caravan went through the pass, escorted by the hussars as Eris promised. When they were out of eyesight, the Hapsburg girl started moving back into Concord lands.


    "My lands have enough food that my parents aren''t rushing to feed the people. Everything is going according to Armand''s and my plan. My parents should be safe," Eris thought.


    She then grimaced.


    "But I still need to worry. I have enemies out there, and among them...he survived Marshal Staufer''s assassins. Even if he''s no longer in Foldzar, he could still try something against me," the girl pondered.


    Eris arrived at the town she was governing in Armand''s name. The Hapsburg went inside of a large manor house, a new addition to the town. There, she walked over to the great hall and sat next to the fireplace. Warmth flowed through Eris'' body. Bits of rainwater that once covered her dried up.


    Then, a knock came at the door. One of the hussars opened it. A young man stepped inside.


    "I''m here with a letter for Lady Eris Hapsburg," he said.


    "Hand it to one of the hussars. He can bring it to me," Eris replied, keeping an eye trained on the newcomer.


    The young man nodded, gave the letter to a hussar, and left. Then, the letter was brought to Eris. She opened it and read it.


    "Dear Eris Hapsburg, I wish to invite you to a grand festival at the capital. It is honoring those who made it through the Nosfer Plague. It will have celebrations, games of blades, and more than enough wine to feed a duchy. I am certain you will attend. After all, there are a few lords who want to know how you''ll react to the matter your fiance wrote. From, Duchess Rowena Hapsburg."


    Eris folded the letter back up.


    "So, the main family branch is inviting me to this celebration? The last time around, it was one of Rowena''s handmaidens, Elise Kyburg. They did not directly contact me," she thought. "They must be interested in the book Armand published. Even though Marshal Staufer has been showing everyone the giant wolf skulls and we have numerous eyewitnesses from the attack on the banquet, a lot of people are still skeptical of even the most reasonable things Armand wrote."


    The girl then gazed into the fireplace. She watched the flames flicker before her.


    "Of course, some of them are just trying to ruin Armand''s reputation for political reasons. When I arrive at the celebration, I''ll have to give my support for his anti-serfdom faction as soon as I can," Eris contemplated. "The first time around, the festival also happened half a year after my parents died. It''s way ahead of where it should be. And this timing is very inconvenient. I''m in the middle of carrying out Armand''s and my plan."


    She then stood up. The girl walked over to a cabinet in the manor house. Opening it, Eris revealed countless weapons inside. Grabbing several concealable guns, daggers, and bombs, the girl hid them in her clothes. Then, she motioned for the hussars to come over. They armed themselves too.


    "Half of you, go to the capital ahead of me. Find a place to stay and store these weapons there. If something happens, we will be ready," Eris ordered.


    With that, half of the hussars left. Eris then walked up a step of stairs before coming to the manor house''s study. She pulled out several pieces of paper.


    "I need to make sure things are in order here before I go. I''ll send a set of instructions to my parents and another to Armand''s older sister. She hates me, but she''s the only person here I can even remotely rely on," Eris thought. "I''ll send another letter to Armand. He will definitely be at this festival, even if he wasn''t there the last time around."


    Then, Eris grimaced.


    "There are things I did at the festival that I should get done before Armand arrives. If I do them after he gets there, he''ll do everything in his power to stop me," she thought.

 Chapter 36: Eris Journey to the Festival

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 Chapter 37: Armands Festival Plans

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 Chapter 38: Eris Tea Meeting

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 Chapter 39: Armands Festival Trip

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    By the gods, what is wrong with me?" he thought before speaking. "So have you."

 Chapter 40: A Divine Visit

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 Chapter 41: Festival Date

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 Chapter 42: Duel at Night

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 Chapter 43: Eris Love

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 Chapter 44: Meeting the Crown Prince

    Eris sat by Armand''s bedside in Marshal Staufer''s fortified villa. The boy was staying in a guest room, which became a hospital room with medical equipment nearby him. Guards with armor and swords stood outside of the door at all times, rotating in various shifts.


    It had been several days since Armand was shot. Marshal Staufer''s personal doctor would check on the boy several times each day, making sure the magic circle around the bed was intact. This was what delivered a constant healing spell to Armand. However, healing spells had limits. Their base effect was increasing the body''s natural healing rate. They could allow someone to heal completely from something they normally would not be able to. And wounds healed by magic never leave scars.


    However, healing magic can only do so much. It cannot regrow lost limbs. And healing times are reduced, never eliminated. Armand''s injuries would never fully heal without healing magic. With it, they would fully heal, but it would take a long time.


    Armand had been asleep all this time. It was not magically compelled but a coma resulting from his injury. And Eris had been by his side as much as she could.


    There were times when she had to leave to deal with some business. But Eris went right back to Armand the moment she could. Marshal Staufer more than respected her desire to be by her loved one, and he had his servants bring food in for Eris. He even set up a table for her so she could eat without risking spilling food on Armand.


    A letter from Rozwialzly arrived on the third day Eris was in the room. It read:


    "I apologize for not being here for Armand. If I were in the capital, I would have rushed to your side and healed you right away, but I am with His and Her Majesties on the other side of Foldzar. And we will not be back for at least two weeks. If Armand is still injured during this time, I will go to him."


    "At least this commoner has some intelligence. Defying the royal family is a foolish idea, but I will make sure he keeps his promise," Eris thought after reading the letter.


    During the morning a few days after that, Eris had just finished eating when a knock came at the door. The girl turned to it.


    "Come in," she said.


    Marshal Staufer entered. There was a perplexed look on his face as he scratched his chin.


    "Eris, have you ever talked to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Leopold before?" Marshal Staufer asked.


    "Not in this life," Eris thought before answering. "I haven''t. Why do you ask?"


    "He told me he wanted to talk to you," the man said.


    Eris furrowed her brow.


    "That is strange," she spoke before thinking. "Why would he want to talk to me? He shouldn''t care about Armand at this point. He never cared about the disasters or monsters either. And he won''t cheat on his sister. Did I underestimate Armand again? Does he have more influence in court than I thought?"


    Marshal Staufer nodded.


    "I can''t disagree with that. Prince Leopold never talked about you before. He never even brought up Armand. So, I don''t know what he wants," he said.


    Then, a thought came to Eris'' mind. It brought a smile to her face.


    "What if Prince Leopold can remember what happened before Armand turned back time? If he did, then he might be trying to recruit me to his and his sister''s plan early. If that''s the case, it''ll make stabbing him in the back much easier. That''s something both Armand and I want, so I''ll just tell him when he wakes up," Eris thought.


    She then stood up.


    "There''s no refusing a summon from a member of the royal family for a noble of my rank," the girl lied. "Where am I meeting Prince Leopold?"


    "My men will escort you there. I''ll keep an eye on Armand while you''re away," Marshal Staufer said.


    Eris was taken on a carriage ride through the capital. Eventually, she arrived at a tall building. It was made of white marble and had grand pillars that stretched high before connecting to its polished roof. The floor was so clean that you could see your reflection in them.


    "The Eastern Palace, one of the four imperial palaces in the capital. The royal family doesn''t use this one often, except for private meetings. Maybe the eldest princess will be here too?" Eris pondered.


    She stepped out of the carriage and walked over to the long set of stairs leading to the building. Marshal Staufer''s men followed her. Eris gazed up at the building as she moved up its steps one by one.


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    When the girl reached the door, a boy a few years older than she stepped outside. He was tall with red hair and silver eyes. There was a charming smile on his face. The boy was wearing fancy purple clothes with black stripes. Numerous jewels bedecked his garments. In short, his clothes were so expensive that you could buy entire castles for less money than his sleeves were worth.


    "Lady Eris Hapsburg, I presume," he said.


    Eris curtsied.


    "The very same. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness," she replied.


    "Yes, it most certainly is," Prince Leopold nodded. "Come inside. We must talk alone."


    He motioned to the guards, who stopped in their tracks. Then, Leopold turned and entered the building with Eris following him.


    The inside was filled with long hallways, dozens of rooms, and walls covered with paintings. Most of the pictures were of various members of the royal family, both currently living and deceased. But a few images depicted battles. There were also busts of various royals and some other important historical figures.


    Prince Leopold led Eris into a room with a small mahogany table and a beautiful white tablecloth. A tea set was on the table, and there were several snacks there too. The prince sat on one side. Eris took the other seat.


    "So, Lady Eris, what do you think of the capital?" Prince Leopold asked.


    "I should bait him to find out if he remembers the last time around. Outright saying I remember would be a bad idea, so I''ll hint at it," Eris thought before speaking. "It is a lovely place. It has been a while since I was last here."


    Prince Leopold shrugged.


    "Considering your age, I doubt you remember the last time you were in the capital. It''s not like it changed much over the years," he said.


    "Very true, Your Highness. The capital as it is today is very similar to how it was years ago. And I suspect that it won''t change much in the future," Eris replied.


    Prince Leopold nodded.


    "I suppose it won''t," he shrugged.


    The prince poured a drink of tea and took a sip. Eris made sure to not do the same. Leopold gave her a small smile when he noticed it.


    "Aren''t you hungry or thirsty?" the prince asked.


    "I''m not. I ate before I came here," Eris answered.


    "A pity," Leopold said. "This food is incredible. You get a lot of meals like this at the royal palace. It''s beyond anything someone from a count''s family could expect to have."


    Eris gave him a smile.


    "I thank you for your generosity, Your Highness," she said.


    The girl then poured some tea for herself. She placed the cup to her mouth and pretended to drink it. Prince Leopold seemed satisfied by that, so he turned to a different topic.


    "I am certain you are wondering why I called you here."


    "Yes, I am," Eris said.


    "It''s about your fiance," Prince Leopold replied. "I want you to kill him."


    The girl put her drink down. She looked Prince Leopold dead in the eyes. A moment of silence passed between them.


    "I see. You''re serious about this," Eris stated with a cold voice.


    "Of course. None of my assassins could get past Marshal Staufer''s guards, and you have direct access to Armand''s room," he explained.


    Then, Prince Leopold gave her a smile.


    "I understand this is an unusual request, one that most noblewomen would hesitate to take. But I know you''re the sort of person who''ll do anything for power. And as the prince, I can get you more power than your fiance ever could," he said.


    The girl gave him a contemplative expression.


    "Why do you want to kill Armand?" Eris asked.


    "That is my business and mine alone," Prince Leopold answered. "All you need to think of is how I''m going to reward you. And I will give you a greater reward than you could ever have hoped for. Tell me, how would you like to be an archduchess?"


    The girl''s eyes widened in shock. Her jaw dropped. Eris placed her hands on her lap.


    "An archduchess? That would mean..." she started.


    "That the only people in the kingdom who would outrank you are my parents. And I have the power to make you an archduchess. More than that, I could arrange for you to marry the prince of some foreign land. You''d become a queen in due time. I understand that most nobles of Foldzar aren''t interested in foreign affairs, but perhaps you''d accept it because of the power it gets you?" Prince Leopold suggested.


    "A queen...Queen Eris..." the girl smiled. "I like the sound of that."


    Leopold grinned wider than ever before.


    "So, do you accept my offer?" he asked.


    "Let me pour you some tea," Eris stood up, walking over to the teapot.


    She placed her hand on the spout as she poured the tea. Prince Leopold thought this was unusual, but he put that aside.


    "Thank you, Lady Eris," the prince said.


    "I just need one reassurance first," Eris replied.


    The girl walked over to her seat and sat down on it.


    "Why do you want to kill Armand so badly that you''d make me an archduchess for it?" she asked. "You don''t have to give the full reason if you don''t want to."


    "Let''s just say that he is one of the biggest threats to my plans in all of Foldzar," Leopold answered.


    Eris nodded.


    "He is quite cunning, but in his current state, I could poison him and no one would ever know," she answered.


    "How long will it take your poison to kill him?" the prince questioned.


    "2 weeks," Eris said. "He''ll be stone dead after that."


    Leopold grinned.


    "And when Lord Armand''s death is confirmed, I will convince Father to make you an archduchess. I am certain that you know I always reward my followers," he stated.


    "Yes, especially someone as dangerous as me," Eris replied.


    Prince Leopold chuckled.


    "You are only interested in power, Lady Eris. As long as I can grant you more power, I am perfectly safe. Just like how the world''s richest man will never have to worry about his mercenaries betraying him," Leopold said.


    He then drank the tea Eris poured for him. The prince downed the entire cup before standing up.


    "I will not keep you any longer, Lady Eris. You have a busy time killing your fiance, after all," Prince Leopold stated.


    Eris stood up and curtsied.


    "Yes. I will see you in two weeks, Your Highness. I promise you that things will go exactly according to plan," she said.


    "I know they will, Lady Eris," he replied.


    As Eris left the room and could no longer be seen by the crown prince, her smile changed. It went from warm to completely and utterly sadistic. Her face turned into a mixture of anger and raw malice.


    "Your Royal Highness Prince Leopold, I hope you enjoy shitting yourself to death. I will not allow anyone who wants Armand dead to live," Eris thought. "And I hope you die never figuring out that my favorite poison only takes one week to kill someone, not two."


    Leaving the palace, Eris wondered how she was going to explain to Armand that she killed the crown prince.

 Chapter 45: Armand Awakens

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 Chapter 46: Morning Arrives

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 Chapter 47: New Enemy, New Plan

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 Chapter 48: A Meeting with Karl

    In the days since Eris received the letter, Armand made trips outside of Marshal Staufer''s house at the same time of day. Of course, Eris made sure her hussars were ready to deal with anyone who might try to harm Armand. Still, no one even attempted to.


    But before Armand even started, a thought came to his and Eris'' minds.


    "This letter might be a trap or a false flag," Armand speculated.


    "I was thinking the same thing," Eris said. "Karl hasn''t met me in years. He''d be right in assuming that I''m madly in love with you, but even if I wasn''t, saying he wants you dead in that letter is a terrible idea."


    "Yes. Even if you weren''t a threat, the letter could be intercepted. And if one of my allies got ahold of it, Karl could have signed his own death warrant," he nodded.


    Eris grimaced.


    "But I think he sent a letter. If not, then we could easily disprove Karl''s letter when he doesn''t show up," she stated.


    "I agree," Armand replied. "His letter would have been far more diplomatic than what we got, though. Or at least it wouldn''t mention killing me."


    "It would be a veiled threat at worst, especially since you''re Marshal Staufer''s adjutant," Eris shrugged.


    Armand nodded.


    "I''m glad I didn''t show the letter to Marshal Staufer. Sir Karl would be dead if I did," he thought before speaking. "Then, someone might have intercepted the letter, changed it, and put it back on its way."


    "That is most likely, but I doubt Karl is stupid enough to hire messengers who would willingly deliver an altered letter," Eris said. "They could be dead."


    "That''s possible. It''s also possible that someone Karl''s working with altered the letter," Armand suggested.


    Eris grimaced.


    "There are many possibilities, and we don''t have enough information yet," she said. "Maybe I should show Karl the latter?"


    Armand placed a hand on his chin in contemplation.


    "How much does he know about what sort of person you are?" he asked.


    "Nothing at all. He probably thinks I''m a normal woman," Eris answered.


    "I''d expect nothing less from you, Eris," Armand thought before speaking. "If that''s the case, then show him the letter. He has no reason to suspect that you''ve altered it as part of some trick."


    A part of Eris felt sick when she heard Armand''s words. However, she didn''t speak.


    "Why do I feel this way? Armand didn''t say anything about me that he hasn''t before, but he still thinks I''d trick a close cousin of mine. I would, and he knows it, but why does it hurt?" Eris thought.


    She clutched her heart, a downcast expression crossing her face.


    "Maybe it''s because I truly am a horrible person? How did Armand ever come to love a woman like me?" she wondered.


    A look of concern crossed Armand''s face.


    "Eris, are you alright? Do you feel ill?" he asked.


    "It''s nothing, Armand," she waved it off. "I''m just starting to get hysteria."


    The boy raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re starting to get close to the age where women can get hysteria, but I''m not sure if heartache is a symptom of it," he said.


    Eris tried to change the subject with swiftness.


    "You are not a woman and you are not a doctor," she replied. "So, I doubt you know much about hysteria."


    "That''s fair enough," Armand stated before thinking. "It''s true that I don''t know much about hysteria, but is Eris telling the truth? Why would she lie about being sick or having hysteria in this situation? I can''t think of how it would benefit her too, so she''s probably telling the truth."


    After that, Armand started setting out. He did this in addition to whatever business Marhsal Staufer needed him to do. The workload would increase as he recovered more. Still, most of what Armand did was easy enough to handle.


    Eris stayed at Marshal Staufer''s residence during this time. She kept an eye out for any signs that Karl might be coming. At a certain point, she got a report from her hussars.


    "We found some men following Armand. When we interrogated them, they claimed to be working for Sir Karl Hapsburg."


    "Did anyone see you capturing them?" Eris asked.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "No one did. We made sure of it," the hussar answered.


    The girl furrowed her brow.


    "Were these men sent to kill Armand or just follow him? And did you tell them that you work for me?"


    "They claimed they were supposed to just follow him, even when we put them under our worst tortures. And we did not speak a word of our employer."


    Eris nodded.


    "Karl will probably think his men were intercepted by Armand''s men, not mine. I can use this to my advantage," she thought before speaking. "Release one of Karl''s men. Make it look like he escaped, to him especially. Let him deliver his report to my cousin."


    After all, she wanted Karl to be informed of Armand''s patrol routes if that was his desire to know. Still, Eris made sure to have more hussars watch Armand. Torture wasn''t always the best interrogation tactic, after all.


    Several days passed. Eris found herself alone, save for a few servants, in Marshal Staufer''s house. A knock came at the door, and a serving woman answered it.


    "Hello?" she asked.


    "I am Sir Karl Hapsburg, and I am here to see my beloved cousin, Eris Hapsburg," a voice from outside answered.


    Eris forced herself to smile, despite anger welling up inside. She walked over to the front room''s curtains and closed them as the servant walked over to her.


    "Lady Eris, should I let this man in?"


    "Yes," the noblewoman said. "Do it at once."


    A moment later, Sir Karl Hapsburg entered the room. He was a bit taller and more muscular than when Eris last saw him. However, she fully recognized her cousin. There was a soft smile on the man''s face as he gazed at her. The servant girl left the room, giving them privacy.


    "It has been far too long, Eris," Karl said.


    "Yes, it has been," Eris spoke before thinking. "And if you aren''t careful, Armand will shoot you right in the back."


    The girl then pulled out the letter Karl sent her.


    "I got your letter. It was...well, I suppose you should read it yourself," she stated.


    Confusion crossed Karl''s face.


    "Read the letter I sent you? But I''m the one who wrote it," he pointed out.


    "Oh, I insist," Eris handed it to him. "Take the letter and read it."


    Karl shrugged and did as Eris told him. As he looked through the paper, his expression changed from confusion to shock. The knight looked at his cousin with wide eyes.


    "This isn''t the letter I wrote," he said.


    The faintest hint of relief flowed through Eris. Her anger dissipated the slightest bit.


    "I believe you," she replied. "It seems that someone intercepted your letter."


    Sir Karl nodded with a grim expression.


    "I was certain that my letter wouldn''t be intercepted, but someone must have..." he stated.


    Eris gave him a nod.


    "Well, now we can forget about your talks about Armand and move on to other affairs," she said.


    "We cannot do that," Karl shook his head. "We can talk about whoever intercepted my letter late. That Concord boy is why I''m here. Eris, we must get your parents to annul the betrothal."


    Eris narrowed her eyes.


    "No," she said.


    Karl spread his arms out, frustration welling up in him.


    "Listen, Eris, this marriage is a disgrace to our family! We are enemies of the Concords! We are not supposed to make peace with them!" he declared.


    "And you are supposed to obey my parents. But you are not doing that," Eris replied.


    Anger flashed through Karl, mixing in with his increasing frustration. Eris'' mind was filling with a steady rage too.


    "Listen, Eris, over the years...thousands have died because of the animosity between our branch of the Hapsburgs and the Concords. To just make peace with them would disgrace all the lives that were lost in our conflict," Karl said.


    The girl grimaced.


    "Karl, you''re really making me mad. You have nothing to say that you didn''t have before. Knights are obsolete pawns. So, either start acting like one or leave," she thought.


    "I don''t care," Eris stated.


    Karl''s jaw dropped.


    "You...you don''t care?" he asked.


    "Those people are dead, and most knights would be praising my marriage with Armand, not acting against it," Eris answered. "You just hate the Concords and wish to destroy them. Now, be a good knight and accept my parents'' and my decision."


    Karl clenched his fists so hard they turned white. Meanwhile, Eris'' expression remained the same.


    "Please, Eris, I''m begging you. Please reconsider your desire to marry Armand," he said.


    "Do you have any reason why I should, aside from ideas of honor that most knights don''t hold and making the same mistake a bunch of corpses made?" Eris asked.


    Sir Karl did not say anything. The two stood in silence, no words between them. Karl opened his mouth a few times before closing it. Eventually, the knight spoke.


    "Eris, please understand. I''m begging you," he said.


    "I understand perfectly fine. You are the one who doesn''t understand," Eris replied.


    Karl took a deep breath.


    "Then, so be it. I have one last resort," the knight stated. "Don''t make me resort to violence."


    Eris'' eyes narrowed.


    "Would you really attack your own cousin in Marshal Staufer''s house of all places?" she asked.


    "No. Not here, and hopefully not you. Eris, unless you agree to help me convince your parents to annul your engagement with Armand, I will march on Castle Hapsburg. I will force them to annul the engagement myself," Karl answered.


    Eris let out a deep sigh and shook her head.


    "Sir Karl, I know that you won''t march on Castle Hapsburg," she said. "You will march on Castle Concord. You believe you have some means to end this feud violently, and you are saying that you''ll attack Castle Hapsburg in case Marshal Staufer''s servants are listening to our talk."


    Karl didn''t speak. Then, he let out a sigh of his own.


    "Yes, Eris, I mean to end our feud with House Concord if you do not listen. I have the support of three lords. Their motives are different from my own, but our goals are the same: the defeat of House Concord, once and for all," the knight explained.


    Eris placed a hand on her chin, a flicker of recognition flashing through her eyes.


    "Tell me, are these lords interested in ending Armand''s support for ending serfdom?" she questioned.


    Karl''s eyes widened in shock. He blinked but tried to hide his expression.


    "Why do you think that? Armand''s main controversy is his belief in monsters," the knight said.


    Eris gave Karl the smuggest smirk she could possibly give him. The girl chuckled.


    "Are these lords Baron Radford, Count Ilemus, and Count Hemming?" she asked.


    Sir Karl''s jaw dropped. He blinked in shock, a hint of fear pulsing through his body.


    "You knew? All this time, you knew about my alliance, didn''t you?" he questioned.


    "Yes, I knew," Eris answered before thinking. "Karl, you couldn''t have known, but you shouldn''t have mentioned that it was three lords. It''s happening sooner than the last time around, and last time, I was at the head of this alliance against Armand...but it seems that history is repeating itself once more."


    The girl then turned her smile from smug to cruel. She narrowed her eyes, making it clear that only her mouth was smiling.


    "Now, Sir Karl, allow me to give you an ultimatum. You have one week to disband this alliance. If you do not do so by then, I will join House Concord''s forces with my own. We will crush your forces in their entirety."


    Karl turned and marched to the door.


    "So be it, then, Eris. Let it be war," he said.

 Chapter 49: Prelude to War

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 Chapter 50: Departing for War

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 Chapter 51: Armands Preparations

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 Chapter 52: Combining Forces

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 Chapter 53: A Meeting with Count Concord

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 Chapter 54: The Eve of Battle

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 Chapter 55: A Battle of Pikes and Guns

    A great chorus of footsteps and drums echoed over the area. The sound of clanking armor and horses moving accompanied it. Armand and Eris sat on horseback at the height of the hill, wearing suits of armor. Their infantry and cannons were in front of them, and the spellcasters behind the two had already started casting.


    Entering the edge of Armand and Eris'' vision was a sea of pikes. It was like looking at a walking Winter forest, minus the snow. The pikemen were accompanied by arquebusiers, greatswordsmen, and black reiters. Eris placed her palm over her eyes to see better.


    "I can see the four divisions," she said. "Sir Karl and the three lords accompanying him."


    Armand nodded.


    "It is the same with me. Each of them has their infantry and cavalry within their own numbers," he noted.


    The sound of drums came to a sudden stop. With it, the enemy force halted in their tracks. A tinge of nervousness passed over Armand. He was certain that he and


    Eris were outnumbered at least 3 to 1, if not greater than that. Still, the boy''s determination overwhelmed any feelings of apprehension he had.


    Armand turned around. Their camp had a wooden wall around it. He hoped it was fortified enough to withstand any potential sneak attacks. Then, Eris faced him.


    "They''re probably discussing what to do right now," she said. "I doubt they expected us to gather an army to deal with theirs."


    "Yes. And we have the high ground, so they need to think of a way to deal with this. Though, with their numbers advantage, they might just try to overwhelm us," Armand replied.


    "I hope they try that," Eris stated.


    The two of them sat there in silence. Their force stood tall and stoic. Then, after a while of waiting, the sound of trumpets sprang forth from the enemy lines. Armand and Eris recognized the signal being given. He and Eris dismounted, bringing their horses with them towards the infantry.


    Turning to a drummer who stood nearby him, Armand issued an order.


    "Tell the men to enter anti-cavalry formation."


    The drummer nodded and started playing a tune. Another musician heard this before starting to play on his drum. This process repeated until the sound of drums carried the order to the entire army.


    As Armand and Eris made their way into the ranks of the infantry, the pikemen entered a square formation. They dropped down, holding the heads of their pikes at the level of a horse''s chest. One hand was on the shaft and their feet kept it in place. The pikemen drew their swords with their other hands.


    The arquebusiers placed their heavy arquebus on stands while moving forward. Additionally, the canons were primed and ready to fire.


    Armand and Eris mounted their horses again when they were in the midst of the pike square. They looked over their lines to see a sea of cavalry pounding the ground, charging at their lines.


    Loud bangs echoed through the air as cannons fired. Their projectiles flew through the air, slamming into the line of cavalry. One horse''s leg was taken from its body in a spray of blood. Another had a cannonball fly clean through it. A rieter''s head was taken off its chest by a hit.


    Smoke started to fill the air. Its scent wafted into Armand''s and Eris'' noses.


    However, there were too many cavalry for their cannons to take out. Fear clenched the mercenaries as they closed in. But the pikemen stood strong as the arquebusiers aimed their weapons, the horsemen having finally entered their effective range.


    The arquebusiers lit matches and applied them to the wicks attached to their guns. This fuse went down, getting closer to the gun as the cavalry approached.


    Loud bangs and plumes of smoke came from the arquebus as one line fired. They then moved back while the second line advanced. The first line reloaded as the second lit their fuses.


    A hail of death came at the cavalry. Arquebus shot bounced off breastplates and helmets. Weaker areas of armor were pierced, and blood gushed from arms and legs.


    But more shots missed than hit.


    Smoke coated Armand and Eris'' forces as more gunfire erupted. However, the cavalry were still moving forward. They were getting very close. Seeing this, Eris turned to one of the drummers.


    "You. Tell the arquebusiers to withdraw," she commanded.


    The drummer started playing a tune. This was picked up by the other drummers, and the arquebusiers retreated behind the lines of the pikemen. Armand and Eris dismounted, to avoid catching the attention of enemy cavalry.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    As the enemy reiters closed in, they pointed their wheellock pistols forward. Bangs erupted from one pistol as they closed in on the pikemen. They threw that gun away and drew another, firing it too.


    One pikeman took a shot to the face. Blood sprayed from his head as he died instantly. Another''s breastplate dented as a pistol ball hit it. But the reiter was too far away to pierce his armor.


    When they reached the pike line, the cavalry separated, going in two directions. They avoided the tips of the pikes. At least, most of them. A horse was impaled on one part of the line. Its rider fell forward, landing amongst the pikemen. One of them slammed his sword onto the reiter''s unarmored throat. Blood gushed out of his neck as he died. Similar things happened on other parts of the line too.


    The reiters drew the other pistols strapped to their chests and fired as they rode around the pikemen. They aimed for the unarmored faces of their targets, or at least tried to get close enough to their chests that the pistols could pierce their targets'' armor. And missing was difficult at this range. Blood flowed under the line of pikemen, but they stood firm.


    At this point, the reiters had fired all their guns. A trumpet blew, and they withdrew from attacking the infantry lines.


    This was what Armand and Eris were waiting for.


    Armand pulled out a trumpet and blew into it as he and Eris mounted their horses. There was a great thundering of hooves as heavy cavalry left their camp.


    These horsemen rode around the pikemen, charging the fleeing enemy cavalry. The tired horses their opponents were using ended up getting overtaken by the fresh horses they had.


    The black reiters serving Armand and Eris were still loaded down with ammunition too. They pulled out their guns before aiming them at their enemies.


    Realizing they were going to get caught no matter what, many of the enemy cavalry stopped in their tracks. They drew their swords. Then, the horsemen turned to face the oncoming cavalry.


    They tried to aim their swords at gaps in the armor. Meanwhile, the heavy cavalry that still had their guns placed their pistols right on their opponents'' breastplates. At that distance, the armor was pierced by the shoot.


    Armand and Eris looked on as the cavalry skirmished. They saw smoke rise from the melee, heard the crack of gunshots, and saw blood stain the ground below. The two waited with bated breath. Their men were outnumbered. However, the enemy cavalry had taken losses and used up their ammunition when attacking the infantry.


    As the heavy horsemen fought one another, more and more men dropped. All ammunition was expended. A brutal melee with sword against sword began. The stench of death rose from the cavalry.


    Then, the fighting started to die down. Armand and Eris'' black reiters had thinned out the enemy ranks. The remaining enemy horsemen were either fleeing in a broken panic or surrendering. Still having their guns at the start of the fight proved to be the deciding factor.


    The sound of drums echoed across the battlefield. It was followed by a chorus of footsteps. Across from Armand and Eris, the enemy infantry were advancing.


    Step by step, shoulder to shoulder, the pikemen moved. Arquebusiers and greatswordsmen were embedded in their ranks. The gunners moved forward while the swordsmen got ready to charge. Still, they remained close enough to the pikemen to hide within their ranks if needed.


    Armand blew in his trumpet again, sending out a different signal. The cavalry allied with him and Eris pulled back. As they did, Eris turned to a drummer.


    "Tell the men to prepare for infantry combat, now," she ordered.


    The drummer nodded and started playing a different tune. At his order, the pikemen held their weapons erect and stood in a line formation. Armand and Eris rode behind it on their horses.


    Greatswordsmen joined the pikemen, and arquebusiers moved in front of them. The cannons were brought up once again. As for the commanders, they noted that the enemies had light cannons too.


    As all this was happening, there was a subtle war of magic between both sides'' spellcasters. The ebb and flow of mystical energy flowed back and forth as spells and counterspells were summoned.


    But that could not continue forever. Gradually, one side gained an edge. They pushed through the magical defenses placed by their targets like a pike punching a gap in light armor.


    Arcane energy pushed through this hole and swelled above the battlefield. As it gathered, some parts of the clouds overhead turned dark. Some soldiers briefly glanced up before turning their attention back to the battle.


    The soldiers had gotten within cannon range of each other, and artillery pounded both lines. Arms, along with legs, were blown off by cannonballs. Sometimes, the projectiles blasted straight through a man''s chest and into the chests of the men behind him.


    Yet, the soldiers atop the hill stood their ground. And those below the hill kept advancing. They would be in arquebus range soon. Even as the clouds turned dark above them, the mercenaries kept advancing.


    On the other hand, the commanders kept their eyes on the skies. They noticed the darkening shapes of the clouds. It was clear to any who saw them that this was unnatural, as only some parts of the clouds turned black.


    The generals of both sides knew this meant one side gained an advantage in the battle of magic. Now, they waited for the decisive moment when it would become clear which side it was.


    Among the infantry, smoke started to cloud the battlefield from the cannon fire. Now, it was about to get worse. The gunners were within range of each other. They lit matches and applied them to their weapons'' wicks.


    Cracks of gunfire erupted across the battlefield. Arquebusiers shot their weapons at the other line. Smoke rose from their guns. Men fell dead as shot slammed into them. Still, they stood in place, reloaded their weapons, and fired again. What was once farmland was now a mess of blood, bodies, and lead.


    Then, water dropped from the sky. Those clouds that were partially darkened by sorcery rained on one of the infantry lines. Lit wicks were put out by the water. Lighting new matches became impossible. The firearms and cannons alike of one side had been disabled.


    Eris grinned widely. She watched as the enemy infantry no longer could shoot their guns, rendering them helpless to return fire against her and Armand''s forces.


    As for the Concord boy, he felt sick to his stomach as he watched men get gunned down. Still, his face remained stoic. Armand hated that he had to do this, but that did not change reality.


    The sound of drums echoed from the enemy lines. Drawing their swords, the arquebusiers started a charge. They were joined by the pikemen and greatswordsmen, trying to close the distance with the enemies as fast as possible. Eris turned to Armand.


    "Well, Armand, I think it''s time we end this mess," she said.


    "I agree," he replied. "Enough people have died today, and we have our chance to pull off the winning blow."


    With that, Eris drew a massive trumpet. She blew into it as loud as she could. In the distance, another trumpet responded.

 Chapter 56: Battles Conclusion

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 Chapter 57: Terms of Peace

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 Unfortunate Delays

    Unfortunately, there will not be a new chapter this week. What happened is simple: I got sick with a bad stomach bug, and I was not up to writing or doing much of anything. For those who are active on the forums and read my stories and whom I read the stories of and read my stories, this is why I haven''t been active there or reading all that much. I am hopefully over the sickness now. I will still be taking things easy for the next few days, but I should have a new chapter up next week as usual.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I apologize for the delay.