4 The power of the Devil Duchess (1/2)

The Eternia kingdom was not a particularly powerful kingdom especially compared to others on the continent. The neighbouring powers constantly eyed the borders as a juicy slice of meat to be carved up amongst themselves a fact that the upper nobility were all too aware of.

The border areas were managed by the five duke households for many a century, but the king had a grand vision. He had secretly struck a deal with the neighbouring kingdom of Redthorne to give up a large slice of the border in exchange for an unimaginable sum of money and troops. Naturally no duke household would be willing to give up their entire territory so all that needed to happen was a tiny accident and a territory would be left without an owner.

The king chuckled to himself and opened his mouth intending to award the guardianship to one of his puppet houses.

”I will take in the child as a ward of house Blackwolf”

A voice rang out from the upper stands and the room instantly quieted in disbelief, before the disbelieving eyes of the crowd a woman stood up from her chair and walked slowly towards the child. The cold indifferent look in her eyes intensified as she swept over the noblemen who lined up to approach the girl.

Her intimidating air made them unable to look at her directly as she seemed like an untouchable queen. She approached Ashley and then knelt down and came face to face with her.Elise did not know why she was doing these actions, according to the voice in her head it would simply be easier to kill the child or ensure she would become nothing but a tool.

Her cold heart had no room for compassion or care but when she looked at the little girl who hung her head down and refused to meet anyone in the eye, she suddenly felt uncomfortable.

She softly whispered, ”Raise your head and look at me”.

Ashley slowly looked up and was immediately stunned, the lady before her was beautiful as a fairy. She was tall was a curvy body and piercing violet eyes that seemed to look into her very soul. She did not know why but being seen by those eyes made her feel a sense of warmth and care.

Ashley was rather puzzled by this until she compared her eyes to the gaze to the nobles from before. This lady did not have a single speck of greed or emotion in her eyes, from the beginning to the end of their meeting, she simply looked at Ashley. Ashley was dazed and did not hear the woman speak again.

”Will you accept me as your mother?”

Elise said this casually but unbeknownst to her, her hands were clenched tightly into fists and her shadow started to flicker unsteadily as if sensing the changes in her mood. The girl did not seem to hear it the first time, so she repeated the question again.

Ashley's ears perked up and she looked at the lady before her and hesitantly nodded her head. Immediately a wave of voices of protest and outrage came from all sides of the chamber.

”Your majesty this is a great travesty of justice!”

”How can we allow the duchess to hold the power of two houses?”

”The little girl is clearly lost and confused”

Elise drowned out the voices and carefully approached the little girl, she wasn't sure what came over her, but she slowly unhooked the coat over her dress and draped it over the child. She could not stand to see her new daughter wearing a simple dress. Elise was a rather possessive woman so even she herself did not notice that her form of address had changed.

On the throne the king was almost beside himself with rage. This wretched woman just had to throw his entire plan into a wench. How dare she ignore the imperial decree that the child be given to a lower noble house. The simple and straightforward declaration of guardianship was now thrown for a loop. Thinking carefully, he opened he spoke,” I am sorry Duchess Elise, but not one duke households will be able adopt this child and maintain her lands”

However, on the floor, the woman in question was ignoring him entirely. Her entire focus was on the adorable little bundle wrapped up in a coat too big for her size. Her face remained cold and indifferent, but she picked up the child in her arms and began to whisper to her in a soft tone words of comfort.

”How dare you insult your majesty by ignoring him!”, a nobleman shouted. ”Put down that child immediately before his majesty executes you”.