Petra took a breath. "I... formally object on behalf of Fourth Princess Elara and demand twenty-four hour review period as guaranteed under Imperial Marriage Act, Section 47, Clause 12?"
"Correct phrasing. Good. What if they say the objection isn’t valid?"
"I cite... the precedent of... white’s Decree?" Petra checked the notes Elara had written. "From year 1247, establishing spousal family standing in ergency governance matters?"
"Correct. And if they try to force the vote anyway?"
"I..." Petra hesitated. "I leave imdiately and send ergency ssage to you?"
"Acceptable backup plan. But first, you remain in chamber and state clearly: ’This vote is conducted in violation of imperial law. Any contracts signed will be legally invalid and subject to imdiate nullification upon Fourth Princess Elara’s return. Ministers voting in favor will be held personally accountable for legal violations.’ That puts them on notice that supporting illegal vote has consequences."
"That sounds scary."
"It’s ant to. Deterrence through legal threat." Elara made more notes. "Practice that entire sequence three more tis. Then get rest. Tomorrow will be difficult."
They practiced until Petra could recite the procedures without hesitation.
---
## Day of the Trap
Elara left at dawn for the northern garrison, accompanied by twenty beast knights—doubled security after the assassination attempts.
She’d prepared everything she could: Petra was briefed and ready, trusted administrators were monitoring council activity, communication crystals were positioned for instant ssaging if ergency arose.
But six hours from palace ant six hours of vulnerability.
The garrison inspection went as expected—minor discipline issues, equipnt shortages that needed addressing, but no imdiate mutiny risk. Elara handled it efficiently, making decisions and issuing orders.
Four hours into the inspection, the communication crystal flared.
Ergency ssage from Petra: COUNCIL SESSION CALLED. BETROTHAL VOTE SCHEDULED. I’M GOING IN.
Elara’s expression didn’t change but her mind imdiately shifted to crisis mode.
"We’re returning to capital imdiately. Maximum speed."
The knights didn’t question. They just moved, horses pushed to fastest sustainable pace.
Six hours away. With fastest travel, maybe four and a half hours return. Petra’s delaying tactic would give twenty-four hours—plenty of ti.
Unless sothing went wrong.
---
Petra entered the council chamber trying not to show her terror.
Fifteen ministers sat in elevated seats arranged in semicircle. She was in the center floor, position of petitioner or accused—definitely not position of power.
"Lady Petra Rose," the head minister acknowledged. "We’ve called this ergency session to address urgent matter of imperial succession stability. The Fourth Princess requires proper marriage alliance to legitimize her regency and ensure governntal continuity."
Petra’s mouth was dry. "The Fourth Princess is already regent with full legal authority. Marriage isn’t required for legitimacy."
"Nevertheless, the council has determined that marriage alliance would strengthen political position and reduce noble resistance to reforms." The minister gestured, and clerk brought forward ornate docunt. "We’ve prepared betrothal contract between Fourth Princess Elara and House rchant. The council will now vote on authorization."
This was it. Exactly what Elara had predicted.
Petra stood straighter, forcing confidence into her voice. "I formally object on behalf of Fourth Princess Elara and demand twenty-four hour review period as guaranteed under Imperial Marriage Act, Section 47, Clause 12."
The ministers exchanged glances. The head minister frowned. "Lady Petra, while we appreciate your... concern... you lack standing to object to council decisions."
"I have standing under Petra’s Decree of year 1247, which establishes spousal family standing in ergency governance matters. As daughter of marquise Rose, who is legally Emperor advisor for past 10 years, I have explicit right to represent her interests in her absence."
She’d morized it perfectly. Elara would be proud.
The minister’s frown deepened. "That decree is... obscure. The council questions its applicability—"
"The decree was never repealed. Obscure doesn’t an invalid." Petra pulled out the legal code Elara had given her, hands shaking slightly but voice steady. "Imperial law is clear. I have standing. My objection triggers mandatory twenty-four hour review period. The vote cannot proceed."
Minister Valtieri—one of Duchess rchant’s known allies—spoke up. "The law allows council to override objections in matters of urgent imperial necessity. We vote that this matter qualifies as urgent."
They were trying to force it through anyway.
Petra rembered Elara’s backup instruction. She spoke clearly, loudly enough that every minister heard:
"This vote is conducted in violation of imperial law. Any contracts signed will be legally invalid and subject to imdiate nullification upon Fourth Princess Elara’s return." She looked directly at each minister, one by one. "Ministers voting in favor will be held personally accountable for legal violations. Fourth Princess Elara is currently conducting garrison inspection and will return by tonight. She will review all actions taken in this session."
That made several ministers shift uncomfortably.
Because Elara had a reputation now. Four weeks of ruthless efficiency, firing corrupt officials, arresting saboteurs, implenting reforms despite noble resistance. Ministers who’d thought she was weak figurehead had learned otherwise.
"Furthermore," Petra continued, feeling montum shift, "the betrothal contract being proposed is with House rchant—currently under investigation for coordinating assassination attempts against Fourth Princess Elara. Voting to approve marriage contract with family actively trying to murder the bride seems... questionable at minimum."
Murmurs around the chamber. Several ministers who’d looked supportive now looked uncertain.
Minister Valtieri stood angrily. "Those are unproven allegations—"
"Proven sufficiently for ongoing investigation with docunted evidence and multiple arrested conspirators currently awaiting trial." Petra’s voice was getting stronger. "Evidence implicating Duchess rchant specifically in coordination of sabotage network and funding of assassination attempts. That evidence will be presented publicly at trial next week."
She was bluffing slightly—the trial wasn’t scheduled for next week yet—but the ministers didn’t know that.
More uncomfortable shifting. The political calculation was changing. If Duchess rchant was publicly exposed as orchestrating assassination attempts, voting to marry Elara to her family looked less like political wisdom and more like criminal conspiracy.
The head minister called for recess. "The council will deliberate privately on these... complications. Lady Petra, please wait outside."
Petra left, legs shaking, and imdiately sent ssage through communication crystal: DELAYED VOTE. THEY’RE DELIBERATING. HURRY.
.
.
.
Elara received the ssage while still three hours from capital.
The delay was good—Petra had bought ti. But "deliberating" ant the ministers hadn’t given up. They were recalculating, determining if they could still push the vote through despite legal objections.
"Faster," Elara ordered.
They pushed the horses harder. Too hard—this pace couldn’t be sustained all the way back. But Elara calculated: need to reach capital before council session ends. Current pace gets there in three hours. Horses can maintain for two hours before exhaustion forces slower pace. Net ti: three and a half hours.
Would that be enough?
Unknown variable: how long would council deliberate?
Two hours later, another ssage: COUNCIL RECONVENING. THEY’RE VOTING ANYWAY.
Elara’s hands tightened on her horse’s reins.
Petra had delayed them as long as possible. But the council was pushing through—probably Duchess rchant had convinced enough ministers that legal consequences were worth the political gain.
Still ninety minutes from capital. Even at maximum speed.
Too far.
She pulled out her own communication crystal and sent ssage directly to council chamber—public channel, everyone would see it:
THIS IS FOURTH PRINCESS ELARA. ANY BETROTHAL CONTRACT VOTED THROUGH IN MY ABSENCE IS LEGALLY INVALID AND WILL BE NULLIFIED IMDIATELY UPON MY RETURN. MINISTERS VOTING IN FAVOR ARE COMMITTING CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND WILL BE PROSECUTED. I ARRIVE IN CAPITAL IN NINETY MINUTES.
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