The tension in the room was palpable; it felt as if they had been locked in a standoff for hours, though in reality, only a minute had passed. Eine, caught completely off guard and clueless about the unfolding drama, was just about to voice her confusion when the doors swung open. A servant entered, announcing the arrival of Lord Johan Dule and his wife, Lady Tayna Dule.

  Tayna, the future baroness of Elder Hills, stood resplendent in a new, modest dress that expertly concealed the scars of her troubled past—a haunting reminder of a childhood encounter with a slime monster. Yet, thanks to Rya’s incredible healing magic, her body had been restored to its former glory, radiant and strong. Rya's gifts didn’t stop there; she had also mended Johan's mana vein, which had been cursed, draining him of the mana he had earned through countless battles against monsters. In an instant, Rya's magic had transformed their loveless union into a passionate partnership, sparking a love that burned brighter than either had imagined possible.

  However, the couple was bound by an obligation to maintain a fa?ade of indifference in public. Enemies lurked in the shadows, waiting to challenge Johan for the rights to the Elder Hills Barony. Tayna couldn’t help but chuckle at her predicament. All she longed for was the chance to shower Johan with affection. And Johan, once a reserved young man, had stepped into his role as a husband with newfound assertiveness, becoming fiercely protective of both Tayna and his dear friend, Quinus.

  Their love story, once marred by circumstance, had blossomed despite the pressures of nobility. Tayna's feelings for Johan now overshadowed any resentment she held toward her father for forcing her into a marriage with the manaless heir of a major noble family—a union that had put her in harm's way. Minor nobles were eyeing the Elder Hills Domain, eager to ascend the social dder by eliminating Johan when his father passed.

  But against all odds, Johan and Tayna were forging a powerful alliance. With Johan's rare Mage Vein awakening and Tayna's newly expanded mana capacity, she could now harness Maja fighting techniques to amplify her strength, channeling mana into both her muscles and the weapons she wielded. The once frail figures of Johan and Tayna had transformed into a formidable duo, prepared for whatever challenges y ahead. They sensed that true combat loomed on the horizon, but they were ready—ever-loyal supporters of Quinus and Rya, willing to do anything to ensure their happiness together.

  The servant announced the arrival of Lord Johan Dule. His wife, Lady Tayna, was following behind him. They both entered the room and greeted the King and Queen before going down the long line of Major Nobles until they reached Johan's father, who had worried about his son's marriage. He hoped at some point that the two would find some common ground, like when he was married to his wife, Elizabeth, but it wasn't looking like they would ever find any sort of love.

  Earl Nathaniel Valerian noticed his friend, Johnathan, was looking downcast. He noticed that Tayna looked stoic and seemed to keep her distance from Lord Johan.

  "They seem to be tolerating each other," Nathaniel said, his voice low so no one else could hear.

  "Aye. That they do," Johnathan agreed. "I was hoping the girl would soften up a little, and I thought for one fleeting moment that she was coming around when I first saw them when I returned to the capital. But they seemed to have fallen back into old habits, and she's keeping her distance from him. Even my wife has remarked that she thinks the two have become cold to each other."

  "It seems a bit odd," Nathaniel observed. "The two look different. I didn't notice it at first when Johan filled in for you at the first Emergency Session. But the two of them seem... Stronger from what I can recall," Nathaniel said.

  Johnathan's brow furrowed as he took a closer look at his son. He could see the slight changes in his son's posture, and there was a slight difference in his demeanor, too. But nothing to indicate that anything major had happened to him.

  "Maybe you're imagining things," Johnathan suggested.

  Nathaniel looked at Johnathan. "No. There is something different about your son. And his wife has changed as well. They seem to have grown stronger. But I don't know what could have caused this change," Nathaniel replied.

  Johnathan frowned and thought his friend was trying to cheer him up. "Nate, if there was anything that happened to my son. Then I would know," Johnathan stated.

  "I think the two of them have a secret," Nathaniel whispered.

  "Like, what? Did they run off to elope behind our backs?" Johnathan asked sarcastically.

  Nathaniel shook his head. "No, I don't believe so. I have a feeling that something—"

  "Earl Nathaniel Valerian... Father... Sorry to keep you waiting, but I had an issue that held us up," Johan announced, cutting off his father's conversation between the Earl and him.

  "Ah, my boy, it's good to see you," Johnathan said. He stepped forward and csped hands with Johan. "Where's your mother? Is she not joining us?"

  "She's still on her way. She wanted to make sure everything was taken care of in the house," Johan replied.

  "Of course. Well, why don't you and your lovely wife join me at this end of the—"

  "I prefer to speak with Princess Rya, Father-in-w... I've been meaning to talk with her for some time now about the party this Friday," Tayna said, cutting him off.

  Johnathan's heart sank when he saw his son put in no effort to stop his wife from interrupting him. He had to bite his tongue to keep from saying something inappropriate. He watched as his daughter-in-w walked past him, leaving them behind.

  'W-We won't have a grandchild at this rate if my boy doesn't take the initiative!'

  Johnathan watched in horror as his didn't seem to notice that his wife was leaving without him.

  "Son... are you going to let your wife talk to your father-in-w like that?" Johnathan asked.

  "Huh?... But she said that she might let me sit with her for a few minutes during her tea time if I leave her be until then," Johan said, oblivious.

  'Oh my Goddess!... what is wrong with this boy? Does he have any common sense?! And what is with these younger women of today?' Johnathan thought. He grabbed his son's shoulders with a pleading look on his face.

  "Son... There is a time in every man's life were he must know when to be more assertive. If you are ever going to be the head of a family someday. You need to be strong, and you mustn't allow other people, even if it's your own wife, to disrespect you! You're a man, Johan. Act like one! Don't let them push you around!" Johnathan lectured his son.

  Johan, for his part was doing his best not to ugh at his father. He really wanted to tell him that he took the final steps of becoming a man a while ago. But he knew his father couldn't keep a secret like that from spreading throughout the kingdom. So, instead, Johan just gave his father a bnk stare and nodded.

  "Okay, Father, I'll try to be more assertive, starting next week. Thank you," Johan said.

  Johnathan wanted to cry, but his nobility wouldn't allow it. Instead, he smiled and patted his son on the back.

  "That's a good boy," he said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to find something harder than wine to drink.

  "Of course, Father," Johan said.

  As his father went looking for hard alcohol, Tayna approached Rya and the rest of the dies.

  "I'm sorry about my husband," she apologized.

  "It's quite alright," Rya replied with a smirk. "How are you holding up?"

  Tayna sighed and whispered, "I hate pying the ungrateful wife... He's just too sweet for me to be mean to."

  Rya gave Tayna an empathetic smile. "Once, Aric and his cronies are out of the way, you won't have to worry about putting on this charade anymore."

  "I hope it's sooner rather than ter. I'm worrying about my father-in-w's sanity. Thanks to Johan's magic, we are able to get away to have are fun, but Johnathan is so stressed that we aren't getting along with each other. Johan doesn't mind pying aloof, and I am just tired of pying this role," Tayna expined.

  "I know... But we still have know who is eyeing Johan's title. If someone comes out of the shadows, then we can drop this act."

  "I hope you're right, Lady Rya."

  "You are doing a great job, Tayna. I am grateful to have you and Johan as allies," Rya said, smiling.

  Eine was listening to this conversation wided eyed as she felt like she was brought into a world of intrigue and power politics. And she had no idea how to handle it.

  Yuliana noticed her youngest daughter's reaction and whispered to her, "To keep friends, you must keep secrets, young one. We are surrounded by some that wish for are downfall. And they will use any means to achieve their goals."

  "I understand, Mother," Eine said, still surprised at what she was learning. It wasn't like the fairytales that Mary read back in the orphanage. It was far more complicated and it intrigued the teenager.

  "Well, it's the least I can do, My Lady," Tayna replied, smiling.

  "Thank you, Tayna," Rya said before a thought popped into her head. "Oh, that reminds me, the House of Lords is about to approve the engagement with Quinus and I... But the st thing I need to do before they can make it official is to get the Ladies of the Court on my side... Queen Rianna and Baroness Ysandra will be helping learn who are potential allies and enemies in the Court. Will you be able to join me and help me with educating me about the Minor Noblewoman?"

  Tayna's eyes sparkled as she replied, "I'd be honored, My Lady!"

  "You're a life saver, Tayna!" Rya replied, smiling.

  "Oh, you give me too much credit, My Lady!"

  "Stop being so damn modest, Tayna. You put in the work to get to where you are now," Rya told her.

  'Rya says I'm too modest? She's done so much for me that I don't know if I can ever repay her for everything she has done for me,' Tayna thought as she wasn't going to argue with the dark elf about it.

  "Well... When you put it like that," Tayna said, smiling.

  "That's right. Don't be afraid to take a compliment."

  "And neither should you, My Lady," Tayna replied with a giggle.

  "Huh?... Me? I always accept compliments," Rya said, not catching on to what Tayna was saying.

  "My Lady... You are far more modest than I am, and you are just as worthy of taking a compliment," Tayna said.

  Rya was going to ask her what she meant by that. Rya has gotten so used to healing people from fatal injuries, curses, or lost limbs that it seemed trivial compared to what she was capable of. So she wasn't even thinking about taking credit for healing Johan's mana vein or Tayna's left hand. She was more focused on dealing with Aric and the possible war that was looming on the horizon.

  When Rya was about to ask Tayna why she thought she was modest. The butler and his servants came in with trays of food that made her stomach growl.

  "Your Majesty, and honor guests. Dinner is ready," the Butler said.

  "Thank you, Glen. Everyone! Let's eat," Cyndre said out loud as he took his wife's hand and made their way to their seats. Quinus offered his hand to Rya, and she smiled as she accepted.

  "We must talk ter, Tayna," Rya said.

  "Yes, My Lady," Tayna responded.

  Everyone slowly took to their seats with Octavius taking the seat next to Hilda and Dalia taking the one to her right.

  Hilda gred a little when she saw her Prince guiding Rya to her chair. Then she noticed the young Half-Elf sitting next to her. Eine was staring at her with curiosity. Hilda was not used to the attention from a child. And Eine was giving her a lot of attention.

  "W-What? What are you looking at?" Hilda asked the teen.

  "Oh... Uh. Sorry," Eine responded. "I just don't see what my sister is talking about."

  Hilda looked surprised and gnced over a Rya who was trying to ignore her to the best of her ability. Rya warned her younger sister about Hilda and if Eine wanted to learn the hard way that she can't be trusted then so be it.

  "Uh... What does that mean?" Hilda asked, looking a little flustered.

  "I don't know... You don't seem like a bad person... Why aren't you two friends? Or why can't you be her friend?" Eine asked, genuinely wanting to know.

  Hilda and Rya both would have done spit takes if they had drinks.

  "Not happening, unless she stops in praying for me to get fat, lose my looks, or for me to get a horrible disease. Then I might be more cordial towards her," Rya said to Eine as if Hilda wasn't sitting in front of her.

  Hilda turned her noise up to Rya and scoffed. "Well, you use your looks to deceive my betrothed. So, you deserve whatever is coming your way."

  "Betrothed? You're aren't even married, yet. And you already consider him yours? That's so arrogant, of a Princess from the Holy Alliance," Rya said as she smiled, her azure eyes glowing with her mana as her hanger was getting the better.

  "You are one to talk, Dark Elf!" Hilda retorted.

  "At least I'm not wishing for you to become fat and ugly. Oh wait, that's already happened." Rya snarked back.

  "Rya! That's enough," Quinus said as he was about to put his foot down. He saw Octavius looking at the two bickering Princesses with a raised brow. He was one of the deciding votes to approve their marriage and he also liked his daily tea times with Hilda. He wanted to help Hilda out of her situation if she was to be sent back to the Holy Alliance where she will be stripped of everything if she doesn't get married to him.

  Rya took a deep breath. "Fine, fine. But if she keeps throwing insults towards me or my family, I will defend us, Quinus."

  "She will do no such thing, right Hilda?" Quinus asked the Princess.

  Hilda blushed as her purple eyes locked onto Quin's golden eyes. Her heart fluttered and she felt warm inside until she saw Rya gring at her.

  "Hmph." Was all Hilda could respond with as she turned her head.

  Quinus sighed. "You know, Hilda... I know you are a better person than this."

  "What is that supposed to mean?" Hilda asked, a bit confused and flustered.

  Rya smirked at the red-haired Princess like a viliness who's won a victory over her nemesis.

  Quinus cleared his throat. "I meant, you are a strong-willed, stubborn, and determined woman. But you are a good person. If you can't be civil with my love, then at least be cordial with her."

  Hilda was caught off guard by Quinus's words. He wasn't supposed to like this dark elf. He was supposed to fall in love with her and then shame this Dark Elf for being an evil temptress. Not praise her, and make Hilda seem like the vilin.

  'I am sorry Divine Ones for what I'm about to think. But curse her! Curse her for confusing my innocent man! If only I knew how to break the spell she pced on him!' Hilda thought as she gred at Rya, and Rya just had a smug smile on her face. 'I beg of you to aid me! Please show me a sign that you are with me in my time of need! Show me that Quinus will be mine! Not this dark elf!'

  Rya was relishing in Hilda's despair and she was loving the feeling of victory over the woman who couldn't take a hint that Quin doesn't love her like that.

  'It's so hard to not ugh out loud right now!' Rya thought. 'If only she could see her stupid face then she—'

  *GROAN!*

  Rya was suddenly struck by a wave of hunger like never before. All the food smelled divine and her tastebuds were watering for some kind of meat.