Chapter 3: The Shadow and the Sweet Escape

The solid wall of cold black shadows swirled around Roxanne like a frozen wind. It took away all the light, all the sounds of the shouting guards, and the angry face of Prince Julian. One moment she was standing in the muddy stone fountain, and the next, her feet were lifted completely off the ground. The strong, tight arm of Malakai, the Shadow Overlord, was wrapped firmly around her waist. He pulled her body close against his dark leather vest as they moved through the black sky. 

Roxanne did not panic, but her sharp tongue did not stop working either. Even when flying through the air with a literal king of assassins, her sarcastic modern college student brain took total control. She was sick of being thrown around like a sack of potatoes by these giant, dangerous men.

"Hey! Can you watch where you put your hands, you total creep?" Roxanne snapped out loud, her voice cutting through the whistling sound of the dark magic. She tried to push against Malakai’s hard shoulder, but he did not move an inch. "You are fucking squeezing my ribs! If you rip my dress anymore, I am going to make you pay for a fucking new one, and noble clothes look extremely expensive!"

Malakai let out a low, rough laugh right next to her ear. His breath was warm against her skin, a total contrast to the freezing black shadows surrounding them. 

"You really are a strange creature, Roxanne von Duccat," Malakai murmured, his amber eyes shining like hot coals in the dark. "Most people cry and beg for mercy when I wrap them in my shadows. You are the first person to complain about the price of a dress and cussed while running away from an execution stage."

[Oh my gosh, Host! Did you feel that? The dark, dangerous bad boy just laughed because of your sassy mouth!] the System suddenly screamed inside Roxanne’s head. The bright pink digital screen popped up in her mind, covered in annoying little sparkling hearts that blocked her mental view. [He is carrying you through the night like a dark knight in shiny leather! This is literal peak romance, girlie! He stole you away from the other three boys because his toxic, obsessive love could not handle seeing you hurt! He wants to keep you hidden in his secret lair forever! My heart is beating so fast right now!]

Roxanne wanted to reach into her own brain and strangle the machine. "Shut the fuck up bimbo!" Roxanne screamed back in her thoughts, her mental voice dripping with absolute rage. "He did not steal me because of love, you stupid, delusional piece of trash! He is the fucking leader of the secret spies! He literally said he finds my attitude interesting, which means he probably wants to study my fuckin' brain or use me as a political tool! There is zero romance here, you air headed garbage can!"

[Pff, denial is just the first step to a beautiful reverse harem, Host!] the System replied with a happy, bubbly popping sound. [He is totally into you. Now, let's make this dark escape even more spicy! Generating a new Heroine Quest right now!]

[Main Event Quest: The Dangerous Shadow’s Sweet Treat.

Objective: A wild and dangerous man needs a soft, sweet touch to tame his fierce soul! While flying through the air, turn your head slowly, look into Malakai's golden amber eyes, and give him a soft, playful pout while gently tapping his chest with your finger. Tell him he is a bad boy for stealing you away.

Target: Shadow Overlord Malakai.

Time Limit: 30 seconds.

Penalty for Failure: A sudden loss of the shadow magic, causing you to fall fifty feet straight down onto the hard stone streets below.

Reward for Success: 700 Bimbo Points, Passive Skill: Sweet Rose Smell, and a Magic Map of the Imperial Capital.]

"Are you trying to fucking kill me?!" Roxanne yelled internally, her eyes widening as she looked down through the thin shadows and saw the tiny, sharp roofs of the city buildings passing quickly below them. "If I fail, I fall fifty feet? That is murder, you dumb bimbo! I do not have muscle memory for pouting while flying! This is a total safety hazard!"

*Time remaining: 20 seconds... 19... 18...*

The shadow magic around her legs suddenly flickered, becoming thin and unstable. Roxanne felt her body drop by a few inches, her feet dangling over the empty air. The message was clear: obey the bimbo system or become a human pancake on the streets of the capital. Her practical, logical brain took over once again, forcing her pride to take a back seat.

"Fine! Turn on the stupid pout!" Roxanne growled in her mind.

She forced her body to relax against Malakai’s strong arm. Slowly, she tilted her head up, letting her long, wet dark hair fall over her shoulders. She looked directly into his sharp amber eyes, which were watching her with a dangerous curiosity. She let her lower lip stick out in a small, playful pout, and she raised one finger to tap gently against the center of his hard leather chest.

"You are such a bad boy, Malakai," Roxanne said, her voice naturally using the Sweet Honey Voice skill she had won earlier. It sounded rich, soft, and incredibly sweet against the dark wind. "Stealing a delicate girl from the royal court like this. Are you planning to do something wicked to me in the dark?"

Malakai’s footsteps completely missed a beat. He was currently jumping across a high stone roof, and her sudden words made his boots slip slightly on the tiles. He caught his balance quickly, but his amber eyes shook with total disbelief. The original Roxanne von Duccat would rather eat dirt than call him a 'bad boy' with a sweet, playful voice. He felt a sudden, strange heat rush up his neck, and his grip around her waist tightened automatically.

"What kind of game are you playing, lady?" Malakai muttered, his smooth voice dropping into a deeper, slightly rough tone. He looked away from her face, focusing on the dark path ahead, but his heart was beating a little faster against her tapping finger. "Keep talking like that, and I might actually show you what a real villain does in the dark."

[Quest Complete! Oh my gosh, Host, look at his ears! They are slightly pink!] the System cheered loudly, making a silly trumpet sound inside her head. [The dangerous killer is flustered! He totally loves it when you call him a bad boy! Your feminine charm is like a drug to these powerful men, girlie! Keep up the good work!]

"He just threatened to do something villainous to me, you stupid machine!" Roxanne thought back, her internal voice full of deep exhaustion. "That is a literal death threat, not a blush! Your translation software is completely broken!"

[Rewards Given: 700 Bimbo Points added to your account. Passive Skill: Sweet Rose Smell activated. Magic Map of the Capital unlocked!]

Suddenly, a beautiful, soft scent of fresh roses began to drift off Roxanne’s skin and hair, cutting right through the bad smell of old fountain water and sweat. Malakai breathed in the sweet smell, his nose twitching slightly. He looked down at her again, his brow furrowed in deep confusion. This girl was supposed to be a dirty prisoner from a dungeon, so why did she suddenly smell like a royal garden in the spring?

Before Malakai could ask about the strange smell, a loud, explosive sound echoed from the dark sky behind them.

*Boom!*

A massive bolt of bright blue lightning shot through the clouds, lighting up the entire city for a brief second. Roxanne looked back and saw a figure moving across the rooftops with insane speed. It was Sword Commander Alistair. He was running after them, his massive broadsword glowing with wild blue energy that cleared the shadows away with every step he took.

"Malakai!" Alistair’s voice roared across the roofs, sounding like thunder. "Release the prisoner! You have no right to take her! She is property of the imperial court, and I will not let a shadow thief steal our justice!"

"Tsk. The big dog has a good nose," Malakai hissed, his lazy smile disappearing instantly. He turned his body, diving down into a narrow, dark alleyway between two massive stone stone buildings to hide from the light. "He is using his knight aura to track my shadow path. He is faster than he looks."

"Well, maybe if you didn't smell like fuckin' old leather and bad choices, he wouldn't find you so easily," Roxanne shot back, her sharp tongue showing no mercy even during a chase. 

"Quiet, woman," Malakai warned, but there was no real anger in his voice. He dropped down onto the cold stone floor of the alley, his shadows pulling back into his cloak. He kept his arm around her waist, dragging her behind a row of large wooden barrels to hide.

Above them, the sky turned bright white. High Priest Ethan appeared on top of the high wall of the alley. His beautiful white robes were completely clean, and his long silver hair looked like it was glowing with holy light. He held a large silver staff in his hand, his pale blue eyes looking down into the darkness with a freezing, holy anger.

"The shadow cannot hide from the light of the goddess," Ethan declared, his smooth, marble like voice filling the narrow alleyway. He raised his silver staff high into the air. "Malakai, you are harboring a sinner. The Church will not tolerate this disrespect. Let the girl go, or I will purge this entire block with holy fire."

"Oh, great. The holy flashlight is here too," Roxanne muttered under her breath, her eyes deadpan. "This world is full of dramatic men who love to yell on roofs. Don't any of you have a normal hobby? Like reading or stamp collecting?"

Malakai let out a low chuckle, his back pressed against the cold brick wall next to her. "I like her style, High Priest! She thinks you are boring. And honestly, so do I. Your holy fire is too bright for my taste."

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to rumble. The stone tiles cracked open, and a line of sharp golden energy shot through the floor from the entrance of the alley. Crown Prince Julian stepped into the darkness, surrounded by ten elite guards. His white and gold armor was mostly dry now, but his face was still completely twisted with a deep, royal rage. He held his gold sword tightly, the tip pointing directly at Malakai’s chest.

"This is treason, Malakai," Julian said, his voice cold and heavy with absolute royal authority. "You are a servant of the crown. Your shadow network belongs to the empire. If you do not hand Roxanne von Duccat over to my guards right now, I will strip you of your title and hunt down every single member of your guild."

Roxanne looked at the three men surrounding them. Alistair was jumping down from the roof, his giant sword ready to swing. Ethan was charging up a massive ball of white holy fire on his staff. Julian and his guards were blocking the only exit from the alley. The four most dangerous men in the kingdom were all gathered in this tiny space, and the tension was so thick it felt hard to breathe.

[Oh my gosh, Host! They all chased you into a dark, private alleyway!] the System squealed in pure joy, the pink screen flashing with little animated dancing couples. [They are literally fighting over who gets to possess you! The Prince is using his political power, the Knight is using his big muscles, and the Priest is using his holy light! They are so incredibly jealous of Malakai! This is the most beautiful harem battle ever! Quick, we must fuel their love with a grand gesture!]

"They are fueling a literal murder circle, you absolute bimbo!" Roxanne yelled back in her mind, her fingers digging into the rough wood of the barrel next to her. "If they start swinging those weapons, I am going to get caught in the middle and turned into meat! Give me a real escape skill right now, or I will use my last breath to curse your digital soul!"

[Don't be so dramatic, girlie! A heroine always stays sweet in the face of danger!] the System replied happily. [Generating your next Main Event Quest right now! Let's see who wins your delicate heart!]

[Main Event Quest: The Harem’s Choice.

Objective: When the boys are fighting, a true heroine shows her deep emotional distress! Run to the center of the alleyway, let out a beautiful, high pitched gasp, and faint dramatically into the space between all four men. Use your new passive skill 'Sweet Rose Smell' to make them all rush to catch your falling body before you hit the ground.

Targets: Julian, Alistair, Ethan, and Malakai.

Time Limit: 15 seconds.

Penalty for Failure: A loud, embarrassing gassy noise will erupt from your body every time you speak for the next twenty four hours.

Reward for Success: 800 Bimbo Points, Active Skill: Cute Sneeze, and a Permanent 10% Increase to Physical Health.]

Roxanne’s jaw dropped in pure horror. A gassy noise every time she spoke? For twenty four hours? In front of the entire royal court and these high and mighty men? She would rather be executed three times over. Her sharp tongue and proud attitude could handle being called a traitor, but she could absolutely not handle being a public biological disaster. Her survival instinct and her deep desire to avoid ultimate social death slammed together, giving her no choice.

"You are the most evil machine in history, you little dimwit," Roxanne thought, her mind full of tears of pure rage. "Fine! I'll do the stupid faint!"

She stood up straight, stepping out from behind the wooden barrels before Malakai could stop her. Her movement caught the attention of all four men instantly. The swords stopped moving, the holy fire paused, and every eye locked onto her wet, purple dressed figure in the middle of the dark alleyway.

"Roxanne! Stay where you are!" Julian commanded, taking a step forward.

Roxanne did not answer with words. She raised her hands to her chest, let out a loud, beautiful, and completely fake high pitched gasp, and let her eyes roll back into her head. She activated the 'Sweet Rose Smell' skill at maximum power, sending a massive wave of intoxicating flower scent through the narrow alley. 

Then, she let her legs go completely limp, throwing her body forward into the empty space between the four powerful leaders.

The heavy scent of fresh roses hit the men like a physical wall. Combined with the sight of the beautiful, delicate noble girl falling helplessly toward the cold, dirty stone floor, something inside all four of their brains snapped at the exact same time. The political anger, the religious duty, and the shadow rules were completely forgotten in a split second.

"Roxanne!" Julian shouted, throwing his gold sword to the ground as he lunged forward with his arms open.

"Lady Roxanne!" Alistair bellowed, dropping his giant broadsword with a loud crash as his large boots sprinted across the stone.

High Priest Ethan did not even think. He dropped from the high wall, his white robes flying behind him as his holy power pushed his body forward at top speed to catch her.

Malakai, who was already closest, shot forward like a true shadow, his dark arms reaching out to grab her before anyone else could touch her skin.

All four men threw themselves into the center of the alleyway with insane speed, their hands reaching out in total desperation to catch the falling girl. The momentum of their powerful bodies, combined with the narrow space and the wet, slippery stones, created a recipe for total disaster.

*Crash!*

Instead of a smooth, romantic catch, the four most powerful men in the empire slammed directly into each other with massive force. Julian’s metal shoulder armor hit Alistair’s chest. Ethan’s silver staff tangled between Malakai’s legs. They crashed together in a giant, chaotic pile of white armor, silver robes, black leather, and flying limbs.

Roxanne, who had timed her fake faint perfectly, actually landed softly right on top of the soft velvet cloak that had fallen off the Prince's shoulders during the crash. She opened one eye slightly, looking down at the giant mess of powerful leaders groaning on the floor.

[Quest Complete! Oh my gosh, Host, that was incredible!] the System squealed in her mind, making little digital pink fireworks explode across her vision. [They all threw away their weapons just to hold you! Look at them! They are practically cuddling on the floor because of their shared love for you! This is a legendary harem moment!]

"They are all groaning in pain because they just broke each other's noses, you absolute bimbo," Roxanne thought back, her regular deadpan expression returning as she stood up smoothly, completely fine. She looked down at the pile of men. "But hey, it worked. They are all stuck."

[Rewards Given: 800 Bimbo Points added. Active Skill: Cute Sneeze unlocked. Permanent health increase applied!]

Roxanne turned around to run out of the alleyway while they were still untangling themselves. But as she took her first step toward the street, a sudden, cold black shadow appeared right in front of her face. It was not Malakai’s magic. This shadow was different. It felt heavy, evil, and smelled like rotting flesh.

A tall figure dressed in a dark purple robe with a strange snake mask over his face stepped out from the wall. He held a small, glowing green crystal in his bony hand. The crystal was flashing with the exact same magic signature that Roxanne remembered from her new memories, the magic used to forge her signature on the traitor letters.

"The villainess must not speak to the crown," the masked man whispered in a dry, creepy voice. He raised the glowing green crystal, and a bolt of dark, toxic green energy shot straight toward Roxanne’s chest.

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A/N: You can also read the story ahead, support the journey and have an early access to new chapters at http://patreon.com/fairywinkle25