Magic Contract

Enough! Basta! I absolutely refuse to keep saving worlds for nothing but a “thank you”! If it’s really that urgent, then let’s draw up a proper contract—and sign it in blood. Someone’s blood! What, the world has perished, and now I must set off into the past, jumping from one native body to another? And if I don’t make it in time, I’ll perish together with Koschei the Deathless? With no guarantees at all?! Why did I ever get myself into this?!

There were the most incredible rumors about the Earl of the Dark Hills! And the only thing we had in common was that people avoided me, like his castle, like the plague. I, a disgraced spinster, a family tainted with shame, had no chance of marrying even a stable boy. Until I found myself in this cursed castle, where his insufferable highness with seductive black eyes, mockingly curling his sensual lips, refuted the gossip by telling me the truth, which is a hundred times worse! And even though women have no rights in the kingdom of Summerset, I will make this insolent man take my opinion into consideration!

Everyone’s looking for something. Some are searching for love — the kind that lasts a lifetime. Some just need a bit more time to finally finish all their unfinished business. Some want to uncover the secrets of an old school. And some… well, some weren’t asking for a grandson who appeared out of nowhere — but still have to go searching anyway: for an ex-wife, and for a way to deal with that very same grandson

If you keep asking fate for adventure, don’t be surprised when it suddenly throws one at you. Right at your feet. In the form of a girl — not a beauty, unfortunately — but a classic 'damsel in distress.' And no, rescuing the girl doesn’t mean the adventure is over — it’s only just beginning. That’s just the kind of girl she is. And if someone agrees to keep an eye on her at the school of magic, it’s naive to think it’s going to be easy.

They invited a magical invalid to the grandest academy in all the realms? Did they really think I’d be no trouble at all? Oh, how gravely you’ve all misjudged me! Find a book, cast a broken spell, and dive headfirst into chaos? It’s practically my mantra—I love it, I’m good at it, I live for it! And who in the worlds are you? Wait, a prince? But he died a decade ago! Save you or meet my own doom? What a splendid array of choices I have!

I found myself in another world — and immediately became a problem for the prince. Kaiden didn't want me. Until he saw the fire in my eyes. Now he's angry. He kisses me as if it's his salvation. He erases my mind with his body, making me forget what I wanted in the first place. I'm looking for freedom. He craves power over me. And if the connection between us is magical... then why do I still feel myself tremble at the mere sight of him?

Since I was 16, I have been running from my past and my life. And I simply have no choice. My parents were killed by the Emperor, and my ancestral magic was passed on to me. In self-defense, I had to kill the Lord, and now his son, the young emperor, is searching for me throughout the Empire as a criminal who killed the Ruler. Several years have passed, and I found the strength to live a new life, but then my marriage tattoo came back to haunt me. He found me through our shared dreams, which bound us in a magical engagement. I don't know if he believed me about his father's death, but I was outraged by his words that I owed him a child!

What am I even doing here? No, seriously... Normal people meet in cafes, and I'm in a forest with a group of friends and a real elf. Wanted to be a healer in a quest? Got it! Brew potions? Nope! Gather herbs and dry frogs? Guess again. Now I somehow need to stay alive, but this arrogant elf who's constantly by my side keeps getting in the way. Still, how will I ever get back home without him?