Mei Ruan March 30th, 20XX

The way Lillian tensed as I placed the cap onto her head was enough of a testament to how terrifying the device was. Lillian had been through a lot with me on the battlefield and had accompanied my mother through many more dangerous events. For such an experienced fairy to show her fear so visibly…

Lillian closed her eyes as the rim of the cap settled around her forehead and after a moment of absolute silence reached up and fastened it around her ears.

“If the Duchess finds this necessary, then I shall do my best to comply.”

Even though I wasn’t the one with the Cap on, I watched my words and trying to ask my questions as clearly as possible.

“Lillian. Based on what you have observed so far, do you think I have upheld my duties?”

Lillian took a deep breath and mentally rehearsed her answer before speaking out loud. She said each word slowly and as clearly as she could and refrained from using any exaggerations in her speech.

“Except from when she acted on orders from the Duchess, Mei has never abused the power of the Ruan clan.”

The cap trembled ever so slightly and Aruna looked away with a yelp, but it settled down and Lillian’s wings remained intact.

Jaya paled even further as she realized the implications of her actions once more. Perhaps Lillian would have replied with a simple yes or no without the cap, but its presence made her go into as much detail as possible to avoid being crippled.

Jaya wasn’t an idiot, so she realized her mistake as soon as the questioning started. The moment she realized it was clear, but she couldn’t take back her request for the use of the cap.

I continued the questioning.

“Lillian. Based on what you have observed so far, do you think Aruna has upheld her duties?”

In the same careful manner as last time, Lillian responded.

“Except from when she acted on orders from the Duchess, Aruna has never abused the power of the Ruan clan.”

And finally, what I had been waiting for.

“Lillian. Based on what you have observed so far, do you think Jaya has upheld her duties?”

Jaya bit her lip so hard that she bled and tried to send threatening glares towards Lillian, but whatever coercion she may have been able to do in the past was became impossible by her request.

The golden-bronze blood dripped down her chin as a testament to her nervousness.

“Based on my observations, Jaya Ruan has not upheld her responsibilities as the head of the Ruan clan. She has repeatedly abused her political powers to bully other families and clans and has used her authority within the household to oppress her two sisters. The Duchess has repeatedly put them under physical and mental harm. In order to respect her authority, Mei has withstood many forms of torture and injury under her elder sister’s hand, and Aruna has undertaken many dangerous missions under the Duchess’s orders.”

Jaya desperately looked up at the cap, but it didn’t even tremble as Lillian spoke.

“As my role as your Representative, I suggest the immediate termination of Jaya’s post as the duchess and recommend immediate punishment for her past actions.”

Mother remained silent throughout all of this, and I panicked. After all, if she ruled Jaya should keep her post, then the only other option I would have would be a total rebellion and overthrowing of the dukedom.

While such a thing was within my capabilities, the repercussions would be too high.

Finally, my mother spoke.

In the quietest voice I’d ever heard from her, she said.

“Approval for Jaya’s termination as the Duchess… Jaya”

She called Jaya by name for the first time in decades. My elder sister reluctantly stepped forwards...or rather was pulled forward by the chains to hover right in front of my mother.

“What?”

She spat out. My mother only sighed in disappointment in response.

“I suppose it’s my fault… even as a child you were prone to such things, but I thought that making you the duchess would be enough responsibility to snap you out of it.. As your mother I have to apologize. With such power in your hands, even the most rational person would have become skewed, never mind you who was already sideways.”

Jaya remained silent and her lip kept bleeding, forming small droplets that fell into the abyss.

“Mother”

She whimpered pathetically, but my mother only looked away. Speaking in a colder voice, she continued.

“Aruna is to be groomed as the next duchess. Lillian and Mei will oversee the Duchy at large until she is ready to take the seat. As reparations, I will permit Mei to keep control of the Ruan army after assuming the throne. As for punishment; Jaya’s powers will be halved and evenly divided between the two sisters…... that is the end.”

The screen blacked out, and we were suddenly back in my room where I had activated the spell.

Jaya was kept in the reckoning space, as was tradition, and I felt the rush of high-class magic flowing into my body. It wasn’t a lot, but I felt stronger almost immediately.

Aruna likely felt the same thing, but the sudden turn of events dazed the younger fairy.

“I’m the duchess? Why me? Mei would be so much better of a duchess.”

Lillian answered in her usual dry tone, using an expressiveness that she hadn’t been able to under Jaya’s rule.

“Your elder sister has the chance to become the queen. There is little reason for her to settle for the duchess seat.”

Ah… I forgot about that.

I had just dealt with one egotistic power-mad psycho….I forgot I might have to marry one soon.

I let out a dry laugh at the realization, summoning confused expressions from the two women beside me. Aruna ran to my side, since her wings were still sore from earlier, and put her hand on my upper arm.

“Mei, are you okay?”

I shook my head in response and gently pushed her away from me, then stood up from my crumpled position on the floor.

“Lillian.”

She snapped to attention and after steading Aruna, who had been unbalanced by my light push, rushed to stand in front of me.

“General Ruan.”

I fixed my posture to stand taller and said as calmly as I could.

“Reach out to the castle and send a few of our more valuable treasures from the storage. I’ll write up a later to let them know of my intention of visit and solidify my engagement with the prince.”

Before any other family could dig up casual words from the past queen as we had, I needed to solidify it.

To protect Aruna from whatever schemes my elder sister would hatch and to protect myself, I knew I needed more power than the still-young Aruna could give me.