Winter stared her the people in the hall, her eyes containing a calculative glint. Her demeanor full of pride and nobility that is deeply ingrained, she is considered nobility since Josephina is the head of all witches and she is her daughter, taught with grace since childhood.
Her face frosty like waiting for a prey to freeze.
The dazzling array of hundreds of people sitting can make one scalp go numb and disoriented. This set of people all faced her each one with different thoughts and all with a united front. Those ones aren't like the chiefs all claiming to be united and unbreakable rely solely on that fact. This proved to be a fatal spot which she used to attack. She didn't do much on the chiefs, they willing went down without a fight.
These ones are scattered each knowing the second is out to get them. Developing skills like cunning and backstabbing is very common in this dog eat dog palace. Each one had to maintain those skills to survive. They are all smart and cunning without the hypocrisy of the chiefs. The chiefs can't compare to a finger of anyone here!
The king has many concubines going up to hundreds and sired hundreds of children. Each one of these children have the royal blood flowing in them and have a claim to the throne. Waiting quietly for the moment the crown prince makes a mistake and take that opportunity to attack is the main idea in their minds.
Everyone wishes to turn their lives around since the crown prince once he becomes king can dispose of them anyhow he sees fit and no one can question his decision.
Except the chiefs. It has been an unwritten rule over the years for the crown prince to 'empty' the palace once he bones king. It is a shameful practice whereas the newly crowned king marries off the females then the descendants of the female are killed and dispose of the males, he finds a home to put all his father's concubines,effectively choking off all the potential threats to the throne.
They had gotten the news of the crown prince bringing in a woman from the outside world to marry and had rejoiced. A king power is immense but he cannot cover the sky with one hand so his choice of partner is very important. She must be someone capable of staying sideways with him, capable of providing a steady support without getting cheated. A woman from outside have no worth in the kingdom and this can be considered a good thing for them. Until they heard how much the woman is worth outside and how it can affect the kingdom and the crown prince power if he successfully marries her.
They obviously haven't heard of the chiefs crushing defeat.
A wife as powerful like Winter can completely tilt the balance in favor of the crown prince.
These group aren't like the plastic alliance of the chiefs, although in normal circumstances they are at each other's throat but knowing how this will be beneficial to the crown prince they called a temporary truce and unite to drive her out.
Winter stared back at them with equal force. This one's can't be hypnotized but are still useful for her present to Prince.
These one's didn't have any good impression of her looking down at her with disdain and caution. She knew they haven't heard of the chiefs meeting ending or they will be outright terrified.
"Mm" Winter sat down in the seat brought by little maid. She sat straight her back not bending an inch, her beautiful eyes looking down at the crowd her demeanor full of queenly aura.
The faces of the royal family didn't change, like they expected that of her. However their hearts slightly shook at the release of her queenly aura which surpassed the pressure they have ever felt from the kingdom's queen.
"Your lack of respect is quite astonishing, I have to say..am impressed"
The head concubine is a woman in her early forties still with graceful curves and no sign of aging said. A curve ok her lips and her eyes raised up.
Winter smiled coldly and scoffed.
"The etiquette in the royal palace is declining and it is a huge shame!"
Every movement of hers screamed elegance and pride. Her momentum suppressing those in the room.
The faces of the concubines changed and their gazes turned to the head concubine. After being instructed severally not to speak unless important and to leave all the talking to the head no one dared comment despite offended.
"Yes" The head concubine nodded thoughtfully. She turned her icy gaze to the descendants in the room casually sweeping over them.
The descendants felt a chill go down their spines and collectively lowered their heads.
Everyone although enemies knew the head concubine isn't one to be trifled with. They have heard the rumors of how she broke the king's promise to the queen and became the first concubine, she even has the king wrapped around her fingers. The queen always comes out as the malicious person but the head concubine is the real controller in the palace. Several people in the royal harem has disappeared with each cases connected to her. They doñt want to be next.
Reluctantly,they all nodded at Winter and weakly murmured a faint greeting. The royal family doesn't bow didn't mean they shouldn't acknowledge a greeting. It is in the kingdom's law and refusing to acknowledge a greeting is considered a lack of etiquette and a slap to the person face.
Connections are needed in the palace to stay standing and not acknowledging a greeting can directly cut off one's path.
Winter didn't count this as a victory instead grew more wary of the head concubine. She is different from the first impression of hers in the dining room. This woman is definately not simple.
"The etiquette in the royal family is still strict and strong as ever. But this new generation.. tch!" The head concubine said casually and sipped her tea elegantly.
Her voice is soft and gentle, if one listened closely the warning in it is palpable.
"Mm" Winter hummed.
"This meeting isn't all about chatting, right your highness?
Winter said with same elegance and politeness not lesser to the trained royals. She didn't mind the warning counting it as something to be wary. She had to be taken the initiative now or the cunning lady will and strike her down.
The head concubine smiled looking a bit reluctant and dropped her tea. This young lady is like what they said, she is quite interesting. Too bad such a person didn't grew up in the kingdom. The whole kingdom will be full of interesting days like today.
"Why can't we just keep on chatting, it might even be the reason why we called you"
Winter nodded" every royal summon is for very serious cases and will be treated seriously"
There hasn't been any royal summon that has just been called to chat.
"I believe her highness is aware of that?"
The faces of the concubines twisted, their gazes inadvertently fell on the head concubine severally.
It has being said the head concubine came from an humble background, just a mere palace maid born to a farmer father, eventually climbing to this position through some unspeakable means, her background has been kept a secret and only those close knows the story. Her background is the lowest among them and directly saying that sentence is a slap to her face since the rest were of noble birth and received the proper education.
The head concubine casually picked up her tea neither angry just calm as a lake. The rising steam blurred her face hiding whatever expression she has from Winter. It is a two way street also hiding Winter's expression from her.
"Miss Powers is quite knowledgeable"
"You flatter me"
The head concubine chuckled, her laughter soft and sweet yet strong and bitter.
"We called this meeting to ask you to withdraw from tonight's event" The head concubine said her peaceful look gone replaced with an arrogant and intimidating one. Her piercing haze fixated on Winter as if trying to make her succumb with the aid of hundreds of the same.
"Don't worry about the crown prince, we have a way to get you out of here before night without any troubles" The head concubine assured her tone brooking no argument.
Little maid face scrunched up in anger. How dare this people try to take advantage of the miss?
Is it because the miss didn't show her power like earlier?!
No, she has to teach them a lesson on behalf of the miss and crown prince!
Winter's eyes turned up in a sneer, her predator gaze settled on each one in the hall and everyone micro expression didn't escape her sight. Too bad they are too united and bringing them down will be even worse than the chiefs.
"No" Winter replied calmly.