Chapter 2859: Play (Part-I)

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, Headquarters

"Why the fuck did you eye me when you said that?"

City Lord Tess snapped without warning, her voice cracking through the room and startling Aurelia. She had arranged the seating so she could sit beside her mother as an equal. After all, she was the head of the Bright Lions Security Agency.

The officials and elders of the border city had been giving her the stink eyes for her audacity for a while now. She had brushed it off. But the moment her mother spoke—calm, clear, yet carrying a sharp edge—it stirred something deeper, like an old reflex she couldn’t quite shake.

Aurelia knew the anger wasn’t meant for her. It was aimed at the Saintes. Still, she didn’t hesitate. Quietly, without drawing attention, she switched seats with her second-in-command, Jaya Keith.

"City Lord Tess Malvin, among the forces currently under our lord, only the Border City has been openly hostile to our Empire. Within your entourage, there are men who have killed our citizens for—"

"Enough!" Tess cut Catherine off. She wasn’t about to sit there and listen to her people being accused of war crimes for doing their duty. "If you’re going to make baseless accusations and twist the narrative, I’m ready to respond—and to show you that your own backyard isn’t as spotless as you make it out to be. But this is not the time or place for that. Let’s not waste our lord’s time on pointless banter."

Listening to City Lord Tess, her people were not pleased with her response. It felt restrained. She could have pushed harder, said more, but she held back. The grievance between the Border City and the Empire ran deep—far too deep to let something like this slide.

Still, none of them blamed her. Their lord had made his intent clear: welcome the Empire and find a way to work together. There was little room for defiance. Tess was walking a narrow line, doing her best to defend her people without undermining their lord’s will.

Meanwhile, Aurelia, having already switched seats with Jaya, shook her head and moved again—then again—trading places down the row until she reached Corey, who refused to budge. Left with no options, she rose and stepped behind their lord, taking position as his bodyguard.

In truth, she was using him as a shield. She knew how ugly things could get when her mother was truly angry. A flicker of sympathy crossed her mind for the officials and elders who knew the danger but had to stand their ground beside Tess.

"Pointless banter? Maybe to you, but not for me and my people. We are willing to give up our sovereignty because we believe in the Lord’s vision. What have you given up? Nothing—"

"We have given up nothing? How dare you say that? The fact that you’re breathing in this room with your head still on your shoulders shows how much we’ve given up—"

Tess’s entire body turned gold, light swelling around her as if it might burst. The air itself seemed to tighten but the elder beside her reacted at once, reaching out with his intent to steady her, pulling her back from the brink.

Seeing her mother rein it in, Aurelia let out a quiet breath.

Yes, she and the Border City had their differences, but she didn’t want to see them lose their lord’s grace because her mother couldn’t keep her temper in check.

Calming herself, Tess fixed Catherine with an unnerving, steady gaze. The other woman held a faint, knowing smile. "...When I said I’d let bygones be bygones, I meant it. I won’t dig up the past. I’ll welcome the Empire with open arms. But don’t test me again."

"Oh, get over yourself. This isn’t about you, it’s about the Empire. I don’t expect you to acknowledge it, but the truth is, the Empire is bringing a lot to the table—and to our lord’s campaign. You, however, aren’t showing us the respect we deserve. Every other leader, even those kids, brought their entourage inside, while I was told to leave mine outside. Does that seem fair to you?"

"Hey, who are you calling kids? Is this the change you spoke of? I’m seriously disappointed. It feels like you’re trying to cheat our lord.

"Also, don’t you dare talk about what’s fair. Join us or don’t join us—that’s your choice. But, if you don’t, we’re coming for you next. Isn’t that why you are here before our lord?"

Aurelia was the only one who openly took offense at the Saintess’s words and didn’t hesitate to call her out. But then, She also glanced at Saintess and her mother saying, "Let me make it clear: none of you is giving up anything. Every one of us is here to gain something. Don’t you dare forget it."

City Lord Tess and Saintess Catherine both fixed Aurelia with sharp, unblinking glares. Neither of them appreciated how she had picked apart their words and twisted them, making it sound as though they believed their lord owed them for their sacrifices—for his vision, for his campaign.

That wasn’t the case. They were simply asserting their place, staking their authority within their lord’s dominion.

Yet with a single sentence, Aurelia had nearly painted them as enemies of the very state they were fighting over.

"I get that this is an assembly, but openly showing killing intent to a fellow member our disagreement is not appropriate and will not be tolerated."

I wanted to quietly listen and monitor the state of my forces but sensing the killing intent directed toward Aurelia by the border city officials and elders, I had no choice but to step up.

Yes, it was Aurelia we were talking about here, killing intent wasn’t enough to shut her up. But she wasn’t the only leader with their strength in the mortal realm in the assembly. Also, if stronger members can openly threaten weaker members, then the point of this assembly would be moot.

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