"—so long as the wrongdoing is witnessed and acknowledged by a royal family member."
The count and countess stood frozen in disbelief.
They could barely prehend what they were hearing. The princess—the Third Royal Princess—was willing to stand witness for... for this? For a plete nobody? For a man whose panions were slaves?
It had to be some kind of sick joke.
Count Hadrien Vexmore took a half-step forward, his mouth opening, then closing, then opening again. He was desperately fumbling for the right words. "Y-Your Highness!" he finally managed to utter with more strength in his tone than he would’ve preferred, "with all due respect, surely you cannot be serious. These... individuals are slaves. They’re not protected under noble law. The laws of our kingdom, your kingdom, make that quite clear."
Beside him, his wife clutched her fan. "The dogkin’s dress was torn, yes," she said quickly, "but it can be mended for mere coppers. "The elf’s cheek..." She sent Seraphiel a glance, which quickly turned surprised. It was barely red anymore.
But she could use it to her advantage. "Well, she’s already healing without the usage of healing spells or potions. And the foxkin! Goddess! Only her tail was pulled! That’s hardly-"
Her words died in her throat.
Lord Black’s aura surged before she could finish her dismissive sentence.
The count and countess didn’t get it.
Why?
The ominous man struck their son who pulled her tail. Why not the one who tore the dogkin’s dress? As her master, he lost money. The same could be argued for the elf. As a gorgeous elven woman, her value was in her beauty. By being struck, she could’ve lost some of it.
But the foxkin?
Count Vexmore slowly turned his head toward the son still groaning on the floor, shivering, stinking of piss and blood and humiliation.
The count clenched his jaw. This was beyond absurd.
Calienne spoke up as she asked, in a far gentler tone than anyone expected:
"... Is this truly what you want, Feli?"
Her voice carried no malice, but there was a dangerous clarity to it, letting everyone know she thought of it as a major decision.
"If you back Lord Black on this issue, you do more than merely acknowledge a noble being wronged. You signal to every noble and courtier present... that you no longer stand in agreement with the laws of this kingdom. That you do not believe slaves should remain beneath us. If you stop now, it can be written off as a mere childish outburst..."
Some of the nobles may have tended to be pompous, entitled wastes of air, but they understood the implications without the first princess spelling it out for them.
As such, many heads were snapping between the scene and the King, whose unreadable gaze remained fixed on the center of the ballroom.
Calienne’s smile faded.
"You walk a dangerous line, sister."
And yet, even now, even with all eyes on her, Felicity stood tall with hands clenched into tiny fists at her sides. Red-cheeked. Tear-streaked. And utterly furious.
Felicity’s eyes burned as she stared at the Vexmore family.
At their trembling son, beaten bloody.
At the count, who had only just stopped shaking with disbelief.
And at the countess, clutching her fan as if it were a stress-relief item and praying no one noticed her panic.
Then, Felicity slowly turned her gaze to her sister.
She saw the worry for a loved one there, but also the warning that said she’s making a decision that could leave lasting effects throughout her entire life. Ｒ𝘼ɴȮВÊs
Felicity swallowed, feeling her heart pounding wildly in her chest. But it only took a moment to make her mind up.
She turned toward the highest seat in the ballroom. Toward the throne above them all.
Her father hadn’t spoken a word. Not once. Not when guests at his celebration were assaulted. Not when Lord Black lashed out at the nobles. Not even when the laws of his kingdom were brought into question.
He just watched as his daughter began speaking, aiming her words right toward him.
"... Then let me speak clearly, so all may hear."
Her voice trembled for a half-second before steadying.
"I despise slavery."
Gasps broke out across the ballroom.
"I always have and I always will. Should I ever be given the power to change this kingdom’s laws, I will do everything in my power to abolish its legality, no matter what it takes. I’ll make it my life’s mission."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Even those who harbored similar thoughts toward the current system of oppression, the very few of them who were mostly young and impressionable young ladies, were stunned she’d say it aloud. .
From the noble stands, the Five Great Dukedoms reacted with very different expressions.
Duskmere’s Duke simply furrowed his brow, whispering something to his steward.
Across from him, the black-haired Kaede Fujimori of Silverwind remained motionless, not betraying a single emotion. But based on the sharp glint in her eyes, she was already calculating.
Near the side wall, Duke Tharion of Ravenshade stirred, letting out a low, amused exhale. The man hadn’t moved in a long time, not even paying much attention to the drama unfolding before them. But now he leaned forward, studying the princess while resting his chin on a gloved hand. He looked like a man who had just seen a very interesting move in a very long game.
The king still hadn’t moved.
Felicity inhaled slowly. Turned back toward the black-haired man still looming in the center of the ballroom.
The man whose aura darkened the air.
Felicity took a deep breath. Then, she began.
"I, Felicity Primrose Amabelle Valorian, Third Princess to the Crown of the Vraven Kingdom, recognize the Vexmore family’s slight against you and your household. Should you wish to pursue your right of correction, you have my full blessing as witness and as princess."
The crowd lost it.
Voices rose like a tidal wave, erupting in every corner of the feast hall. Many nobles even stood up, jumping to their feet with their eyes wide. They simply couldn’t remain seated when such monumental developments were taking place right before their very eyes.
Many could be seen waving over their aides or looking desperately at their house elders for guidance.
But before Quinlan offered a response...
It happened.
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