“His Grace, Duke Frederick Edmund Quinn Rosengarde and Her Grace, Duchess Imogen Olivette Cassandra Thornebell-Rosengarde,” the man announced to the room as Liliana’s father and her stepmother entered the ballroom arm in arm. Liliana had her own hand resting on Alistair’s arm, as her brother he was her escort for the ball. Emyr followed behind them like a quiet shadow.

Liliana gulped in a deep breath as they stepped up next, her heart pounding a mile a minute as the man looked over them. His face carefully schooled to show no emotion as he took in the once disgraced daughter of the Duke.

“The Duke’s Daughter, Liliana Loretta Verity Rosengarde and his stepson, Alistair Theodore Leander Thornebell-Rosengarde,” he called out and his voice seemed to thunder across the room, so loud Liliana was convinced he either had a skill or Sound magic. It felt like every eye was on her as Alistair led her down the stairs, every step taking forever, it seemed, as the weight of high society’s gazes bore down on her. She was sure there were whispers cropping up, undoubtedly talking about how a ‘commoner’ like her shouldn’t be among such esteemed peerage. She didn’t know what was worse, the stifling feeling of too many auras, even contained as they were, from high leveled individuals or the heavy weight of their gazes.

“Take a deep breath. They don’t really care about you that much. They’re all looking at me, anyway,” Alistair whispered out of the side of his mouth. Somehow his twisted, backhanded comfort helped ease some of the panic blurring her vision and Liliana took a deep breath of air, her heart slowing ever so much.

“Good, if you passed out at the beginning of the ball, it would be horrid for the family name,” Alistair stated approvingly and Liliana tilted her chin up, not gracing him with a remark.

“Now get ready, we need to greet the Queen, King and Crown Princess,” Alistair warned, and Liliana’s eyes focused on the royals they were making a bee-line for. At the proper distance, she dropped into a curtsy, Alistair bowing deeply beside her. They held for the required time before rising again, and Liliana drank in the sight of the people leading their country.

Queen Gwendolyn Summerwarden was striking, a beauty that was undeniable but fearsome to the same degree. Sharp vermillion eyes seemed to peer into Liliana’s soul as the woman regarded her momentarily. There was no denying the woman was a sword master, even disregarding the great sword at her hip. She stood no less than six feet tall, and practically rippled with muscles that left Liliana envious. She looked like she could crush Liliana’s head with one hand. Even under her dress, which was a more form fitting than Liliana’s and topped with an ornate military coat, it was obvious the woman had muscles. Her pale white hair was gathered in a simple braid around her head, her white gold and ruby crown sitting on top.

Beside her, Algerone Summerwarden, her husband, looked like a stray breeze would spirit him away. The man was a head shorter than the queen, and far thinner. His outfit was made to match the queen’s, his own military coat looking far less fitting on a man who seemed more comfortable behind a desk than on a battlefield. Liliana even spied ink stains on his fingertips as he raised a hand to take his wife’s. The love that was shown in the gaze the two exchanged made Liliana’s heart hurt. She’d seen her own parents exchanging such glances many a time on earth.

The Crown Princess shared her mother’s coloring but her father’s stature. Pale skin so light it nearly glowed under the sparkling lights, long white hair tied in a far more elaborate updo than her mother’s, and deep ruby red eyes looked out on the assembled nobles. Briefly her eyes met Liliana’s own before they fled her gaze, reminding Liliana for a moment of a shy rabbit. The princess was dressed in a pure white gown, as befitting her debut, though red was decorating it and the jewelry ornamenting her. A delicate and small tiara to match her mother’s rested on her head. The princess was smaller than both her father and mother, and if a stray breeze would defeat her father, a breath would surely tumble the princess.

She’s even more delicate and ethereal in person, Liliana mentally noted as she and her brother stepped away after greeting the royals and were dismissed. Emyr went next and Liliana noted how the princess’ gaze lingered a moment longer on Emyr than it had on her. Liliana hid a smile behind her hand. No surprise that Emyr would catch even the eyes of royalty. As her eyes trailed across the room, she noted multiple nobles, both ones she’d been forced to memorize and ones she struggled to remember.

All the gathered nobles were gorgeous, in a way that felt unfair if Liliana didn’t acknowledge her own luck in the beauty department. She’d read in books about elves having an almost supernatural level of beauty. She was certain the nobles here would give an elf a run for their money. Not that any existed in this world, that she knew of. There was a multitude of races, yet not a single elf or dwarf existed in the game or the books she’d read in this world. It seemed all the beauty that fantasy worlds had saved up for Elven races got dumped on the nobles of her country.

Alistair led her to a set of seats by a table, and Liliana raised her eyebrows in surprise when Alistair not only pulled out a chair for her, but took one for himself. Emyr took another, slipping in silently as he set to watching the nobles with avid curiosity. Liliana noted Alistair had picked out a table close to a wall, and away from other nobles. Though if it was because he wanted her hidden, or did it for Emyr’s comfort, she wasn’t sure.

“I need to keep an eye on you so you don’t do something stupid and ruin our family name,” Alistair stated, crossing his arms at her silent question and looking away. Liliana rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged on her lips.

“So, I thought these things were all about dancing,” Liliana commented as she looked over at the other nobles, who seemed to be mostly just talking or eating. As if summoned by the thought, a servant appeared, a tray filled with hors d'oeuvres held in his hands.

“Something for the Lady and the Lords?” the servant asked, and Liliana gratefully took one. Emyr turned it down with a crinkle of his nose and Alistair took two. Liliana examined the small pastry.

“It’s made with ottodile meat and dancing ambrosia plants,” Alistair informed her as he practically inhaled the food.

Liliana tentatively took a bite and her eyes widened as flavors exploded in her mouth. It tasted savory, with a slight tang to it. She quickly finished the food and looked around for more. Another servant, surely they had skills to detect guest’s hunger or desires, or something, appeared and offered more treats for them. Before too long, Liliana had several plates of treats before her, a goblet of sweet berry wine as well. The thought of drinking alcohol at her age was still so bizarre, despite it being normal in both this world and noble society. She had a glass of wine every night at dinner at the manor, after all.

“The dancing happens, but balls mostly exist for nobles to talk. Mothers and fathers to match make, alliances to be made, trade agreements to be struck, secrets to be exchanged,” Alistair answered her original question after the three of them had stuffed themselves with treats. Liliana noticed several of the foods had given her minor buffs, one had increased her Stamina regeneration by 5%, another had given her a Dexterity buff. She assumed for the dancing that apparently didn’t happen that much. As she watched, though, she saw a few younger nobles, all within her age group, taking the floor to dance to the music filling the air.

“Alistair!” a feminine voice called out seconds before a figure draped in green silk descended upon their table.

Liliana recognized the girl, Lucienne Allencourt. She was their age, and daughter to Duke Gabriel Allencourt and Duchess Danielle Allencourt. Liliana remembered her as an NPC in the game, one of Alistair’s ‘clique’ in the school, but not a very important character in the game. She gave a few quests later on at higher levels when she inherited the duchy. She had earth brown hair and tanned skin, with green eyes that matched her dress. Rather fitting, Liliana thought as she identified her.

Lucienne Allencourt

Age: 14

Level: 36

Rank: 8

Class: Earth Mage

Hah, still such a low level and a basic class, Liliana thought with a hint of smugness as she considered the information. [identify] now told her the ages of those she used it on. Eventually it would tell her things like Health, Mana and Stamina at higher levels. Even their stats if she got it high enough. [Identify] was useful for anyone who fought, as it could give crucial information on opponents. For others it was more of a useless skill, she’d been told by Astrid most servants never tried to level it past the first level as it would give them names or noble titles and that was all they needed it for. In contrast, Silas had told her that the guards rigorously tried to train the skill, since they needed the information it could give. The man was rather proud of his level 190 [Identify].

“Hello Lucienne,” Alistair greeted with a smile, and the way he spoke without a hint of sarcasm, patronization, or venom nearly struck Liliana dumb. The way he practically beamed at Lucienne did strike her dumb for a moment. She’d never seen her stepbrother look so… heroic. For a moment, adorned in gold with lights shining on him and beaming like he had a heart made of the same material as his jewelry, Liliana could see how he would be perceived as a hero.

Heroes and villains are titles that are determined by the person telling the narrative, Liliana reminded herself. Words of wisdom left to her from her father on Earth when he discussed history, his favorite topic. He’d given her stories that she hadn’t found in her course textbooks, painting events in a different light than what she’d been taught. And giving her a precious lesson, often the victors wrote the history books, and they could paint events however it suited them.

Perhaps it was why, when she played the game, she’d sympathized with Liliana and seen her as much a victim as a villain. Had Realm of Hope been told from Liliana’s point of view, the heroes she’d played would’ve been labeled the villains. The Cista Queendom a country full of evil. Instead, it had been Liliana painted in shades of black, crucified as the villain when she was simply a product of her upraising. It didn’t excuse the atrocities she performed, or wash the blood from the woman’s hands. But then, did the label of hero absolve them of their sins?

Neither side would be completely true, Liliana admitted to herself as she considered her experiences. Her stepmother was a heartless bitch. That was true. But she’d seen the way the woman treated her youngest children, with a love she’d never felt. She’d thought her father a cold and unloving monster, yet now she simply felt he was an opportunistic man doing what he felt was in his best interests. Selfish, but not evil.

Even Alistair, he was a bully to her for years. Even so, he’d shown her kindness despite the way it was becoming obvious his mother pushed him to be cruel. He wasn’t the caricature she’d held in her mind of a rude bully, nor was he the pure-hearted hero he’d been portrayed as in the game. He was something in between, colored in shades of gray rather than black or white.

“Hello Emyr,” Lucienne spoke again and drew Liliana from her thoughts. The quiet noble nodded at the girl, but Liliana could see he wasn’t comfortable with the attention. He did not have to suffer long, for the girl’s eyes were drawn to Liliana. Even though she had no [Perception] skill, Liliana almost felt the girl using [Identify] on her, and she saw the way her eyes widened.

“So you’re the mysterious Liliana Rosengarde?” Lucienne asked as she leaned forward, eyes sparkling with interest.

“I do not think I am all that mysterious, but yes, I am she,” Liliana responded easily, though she regarded the girl with a guarded expression. She wasn’t sure if she would be an ally, bystander, or an enemy yet. How strong was fate? Would this girl hate her out of hand, or perhaps was it not something set in stone?

“Interesting. I’ve heard you bonded a Rank 6 Cheshire. Is that true?” She asked next, and Liliana lifted an eyebrow, shooting a glance at Alistair. Was that common knowledge now? The boy simply gave a small shrug, as if answering her unspoken question.

“Yes, I did,” Liliana answered, and the girl smiled, showing off her teeth.

“Did you really do it on your own? Or did you pay someone to help?” Lucienne asked, and Liliana felt her hackles raise. So that was the rumor going around, was it?

“She did it on her own,” Emyr answered for her, his voice startling the other lady and causing her to draw back.

“Well, Emyr provided a distraction for me,” Liliana added on, relaxing at the unexpected helping hand from the introverted noble.

“Bait. The word you’re looking for it bait,” Emyr responded quickly, though he clammed up immediately when he realized he’d spoken again. Liliana’s gaze softened a little as she watched him shift uncomfortably under the gaze of several nobles who had gradually shifted closer to listen in on their conversation.

“Is that rumor of Julius and Octavia having a falling out true?” Alistair jumped in, and Liliana leaned back a small amount, impressed, as Lucienne immediately set to telling a dramatic story of two nobles’ love life. Alistair had intervened. In response to Emyr’s uncomfortableness, Liliana was sure. However, it had benefitted her when he could’ve easily left her to Lady Lucienne’s interrogation.

Several other nobles of their age circled to their table, seats filling and emptying as other nobles made their rounds. Emyr seemed content to stay in his seat and Alistair either wanted badly to monitor Liliana or to keep his friend company, for he didn’t get up even when invited to dance by several young ladies.

“May I have a dance, Lady Liliana?” A voice asked, and Liliana looked up, eyes widening in shock at the offer. She hadn’t thought she’d be asked, though she’d felt the eyes of several young men, and a few women, on her for a while now. She had assumed it was because of the rumors circling her, but perhaps beauty could overcome even things like her background. Or maybe he wished to have her alone, to ask her even more personal questions than the ones she’d already fielded from the rotating nobles who had come to their table.

“Of course, Lord Coppercolt,” Liliana responded once her tongue had unfrozen in her mouth. She glanced back at her table companions and saw Alistair shoot a narrowed look at Edward Coppercolt and Emyr had his dark silver gazed fixed on the young man. Neither protested though as she left the table. She saw Alistair finally getting up, escorting Dianna Ravenswood from the table. Emyr had vanished from the table, though Liliana was certain he was somewhere in the shadows. The boy really hated being around people.

They joined the dance on the floor and Liliana found it easy enough to follow, having practiced this one more than a few times under Miss Beckett’s stern gaze. Her [Dancing] skill didn’t hurt her ability either as she spun and stepped gracefully.

“Level 44, and I heard you only awakened in spring,” Edward commented as they danced and Liliana blinked for a moment, amazed at the noble gossip tree.

“That is true,” Liliana confirmed, and Edward smirked before spinning her. The party swirled into a mix of jewel colors and flashing lights for a moment.

“I see you’re level 46 yourself,” Liliana commented next as they moved through the dance and Edward nodded. Unlike Lucienne, he actually had a more special class, as she was beginning to see wasn’t uncommon for nobles. Iron Ranger sounded like some kind of mix of metal and archery, though Liliana wasn’t too sure how well metal arrows worked.

“Yes, my father paid for me to spend a week at a Rank 7 dungeon for the month of Lyght. It helped me grow rather well,” Edward said proudly, puffing his chest up. The only thing Liliana could think of was that getting to level 46 with a week in a dungeon sounded rather pitiful, though if he’d started rather low, it made sense. Still, she was certain she could have gotten a higher level with an entire week in a dungeon, even without her boon.

“Did you get your Class there too?” Liliana asked conversationally, and the boy jumped on the chance to talk about himself, letting Liliana take a break in the conversation as she let him regale her with his heroic deeds and class specifics. Turned out he didn’t use a bow with his class, he created metal arrows with his magic and directed them like missiles. His class upped his accuracy and gave him improved Dexterity, Intelligence, and Wisdom.

Using the tricks she’d learned from spending time with Jason, someone who also enjoyed the sound of his own voice, Liliana got through the dance. Overall, it hadn’t been awful. Edward didn’t seem like he was trying to put her down and it gave her hope that all of noble society wasn’t utterly awful.

As she moved off the dance floor, trying to avoid too much attention, she wondered how Liliana’s life in the game had been so awful at school. Sure some nobles that had visited had tried to ask questions that bordered on rude, or obviously attempting to discredit her. Others had paid her no mind at all, as if she wasn’t there. But there was none of the open animosity she’d seen in the game. What had caused that? Had it been something Liliana had done that was never spoken of in the game? Had the game simply needed a villain and so forced the cast into such actions?

How much of the game was truth? How much was pure fiction? The characters were fairly accurate that she’d met, yet also not. Things that had never been expanded on in the game she’d seen here. Had it been because exploring the characters’ personalities, backstories and motivations was simply not good gameplay? Liliana found herself wrapped up in her mental musing, trying to pick apart what of the game was true, and what wasn’t. She wandered the ballroom, finally finding a hidden balcony she retreated to for fresh air and room to think.

Leaning on the railing, Liliana took a deep breath of the warm summer night air, looking up at the cloudless sky dotted with stars. Constellations foreign to her traced patterns over the heavens. A rustle to her left brought Liliana back, and when she turned, she jolted in surprise at the figure hiding out on the dimly lit balcony.

“Greetings, Crown Princess,” Liliana curtsied, heart pounding a bit in fear and excitement as she was confronted with the future leader of her country, a hero fated to end her life, and her favorite character.