"NO! NO! NO! PLEASE! YOU'RE EVERYTHING I HAVE! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face as I cupped her soft pale cheek with my hand.
The world around me was nothing but splintered wood and broken bodies. The once-proud carriage lay overturned, one wheel still spinning uselessly in the dirt, its polished wood now marred by deep gouges and streaked with blood. Knights, men I had once fought alongside, lay motionless in the wreckage, their lifeless forms twisted and sprawled across the battlefield, armor cracked and weapons scattered.
My gaze fell back to her. To the woman lying below me, her breaths shallow and ragged. Her armor, once gleaming and unbreakable, was now in ruin, pieces missing, the golden dragon insignia shattered, the metal fractured and scorched, each piece jagged against her bruised skin.
She opened her eyes slowly, just a sliver of that familiar gold peeking out. A weak, sad smile touched her lips as she looked up at me. "It's... it's alright," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of my own heartbeat. Her hand twitched, and I grabbed it, clutching it desperately as if somehow that could tether her to this world. As if I could will her to stay.
"No, don't say that. This is not alright! This— none of this was supposed to happen!" I choked on the words, my throat tightening as my vision blurred with fresh tears. The scent of smoke hung thick in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood, and it made me feel sick.
Her smile waned, and she coughed, a splatter of blood staining her lips. "You... you always were so stubborn," she murmured, her gaze softening as her thumb weakly brushed against my fingers. "But you... you'll be fine. You're stronger... stronger than you know."
A cold dread settled in my chest, sinking deep as I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "No! I'm not fine! I need you— you're my everything! Please... please just hold on." My voice cracked as I looked down at her, at her pale skin growing even paler, her once-bright eyes dimming.
The sun was setting behind us, enveloping us in an eerie, blood-red light that bathed the wreckage. Shadows stretched long across the ground, painting everything in a cold, lifeless shade. I could feel her slipping, her fingers going limp in my hand.
"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You're... everything. Please... don't leave me."
Her hand slipped from mine. Her last exhale was a soft sigh, barely there.
"Alexandra… wake up… please… Alex… please… please wake up… please-"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Ophelia's eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, she lay still, her body heavy as if she were still in her dream. Her eyes, cold and unflinching, lingered on the ceiling, before blinking rapidly to rid her of a long-forgotten face.
She reached a hand to her cheek, feeling the damp warmth of tears she'd shed in her sleep, their faint traces streaking across her pale skin. Her throat felt raw, her chest aching as though she had truly screamed herself hoarse.
She let out a long, trembling sigh before pulling herself up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, her fingers trailing along the cool sheets before she reluctantly rose to her feet.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
The sound echoed through Ophelia's room once more. Slowly, she crossed the room, her gaze falling to the small line of light seeping in from under the door. She took a breath, steadying herself, then reached for the handle, her fingers grazing the cool metal before turning it.
As the door creaked open, she found herself face-to-face with a knight. His armor gleamed, the metal polished and unmarred, a striking contrast to the broken figures she had seen in her dreams.
On the right side of his chest plate, the insignia of a golden dragon had been carefully carved, its polished lines catching the light, seemingly shimmering with power. The knight stood tall and straight, his helmet tucked under his arm, his face softened with concern as he noticed Ophelia's disheveled and sweaty appearance.
"Ma'am, are you alright?" He asked.
"Yes… what is it? Is it time to get going?"
"Yes, your escort to the Holy Capital is here. Please quickly get dressed. We must get moving before the sun fully rises to arrive on time for your ceremony."
Ophelia closed the door with a soft click. She took a moment to gather herself, breathing deeply before she dressed. Pulling on a pair of tight leather trousers, she fastened them snugly around her waist, their sleek material fitting like a second skin. Over her shoulders, she slipped on a loose, airy white button-up, the soft fabric pooling at her wrists where it was cuffed.
Once ready, Ophelia opened the door and stepped out into the narrow hallway, the cool air brushing against her skin. She made her way down the corridor, her steps echoing softly against the stone floors until she emerged into the open courtyard. Dawn's early light cast a faint glow, illuminating the fortress walls and casting long shadows across the gravel road just outside the barracks.
The barracks were nestled against the fortress's corner, positioned strategically by the main entrance for a swift response to attackers. Outside, a wooden carriage awaited her, sturdy and slightly weathered yet polished, ready for the journey.
Around it stood seven knights, their armor glinting in the softened light, each breastplate bearing the same golden dragon insignia. They had their helmets removed, displaying their cheerful expressions as they exchanged murmurs and occasional laughs.
Ophelia's gaze drifted over them until it settled on a single female knight. The woman's wavy, golden-blond hair cascaded down to her waist, catching the morning light in a warm glow. Her bright, golden eyes sparkled as she laughed, her smile wide and contagious, drawing the attention and admiration of the knights around her.
Ophelia's face was stone cold, yet for a moment, her lips trembled.
As her gaze shifted, Colonel Kaden approached from within the barracks. He dipped his head in a gentle bow, his expression one of respect.
"Lady Ophelia," he greeted kindly, "You have opened my eyes to the corruption within this fortress. With the new batch of soldiers coming in, I will be sure to learn from how you managed your forces and do it my own way. I still don't like the way you went about it, but still…" The man took a knee before Ophelia. "I thank you once again for protecting my home and giving me a second chance at vanquishing our foes."
"Rise."
The man rose to his feet and continued to look her in the eyes with a warm smile. "You truly feel like a ruler… and I await the day you achieve your goals. If you ever need anything, send me a message and I shall come running to your aid."
Ophelia gently nodded before the knight who led her out of the barracks opened the carriage door for her. She climbed inside, settling into the quiet carriage.
The interior was unexpectedly elegant, a stark contrast to the rough exterior. Soft, deep red velvet lined the walls and cushioned the plush seats. Golden embroidery traced delicate patterns along the edges while the seats were spacious enough to sink into, designed for comfort on the long journey ahead.
A single lantern was fixed to the side, its dim glow casting a warm ambiance throughout the space. Along the back wall, a narrow shelf held a few leather-bound books and a wooden compartment with a flask and two crystal glasses. Above her, a tiny window was cut into the carriage roof, allowing a glimpse of the sky, which had started to brighten with the rising of the morning sun.
Ophelia settled into the corner and not long after, the carriage started moving.
A week had passed since she had essentially taken control of the Dukedom by creating contracts with all of its key figures. And since she had done that, a new string of panels had been bugging her planning over the past week.
.
[You have achieved an Incredible Feat!]
[Experience Points worth your actions have been allocated]
[Max Level has already been reached]
[Points will be allocated after you Evolve or obtain a Class]
[You have been gifted a new section of your status]
.
Ophelia opened up her status, revealing the significant changes that had occurred.
『Status』
[Name: Ophelia von Aubessec]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 10/10] (MAX LEVEL)
[HP: 10/10 | MP: 0/0 | SP: 5/5]
[Visual Intelligence: 5]
[Linguistic Intelligence: 25]
[Logical Intelligence: 16]
[Kinesthetic Intelligence: 1]
[Musical Intelligence: 3]
[Interpersonal Intelligence: 16]
[Intrapersonal Intelligence: ERROR]
[Naturalistic Intelligence: 3]
[Skills: [Silver Tongue] [Commanding Voice]
[Passive Skills: [Regressor's Memory] [Regressor's Active Recall]
.
[Additional Sections]
[Main Section - Servant Control Panel]
.
By clicking the new section of her status deemed the servant control panel, a large tabletop crafted with the same visual theme as the panels of her system, replaced her status, revealing ten figures standing side by side. It was the Duke, the Duchess, and all the other nobles which she had taken control of.
Clicking on the Duke, another string of panels appeared in front of the tabletop.
.
[Servant - Duke of The Black Eagle]
[Full Name: Lester Domitri]
[Specialiazation: Power over the Black Eagle Dukedom]
[Weakness: Arrogance]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
Ophelia proceeded to click on the rest of the characters, providing several organized sections of information for Ophelia to take in.
.
[Servant - Duchess of The Black Eagle]
[Full Name: Helena Domitri]
[Specialization: Power over the Black Eagle Dukedom]
[Weakness: Vanity]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baron of The Stone Bear]
[Full Name: Marcus Greystone]
[Specialization: Command over the Stone Bear territory]
[Weakness: Stubbornness]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baroness of The Stone Bear]
[Full Name: Veronica Greystone]
[Specialization: Command over the Stone Bear territory]
[Weakness: Unyielding pride]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baron of The Jade Serpent]
[Full Name: Silvan Viridian]
[Specialization: Influence over the Jade Serpent territory]
[Weakness: Cunning deception]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baroness of The Jade Serpent]
[Full Name: Lysandra Viridian]
[Specialization: Influence over the Jade Serpent territory]
[Weakness: Distrustful nature]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baron of The Fierce Mountain Lion]
[Full Name: Adrian Ravenspire]
[Specialization: Authority over the Fierce Mountain Lion territory]
[Weakness: Impulsiveness]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baroness of The Fierce Mountain Lion]
[Full Name: Mariana Ravenspire]
[Specialization: Authority over the Fierce Mountain Lion territory]
[Weakness: Reckless ambition]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baron of The Angelic Crow]
[Full Name: Alaric Stormcrow]
[Specialization: Dominion over the Angelic Crow territory]
[Weakness: Overwhelming pride]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
[Servant - Baroness of The Angelic Crow]
[Full Name: Evangeline Stormcrow]
[Specialization: Dominion over the Angelic Crow territory]
[Weakness: Obsessive ambition]
[Conditions of Contract: [Show]
.
Then there was the same contract throughout all ten of these servants that held them at the feet of Ophelia.
.
[Magic Contract]
[Condition 1: The contractee shall have no will to resist Ophelia's commands and must follow any order she gives without hesitation or question.]
[Condition 2: The contractee shall be barred from any act of betrayal or subversion against Ophelia, including revealing confidential information, conspiring against her, or taking any action that may harm her position or intentions.]
[Condition 3: The contractee's loyalty to Ophelia must surpass all other allegiances, including ties to family, friends, or other factions. Failure to maintain this loyalty will result in immediate, excruciating magical punishment.]
[Condition 4: The contractee shall offer up any personal resources, including wealth, magical power, or influence, to serve Ophelia's objectives whenever she deems it necessary.]
[Condition 5: Upon Ophelia's death, the contractee shall, personally, strip themselves of their rank, influence, and magic associated with their title and shall live in subservience to her designated successor or guardian of her land.]
.
"Hmmm… This magic that I have been bestowed is quite interesting… however… what exactly gave this to me…" Ophelia lingered on with her words as she swiped her hand through the air, getting rid of all of the panels except for the tabletop displaying the character of each one of her servants. "With my knowledge, I can see the future, but, I cannot deduce who or what granted me this power… how pitiful."