Tjäna's fury reached a boiling point. She snapped her fingers, and two burly men appeared from the shadows, grabbing Aelara by the arms.
"You think you can talk to me like that?" Tjäna hissed, her voice dripping with venom. Without warning, she delivered a hard slap across Aelara's face, the sound echoing through the courtyard. Aelara's head snapped to the side, but before she could react, Tjäna's fists rained down on her, each blow fueled by her seething rage.
Aelara struggled against the men holding her, but their grip was ironclad. Tjäna's assault continued, her face a mask of unbridled anger.
Ehliot, still on the balcony, watched with a mix of amusement . The spectacle had taken a darker turn than he had anticipated. Finally, he decided to intervene.
"That's enough, lady Reïmousah," he called out, his voice cold and commanding. He descended the stairs swiftly, his presence immediately halting the chaos. "Let her go," he ordered, his tone icy and threatening. The men released Aelara, who fell to the floor, trembling. Tjäna stepped back, her chest heaving, eyes still blazing with anger.
Ehliot's gaze bore into Tjäna, his words sharp as a blade. "Lady Rävkan, why don't you hit her back and show her what it feels like."
Aelara still shaking, hesitated for a moment before delivering a swift slap to Tjäna's face. The sound was just as loud, just as humiliating.
"Now leave," Ehliot shouted at Tjäna, his voice thunderous.He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. In a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he whispered, "If our paths ever cross again, your life will become a waking nightmare."Tjäna, her face pale with fear, turned and fled, her footsteps echoing in the now silent courtyard. Ehliot, his face a mask of stoic calm, gently cradled Aelara in his arms. He carried her to a secluded room, where he tenderly helped her care for the bruises and cuts inflicted by Tjäna's relentless slaps.
Aelara winced as she dabbed at her bruised cheek, her eyes blazing with fury. "That wretched woman, Tjäna! How dare she lay a hand on me? She's nothing but a vile, conniving—"
"Enough," Ehliot's voice cut through her tirade, cold and unyielding. He stood at the entrance of the room, his expression as unreadable as ever. "You are a noble, Aelara. Conduct yourself with the dignity befitting your station."Aelara shot Ehliot an annoyed glance, her eyes narrowing. "Ugh, why are you so…!" Aelara's voice rang out, filled with exasperation, as she glared at the Grand Duke. She sighed, her frustration evident. "Nevermind," she muttered, her shoulders slumping.
"This ball was meant to announce and celebrate the discovery of the new manna stone mine at the border of the Black Forest," she continued, her voice laced with bitterness. "I wouldn't have come at all if Father hadn't threatened to cut my pocket money for a month. And now, to make matters worse, I've been hit in the face by that good-for-nothing wench. How am I supposed to explain this to Father? That some count's crazy daughter slapped me countless times and even had her men hold me down while she did so?" she grumbled to herself, her face flushed with rage.
Taking a deep breath, Aelara straightened up, ready to return to the party. But just as she turned, the duke stepped into her path, halting her in her tracks.
"You're not planning to get yourself drunk, are you?" the Grand Duke asked, his voice cold and unyielding."And how exactly does that concern you, Duke Edinburgh?" she retorted, her tone sharp. "My presence at today's event wasn't necessary in the first place, so what's wrong with having a little drink before heading home, hmm?" she replied, her eyes challenging him as she spoke.
With that, Aelara turned on her heel, her head held high, and made her way back to the grand hall, determined to face the evening with as much grace as she could muster.
Just as Aelara lifted her glass of red wine to her lips, one of her father's men approached her with urgency. "Your father has ordered that you return home before he does, or else…" he began, but before he could finish, Aelara had already dashed out of the hall.
She leapt into the waiting carriage, commanding the driver to hurry home. With that, the night's events came to an abrupt end.
The next morning, Aelara stood in the training yard, her sword glinting in the early sunlight. She moved with precision and strength, sparring with one of her knights. The clash of steel echoed through the air, a testament to her skill and determination.
As she paused to catch her breath, a familiar voice called out, "Not bad for a lady skilled in swordsmanship. Care to spar with me?" She spun around to face the speaker, and to her great annoyance, it was none other than the Grand Duke.They engaged in a fierce duel, their swords clashing with a metallic symphony. The Grand Duke duke's strikes were precise and powerful, but Aelara was no coward. She countered with skill and cunning, employing every trick she knew. In the end, her determination paid off, and she emerged victorious.