IGIWS FIRST DRAFT: Ch.391 What Is Leandra’s Scheme

After breakfast was done, Rya and Sara were in the queen's parlor. They were seated across from each other on a couch waiting for the Queen.

Sara felt the most out of place since the queen had never really given her much attention before until a couple days ago. It still felt surreal to her, no longer being under her parents rule and not having to worry about their disapproval of her decisions. She was finally free to live her own life and follow her heart.

Rya looked over at her future cousin-in-law and smiled, "Don't be nervous. We aren't here to bite."

Sara looked up at the princess and laughed sheepishly, "It is still hard to wrap my head around everything, those stories about Dark Elves are ingrained into me. Just give me some time."

Rya nodded her head, "I can empathize... However, I wonder who started those stories. Most of them seem to be spread by word of mouth only. Do you by chance know where they might have originated from?"

Sara thought that was an obvious question that everyone knew, but when she thought about it, she didn't know. "Now that you mention it, I am not sure. I always assumed the stories came from the great library or the temple priestesses... But it was my maid who told me these stories as a child."

"Hmm... So, your parents didn't tell you about the tales about Dark Elves?" Rya inquired.

"My father was one who never believed in them in the first place... He never told me why though," Sara answered as she was puzzled why she never thought about where these stories came from in the first place.

Rya nodded inquisitively, 'So, Alaric think something is up with these stories too?... It's the only thing I will agree with him on.'

The sound of heels clicking against the stone floor made the two women look up. They watched as Queen Rianna walked into the room and sat down on the couch next to Rya

"Sorry about that. I needed to discipline my son about his behavior at the table. Honestly, what was he thinking?" Rianna asked.

Rya felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her and her face reddened. "H-He wasn't that bad—"

"Come now, Rya. If he thinks he can just do something like that in front of everyone. Well, then we'll have to have a little chat about it," Rianna stated as her eyes were focused on Rya.

The Dark Elf waved both her hands dismissively, "N-No, that won't be necessary! I-I was embarrassed. B-But it wasn't bad or anything like that!"

"Are you sure? If it was my husband, I would have him sleep outside the bed chambers for a week," Rianna replied.

"W-Well..." Rya paused as she almost admitted that she enjoyed it when Quinus did things like that to her. But she kept her mouth shut.

Sara watched the interaction and didn't know what to say. This was a completely different side of her aunt. A side she had never seen before. She was far more lively than usual. It was refreshing.

Rianna shook her head and smiled at Rya, "You are a naughtier woman than I would have imagined. It seems my son was very lucky. But if you need me to set him straight, then just ask."

"U-Um..." Rya stuttered.

The queen laughed at Rya's reaction, and then her demeanor changed. She cleared her throat and looked at Sara, "I am glad that you are here. I know things haven't been easy on you, but we need your thoughts on something."

Sara sat up straight when the queen looked at her, and her eyes widened, "M-My thoughts? What about?"

Rianna's gaze intensified, "Your mother sent a letter to all the Major Ladies of the Court... She's seeking forgiveness by repentance ."

Sara was silent as the news sank in.

Rianna waited for her niece to speak, and after a minute she spoke, "You know your mother better than us... Do you believe she's being genuine or is she plotting something?"

Sara was silent. Her aunt had always been straightforward, but this was the first time she'd asked for her advice. She was overwhelmed by the thought of it, and she took a moment to think about her mother.

"I...I don't think my mother would do something to let herself get punished without a good reason. If she wants forgiveness, then she would play the long game until she can snake her why back in on her own terms. I think this is a plot... What it could be is beyond me," Sara answered.

Rianna nodded her head slowly, "That's what we thought too. We were hoping that you might know how she might be planning on pulling something off. Anything could be useful."

Sara shook her head, "My mother doesn't tell me anything... Hold on!? Why can't you use Princess Rya's Time Space magic to spy on them? Why are you asking me instead?"

Rya sigh with frustration and stood up. She looked to the West and channeled her mana through her body and did twirled both her outstretched arms in a counterclockwise motion until sparks came out of nowhere and a circular portal widow that was taller than Rya materialized. Just like when she did it back in the Divalo Manor to find found Jemma's husband and beat the crap out of him.

Rya outstretched arms stopped twirling and reached forward as if she took control of an invisible dials. She rotated her wrists as the view in the portal windows view sped forward, flying through the walls of the palace and continued through the streets of Tairal. Within seconds, Sara's parents' home came into the picture. It was quiet now from when Lydia's coming of age party was going on. The party had long ended. But no one was home.

Rya twisted her wrist slightly and the view moved closer to the intimidating mansion. And just before the view reached the outer walls the portal window began to vibrate and the image began to fade white.

Rya pushed it forward. The circular edge was becoming erratic as the sparks began to dissipate. Rya grunted and forced the portal window forward, but the image disappeared altogether and the Portal Window disintegrated into a thousand particles as the incantation destabilized.

Sara was in awe as the window disappeared. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen.

"I can't see into the Divalo Manor... I think it's the artifact that your father has that is destabilizing the mana inside the incantation. I feel like an idiot for not breaking that cube during the party," Rya stated.

Sara raised an eyebrow, "Artifact?"

Rya sighed, "Your father has a unique artifact within his possession, called the Sorcerer's Slayer... My golems have been going through all the libraries within a hundred mile radius and I can't find anything about them. Not there origin what it takes to create another one, or how many more of these things exist. The only thing I do know about this artifact is that it disrupts mana to spells. I thought it had to be aimed, but it seems there's an area of affect on the device as well."

"So you have no easy way to spy on my parents. Is that what you are saying?" Sara asked.

"Well, not by using my teleport spell. Plus it isn't the most energy efficient way for me to spy on people. My golems are far more easier on me, because if I was able to watch them with the portal, I would have to follow them until they say something and keeping the window open drains mana out of me. I think I could keep it open for ten hours before I have to stop. My golems are self-sufficient and only come to me when they need a recharge," Rya explained.

"So your golems can watch my parents 24/7?" Sara asked.

Ria nodded her head, "Pretty much. But since your mother wants to meet up so soon, puts us on the spot."

"How do you mean?" Sara inquired.

"She is requesting that the Ladies of the Court must rule on her punishment in three days. If we don't, then she will be forgiven and can attend the Court again. Under less influence of course," Rianna stated.


Sara scratch torch in, "My mother is cunning one," she muttered as she was trying to figure out what her mother could be planning. "I don't think she thinks no one will show... And if she's putting herself in harms way... Then I would think she's using this as an opportunity... Maybe she's trying to use this as an distraction, or maybe she's a decoy," Sara thought aloud.


"A decoy?" Rianna questioned.


Sara nodded her head, "It would make sense, because we would assume my mother would try to gain the ladies' favor to regain her position. But the punishment will likely be severe after everything that came to light. She wouldn't go out on such a limb if they didn't have something up their sleeves. The question is, what is her true goal? She doesn't have a lot of power to do anything at the moment."


Rianna was intrigued by her niece's insight, and she began to think about how to best handle the situation.


"I would say, we need to send spies into their ranks and see if we can uncover their plot. I'll talk to my husband and see if we can spare a few men for the job," Rianna stated.


Sara thought that would be a waste of time and spoke up, "My parents would probably not let their plans be known if she's already sent a letter... Is it safe to still go to the meeting?"


Rianna smirked and looked over at Rya, "I think we have very little to worry about with Rya by my side. Leandra's scheme will fail, whether we find out about it or not."


Rya nodded her head, "If she does try anything, it will make it easier for me to justify using force. Frankly, if I knew I was approved to be married, then I would have sent my golems inside your parents' house and arrested them. However, I will have to be patient for a couple more weeks."


Sara smiled at her aunt and future cousin-in-law, and she felt like her life was looking up. Even if it was at the expense of her parents. But they have brought this on themselves, and time and time again, they gotten a slap on the wrists at worst.


"You have given me a lot to think about. Thank you, both of you," Rianna stated.


Sara stood up and curtsied toward the Queen. Rya was still getting used to noble etiquette and realized that she needed to do the same thing.


'Gah!? S-Stupid corset! Just suck it in and don't move,' Rya thought as she began to curtsy. She didn't like how much her belly had grown had grown this last month and she swore it was due to her crazy appetite. She kept saying that she was going to slow down, but she was hungry all the time and it was driving her crazy.


That's when she had enough and had her maid, Anna tighten her corset to the maximum limit. She couldn't bend her waist as easily, but at least her belly didn't stick out. She tried it for the first time yesterday after Melanie Ingham pointed it out during the after party, two days ago and Rya's been Self-Conscious ever since, even if Quinus says she looks sexy.


However, the drawstrings on the back of her corset were starting fray as Rya bent over. Just as she reached the pinnacle, the strings snapped and her stomach poked out like a balloon. The sudden movement made Rya jerk up as her belly surged forward by four inches pushing her lovely dress outward.


Rya's eyes bulged, and her face turned bright red as she felt the material on her corset and found it was split apart. 'SHIT! I NEED TO GO ON A DIET!' She screamed in her head.


She quickly covered her belly with her hands, but they did little to hide her protruding midsection.


Rianna eye brow raised at the sight. Sara couldn't help but be stunned into silence.


'Whoa? I-Is she pregnant?' Sara thought as she averted her gaze from the Dark Elf's belly.


Rianna giggled at Rya's misfortune, "You keep saying that you'll go on a diet... You're lucky that you weren't born a human. Or you would be bigger than Sara and I combined."


"W-Well, I'm working on it. I-I have been cutting back on how much I've been eating. It's just my body craves food constantly," Rya stated as she was trying not to be embarrassed.


'Wait!? That's what a fat elf looks like? It looks like she's one month pregnant... Maybe less... I-I shouldn't pry... It's her business, and if she was pregnant, she wouldn't have said she was going on a diet.' Sara thought as she decided not to bring it up.


"A-Anyway... Thank you, your majesty. I-I am going to exercise or something! I tell you if my golems find something! B-Bye!" Rya quickly stammered and exited the room.


Rianna watched the dark elf run off and couldn't help but smirk, "She's a weird one... But a good type of weird," the queen admitted.


"Yeah, she's different, but it's refreshing," Sara agreed. But then she looked at her aunt and gave a curious look, "Does..."


"What?" Rianna asked.


"Oh, uh... Princess Rya has been... Active with Prince Quinus, right?" Sara asked.


Rianna sighed and nodded her head, "Yes. He's been active with her for four months now. I wish he would wait until he was married, but with how the Major Lords of the House are behaving, I would rather have them love each other before the marriage. Otherwise, Duval might have kicked her out with some type of political maneuver. She is a foreigner after all, and he could have used that to the Major Nobles on exiling her."


Sara got more information that she didn't really care about, but she waited for her aunt to finish talking.


"So... Is she... Pregnant?" Sara asked.


The queen laughed loudly, and the room was filled with her voice. But then she realized that Sara wasn't joking.


"You're serious, aren't you? Haha! No. Rya's not..." She paused as she reconsidered after thinking about it. Rya's weight gain seemed to be centralized in her lower abdomen. Rianna hadn't noticed it as she was focused on her bodies weird behavior.


But her sudden departure from the meeting room and her sudden cravings, and weight gain did seem out of place.


"Maybe... I'll talk to Yuliana about this. Elves are different from humans. So, it's possible. I'm not sure though," Rianna stated.


"Oh... Um, I'll keep this with us until I hear otherwise. Sorry for asking, your majesty. I hope you'll forgive me," Sara apologized.


"Forgive you? There's nothing to forgive. Rya is probably just eating a lot because of all the political stress or something. I know I had a few rough years with my diet when I became the Queen. It's fine," Rianna said reassuringly.


Sara smiled and left the room. But Rianna looked like she was lost in thought. 'I-Is she pregnant? Does she have an heir—No! Don't get excited. I need to speak to Yuliana first. I can't put the cart before the horse here. I have to be reasonable. It could be a number of things, but I want to think the best case scenario. Because, if Rya does have a child, then the Major Nobles will have to concede. W-Why am I getting excited about becoming a grandma?' She thought as she tried to calm herself.


"Gretchen," the queen called out.


"Yes, your majesty," the older maid said as she appeared at the doorway.


"I need a snack. When is Princess Yuliana free next?" Rianna asked.


"I believe she will be free within the hour. Do you want a light snack or—"


"Something sweet. With cream and honey," Rianna said cutting her maid off.


"Very well. I shall return shortly," Gretchen replied and walked off.


Rianna was trying to distract herself from thinking about Rya's possible pregnancy.


'Maybe, she's just eating too much. Elves have a high metabolism and they can eat a lot more than us humans... But she doesn't eat as much as Yuliana or Nieren... I'll just keep it to myself until I can ask Yuliana. It's the only way. I shouldn't get excited until I have answers.'


Rianna was giddy as she waited for her snack.



Elsewhere, Hilda's maid, Dori, was pacing back and forth in her Mistress's bedroom as the foreign Princess watched her.