Vol.3 Ch.222 The Emergency Session.


    When the queen entered the room, Lord Brice and his aides rose from their seats and respectfully bowed in her presence.


    <span ss="aiText">"My queen, you are <span ss="userText">glowing this fine morning. Did you do<span ss="aiText"> something new with your hair? Or is it that you slept well?" Lord Brice asked with a smile.


    Rianna''s cheeks burned as she struggled to suppress the telltale signs of embarrassment.


    "I didn''t do anything differently. Excuse me," Rianna said as she brushed past them, heading determinedly towards the king.


    <span ss="userText">Lord Brice was confused and watched her sit beside the king and grab his hand. Normally<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">,<span ss="userText"> the Queen<span ss="aiText"> would be reserved and <span ss="editText">would have told him off<span ss="aiText">. He couldn''t help but notice the way her hand tightened around the king''s and how she looked at him, which made the old man''s eyebrows rise in surprise.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">''Well, isn''t this interesting? <span ss="userText">She''s acting shyer than normal... And she''s grabbed Cyndre''s hand? I wonder what he did to get back in her good graces<span ss="aiText">?'' Lord Brice thought.


    Cyndre''s gaze shifted to Rianna, and a warm smile spread across his face.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''m d to see you this morning, my queen. You are looking exceptionally lovely," he whispered to her.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Don''t push<span ss="aiText"> your luck," Rianna whispered back, but the corner of her mouth twitched.


    <span ss="editText">''His Majesty did<span ss="userText"> do <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText">something<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> to get out of the dog house<span ss="aiText">, and it''s got her all flustered. Hmm, <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">now I need to ask him how he did it. But that will have to be for another time<span ss="aiText">,'' Lord Brice thought and chuckled.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Alright, Lord Brice... Now, we can get into<span ss="aiText"> the matters of the Kingdom. I have other things to attend to. So please make it quick," Cyndre said in an authoritative tone.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ah, yes, <span ss="editText">Your M<span ss="aiText">ajesty... I have some unfortunate news. It''s regarding the <span ss="userText">Prime Minister,"<span ss="aiText"> Lord Brice stated.


    Both Rianna and Cyndre cast frustrated nces in the direction of Lord Brice, their expressions clearly conveying their irritation.


    <span ss="editText">"What has Duval done now?" Cyndre inquired as he rubbed his temples. He knew that if it<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> concerned the Prime Minister, the news was bound to be troublesome.


    <span ss="aiText">"He<span ss="userText"> has summoned the other Major Noble Lords to the Capital for an emergency session... Word is he wishes to ban the Dark Elf—"


    "Lady Rya!" Rianna''s sudden interruption startled everyone in the room. It was highly unusual for her to interject in front of her husband''s council, but she felt an inexplicable need to defend the dark elf.


    <span ss="userText">"I-I apologize, My Queen... He wants to ban Lady Rya from entering the capital. He warned that her presence in the pce would shatter the harmony between the Divine Three and our kingdom, bringing about ruin... I fear that he wishes to turn her over to the Alliance<span ss="aiText"> to be executed," Lord Brice told the King.


    Rianna was ovee by an intense surge of anger welling up inside her. She struggled to contain it, but eventually rose from her seat.


    <span ss="aiText">"You will not hand over Lady Rya to the Alliance! Do you hear me? She''s a guest of the crown and under my protection," Rianna growled as she red at Lord Brice.


    <span ss="editText">Brice had never seen the Queen this animated before. Unsure of what to do, he nced at his aides<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> for support.


    Cyndre rose from his seat and leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper, as he spoke into her ear.


    "Rianna, are you okay? I''ve never seen you like this. Is there anything I can do to help?" Cyndre pleaded, and Rianna calmed down after releasing what she had done.


    <span ss="aiText">''What the hell came over me? I''m not sure what''s going on. Why did I get angry? Why did I defend her?<span ss="userText"> She did heal me from that unknown poison in my body... And my son does love her...<span ss="aiText"> So maybe that''s why I feel a need to help her. Yeah, that must be it... She''s a good woman, and I need to do everything I can to help her,'' Rianna wondered as she calmed herself<span ss="userText"> before whispering back.


    <span ss="userText">"Cyndre... We can''t let them take our son''s love away. And I think she''s good for him... I think<span ss="aiText"> we should support her and keep her protected. We have no idea how long this peace treaty willst. And the Divine Three mighte after her... <span ss="userText">Hopefully, they snuck into the Pcest night and are safe,"<span ss="aiText"> Rianna exined, and Cyndre smiled.


    <span ss="aiText">''So <span ss="editText">this Lady Rya did pass my wife''s test<span ss="aiText">. She must have done something amazing for Rianna to get her trust. I<span ss="userText">f my wife trusts her, then I should too.''<span ss="aiText"> Cyndre thought as he nodded his head.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well... I had a feeling that he would pull something like this after I informed him about our son''s letter... That''s one of the other reasons why I hurried over herest night. Duval can''t ratify his<span ss="aiText"> orders unless <span ss="userText">I''m there to witness<span ss="aiText"> it. <span ss="userText">We can take our time to return to the capital... Even if it is an Emergency Session, we can draw it out for five days, maybe seven if we y things right," Cyndre whispered<span ss="aiText"> back.


    <span ss="editText">Rianna was impressed with her husband. She didn''t know he was capable of thinking outside the box, which sent a<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> small shiver up her spine.


    <span ss="userText">"You knew that Duval was going to<span ss="aiText"> pull a stunt like this?<span ss="userText">" Rianna<span ss="aiText"> inquired as she looked into his eyes.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I wasn''t a hundred percent sure. But I had a hunch after I informed him about Lady Rya''s race... My main reason was to see our son, but this was a happy ident<span ss="aiText">," Cyndre exined.


    One of the things that captivated her about Cyndre was his unwavering honesty and his genuine concern for her well-being. She could feel herself being drawn to him once more, and she was so taken by the moment that she would have kissed him if it weren''t for the presence of Lord Brice and his aides in the room.


    <span ss="aiText">"Cyndre...<span ss="editText"> You have your moments... Even if they''re rare<span ss="aiText">," Rianna whispered back.


    <span ss="aiText">"I aim to please," he replied and smiled.


    Rianna let out a light-hearted giggle and then made her way back to her seat. Cyndre couldn''t help but feel a surge of satisfaction knowing that his wife was starting to open up to him. However, he was also aware that he needed to assert himself when it came to dealing with Duval and his schemes.


    <span ss="userText">"I apologize for my outburst. Please continue," Rianna stated as her normal demeanor<span ss="aiText"> returned.


    <span ss="aiText">"As youmand, My Queen," Lord Brice responded<span ss="userText">, "So, Duval is hell-bent on getting Princess Hilda to meet up with Prince Quinus.<span ss="aiText"> I think that the main goal for th<span ss="editText">is<span ss="aiText"> meeting<span ss="userText"> is to trap Lady Rya<span ss="aiText"> and force Prince Quinus into a marriage. Duval ns to have him wed the Princess and unite the kingdom <span ss="editText">with<span ss="aiText"> the Alliance. But <span ss="editText">my aides informed me <span ss="aiText">that <span ss="editText">this marriage could <span ss="aiText">leave <span ss="editText">the <span ss="aiText">Fiafyr Kingdom open and vulnerable<span ss="userText"> to the Divine Three,"<span ss="aiText"> Lord Brice informed the King and Queen.


    <span ss="aiText">"Is there a way we can stop him? Or is he beyond reasoning?" Rianna inquired.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Well, this is a long shot, but w<span ss="aiText">e could use the church to help us...<span ss="userText"> If Lady Rya can speak to the idol of Goddess Iyomelka, then <span ss="editText">the people <span ss="aiText">will see her as a messenger from the goddess. It will stop the other nobles from following Duval''s n," Lord Brice exined.<span ss="userText"> Rianna perked up at the mention of Iyomelka. She remembered the ceremony when she first came over to Fiafyr, and the priestesses performed<span ss="aiText">the blessing ceremony.<span ss="userText"> They were all stunned when the idol''s eyes glowed a faint<span ss="aiText"> white light<span ss="userText">, which made the priestesses go crazy with excitement. Rianna was the first in many decades to get<span ss="aiText"> the Idol to <span ss="userText">respond.


    <span ss="userText">Rianna didn''t know what the big deal was, but after living in the kingdom for as long as she has<span ss="aiText">, she has learned more and more about the <span ss="userText">goddess and how she never reveals anything to her followers like other gods do. It was<span ss="aiText"> like she wanted her followers to find the answers themselves.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">B-But she''s a Dark Elf, and the goddess could be furious with us," one of the aides<span ss="aiText"> stuttered.


    <span ss="userText">Everyone looked at the aide with<span ss="aiText"> a look of disbelief.


    <span ss="aiText">''That aide has no tact... Ormon sense,'' Cyndre and Rianna thought at the same time.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">That''s what they said about me when I first arrived in the Kingdom<span ss="aiText">," Rianna pointed out.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">But you are a human like the rest of us, my Queen. And<span ss="aiText"> a Dark Elf is—"


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s enough<span ss="userText">, Sig<span ss="aiText">mund.<span ss="userText">.. This is the best option we have to hold back<span ss="aiText"> Duval''s ns," Lord Brice told him.


    <span ss="aiText">"My apologies, Lord Brice," the aide stated.


    <span ss="userText">Cyndre nodded, "Do we have a backup n if she doesn''t seed<span ss="aiText">?" Cyndre asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"If the Goddess rejects her, we will have no choice but to send her into hiding... Or have her leave the kingdom," Lord Brice replied.


    <span ss="userText">"She won''t fail," Rianna<span ss="aiText"> stated<span ss="userText"> with conviction.


    <span ss="userText">Lord Brice and his aides weren''t fully convinced, but they nodded anyway, and Cyndre smiled at his wife''s<span ss="aiText"> confidence.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Of course she won''t. If Lady Rya has won my Queen over<span ss="aiText">, then she''s more th<span ss="editText">a<span ss="aiText">n worthy," Cyndre told them.


    <span ss="aiText">Lord Brice <span ss="userText">wanted to argue about that, but he held his tongue<span ss="aiText">. He ha<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText"> seen the Queen act like this a couple of times in his life, <span ss="userText">but he couldn''t remember when<span ss="aiText"> or why.


    <span ss="aiText">''I need to keep an eye on her behavior. It seems a bit strange that she''s acting this way. <span ss="editText">She''s practically glowing. M<span ss="aiText">aybe her love for her son is making her <span ss="editText">this way<span ss="aiText">,'' Lord Brice wondered.


    <span ss="userText">After a moment<span ss="aiText"> of silence, Cyndre <span ss="userText">turned back to Lord Brice and asked, "Any word on how my brother tends to y this? He''s been silent, and it''s putting me on edge<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"Nothing at the moment, my King. He hasn''t moved any forces from his territory," Lord Brice replied, and the aides nodded.


    <span ss="aiText">"I see," Cyndre mumbled as he tapped his fingers against the table.


    <span ss="userText">Rianna was in a simr<span ss="aiText"> thought process as her husband.


    <span ss="userText">"Do we have an idea of how he''s going to side in the emergency<span ss="aiText"> session?" Rianna inquired.


    <span ss="aiText">"We believe so, My Queen. But we can''t be certain," one of the aides replied.


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna''s face turned to disgust as she was reminded of a memory<span ss="userText"> of her brother-inw''s actions. She wished that Duval hadn''t talked Cyndre out of executing his brother for the failed assassination attempt. But here they were <span ss="editText">19<span ss="aiText"> yearster, and <span ss="editText">ric was <span ss="aiText">still plotting.


    <span ss="userText">"We believe Duke ric is going to side with the Prime Minister... If Lady Rya is a healer—"


    <span ss="userText">"She is... I''ve witnessed it first hand<span ss="aiText">," Rianna interrupted.


    <span ss="aiText">"Then he would probably support the Prime Minister''s decision<span ss="editText"> to try and break up the prince''s rtionship with her,<span ss="aiText">" the aide concluded.


    <span ss="userText">Cyndre sighed and leaned back on his throne while rubbing his temples, "That''s too simple and juvenile for my brother... He hates Duval, and there has to be more to his<span ss="aiText"> motive th<span ss="editText">a<span ss="aiText">n this. He wouldn''t risk <span ss="editText">handing over <span ss="aiText">the kingdom <span ss="editText">to the Divine Three. I''m sure he has a n to use Princess Hilda, but is she a willing<span ss="aiText"> participant, or is she <span ss="userText">a pawn to be thrown away after she served her usefulness<span ss="aiText">?"


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s a great question, my King," Lord Bricemented as he pondered the situation.


    <span ss="aiText">"My husband is correct. There''s no way he would side with Duval without something in it for himself," Rianna added.


    <span ss="userText">"Well... He can''t do anything to the prince with a healer by his side<span ss="aiText">. He''s probably banking on the fact that she will di<span ss="userText">e at the hands of the pdins<span ss="aiText">," Lord Brice pointed out.


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna''s anger returned as she heard this, <span ss="userText">but she calmed down once Cyndre took her hand<span ss="aiText"> in his and held it tight. She felt better as she squeezed his hand.


    <span ss="aiText">"And if we can prove to the people that she is the messenger of Iyomelka. His n would be ruined.<span ss="userText"> But we need to find out what else he has up his sleeve<span ss="aiText">. I can''t see him giving up the fight so easily," Cyndre stated, and Rianna nodded.


    <span ss="aiText">"We <span ss="userText">are trying our best, Your Majesty<span ss="aiText">," Lord Brice replied.


    <span ss="aiText">The Queen was bing restless, so Cyndre gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Rianna looked over at him and nodded.<span ss="userText"> She didn''t know why she was<span ss="aiText"> so irritated. She just wanted to see her son and have him be safe. But the news of Duval and ric trying to split them up was a bit too much for her to handle,<span ss="userText"> and she was getting hungry again<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"My husband is correct... We need more information and less assumptions. I suggest you gather more intel, Lord Brice," Rianna suggested in a calmer tone.


    <span ss="aiText">"We will do that, my Queen," Lord Brice said<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="userText">"When did Duval first order the session?" Cyndre asked.


    <span ss="userText">"This morning, my liege,"<span ss="aiText"> an aide replied.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">So, we have four days before Duval has the authority to begin the session<span ss="aiText">. We have three days to get our affairs in order and one day for Lady Rya to perform the ceremony," Cyndre deduced<span ss="userText">, "Brice. I need you to get the wheels in motion. If I step foot in the capital, then Duval canmence<span ss="aiText"> the session<span ss="editText">. So I''ll stay here in Lomar until thest minute. I''m counting on you, my friend<span ss="aiText">," Cyndre told him.


    <span ss="aiText">Lord Brice smiled and bowed, "As youmand, my King. We will have everything in order and make sure Duval has nothing toin about. I''ll leave you with your wife, My King," <span ss="userText">Lord Brice and his aides left the chamber and left the King and Queen alone.


    <span ss="userText">"I hate having to sit back and wait for the news," Rianna said, and Cyndre smiled.


    <span ss="userText">"I''ve never seen you<span ss="aiText"> like this, my love. You''re usually more patient," Cyndremented.


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna''s face flushed with embarrassment, "I-I know... It''s just that I don''t like Duval<span ss="editText"> and ric <span ss="aiText">scheming behind our backs," Rianna admitted.


    <span ss="userText">"And their schemes will fail<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">I promise you that<span ss="aiText">," Cyndre reassured her<span ss="userText">. Rianna couldn''t help herself but to grab the sides of Cyndre''s head and pull him in for<span ss="aiText"> a kiss. Cyndre was taken aback but didn''t fight his wife as he enjoyed the moment.


    "You better be right because if you''re not, then you can say goodbye to kisses like this," Rianna whispered once they broke the kiss.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">All the more motivation<span ss="aiText"> for me to put them in their ce," Cyndre said with a smirk.


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna giggled as she sat down next to her husband and snuggled up against him.<span ss="userText"> Cyndre was surprised by her actions, but he wasn''t going to<span ss="aiText">in. He wrapped an arm around his wife, and the two stayed like that for <span ss="userText">an hour before her stomach<span ss="aiText"> started growling.


    <span ss="aiText">"Are you hungry again, my love?" Cyndre asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Yeah... And if it''s your fault for making me burn all that energyst night<span ss="aiText">," Rianna joked.


    <span ss="aiText">Cyndre chuckled, "I''m sorry... You can punish meter. But let''s get you fed," Cyndre said as the couple got up<span ss="userText">.