Chapter 195: The Guests From Beloria [Part 3]
"Agnes! Fiona!" Father chastised. "Give your respects. Now!"
Hesitation became their gaze, but seeing the knights were ready to rip them apart without question, they curtsied.
"We came here to see the Monarch," Father began, and I knew he went down to business to kill the tension in the air.
He was smart enough to know how this would end if it went further.
"The monarch is busy and has asked me to welcome you in his place," I said.
"I see. Then we shall honor your presence."
Having this man bow his head as he speaks to me was truly a rare sight. A man who never looked my way and spoke to me like I was furniture.
"Let us go inside; you must all be tired and famished after your long journey."
~•~
Silence filled the hall, and nobody attempted to eat. The look on Fiona’s and Stepmother’s faces told me that they were a bit apprehensive, or maybe they were daunted by the fine cuisines on display, several dishes that had never graced their tables before.
Father drank only his wine, his expression unreadable, but I could see how he’d occasionally glance at me and linger, but I didn’t spare him a look.
"Is the food not to your liking?" I asked after an hour of silence. "I ensured the chefs have prepared the best for our guests. Please tell me, if you do not like this display, then another will be arranged promptly."
Fiona scoffed scornfully as if mocking my words. "Look at you acting so queenly. A bastard will always be a bastard."
Her sudden arrogant demeanor was because we were alone in this dining hall. I had a feeling whatever was brewing within would come in full swing.
Well then... bring it on, dearest sister.
"Is all this some kind of trick? You’re sitting there wearing clothes that aren’t yours and acting as if you owe the world. You forget your place, Eloise. I knew you were always so cunning, but this is too much. Are you using this to show the father of your fake achievements?"
I smiled. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Acting like you have somehow achieved the impossible will not change anything."
I chuckled, positioning my hand close to my mouth to compose myself. "I assure you there is no trick involved."
"Then are you saying you somehow won the heart of a beast?" she taunted. "Or did your whore mastery finally earn you something good?"
"How can I be a whore to my husband? Performing my martial duties is my duty after all."
"Hmph! Maybe you didn’t just fuck your husband then. I know you fucked your way to the top."
"You’re right, Fiona. That explains everything we have seen today," Stepmother said with certainty. "You shameless girl. Your boldness scares me. How could you stoop so low? You may no longer bear our name, but this is just disgraceful."
"No doubt, mother, that she was passed around between beasts. They must find her skills in bed worthy."
"Oh, dear..." I drawled, pressing my elbow into the table, and rested my chin on the back of my hand. "Your speculations are wild."
"You’re not denying them, which could only mean how you were able to claim the queen position. I knew Lycans to be such sexual beasts, who knew they had a thing for a human," Stepmother uttered in revulsion, as if she couldn’t bear the sight of me.
"How disgusting!"
"Anything I say won’t change what your mind has conjured about me just to escape from the truth right in front of you. It’s not surprising."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Trying to talk with simple-minded people will ultimately dull my brain. You give in to whatever pleases you and build your own version of the truth around it. But I must ask..." I opened my eyes that I had closed earlier. "How does it feel knowing deep down that you’re running on a baseless assumption?"
Stepmother’s mouth hung open.
"Hate it, be repulsed, insult as much as you want until it becomes an endless process, but it becomes pitiful knowing it’s the actions of people who can’t comprehend a simple truth."
"Y-Your pretty words won’t get to us!" Fiona barked, pointing her fan at me. "Y-You have so far not defended yourself, so we speak the truth!"
"Defend? Why would I subject myself to such an underhanded effort?"
"That mouth of yours!"
"Eloise..." Stepmother said sternly. "Why ridicule us in such a way when we speak the truth? As Fiona said, if you can’t defend yourself, then we’re right. You’re a whore who doesn’t know when to close her legs."
"Does it matter how I rose to power?" I countered. "Whatever my methods are... I prefer the sweet taste of mystery as you rant on like a bird."
"What did you say?"
"Agnes..." Father cut in. "We’re here for an official meeting. Whatever else you have to say will come later after we’re done."
He moved his gaze to me. "The monarch should have been here by now."
"About that Lord Ravemont, the monarch has asked me to stand in his place. I’ll be in charge of taking reviews about the progress of the lands."
Father narrowed his eyes. "It was the monarch who called for this meeting. His presence is needed."
"Indeed, as I said earlier, he’s quite busy. I shall handle everything or do you object?"
"Very well."
"I have heard about the progress of the lands; expansion is going well, it seems."
"We’ve already given daily reports. I’m sure you are already aware."
"I applaud Beloria for such improvements in the past year."
"We can expand freely without the vampires’ influence."
"Snowbloods," I corrected, and a flicker of emotion rose in his eyes. "It’s more tamer, don’t you think, Lord Ravemont?"
He broke his gaze from mine and continued. "There is still more work to be done. Some of the lands are harsh to farm on and settle in due to the damage done from the war."
"I see... but those weren’t mentioned in your daily reports sent to us."
"The thought of giving such bad news to the monarch was unwise."
"So you chose to record only success? That’s not a very smart move, Lord Ravemont."
"Excuse me?" He questioned with a frown.
"Didn’t your council teach you right when dealing with a foreign empire or are you dull not to consider the consequences of your actions?"