Inside one of the Grace manors, in the large library, Marysville sits at a table, busy playing a game on her phone. Next to her is the third son of the Grace family, a handsome young man who is three years older than Marysville, reading a book.
The young man's name is Martinez Zen Grace, a seventeen-year-old teenager and the third son of the Grace family.
"Instead of playing on your phone, Marysville, why don't you engage in a friendly duel with me? After all, you are set to go out tomorrow." Said Martinez.
Marysville finds her brother's words confusing, as Martinez knows well that she is not blessed with God's stigma. However, it is a lie that Marysville doesn't have God's stigma, and only she knows why she is trying to hide it.
"Brother, do you truly believe that someone like me, who is not even blessed with God's stigma, can be a match for someone like you?" Marysville was gentle as she utter her words.
"I am merely curious about what this little sister of mine is capable of, that is all; nothing more." He gently smiles out of kindness.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the library door twice. It turned out to be the oldest of the siblings, Luis.
"Father asked me to call you two." Luis leans in the door gently having his arms crossed.
Martinez stands up from his seat and begins to leave the room. Marysville follows him out of the library, but just as she is about to step out, Luis grabs Marysville's wrist, stopping her. Luis' waits until Martinez is far enough away before letting go of Marysville's wrist.
"When do you plan to stop pretending to be a weak sheep?" Luis angrily said.
Luis was annoyed by the fact that Marysville is hiding her true worth to the family. Luis seems to know about Marysville's secret.
"Why do you care?" Marysville looks at Luis as if questioning his sanity
Marysville stared at Luis' eyes directly as if asking for a fight, and surprisingly, Luis did the same.
Martinez, who noticed that no one was following him, turned to look back and see why. He saw Marysville and Luis looking as if they were arguing.
"Hey, what are you two waiting for?" Martinez shouts.
Marysville turns her back to Luis completely ignoring him.
"Waiting for Christmas?" Said Marysville.
Martinez was seriously asking the question, but Marysville answered sarcastically. It's not that Martinez minded Marysville's joking response, but instead of Martinez getting angry, Luis found Marysville's words rude, which angered him. He slapped Marysville on the cheek as a sign of discipline.
Marysville, who had just been slapped in the face, darkened her mood. As she gently stroked her cheek, a small bruise appeared, and her eye color turned yellow-gold out of anger.
Finally coming to her senses, Marysville clenched her fist and, without a moment of hesitation, punched Luis in the face, questioning why he had just slapped her.
Marysville's fist hit Luis's face, leaving a bruise and causing his lower lip to bleed. As she was about to land another punch, Luis suddenly grabbed Marysville's hair, nearly making her fall. However, that didn't stop Marysville from attacking Luis. Just like Luis had grabbed her hair, Marysville also grabbed Luis's head, pulling his hair toward her.
Martinez, watching his older brother and younger sister fighting each other, was unable to stop the fight. He found the fight useless and meaningless, as there was really nothing to be angry about, but he eventually found the scene amusing as the two of them fought, grabbing and pulling each other's hair.
"They really are like cats and dogs." Martinez chuckles.
This is not a very rare occurrence that's why Martinez has find it funny looking at the two fight.
The fight lasted for about minutes.
Finally arriving at the room where their father was, they found it surprisingly gloomy. Their father was looking at them and laughing like a maniac, finding the scene hilarious.
"Unbelievable." He still laughs like a maniac.
They all stood in silence, watching their father laugh at them. Finally, he calmed down and wiped away the tears from his laughter.
"Luis, I've already told you not to show that side of yourself to any of your siblings, especially the youngest. She's the only girl, after all."
"It can't be helped; she rudely answers her elders like that, especially her own big brother."
Marysville stayed silent, listening to her brother complain about her rudeness.
'older... I'm actually more older than you two to be precise.' Marysville thoughts.
"Well, the two of you have always loved fighting with each other from the start." Said their father.
"LOVE FIGHTING?! Like hell I love 'arguing' with this guy!" Luis and Marysville point at each other as they both utter the same words.
As someone who was born alone in her previous life, Marysville has never been good at dealing with something like this. She must have found this scenario annoying.
"Now, now. Stop fighting, both of you. I'm sure Luis already knows why I called you three here, so I'll explain it to both of you."
The room suddenly went silent looking serious.
"As you all know, the Shuhiyun nation is currently attacked by the cults who call themselves 'black sheep'. The war is expected to end by this year, but even after all, we failed to capture the mastermind of the tragedy.
That's why Marysville Everleigh Grace. I want to directly ask you, as someone who is not blessed with God stigma. Do you think you will be able to survive if you ever meet someone like them outside this place?."
'The answer is as simple as "Yes", but father is not aware of my stigma, so of course he's worried about this kind of thing.'
Marysville gazes at his inner palm, where a tattoo graces his skin—a sleek, flowing line curling gracefully around a small, dark diamond at its heart. The design is elegant in its simplicity, a quiet statement etched like a permanent wound that disappears and reappears on its own.
MARYSVILLE'S PERSPECTIVE
I got this mark when I was 6. I remember playing with a baby fox outside the manor when its claws scratched my palm. It bled so much that I struggled with the pain. I was worried they'd find out about the wound, so I decided not to go home that night and camped outside on my own. By the next morning, the wounds had disappeared, leaving a strange mark behind.
Mom's tear-stained face was puffy and swollen with grief when I came back the next morning. She must have been distressed after the disappearance of her 6-year-old daughter.
That incident was also part of the reason why I got a personal bodyguard named Reo. Thanks to Reo's presence, I learned that this mark was a god's stigma. Back then, I didn't yet know that I had been reincarnated inside a game, but I always found the mark familiar whenever I looked at it.
When I was practicing my swordsmanship, it was my oldest brother's last day at the manor. He happened to see me trying to summon a scythe in my palm, and that's how he discovered my stigma—the fact that I'm one of the rare few blessed by Zer, the god of destruction. Zer controls all negativity and darkness, which gave me yet another reason to hide this power.
Most villains in the game possess this power because it is obtained through pain and suffering. That's why I find it confusing that I have this power.
—
"While the answer is undoubtedly 'no,' I have faith in the strength of my siblings, the skill of my personal bodyguard, Reo, and the power of my eyes. I trust that when the time comes, they will safeguard me."
Hearing his youngest's response, Leonard's laughter erupted like a sudden storm, filling the room with its unexpected force.
"Well, as expected from my one and only daughter."
'for real?' Luis thoughts.
"She does not actually require protection." Luis mumble.
Marysville noted Luis's words and brushed them off as inconsequential. She feigned familiarity, patting Luis on the back as if they were old friends, her actions a mask for the superficial closeness she displayed.
"Did you say something, elder brother?" Marysville forced her laughter while patting Luis back.
Luis's mood darkened like a shadow falling over him, allowing Marysville's slap to land without resistance.
Seeing the scene, Martinez and Leonard couldn't help but shed tears of happiness at seeing the youngest and oldest getting along. Even though it's nothing but a scene of an act.
"One final point I neglected to mention: you three should ensure that your belongings are prepared by the end of today. We will commence our journey tomorrow morning to reach the capital by nightfall. After all, in one week, we will be celebrating Marysville's coming of age."
"..." The three of them fell silent, contemplating the journey ahead like a long, weary road stretching before them.
After the discussion, the three siblings were finally on their way out of the room. Just as they were about to leave, Leonard called out Mary's name, asking her to stay for a while.
"Marysville." Said Leonard.
Marysville who's following her brothers path, looks back in response to her father's call.
"May I have a moment of your time? I would like to discuss something with you."
Leonard stared intently at Marysville, but she remained as calm as a still lake, as if she had seen this coming long before.
Waiting for her brothers to leave the room, Marysville gently closed the door and walked over to her father, who was sitting in a chair beside the study table, gazing out at the scenery through the window. He slowly turned to look at Marysville before uttering a word.
"I have received an offer for your hand in marriage to the current king."
"..."
"However, the decision ultimately rests with you." Leonard hesitates.
'The reason Father mentioned this without the siblings present was that he feared they might influence my decision. However, my answer remains the same as in the game: I will gladly accept the engagement to ensure the storyline continues unchanged.
'After all, my decision regarding this engagement offer has a significant impact on the main story of the game.
'So the time has finally come when I must live inside that palace, with that man manipulating me.'
"This is a promising opportunity. Let us accept the offer, Father." Marysville answers with a smile on her face.
"Are you certain about your decision?" Leonard is looking at her daughter in conscience.
Seeing her father's reaction brought her a deep sense of relief. It was as if her performance was becoming increasingly convincing, her facade of weakness growing more seamless with each passing moment.
"Why the uncertainty? Isn't this the very reason the date for traveling to the capital was changed?" Marysville tilted her head, her expression as innocent as a child's, feigning ignorance as if she were unaware of anything.
"Well..." Leonard went awkward.
"Is that all to discuss about, father?"
Leonard fell silent before speaking to answer his daughter's question.
"Yes, you should return to your room and prepare your things for now."
'for now…'
Marysville responded with a simple smile at Leonard. Turning her back, she smirked, her thoughts dancing with the intrigue of her upcoming engagement to the king.
'Bring it on, then. I accept the challenge and will face you head-on.
'But let's see who truly manipulates whom, King of Night, Anastasius Fei Light.'