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IGIWS FIRST DRAFT: Ch.363 The Fate that Almost Was.
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 02:46:26 +0000 UTCAll the girls couldn't believe what they witnessed. They were amazed by Rya's power and prowess. It was something they wished to strive for, but didn't know if it was possible.
"Did you see that? Are we sure that the infamous stories about the Dark Elves were made-up?" One girl whispered to her friend.
"I am not too sure anymore, but the way she handled the Foreign Princess was nothing short of amazing. I didn't know one could be disarmed with compassion and mercy." Another girl whispered.
"I didn't know that such a creature existed. Sure, Dark Elves are beautiful, but to have a strong moral compass was what I thought High Elves possessed. Now, I am not too sure..."
Rya's ears twitched as she heard multiple conversations about her. That's when it hit her that she won them over with her actions. She smiled at her own dumb luck. This wasn't her intention, but she would take the win, nonetheless.
'Wow... Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I guess it's better to be born lucky than clever.' Rya mused as she stood there, watching the girls whisper about her.
Even the three older daughters of the Revelia's witnessed the Dark Elf's actions from afar.
"D-Do you think she'll show us mercy as well?" Eleanora Revelia asked her two older sisters, who were just as perplexed as her.
"I-I don't know. Princess Hilda was trying to win cousin's affection, so maybe that's why Rya was merciful? But mother and father wish for vengeance of our brother. We could still be in her crosshairs. Let us be wary, no matter how lovely she appears." Sara Revelia, the oldest of the three said.
"What's the point? If she kills us, then we don't have to worry about going back to our ungrateful husbands... I don't know why I continue to—"
"Jemma!?... We fight to live so Lydia and Clara can have a future without the burden we have. Remember, we must not let mother and father sell them off for their own ambitions. They need us." Sara exclaimed as she grabbed her younger sister's hands.
"But... You were right. All we have are each other. I'll try to be better." Jemma lamented. She had the worst husband out of her sisters. But she will endure just long enough until she knows that Lydia and Clara can take care of themselves.
"It will be okay. Just do your best, and keep fighting. It will get better," Sara said with a weak smile. She was trying her best to keep Jemma from spiraling in despair. If only she were stronger, then she could fight back. But she wasn't, and this was the best she could do.
"Thank you." Jemma nodded.
Sara nodded and turned her attention back to Rya and Hilda.
'Well, I guess Hilda is no longer a problem. The Court is mine and the House of Lords will have to accepting me as Quin's wife... Shit!? I'm going to get married! Oh, my God! Oh, my GOD! I feel so giddy, but I need to control myself.' Rya thought as she took in a deep breath to calm herself. The party wasn't over and there was no telling what contingency plan Leandra or Alaric has put into motion. Plus, she needed to help these girls and promote her feminine hygiene products.
Hilda was still struggling to comprehend everything the Dark Elf had told her. She was still reeling from the revelation.
'My religion wishes to control us?! How can this be?' Hilda thought as she continued to stare blankly at the Dark Elf.
Rya glanced at Hilda.
'Hm. This might be a bit much for her to process. She's probably never had an to think outside the box or had to challenge her beliefs... God, she looks like a sad puppy right now... I-I'll throw her a bone to see if I can snap her out of it,' Rya thought as she walked up and put her hands on Hilda's shoulders.
"Hey, Hilda..." Rya said softly, causing the Foreign Princess to slowly look up at her. "You've been given an opportunity that only a select few get from the Holy Alliance. You know the lies the church tells, and you can use your influence to bring more truth and light into the world. I know you are still young, but you have the potential to do great things," Rya asked, giving Hilda her most charming smile.
The words struck Hilda deeply.
"S-So, you are saying that monthly Bleedings aren't sinful?... Are you sure?" Hilda asked hesitantly.
Rya couldn't help but chuckle at Hilda's hesitation.
"So you are going to trust a Dark Elf, now?" Rya teased, causing the Foreign Princess's face to flush with embarrassment while her face conveyed mild irritation as her lips tighten into a straight line. "Oh, lighten up!... And yes, I'm very sure that menstruation is not a sin. If it was, then why isn't there something in the Tomes of the Three about it?" Rya countered, causing Hilda to furrow her brow.
"The Tomes don't mention it... because... That's a good question..." Hilda said, her expression darkening slightly.
Rya smirked, "I've read the Tomes, and they say nothing about it being a sin. So, if I was a betting woman, some priest must have come up with it. Because you said it's only a confessional sin. It's probably a way to control women, or maybe to see signs of women who are too strong-willed. But, like I said, this is only an educated guess." Rya shrugged.
"I see," Hilda muttered as her expression shifted from troubled to angry. "They would use a holy text to lie to their followers?!" Hilda asked incredulously.
"Yeah... Maybe there are priests in the Church who do not know or genuinely do care for their congregation. But I would have to witness them to make that call. Anyway, all a woman's periods is, is a sign that shows our bodies has met the requirements to be fertile. And what is coming out of us is nothing more than our uterine lining that it's useful anymore and needs to be flushed out of our system to start a new. And each race has a different length between menstrual cycles. Mine is supposedly starting now and I should be having my first one in five to ten years. Humans usually have theirs every month, Beastkins are all over the place, and are confusing as hell..." Rya replied with a chuckle.
Hilda felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders as her expression turned bright.
"I... I feel like a fool. I was always taught that monthly bleedings are a curse and a punishment for the sin we women were born with. Thank you... For opening my eyes," Hilda said, her tone sincere as she gazed at Rya with grateful eyes.
This caught Rya off guard, as she didn't expect the Princess to be so grateful, and even seemed moved. 'Wow... I didn't know she could be this graceful in defeat. I can see why Quin wanted to help her... W-Whatever! I'll be married to Quinus soon enough and hopefully I won't have to see this girl ever again. Yeah! That'll do it!' Rya thought as she gave Hilda a curt nod.
The Dark Elf turned to the crowd of women and started pulling out more tampons.
"Alright, where were we? Ah, right. So, just rip the wrapper off and make sure the blue end goes in first and the string side down," Rya said as she handed the tampons out.
"What are these called?" One noblewoman asked.
"Tampons. One could last five hours on a normal flow. If your flow is super heavy, or you are on your period for more than three days, change them after an hour," Rya explained, then paused and looked at the crowd. "Any other questions?"
Nysara cleared her throat and asked, "Are they for free? Or are they for sale?"
"These ones are a gift. The next batch will be for sale," Rya replied as she gestured to the tampons in her hand. "But, I only have fifty free samples. So, first come, first serve."
The seven girls who were going through their periods bum-rushed the Dark Elf.
"Hey!? I deserve the most! You all were afraid to talk to Princess Rya about our issues! Let me through!" Brynhildr exclaimed while pushing Nysara away.
"I was the one who suggested that we speak to, Princess Rya first! I'm tired of used cloth napkins and blood stains on the back of my dresses," Nysara countered.
"We can all have equal shares. There's no need for us to fight," Francine stated as she and the other three girls tried to grab their fair share.
"Ladies!? Ladies!... Stop acting like a pack of rabid dogs! You will each get a couple, alright!?" Melanie Ingham barked at the seven girls and everyone fell silent.
Rya was surprised when Melanie came in to the rescue, but was also relieved.
"Thanks, Lady Ingham," Rya said, then continued handing out the free samples. She gave out a few extras to the seven girls before offering some to the rest.
Hilda watched as the women were given a sample of the new product and was curious. 'So, she cares for the people, and wants to help them... Was I really so wrong about her?... M-Maybe it's fine that I lost to her... Maybe I can go back home and try to fix things...' Hilda thought as she saw the Dark Elf smile at everyone. 'Yes! That's it! If she can change everyone's mind, maybe I can as well... I don't care what father says. I'll become a nun and dedicate my life to changing the church from the inside!... I just need to become Mother Superior! Then I can change things!' Hilda thought as she was beginning to accept her new path in life. Sure she wouldn't become the next Queen of Fiafyr, but she could help a lot of people by becoming a nun.
And this was how Princess Hilda Stoneworthh's fate would have gone after the wars between the Holy Alliance and the Fiafyr Kingdom. Unfortunately, the warm fuzzy feelings the Foreign Princess had begun to crack something in the back of her mind came to the forefront.
In the original timeline, Hilda would have gone back to the Holy Alliance as a Nun and would have done a lot of good work helping women, children, and the sick. She would have even worked alongside the Church of the Golden Order, a sect of the Divine Three, to make meaningful changes. However, that all changed when Nils pretended to be Iyomelka and contacted Hilda when she was praying to them. It was a message of a Goddess though gave her guidance to win Quinus' heart and marry him.
It hit her hard as she stood there in the ballroom. 'H-Hold on!... Oh! Ooh, this woman is good! She's far more dangerous than I realized. She doesn't use magic at all to win over these women. It's a natural charm and she used her charms to make me give up my Prince! I won't let her get the better of me again! She might have won this battle, but the Goddess of the New Three spoke to me! She must have been fooled by her during the ritual and needs me to fix her mistake! She told me exactly how to get him! I just need to trust a Noblewoman's unsavory plans to seduce him... I think!? W-Whatever, I need to remain composed! I lost winning over the Court, so I shouldn't put a target on myself for trying to argue. No, I should keep quiet and wait for this party to end. Yes, I need to play nice so the Ladies of the Court so when I do defeat Rya and her evil influence, I can gain their favor. Then when I become Queen, I will have the backing of the Ladies of the Court, the Noblemen, and the Church!... Fear not, my Prince. I will save you in due time...' Hilda thought as she smiled and continued to listen to the Ladies around her.
Comments
Marek Gwalt
TFTC
Katherine
Ugg.
Micheal Kennedy
Thanks for the chapter!
