Duchess Leandra felt like she was on top of the world as she was surrounded by the most influential won of the court. Sure, it was on shakey ground to get Isabella, Cassandra, and her friends to finally get them to talk to her, and the Duchess wasn't going to let this opportunity pass her by. To do that, Leandra made sure to get her allies in the Minor Houses to spread lies about her son's death, claiming that it was the Dark Elf who murdered him, as most of the Nobles didn't know the full story about her son. Then, she needed to wow them and impress them. Isabella and Alexandria did help with so of the party's decorations and food, but Leandra needed to pull out the big guns to really get them to trust her. Once she gets the two of them to support her in the court, the rest should follow. To do that, she needed to wine and dine them to their hearts' content with their private stock of exotic wine, which she got from her husband's secret stash, and a plethora of food that was from the High Elven continent of Lun Fae.
She wanted to show them her wealth and connections to the High Elves, and hopefully, that would be enough to get them to support her and her plan to take down the Dark Elf, promote Princess Hilda Stoneworthh as the bride to her nephew, and have that foreign princess be her puppet after Quinus is dealt with.
Leandra also knew that getting the rest of the Minor Houses was a lot less critical than the Major Houses, but they did wield so power in the Court, but she would let her husband handle them as she had very little ti to deal with their petty squabbles.
"So, Duchess Leandra, tell how you are able to have such exquisite cuisine here. I didn't think the Fae would sell any of their food," Alexandria Ingham said as she took a sip of her wine.
"Oh, my husband has his ways," Leandra said with a chuckle.
"And what way is that?" Lady Lucinda Montclair asked with skepticism lined on her face.
'Pfft! Like I'm going to tell Lucinda that Alaric has an accord with King Arnaud Dupont from the Kingdom of Marn. Frankly, I am curious myself as to how those Gravelborn inbreds were able to get any of the Fae's goods.' Leandra thought.
The duchess then turned to the Baroness and took a sip of the Elven Ambrosia. "It's a secret," Leandra said with a chuckle, then she whispered. "One day, I'll share it, but I'm not taking any chances with the likes of you, Lucinda."
The Baroness looked displeased by Leandra's jab, "Tch! And why is that, Duchess? Are you trying to hide the fact that it was acquired by dubious ans?" Lucinda questioned as she still wasn't on board with letting Leandra into the Ladies of the Court so willingly.
Leandra smirked at one of the few reluctant noblen. "Well, I don't tell because you have loose lips, Lady Lucinda. I can't have your husband coming around to demanding to try this delicious Elven wine. It's only for us ladies, of course."
Marchioness Isabella Wrightwood and Countess Alexandria Ingham both laughed at their friend, as Leandra was right about Lucinda. There were many of tis that she was caught blabbing about one thing or another, and then her husband would find out and wish to join in on the fun.
'I swear Lucinda acts more like a Minor Noble than her status suggests,' Leandra thought.
Lady Lucinda was disheartened to see both Isabella and Alexandria siding with the Duchess. Usually, they had her back whenever Leandra decided to throw shade at her. It made her uncomfortable with how quickly they were willing to give the duchess their trust after everything she and her family tried to do to the Kingdom with the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince. She couldn't see past the fact that they were traitors in her eyes.
'What has the world co to when a traitor like Leandra gets welcod back into society so quickly?' Lucinda thought as she was getting angrier by the second. She glanced over at Viscountess Cassandra Blackwood, who was just as puzzled as she was about the whole thing.
Leandra took note of the silent Lucinda, as she wasn't the type to back down, but the two most powerful won in the Court weren't protecting her like in the past, so it was odd for the Baroness to be on her own. The Duchess was going to continue her banter until she submitted to her and the Marchioness.
Leandra had a laugh with the rest of the Ladies in the Court before she was about to strike, but then that was when Baroness Elizabeth Dule ca walking up to the group with her daughter, Alia Dule, behind her. Elizabeth rarely ca to these parties as she was allied with the Queen, and most of the won in the higher court looked down on her and Alia. Normally, she and her daughter would stay away. But with all these rumors spreading through the grapevine about this Dark Elf were frightening, as her son, Johan, and daughter-in-law, Tayna, seed to be visiting the palace far more frequently ever since this Dark Elf ca into the picture.
It was odd. Elizabeth swore that Johan was supposed to stay in Dorn for his own safety, but when she found out that he joined the Crown Prince on his journey back to the capital, she demanded that Johnathan take her to the estate in Tairal, which he did. Elizabeth's relationship with her daughter-in-law, Tayna, has never been strong, as she was never interested in her son when they first t, and it never got better through the years. At first, when she had dinner with them, they were as hopeless as ever. Johan would try to make a joke every once in a while, only to be t with Tayna's cold stare. That checked out, but Elizabeth couldn't help but notice that her son looked more striking, and Tayna looked healthier as well. She asked her husband if he saw that the two looked different, and Johnathan said she was being paranoid. Maybe he was right; maybe she was being a little overprotective, but then the two would go to the palace almost every other day. And she heard whispers that Tayna was training to use a weapon with this Dark Elf and the Queen's best bodyguard.
Elizabeth needed to speak to the Queen as quickly as possible, and when she visited her a few days later to have tea. She was struck by how radiant her old friend looked. It was the first ti in years that Elizabeth saw her smiling so widely, and she was practically glowing. The last ti she could recall Rianna looking this healthy was before she found out that she was pregnant with the crown prince. But that would be absurd; Rianna is in her 40s, even though her heritage makes her look younger than she is. But Elizabeth knew her friend, and Rianna had put Cyndre in the doghouse for listening to Duval and not punishing Alaric properly. She swore off all physical activities until she got her point across, and it would be a long ti before she allowed him to touch her. Plus, she's at an age when getting pregnant is far more challenging. There had to be sothing going on, but Rianna only said that she could be trusted whenever she tried to bring up the subject of the Dark Elf being with the Qureen's son. Elizabeth tried to dive deeper into the matter, but the Queen told her that it would be best not to pry into her son's private affairs.
The Baroness began to worry that her friend was slowly getting enchanted like everyone else who was over this Dark Elf, and she made sure never to go back to the palace unless she was invited by the Queen. And it didn't stop there; she noticed that Tayna was beginning to look more and more like the fairy tale of the warrior princess who could ta any man's heart. It happened after she went on a trip down south, and when she returned after a week, she wasn't only gorgeous, but her eyes glowed with power. Her aura was noticeable, almost like so of the most prominent Royal Knights in the kingdom. Did she slay monsters, or was this the Dark Elf's doing? Is this Dark Elf influencing Tayna to make her into a puppet? Tayna could control her son when he becos the next Baron. She must want this power to destroy anyone in the extended family who is eyeing the title.
Then, the day ca when the Pri Minister declared another Ergency Session when word got out that the Dark Elf had attacked a foreign guest from the Holy Alliance. She didn't trust the Divine Three, but at least they were human, and it sounded like the Dark Elf was the one who started it. So, this creature needed to be stopped, and she pleaded for her husband to speak reason to the King to join the Pri Minister, but when he ca back stumbling drunk, he was being carried by Johan. She knew that the King didn't listen. Her son advised her about what happened during the ergency session, and she learned that the council had turned on Duval and was ready to accept this Dark Elf as the Crown Princess with a few stipulations. Johan tried to reassure her that she wasn't bad or manipulating people, but she couldn't trust her own son, especially after catching him kissing Tayna, only for her to be as cold as ever during family dinner. Her daughter-in-law must be giving him breadcrumbs of affection to keep him wanting her and willing to do her bidding. Tayna must be positioning herself to be the shadow ruler of Eder Hills.
She needed to know if Leandra was really trying to help the kingdom or if she was going to use this as an opportunity to gain control of the Ladies of the Court to undermine the nobility. She had tough choices to make, and she didn't know which one was worse. And she didn't know what she was going to do when the Dark Elf arrived at the party.
"Duchess Leandra... I want to thank you for hosting such a lovely party," Elizabeth said with a curtsy. "This is the most lavish one that I have seen since I was a little girl."
Alia Dule couldn't believe her mother would bow to this woman but she followed suit. She was worried that her mother was becoming paranoid these past couple of weeks since she's co back to the capital.
"Baroness Elizabeth Dule." Duchess Leandra bowed, "I hope the Queen doesn't find you talking to as a... unfortunate choice. She has only so many friends left in the court."
"S-She shouldn't mind... This is a party that is hosted in your ho. I see nothing wrong with conversing with the host," Baroness Elizabeth said.
Leandra smirked and took another sip of her ambrosia. She thought her rumors about Rya were finally taking root with so of the Noblewon. She saw that Alia was still standing next to her mother and was looking around for a way out of this conversation.
"I think my daughter would agree," Leandra said, gesturing at Alia. "She hasn't seen any of her friends today, wouldn't you say?"
Alia's cheeks flushed red, and she stamred, "W-Well, yes. I was looking for your daughter, Lydia, and I wanted to wish her a happy birthday."
Leandra could sense this 23-year-old's fear. She had heard the rumor that Alia couldn't find a suiter as she was talentless in the ways of absorbing Mana. This ans she has a common level, Mana Vein, like her brother. Typically, Noblewon didn't pursue the arts of combat or magic unless they had no sons or they lacked the aptitude to grow their veins.
Alia was talented at learning the musical instrunts, mathematics, and reading. Her mother had her tutored by so of the best teachers in the kingdom, but even after, her father helped her slay a few monsters a day for a couple of months. She exhibited no mana growth, just like Johan. It seed that the Dule family bloodline was weaker than all the other Major Houses. A lot of Minor Lords were eyeing the Eder Hills barony and were waiting for the day when Johnathan Dule passed away so they could challenge Johan and Alia for the title.
"Well, well... Isn't that considered you," Leandra chuckled. "Why don't you two join at the table? I would love to hear more about you two. The Dule Barony is the oldest of the Major Houses, isn't it?"
Alia's heart dropped. This was exactly what her mother told her not to do. But it was too late, the Duchess has taken them by the arms and lead them to a private table.
Leandra was going to spin her web of lies to get these two weak fools under her control, and she might have been successful if Lady Bethany von Maus hadn't jumped in to interrupt them.
"Duchess Leandra, please. I've been seeking an audience with you all morning," the Minor Noblewoman said.
Leandra glared at one of her loyalists, who refused to take the hint that she needed to focus on turning the Major Nobles against the Dark Elf and then the Queen. She was so close, but this fool had to interrupt her about their financial situation. Bethany was one of the few Minor Noble Houses that hadn't been receiving the secret funds from Alaric due to Rya's Golems plundering her husband's secret vaults in the Veridian Enclave. And out of fear that the other secret locations were found. The Duke ordered all the surviving vaults in the Divalo Domain to be moved into a secret hideout in Eder Hills. Alaric couldn't wire the gold he promised to all the loyal Mayors and Minor Lords who supported his cause. He chose to withhold paying the frontier villages and towns. This left a lot of them struggling and angry as these areas have to deal with monsters, Orcs, or other threats on a regular basis compared to the interior cities across the realms.
"I'm sure it's important, but I'm entertaining these two lovely young—"
"But the Eastern walls of Dalhurst are collapsing. My husband is doing everything he can to help the people before the funds—"
Leandra let go of Elizabeth and Alia as she grabbed Bethany. She was furious that this Minor Noble. So, the Duchess pulled Bethany into a secluded area away from the rest of the guests.
Bethany was a beautiful blonde-haired woman. Her body was toned, and she wore an expensive black dress that showed off her curves and cleavage. She was taller than most won, and her husband had just beco the new Mayor of Dalhurst about three years ago when his father passed away. She had an 11-year-old daughter here at the party, and she didn't know why her husband didn't reach out to the Duke about the missing paynts over this past month. She found herself as one of the few outcasts within Leandra's group. Most of the other Minor Noblewon would make fun of her family's backwater town that was set along the southern edge of the Crimson Forest. This forest was in the eastern part of the Divalo Domain. It was a strange piece of territory that could never be claid by the Duke nor his predecessors before him. It was a forest where you could find these unique red pine the deeper you traveled inside. But no one ever ca out alive if they went a mile in. Or it was better to say that people disappeared when they ventured into the Crimson Forest. It was a forest that could only be entered from the Divalo Domain side. There was a mountain range on Silverhaven's western side that made it harder to get to, but no one ever saw a reason to try and travel through. Even so Griffin Riders tried to fly over the Crimson Forest, only to vanish as well. So, the forr ruler of Divalo decreed that a wall around this massive forest should be erected to protect not only the towns that bordered it but also Divalo's capital city, Crowngard, which bordered the northwest of the forest.
"Your Grace! Please listen. I don't know what's happened with the funds, but my town's walls are going to fall. We need those funds—"
Leandra had her hand around her neck. "How dare you interrupt . Do you know who you are dealing with? You co into my ho. My ho. You speak of your troubles when I'm so close to finally breaking into the Ladies of the Court? Do you think they are not paying attention to this mont right now?"
Leandra's fingers began to tighten around her throat until she saw the panic in Bethany's eyes. "You are going to be a good little girl and not say another word about it. You will smile and act like we are having the best ti of our lives. If you ruin this night for , then I will make sure the Duke strips you of all your family's titles and lands. Are we clear?"
Bethany nodded her head.
"I said, are we clear?"
"Y...yes," Bethany said under her breath.
She was released from Leandra's grip, causing her to cough.
"Now, put on a smile. Oh!? And your daughter looks so lovely in her blue dress. I should find whoever made that dress for her."
"I-It was , Duchess. I-I made it for her," Bethany answered while stepping back from the duchess and rubbing her neck. Leandra's fingers had left so minor bruising around her neck.
"You...made it? You sew?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Well, then, maybe you're more useful than I thought."
Leandra left to rejoin the party, leaving Bethany to herself.
Bethany's face was still red from embarrassnt and her fear. Her heart was racing, and she needed to calm herself down before anyone saw her.
"Are you alright, my dear? It seems the duchess has quite a temper."
Bethany looked up and saw three won standing before her. The lead one wore a purple dress that matched her hair. It was Claire Von Denska from Verdantholm city in the Berger Domain. She smirked at Bethany and shook her head.
"You frontier nobles think you can do whatever you want. Did you honestly think you could co here and talk to her about money?"
"N-no. I was just..."
"You were just what?" Claire asked.
Bethany sighed and looked at the ground.
"I-I was just hoping that the Duchess would see my situation and help."
"She has higher priorities, my dear. Why don't you run along now and go mingle with the other ladies of the court?" Claire suggested.
"Yes, be of use to the Duchess, and maybe you'll get back into her good graces, Lady Bethany," Nysara Kalesas added.
Bethany bowed her head and walked off to join the other ladies. She felt defeated. This was a complete failure. But maybe she could try again later. She needed to do sothing for her family's sake.
The three watched as Bethany looked for her daughter and began to socialize.
"I really don't understand why the Duke waists his ti with those backwater nobles. They have nothing to offer," Cecelia von Falkenstein said.
"Agreed. The only ones that have any value are the Marchioness Isabella Wrightwood and Countess Alexandria Ingham. But even they have their limitations," Nysara replied.
"By themselves, yes. They are limited in helping the Duchess. But getting the whole group of Major nobles to fall in line will be much better. But until then, we need the minor nobles of all the large cities on our side," Claire explained.
"I hope the Duchess has a plan for dealing with these annoying pests," Nysara remarked.
Claire and Cecelia looked at each other and smiled.
"Oh, she does. You're too young to know how her Grace operates," Claire teased.
"Yeah, you're still a babe in the woods. We were there when the Duchess started her work. So trust us, she knows what she's doing," Cecelia added.
"Well, I can't wait to see how she deals with this Dark Elf I've been hearing so much about," Nysara said.
"Oh, I've heard of her too. I wonder what the Duchess will do to her," Claire replied.
"Let's hope it's painful," Cecelia chid in.
"Oh, most definitely," Nysara laughed.
With that, the three of them began talking about other things, like what kind of dress the Duchess should wear next and what type of flower arrangent would best complent her appearance as they watched Leandra mingling with the Major Nobles she was about to get Elizabeth to the private table again when a horn played from the balcony. Everyone turned to the entranceway and saw a Redheaded Foreign Princess waiting to be called in by the Lord Stewart of Divalo Manor.
"Ladies of the Court, it is my pleasure to announce the arrival of the Princess of the Holy Alliance. Please welco the Royal guest, Princess Hilda Stoneworthh."
All the eyes fell on the Redheaded Princess, who stood there like a proud queen. She wore a white dress with gold trim, and a simple white headband held up her hair. The ladies whispered amongst themselves, and so were shocked while others were excited. Leandra was annoyed that she needed to hold off on getting Elizabeth to the private table, but she needed to boost Hilda's status to bring her in line. That was easier said than done with a girl who only knows praying and has the personality of a brick.
'Alright, Leandra. Ti to make this prude a star,' Leandra thought as she ntally prepared herself for the challenges ahead. If Hilda was finally here, then the Dark Elf and the Queen wouldn't be far behind. 'Once these irritating insects are in line, then getting them to turn on that harlot will be easy as pie.'
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