During the same time as the Royal Family was having dinner, Duke Aric Revelia was busy at work in his manor that was on the Western outskirts of Tairal. He had just received an update from his mercenaries that all his hidden stashes of gold and jewels made it to the secret bandit hideout inside of Eder Hills.

  Aric was on edge this past week, since moving this amount of wealth over hundreds of miles was a huge undertaking. And he had to use a lot of his hidden resources to hire enough bandits and mercenaries to get it done safely. He had a few mishaps on the road, and one of the carriages was ambushed, but it wasn't from Rya's Golems. It was a small group of bandits who thought the carriage had something valuable. Aric sent an additional 200 men and had his 1,000 mercenaries surround the 300 bandits, killing them. No one steals from him and gets away with it, and he didn't want to leave any evidence for Rya and her golems.

  He also needed to come up with a pn to fight back against Rya's magic. He's been on the back foot ever since she arrived in the Capital City. Her influence was far more vast than even he realized.

  Aric had good spies around the Kingdom, but Rya's Golems were an extension of herself, and they were impossible to destroy without losing a ptoon of men. So far, Aric only lost a few hundred of his Raven Knight Mercenaries in the Veridian Encve, who were guarding the hidden vaults. It was unfortunate that he lost most of his money and supplies in the Encve, but at least his rgest stashes were still intact and safe.

  Aric could rebuild the Veridian Encve and start producing his own bck market goods, but he would have to relocate his main smuggling operation until he rid himself of that Dark Elf. And the time was near for him to execute his final pns to rid her once and for all.

  Aric was sitting inside his study, as usual, as he was reading a message from Ac, who was running the new hidden bandit hideout. Originally, Aric pnned to leave Ac and what was left of his surviving crew to rot in there as punishment for failing to kill Lord Johan Dule. But now, it was the only pce where the Duke was comfortable hiding his valuables. So, he had them turn the pce into a fortress, and he would have sent someone new to run the operation. But he needed his best men and women for his upcoming pn to start an uprising within the kingdom at a moment's notice. Plus, this could be a chance for Ac to get back into the Duke's good graces.

  "It's about time that things were going in my favor. This is your st chance, Ac. Don't fail me, or you will learn what true pain is," Aric muttered under his breath as he channeled his mana through the small piece of parchment that was sent by a Messenger bird. The parchment disintegrated in the Duke's hand, leaving only a trace of ash behind.

  Aric smiled, and he was about to summon Belial to get him some wine when a knock came at his door.

  "Come," the Duke said as a young page opened the door.

  "My lord, the Viscount and Baron have come to the manor to see you... You would like to see them?" the boy said.

  "Hmm? William and Alistair are here?" Aric questioned the boy as he looked over at his butler to see if he knew why the two nobles were here.

  "Maybe something happened at the Emergency Session of the Council," Belial thought aloud.

  "So, you haven't received anything from your little spiders yet?" the Duke questioned.

  "Nothing yet, my lord," Belial replied.

  "Humph! Then, I should see what's going on," Aric said, and he got up from his desk and headed towards the door.

  The boy quickly opened the door and followed his master out of the study, and Belial fell in line behind his lord.

  Aric marched through his manor with his head held high. His two guards followed behind him, and the young page led the way.

  Once Aric entered his rge sitting room, he saw the Viscount and Baron both drinking tea as they sat in the expensive chairs. Alistair stood up immediately, while William took his time.

  "Have I inconvenienced you, William?" Aric snapped at his friend's ck of respect.

  "Not at all, my lord. I was just enjoying the tea you have," the Viscount said with one of his patented shit-eating grins. The Duke knew that when William was acting like a smart ass was when something important was happening.

  "Alright, enough with the jokes. What's going on?" the Duke asked.

  "The House of Lords is in disarray," the Baron reyed with an air of urgency to the Duke, his voice low to avoid attracting unwanted attention. "The Marquess has completely lost hold of his coalition, and a vote of no confidence has successfully passed, my lord."

  A frown creased Aric's brow as he exchanged a bewildered gnce with Alistair, searching for confirmation. "What does that mean? He's no longer the Prime Minister?" Aric's voice was ced with disbelief, as the implications of such a shift began to sink in.

  William, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk, reveled in the turn of events. Beside him, Alistair grimaced at his own mistakes.

  "Well, Duval would have been officially ousted, but our dear friend Alistair thought he would be punishing everyone when Duval used a st-ditch effort to defend his position with Rule 31B. He got two votes, and Alistair was the second core," William said with a chuckle.

  "If I'd known that I had to be there for the Marquess, then I wouldn't have done it!" the Baron shouted, red-faced.

  "Haha! That's what you get for trying to be clever, Alistair," the Viscount ughed.

  Aric closed his eyes and sighed. "Baron... How many rules or procedures have you read, exactly?"

  "Well, my lord... I..." Alistair trailed off.

  "That's what I thought... Next time, leave the plotting to William and me... Or you'll miss out on your hunting trips," the Duke ordered.

  "Yes, my lord. Of course, my lord," the Baron replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of deference and resignation. Aric found it hard to maintain his anger towards Alistair; the Baron was a loyal subordinate, the rare sort who refrained from questioning his decisions or challenging his authority when he required a favor.

  "Enough of that pathetic expression. It does not become a man of your stature, Baron," the Duke remarked, a pyful smile curling his lips as he leaned back in his richly upholstered chair, surveying the room with an air of authority.

  "Yes, my lord," the Baron responded, straightening himself as he fought to wipe the expression from his face, recognizing that even in their hierarchy, he had a role to py—one that required a facade of dignity, regardless of the circumstances.

  After a moment, Aric realized something. If Alistair voted for Rule 31B, then who did Duval lose in his coalition?

  "I'm curious... If Alistair voted for Duval, then who was the other vote? I assume Duval would have had both Sebastian and Octavius on his side," Aric inquired.

  "You wouldn't believe it, my Lord... Octavius turned on Ducal!" William stated.

  Aric looked at the Viscount in disbelief. Octavius was one of Duval's strongest supporters, and he wouldn't turn his back on him unless something changed.

  "What changed?" Aric asked.

  "I don't know... But once he turned, so did Caldorian. Especially after his pathetic dispy in defense of the rule of w. That idiot went into the Emergency Session with only the evidence from the foreign Prince," William stated.

  Aric chuckled and shook his head. "That's unlike him... Did the Dark Elf come in to ruin his pns?"

  William and Alistair both shook their heads, "No, my Lord... It was the King's Council that found out why the Dark Elf attacked that zealot of a Prince..."

  "And?" Aric asked.

  "She protected Princess Hilda from being struck by her half-brother... I wish I could have painted a picture with Duval's face at that moment," William said.

  Aric now wished he had gone to the meeting. He always wanted to see the day when Duval lost his coalition, but it wasn't by his hands, which made it bittersweet. But he would have enjoyed seeing that moment.

  "So, the st days of Duval's Prime Ministership are numbered... If only it wasn't because of that wretched woman..." Aric stated.

  "So are we not going to intervene, my lord?" William asked.

  "Not without a lot of groveling. Or do you think we should save that sorry excuse of a Prime Minister?" Aric stated.

  William smirked, "Normally, I wouldn't suggest such a thing, but he is an obstacle for your nephew and his fiancée. It might be wise to help him if he is the main focus for the Dark Elf. If we get rid of him, then she will turn all her attention on us," the Viscount said.

  Aric thought about it and shook his head, "He's done little to slow down my nephew and his pet. She's found out about the vaults in Alistair's domain, and we were lucky that she hasn't found the other vaults in William's or my Domains... So, no. Duval's usefulness is almost at an end," the Duke said while scratching his chin. "But we will py nice with him for now. My wife needs the help of Marchioness Isabel Wrightwood and Countess Alexandria Ingham to get the Ladies of the Court on her side. They would be the st line to prevent the wretched woman from becoming my nephew's wife."

  William gnced at Alistair, who didn't look amused. He didn't care much about the Ladies of the Court. He only cared about drinking and hunting monsters. But William understood Aric's concern. There are a few powerful dies who have the most sway in the court. Marchioness Isabel and Countess Alexandria were the top three. With Marchioness Isabel as the undisputed leader of the Ladies of the Court due to Queen Rianna's ck of attendance in court. The dies were only interested in gossip and making themselves look more appealing than their rivals. So, they would be easy targets for Leandra's influence if Isabel and Alexandria didn't stop her.

  "Or you sure the Duchess can turn the Ladies of the Court against the Dark Elf?... She seems to have a knack for getting people on her side... And I don't think she's using enchantments or incantations to get their loyalty... I haven't felt any spells being used around her. Which means she's good at charming people naturally... I fear that once she wins soccer, the Ladies, then there's nothing stopping her and the Crown Prince from getting full support from the Kingdom," William said.

  Aric clutched, "My wife has the charisma and cunning to sway the Ladies of the Court. But if that Dark Elf somehow gains their favor before we can stop it... Then we have a few options left for us, my friend. But it is a path that will lead to war," the Duke said with a grim expression.

  Alistair had a concerned look, "What's the pn for war, Duke?"

  The Duke was silent, and his eyes narrowed. He sighed and turned his back to the fire. His hands were behind his back, and he was staring into the crackling fme. The Duke turned his head to gnce at his friends, "We have one chance to put a wedge in my nephew's retionship with the Dark Elf by using the AphroAroma Wick. He needs to have an affair with one of those other Wood Elves, if possible, and hopefully by that point. The Holy Alliance of the Divine Three will have amassed an army on the Southern border. That's when we can kill Johnathan Dule and install Linus Dupree as the next Baron of Eder Hills once he challenges Johan for the title. And if Duval tries to get the Peace Treaty completed by marrying that whore Hilda off to the Crown Prince. We can stage an uprising and kill the foreign Princess to provoke the Divine Three into attacking the Kingdom. With all the focus on the Southern border. I can easily guide the Kingdom of Marn's armies to take over the north before my brother knows what's happening. And once I take control of the north. I will have the power and the forces needed to kill my brother, Duval, and all their supporters before I destroy those zealots in the south... Then I will kill King Arnaud Dupont when his guard is down. This is my Kingdom, and I will be damned if I'm going to let anyone else run it when it is rightfully mine," the Duke expined with a sinister grin.

  William and Alistair smirked as Aric's confidence was infectious.

  Alistair ughed, "This pn sounds very eborate. I don't know how you are so good at coming up with all these contingencies."

  William nodded, "It's going to be bloody."

  The three men ughed while Belial had a satisfied smirk on his face as he watched his master concoct a scheme worthy of a true ruler.

  Duke Aric Revelia would get his revenge for the death of his son. Even if he had to make war against his own Kingdom, he would not rest until the Kingdom was his and only his.

  It was at this moment that Belial noticed his lordship's ring on his right hand was glowing a bright green light. He hurried over to inform his master.

  Duke Aric Revelia stared at his hand as his enchanted ring was glowing a bright emerald green. He had a puzzled look on his face, and his brows furrowed.

  "What is it, my Lord?" William asked.

  "It seems my Messenger Mage is trying to contact me," the Duke replied.

  "Humph! Who's she with?" Alistair asked.

  "I sent her to Krenn, the Head Advisor to King Arnaud Dupont. He better not be altering our deal," Duke Aric replied.

  He walked out of the den and went back towards his study was leaving everyone behind. He needed to get the crystal ball artifact that his Mage had sent him.

  ***

  He grabbed the orb from his desk and sat in his chair. He activated the device and spoke, "Luna, I'm here. Report."

  Luna was a 30-year-old specialist mage who allowed him to talk directly to people in power, so that he didn't want a Messenger Bird getting intercepted. She had long bck hair and a pair of orange eyes.

  "I'm sorry to disturb you, my Lord... But Advisor Krenn has requested to speak with you," Luna informed her master.

  Aric narrowed his eyes before nodding his head. It was then that a hologram of Krenn appeared above the orb.

  "Krenn, this better be important," Aric warned the Advisor.

  "Is that how you are going treat your future superior, Aric? I can just end this little alliance now, and I will let King Arnaud know that we shouldn't help you with your treason," Krenn threatened the Duke.

  Aric gritted his teeth and gred at the man. He needed to put up the front that he was giving the Kingdom of Marn, the Kingdom of Fiafyr. Or Krenn might actually change his mind and not help the Duke deal with the Holy Alliance.

  "My apologies, Lord Krenn... What is the reason for your call?" Aric replied, changing his tone.

  "Good. Now, what are these rumors about a Dark Elf living inside your castle?" Krenn inquired with a straight face.

  Aric clenched his teeth, 'Dammit! Word has spread up north. I was hoping their King wouldn't hate found out about her,' Aric thought.

  He calmed himself and replied, "What about her? She's only a common Dark Elf. My nephew seems to have an affection for her."

  "A common Dark Elf, you say?... That's not what we've heard, Aric... We've heard that she's a powerful mage... And a healer that this world hasn't seen..." Krenn informed the Duke.

  "I assure you that she—"

  "She is, Aric... And we are a little concerned about you trying to find your nephew's sver's tool to get control of her... You wouldn't be pnning on having her make you the emperor of Agon now, would you?... Because that won't end well for you..." Krenn interrupted Aric.

  'They think that strange artifact around her neck is a sve colr?... Can I use this in my favor?... No wait... He would want me to get one of his handlers to come here and had me point out where the Sver's tool is... But it isn't a colr, and she was already freed from a colr once. I don't know if she can be ensved again... Dammit! Why must the fates curse me every time when I'm so close...' Aric cursed in his mind.

  "Your information is wrong, Lord Krenn. Whatever that artifact is around the dark elf's neck, it isn't a sve colr..." Aric tried to expin.

  Krenn almost did a double-take and said, "What? It isn't a colr... Then what is it?"

  "That, I'm not sure, my lord... But it seems to only glow from the orb in the middle... It doesn't do anything else as far as we know. And for why that whor—elf is around my nephew is because he fallen in love with her," Aric tried to expin the situation.

  "Really now?"

  "Yes, she is with him of her own free will," Aric answered.

  "Hmmm... So she could still be ensved?..." Krenn asked.

  Aric didn't want to disclose that she was colred once already and that it would be harder for her to be colred again. And even if he did tell Krenn, he wasn't sure that Krenn would believe him.

  "What is it that you want, Krenn? I'm busy..." Aric demanded to know.

  "My King wishes to add a Dark Elf to his collection. And if he doesn't get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, then the king may be... Displeased... We might not provide you the aid that you requested from us, Duke Revelia," Krenn threatened Aric.

  Aric needed to think on his feet before he lost his chance at becoming emperor, and said, "Well, I guess you wish for Fiafyr to come into Marn and be conquered by my nephew and his elf... I don't know if it is possible to ensve this Dark Elf, as she is very powerful. It's better to get rid of her than capture her. Besides, what makes you think your king can ensve a Dark Elf? I heard they have a strong will."

  "We have ways of breaking any creature, Duke. Even the most powerful creatures on Tertius will bend the knee and submit themselves to the will of our King. He's gotten another Eldritch Bond Colr from the Lumen Fae continent, and what better person to use it on than a beautiful Dark Elf that could help him become the emperor of Agon? You are a human, Aric, so you must understand why a human needs to rule Agon. To show the other species that humanity is the true ruler of the nd."

  Aric knew that he was in a bind, but he needed Krenn's help to get his armies to do the dirty work. Aric needed to be smart about his response and didn't want to say the wrong thing, so he said, "Yes, I agree that humans are the true rulers. But all I can do is try to break up my nephew's retionship, and maybe you can have a chance. If not, then there is nothing I can do."

  Krenn thought about it and nodded, "Alright, I have a few of the King's hunters inside of your kingdom. Once you come through on your end, then we will prepare our armies and march them down to the border."

  "Thank you, Krenn. I will make sure that the Kingdom of Fiafyr falls," Aric responded.

  "I will be watching you, Aric," Krenn said and left.

  Soon, the crystal artifact was deactivated, and Aric let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. The Duke didn't expect the king of Marn to want a Dark Elf, but now the cat was let out of the bag. He needed to come up with another pn, as he couldn't let them get Rya, or it would become impossible to kill King Arnaud Dupont once he served his usefulness.

  'The cursed fates torment me again! Why did a Dark Elf have to fall in love with my nephew instead of my son! Why did that whore my brother married, who was able to give birth to a child after we poisoned her!' Aric cursed and went back to his study to formute a new pn. For his life and his family's lives were in danger if he didn't get rid of Rya.