I was still nursing my half-empty coffee when the guy who'd slammed my table earlier slid into the seat across from me. He gave a quick glance at his friends hovering nearby.
"Leave us," he said, voice flat.
They nodded without a word and shuffled out of the café.
He leaned forward a little. "Name's Ford Tsaritsa. My sister Isabella sent me."
I raised an eyebrow. Tsaritsa. The name hit like a brick.
"Isabella Tsaritsa?" I repeated, squinting. My brain was already screaming.
That's the villainess. The one I wrote. The one who slits throats without blinking and smiles while doing it.
Ford didn't seem to notice my face probably going pale. "She needs a partner for the family gathering. She picked you."
I swallowed hard. Inside my head I was screaming.
Me? Partner to the psycho noble who collects corpses like trophies? I'm dead. I'm so dead.
But Ford kept talking like this was normal business.
"We'll pay you one million gold coins. You just play the fiancé, smile at the party, look happy. That's it."
One. Million. Gold coins.
My mouth moved before my brain caught up. I grabbed his hand and shook it. "Of course I can do that."
Inside I was cackling. One million gold. I could buy every training resource in the damn academy. I'd be set for years.
Ford gave a small smile, like he'd expected exactly that reaction.
"Good. She's waiting for you this evening. Go to her classroom after classes end.
She'll explain the plan herself. I'm just the messenger."
I nodded fast. "I'll be there."
He stood up, dropped a few coins on the table to cover my coffee, and walked out without another word.
I stared at his back. Such a polite, straight-faced guy. Looks can really deceive.
Then my stomach growled—loud. Stress. The reality slammed back in. I had to meet Isabella.
The real Isabella. Discuss plans. Ride to Tsaritsa territory. Lie to a whole family of monsters.
I finished the coffee in one long gulp, stood up, and headed toward the advanced classrooms.
When I got there I saw her right away—long white hair, sharp blue eyes, arms already crossed like she'd been waiting to judge me.
She spotted me, walked over, and looked me up and down.
"My brother told you?" she asked.
"Yeah."
She tilted her head. "I chose you because you're handsome enough to pass as my fiancé.
That's the only reason. Don't get any funny ideas."
I nodded quickly. "Got it."
"A carriage will pick us up tonight. Come to my room at nine. We'll walk to the garden together. The carriage waits there."
She leaned in a little, eyes narrowing. "If you mess up even once, I will kill you. Understand?"
I gulped. She wasn't bluffing. I could feel it in my bones.
"Understood," I managed.
She straightened. "You can go buy something to wear for the party or whatever."
I immediately held both hands out, palms up.
She frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The one million gold," I said, trying to sound casual. "Upfront. Fair for the effort, right?"
Inside my head: Spend it now. If I die tonight at least I won't die broke and regretting it.
She glared for a long second, then reached into her coat pocket and dropped a heavy coin pouch into my hands.
I grinned. "I'll meet you an hour before nine. Promise."
She snorted, turned, and walked back toward the dorms.
I stood there clutching the bag like it was my new best friend, then started walking toward the market with a stupid smile on my face.
First stop: clothes.
Except… there were no suits. Tunics, robes, fancy jackets with way too many buttons—nothing close.
I slapped my forehead. Right. Another world. No tuxedos here.
I wandered around until I spotted a tiny shop tucked in a corner alley.
The sign was half-faded. Curiosity pulled me in.
Inside, a woman in a big mage hat was face-down on the counter, snoring softly. A thin line of drool pooled under her cheek.
I walked over and gently poked her chin.
She jerked up slowly, blinking, wiping her mouth. "Huh?"
"What's this shop do?" I asked.
She shrugged like the question was exhausting.
"Anything. Business is bad. I'll save cats from trees, fix plumbing, whatever pays."
I thought for a second. "You got pen and paper?"
She slid them over without asking why.
I sketched a clean black tuxedo—slim fit, notched lapels, single-breasted, the whole classic look.
"Can you make this? With magic or whatever?"
Her eyes went wide as she studied the drawing. "This looks… really good. Where'd you get the idea?"
"From my head," I said quickly. No way I'm telling anyone about Earth.
She nodded like that made perfect sense, then raised her hands. Six glowing magic circles appeared in the air at once.
My jaw almost hit the floor. Six circles. Instant cast. She's at least sixth-rank. The royal mage who guards the king is only fifth.
Fabric and thread spun between the circles, stitching itself together in midair.
Less than a minute later a perfect black tuxedo dropped onto the counter.
"Done," she said, yawning.
"How much?" I asked, already bracing myself. A sixth-rank mage could probably name any price.
She held up five fingers.
"Five… what?"
"Five coins."
I almost laughed out loud. No wonder her shop was empty.
I dug out six gold coins and slid them over. "Here. Keep the change."
She looked surprised for half a second, then shrugged and pocketed them.
I grabbed the tux and walked out feeling like I'd just robbed a genius.
Back in my room I slipped it on and checked the mirror.
Damn. I looked good. Sharp. Like I actually belonged at a noble party.
I glanced at the clock. Almost time.
I took a deep breath, and started walking toward Isabella's room.