Blithwine Elders
After that assassination attempt, I hadn't really seen Accorsa for the five days after that day.
It's been more that a week since I entered into this world and there's still no progress on leaving or helping Accorsa become Duchess.
I and Yvonne had gotten quite close during the past days, close enough for me to know that no matter what the rule is, it could be broken by handing over a few gold coins or jewellery.
In the original novel, it wasn't mentioned that Yvonne loved money that much.
-Knock knock
A knock came from the door.
"Come in." I said loudly.
A head covered in pink hair popped out through a door that wasn't fully opened yet, Irene smiled before coming in.
She walked towards me and crouched down, she held my hands and sighed.
"Tiana, can you please stay in your room today?"
"...?"
"I'll give you a whole lot of chocolate muffins if you do this for me."
What is she saying? Why can't I go out?
"...?"
"You see, Tatiana. There are a lot of mean old people in the Duchy today. And, little Tiana might be scared and get sick. I don't want our precious baby to fall sick."
Mean old people? Perfect description of the Blithwine elders.
The elders only visited the Duchy for meetings concerning very important matters.
If I find out what they want to talk about, then I might be able to help Accorsa.
"Tiana?" Irene called out when she did not receive any reply from me.
I looked up at her and smiled innocently.
"Okay."
"Good girl, big sister and pretty sister would protect you, okay?"
"Hmn." I nodded.
She stood up with a smile, she bade me goodbye and left the room.
****
Meanwhile. In a hall with a long table surronded by chairs, men and women in their forties or older sat around the table.
"Where is the child?"
"I can't believe that girl let an illegitimate child into the Duchy."
"The late Duke, how did he even get so close to a mere maid to the extent of producing a bastard child."
"See why I said he was never fit for the position."
The old people chattered and voiced put their unending complaints.
The double door was pushed open and a young lady with ashy-white hair entered the hall, she was clad in white and gold light armour, her presence exuded grace and power enough to suffocate the old men and women.
The unending chatter ended and most of the people stiffened, the lady's dark aura swept over them and then disappeared.
"You nonsensical child, how dare you use the Blthwine aura on us." One of the men stood up and pointed his finger at Accorsa.
"You can use yours on me if you want... Oh, you can't." Accorsa mocked coldly.
She was right, only direct descendants could use the Blthwine aura.
Unlike the main powers, the fear-inducing auras of the dukes wasn't lost and could be taught to heirs or direct descendants.
Accorsa sat at the head and sighed.
"What is the issue you want to be addressed."
"We heard you brought a child home." A woman who seemed to be in her early fifties said.
The twenty elders all turned to Accorsa.
Accorsa smiled coldly and said.
"I saw the gift one of you sent to her a few days ago, it was mistakenly destroyed but put it in mind that the next time you send such a gift. I'll send mine too, which would not be destroyed until it gets to you."
The elders gulped when they understood the meaning of her words.
"You."
"How can you say something like that?"
"Did I say something wrong, Thirteenth elder?"
"Are you planning on killing us, you crazy child?"
"But I only said I'll send a gift to you, Ninth elder."
"What do you mean 'you'?" The Ninth elder shouted in horror.
"You shouldn't threaten your elders, Accorsa." A calm cold voice came from the other end of the table, the person who was sitting at the other end opposite Accorsa finally raised his head up, his hair was all white but he looked agile and strong like a person a few years over forty. He opened his eyes that were as golden as that of Accorsa.
The entire hall quietened down and even the sound of breathings couldn't be heard.
"I don't know what you are talking about, First elder." Accorsa answered with vigilance.
The first elder was the oldest elder here and the one with the purest blood after the direct descendants. He was no simple person.
"You are supposed to know the name and title of every elder."
"I don't think I am obliged to know something that insignificant, First elder."
"Of course, you are supposed to. If you can't do that then you can't become Duchess Blthwine."
"Yes, yes, yes."
The other elders immediately chided in so as to win the favour of the first elder.
The first elder glared at the shortly and turned back to Accorsa.
"That isn't the main reason of our coming here, the warlocks have began to attack some parts of the Dukedom." The first elder said.
"And?" Accorsa raised a brow.
"We found a way to protect the borders of the Dukedom."
"The knights can do that."
"The Dukedom is large, the knights can only guard the Duchy."
"..."
"The king of Amalek has decided to help. The kingdom of Amalek is popular for its magic, magic artifact and the strength of their army."
"Why would the Amalek want to help us?"
"They need an alliance with Pelonia."
"Why didn't they go to the Emperor, then?"
"Even though Amalek is a prosperous kingdom, it is still a kingdom and can not stand up to an Empire as successful as Pelonia, nor can it ask for an alliance."
"Is it an alliance for war?"
"No."
"What form of alliance then?"
"Marriage."
Accorsa's lip curled up coldly, so they wanted to marry her out. She chuckled coldly and asked.
"Marriage? To which of the elders daughter?"
"Stop acting clueless, Accorsa. They want a direct descendant for the alliance."
"There is no way the heir would marry from another kingdom." Accorsa placed her hand under her chin.
"I know, that is why I came now. The prince of Amalek is nine years old this year and I happened to find out that the duke has another daughter, who is just four years younger."
At his words, the smirk on Accorsa's lips faded as slowly as it came. The aura she had locked up unknowingly spilled out.
The First elder's lip curled up in victory.