Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 1016: Sustaining Arm

They wanted to get as much information from the princess as possible, even if it was something they were aware of. Getting her perspective—the royal perspective—of things was valuable.

As, of course, they already knew what the Sustaining Arm was. Ayame was even the princess of one of its member duchies.

Felicity nodded while sending Feng a gaze of disapproval. ”Jiai, have you learned nothing from your professors?”

”Curb your hypocrisy, bratty princess. I distinctly remember you needing a whole group of adult women’s help to pass your math test.”

”... Moving on.” Felicity cleared her throat. ”They produce food for the military duchies, yes, but their role goes far beyond that. They provide blacksmiths, woodcutters, cobblers, and tailors. They process ore into weapons. They breed pack beasts for siege transport. They even send peasant workers when Greenvale or Ravenshade suffer raids and lose manpower. And perhaps most controversially, they send children. Boys and girls were sent young to be raised and trained in martial camps. Future soldiers, born in peace but forged for war.”

Felicity continued, her voice softening only slightly. ”And in the middle of it all, keeping the great gears turning, lies the Central Region. Our heart. Our spine. My father’s seat. It holds the political machinery together, but it’s always under pressure.”

She let the pause sit just long enough before lifting her chin.

”To protect their own interests, the military duchies of Greenvale and Ravenshade formed an unofficial alliance with two of the supply duchies: Thornhollow and Duskmere. Ravenshade with their neighbor Duskmere, and Greenvales with their neighbor Thornhollow. Silverwind, thankfully, remains neutral. But with those four loosely cooperating behind the curtain, they could potentially cripple the Central Region’s control and either demand independence or take the throne outright.”

”And that,” Felicity finished the history lesson with a small sigh, ”is the context.”

She folded her hands in her lap. ”The engagement between Calienne and the Duke of Duskmere wasn’t made lightly. It was part of a three-way pact to ensure peace and bind loyalties.”

”My sister was promised to the Duke of Duskmere even before she was born. At the same time, father married the sister of the Ravenshade Duke, who just so happens to be my mother, Queen Morgana. Once Mother birthed Calienne and she came of age, she married the Duskmere duke. Doing so pacified both duchies. They stopped scheming behind our backs.”

The room fell silent after Felicity’s final words, leaving everyone stunned. Even the noble-born girls—who had grown up within reach of such secrets—looked genuinely floored.

Lucille blinked rapidly. Vex’s lips parted with surprise. Ayame, for once, didn’t look composed.

Quinlan finally broke the silence. ”Wasn’t Queen Morgana just a nobleborn mage your father met at the Academy? That was the story I heard... Talented, ambitious, fell in love with the King, and the rest was history. She even had a noble name. Though... I remember hearing her family was wiped out.”

Felicity’s eyes lit up. Clearly, she’d been waiting for someone to ask. She gave a smug little smirk and took a slow, deliberate sip of her tea.

”Oh, Lord Black...” she giggled, enjoying herself.

Quinlan raised a brow.

”The truth is, Mother wasn’t officially recognized as a child of the Ravenshade ducal family. She was promised in marriage before she came of age. That family you’ve heard about? The so-called noble house she hails from that was wiped out in a tragic rebellion? It’s nothing but a convenient fabrication. As the king, you can’t just marry a random girl from the Academy, no matter how skilled her magic is.”

”Then why not just announce to the world she was a Ravenshade?” Ayame asked. ”That would’ve given her a lot more legitimacy than being the last member of a dying noble family.”

Felicity shrugged lightly, as if it were no big deal. ”Because Mother requested it. And Mother... can be strange. Father agreed. He’s always indulged her oddities.”

A long silence followed. Then...

”So Calienne really was forced into marriage. But don’t pity her too much. That servant boy she once loved was a child’s love. Teenage drama. The boy grew old... He died a long time ago. Sister grew up, accepted her role, and came to love the Duke of Duskmere. They have a large family now, and she’s genuinely happy.”

”... Then why try to kill the king?” Jasmine asked.

Felicity broke into a fit of giggles. ”Oh, she doesn’t! That’s just what the assassin letters say.”

Blossom tilted her head. ”Assassin... letters?” The dogkin rogue found the very concept alien. As a fellow assassin, why would she send letters to her targets?

”Yup.” Felicity grinned. ”Someone’s been trying to kill Father and framing my dear sister for centuries now. The reasoning always varies, but it boils down to ’a broken heart,’ ’vengeance,’ ’old resentment.’”

”And no one’s caught the real mastermind?” Quinlan asked.

Felicity shook her head. ”Not even close. Whoever it is, they’re persistent. Father’s had to fight off hundreds of attempts over the last few centuries. It’s become something of a running gag between them.”

She clasped her hands together and put on a mock-serious face. ”’Daughter, you sent another batch of assassins after me...’”

Her voice dropped into mock horror. ”Curses! Didn’t they succeed even now? I need to get serious now!”

The girls blinked. Then a few snorted. Even Ayame rolled her eyes.

”It’s morbid humor, I know,” Felicity admitted. ”But what else can you do when your family dinners include poison checks and disguised hitmen? Our father’s not exactly a... typical dad.” ŕΑꞐốΒÊṥ

That, at least, earned a round of quiet nods.

The moment was disturbed by a soft voice.

A maid in ceremonial black and gold stepped into the garden, keeping her head bowed low as she halted a respectful distance from the seated princess and guests.

”Princess Felicity. Her Highness’s presence is requested in the Grand Atrium.”

Felicity glanced at the girls, then at Quinlan. Her lips curled upward.

”Looks like it’s time.”

The maid dipped into a deeper bow. ”The banquet is about to begin.”

And just like that, the warmth of tea and gossip gave way to royal affairs once more.