"What is that thing!? You're pcing a curse on me, aren't you?! Stop!" Hilda excimed, her hands filing in panic as she confronted him.

  "Calm down, Princess Hilda. It's not what you think," Octavius interjected quickly, his eyes darting towards Rya. "Lady Rya said it’s an artifact that allows her to see your Mana Vein."

  "Mana Vein?" Hilda's brow furrowed, confusion swirling in her eyes.

  Octavius tilted his head, surprised. "You didn’t hear her expining it to us?"

  "I was praying. Of course, I didn't hear anything she was saying." Hilda snapped at him.

  Octavius winced at the sharpness of her voice, the bite of her words echoing in the air around them. He had always been one of the few who still hoped she would accept Quinus's hand in marriage, believing in the stability it could bring. Yet, this unexpected revetion sent a ripple of doubt coursing through him, unsettling his thoughts. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on him as he resolved to confront Rya, needing to probe deeper into her intentions should she step into the role of Crown Prince’s wife. He couldn't shake the feeling that her answer might change everything.

  "It's a magical monocle that lets us see people's Mana Veins. This is how she found a bunch of children with the talent and potential to become a mage or maja. She's giving them a better life now," Quinus answered before Octavius could reply.

  Hilda looked at him and sighed in frustration. She didn't want to be rude to the man she was supposed to marry. But how is he supposed to know if that artifact is real or not? He still is under her control.

  "Well, I don't think I want it pced on me. I've never heard of an artifact like this, and the Divine Three say that humans who rely on the mana of sin monsters have their souls corrupted. So, I'd rather not risk the temptation of a dark artifact that could corrupt me and my soul." Hilda said defiantly, which made Quinus smirk at how adorable her naivete was. Rya wanted to roll her eyes at the redhead.

  'Hold on... That's some bullshit... Unless?... They don't want their followers getting inflicted with Mana Lust... Yeah, knowing how strict her religion is, they probably tell them that masturbating corrupts a mortal's soul, and then they'll go down the rabbit hole into crimes, drugs, and whatever crap the clergy can accuse a person of committing to further their agenda. Hilda just doesn't know she's stuck in a cult and that the Divine Three are gaslighting her. If she wasn't such a bitch then maybe I'd feel sorry for her.' Rya thought with a sigh.

  "Well, Rya has let me use it to see her mana vein, and it is a slight. It's not meant for putting curses on people. It only shows us the potential of what someone can do. But I assure you, Lady Hilda, it is quite beautiful." Quinus said with a grin.

  Hilda blushed at his flirtation and smiled shyly.

  'He's not fully under her control... Good. There's still a chance that I can save him! But how can I fully remove the spell she cast on him?' Hilda thought while her smile became wider and brighter.

  Rya noticed that Quin was staring at Hilda a little too long, and she pinched his side and gred at him. He flinched and looked at Rya and frowned at her jealousy. He smiled at her, which made her pussy quiver.

  "That was payback for the little stunt you pulled," Quinus whispered and licked his lips. Rya blushed and felt her nipples get hard.

  'How can he get me wet without even touching me? M-Maybe I need to jerk him off again to show him who's boss!' Rya thought with a huff and tried to cross her arms over her breasts. But since her bosoms have grown a bit more due to her pregnancy, all she did was make her breasts stand out more. Quinus and Hilda couldn't help but stare at them.

  'He's mesmerized by her bosoms?... I dare not show that much skin... But if I could get him to look at me like that... Wait... No!... I can't let lustful thoughts cloud my mind. My people are counting on me to marry him. He needs a strong heir, and I must make sure he only impregnates me. Ugh... Where are these thoughts coming from? Why am I acting like a common harlot?!' Hilda thought and clenched her fists to fight off her sudden feelings of lust and envy.

  Octavius was getting uncomfortable with the tension between the three, and he was trying his hardest to ignore the lust in the room.

  "Um... So, your artifact can tell us what level Mana Vein someone may have, correct? So, what is my potential?" Octavius asked the two as they stopped teasing each other.

  Rya cleared her throat. "Ahem... Let me double-check," she said, raising the monocle to her right eye and focusing on Octavius' mana veins.

  After a few moments, Rya lowered the monocle and looked at Octavius.

  "You have a Master Level Mana Vein, Lord Octavius," Rya said, making Octavius smile widely.

  "So, I don't have an Elite Vein?... That's a pity... But that's good to know, My—"

  *BAM!*

  Johnathan’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Rya, immersed in her mysterious artifact. It flickered and glowed, revealing secrets about someone's mana vein. This was it—his moment to silence the whispers of doubt surrounding his son and restore his family's honor.

  “M-My dy! Please, you must look at my boy's mana vein! Confirm to everyone that Johan possesses a true and formidable mana vein, one worthy of the heir to the Dule Barony!” His voice trembled but held a palpable urgency.

  Johan, taken aback by his father's outburst, felt the ground shift beneath him as Johnathan forcibly lifted him to his feet.

  “F-Father! No, please! This is too much!” Johan protested, embarrassment flooding his cheeks.

  But Johnathan, driven by desperation, ignored his son’s pleas. He strode determinedly towards the dark elf, a mix of hope and dread swirling within him. This was a chance for redemption, and he couldn't let it slip away.

  "My dy, please tell everyone that he's a powerful Maja like the others and that you've been a te bloomer. It's not your fault," Johnathan said to Johan as he brought him to Rya.

  Cyndre and Nathaniel felt embarrassed for Johan as their friend was making a mockery of his son in front of everyone. Zellin was enjoying himself while the rest of the Nobles looked confused.

  "Father!? Everyone is looking at us like we're insane! I don't want everyone to think that my father is crazy! Please stop!" Johan yelled at his father, but Johnathan wasn't listening.

  "Lady Rya! Please tell us if my son is a strong noble! Is his Mana Vein a high-quality one? Does he have at least a Master Vein? I must know, please!?"

  Rya was taken aback by the Baron's erratic behavior. Her instinct to help him cshed with her vow to keep Johan's secret safe. She met his pleading gaze, uncertainty dancing in her chest. Nearby, Quinus shifted uncomfortably, his concern for his friend evident.

  “Dad, can’t you do something?” he whispered urgently, casting a worried gnce at his father.

  Cyndre, the king, felt the weight of his son's plea. He longed to intervene, to pull his friend, Johnathan, back from the brink of folly. Yet, even a king could only watch helplessly as someone made a spectacle of themselves. He sighed, reluctant to add to Johan's humiliation that had already been brought to him by his father.

  “I’m not sure I can, my son,” Cyndre replied, worry etched on his brow.

  With a heavy heart, Rya raised her Seer Stone, fixating on Johan's Elite Mana Vein. It shimmered with an intense azure glow, illuminating the surrounding darkness. The vibrant blue pulsed rhythmically, reflecting the rare essence of his illusion mage veins that wove intricately throughout his body like delicate threads of light, each pulse a testament to the magic flowing within him.

  "Ummm? Lord Johan has a..."

  Johnathan's face broke into a wide grin, and the room fell silent. Every eye turned to Rya with anticipation.

  "He has a common level mana vein. S-Sorry, Johan," Rya stammered as she carefully lowered her artifact, tucking it away into her cleavage.

  For a moment, the joy on Johnathan's face faltered. "Oh..." he replied, his smile lingering but the sparkle in his eyes dimming. He patted his son's shoulder gently before making his way back to his seat, a heavy silence hanging in the air.

  As he sat down, his smile still in pce, a wave of confusion swept over the guests; faces turned worried as they braced for a sudden outburst of emotion. Instead, Johnathan raised a hand, beckoning a servant over.

  "I’d like a refill of my wine, please," he instructed, his voice steady. The servant nodded and began to pour, but as he tried to step away, Johnathan reached out, gripping the man’s arm with surprising intensity.

  "Fill it to the top, if you will," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. The servant complied, pouring until the gss brimmed dangerously.

  Across the table, Ysandra and Eamon exchanged concerned gnces while Nathaniel leaned in, trying to catch his friend’s eye. "Johnathan... my friend, the wine can’t breathe if you fill it to the top like that."

  A murmur of unease rippled through the gathering, and all eyes still fixed on Johnathan as they wondered what he might do next.

  "Nathaniel... I can barely breathe myself... So what does it matter?" Johnathan's voice was heavy with despair as he smmed his gss on the table, the contents sloshing dangerously close to the edge.

  "Don't serve him another drop," Cyndre commanded, fixing his gaze on the servant. It was one small thing he could do to keep Johnathan from tumbling deeper into his own darkness.

  Slumped in his chair, Johnathan stared bnkly at the polished wood of the table, words escaping him entirely. His friends felt the weight of his silence like a thick fog hanging over the room.

  Ysandra gnced at her fellow noble, desperate to find the right words to comfort him, but her mind went bnk. She shifted her focus to Thaddeus, who appeared just as lost in thought.

  "Come on, let’s finish dinner and bring out dessert. That usually brings a smile, right, Johnathan?" Cyndre tried his voice, which was a mix of determination and hope.

  Johnathan merely shrugged, his indifference biting into Cyndre’s spirit.

  Seeing his best friend in such sorrow was painful. Cyndre’s eyes darted to Eamon, who was already signaling for the dessert to be served, eager to uplift the mood.

  Rya stole a gnce at Quinus, who sat beside her. “Do you think we should have told him the truth?” she whispered, a frown creasing her brow. Anxiety danced in her voice as she awaited his response.

  "If there weren't enemies all around us, I would agree. But we have to keep up with the lie until we know who is gunning for his title," Quinus said.

  Rya sighed. She didn't know if making Johan's Father miserable was worth it just to bait out a potential traitor.

  'I don't know if this is worth it... But it is Johan's choice, and he will have to deal with the consequences.'

  As the servants whisked away the st of the dirty dishes, a delightful spread of dessert took center stage, and the Prince's eyes sparkled with joy at the sight of a sumptuous cake and a vibrant fruit ptter. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the servants poured generous gsses of wine and refreshing water for everyone, and soon enough, each guest was served a delectable slice of cake.

  In a moment that raised an eyebrow, Yuliana reached for Rya's gss of wine and requested tea instead. Rya watched in confusion, wondering why her mother was behaving so strangely. While she found it odd that her mother would take her wine, Rya had been souring on the taste of it tely, so she shrugged off her worries.

  'Why is Mom acting so weird?' she pondered, gncing at Yuliana, who fshed her a brilliant smile, seemingly unfazed. Rya decided to py along, convincing herself that her mother’s quirky behavior was just a passing phase.

  It was then that Rya noticed what type of cake was being served, and her eyes grew wide. 'C-Chocote!?' It was like her stomach moved all three servings of dinner she had eaten into somewhere as her hunger kicked in full force. 'B-But how am I this hungry?... I already ate so much!... I-Is Yuliana right about Gods' inability to make a mortal fat?... Because Hilda keeps praying and I'm getting hungry all the time...' Rya thought, her gaze shifting to Hilda, who was talking with Octavius and Caldorian.

  Hilda and Rya locked eyes for a moment, and both blushed as Hilda thought Rya was trying to curse her while Rya couldn't tell if the gods were on her side or not.

  'I-I'm only going to have a small piece. It's not going to be that—'

  Yuliana had a servant give her a generous slice and a fork. She then proceeded to reach past Eine and pced the thick piece in front of her daughter.

  "You've been burning a lot of energy today, so you should eat a little more." Yuliana smiled, but her smile was hiding her curiosity. She wanted to ask Rya if she thought she was pregnant, but Elven superstitions made her hold her tongue.

  'Is mom in cahoots with Hilda!? N-No... She wouldn't. She knows I hate her. Maybe she's right... I've been worried about my weight all this time, and maybe I've been stressed about getting past this st hurdle and becoming queen. If the gods really do make mortals have a healthy appetite, then it's a sign they are watching me.' Rya thought and picked up her fork. 'Or Nils and Nebulus won't leave me alone!'

  Quinus noticed Rya's hesitation. He smirked and ate a big bite of the cake, savoring the rich, chocotey taste.

  "Mmmm... Delicious," Quinus moaned and licked his lips.

  Yuliana, Nieren, Eine, and a few other dies giggled at his show. Dalia was too lost in her own world as she was devouring her sweets.

  'Dammit Quin! Whatever! It's okay to eat a little bit. Just one bite, and I'll be good,' she thought, her mouth watering at the rich aroma. Her eyes scanned the table, observing the others' reactions to the delectable dessert.

  The King was smiling as he ate his slice, and Eamon was enjoying his while Eine and Ysandra were sharing a slice between them. Hilda and Octavius were eating their slices with a bit of reluctance as they had a few more bites than they intended.

  Even with all her procrastinating, Rya couldn't resist the delicious aroma that enticed her senses. Finally, she took a bite of the cake. As soon as the moist, decadent, dark chocotey goodness hit her tongue, her mind went numb with pleasure.

  'OH FUCK!? THIS IS HEAVEN!'

  Quinus had a huge grin on his face as he watched Rya, her face brightening as her eyes rolled back in pleasure. She was so busy devouring the cake that she didn't realize she had finished the whole piece in less than a minute.

  The Crown Prince noticed that his fiancee was distracted, and he looked around the dining hall. He was going to return the favor to Rya for teasing him, so he stealthfully snuck his right hand underneath the tablecloth and slid it under her dress. He rubbed his hand against her panties, making her gasp and jump up in her seat, which made everyone look at her.

  "A-Are you okay, Lady Rya?" Quinus asked her, pretending that nothing happened.

  "Um, yes. Sorry, I was enjoying my dessert, and it was so delicious that I wasn't paying ah~attention!" While Rya was trying to keep her cool, the Crown Prince was rubbing her pussy in slow circles.

  "Well, you must have really enjoyed your dessert. You're acting strange," Lady Tayna teased, giving the Crown Prince a wink, and the prince had a smug grin on his face.

  'Tayna!? D-Don't encourage him!' Rya thought, and her cheeks turned pink. And with each slow circle around her clit, her legs opened wider against her will.

  'S-Shit! H-How can this feel so good!?' Rya thought as the prince teased her pussy, and her breathing became heavy. She wanted to get mad at him, but she didn't want everyone to know what was going on.

  Yuliana could hear Rya's ragged breaths, and her face became pale as she looked at the Crown Prince. 'These humans are insatiable! I need to protect Eine's innocence!'

  The royal wood elf quickly found the special earplugs she made for herself and quickly plugged the young half-elf's ears.

  "Huh? Why is sister breathing all—GAH!? Mother? Why did you—"

  "Not now, Eine!... You've had a long day, and you should get some rest. Come now, and say goodnight to everyone." Yuliana said with a strained voice, and the young half-elf reluctantly complied.

  Eine gave everyone a polite curtsy and walked to her mother's side.

  "I'm going to escort my daughter back to her room," Yuliana informed everyone, and the group nodded.

  "Good night, everyone. We had a lovely evening."

  "Yes, good night. Please rest well," the King replied, and the others followed suit.

  As soon as they left the dining hall, the Crown Prince increased his speed. Rya let out a small moan as she bit her lower lip, trying to keep her cool. She arched her back and grabbed the table as her toes curled in her shoes.

  'Oooooh~! I'm gonna cum~!' Rya thought, and her breathing was heavy and fast. She didn't realize it, but Rya's eyes were locked on Hilda's eyes, who was watching her and the prince with curiosity.

  "What's wrong with her? Why is her face flushed? And what is that expression she has on her face?" Hilda whispered to the Viscount, and Octavius looked at her confused.

  "I don't know... Maybe it is a dark elf thing? It is hard to tell what other races do during a feast. Maybe she had a little too much to eat." Octavius suggested and shrugged.

  The Crown Prince smirked and slipped his hand under Rya's panties, and his fingers found their way into her dripping wet cunt. The poor Dark Elf could only rock her hips against his hand, trying to get off.

  "Oh~! A-Are you okay, Lady Rya? Your face looks a little flushed," Prince Quinus asked in a teasing tone.

  "Y-Yeah! I-I'm f-fine!" Rya stuttered and was fighting to control herself. She noticed that Nieren, Dalia, and Tayna were all looking at her with a knowing look, while Hilda and Octavius weren't sure what she was doing.

  "If you say so..." the prince replied and started rubbing her pussy faster.

  Rya jolted her back against her chair, and she was death-gripping the armrest as if she were on a roller-coaster. She was doing everything she could to suppress her moans as she was on the ride of her life. Quinus and Rya had been together long enough now that they knew how to get one another off easily, and no matter how much she swayed her hips, Quinus knew precisely where her weak spot was.

  "Umm, Lady Rya, is that you or the chair shaking?" Octavius asked.

  "It's m-me!" Rya replied and was starting to pant. She'd never been so embarrassed in all her life, and a part of her hated how much pleasure the prince was giving her, but another part of her didn't want him to stop.

  "Hm? Is something the matter, My Lady?" Quinus said in an innocent voice and leaned close to her.

  Rya tried her best to gre at him, but her eyes were too hazy with lust. "N-Nothing!" she managed to say right before Quinus zeroed in on her clit and started rubbing it faster.

  "You look like you're ready to climax," Quinus whispered.

  Rya wanted to retort, but a tsunami of ecstasy hit her, and her body trembled; her thighs cmped around his hand, and her pussy pulsated. The poor Dark Elf was trying her best not to scream and make a scene. But soon, her vision went white as her eyes rolled up, and she bit her lower lip.

  'OH FUCK! I'm Cumming~!... This feels amazing~!' Rya thought, and her body was shaking. She gushed all over Quin's hand, and some of her love juice got on the floor, staining the tablecloth.

  "Are you okay, Lady Rya?" Cyndre asked as he noticed her shaking.

  "Y-Yea! Y-Your Majesty, I'm—Oooo..."

  "Um, she's fine father. She's been working hard and needs my help with some work, so we're going to retire for the night," Prince Quinus said, saving his lover from making a scene.

  "Ah, yes. Then I'll see you tomorrow," Cyndre said and nodded.

  Quinus skillfully moved Rya's skirt back in pce, and he quickly wiped off his hand of Rya's juices. He would have loved to lick her cum off his fingers, but it was best not to make a scene.

  "Come now, my dear. Let's go back to your room and rest," Quinus said, getting up and offering Rya his hand.

  Rya's mind was still hazy from her orgasm, and her knees felt weak. 'W-Wait... What did he just say? My room?'

  Rya's heart started to beat faster as her mind cleared. She realized that she was going to go another round with Quinus and that she needed to mentally prepare herself. She accepted his hand and slowly stood up, her legs feeling weak.

  "Thank you, Quinus. I appreciate it," Rya replied, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

  Hilda saw this and was about to get up to stop them, but Dalia jumped on her p. "Gah! W-What are you doing!? You flea-infested mongrel!" Hilda yelled and shoved Dalia off her p, but the wolfkin refused to move.

  "Your p looked comfy, and I wanted to test it out. What's the problem, red? You never saw something that you didn't want to test out?" Dalia said and grinned.

  Hilda looked like she wanted to murder Dalia as she tried to shove off the wolfkin again, but Dalia's strength and weight made it difficult.

  Nieren was listening to the footsteps of Rya and Quinus, slowly getting quieter. Once the Wood Elf heard Rya and Quinus entering their room, she signaled to Dalia that she could leave Hilda alone.

  "Hm? You have good thighs for a human. I could sit on you all day, red." Dalia complimented and patted Hilda's p before leaving her.

  "Grr..." Hilda growled at the wolfkin, and she was tempted to sp this girl's face, but she had seen this thing sparing with the Queen's Bodyguard, Lady Nelumbo, and she knew what Dalia's cws could do, even with her pregnant belly.

  "That's not a bad growl. Are you sure you aren't part beastkin? If you were, I'd say you're a tiger, a red tiger, which is a rare breed," Dalia said and sat back in her chair.

  Hilda didn't have time for this, so she got up from her chair and ran out of the dining hall.

  A few of the nobles gnced at each other.

  Baron Caldorian leaned closer to Octavius, his voice barely above a whisper. "Has the decorum in these hallowed halls shifted? The women seem unusually rowdy tonight."

  Octavius, unfazed, responded with a knowing gnce, "We're not merely surrounded by humans anymore, Baron. The presence of elves and beastkins has stirred a different energy within the pace."

  Nearby, Zellin couldn't help but smirk, their hushed tones carrying just enough for him to catch the exchange.

  "Consider yourself lucky, Caldorian," Zellin said, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Lady Dalia has truly grown since our first meeting. Back then, she was a whirlwind of appetite, practically glued to her feast, devouring everything with her hands while pyfully teasing her mate." A hearty chuckle escaped his lips, filled with a mix of nostalgia and pyful taunts.

  The Baron raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the noble dwarf. "So, you’ve crossed paths with this beastkin before?"

  Dalia, her curiosity piqued, jumped into the fray. "Wait, are you talking about me?"

  "Indeed, Lady Dalia!" Zellin replied with a grin. "It warms my heart to see how far you've come—using a fork and knife now! Quite impressive!"

  Dalia blinked and looked at the noble dwarf, and smiled. "Well, Alpha said I wouldn't be able to eat this amazing food if I didn't wear these cute rags or use these silly shiny things... I think it's dumb, but I'm willing to compromise," she said.

  Nieren ughed at Dalia. At first, she was annoyed to be around the wolfkin, but now she couldn't imagine having dinner without her.

  "You know, Dalia, you’re refreshingly honest," Nieren said with a warm smile. "You’re the first wolfkin I can truly call my friend."

  Dalia's eyes sparkled with delight, her affection palpable. In an instant, she leaped from her chair, dashed to Nieren's side, and enveloped her in a tight embrace, nuzzling her head affectionately against the wood elf's cheek.

  "Gah! I-I take it back! You’re still a bit annoying!" Nieren squeaked, her cheeks flushing as she gently pushed Dalia away despite the grin tugging at her lips.

  Across the table, Caldorian and Octavius exchanged knowing gnces, their expressions a mix of amusement and resigned acceptance. "I guess this is how things are going to be from now on..."

  Meanwhile, Cyndre and Rianna chuckled, and the King shook his head as he observed their pyful dynamic. The atmosphere was light and joyful, and the rest of the group returned to their desserts, ughter, and lively conversation, basking in the warmth of their newfound friendship.