Come on, Mother. Take the bait. Let me show you what I can do.
Finally, she smiled. A real smile this time, sharp and predatory and absolutely terrifying.
"Prove it."
Oh, this is going to be FUN.
"How?"
"There will be opportunities," Lilith said, sitting back in her chair with the air of someone who'd just made a decision. "Court functions. Social gatherings. And eventually, your engagement ball—though that won't be for some months yet."
Oh, I remember that from the game. The grand celebration where the original Isabel tried desperately to impress Aldric and failed miserably, cementing her reputation as a pathetic, desperate villainess.
But when MY turn comes, I'm not going to fail.
I'm going to make it LEGENDARY.
"For now," Lilith continued, "I want to see if this transformation is genuine or merely a momentary delusion. Show the court—gradually, strategically—that you're not the weak, simpering girl they think you are. Show them that House Raven produces power, not pretty decorations for princes to ignore."
"And if I succeed?"
"Then perhaps you'll finally earn the respect you've been so desperate for." Her smile widened slightly. "And perhaps I'll stop considering you a disappointment. But Isabel—this will take time. Reputation is not built in a day. You'll need to be patient, deliberate, and above all, powerful."
Conditional love. Affection based on strength and success. Exactly as the lore described.
Perfect.
I should have been hurt by that. The original Isabel would have been devastated by her mother's casual cruelty, by the implication that love had to be earned through displays of power.
But I wasn't hurt.
I was thrilled.
Because this? This was a challenge. This was a goal. This was exactly the kind of long game I needed to start building my legend.
Time to learn my magic. Time to understand my power. Time to carefully, methodically build toward something that will make the entire kingdom remember my name.
Time to prove that Truck-kun chose CORRECTLY.
"Consider it done," I said, and my voice came out with that edge of barely-contained glee that I was starting to recognize as my new default state.
Lilith's smile turned approving. "Good. Now eat your breakfast. You'll need your strength."
She gestured to the table, and I noticed for the first time that there was food laid out—plates of what looked like meat (I tried not to think too hard about what kind), dark bread, fruits that were almost black, and more of that red liquid in a crystal decanter.
This family's aesthetic is COMMITTED, I'll give them that.
I reached for a piece of bread and took a bite. It was surprisingly good—rich and slightly sweet, with a texture that suggested it had been made with something more interesting than regular flour.
Probably made with the tears of our enemies or something equally dramatic.
We ate in silence for a few minutes, and I used the time to observe my mother more carefully. The way she moved was precise, controlled, every gesture deliberate. The way she held her teacup, the way she cut her food, even the way she breathed—it all spoke of someone who'd spent years cultivating an image of perfect, untouchable power.
She's terrifying. She's amazing. She's exactly what a dark magic duchess should be.
And she's MY MOTHER now.
Truck-kun, you beautiful disaster, you really gave me the full package.
"Mother," I said, breaking the silence. "I have a question."
"Yes?"
"My magic." I set down my fork and met her gaze. "I want to learn more about it. About what I'm capable of."
Lilith's expression shifted slightly, becoming more interested. "You've never shown much interest in your magical education before."
Because the original Isabel was too busy pining after Prince Aldric to focus on becoming powerful.
What a waste.
"I'm interested now."
"Why the sudden change?"
Because I woke up in a fantasy world with ACTUAL MAGIC and I'm not going to waste this opportunity being a pathetic villainess who dies without ever using her full power.
Because I have six months to become legendary and I need every advantage I can get.
Because Truck-kun didn't isekai me just so I could be BORING.
But I couldn't say any of that, so instead I said: "Because I'm tired of being weak. Because I want to understand what House Raven truly means. Because if I'm going to make a statement at the engagement ball, I need to know what I'm working with."
Lilith studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. I'll arrange for additional lessons with our family's grimoire keeper. He can teach you the fundamentals of necromancy, blood magic, and shadow manipulation."
NECROMANCY. BLOOD MAGIC. SHADOW MANIPULATION.
I'm going to learn NECROMANCY.
Truck-kun, I take back every mean thing I ever said about isekai tropes. This is AMAZING.
I kept my expression carefully neutral, but inside I was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Thank you, Mother."
"Don't thank me yet." Lilith's smile turned sharp again. "Dark magic is not like the light magic the Church teaches. It requires sacrifice. Pain. A willingness to embrace the darkness within yourself. Many students break under the strain."
Oh, I'm not going to break.
I'm going to THRIVE.
I'm going to become the most terrifying dark mage this kingdom has ever seen.
I'm going to make House Raven LEGENDARY.
"I won't break," I said, and I let some of that manic confidence leak into my voice.
Lilith's eyes gleamed with something that might have been approval. "We'll see."
She stood, her movements fluid and graceful, and I quickly followed suit.
"The grimoire keeper will expect you in the library this afternoon," she said. "Don't be late. And Isabel?"
"Yes, Mother?"
"Whatever happened to you—whatever caused this change—don't let it make you reckless." Her expression was serious now, almost concerned, though the concern felt more like a warning than genuine care. "House Raven values strength, but we also value cunning. Power without control is just chaos."
Oh, Mother. If only you knew.
I AM chaos.
I'm chaos incarnate, forged in the fires of cosmic irony and vehicular manslaughter.
But I'm also smart enough to know when to hold back.
Mostly.
"I understand," I said.
Lilith nodded once, then swept out of the dining room, her skirts trailing behind her like shadows, leaving me alone with the undead servants and my thoughts.
I waited until her footsteps faded, then let out a long breath and allowed myself a moment of pure, unfiltered glee.
That went PERFECTLY.
Six months until the engagement ball.
Six months to learn magic.
Six months to plan something that will make the entire kingdom remember my name.
Six months to prove that Isabel Nyx Raven is not someone to be dismissed.
Two weeks to learn magic.
Two weeks to plan something that will make the entire kingdom remember my name.
Two weeks to prove that Isabel Nyx Raven is not someone to be dismissed.
I walked toward the doors, my mind already racing with possibilities. What kind of statement could I make? What would be dramatic enough, shocking enough, legendary enough to establish my new reputation?
I could break the engagement publicly. That would be iconic.
I could demonstrate my dark magic in front of the entire court. Show them what House Raven is truly capable of.
I could insult Prince Aldric so thoroughly that he'd never recover.
I could do ALL of those things.
The possibilities were endless. The chaos was waiting. And I had six months to become the most infamous woman in the kingdom.
Thank you, Truck-kun.
Thank you for this beautiful disaster.
Thank you for giving me a second chance to be LEGENDARY.
I pushed open the doors and stepped into the hallway, my skirts swishing dramatically, my heart singing with anticipation.
The grimoire keeper was waiting.
Magic was waiting.
My legend was waiting.
Let's begin.