A week had passed since arriving at the Marquis's mansion, and although nothing unusual had occurred, tension was palpable. Whether it was the arrival of other nobles, the start of the event, or some secret plan, was still unknown. Astrael continued his investigations, but as much as he longed to leave to track down the sect in the province, he had to remain nearby at the queen's request. Of course, he could do what he wanted; he would never allow a human to command him, but the evil surrounding the Marquis's house was so intense and fragrant that it instinctively drew him close. He loved the smell of tragedy and suffering.
The first of the nobles to arrive in Terran was Duke Helmholtz himself, who wasted no time in complaining, albeit expertly and subtly, about the queen's behavior. Others did not allow themselves to express themselves, but their gaze betrayed their support for the duke. Grimilde, however, had expected a move from the Marquis and had managed to turn the tables.
"I don't see what the problem is. Does Terran territory not seem suitable to you?"
"I would never dare to say that Terran is unsuitable for hosting the Hunt." The Duke looked embarrassed at the Marquis and prepared to retort with something else, but the queen stopped him.
"Don't we have more important matters to discuss?"
"What are you talking about, Your Majesty?" The Duke frowned, and the rest of the guests in the reception hall gathered around the queen. The banquet turned into a sort of extraordinary meeting. Snow White, however, remained sipping from her goblet next to Astrael and the new court advisor. His name was Federik, he was young but competent, and he wasn't intimidated by Astrael, remaining impassive in the face of his provocations. This made him more than acceptable in Snow White's eyes.
"Do you think this is the right time to reveal everything?"
"Of course not... it's a gamble."
"Considering the relationship with the Council, it's best to involve them from the start." The court advisor stated.
"We have no proof..."
"Let's corner our little strategist and see how he handles himself under pressure," the demon commented, smiling mischievously.
"And about... you know who?"
"I think one of the more prominent members is his colleague. I overheard their conversation when we were traveling to Terran" Astrael whispered near the princess's ear.
"How is that possible?" The princess looked at him closely, her expression puzzled.
"Are you, perhaps, forgetting who I am?" Astrael stared at her annoyed.
"It seems there's news." The councilor's voice interrupted the idle discussion between the two, and the princess returned to listening to the queen's words, previously obscured by the bickering with the demon at her side. "For now, we'll keep our eyes open. I've already informed the guards to tighten the controls."
"Do you really think anyone would dare attack during the Hunt?"
"Isn't this the best time to do so? We'll all be busy celebrating or hunting in the woods." The queen placed her goblet on the tray of an approaching waiter and looked back at the nobles, speaking solemnly: "I will allow no one to doubt the strength of the crown. It is my duty to protect this country, and I will not allow act of treachery."
The queen quickly closed the matter, preventing the nobles from asking any further questions. The important thing was that they knew they weren't completely safe, and in this way they would begin to assume the worst, to be cautious. Someone would betray themselves or someone else; in essence, they would disrupt the conspirators' secret plans.
The state of unrest remained the backdrop to every change in the marquis's palace. By now, preparations for the Hunt had been completed, with only a few days remaining before the celebrations began. The towns in the province of Terran had already begun decorating their streets and spreading the festive atmosphere; some citizens would travel specifically to the Marquis's palace and witness the long-awaited event. Furthermore, the mere fact that the princess and queen would be there attracted a large crowd of people, who would not miss the unique opportunity to witness the arrival of the royal family. After all, everyone wanted to confirm with their eyes that the princess and the queen were enchanting women and shone brighter than the sun. The few commoners who had seen them spoke of them as if they were the discovery of the century. There was nothing strange about it: nobles and royals necessarily had to show themselves above their weight.
Of the common people, they needed to shine and display their wealth. In the case of the royal family, the aim was to create an appropriate distance between the people and the rulers, as well as to create an image of almost invincible power that could spread hope and security among the people.
And speaking of power and appearances, there was still something to discuss.
"Participate in the competition? Why on earth?"
"The king used to do it, and as queen, it's my duty to continue the traditions. But above all, I'd like to be ready for anything, to control the hunting grounds. I have a bad feeling..."
Snow White thought of her father, remembering that at that time of year he usually left the palace to go hunting, and she remembered the numerous times she had asked to go out and follow him, only to be invariably refused. He was protective, perhaps overprotective, because the princess had seen very little of the world and had risked growing up ignorant and naive, like many nobles uninterested in politics and social reality.
"What if they try to harm you? We don't know our enemy, not entirely."
"These are risks we must accept if we want to win this game."