IGIWS: FIRST DRAFT: Ch.310 The Sniping Match.

As the King's entourage filed into the grand dining hall of the palace, they were greeted by the imposing figures of Viscount Octavius Blackwood and Baron Caldorian Montclair. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as Hilda returned from a fervent session of prayer, her spirit still crackling with hope. She fervently believed that one of the Divine had heard her pleas for assistance against the Dark Elf, a formidable foe whose power eclipsed her own.

Hilda couldn't help but notice Rya's insatiable hunger, which seemed to grow with each passing moment of her prayers. If only she could grasp the truth lurking beneath the surface—if only she understood the real reason for Rya's escalating appetite—Hilda's hope would quickly shift to despair. For unbeknownst to her, Rya harbored a secret that ever she didn't know she had: the Dark Elf was pregnant with the Crown Prince's child.

Rya walked in with Dalia, Nieren, Yuliana, and Elaine by her side. Quinus was standing by their usual seats at the table, waiting for her to join him, and Hilda took her usual spot across from Rya. Hilda needed to get as much time with Quinus as possible in order to win him from the Dark Elf, but Rya seemed to intercept these conversations every time. This would turn eventually turn into a sniping match between the two women, causing Quinus to diffuse the situation.

"Well, looks like Red is more determined than ever, Alpha," Dalia said while looking at the foreign princess.

"Ngh... Yeah, I'm sure she's going to do something stupid now that the nobles are warming up to me marrying Quin. I wish she would take a hint and just leave me alone, but that's not going to happen," Rya sighed as the group of demi-humans stood there glancing at Hilda, who was acting like she didn't notice them staring at her.

"Tsk! This is why I hate this nobility shit. I never had to worry about this when we were living like commoners in Ironside," Nieren growled under her breath.

"Nieren!? You are and always will be of Royal Elven Blood. Stop speaking like an adventurer. Besides, you know our people's history. The Wood Elves are a noble and proud race of Elves," Yuliana admonished her daughter.

"I'm not trying to disrespect our kind mother. But things were easier in some ways, back when we didn't have to worry about being targeted by those zealots and the Holy Church," Nieren defended herself.

Rya chuckled, "They were always targeting non-humans, Nieren. They just haven't invaded Galfrei Domain yet. That was probably going to change if they successfully married Hilda off to Quin, and you all would have purged," Rya spoke in a somber tone, as the realization hit her.

Nieren and Yuliana felt uneasy, while Elaine looked over at the redheaded foreign Princess who didn't look threatening to her at all. Frankly, she seemed adorable as she hoped to get the Crown Prince's attention but gets invisible disappointed when he doesn't. 'She'll like a lost puppy. Is she really as bad as sister says?' Elaine wondered before glancing back at her new family with a puzzled look.

"She seems innocent to me? Like a little lost kitten," Elaine finally said, looking at Rya, who sighed and then showed a smirk on her face.

"Oh, she's far from innocent, Elaine. She's has a tongue of a viper and..." Rya looked around to make sure no other nobles were around to whisper, "And she keeps praying for me to become fat in hopes of getting Quin to dump me. She's also jealous of your beauty, Elaine," Rya whispered the last part.

Elaine couldn't believe the big mean dark elf, that she was so scared about, was superstitious about the Gods trying to make her fat. Sure the Gods existed and they who summon champions to battle invading gods or the undead from time to time. But Elaine believed the Gods were too busy to care about their lives or petty things like marriage and beauty.

Elaine held back her laughter while looking up at Rya who was confused at first but then got annoyed with her younger sister.

"Why do you think that?" Elaine asked, looking at Rya, "What does it matter if she thinks the gods want you fat? It's not like they have better things to do than worry about the likes of us. Or is this a big joke? Did you just tell me this as a way to make me feel better, and you're not really afraid that the Gods want you fat?"

Rya had panic in her eyes as she recalled everything that has happened to her over these past four months. From being teleported from Earth as a human male, then transformed into a gorgeous female dark elf and then they played a cruel joke on her when they mind linked her to her ex-girlfriend, back on Earth in hopes to sow seeds of despair, all for fun. And lastly they had changed her preferences to be attached to men. Rya would hope her skills now would pick up any trickery from the Divine Ones, but she couldn't put it past them, either.

Elaine noticed Rya's hesitation while Nieren and Yuliana had awkward laughter. Dalia was scratching the back of her ear, not really paying any attention to this worry that her Alpha had.

"Well, Elaine? Your sister's appetite has grown a lot lately, and it's getting a little harder for us not to notice," Yuliana explained, "Even Nieren has started noticing it, and you know how oblivious she is about most things."

"Hey! That's not fair, Mom," Nieren pouted, looking at Yuliana, "I'm not oblivious! I just don't think it's that big of a deal. Rya can eat as much as she wants and still be sexy."

Rya blushed, "So, you all have noticed? God dammit... Okay, starting to—"

*GROAN!*

Everyone in ear shot of Rya's stomach, stopped what they were doing. Then looked at the embarrassed dark elf.

"Sorry," Rya blushed and rubbed the back of her head. "I didn't eat a big breakfast."

Hilda had a satisfied look in her eye, as she turned around and smiled, "Looks like you're getting fat after all."

Rya was blushing, and she knew she was eating more than she usually does.

"It is not! I'm just hungry!"

Hilda smiled and rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Dark One. I won't stop you from stuffing your face with food. I'll just make sure that everyone is watching."

Rya blushed and tried to ignore Hilda's teasing.

"Alright. Like I said I am going to go on a diet starting tomorrow. I need your four's help," Rya looked at her mother, Elaine, Dalia, and Nieren, "Can you four watch over me and help me out?"

Yuliana, Elaine, and Nieren agreed. Dalia didn't seem too concerned.

"Well, Alpha. If you want, I can throw that entire bowl of gross plants things at her. I'm sure that will do the trick."

"No, Dalia. You can't," Rya frowned, "Even thought your heart is in the right place. We shouldn't do anything to her with most of the nobility eating with us."

Dalia shrugged, "Alright, but if you change your mind then give me the signal and I'll do it."

Rya sighed, Nieren shook her head, and Yuliana just chuckled.

"W-What's the signal?" Elaine asked.

"Well, Alpha has to scratch her—"

"We don't have a secret signal, Elaine. The dog keeps trying to get Rya to make a signal. But she won't listen," Nieren answered.

"Oh," Elaine smiled.

"Awe!? But it would be so cool to have a secret signal, Alpha! What do you say? I can come up with a signal so I can jump in and save the day from Red," Dalia grinned, showing her canines.

"No," Rya answered quickly.

"Aw!"

Elaine cracked up at the exchange and she wanted to join in on the fun of teasing the dark elf.

"I know how to stop the feud between the princess and Sis. She should make her the second wife to the Prince, then she can be the boss of the princess," Elaine said with a smirk.

"No," Rya repeated, this time more firmly.

"Yeah, but think about it. Princess Hilda will have to do what you say because you are the first wife and the next Queen while she is the second wife," Elaine grinned trying to tease Rya.

But the dark elf wasn't amused. "I know that I can't be Quin's only wife, but I will be the one who chooses his other wives. And Hilda is to stuck up to be with us."

"Yeah, little sis. No woman in this kingdom is worthy of being in a polygamous relationship with a future King," Nieren smirked.

Rya agreed with her older sister, but she wanted to joke with her friends and sister.

"Except you, of course," Rya grinned.

"Yes, except me," Nieren said smugly at first but then her checks blushed when she realized what she said. Nieren's fantasies about making love to Quinus began to replay in her mind. She had never felt these feelings before, and she knew she was getting turned on. "S-Stop joking around, Rya! Y-You're just trying to mess with me," Nieren shouted.

"Oh, sis, you're blushing," Rya teased.

"I'm not," Nieren said, covering her face with her hands.

Rya giggled, and then she looked at Dalia and Elaine.

"D-Don't get any ideas, Rya! I know that you are joking... You wouldn't really choose a second wife for the prince, would you?" Nieren said, looking nervous as a part of her wished that Rya wasn't joking.

"Fine, I'll stop," Rya said with a sigh.

"Thank you."

"For now."

"What?!"

"Hah, hah, hah! Oh, Nieren... Your face is priceless," Rya laughed, while Dalia was also enjoying Nieren's embarrassment.

"Humph! You I knew you were not good. You're so unfaithful that you are forcing another woman on your man," Hilda shot back.

"Shut—I mean, mind your own business, Princess! I was just teasing my sister because I love her. Besides, it's not like you would want to be with Prince Quinus, anyway."

"That's where you are wrong, elf! I am going to become the future Queen, and I will rule this land by the side of my prince. If you concede now then I'll let you leave the kingdom in peace."

"Are you threatening me? You are not the future Queen. And if I were you, I wouldn't push my luck. Because if you were to threaten my life or the lives of anyone that I love, I will—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!..." Quinus jumped in to calm down Rya before she gets baited in to an argument in front of nobility. "We can't be arguing here, especially not in front of the Major Lords, babe," Quinus whispered.

Rya sighed and became calm when looking into his beautiful golden eyes. Rya been getting easily baited into arguments with Hilda of late and she thought to was mostly due to her hunger. "T-Thanks, babe... I wish I could control these mood swings that been happening to me lately," Rya whispered back.

"It's alright, we all get worked up sometimes. And I know that we are so close to getting the approval from the Major Lords. I can't have my soon-to-be bride getting in trouble," Quinus said, as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

Rya took this opportunity to make Hilda mad when she grabbed Quin's head and gave him a deep, passionate french-kiss right in front of Hilda.

'Th-That harlot! She won't get away with stealing my Prince's innocences! That's right, I'll show her what a real woman is,' Hilda thought, as her mind conjured up different scenarios where she would make her future husband hers, alone, which was very tame compared to everything Rya has already done to Quinus.

Rya smirked as she felt Hilda's death stare coming from her right. 'I won't let her take him away from me. He's mine, and she's nothing but a spoiled little brat!' Rya thought, as she glanced over at Hilda's purple eyes.

The two women stared each other down, not even noticing the guards or nobles that were watching the heated exchange between the two.