IGIWS: FIRST DRAFT: Ch.351 Making New Friends

"I knew Fiona was annoying, but I never expected her to be such a brat," Melanie Ingham said, shaking her head.

"This is a side of her that I never saw," Jenelle Dravenhart admitted.

"Me neither," Serena von Maus agreed.

While the rest of the girls were whispering amongst themselves about keeping their distance from Fiona, Constance Montclair stealthily came up to Rya, who was chatting with her older sister, Nieren.

"What do you think she's going to do next to humiliate herself? I swear that some of these human girls are so clueless sometimes," Nieren whispered and crossed her arms.

Rya smirked, "Nieren... We are all stubborn in different—um? Hey?"

Constance stood in front of the two Elves and looked up at Rya with a serious expression.

"Lady Rya Vellanax, my name is Constance Montclair of House Montclair, and I want to pledge my allegiance to you," Constance said with a curtsy.

Rya blinked, "Oh? But isn't your mother against me?"

"She's loyal to her friends. But I'm my own lady and I know what I saw," Constance answered.

"That's not the only reason, is it?" Rya asked.

Constance scratched the back of her head and glanced around her as to see if the coast was clear. Once she thought none of the other girls were paying attention, Constance walked up to Rya and whispered, "C-Can you do the same thing to me as you did to Amelia?... A-And if my bosoms grow a bit from it, that's okay, too."

Nieren wanted to burst out with laughter while Rya nodded, but had an apologetic look in her eyes. Melanie, Jenelle, Serena, and a couple of other girls heard Constance's question and quietly joined the two Elves.

Rya was pleasantly surprised to see so many girls warming up to her, and she wondered how many truths she should share with them.

"What you gals interested too?" Rya asked half-jokingly.

Three of the girls, including Serena, blushed with embarrassment.

"W-Well, I wouldn't mind having my skin look as nice as Amelia's... And like what Miss Constance said, if we get a little more top-heavy, it won't be the end of the world," Serena von Maus explained while she was playing with a lock of hair, due to a nervous tic.

Constance was relieved that she wasn't the only one who wanted bigger breasts, but Melanie being here surprised her.

"Melanie, I didn't expect you to be here," Constance said.

"Hm?... Oh, I'm fine with my looks, I'm more interested in how Princess Rya pulled it off. I have heard of some potions or elixirs doing something like that, but alchemy is a roll of the dice, and many people can become hideous if a potion doesn't cooperate with one's body... It's a crap shoot, but this, I never heard of any magic spell or enchantments that can do something like that," Melanie explained and looked at Rya with curiosity.

It was at this point that Rya decided to divulge some secrets. These girls were being friendly to her, so why not share some information with them?

"Well, I didn't use any spells to make Amelia look beautiful," Rya said, but the girls looked at her with doubtful looks.

"But she changed right in front of us," Jenelle Dravenhart replied.

"I know, but here's the thing," Rya paused and looked around before moving her head closer to the girls and motioning to them to come closer.

When they did, Rya started speaking again, "This is a secret that can't leave this group, okay?"

The girls looked at each other with wonder in their eyes. What did the Dark Elf want to tell them? After silently agreeing, the girls nodded.

Rya smirked and then she started to whisper, "Amelia had a curse on her mana vein—"

"C-CURS—MMMH!"

Jenelle Dravenhart panicked and was about to blurt out, but Melanie Ingham and Constance Montclair put their hands over the girl's mouth.

"Shhh! Do you want everyone to hear us, silly?" Constance said while giving Jenelle a scolding look.

Jenelle regathered herself and nodded. Constance and Melanie moved their hands from Jenelle's mouth.

"What was the curse?" Jenelle asked, trying not to be loud.

"I don't know if it is, but it is similar to having a blood contract," Rya explained, and the girls went wide-eyed.

"B-Blood Contracts? But doesn't a person have to sign one willingly?" Serena asked as she looked around at everyone.

"Pretty much. But I'm not an expert on curses, so I don't know if there is another way for someone to get a blood contract without consent," Rya shrugged.

"So, Amelia was cursed this whole time and no one had a clue..." Melanie muttered to herself, but everyone heard her. She then came out of her thoughts and looked at Rya. "How did you know that she was cursed?"

Rya looked in the eyes of each and every girl in this little group, and after a few seconds of pondering. Rya reached into her cleavage and pulled out the demonic-looking monocle and held it out for the girls to see.

"I created this artifact that allows me to see everyone's mana vein. I know who and what everyone has with this thing, and I saw the curse on Amelia's vein. And I've seen it before on someone else," Rya finished explaining and then put the monocle away.

All the girls looked at Rya in awe, even Melanie Ingham, who usually put up a stoic front, couldn't help but show a surprised face.

"So that's what you were doing when you made your entrance into the party?... I thought you were doing something sinister," Constance said in her usual soft voice.

"Ah, I don't blame you for thinking that. I discovered how to create this monocle from an ancient tome belonging to a deceased demon sage. It took me almost a month just to gather all the materials to make it," Rya stated.

"Demon sage?!" the girls said together, which got a chuckle out of Rya.

"Yeah... I can read the demonic tongue. Anyway, I needed to touch Amelia to heal her from her curse, and once I got rid of it. The mana from all those monsters she's slain was released and flowed through her body. So her body grew to what it was meant to be with all the excess mana," Rya explained.

"So... It was her mana that made her body transform into what it is now? How fascinating. I wish I had a Mana Vein like hers," Constance said with an excited tone.

"I mean, if I remember correctly, I think you had a Master Level Mana Vein, and what I've noticed, even with me, is if someone has a higher level Mana Vein and they start absorbing Mana from slain monsters, their bodies will change," Rya stated. "So, if you slay about 50 monsters, Constance, then your complexion will improve and possibly your bosoms might get bigger," she teased the embarrassed girl.

"Really?..." Constance replied, which got a laugh from the others. She blushed and crossed her arms over her chest as if to hide her shame, and came down from her excitement. "W-Well, it doesn't matter. My parents wouldn't allow me to go galavanting around in a forest to hunt monsters. Plus, I don't have a clue about handling any weapons," she retorted.

"If you're interested, I can have my Golems capture some monsters and bring them to the palace. So, you can slay a couple here and there until we start seeing results," Rya offered.

"T-That—You would do that for me, Lady Vellanax!?" Constance said excitedly while trying to remain cautious of her emotions.

"I don't see why not... You pledge your loyalty to me. So, it would only be fair," Rya responded.

"T-Thank you so much, Lady Vellanax. I promise not to disappoint you!" Constance said, bowing her head.

"Of course," Rya smiled. "And when we are in a private setting, you can address me by my name, Constance. I know that the nobles would frown upon it. But, I prefer it if my friends and allies can speak to me casually when in private," she said.

All the girls were surprised by the gesture. It wasn't unheard of, but it was rare for a noble to allow those below her station to call her by her name.

Constance was touched; this was the first time she'd met Rya, and she's already on her way to becoming friends with the future Queen and Healer on Fiafyr. She was determined to help Rya in any way she could, especially if Rya could help her catch the eye of Lord Mitchell Bramwell III. He wasn't like the other noble men who were arrogant or selfish. And he was a handsome young man, but was very humble and had a gentle personality. She knew he wasn't from a Major House, but his family line is once removed from House Lysander. If by a miracle, Viscount William, who still hasn't married or had any children, were to die without a legitimate heir, the Baronet Bramwells would be in line to take over, making Mitchell the next heir to the Silverhaven Domain.

"Y-Yes, I'd be honored to, Lady Rya!" Constance replied happily.

Jenelle Dravenhart, Serena von Maus, Julia Dusker, and Aris Mardax were stunned by Constance's change in personality. She was more reserved and cautious around other nobles, but with Lady Rya, she was an open book. At the same time, Melanie Ingham saw the exchange and decided to throw her hat into the ring. If Rya was offering to help develop their mana veins, then she wouldn't pass that up.

"Princess Vellanax, I, Melanie Ingham, daughter of one of the 13 Major Houses, the House of Ingham, would also like to pledge my loyalty to you," she said.

Everyone else stared at her. But Rya gave her a smile. 'I got another one? This isn't as hard as I thought. I think I saw a Grand Master Mana Vein inside her, but I need to double-check later.'

"Thank you, Lady Ingham. I'd be happy to have you as my ally," she responded.

"I'm happy to serve," Melanie replied, with a polite curtsy.

Constance, though, thought to question her intentions. If she was going to strengthen her mana vein, then her body should get curvier like Amelia's.

"So, you wish to be more endowed?" Constance asked, pointing at her chest.

Melanie blushed at the assertion, coming from her old friend, Constance. Luckily, Melanie was like her father and kept up her stoic appearance.

"I-I am not interested in improving my appearance. I am pretty the way I am," Melanie replied, still with a hint of blush.

Constance giggled at her, knowing she was lying. "You talk a big game, Mel. But why are you interested in strengthening your Mana Vein if it isn't for improving your appearance? Unless..." Constance teased.

"S-Shut up, Constance!" Melanie shot back, now with a dark red blush. "I'm the oldest daughter, and in the unlikely scenario of my Mother getting pregnant again, with a boy. I will become the Countess of Celestria Hollows. So, if there's a safe scenario for me to develop my Mana Vein, with the future Queen of Fiafyr, then who am I to turn away that opportunity?" she explained.

"Oh? So, that's your excuse for wanting to be curvier. It's okay, your secret is safe with us," Constance replied.

Melanie glared at her. But Constance just laughed.

"You know that not all women will grow curves when they develop their Mana Veins," Melanie retorted. "And since I am perfect the way I am. I doubt I will gain anything substantial," she said confidently as she straightened up her posture to look more dignified and ladylike.

"Okay, okay... Your intentions are far more noble than mine, Mel," Constance said, putting her hands up.

Melanie slightly nodded her head in approval. "I am glad that you have finally come to your senses. Just so you all know, I am doing this as a duty to my Kingdom and her people."

"But didn't you say that Princess Rya might be a danger to the Kingdom earlier today?" Jenelle Dravenhart asked out of confusion.

Melanie panicked for a brief second, "I said no such things! I was merely on the fence earlier and wanted to wait and see the Princess's character. It's obvious she's worthy of marrying the Crown Prince, and being his future Queen," Melanie said so matter-of-factly, even though it was true that she said what Jenelle accused her of. However, she was ignorant of the true nature of the Princess, and her assumptions were wrong.

There was a collective groan among the girls, then it turned into giggles.

Rya giggled at the interaction between the girls. She was beginning to feel like a normal person again. Nieren was half following along as she was eavesdropping on all the conversations inside the ballroom, mapping out who was on Leandra's side as they tried to spin their tales to paint Rya in a bad light. Luckily, the younger crowd that witnessed Rya's healing magic was combating the slanderous gossip and telling everyone who would listen what really happened.

'Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Sis's natural charisma is spreading through the groups, and Queen Rianna is putting Leandra on the defensive. The Duchess's side is full of gossiping and backstabbing women,' Nieren thought with a smirk on her face. 'So, how does one get rid of those pesky vipers?'

Nieren was keeping an ear out for troublemakers and would step in if they made a move. Rya needed to focus on building a strong coalition of friends and allies for the coming battle. Nieren will act if needed.