Chapter 96 - Banquets Here, There, and Everywhere (Part 4)

The women turned their heads to the Defense Minister as if asking for some help. Count Bernard Cordove thought he should thank the ladies later for giving him an opportunity to talk alone with the Crown Princess. 

"Crown Princess, allow me to give you a short tour of this place." The Defense Minister finally spoke the words that the elderly women loved to hear – take Zenia away from them.

"It's okay Defense Minister, I wouldn't want my elders to think that I am abandoning them."

"It's alright, Crown Princess. You may go." The women spoke in chorus.

Zenia stood up, and the women heaved a sigh of relief.

"Well then, it's a pleasure meeting all of you. I will try my best to visit each one of you in the future."

"That won't be necessary!" The women blurted out at the same time.

"Goodbye, elders. I'm in your care now Defense Minister."

"Crown Princess, I am Count Bernard Cordove, at your service." The Defense Minister was tired of hearing the Crown Prince calling him Defense Minister all the time as if it was his given name.

Zenia nodded, "Shall we go now Count Cordove?"

The Count nodded his head, and they walked together away from the bunch of elderly women.

"Crown Princess, I pledge my loyalty to the Crown Prince. Do you believe me?" The Defense Minister knew that it was the perfect time to speak with Zenia without arousing suspicions.

Zenia looked at the elderly man and knew that he was not lying.

"I believe you, sir. A true, dignified military man always honors his words and will never lie."

"You are so certain, Crown Princess. I know that you belong to a military family but rumors say that you are unruly with no discipline at all. I don't believe in rumors, and I think you are part of Ishelon's military unit."

"It is true, sir. I am the Junior Commander of the Ishelon Armed Forces."

The Defense Minister did not expect that Zenia was the Junior Commander who happened to be the military tactician of Ishelon. He heard that they helped other Kingdoms before, and their victories were due to the careful planning of Ishelon's military tactician. But for some unknown reason, Ishelon stopped participating in the war of other kingdoms. They refused to extend some assistance even if the kingdom asking for help was willing to form part of Ishelon. 

"You are that young tactician. I never suspected that you are a woman."

"I learned a lot from experience, sir."

The Defense Minister was quite puzzled by Zenia's remark. Ishelon and Tissuria had long ceased their war, and he was sure that Zenia did not experience the brunt of that war. Where did learning from experience come from? 

"When I learned about your battle tactics, I thought they were unconventional."

"I use different battle strategies. You can say that each plan of attack is unique for each battle. That way, the enemies will not be able to read our next move." 

The Defense Minister looked at Zenia and quivered. 'Madam, what kind of mind do you possess? You speak like you are merely playing a game when creating your strategy.'

For the first time, the Defense Minister was glad that Ishelon and Tissuria were no longer at war. He was also glad that he chose the faction of the Crown Prince to support. He deeply regretted not pursuing the marriage proposal that he sent to the Anisens for his son. Such an amazing woman should've been his daughter-in-law.

"You will attend many more banquets after this. You may meet the same people in your next banquet and more new faces. In each banquet that you will attend, pay attention to everyone and your surroundings. We will meet again, Crown Princess, until then."

"I thank you, sir. I will surely meet you again soon."

They parted ways like they never discussed something important. No one suspected anything at all.

Zenia decided to return to their table even though the Marquis was still there.

"My Crown Princess, you're back." Vaughn made his voice louder for the Marquis to leave.

Vaughn stood up to help Zenia to her seat. Marquis Vermont also stood up and greeted Zenia.

"Greetings, Crown Princess. I am Marquis Vermont," he flashed his pearly whites, which annoyed Zenia.

She had never seen a set of teeth so white before. The Marquis' smile seemed unreal that she couldn't stand it. Vaughn noticed that Zenia was annoyed. He knew that she did not like the way the marquis smiled at her.

"Good evening Marquis. I presume that you are done talking with the Crown Prince? I am really tired right now and just wish to go back early." 

The Marquis was taken by surprise and could not think of a good reason to stay. He also felt a murderous aura coming from the Crown Princess.

"We are done here, Your Highness. Crown Prince, I hope we will be able to have a talk again." The Marquis turned around and went back to his table. 

"You were a bit rude to him, don't you know?" Vaughn teased Zenia.

"Of course I know! That's the idea, my dear husband. He should take a hint."

Vaughn smiled and liked Zenia's reply very much.

"Did you find out something? I saw you talking with the Defense Minister. I thought the old ladies will give you trouble."

"Yup, they did. But, they no longer want me to give them some trouble and practically kicked me out from their circle and let Count Cordove show me around."

"Count Cordove?"

"Count Bernard Cordove, the Defense Minister! Don't you even know his name?"

"His name had always been Defense Minister ever since I've known him." 

Vaughn thought he heard the name Cordove before. He frowned when he remembered that it was the name in one of the marriage proposals that they managed to intercept. The Defense Minister was interested to turn Zenia into his daughter-in-law? The nerve!

"He expressed his sincere intention to be your ally. He also told me to be vigilant in every banquet that we will attend. I will meet old and new faces in each of them. I told him that we will soon meet again."

"You were able to talk that much? I saw him showing you around."

"That's how military men should talk when they don't want to make other people suspicious."

"Does he know your position in Ishelon's military?"

"Uhuh."

"You did not hide it from him?"

"No, because I believe him."

"Aren't you afraid that he could be a spy?"

"No."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Intuition."

"Just that, and you trust him?"

"Uhuh."

Vaughn looked at Zenia and shook his head.

"Fine, if you trust him that much, I will consider him as an ally."

Deep inside, Vaughn calculated that the Defense Minister only joined his faction because of Zenia. He could still be thinking of ways to snatch his wife away from him.

* * * * *

The Left Minister grabbed the opportunity to meet the King while Vaughn and Zenia were busy with attending the banquets. He knew that Vaughn's men would not bother checking their activities. 

"Greetings, my King." The Left Minister went to see the King in his private quarters.

Queen Mina was busy tending the imperial garden, which she would use for her tea party. She had no idea that the Left Minister came to see King Tarendino.

"There's no one here but us. Don't be so formal with me father-in-law when there's only the two of us." 

The Left Minister secretly sneered. The King still loved Concubine Jayda all these years. The King could not forget her. But, he as her father sometimes did not regard her as his daughter. She was just his adopted daughter. It was one of his secrets that he would not let anyone find out, not even Damien and Odette.

The Left Minister suddenly thought about something. He could not remember whether he told someone that Concubine Jayda was not his biological daughter. 

'Ah, forget it. Whoever that person is I'm sure he would not spill it out. He might not even notice that I've said something outrageous.'