Chapter 2: The Soft Side of a Cold Sword

The heavy metal blade of Sword Commander Alistair was still hovering just inches away from Roxanne’s neck. The bright blue magic energy hummed quietly against her skin, but the hidden pink magic armor from her system stopped the heat from burning her. Roxanne did not move a single muscle, but she did not look scared either. Her eyes were still totally deadpan, staring right into the face of the angry knight. Back in her old life as a tired, stressed out college student, she had dealt with mean professors, rude customers, and terrible group projects. A giant man with a glowing sword was scary, yes, but her natural bad attitude and sharp tongue came out before her fear could stop her.

"Can you fucking move that giant butter knife away from my face?" Roxanne said, her voice dripping with pure annoyance. "You are getting water all over me, and honestly, your breath smells like shitty old onions. It is totally ruining my fuckin' mood."

Alistair’s grey eyes went wide with shock. His jaw tightened so hard that the silver scar across his skin turned bright white. No one had ever spoken to the leader of the imperial knights like that. Especially not a prisoner who was supposed to be dead on a wooden block five minutes ago. He gripped the handle of his massive broadsword even tighter, his muscles bulging under his leather armor.

"You treacherous snake," Alistair growled, his voice deep and shaking with rage. "You dare speak to me with such disrespect? You are a criminal. You sold our secrets and caused the deaths of my men. I should cut your tongue out right now before I take your head."

[Oh my gosh, Host! Do you hear that?] the System suddenly squealed inside Roxanne’s mind. The bright pink digital screen flashed right in front of her eyes again, covered in stupid little sparkling stars. [He wants to take your tongue! That is such a bold, dirty, and passionate thing to say! He is totally thinking about kissing you so hard that you cannot speak! This big, scary warrior is just an extreme tsundere who does not know how to handle his massive crush on you! My love sensors are literally going crazy right now, girlie!]

Roxanne’s right eye twitched violently. She felt a massive headache coming on. "You are a shitty bimbo," Roxanne screamed back in her thoughts, her mental voice full of absolute disgust. "Are you fuckin' blind, you fuckin' stupid machine? He does not want to kiss me! He wants to chop my head off and put it on a spike! He literally just said he wants to cut my tongue out! How is that fucking romantic, you air headed piece of garbage?"

[Pff, men always say the opposite of what they want when they are nervous,] the System replied with a happy, bubbly pop sound. [He is just super embarrassed because you are sitting on the Crown Prince right now. He wants you all to himself! Quick, we need to handle this romantic tension before things get too heated! Generating your next Heroine Quest right now!]

[Main Event Quest: The Innocent Tears of a Hurt Flower.

Objective: A true heroine knows how to use her weakness as a weapon. Look directly into the eyes of Sword Commander Alistair, activate your new passive skill 'Innocent Tears', and pout your lips playfully while telling him that he is being too mean to a delicate lady.

Target: Sword Commander Alistair.

Time Limit: 20 seconds.

Penalty for Failure: A very painful, high-voltage electric shock directly to your stomach for three full minutes.

Reward for Success: 600 Bimbo Points, Active Skill: Sweet Honey Voice, and a 20-Minute Speed Boost.]

"I am going to fuckin' destroy you," Roxanne muttered in her mind, her teeth grinding together. "I am a fucking grown woman with a fucking political science degree. I do not pout, and I do not fucking cry like a baby to get out of trouble. This is total garbage!"

*Time remaining: 15 seconds... 14... 13...*

A sharp, stabbing pain began to twist around her belly button. It felt like a hot wire was starting to heat up inside her stomach. The System was not joking about the penalty. Roxanne knew she had no choice. She could either hold onto her pride and get fried from the inside out, or she could be completely shameless and survive. Her pragmatic, survival first brain won the argument immediately, even if her pride was screaming in agony.

"Fine! Just turn on the stupid skill!" Roxanne yelled mentally.

[Skill Activated: Innocent Tears!]

Suddenly, Roxanne felt a strange, cold sensation in her eyes. Without her permission, her vision swam, and huge, heavy drops of water began to pool in the corners of her eyes. Her vision became glossy and soft. She forced her face to change from her natural, bitchy glare into a soft, trembling look. She tilted her head slightly to the side, let her lower lip stick out in a small, dramatic pout, and looked right up into Alistair's cold grey eyes.

"You are being so mean to me," Roxanne said, her voice suddenly sounding soft, light, and trembling like a small, lost bird. The heavy tears broke free and rolled slowly down her wet cheeks, catching the red light of the setting sun. "I am just a delicate lady who was almost murdered, and you are waving that scary sword around. Do you really hate me that much, Commander? It hurts my heart."

The effect was instant and completely bizarre. 

Alistair froze. The angry words died right in his throat. His grey eyes shook as he looked down at the crying girl sitting in the fountain. In his entire life, Roxanne von Duccat had only ever looked at him with an ugly, arrogant sneer. She had always been cold, proud, and full of bad words. He had never seen her look so small, so wet, and so completely helpless. The sight of her big, tear filled eyes struck something deep inside his chest. His heart gave a strange, heavy thud, and his face turned a light shade of pink under his dark hair.

"I... what?" Alistair stammered, his strong voice suddenly losing all of its angry power. He stepped back by one inch, his sword lowering just a tiny bit. "What are you doing? Stop looking at me like that."

Up on the broken balcony, High Priest Ethan stopped his holy magic chanting. The bright white light around his pale hands faded slightly. His beautiful, marble like face showed a tiny flash of surprise. He had been ready to lock her limbs with holy chains, but seeing her cry so pitifully made his cold, religious mind pause. A sinner was supposed to be ugly and full of hate, but this girl looked like an innocent child who had been thrown into a deep, dark well.

"Commander Alistair," Ethan called out, his voice sounding like smooth, freezing ice. He stepped closer to the broken wooden railing, his long silver hair blowing in the wind. "Do not let her tricks confuse your heart. The devil can take the form of a crying woman to save its own life. Keep your guard up."

From the shadows near the back wall, Malakai, the Shadow Overlord, let out a low, amused whistle. He did not move from the dark pillar, but his sharp amber eyes were fixed tightly on Roxanne's face. He knew everything about human expressions because he spent his life dealing with liars, thieves, and killers. He could tell that Roxanne’s sudden change was totally fake, but he was highly impressed by how fast she could switch from a sarcastic bitch to a crying angel. It was a beautiful piece of acting, and it was working perfectly on the simple minded knight.

"Oh, look at the big, brave Sword Commander," Malakai mocked from the dark, his voice smooth and dangerous. "One little tear from a pretty girl, and his hands start shaking. Maybe we should have left the execution to someone with a harder heart."

"Shut up, Malakai!" Alistair snapped, his face turning redder from embarrassment. He quickly raised his sword again, trying to look tough, but his eyes kept darting back to Roxanne’s trembling lips. "I am not confused! She is a traitor, and she must be punished!"

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Julian was still lying flat on his back in the shallow water beneath Roxanne. He had been totally silent because the sheer shock of the situation had locked his brain. But now, feeling the cold water soaking through his clothes and seeing his best knight acting like an idiot, his royal anger exploded.

"Get off of me right now!" Julian roared, his hands coming up to grab Roxanne’s waist. He used his royal strength to push her off his chest. 

Roxanne did not fight it. The system's speed boost reward had just entered her body, making her feel light and quick. She rolled off his armor gracefully, landing on her feet in the shallow water of the fountain with a small splash. Her wet dress clung to her body, but she stood tall, her temporary crying face instantly vanishing back into her regular, bored expression.

[Quest Complete! Oh my gosh, girlie, look at Alistair’s face! He is totally flustered!] the System cheered, making a happy ringing sound in her head. [He is practically blushing! He wants to protect you so badly right now. And look at the Prince! He pushed you away, but his hands stayed on your waist for an extra two seconds! That is a clear sign of deep possession! You are doing amazing, Host!]

"He pushed me because I weigh a hundred and twenty pounds and I was crushing his lungs, you fucking bimbo," Roxanne thought back, her mental voice full of exhaustion. "Stop counting seconds. Your math is bad, and your brain is even worse."

[Rewards Given: 600 Bimbo Points added to your wallet. Active Skill: Sweet Honey Voice unlocked and ready for use. 20 Minute Speed Boost is now active!]

Julian scrambled to his feet, his white and gold armor dripping with muddy water. He looked completely ridiculous. His beautiful golden hair was stuck to his face like wet straw, and a small piece of green moss from the fountain was sitting right on his royal shoulder. He drew his gold ceremonial sword, his hand shaking with pure rage.

"Guards!" Julian screamed, his voice cracking slightly. "Surround the fountain! Do not let her take another step! If she moves, cut her legs off!"

Immediately, dozens of elite imperial guards ran into the courtyard. Their heavy metal boots made a loud clanging sound against the stone floor. They formed a tight, round wall of sharp steel spears around the fountain, blocking every single escape route. The crowd outside the courtyard gates was still making a massive noise, trying to see what was happening inside the royal box area.

Roxanne looked at the circle of sharp spears. She was completely trapped. Her magic armor only had a few minutes left, and her speed boost would not help if she ran directly into a wall of sharp metal. She needed a plan, and she needed it fast.

"Your Highness," High Priest Ethan said, his flowing white robes rustling as he walked down the stairs from the balcony. His face was calm again, but his pale eyes were locked onto Roxanne like a judge. "This situation is highly unusual. The execution ropes were blessed by the Holy Sanctuary. No normal human being, especially not a young lady with no magic training, should be able to break them. There is a dark, foul power at work here."

Ethan stopped just outside the circle of guards. He looked at Roxanne’s tattered purple dress and the strange, quiet look in her eyes. "She must have used dark magic. Or perhaps she has made a deal with the demon worshipers of the eastern lands. We cannot just cut her head off yet. We must take her to the holy dungeon and question her soul with the light of truth."

When Roxanne heard the words 'holy dungeon', her stomach twisted. She knew what that meant from her new memories. The holy dungeon was a place of terrible torture. They used bright magic light to burn a person’s mind until they confessed to whatever the priests wanted. If she went there, she would never come out alive.

"Wait a minute," Roxanne spoke up. She decided to use her new skill. She turned on the 'Sweet Honey Voice'. 

When she spoke, her voice did not sound like her regular, sharp self. It sounded incredibly sweet, rich, and musical. It was the kind of voice that made people want to stop and listen to whatever she was saying, like a beautiful song playing in a quiet room.

"You call yourselves holy and righteous," Roxanne said, her sweet voice echoing softly across the stone courtyard. She pointed a wet finger directly at Prince Julian and High Priest Ethan. "But you are all just a bunch of fuckin' blind fools who cannot see the truth even when it is staring you right in the face. You want to throw me in a dark hole because you are too fuckin' stupid to see that you have been played like cheap toys."

Julian’s eyes narrowed. "What did you say, villainess?"

"I said you are fucking stupid," Roxanne repeated, her sharp attitude completely breaking through the sweet tone of the skill. "You think I sold military secrets to the eastern borders? You think I tried to poison you, Julian? If I had that kind of high level dark magic to snap holy ropes and fly through the air like a bird, do you really think I would have let your stupid guards catch me in my sleep three weeks ago? If I wanted you dead, I would have used this fucking magic to crush your skull while you were fucking eating your morning bread!"

The courtyard went totally quiet. The guards looked at each other with confused faces. Roxanne’s words were incredibly rude, but her modern logic was completely sound. A mastermind with god like physical strength would not just sit in a cold cell for three weeks waiting for an axe to fall.

"She... she has a point," Alistair muttered quietly, his hand still resting on his sword pommel. He looked at Julian, his brow furrowed. "Your Highness, the report said she was caught by four low ranking guards while she was walking in the garden. It never made sense to me how a master spy could be so careless."

"Do not listen to her lies!" Ethan said firmly, his pale eyes flashing with a dangerous white light. "She is using her wicked tongue to confuse us. The documents found in her room had her personal signature and her family's royal seal. The evidence is absolute!"

"A signature can be forged, and a seal can be stolen, you frozen block of shitty marble!" Roxanne shot back, glare fixing onto the High Priest. "I am the daughter of a fuckin' Duke! My house has thousands of servants, guards, and visitors every single day. Anyone could have walked into my study, taken my seal, and written those letters. But instead of looking for the real killer, you just picked the easiest target because you wanted a quick public show to make yourselves fucking look good!"

[Oh my gosh, Host, you are being so fiery and dominant!] the System cheered inside her brain, completely ignoring the heavy political argument. [Look at Ethan! His cheeks are slightly pale! He is totally overwhelmed by your confident, bitchy boss lady energy! Men love a woman who can challenge their mind! You are totally breaking down his religious walls right now!]

"He is pale because he wants to burn me at the stake, you fucking bimbo!" Roxanne yelled back in her mind, her hands clenching into fists. "Can you please shut the fuck up for five seconds so I can fucking save our fucking lives?!"

Prince Julian stepped forward, his wet boots squeaking loudly on the stone tiles. He pointed his gold sword right at Roxanne's chest. "Even if what you say has a small drop of truth, Roxanne, you still broke the law today. You destroyed a royal scaffold, attacked the executioner, and put your hands on my royal body. For those actions alone, you deserve to die."

"Oh, please," Roxanne scoffed, taking a step forward despite the sharp spears. Her speed boost made her movements look incredibly smooth and sharp. "I was about to get my head cut off for something I didn't do! What did you expect me to do? Sit there and say fucking thank you? I have modern common sense, sweetie. Self defense is a basic right. If someone tries to kill me, I am going to fucking fight back, and if I have to throw a whiny prince into a muddy fountain to do it, I will fuckin' do it again!"

Alistair let out a sharp gasp at her words. Julian's face turned completely purple with rage. He had never been called a 'whiny prince' in his entire life.

"That is enough!" Julian yelled, his royal power flaring up around him like a golden light. "Guards! Grab her right now! Drag her to the high tower! I will personally oversee her questioning tomorrow morning! If she resists, break her arms!"

The guards moved in all at once, their spears closing the circle. Roxanne’s heart started to pound again. Her magic armor screen suddenly flashed a warning text in her mind: *Magic Armor expiring in 60 seconds.*

"System!" Roxanne thought fast, her sarcastic attitude turning into real panic. "The armor is running out! Give me a high level attack! Give me a teleportation spell! Hurry up, you dumb machine!"

[Oh, do not worry, girlie!] the System replied with a bright, happy giggle. [A true heroine never has to do the dirty work herself! When the main characters are in danger, their destined lovers will always step in to save them from harm! Look behind you!]

Before Roxanne could even turn her head around, a sudden, cold wind blew across the courtyard. The bright red light of the setting sun vanished completely as the sun finally dropped below the horizon. Total darkness fell over the space, but it was not normal night. The shadows along the stone walls suddenly came alive, twisting and growing like black snakes.

With a loud, terrifying sound of tearing air, a massive wall of solid black shadows shot up from the ground right between Roxanne and the moving guards. The sharp steel spears hit the black wall and shattered into small metal pieces with a loud clanking noise.

"What is this?!" Julian shouted, stepping back fast as the shadows rushed past his face.

From the deep darkness of the black wall, Malakai, the Shadow Overlord, slowly stepped out. His tight dark leathers seemed to drink the remaining light, and his sharp amber eyes shined with a dangerous, lethal glow. He was holding two small, curved black daggers in his hands, his body low and ready to kill.

But he was not looking at Roxanne to attack her. He stood directly in front of her, his back facing her, completely blocking her from the guards and the Prince's sword.

"Sorry, Your Highness," Malakai said, his smooth, dark voice full of dangerous mockery. "But I cannot let you take this girl to your tower just yet. I find her new attitude far too interesting to let you break it."

Roxanne stared at the dark back of the kingdom's most dangerous killer, her mind completely blown by the sudden turn of events. Before she could even say a word, Malakai grabbed her waist with one strong arm, and the shadows around them exploded into a total black cloud.