As Lord Brice crossed the threshold into the grand chamber of Parlement, the air thick with tension and the echoes of hushed discussions, his gaze quickly found his colleague, Lord Gawain, moving purposefully towards him. Gawain’s approach was marked by an almost palpable mixture of relief and underlying anxiety, his features taut with the burdens of recent events. He was acutely aware of the looming threat posed by Duval, a dangerous game of power unfolding as he aimed to coerce Baron Eamon and Baron Thaddeus into shifting their votes during the impending recess.

  “Thank the goddess, you’re back,” Gawain whispered urgently, his voice low yet ced with palpable tension. “You have no idea the depths of murk we’ve had to wade through since you left the capital. If it hadn’t been for Lady Rya and his Highness, the measure would have been passed by now."

  Brice chuckled softly; the tension in the moment briefly lifted. “Yeah, I think I got a glimpse of it while I was cooling my heels in the lobby. Hearing the Prime Minister scream for a full fifteen minutes was quite the spectacle. I'm sad that I didn't get to see it... I never knew Duval harbored such a fiery temper. Whatever provoked him must have truly hit a nerve.”

  Gawain shook his head in disbelief, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing. “I’ve never witnessed anything like it. Lady Rya and His Highness actually convinced the Lords to give them a chance... Lord Thaddeus and Lord Eamon actually voted ‘present’ on Duval’s measure to expel Lady Rya,” he reyed, his brow furrowed with concern as he knew that they needed to do something to keep Duval from talking to the two lords in private.

  “Really?” Brice responded, his tone melodramatically feigning shock. “That’s rather unexpected for either of them. Poor Duval must be having a truly dreadful day to incite such rebellion among his trusted allies.” A knowing smile pyed at the corners of his lips, even as the gravity of the political turmoil loomed over them like a dark cloud threatening to unleash a storm. He made sure to be loud enough to get the Prime Minister's attention.

  “Yeah, and that’s not even the beginning...” Gawain leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “It turns out the Prince’s fiancée is quite the dynamo. Apparently, His Highness has inherited a taste for strong-willed and, let’s say, stunningly curvaceous women as his father."

  Brice’s gaze flickered to the Dark Elf perched gracefully beside Prince Quinus, and he nearly stumbled, captivated by her allure. She was strikingly more enchanting than Queen Rianna, with a poise that drew the eye and left him momentarily breathless. It took all his restraint not to gawk in awe at her beauty; she exuded an air of confidence that both intimidated and intrigued him.

  'The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,' he thought, seizing the opportunity to direct his frustration toward Gawain, feigning indignation as if it were his companion who was trespassing into inappropriate territory. Lord Gawain noticed his colleague's gre and felt embarrassed.

  "Ah! Um... Ahem! Well, she single-handedly commandeered the session and put Aric firmly in his pce,” Gawain muttered softly to Lord Brice. He had no idea that the King had secretly sanctioned the bond between the Prince and Lady Rya. However, there was a certain condition attached—one that he hoped would sway the majority of the Major Lords to support the union of the star-crossed lovers. The stakes were high, and the fate of their romance hung in the bance. That was why Lord Brice hurried back to the Capital from the city of Lomar.

  “Did she now? Intriguing... I think I’m already a fan. But what’s the other half of this mess?” Brice inquired, curiosity piqued.

  “The emergency measure is on ice until Duval can secure the vote... He’s hell-bent on banishing her from the Kingdom, come hell or high water.”

  Lord Brice's ears perked up when he heard that, and he quickly looked at the Prime Minister, who was on the verge of leaving the chamber, utterly unaware of the trapdoor of deception that Brice could sense. The faint whiff of Duval’s insincerity lingered in the air like the acrid scent of smoke, and Brice felt a simmering determination to expose the truth before the Prime Minister stepped into the oblivion of ignorance.

  "But I thought this measure was to prevent her from entering the Capital?... Did you get the chance to look at the document?" Brice asked Gawain, but he was loud enough to stop Duval in his tracks.

  Lord Gawain noticed that Brice was staring at the Prime Minister with his skeptical, scrutinizing gaze whenever anyone tried to feed him a line of nonsense. He recognized that expression well, and he also understood that the Prime Minister had better come clean, or Brice would take his head off with his sharp words. Duval was about to make a break for it, but Lord Brice's words stopped him in his tracks.

  "Um, well?... I don't believe the Prime Minister showed the full document to anyone during these proceedings," Gawain said softly, realizing that he had forgotten to ask Duval's chancellor for a copy of the measure since he only had the old version. "I was told she would be expelled from the Kingdom by the chancellor's order," he added, his heart racing as he tried to mask his ck of knowledge.

  "Ah, so it's a surprise, eh?" Brice's gaze turned to ice.

  Duval froze in his tracks, sensing the imminent danger of an ambush. He slowly turned, and his gaze locked with Lord Brice's, the tension palpable as their wills cshed.

  Without looking at his colleague and friend, Brice spoke, “Gawain… this is precisely why you must sharpen your questions. Otherwise, you’ll forever be just an advisor.” With a sense of urgency, he added, “Let’s move. We’ve got much to discuss with our esteemed Prime Minister.”

  "Yes, my Lord," Gawain replied meekly, following his mentor as he advanced towards the Prime Minister.

  Duval and his aides saw the Head of the Crown walking towards them with purpose. Out of panic, the Prime Minister turned to leave the chamber only to collide with one of his aides, causing them to dump all the documents in his arms onto the floor.

  "Goddess be damned!... You idiots can't do anything right, can you?!" Duval yelled and smacked the Aide on the head.

  "I'm terribly sorry, sir. Please forgive me," the aide stammered, hastily gathering the scattered papers, his hands trembling as he stuffed the crumpled documents back into the bag.

  "I don’t care if they’re crinkled or ripped! Just get the damn paperwork into the—"

  Before he could finish, Brice's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "Prime Minister Duval Wrightwood!" he called out, a thread of warning woven into his tone. The atmosphere grew thick with tension as all eyes turned toward him.

  "Shit!... Shit, shit, shit," Duval muttered, frantically attempting to collect the papers that were strewn across the floor. He was desperately trying to find the measure that had his original proposal to bar the Dark Elf from entering the capital grounds. Out of the corner of his eye, Duval spotted the leather-bound envelope that contained the measures he was seeking, and just as he reached out for it, a boot stepped on it.

  "Well, I'm gd to see you doing so well, Lord Prime Minister," Lord Brice said as he saw Duval's shoulders slumped. He knew that he had won, and there was nothing the Prime Minister could do to wiggle out of the situation.

  'Goddess be DAMNED!'

  Duval ran his fingers through his hair and quickly stood up. "Ah... Lord Brice... So good to see you... I thought you were advising the King in Lomar. You didn't need to hurry back so quickly," Duval said as he gave the Head of the Crown one of his best smiles.

  Lord Brice narrowed his gaze, and the Prime Minister began to sweat under his colr.

  "Ooh, Marquess... You, of all people, should know that I love to be in Emergency Sessions when the King is away. If it wasn't for me, then how else would our Majesty get an accurate and objective view of what transpired here? So, please do tell me about this measure," Brice replied, his tone cold and calcuting, knowing that he was pressing Duval to the wall. Lord Gawain held back a chuckle as he witnessed the Prime Minister scrambling to come up with an idea not to show the measure to his fellow Major Lords.

  "Ah... Well, it's rather complicated..."

  "I have plenty of time," Brice insisted, his gaze piercing, his posture tall and confident.

  "Tsk! Bsted King's Shadow..." Duval muttered.

  "What was that, Prime Minister?"

  "N-Nothing... Look, I promise to show you and the rest of the Lords the measure, But as you can see, I need to have a word with two of the Lords... Now, if you would excuse me," Duval said. He went to pick up the leather-bound envelope underneath Brice's boot, but the Head of the Crown put all his weight on it, stopping him.

  "Oh?... Well, that would be unfortunate if you were deyed, but the King has authorized the Crown's Legal Code to add a Royal Amendment to this Emergency Measure 1054-6. That's why I rushed here," Brice said with a sly grin, causing Duval's face to turn pale.

  "S-So the King wishes to add a stipution to the Emergency Measure?"

  "That's correct, Marquess... But I'm a bit confused, and I was hoping you could shed some light on the matter," Brice said.

  "I-I don't know what is so confusing about the measure... If you would excuse me—"

  Duval pulled the envelope out from underneath Brice's boot, but the Head of the Crown grabbed the Prime Minister's shoulder to get his undivided attention.

  "You see, Duval. What has me puzzled is a few things. First, Measure 1054-6 was notarized and scribed by the Chamberin's Office, which says that the Kingdom will prevent the unwful entry of a Dark Elf into the Capital and Pace grounds by using the quarantine cuse, wonder section 34D, paragraph 3-C. But that doesn't make sense."

  Duval felt the grip on his shoulder tighten, and his heart sank as Brice turned his sights toward Rya, who was standing by Quinus. Everyone was watching the interaction with keen interest, including the Major Lords, and the Prime Minister felt his pn starting to unravel.

  "What good is passing Measure 1054-6 if the Dark Elf is already inside the pace? There's no written nguage inside the measure to address her removal," Brice continued, and the Prime Minister's mind began racing, trying to find a way out of the situation. "Unless... You are lying about having a Measure that expels her from the Capital," Brice added.

  Duval tried his best to keep a straight face, but the sweat on his brow was starting to give him away. 'Shit!... Damn, it! Why the hell is Brice here?!... Shit! NO! Keep a straight face... He has no proof...'

  "Well... You must have missed the messenger who sent the new Emergency Measure. It's Measure 1054-7... It's understandable that you would be confused as you were traveling all day. Mistakes happen. You can look over it ter," Duval said while freeing himself from Brice's grip.

  "Well, if that's the case. Then you wouldn't mind showing me this new notarized Measure for me to review?" Brice asked.

  "W-Why would I have to show you when it is your fault that you didn't receive a copy before the meeting started," Duval said, trying his best to save face, but the Head of the Crown would have none of it. "If you'll excuse me, I have business with the two Lords of—"

  You will not be going anywhere, Duval..." Brice said as he moved in front of him and crossed his arms, preventing him from leaving. "Not until we read this Measure."

  "What is the meaning of this, Lord Brice?!" Duval yelled while hiding the leather-bound envelope behind his back. Little did he know that the envelope was damaged when he yanked it out from underneath Brice's foot as a page fell out of the envelope.

  "This is an Emergency Session, correct!?... That means everyone who is a member of the Major Houses, the Ministers, and the Royal Council must review any Measures that are presented by the Prime Minister. You know that Duval," Brice said, and Duval's jaw clenched. "And since I'm the Head of the Crown, I will personally handle reviewing the Measures with you."

  'Fuck... Fuck... FUCK! I can't have this damn fool poking holes into the pn. Shit! Shit! Why the hell is he here?!... Think, Duval, think!'

  The Prime Minister needed to throw some under the carriage to get Brice off of him. So, he decided to py the role of a concerned and dutiful Prime Minister.

  "O-Of course... Virgil?... Please give Lord Brice the new Measure, please," Duval ordered his head aide, who was right behind him.

  Virgil was surprised by his master's request. "B-But—"

  Virgil!?... Don't keep us waiting. The Lords are waiting, and we wouldn't want to keep them waiting," Duval said, gring at his Aide.

  But I don't have the Measure, sir," Virgil replied, feeling the tension growing between his master and the Head of the Crown.

  “WHAT!?” Duval exploded, his voice brimming with feigned disbelief. “What do you mean you don’t have the Measure?! You were supposed to safeguard it! Now I’ll have to file a cim for recovery, and this is going to complicate everything...”

  As Duval continued to weave his tangled web of excuses, Brice fixed him with a steely gre. Meanwhile, Lord Gawain stood quietly beside the two men; his attention tugged away by the unexpected sensation of stepping on something beneath his foot. Gncing down, he discovered a loose sheet of parchment, the bold header marked with the Measure number “1054-7.”

  Curiosity piqued, Lord Gawain lifted the paper and scanned the room, searching for its origin. His eyes nded on the leather-bound envelope held by the Prime Minister, conspicuously wide open. Duval abruptly halted his tirade as he noticed the sheet in Gawain's grasp, and the color drained from his face.

  "W-What do you have there, Lord Gawain? Y-You’re not authorized to read that!" Duval stammered, making a desperate lunge for the page. But before he could grasp it, Brice snatched the document from Gawain’s hands, causing Duval to stumble and fall ft on his face.

  “Oh... Well pyed, Gawain,” Brice remarked, a smirk creeping onto his lips as he began to peruse the contents. “Looks like the Prime Minister might not need to file that cim after all…”

  When Brice skimmed the measure, the first thing that struck him was how hastily it had been written. It didn't cite any reference to the previous Measure or the w, and the handwriting was rushed and sloppy. The content was the same as Measure 1054-6, but it cked specificity, and he couldn't help but notice the btant spelling errors left and right. This Measure was nothing more than a rough draft that needed a lot of work before it could be considered a legitimate Measure. And worst of all, it wasn't notarized, and Duval had written the names of his coalition at the bottom, all four of them voting in favor of expelling Rya, even though Baron Thaddeus and Baron Eamon had switched their vote to present at the proceedings.

  Brice was a skilled scribe, basically this world's wyer, and had seen thousands of ws and Measures written during his lifetime. As a result, his ability to detect inconsistencies and errors was second nature. This Measure shouldn't have been voted on in the first pce; it was nothing more than an attempt to bypass the protocol, and a very obvious one at that.

  'By the Goddess... Duval was this desperate, eh?'

  Duval clumsily hurried to his feet and tried to grab the paper, but Brice was taller than the Prime Minister, and he was able to hold the document up high enough for Duval to snatch it.

  "Give that back! You're not allowed to loo—"

  "Silence, Duval!... As a member of the Royal Council, it is my duty to ensure that all ws, regutions, and measures are consistent with the Law, and I must say, your penmanship has gotten sloppy in your old age. If I didn't know any better... It seems like you skipped multiple steps to get this Measure approved for debate... Like a notarized document..." Brice said, his voice dripping with disappointment, and he shook his head.

  Duval gritted his teeth, knowing that Brice had found the hole in his defense. "You have no idea what's at stake here! You just got here, and you want to make a scene?!"

  "Make a scene?" Brice responded, his eyebrows raised and his arms crossed.

  Duval was about to yell when he heard a cough coming from behind him, and he saw everyone inside Parliament staring at him. He was so caught up in trying to hide the fact that he didn't have the proper documents to get this measure voted on that he didn't realize how loud they were arguing.

  Count Sebastian, usually a stoic man, was slumped over in his seat with one hand covering his face out of secondhand embarrassment. Eamon and Thaddeus were dumbfounded as Duval never would stoop so low to try to get a measure passed without the proper procedure, for it was a sign of weakness and something that the Duke would do. For Aric and William, it was impossible for them to enjoy Duval's downfall as they were still dealing with the aftermath of Rya's performance.

  Quinus and his allies had looks of pure disgust written all over their faces, and Rya knew that whatever scheme this Prime Minister had in the works was finished. They won this battle, but she knew the war to marry Quinus had just begun.

  The Prime Minister swallowed the lump in his throat. "I-I can expin... Since we already had this emergency session called, I thought we could expedite the process. I was going to get this notarized after we went through the vote. Afterward, the scribes could take their time then to get it cleaned up, and we can present it to the king and queen by Friday's—"

  "When did you write this draft, Marquess?" Earl Nathaniel's voice cut through the tense air, his gaze as unforgiving as flint.

  Duval tightened his lips, determined to stay silent. Lord Brice gnced at Virgil, the Prime Minister's unwavering right hand, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

  "Virgil," he said sharply, "either you answer the Earl, or I’ll see to it that the King's Guards escort you and the Prime Minister straight to the dungeons for conspiracy and obstruction of justice."

  The King's Guards, a formidable presence, shifted into position, their swords unsheathed and gleaming menacingly at the aides standing behind Duval, invoking gasps of arm from the gathered lords.

  With the tension ratcheted to a breaking point, Virgil knew the stakes. “I-It was thirty minutes before the session began!” he stammered, feeling the weight of his confession. “The Prime Minister had no idea the Dark Elf had infiltrated the pace grounds. We were caught off guard and had to rush the update.”

  Duval felt a cold numbness wash over him as if a crucial part of himself had shattered.

  Lord Brice shook his head, his expression one of disappointment as he turned to Duval. "Skipping protocol? That’s not the Prime Minister, I know," he said sarcastically. "You’ve always been one to adhere to the rules, and now... You are trying to pull a fast one on everyone, and for what, Duval?..."

  Duval opened his mouth to respond, but Brice pressed on, his voice low and intense. "I thought you were a man of honor and integrity. But I guess you were willing to toss those aside for personal gain... The question is... What was worth compromising your dignity?" Brice asked as he turned and gestured his hand towards the Dark Elf. "Because you are afraid of her? Is Lady Rya so much of a threat that you broke the rules that you hold us to, Prime Minister?..."

  With each word, Duval felt his right eye twitch involuntarily. Sweat beaded on his palms as his mind raced, desperately searching for a pusible excuse. He was utterly bewildered by the turn of events.

  "N-No!... I was just concerned that if we deyed any longer, the situation would only worsen! I needed the council’s support!" Duval defended himself, his voice shaking.

  “And you would risk the safety and stability of the Fiafyr Kingdom just to secure your vote, Prime Minister? What are you... The King?” Nathaniel chimed in, a smug smile spreading across his face, relishing the chaos unfolding before him.

  The Earl's words were met with murmurs and scoffs. With every accusation, the Prime Minister sank further and further into his web of deceit.

  "NO! I would never do such a thing!" Duval said, his voice shrill.

  "Then why would you pass a w that would cause an uproar without the proper paperwork?" Nathaniel questioned.

  With Duval on the defensive, Lord Brice made sure to attack with a finishing blow to end this farce once and for all.

  "Prime Minister, I see no reason to continue this session for any longer... Major Lords of Fiafyr! This Emergency meeting is canceled due to the ck of a notarized Measure 1054-7 and the irrelevance of 1054-6!" Brice called out, and the Major Lords.

  Duval couldn't let the situation spiral out of control, not when he was this close.

  "T-The Emergency Session is postponed for a week! Measure 1054-7 will be completed and presented to the council and the King!" Duval decred.

  Lord Brice smirked when the Prime Minister decred the measure would be reintroduced in a week, and that's when he decided to go for the jugur. "If you have Measure 1054-7 prepared by the start of next week, then make sure to add the King's Royal Amendment."

  "R-Royal Amendment?" Duval stammered as Brice handed him a piece of paper with a royal seal on it.

  "It says from this day forth, any future Measures that are aimed at the Dark Elf, Lady Rya, must allow her to prove her innocence and will nullify any Measures that try to expel her from the Capital," Brice added.

  Duval read the document and was confused by the amendment. "She is to visit the Temple of Bance?"

  "Yes... The King wishes to see if Goddess Iyomelka will favor her and show us a sign that she's trustworthy of becoming the next Queen. Like Queen Rianna before her wedding. If the Goddess's Idol lights up and favor is shown, then all charges and proposed Measures against her dyship will be dropped, and Lady Rya will have a position as a Lady of the Court."

  A stunned silence enveloped the Noble Council, jaws dropping in disbelief at the lengths to which the King would go for what seemed a desperate gamble. Rya turned to Quin, searching for guidance. He merely shrugged, his expression a mix of hope and skepticism; after all, the idol had only shone for his mother, and he was not yet reborn to witness such miracles.

  “I will reach out to High Priestess Mother Astra of the Holy Order of Iyomelka to arrange the ritual,” Brice decred, his tone becoming solemn. “Now, let us take a moment to bow our heads and wish for Lady Rya’s success in the days to come...”

  With that, Brice lowered his head to py up his act, and some of the nobles followed suit. But Hilda, who was silently witnessing all the events from the start, couldn't let Rya get away with this. The foreign Princess thought at least some of the men here would fight against her charms, but instead, she believed they were falling under her spell. And worse, they were going to test her by sending her to a fake deity that she could try to manipute everyone into thinking she'd gotten favor. Hilda couldn't allow it; she was done waiting for someone else to stop her. She had to do something... Anything to stop her.

  'Think Hilda, think! You can't let this harlot get her hands on Quinus, and if she wins, she will be the next Queen. And then she will conquer us. Think, Hilda!'

  Mostly, everyone in the room bowed their heads except for the ones who were against Rya, and the ones who were the loudest were Prince Terenthiel, Zane, and Sir Darius, who all scoffed at the Fiafyrians praying to a false goddess. They didn't notice the determined look on Hilda's face as she was plotting to do something that was bsphemous to The Divine Three.

  Princess Hilda rose from her chair, her determination radiating through the room. "I wish to be tested by the Goddess's Idol in her temple!" she decred, her voice ringing clear and strong.

  Instantly, all eyes shot toward Hilda. She stood tall, fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned pale, embodying a mix of ambition and defiance. Terenthiel nearly fell out of his chair and quickly snapped his head toward their Princess. She spoke heresy, and he couldn't punish her right then and there because they were guests in a foreign nd. So he did the only thing he could do, which was gre at her with hatred and fury, his eyes almost burning a hole through her skull. Rya didn't know what to make of this, but she was starting to get annoyed at this chick who seemed to want her man.

  "I know I am a child of the Divine Three," Hilda continued, her voice unwavering, “but my commitment to becoming the Queen of Fiafyr remains unshaken. I wish to show my future husband that I am a worthy bride, capable of earning the Goddess's favor. I am ready to do whatever it takes to prove my devotion to this Kingdom and to my prince."

  Rya shot Hilda a look of disbelief, her expression dripping with skepticism. In response, Hilda narrowed her eyes, a silent challenge sparking between the two. The tension hung thick in the air, promising that this confrontation was far from over.

  Duval looked around and noticed that this was an opportunity to throw Hilda into the ring in hopes of keeping the Peace Treaty alive. "Y-Yes! This is a brilliant idea! Let the goddess determine who's worthy of the Prince's hand! I mean, it's an excellent way to resolve all the animosity that has built up since the beginning of this meeting! I demand that the House of Major Lords vote on whether Lady Hilda should be added to the amendment to take the test! Do I have a second?"

  Sebastian swooped in to help his fellow colleague. "I second the motion to allow Lady Hilda the chance to curry favor from the Goddess."

  Lord Brice could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The Prime Minister's request to add Hilda to the amendment left him with little room to maneuver. Their only hope was if Aric and William voted against this procedure. The Head of the Crown gnced at the Crown Prince seated nearby; the young royal's displeasure was palpable, but the decision had been made. With a reluctant nod, Brice steeled himself to call the vote.

  “Count Sebastian has officially seconded the Prime Minister's motion to include Princess Hilda in the Royal Amendment,” he announced with gravity. “To pass this amendment, we require a 75% majority from those present today.” He took a deep breath, grasping the list that the page handed him, and cast his gaze over the assembled Lords, waiting for the hall to settle into a hushed anticipation.

  As silence enveloped the room and all Lords found their seats, Brice positioned himself at the podium, ready to commence the crucial vote. The air was thick with tension as he prepared to call each Major House of Lords to respond, their voices indicating the fate of the amendment.

  "House Wrightwood..."

  "Aye!" Duval said.

  "House Ingham..."

  "Aye..." Sebastian said while looking at the Prime Minister, who was worried about how Thaddeus, Eamon, Aric, and William would vote. Usually, the two Barons would have voted for anything he's suggested. However, after the recent events, the two were not happy with the Prime Minister. Then there was Aric, who hated him with every fiber of his being, and he knew he was waiting for the day of his downfall.

  "House Stirling..."

  "I don't see the harm in having the Goddess see the Princess as well... Aye!" Eamon answered.

  A flicker of relief washed over Duval, though he knew he still had challenges ahead. The stakes were high, and the path remained fraught with uncertainty.

  "House Valerian..."

  "Nay," Earl Nathaniel answered, his voice as solid and sharp as a dagger, leaving no doubt as to his position.

  "House Dule..."

  "Nay," Young Lord Johan said while nodding his head at Quinus and Rya.

  Duval’s anxiety surged like a tidal wave, each passing moment amplifying his fear that he might lose Thaddeus before the crucial vote. He needed the st three Lords to support the amendment, and time was slipping away.

  “House Windermere…” Lord Brice’s voice rang out, breaking the tension as he addressed the Baron.

  Thaddeus hesitated, allowing the weight of the moment to settle around him. The silence was almost suffocating, each heartbeat echoing in Duval’s ears like a drumroll of impending doom. He could feel the Baron’s piercing gaze drilling into him, and beads of sweat began to trickle down his brow as he awaited the response that could alter everything.

  "Aye!..." Thaddeus finally broke the tension, his voice low and deliberate.

  A heavy sigh of relief escaped Duval as he saw that House Windermere was on his side.

  "BUT!" Thaddeus suddenly cut in, snapping the Prime Minister’s thoughts like a brittle twig. "This is your final chance to show us that you are the leader we so desperately need, Marquess. Don’t make me regret this," he decred, his expression unwavering and resolute.

  Relief washed over Duval anew, for Thaddeus had chosen to set their past disagreement aside. After years of withholding a ministry position from him, perhaps it was time to reconsider their dynamics. Granting Thaddeus a position would not only secure his loyalty but might also restore the fragile trust between them in these turbulent times.

  Lord Brice waited for the Baron to be seated and then looked at the final two Major Lords who needed to vote.

  "House Lysander..."

  All eyes shifted toward the Viscount, who maintained a calm demeanor while gncing expectantly at the Duke for a sign regarding how he should cast his vote. Duval's gaze was intense, silently pleading with the Duke to signal him to vote in favor—a gesture that would come from his principal rival. All the Prime Minister could do was hold his breath as he observed the Duke, whose expression remained as impenetrable as stone, staring at him. In that charged silence, Duval, though not typically one for prayer, found himself invoking every ounce of hope he had, wishing for a favorable outcome like never before.

  'Please, goddess! I beseech you—help me save our kingdom with the help of this girl! Please!' Duval silently prayed to himself.

  At that pivotal moment, Aric gnced at William and gave him a subtle nod. William then nodded back at him, a smile growing across his face as if the Duke had just shared a secret.

  “Aye, it is,” William finally decred, breaking the tension as hope flickered brightly in Duval's soul. He almost passed out because he had been holding his breath for so long.

  Aric couldn't help but smirk as he observed Duval's growing desperation. The thrill of knowing he held the upper hand sent a rush through him. He yearned to dismantle Duval's pns right then and there, but he knew he had to py a careful game. Until Rya was no longer a threat, he would act as Duval's reluctant ally. The thought of it gnawed at him, but it was a necessary step to keep the Dark Elf away from Quinus. Once Rya was out of the equation, Aric would return to the shadows, plotting Duval's downfall with renewed vigor. The game had just begun.

  Lord Brice, on the other hand, wondered what the Duke was pnning. He knew that the King's brother wouldn't have come to Duval's aid if he hadn't been pnning something in exchange for something from the Prime Minister, or maybe the duke was pushed into a corner by Lady Rya's actions and was desperate himself. If he was willing to let the amendment pass, then that meant he believed there was a possibility that Rya could win over the people and the council.

  'So, the Duke can't handle Lady Rya either?... Interesting?... I think the Prince has found himself a proper Queen... But dealing with this alliance between the Prime Minister and the Duke will be annoying...' Brice thought as he knew the Prime Minister would get his wish.

  "House Revelia..." Lord Brice called out as he waited for the Duke to cast the final veto.

  Duke Aric's eyes flicked over to the Prime Minister, assessing the man with a mix of calcution and restraint. He so wanted to deny Duval the final vote, to see the Prime Minister crumble, but there were rger considerations at py. Though he would have preferred to have a more decisive victory, he was willing to compromise and wait for a better opportunity.

  "Aye," Duke Aric replied, his tone even and emotionless, his expression betraying nothing of his inner thoughts.

  Duval’s heart raced in disbelief. Could it be? His most persistent adversary had actually come through for him and in the most unexpected way!

  With that, Lord Brice's eyes met those of the Prime Minister. "All the attending members of the Major Houses have voted, concluding the voting. We have six ayes and two nays, which meet the 75% quota. The motion has passed, and Princess Hilda is now included in the amendment. You will all be informed when the date for the Goddess's ritual is set," Lord Brice announced as he stamped the document with an enchanted seal that prevented the parchment from getting tampered or damaged.

  Duval let out a huge sigh of relief as he salvaged the situation. Now, he needed to find a way to get the Goddess to respond to Hilda only so that Rya would fail, and Hilda would marry Quinus so the Peace Treaty with the Alliance wouldn't be jeopardized. He had to do everything he could to ensure the safety and stability of his Kingdom, even if it meant risking his coalition's support.

  Rya could feel Quinus' unease, and she looked at him, noticing his sour mood. "Hey?... So what if she is added to the amendment?... I'll one-up her in every way," Rya reassured her fiance with a pyful wink.

  Quin's lips turned up at her words, and a faint blush dusted his cheeks as Rya began to rub his thigh. He couldn't believe his luck in having such an incredible woman in his life. He could always count on her to raise his spirits, and her competitive spirit would undoubtedly be an asset in the future.

  "I know, Rya. I have full faith in your ability. But I'm more worried about them trying to rig this whole thing and try to stop us from getting together... Also, I wouldn't put it past Duval and his cronies to have a priestess from the Holy Temple of Bance tamper with the Idol," Quinus whispered to her.

  "That may be, but I’ll sniff out any magic they try to pull. Trust me, I have a knack for spotting this magical crap,” Rya decred confidently.

  Quinus let out a heavy sigh, his gaze earnest. “I hope you’re right, babe. Because I can't live without you in my life."

  Rya felt her cheeks flush crimson, a mix of warmth and undeniable vulnerability creeping in. “Y-Yeah... I can’t imagine life without you either."

  But then a wave of fierce pride washed over her, tangled up with a sharp pang of unease as she thought about that infuriating Foreign Princess, Hilda. Normally, when others witnessed the sheer power she wielded in battle or the speed of her quick-witted retorts, they would often shrink back in fear, much like Aric and Sir Darius had. Yet, each time Rya triumphed today, Hilda only grew bolder, her defiance brimming with an unsettling fearlessness to confront her.

  Sure, Rya could wipe her off the map in an instant—it wouldn’t even be a challenge. But the thought of taking down a girl who hadn’t committed any grave sin, aside from being an annoyance, didn't sit right with her. To do so would make her a monster, and the st vestige of her humanity—now that she was an elf—was something she desperately clung to. This world was merciless, and while adapting was essential, she refused to lose sight of her roots.

  'Haah... I really wish this chick would fuck off... Quin is mine, and she thinks this is what is going to make him fall for her?... Get real, honey! This guy is head over heels for me, and no one is changing that! Not even the gods themselves! Or a goddess... Hehe!' Rya thought as a smirk grew on her face.

  Rya locked eyes with Quinus, a confident smile pying on her lips as a spark of resolve ignited in her gaze. “You can try,” she said, her voice steady and unwavering, “But I’m not going anywhere.”

  "I know," Quinus replied, leaning in to kiss her softly, their lips brushing together in a moment filled with unspoken promises.

  Across the room, Hilda clenched her fists, fury bubbling within her as she watched. The urge to storm over and sp Rya was nearly overwhelming, but just as she prepared to move, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t give in to her games, dear,” Leandra whispered, her voice a soothing counterpoint to Hilda’s rising anger. “She’s only trying to provoke you.”

  "B-But showing affection in public is—"

  "It's frowned upon, but it's not a sin here, Princess... So what would the Major Houses think when a princess resorts to spping her competition in public... I know it's unfair, but that is how the world is sometimes. So we must be smarter than them, dear," Leandra expined.

  "W-What if she does something with him in the bedroom?... I must protect his chastity—"

  "That ship has sailed, dear... She's been with him for months in life-and-death situations... She's spread her legs out for him to control him... She's ensnared him with her body, and he can't escape. You need to break her hold over him if you wish to save this kingdom," Leandra whispered into Hilda's ear.

  "H-How?"

  "That is something that I will discuss with you ter when the elves aren't around... But for now... You need to be strong... And you need to make the decisions that will save the kingdom from a war," Leandra expined.

  "...Alright... I will persevere... F-For the people," Hilda replied.

  "Good," Leandra replied.

  Hilda was a little sad at hearing that Quinus had been defiled, but she could not show weakness; she would save him from this evil creature. She would do everything in her power to stop the marriage and then save her prince from Rya's dark clutches, even if she had to pray to a different deity.

  RepresentingAll_Pauls