The Prime Minister walked through the hallways of the West Wing surrounded by his staff and aides. All were dressed in fine silk clothing, and all were armed with swords and shields. Clinton was carrying a small wooden box filled with the documents that Duval would need to present the evidence to his colleagues.

  When the Prime Minister entered the room, everyone turned to stare at him. They knew this was going to be a big event with the look written on his face.

  "Gentlemen... Ladies... Your Majesty," Duval announced to the gathered nobles. "We have a very important matter to discuss."

  He moved to his chair at the head of the table and took a seat on the opposite side of the King and Queen.

  He scanned the room starting from right where his allies were sitting and sweeped to the left until his gaze stopped on William and Alistair.

  He cleared his throat, "Lord William? Do you know if the Duke will grace us with his presence?"

  Everyone looked at William as he stood up, "The Great Duke, Aric Revelia, had some unfortunate circumstances that needed his attention. I'll be representing him for the duration of this meeting."

  Duval nodded and turned to look at the King and Queen, "Your Majesties. May I begin?"

  The King and Queen kept a straight face as they nodded.

  "Thank you," Duval started. "It seems that there was an attack on a dear guest and emissary to the Holy Alliance, Prince Zane Stoneworthh. The main perpetrator of this act is none other than Princess Rya Velnax. Her pn is to weaken our bonds with our southern neighbors. She wants to see the peace treaty between the Holy Alliance and the Kingdom of Fiafyr come to an end! It is a threat to her existence, and thus, she sought to destroy it."

  "And what proof do you have, Prime Minister?" Cyndre asked with a hint of annoyance.

  "I have here in my hand the witness account of the event, a signed affidavit," Duval replied as he pced the parchment on the table. "I have all the accounts from every one of Prince Zane's guards and staff. It was a brutal and ruthless attack. She used her dark magic to torture Prince Zane, and she even went so far as to break his arm."

  "She used dark magic to torture him?!" Baron Caldorian Montcir excimed. Johnathan was nervous himself, but Ysandra, Zellin, Nathaniel, and Eamon seemed unfazed by this.

  "Yes," Duval replied, "And her actions are a clear threat to the peace treaty and the safety of the citizens of Fiafyr."

  Rianna felt the words bubbling up inside her, ready to burst forth in a sharp retort. But there was an unspoken rule when the King was present; her tongue was effectively tied, and she had to bite back her sharp wit, stifling her instincts in the charged atmosphere of the room.

  "These are big cims, Prime Minister... I hope you aren't making things up," Earl Nathaniel spoke with a calm and collected tone. "Do you have proof?"

  "I do, and it is not something that I take lightly. If we want peace and prosperity, then the threat of the Dark Elf Princess must be dealt—"

  "You're grandstanding, Prime Minister," Ysandra cut off Duval, which took him by surprise. He was going to give his best speech, and she just had to ruin it.

  "Grandstanding?" Duval replied with a hint of annoyance. "I have evidence and witnesses, and yet you accuse me of grandstanding?"

  "Yes, I am... If you had the evidence, then you wouldn't be wasting the court's time," Ysandra responded calmly, "I'm sure the Royal family has more important things to attend to. Instead, you're trying to pin a false accusation on an innocent dark elf."

  The Nobles started mumbling as Ysandra showed open defiance toward her ally. Duval couldn't believe how disrespectful Ysandra had been these past weeks. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have gotten the Minister of Education and Research position. She should show him more respect and support, not treat him like her enemy.

  "If the Dark Elf Princess is innocent, then why doesn't she show herself right now? Is it because she knows the truth and is trying to cover it up?" Duval retorted.

  "Or she was invited to visit the Mage's Guild on Grand Master Fennic's request, and you're using this as an excuse to remove her from the castle," Ysandra retorted.

  Duval's eye twitched. He didn't know that Ysandra witnessed Grand Master Fennic's visit to the pace. He knew that Zellin was there, and he thought he could accuse the Dwarf of being the vilin to humanity if needed. But apparently, he wasn't the only one who noticed him.

  "How about we call a witness," Duval pivoted without resounding to the argument. "Prince Zane Stoneworthh! Step forward!"

  The doors behind Duval opened to a bruised and battered young man who had his Padin helping him walk when he stumbled a bit.

  "Get your hands off of me, Darius!" Zane demanded, shrugging off the Padin.

  Sir Darius did as he was told, took a step back, and stood by the door.

  All the nobles began to mumble to each other as Zane slowly made his way to the center of the chamber.

  Cyndre looked a little worried as a few of the nobles looked mortified at the sight of Zane. Lord Brice was on edge as well. This was going to be tough to counter, and he had no idea how they were going to get the upper hand.

  'We're in trouble... Gawain, you better come through for—huh?' Lord Brice's thoughts were interrupted when someone tipped his left shoulder. It was Gawain, and he had a piece of parchment on which he scribbled all his notes. He had a slight grin on his face and gave Brice the folded parchment.

  Lord Brice unfolded the paper and looked at it. He read it once and then twice before looking at Gawain with an unsure look. He couldn't believe that the information Gawain gathered was correct. But his friend just nodded and motioned to the parchment. Brice gave the paper back to Gawain and turned his attention to Duval.

  Brice covered his mouth with his right hand while crossing over his left arm over his chest so he could prop up his elbow. He was trying to conceal the smirk that was trying to break out on his face. 'Duval has to know, right?...'

  Brice examined the Prime Minister, trying to determine if the man had the information that Lord Gawain found out by the servants and guards. If Duval didn't then all this was for nothing, or it showed how desperate he was to rid Rya. And as Duval presented his evidences, it became clear to Brice that the Prime Minister was in over his head.

  'He doesn't know!... Hahah! Stay calm, Brice... I need Duval to dig his own grave before I can save us from the mess.' Brice kept a stoic expression but he felt a tinge of glee watching Duval make a fool of himself.

  Zane's injuries were a lot more serious than anyone was expecting and the proud foreign prince looked at all these Nobles as if they were morons while Duval continued his monologue.

  "See what evil, this Dark Elf has brought to the pace!" Duval said, gesturing toward the injured Zane.

  "Our guest was visiting the pace, UNARMED! And this is how he is treated. How do you think the rest of the kingdom will take this? They will see that the Foreign Prince was almost assassinated. We will fear that the Dark Elf is looking for tyrannical rule of the Kingdom." Duval finished his rant.

  "Prime Minister... This is a serious accusation. But how was it that he and his men survived this... assassination attempt, now? I thought it was for stopping the peace treaty and the arranged marriage?" Brice asked as he needed Duval to dig himself deeper.

  Duval paused for a moment before thinking of something. "Yes... The Dark Elf tried to stop the peace treaty and arranged marriage by assassinating the Foreign Prince." Duval replied.

  Brice had a slight smirk on his face and nodded, "But why is he still standing and breathing? Are you saying the Dark Elf failed, and he somehow survived?"

  "S-She probably wasn't the best area to kill him," Duval replied, stuttering for a second.

  Brice's smirk was trying to break through but he kept his stoic mask on his face. "I see... If it pleases the Lords, I would like to ask our esteemed guest a few questions?" Brice suggested.

  Duval knew that Brice was going to dig into his story and was hoping that Zane would come through. He was vague with a few questions, but how could the Head of the Fiafyrian Royal Council possibly confront a beaten and battered Zane with all the evidence against the Dark Elf?

  "You better not be pnning on attacking Prince Zane's character." Duval threatened Brice.

  "Of course not. I would never do such a thing. But if the Foreign Prince could clear up any misunderstandings between these accusations and his own account of the incident, I think everyone would feel better. Wouldn't you agree, Prime Minister?" Brice asked, looking Duval right in the eye.

  Duval was nervous because Lord Brice was one of the few people who could outmaneuver him in politics, and Duval had a feeling that the Head of Fiafyr had a trick up his sleeve. He just had a gut feeling that something wasn't right with this.

  "Prime Minister... Wouldn't it be proper to hear the story straight from the Prince's mouth?" Ysandra suggested, and the other members agreed.

  Rianna was delighted to see the Baroness support the idea and she nodded with a smile.

  Duval knew he was boxed in, and he had no choice but to let the Royal Council question Zane.

  "Very well... but if you dare go too far, I will make sure your head rolls." Duval threatened and his face showed no amusement.

  "Understood, Prime Minister..." Brice said as he stood up from his seat and made his way toward the Prince, who was standing in the middle of the chamber.

  "My, my... She really did a number on you." Brice commented as he got close to Zane.

  "She used a few dirty tricks on me... If I was armed and prepared, it would have been a different outcome. This time... she caught me by surprise." Zane responded, his voice full of anger.

  "I see... Well, Your Highness, may I ask what brought you to the pace in the first pce?" Brice inquired, crossing his arms over his chest.

  "That is none of your business!" Zane growled at the man.

  Duval's face went pale, and most of the other lords' faces showed their displeasure with the Prince's answer.

  "Oh?... It's none of our business to know what a foreign Prince is doing inside the pace grounds with his men?... Could Prince Quinus do the same thing if he were to walk around the Temple of the Divine Order? Or the Pace of the Holy Alliance, or any of the other paces belonging to the Nine Kingdoms and the Holy Orders?" Brice asked, making the foreign prince's face got red with anger.

  Brice paced around the Prince like a predator circling its prey. "You were inside the pace grounds with your men. For what reason was that? Did you have a meeting with the King and Queen? Or maybe it was to see the Crown Prince?"

  "I had no business with them," Zane replied.

  "Is that so? Then, if it wasn't to meet with the Royal Family, why would you come to the pace? Was it to seek out Princess Rya to provoke her—"

  "I object!... The Dark Elf was the one to attack the Prince, Lord Brice, and you know that! I told you not to question his character, and you should refrain from insinuating the Prince was seeking her out to antagonize her!" The Prime Minister interjected.

  "I'm just making sure His Highness answers our questions with truthful answers. If he isn't hiding anything, then he should have no trouble answering these questions." Brice replied while ignoring the Prime Minister's outburst.

  Brice was a very crafty man, and he always knew how to get the information he wanted from people when he had counter-evidence that said otherwise.

  "I didn't come to the pace to seek out that foul woman!... And I didn't come here to provoke her either!" Zane roared at the older gentleman, causing a few people in the audience to gasp.

  Brice smirked at the 22-year-old boy as he was slowly cornering him. "Thank you for answering truthfully, Your Highness... Now then... If you weren't here to visit the Royal Family and you weren't here to see Princess Rya... Then does that mean you came here to visit your sister, Princess Hilda?..."

  Duval felt a sense of existential dread starting to overwhelm him. He realized that Zane didn't tell him why he was at the pace. Zane said that he was business for the Nine, and Duval believed him. But Duval should have been more skeptical about the boy's intentions. Duval realized he was so desperate to rid Rya from the Kingdom that he failed to notice any possible holes in Zane's testimony.

  "Half-sister!..."

  "So, you're not denying that you were visiting her, Your Highness?"

  Zane kept quiet this time and gred at the man, slowly tearing his words apart. Duval knew he needed to jump in before the Prince made any rash statements.

  "That's enough, Lord Brice! This is ridiculous, and you have no proof that the Dark Elf wasn't the one who provoked the Prince and his men! We've already determined she's guilty! She'll confess to her crime! And she's a Dark Elf! Why are you trying to defend her!?"

  "My Lords... I feel like we need another perspective on the events of Prince Zane's assault. We have eyewitnesses saying that in the guest wing of the pace. There was a verbal confrontation between the Prince and his half-sister, Princess Hilda," Lord Brice decred as he walked around the Prince. "And what was this confrontation about?... Were they fighting about something?..."

  "What does it matter!? The Dark Elf is still guilty, and we have the—"

  "What was it that you two were arguing about, Your Highness?"

  Zane just frowned at the older man who walked up to him and stared him down.

  "Your witnesses are nothing more than insects that are corrupted by that Foul Witch!" Zane said, not backing down from the older man.

  Brice smiled again, "Oh? So, the pace's staff and guards aren't good enough for you, Your Highness?"

  "They're the King's servants and are nothing more than his puppets. They'll do whatever they're told."

  "Hmm, you're right... So, how about we bring your half-sister, Princess Hilda, into the court, and she can tell us her side of the story then? We'll see if her side matches your version of events?"

  Zane remained quiet as Brice turned to Gawain, "I'd like to bring in Princess Hilda Stoneworthh as a witness to this case."

  A murmur spread through the gathering of nobles, their voices low and anxious, creating an unsettling buzz that filled the air. In the midst of this growing tension, Duval's face flushed with panic, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. Across the table, Viscount Octavius Bckwood observed the turmoil with a furrowed brow. In a moment of acute distress, he leaned forward, resting both elbows on the polished surface, his fingers intertwined in a desperate attempt to shield his face from the world around him. His hunched posture conveyed a sense of defeat as if the weight of the gathering's unrest had become too much to bear.

  Gawain gestured subtly to one of his aides, signaling for Princess Hilda Stoneworthh to be brought forth. As she entered the chamber, accompanied by her maid, Dori, a puzzled expression crossed her features, momentarily clouding her striking presence. The room, still bearing the weight of the previous emergency session where Rya had triumphed over Duval, Aric, and Terenthiel, seemed to reverberate with echoes of that turmoil.

  As Hilda stepped closer, the sight of her half-brother, who had seen better days, quickly dispelled her confusion. The seriousness of the moment washed over her like a cold wave, and she straightened her posture, ensconcing herself in an air of determination. She moved with purpose to the center of the chamber, her gaze unwavering, ready to confront whatever y ahead.

  "Princess Hilda," Brice began, "you have been called here as a witness to this proceeding. Can you please state your name for the record and the kingdom to which you are the Princess?"

  Hilda hesitated at first but then said, "I am Hilda Stoneworthh. I am the second-born daughter of Prince Dreyand Stoneworthh, head of the principality. My Kingdom is the Human Kingdom of the Holy Alliance of the Divine Three."

  Brice nodded his head as he paced around the chamber, "Did Prince Zane, your half-brother, come to visit you in your room today?"

  Hilda nodded her head slowly, her lips pursed tightly.

  "And what did you discuss?"

  Hilda looked at her half-brother, who was staring daggers at her. But she turned her attention to Brice and replied, "He saw it fit to question everything that I've done since my arrival."

  "Question you how?"

  "He sees everything that I'm doing as a betrayal of the moral fiber of the Divine Three. I told him I'm not trying to do anything but fulfill the duties assigned to me by our father."

  "Did he believe you?"

  "He was skeptical at best," Hilda said with a sigh.

  "So, he thought you were sinning."

  Hilda repositioned for posture and said, "Yes."

  Brice looked at the Prime Minister who was beginning to sweat, "And what sins were you committing, Princess Hilda?"

  Hilda gnced at her half-brother, "He said that I've been acting like a harlot, to use the sins of the flesh to win over my Crown Prince from the clutches of that Dark Elf."

  The nobles cast their discerning eyes upon Hilda, who stood gracefully in her elegant white Victorian-style dress. The fabric fell softly around her, its subtle v-neckline hinting at sophistication while maintaining an air of modesty. In stark contrast to the vibrant, revealing dresses favored by the Fiafyrian women, Hilda’s ensemble exuded a conservative charm. The Fiafyrians were accustomed to the sight of shoulders and arms adorned in fmboyant styles, making Hilda's attire seem almost like a relic from another time, a gentle reminder of decorum amid a sea of boldness.

  "And is what you are wearing right now your regur attire in your Kingdom?"

  "Yes," she replied.

  The nobles exchanged gnces as they couldn't believe that Zane would call out his sister for wearing such a modest and simple dress.

  Brice looked at the members of the Council and the King, "What's the punishment for a person who is considered a harlot?"

  "Usually by disciplining her in front of her family or other important people in the community."

  "I see," Brice said and looked at Hilda.

  "Was there anything else that Prince Zane had said about the matter?"

  "He told me to stop trying to pray to the false Goddesses of the Church of the Bance... For it is the worst sin a human could ever commit."

  The Council and King stared at her in disbelief.

  "He said this even after you received Iyomelka's favor and are seen as a champion for the Goddess of Bance?"

  "It is a sin to pray to a false goddess. I knew what the risks were. But I did it so I could become closer to my Crown Prince, so he would see me as a potential future wife."

  Half of the Nobles started to gre at the Foreign Prince, and the rest just shook their heads in disappointment.

  "What is the punishment for someone who has sinned against the gods of the Divine Three?"

  "The Prophet Paul would have ordered them to be put to death. The Gods don't take lightly the act of someone praying to another divine one," Hilda answered.

  The Prime Minister was sinking in his seat. He could not believe that Prince Zane would be this cruel and callous to his sister.

  "So, what happened between you and your half-brother, Prince Zane?"

  Hilda looked away for a moment. "He saw to it that I listen to him and only him from now on or suffer the consequences. I was a fool to disobey his orders, and he has reminded me that he will not tolerate such disrespect."

  She lowered her gaze and clenched her fists. "I understand his point of view, but I am the only one who can get the Dark Elf away from the Crown Prince. I do what I do to save him and our people. And that's why I must continue to pray to the Divine Ones, despite the fact that I know what will happen to me. I ran out of my room to get away from my half-brother. The only thing I wanted to do was leave him so he could calm down.

  "And he chased after you, didn't he?"

  "Yes, I was running away from him. But then, he grabbed my arm and was ready to discipline me right then and there. He hurt my arm as he prepared to hit me."

  The room was silent, except for the sound of a few men's voices whispering angrily.

  "Did he strike you?"

  "No. The..." Hilda sighed as she hesitated to speak. "She intervened. She brought my Crown Prince to see Zane was hurting me."

  "What did she do?"

  "I was terrified at first but relieved to see the Crown Prince as he and the Dark Elf questioned my half-brother on why he was attacking his future wife."

  "And what did your brother say?"

  "That he was disciplining me because I was disrespecting the Prophet and the Divine Three. So, he raised his hand again to strike me, and before he could. Another Dark Elf that looked exactly like Rya grabbed his arm and took down Sir Darius at the same time... I don't know what witchcraft she used, but my half-brother let go of me and attacked this clone."

  Brice stopped in his tracks and stared at Hilda, "So, you are saying that Princess Rya came to your rescue? She came to protect her rival for the prince's affections?"

  "Yes," Hilda said quietly.

  Duval wanted to hide his face and groan. This was blowing up in his face, and he couldn't help but worry about the implications of using Zane to rid Rya when it was Rya who saved Hilda from her half-brother. Hilda was the key to the peace treaty, and Duval felt he needed to get his hands on Zane quickly before he made the situation even worse.

  "Do you think that Zane would harm you if you were alone?"

  "E-Enough to leave a mark."

  A few nobles balked openly at the notion that a man would harm a defenseless woman.

  "It's a shame that our Prime Minister would go out of his way to punish Princess Rya when she is the one who saved the Princess of the Holy Alliance from being damaged to the point where she wouldn't be acceptable to be the bride of the Crown Prince," Lord Brice said, staring pointedly at Duval. "It's thanks to her that the Peace Treaty is still intact. I, for one, am grateful that the Dark Elf Princess has the heart of a hero, and I would welcome her as part of the royal family if she gets accepted. I see no reason to charge her with a crime or have her be exiled. In fact, if anything, she should be rewarded for saving our Princess from certain injury."

  Brice's words caused a stir in the room, and Duval found himself in an awkward situation. He needed to do something, anything, to stop the tide from turning against him.

  "T-The Princess doesn't understand the gravity of the situation! She must have been charmed by the Dark Elf as well—"

  "WHAT!?!" Hilda shouted in anger. "My faith has made her charms worthless! You're a fool if you think I am being charmed by her! After my half-brother and his men were escorted away. My Crown Prince left me alone with her, and you know what she said!? She said that the Crown Prince was her and I should walk away! But I wasn't having any of it! I told her that one of the Divine Ones had listened to my prayers and that she'd been cursed! It's only a matter of time before her increased appetite will strip her of her beauty and release my Crown Prince from her evil spell!"

  This statement made half the nobles chuckle as Hilda was acting like a mean girl. Rianna frowned while Ysandra looked away from Hilda in embarrassment. Duval looked the worst as he received Hilda's ire.

  "And all the Dark Elf could do after that was throw insults at me, saying that I can't please a man because of my ck of experience! Just because I don't know what to do doesn't mean I can't learn! I'm a fast learner!"

  This statement was too much, and the entire room burst out into ughter. Even Rianna cracked a smile at Hilda's naivety. Hilda's cheeks reddened as she realized what she just admitted to.

  Lord Brice looked at the humiliated Prime Minister, whose mouth was agape and his face flushed. He had never seen Duval's composure break like that.

  "I believe that this court should vote for Princess Rya's innocence. We'll start with Earl Nathaniel Valerian; you may state your vote."

  "Aye, Innocent," The Earl responded without hesitation.

  "Baron Zellin Coldforge?"

  "Aye, Innocent," The Baron responded as he pulled out his pipe and started filling it with Yasen's finest tobacco.

  "Baron Johnathan Dule, do you vote innocent or guilty?"

  "Aye, Innocent. But I'm not happy with how quickly Princess Rya resorts to violence," Baron Dule stated.

  "That can't be helped," The Earl chimed in. "Some people just want to fight."

  "Aye," Zellin nodded his head to his friend.

  "Baroness Ysandra Fyrel," The Lord of the House spoke, "how do you vote?"

  "Aye, innocent."

  Everyone who was a part of the Prime Minister's coalition looked at Ysandra like she had gone insane at first, but Baron Eamon Stirling and Baron Thaddeus Windermere were the first two to agree with her.

  "Aye, innocent," Eamon stated.

  "Aye," Thaddeus agreed.

  Baron Caldorian Montcir, the Minister of Justice, was on the fence due to his loyalty to the Marquess and his desire to agree with his lord. But the evidence against Zane made it impossible for him to deny the truth.

  Caldorian looked at the Prime Minister, whose complexion was slowly returning to normal, but he was starting to feel rage as his friends were going against him.

  "Prime Minister... I know that you want us to vote against Princess Rya, but the truth is the truth, and the proof is indisputable. So, in good conscience, I can't vote against the facts. So, I vote aye, innocent." The Baron said solemnly.

  King Cyndre, Queen Rianna, and Lord Brice couldn't believe how quickly the tide had turned. Brice wasn't surprised by the votes due to how ill-prepared Duval was, but it was surprising that the Prime Minister's coalition was crumbling so quickly.

  It didn't take long before everyone's attention turned to Viscount Octavius Bckwood. He still had his head in his hands and was looking down at the table. His fingers were twitching, and his eyes were closed.

  "Viscount Bckwood," King Cyndre's voice called out, "How do you vote?"

  Octavius sighed before lifting his head and whispered, "..."

  "I'm sorry, my Lord. But we couldn't hear you," Lord Brice stated.

  "I... Vote... Innocent," Octavius answered. His mind was reeling as he wanted to say guilty, but he couldn't. Everything that he thought Duval stood for seemed to ring hollow after he presented Duval with the evidence to bury Aric. And the only person that was able to stand up to him was Rya... And her willingness to keep the possibility of the Peace Treaty alive by rescuing Princess Hilda wasn't lost on him. This Dark Elf had far more integrity than he thought a Dark Elf would have. So, he was going to do the right thing, even if it might bring war.

  Octavius's turning was an even bigger surprise as Duval's anger grew, and his face was red again.

  "You fools!" Duval shouted, "How can you side with that vile creature?!"

  "The evidence says otherwise, Prime Minister," Lord Brice replied.

  Octavius's vote made it past the threshold of seven votes, as he gave the eighth and final vote, and the verdict was unanimous: Rya was innocent.

  "You shut up!" Duval screamed at the Head of the King's Royal Council.

  Duval was beyond livid, and his face was turning red from the anger and humiliation he was experiencing. He wasn't thinking clearly and couldn't comprehend that the House of Lords had voted against him. Especially Octavius who he thought was loyal to him.

  "Such impatient words coming from our esteemed Prime Minister," King Cyndre calmly stated, and everyone's attention turned back to the King.

  "You're all traitors! All of you!" Duval bellowed, "Especially you, Octavius!"

  "DUVAL!" Cyndre snapped.

  Duval froze, and the silence returned. He looked down at the floor and took a deep breath before slowly rising back up. His breathing was heavy, and his blood pressure was high. Duval was fuming, and his face flushed as the King spoke.

  "You, of all people, should know better, Prime Minister. Your job is to help run the kingdom and help me keep the peace and prosperity for all the citizens of Fiafyr. If you cannot fulfill that task, then I will request a vote of no confidence, and you will be repced."

  "This isn't over," Duval growled.

  "It is," Cyndre decred.

  "NO!" Duval cried out, "We will continue until—"

  "I motion for a vote of no confidence!" Ysandra loudly interrupted.

  "I second the motion!" Earl Nathaniel called out.

  Duval gred at the Earl, who had a smug look on his face.

  "Only a second member of my coalition can second a vote," the Prime Minister growled.

  And without warning, Octavius spoke up and said, "I second the motion."

  That caused all eyes to go wide, and everyone was staring at the elderly man. Duval was gring daggers at his ally who had betrayed him, and he wanted nothing more than to strike Octavius down. William gnced over to Alistair, and he had a perplexed look on his face.

  "Looks like Lord Aric chose the wrong day to skip this meeting," Alistair remarked to himself, and William smirked at that comment.

  "This is preposterous!" Duval roared.

  "Order," Cyndre demanded, "Everyone who isn't a member of my Royal Council or a Major Lord shall leave this chamber at once."

  Everyone looked at the King, and they didn't argue with him. They quickly got up and began to make their way out of the room. Hilda watched as her Half-brother gred at her before hobbling out of the room with Sir Darius by his side.

  'I wish I wasn't so weak that I needed her to save me... No! I'm strong. Just in a different way...' Hilda thought to herself.

  Hilda stood up and started making her way out of the room, but not before gncing back and seeing Duval still in a heated debate with the King and his ministers. She felt bad for him, but it wasn't in her to lie. She knew she had to do what was right, and lying was not it.

  "Come now, my Lady," Dori urged, and the two of them left the room.

  A few minutes ter, the chamber was empty except for all the Major Lords, the Prime Minister, Lord Brice, Lord Gawain, the King, and the Queen. The room was silent, and the tension was thick. Duval knew this was a lost cause. He just needed to figure out the best way to keep his power. His only option is to dey the proceedings if the vote for No Confidence goes through.