"B-Baroness?... I didn't hear the Lord Stewart introduce you to the Court. I must reprimand him for not—"

  "I decided to sneak in through a side entrance when I spotted Seraphina Valerian chatting with Elowen Windermere and Isolde Stirling. The Lord Stewart isn't to bme, Duchess Leandra," Ysandra said with an all knowing smile.

  The Baroness wanted to eavesdropped on what rumors the Duchess has been spreading through her Minor Nobles and Ysandra wasn't surprised with the biggest lie that was being spread around. Frankly, the rumors about Rya murdering Marcus would be a tough cim to dispell, under normal circumstances. But Rya isn't your average person who would be accused of a crime like murder and get away with it. All Rya had was her and Quinus' words that send Marcus was changed with treason and Sir George was the executioner.

  With no other evidence besides hearsay, one could spin a lie that would be hard to disprove. That was one of the drawbacks living in a world the medieval fantasy. Sure magic could do amazing things that technology dream of replicating but news spreads the Kingdom at a snails pace. Marcus' death happened over four months ago and news was finally starting to circute throughout the continent. And with it only being spread through word of mouth, it seems the lie went out first.

  A lesser person would crumble under the pressure and make them look guilty. But Rya is not that type of person and neither is Queen Rianna. Ysandra didn't know how they would turn this lie on it's head but the Baroness couldn't wait to see how it will happen.

  The Duchess shook her head for a brief moment to regather herself.

  "Oh, well then that's alright, Baroness Ysandra. Please don't tell me you are going to skip out on attending the party and leaving immediately after talking to me," Leandra said, trying to sound cheerful.

  "Why, Duchess, I only came in discreetly because I didn't want to disturb your daughter's lovely party... Speaking of which, where are your daughters? One usually is by the parents during a coming-of-age ceremony," Ysandra asked, sounding concerned.

  "Oh, my daughters are fine and having a grand time. Lydia rather mill around with girls her own age than talk to mature women like us," Leandra expined, not looking at the Baroness.

  "But aren't your oldest daughters in there 30s? One would think that a mother's presence is needed when she is celebrating her daughters' coming-of-age ceremony, isn't it? It would be a shame if you missed out on this milestone in her life," Ysandra pointed out, causing the Duchess to stiffen slightly.

  Leandra cleared her throat before turning to face the Baroness.

  "I can't force my adult children to be by me the entire time, Baroness. I'm not going to deny them the chance to have a good time while they are still young," Leandra countered, her smile wavering.

  Ysandra smiled as well, 'So, her daughters still despise their parents. Such a shame what they did to them. Marrying them off to such despicable men... No wonder why they haven't had children yet.'

  "Well, I guess you'll become a grandmother at some point. It's a blessing to know that you line will continue long after you pass away," Ysandra said firing a low blow to the Duchess.

  Isabel, and her friends all opened their fans to hide their smirks. They may have been forced to ally up with the Duchess, but that didn't mean they didn't enjoy a bit of drama here and there.

  Leandra cleared her throat and did her best to put on her best smile. "Well... If the fates will it then one of my daughters will stop living in a fantasy world and grow up at some point," the Duchess stated, looking smug, but deep down she wished she could sp Ysandra in front of everyone.

  "Or maybe you and your husband should have found them a partner that they would accept and would give you grandchildren," Ysandra pointed out.

  "We didn't have much of a choice! You should know how important it is to marry someone who is beneficial for the family!" Leandra excimed, her mask slipping.

  "I do, and I also know that when it comes to the nobility, we should never force our children to do something that will make them miserable. Or is your marriage to the Duke as as your three older daughters' marriages?" Ysandra shot back, not letting the Duchess have the st word.

  Leandra gred daggers at the baroness, knowing she can't refute the cim. Aric wasn't everything she wanted, but he was far more desirable than the men her daughters were married to.

  Leandra could hear the dies around her whispering behind their fans. The Duchess could feel the eyes of her allies on her, making her feel uncomfortable.

  "Well, you're free to think whatever you want, Baroness. But I have to question your loyalty if you are willing to ally yourself with the Dark Elf," the Duchess hissed.

  "Oh? You're talking about Princess Rya? The woman who saved Princess Hilda from getting assaulted by Prince Zane, or the time she saved the city of Ironside from being conquered by a Mercenary group hired by your husband? Or the time she rescued the Crown Prince from your son's desertion inside the Tomb of the Horde?..." Ysandra questioned the Duchess.

  The dies gasped and whispered among themselves as Leandra was starting to lose her cool when Lady Saffron Fairchild chimed in.

  "You're also talking about a woman who created an artifact that allows her to see who was what level Mana Vein and if they are a mage. A woman who not only is a healer of the likes we have never seen but an multi elemental mage in all four elements? A woman who will bring a Renaissance to Mages and Maja throughout the continent?" Saffron asked, looking the Duchess dead in the eyes.

  Elizabeth was surprised by this revetion and was beginning to change her mind, but she needed to confront Rya in person. With enough people around to give her enough courage to confront the Dark Elf... And maybe after she has a couple gsses of wine too.

  Leandra was trying to come up with a counter, but she didn't know about this artifact that Saffron Fairchild was talking about. Before she could process this, Countess Seraphina Valerian chimed in as well.

  "And you're talking about the very same woman who has come up with a solution to my husband's overstock of cotton and wheat. A woman who has gain the trust of not only the King, but the Queen," Seraphina said, sipping her tea.

  "You are forgetting that this Dark Elf is a threat to the Kingdom," one of Leandra's allies, Marchioness Isabel Wrightwood stated. She didn't really want to help, but if she didn't try then she would get a ear full from her husband who's fighting to keep his position as Prime Minister.

  "Is she really?" the question came from Baroness Elowen Windermere. "Because she's helped my husband's rebuild our wealth back up thanks to that trade deal of her's."

  Leandra needed to help this at once before the dies of the Minor Nobles being to realize who they should really side with.

  "Yes! She is! This woman is a Dark Elf, a creature of the dark! You cannot trust such a being!" the Duchess said loudly.

  "That is funny coming from a woman who's husband tried to assassin the Crown Prince when he was a baby," Saffron Fairchild stated.

  The room was filled with gasps as a lot of the women in the room forgot about that. Even the Duchess was taken back by that comment.

  "That was a long time ago, and my family was punished for my husband's ck of judgment. For 15 years our coffers have been looted by the Crown and that weasel of a Prime Minister!" Leandra blurted out causing Isabel to frown at the Duchess. "And you lot haven't refuted the most demanding thing I said about this Dark Elf!"

  "Oh? And what is that, Duchess?" Seraphina asked, leaning forward.

  "She murdered my son... and none of you have the evidence to say else wise. You all have fallen for her charm and the Crown's lies. How can any of you stand for this?" the Duchess accused Ysandra and her group. A bunch of the bystanders were nodding and mumbling to each other, thinking that the Duchess made some good points. Elizabeth became nervous again, while Hilda began to realize that the foul Noblewoman the goddess mentioned was narrowing down to Leandra and it made her nervous that she screwed up her guidance by not going along with the Duchess's lies.

  'Oh, no... B-But maybe this isn't the pn. Iyomelka did mention some about agreeing with a choice that I wouldn't be comfortable with. And the Duchess didn't offer me a scheme to defeat the Dark Elf yet. Maybe it won't be as bad as the goddess said it would,' Hilda thought as she took a small breath.

  Ysandra noticed something out of the corner of her eyes and she smirked at the Duchess. "So, you are saying that if someone can prove that Princy Rya Velnax isn't the one to execute Marcus, then you will stop your campaign against her? I assume that will extend to anyone else who might have wrongly accused her."

  Leandra smiled confidently as she knew that no one could prove either one of the cims and since she was the one to spread the lie first is might make Rya look guilty if she tries to prove herself innocent. Lies spread faster then the true and Leandra had the edge.

  "So, are you going to prove this Dark Elf her innocence?" Leandra asked, causing Ysandra to smile at the question.

  "I'm gd you asked that, Leandra. I could convince everyone here that you're lying, but..." Ysandra trailed off and Leandra smiled bigger.

  "But... what? Come on, you're a smart girl. You know no one can prove her innocence. She is the monster that the King and Queen fear. She will kill you all and your children just like she killed my son."

  "Oh, no... That's where you are wrong, Leandra. Why should I prove her innocence, when Princess Rya can do a much better job at it than I," Ysandra answered while gncing over to the grand entryway into the ballroom. Leandra and everyone who was listening joined Ysandra's gaze and their eyes widened when they saw multiple figures with long ears waiting to be announced by the Lord Stewart.

  'It's okay Leandra. You knew that she would show up and she will be on the defensive like I pnned. Don't get nervous now, I will be able to use this chance to prove that she is the monster that everyone believe she is,' Leandra told herself as she prepared to take down this wench down once and for all.