A Goddamned Plan

The plan: 1)I should just avoid the Prince and Alyssa. 2)Get engaged to somebody else. 3)Go to the battlefield instead of my father.

Plan 1 and 2 were not convenient because I had to rely on someone and I could not access the throne that way. Marrying the Second Prince was not an option because no one knew his whereabouts. Plan 3 was suicidal but effective in some way. It would pose as a great danger but could also raise our status and get support from the commoners. I didn't have my debut yet and no one knew about me in the country, not even the king. Because the Archduke was an influential position and could be seen as a threat to king, therefore Artemis was kept hidden until her debut. The king, anxious to get rid of the thorn sticking on his path, sent away the Archduke to war in hopes that he would die. Artemis's father was the best father one could ask for, caring, loving and always worried for her safety. But in the end he was beheaded, right before her banishment. The hard part was convincing him to let her go to war as his replacement.

Artemis's body was built for battle, truth be told. The only downside was she didn't use it. She had an infinite amount of mana that she didn't know about in the novel. I knew. Now all I needed to do was, to let someone tutor me. Lachesis stood silently as I planned in my head.

"Come here, Lachesis" I called her. "Your name's too large. Can I shorten it?"

Lachesis nodded,"You may do as you wish."

'Let's call you Lacy." Lacy was too young for a woman too old but her facial expression changed a little. Even though it was for a moment, I could see the tips of her mouth bend upwards in a smile.

"Call father to come here. Tell him it's urgent." I mentioned. Lacy went away in perfect posture as if she had been accustomed to the surroundings already.

I felt a little happy because it was the first time I would have a parent who actually cared for me. The Archduke slammed the doors open and came running in. He was tall, with a similar appearance to me except he had auburn hair. His face was in a dire state, as if he hadn't slept for weeks because of work.

"What happened Arty? " he worriedly asked.

"Father, I had a dream. Did you receive a letter from the king to go to the south side for war?"

"Yes, How did you know?" he inquired.

"I saw it in the dream. The dream foreshadowed that if I didn't go, then father would die and the king would come to kill us. I was terrified, father. Scared that the king would come swinging his sword in my room and kill me. Please send me in your place. I want to go. I beg you." I said as tears dripped out of my eyes one by one. Sometimes even ordinary people can act like professionals when it comes to acting with tears.

"Absolutely not. There's no way you can survive there. You don't even know how to fight. Only men are allowed to go!",he argued.

I was certain that he wouldn't let me go, therefore I would have to use my trump card. Kara Kratiste. A brave warrior who was murdered, by the king after the third prince was born. She taught Artemis how to use the sword. My mother who sacrificed herself for the family. She died when Artemis was 10 years old. Her last words to father was to let me be happy. These words would shake him to his core. I wanted to be nice to him but the only way to let me go was to coerce him. There was no other way.

"Father. Do you remember what mother said in her last moments. You have two choices. You can either lock me here and lose a daughter or let me go to battle and save me and you. As for me, I can go dress as a boy. No one knows my identity yet. Choose." I commenced.

I looked at him. He looked so sad and heartbroken, as if an old wound opened again, his face so pained and grieved that I almost started to rethink my decisions. I had to live. So did he.

"You can go." he said in a heavy tone,"but only under the conditions, you will not disclose your identity. I will tutor you for a month. If I see that you are suitable to go then i will let you."

I grinned widely and hugged him tight. "Thank you, father!" The warmth of a parent's love was unforgettable. He smiled and told me get ready for practice. I cried again, but this time the tears were real. They were warm.

Thus, started the hellish training of my two lifetimes. It wasn't tough.... it was hell itself. I prayed that may the king be damned.