Reader POV (present time)

It was a day later that I found out I was pregnant.

Dante was thrilled and I heard him muttering something about our kid being the sole heir to the throne.

"So, it true then?"

I looked up to see Vanica staring at me with curiousity, sitting on my desk.

I nodded. "Yes-"

"So I'm to be an aunt. How lovely. But I warn you, (y/n)." She leaned closer. "He'll never let you go now."

"What do you mean?"

The female of the Dark Triad giggled. "You know how possessive he is, though I'm thinking you don't mind so much."

"Huh. I suppose it's fine since Dante does love me," I thought aloud. "Ne, Vanica?"

"Hm?"

"When did we even meet? The memories are all hazy and I only remember seeing a huge fire and the sound of a baby crying."

Vanica looked around and lowered her voice. "Meet me at midnight in the garden. I can't tell you until then."

She walked away after patting my head, smiling fondly.

I gave her a confused look but didn't question it.

Zenon came to my side as I walked around the palace, heading to the library. "(y/n),"

"Zeno," I greeted the latter with a smile. "Good afternoon."

He grunted. "I overheard you wanted to know how you and Dante met. I won't tell you, but it is always good to have a backup plan to escape."

"Huh?"

"I said what I said." And he left, leaving me to my thoughts. 

Dante himself found me in the library ages later, reading a book about mythology.

"(y/n)?"

I looked up at him. "Yes, dear?"

"I want to give you something." He held up a pendant with a certain insignia on it. "I found this pendant recently while on a journey somewhere."

I looked at the pendant as he placed it around my neck, staring at it intently.

Flashback, age 5

"Mommy, what's this?"

My mother's blue eyes were glimmering. "It's a protection pendant," she said. "I had it made for your fifth birthday my dear."

It had the crest of House Grinberryall on it and the mark of the Spade kingdom.

"It will protect you no matter what happens," she explained. "And I give it to you in case anything happens to us."

I grabbed her hand, shaking my head. "Mommy, don't worry so much!"

"I know, dear." 

There was a knock on the door and the guard called to my mother. "Your Highness, the Zogratis siblings have come back from their mission,"

"Very well." She grabbed my hand and had me follow her to the throne room where I sat on my father's lap, seeing the three Zogratis siblings together.

I had heard about their powerful magic and what they did for our kingdom.

Though my mother didn't trust them and neither did my frend Ralph and his father.

"Hm..." Father stared down at them as they were bowing at him. "Good work. You may take the rest of the afternoon off."

"Yes, sir!" The three stood and saluted to them.

I locked eyes with the eldest of the triad, waving to him since he and I were good friends.

"Daddy, can I go hang out with them?" I asked him.

My mother was about to protest when he nodded.

"You may. Loyce, I understand your concerns, but our daughter is to be queen someday. It would be very good to develop close ties with the guards, especially those three." He leaned closer to her. "And if she gets close to the eldest brother, the chances of them doing anything bad to the crown decreases."

I ignored them and ran down to my friends, almost tripping on my shoes.

"Oi! Be careful," the youngest brother Zenon frowned as he caught me, the guards watching in amusement as well as his siblings.

I got out of his hold, grabbing onto Dante's hand. "Dante! Dante! Tell me all about the mission! I want to hear everything!"

The eldest Zogratis nodded. "Very well. But are you sure you can handle it?" He teased me.

I stuck my tongue at him. "Really?! You're ten years older than me! I'm 33% of your age! I can handle it."

"Smart kid," Vanica patted my head fondly. "Don't be shy, Dante. Tell her."

"Fine, but you owe me."

"I don't owe you anything," she said as she dragged Zenon with us even though the latter wanted to sleep.

I listened to them telling me about their mission in a village and how they battled a fierce ice monster and quickly defeated them.

"You're all so powerful!" I sighed. "I wish I were powerful like you."

Vanica started to laugh hysterically. "Child, do you have any notion as to what you are saying?! Someday you might overpower us in mana. You are a royal after all."

"So? Status doesn't have to do with anything!" I was royally confused, but they explained it to me.

"Man, I'm tired." Zenon said. "Oh, and here. The town is known for their sweets so we picked something up for you."

I opened the package and placed it down on the seat before attacking the younger with a hug. "Thank you!!"

"No problem," he said to me, not caring his body was now in the snow since we were in a courtyard.

I offered rainbow cookies to the others who shook their heads.

"Sorry Princess, but we must retire for the night," Dante said as he held my hand, escorting me back to my parents who were now in the dining room.

"How boring! Then promise me you'll hang out with me later!" I begged him.

He nodded. "Fine. Oh, and nice pendant."

"Right? Mommy gave it to me today!"

"(y/n)!" My mother called me, patting the seat next to her.

I let go of Dante's hand, running towards my mother who sent a glance to the three.

They left the dining room.

Only then did I notice Dante slipped something in my pocket.

It was a pretty pearl ring that had the initial Z on it.

End of Flashback

"Dante?" I tapped his shoulder.

"Hm?"

"Did I know you when I was a child and you a guard?" I asked him. "I've been getting flashbacks as of recently. And we're in this castle, but I'm much younger. And I do know you're about 9 years older than me."

"Yeah," he said. "You were a villager and served the king and queen. They treated you as their own because your father died protecting them from an attack."

Hm...I guess that makes sense.

But why do I have their genes and my father's magic?

And why was I called the princess?

Something about Dante's stories disturbed me.

But I would find out later tonight.

At midnight, Dante was asleep next to me and in case he woke up and found me missing, I wrote a note and placed it on the table, informing him I was going for a midnight walk so he wouldn't worry.

Vanica was outside in the garden, holding a box in her hands. "It's time you learned the truth. But know that he truly does love you, (y/n). And Zenon and I truly consider you our best friend as well as sister-in-law."

She handed me the box, unlocking it with the key she always wore around her neck. 

I looked at the contents and saw a photo of me with the people in the mirage, the triad in the background with Ralph and his father.

I was holding a boy that looked just like my father and was crying, a smile on my face.

I was wearing a crown as were my parents whilest the boy who I assumed to be Yuno wasn't wearing a crown.

I checked the back and it said October 4th, Princess (y/n) Grinberryall's 10th birthday party.

"Your brother is the prince of the Spade kingdom, or was. His name is Yuno." Vanica looked away. "Are you sure you want to learn about your past?"

"Of course."

She nodded. "Very well."

The air started to turn red.

"Blood Magic: Painted Memories."

I was sent into a world where I could see my past through the eyes of the mirage.

I saw how I was born on October 4th 26 years ago, to Queen Loyce and King Ciel Grinberryall, the ruling house of the kingdom.

I also saw how the Zogratis siblings had served as warriors, S-Class as they were young but had so much power.

Apparently both Dante and Ralph were assigned to protect me under the assumption I would marry one of them one day, but clearly Ralph stood no chance.

I saw myself with my many cousins that all loved me and I loved them all return.

But the night of my 10th birthday party, the castle was attacked and set on fire.

I could hear the shouts of many people and my maids rushing to my quaters.

"Your Majesty, ou must run!"

The whole mirage made me go quiet, knowing that my husband and his siblings were responsible for overthrowing my family.

I was brought to the border with Ralph's father and my baby brother who was crying loudly.

Ralph's father cast Yuno out to the Clover kingdom where a church was, knowing he'd be safe there.

"Now it's your turn," he said to me, preparing his magic.

I shook my head, a sword made of ice appearing in my hand. "Never. I will stay with you."

"But you'll be killed!"

"So be it."

But he died going down a waterfall, Zenon saving me at the last minute.

"Sorry, (n/n)," He said with a cold expression but sorrow in his eyes. "But Dante wants you alive."

I was brought to the dungeons of the castle where Dante was waiting with my cousin.

"Make sure she remembers none of this," Dante was talking to a mage with memory magic. "Replace her memories with this artificial thing you made."

"You mean my magic? Of course." 

"Good. And if you so much as fail..." Dante's voice got dark and threatning. "I'll slaughter the rest of your family. I don't care if she's your cousin. I am now your king and you will listen and obey me."

"Yes, Lord Dante."

And my memories were erased and I was banished from the royal castle, only for Dante to bring me back once more when I was 20 and he was 29, going on 30.

He at first kept me as a maid but fell in love with me once more, already knowing that the resistance wouldn't listen to him without me.

There had been rumors that some of the Grinberryalls escaped, but not all of them did.

In marrying me, Dante forced them to follow him, given that he not only took over the kingdom with his siblings but also married the former crown princess.

The mirage ended with  my memories being entirely wiped to the point I believed anything that was said.

I looked down at the box with more things inside, including a pearl ring that belonged to Lady Zogratis (their mother), a crown that I once wore, and a locket.

I was very quiet, feeling disgusted with their actions.

Not only did they kill my family and take over the kingdom, they were also killing my people.

"Thank you for telling me," I said to Vanica in a cold tone, sealing the box in a secret compartment in the wall that Vanica retrieved it from.

"Yeah...but (n/n)? We truly do love you."

"Right." I went back upstairs, plotting to take back my crown from my husband.

He was sitting up, waiting for me. "My love, what are you doing up at this hour?"

"I couldn't sleep," I said to him, trying to keep my face neutral like I didn't just find out he was a disgusting monster with a bloodlust that no one could tame.

"Okay." He snuggled me up to him, turning off the light. "Don't do it again. Unless you want me to come with you."

"Yes, Dante."

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Ahaha not me updating this like a week.5 after the first chapter.