Inside one of the many Grace manors, nestled within the vast library lined with towering shelves of ancient tomes and whispered secrets, Marysville sat at a large oak table. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of her phone as she played a mobile game. Beside her sat a young man, handsome and poised, eyes scanning the pages of a book in his hand.
He was Martinez Zen Grace, nineteen years old and the third son of the Grace family.
"Instead of wasting your time on that game, Marysville," he said without looking up, "why not engage in a friendly duel with me? You're leaving tomorrow, after all."
Marysville blinked. His words were unexpected. He knew full well—or so she let him believe—that she wasn't blessed with a god's stigma.
She raised her eyes to him, her voice gentle and composed. "Brother, do you really think someone like me, without a god's blessing, could be a match for you?"
Martinez smiled kindly. "I'm simply curious to see what my little sister is capable of, nothing more."
Before Marysville could respond, a knock came—two quick raps on the door. It opened to reveal their eldest sibling.
Luis Demos Grace, twenty-four and the family's golden child, leaned casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "Father wants to see the two of you."
Martinez stood, closing his book, and made his way out. Marysville followed, but just as she stepped through the door, Luis's hand shot out, gripping her wrist. He waited until Martinez was far enough ahead before releasing her.
"When do you plan to stop pretending to be weak?" Luis asked, his voice low, brimming with annoyance.
Marysville met his gaze, unfazed. "Why do you care?"
Their eyes locked like flint and steel, sparking tension thick enough to cut. Neither of them flinched.
Martinez, realizing no one was behind him, turned to glance back. He saw the two of them frozen in confrontation.
"Hey! What are you two doing?" he called out. "Waiting for Christmas?"
Marysville turned away from Luis without a word. Her sarcastic reply to Martinez earned her a sharp look from Luis, who suddenly slapped her across the cheek.
Her mood darkened. She touched her face gently, where a small bruise began to bloom, and her eyes flickered gold with restrained fury.
Without hesitation, Marysville punched Luis squarely in the jaw, drawing blood from his lower lip.
He retaliated by grabbing her hair, yanking it hard. But Marysville didn't back down—she grabbed a fistful of his hair in return, pulling just as viciously.
Martinez, watching the chaos unfold, sighed. "They really are like cats and dogs," he muttered, unable to suppress a laugh. It wasn't an uncommon scene—these two had always fought like this.
The brawl continued for several minutes until they finally arrived in their father's study. The room was dimly lit, and their father, Leonard Lunes Grace, sat at the desk laughing like a madman.
"Unbelievable," he chuckled between gasps of laughter.
The three siblings stood silent as Leonard wiped tears from his eyes.
"Luis, how many times have I told you not to show that side of yourself, especially to your sister? She's the only girl in the family."
"I wouldn't have if she didn't speak so rudely to his elders," Luis muttered.
Marysville remained quiet.
Elder? she thought dryly. I'm far older than either of you.
Leonard sighed. "You two have always loved fighting."
"LOVE fighting?!" Luis and Marysville both shouted in unison, pointing fingers at each other. "With this person??!?!"
To Marysville, who had been born alone in her previous life, the whole scenario was just exhausting.
"Enough," Leonard said. "You both know why we're here. As you're aware, the Shuhiyun nation is under attack by a cult calling themselves the 'Black Sheep.' The war may end this year, but the mastermind remains at large."
He turned to Marysville, his expression serious. "Marysville Everleigh Grace. As someone without a god's stigma, do you believe you can survive out there if you cross paths with people like them?"
Marysville gazed down at her palm. There, a tattoo—a fine, elegant line coiling around a dark diamond—shimmered faintly before fading away.
MARYSVILLE'S THOUGHTS
I got this mark when I was six. I was playing with a baby fox when it scratched my palm. It bled, but the pain was tolerable. I was scared they'd find out, so I spent the night outside, hiding. When I returned, the wound was gone, replaced by this strange symbol.
Mother cried so hard when she saw me. Her face was swollen, her grief raw.
That incident led to me getting a personal bodyguard—Reo. He was the one who told me the mark was a god's stigma. Back then, I didn't know I was living inside a game, but the mark always felt… familiar.
When I trained with my scythe in secret, Luis saw me. That's how he found out—I'm blessed by Zer, god of death. Most villains in the game had this stigma. So why me?
END THOUGHTS
Back in the study, Marysville responded, her voice calm.
"While the honest answer is no, I trust my siblings, my bodyguard Reo, and the strength of my eyes. They'll protect me."
Leonard burst into laughter again. "That's my girl."
Luis muttered under his breath. "She doesn't need protection."
Marysville noticed. She gave him a patronizing pat on the back. "Did you say something, elder brother?" she asked, voice syrupy sweet.
Luis darkened, but didn't stop her. She gave him a playful slap on the back.
Leonard and Martinez smiled, eyes misty. Even if the moment was fake, it looked like harmony.
"One more thing," Leonard added. "Make sure your bags are packed. We leave tomorrow morning. We should reach the capital by nightfall."
"In a week," he added, "we celebrate Marysville's coming of age."
The room fell silent, as though the weight of the future had suddenly dropped onto their shoulders.
As they turned to leave, Leonard called out again.
"Marysville."
She stopped, turning calmly to face him.
"May I have a moment?"
She nodded, waiting for her brothers to leave before closing the door behind her.
Leonard stood near the window, hands behind his back. "I've received a proposal. The current king has asked for your hand in marriage."
Marysville said nothing.
"The choice is yours," Leonard continued. "I didn't tell your brothers because I feared they might sway your decision."
But Marysville had already decided.
This was the moment the storyline would shift—when she would live under the same roof as the man who once manipulated her.
"This is a promising opportunity," she said with a smile. "Let's accept the offer."
Leonard eyed her with concern. "Are you sure?"
She saw the doubt in his face and smiled inwardly. Her performance was flawless.
"Isn't this why our travel date was moved up?" she asked, tilting her head like an innocent girl.
"Well…"
"Is that all, Father?"
Leonard hesitated. Then, finally: "Yes. You should go prepare."
Marysville turned, offering one last smile. But as she walked away, her expression shifted into a cold, cunning smirk.
Bring it on then. I accept the challenge…
Let's see who really controls whom, King of Night—Anastasius Fei Light.