Leopold gasped for air while clutching his throat. He's not choking on his food or anything. He's just…choking. His eyes are bore onto Elara's blue ones, piercing right through his brain.

"You…" Leopold failed to finish what he wants to say.

His soldiers tried to draw their swords, but she only need to raise her hand and they all came to a halt.

"We welcomed you into our country, our home, and you dare insult me?" she hissed.

It could easily be blamed on hormones but she's just really pissed off. She doesn't want to be in the same room as them but she tolerated them long enough. Insulting her directly on her face is just vanquishing what's left of her patience fast.

"Your Majesty, this is a dialogue. We will not solve anything with violence", Lord Samos cautioned.

The Lords of the High Houses are all present with them in the room for the waste of a time dialogue.

Elara snorted at that.

"They didn't come here to make peace, Lord Samos. It's not what they came here for", she turned to Leopold who has turned pale. "Do you want me to tell them why you are here and why you brought soldiers into this kingdom? More importantly, why you have a Silent in your squad that's been suppressing our abilities every now and then?" she asked.

With that, Tibe perked up and tried to test out his power and it didn't work.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked with a growl.

Leopold glared at Elara.

"She…witch! She's a witch! Don't…listen—"

She got up from her chair and glided towards Leopold's chair. She didn't release her hold on him and his soldiers. Tibe remained seated, watching her every move.

"Do you think of me as the same as the Whispers you had in your country, Lord Merin?" she asked even though she already know his answer to that.

Elara dragged him out of his chair. He walked funny to the side of the table, looking almost like a puppet with invisible strings.

How? You're not supposed to be able to use your ability.

"I am already inside your heads even before you stepped into this room. That's how", she responded.

He seemed unconvinced.

"You still think of me as a liar?" she arched a brow and glanced over to one of the soldiers behind her, "Come along, dear",

A soldier in his twenties stepped forward, not on his own volition, and stopped a few inches behind her.

"What's your ability, dear?" she asked coyly.

Everyone who remains on the table watched them closely.

"S-Silent…" the soldier reluctantly answered.

Elara grinned at Leopold. He really thinks he can hide a Silent amongst his soldiers and she wouldn't notice.

"As proof that I am telling you the truth…" she flicked her fingers without looking at the boy behind her, "Be a dear and stab yourself with your own sword. Make it…slow", she whispered.

She watched as horror filled Leopold's eyes. He's helpless as he watched the boy drew it his own sword and pierced it on his own body slowly that he felt every inch of the blade. He dropped on the floor, bleeding everywhere.

"W-Witch!" Leopold managed to scream and it only made her laugh.

She gestured for the other soldiers to pick up the dead boy to avoid him bleeding all over the carpet.

"You should have learned to be nicer to a Whisper, Lord Merin. I know what your King and Queen did to the Whispers in your country. I can see it in your head how you hunted them all down and killed them just because you're afraid of what they can do. You killed your own blood, your own people. You want to do the same to us thinking we will be foolish enough to fall for your act of diplomacy. You should have known better", she spat.

Tibe is seething on his chair at the head of the table. He's not stopping her so it means that he condones her actions. She had seen the thoughts in his head when he and his soldiers walked inside the room. They want to kill them all, a perfect gift for their King's upcoming birthday. That's why he needs the Silent boy hiding behind his other soldiers, to make sure none of them will be able to use their abilities to defend themselves.

Elara turned to her husband with fire in her eyes. His gaze matched hers.

"What would you have me do, darling?" she asked.

He took it as an offering, her great service to his throne. The pride is in his eyes. For Tibe, no matter how powerful his Queen is, she will always be at his service. Elara doesn't like it a bit but he's been good to her and he's going to be the father of his child. It's not a bother to serve him.

"I want to know everything. What they're planning, their strategy, everything. Make him sing, my Queen", he answered.

She wanted to point out that she's not a Singer but for sure, Tibe is not even aware about the difference. She understood him all the same.

"As you wish…" she turned to a quivering Leopold and stood in front of him. "This is going to hurt but you deserve it anyway", she muttered before pressing her forefinger on his forehead.

Leopold screamed in an instant. She just pierced his brain with her power and she's didn't bother being gentle. She doesn't want to be. She digs every corner until she had him hooked and all of his control are gone. She finally let go and he fell onto his knees, staring onto the floor.

"She's all yours, Your Majesty. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to have some fun with those soldiers. I've been cooped up long and I am dying for someone to practice on", she announced.

Tibe eyed her curiously but she didn't let him faze her. She only matched his gaze and stood her ground. She's still pissed and she needs an outlet. Besides, the soldiers are meant to kill them anyway. She's just getting more out of their impending execution.

"Alright…they're all yours. Just take it easy. We don't want you under more stress", Tibe agreed.

His concern for their unborn child has soften her temper a little. He's right. She's with child. She needs to take it easy and not put too much strain on her body.

"I will. Have fun. He will tell you everything you want now", she replied and gestured to the soldiers to follow her along, all under her whisper.


Elara tore them apart. Well, she gathered as many information as she could before she toyed with their brains, made them scream, made them live their worst nightmares. For almost an hour, the room was filled with Lakelanders' scream.

It has been building inside her from the moment she destroyed her only best friend in Summerton, the darkness living within her. She has this very well-contained rage festering inside her chest and now, she gets to unload it all on the enemies. It was not so bad all things considered. She's doing Norta a great service or at least that's what she tells herself while torturing those soldiers. It's not really about doing a service to her country. It's about herself. It's about being able to release it all, to really hurt someone without borders. To pour all her hate, all of her frustrations into someone.

"Elara", her father's voice stopped her from torching a Lakelander's brain.

It's been a while since they last spoke to one another. He's present earlier at the dining hall but she ignored him the entire time. She never even noticed him there at all.

"I am currently busy, Father", she replied and turned her head away from him.

She needs to finish what she started. They all need to be torn apart. They don't deserve to live after having discovered the real reason they come to her home. They were there to kill them all. She had seen it in their minds. All of their minds showed her the same elaborate plan. The Silent will turn off all of their abilities, the Telkies will remove any weapons in their possession. Nymphs will handle the Burners in the room. They will kill all of them, including her and her unborn child. That is something she cannot just easily let go of.

"You're going too far, my child. There is trial proceedings even for our enemies. Of course, they will all be executed but it's how things are done here in Norta. We're not like them", Henry said.

Elara snorted at that. Once upon a time, her father would have thrown a fit at that behavior.

"Are we not now? I seem to recall you enjoy seeing me do this, Father. It's the first time you ever given me a real compliment. I thought you should be proud of what I can do, of how far I can go", she replied.

Something flashed on her father's face and she thought for a moment whether that's regret or guilt or sadness. She couldn't quite figure it out considering she hadn't seen much emotion on her father's face since she was little.

"I am proud of you. You know that, but you are more than just my daughter now. You are the Queen of Norta. You must impose the laws of this land, not break them", he responded firmly.

"You're right, Father. I am the Queen of Norta and you're the Lord of House Merandus. You do not have the authority to tell me what to do anymore. You're not happy with what I do, you take it up with the King", she snapped.

She should be free from him. She's the Queen now. She doesn't need to listen to him anymore. He made her this way. He can't just piece her back together after he shattered her.

"I am not sure you want me to take it up with the King. That will cost you a great deal, my child", he muttered.

That got her full attention.

"Did you just threaten me, Father?" she asked.

It's written all over his face. It's blackmail. He knew her secrets, what she must do to become Queen. Coriane. Everything. Is he actually threatening her to tell everything to Tibe just to get her back under his thumb? Does he intend her to become his puppet? A Queen under his command?

"It's not a threat. You know I don't do threats", Henry answered.

Her blood boiled. The Lakeland soldiers suddenly forgotten. She refused to be her father's puppet any longer. She's finally free. She's going to be a mother soon and she doesn't want to be under her father's influence when she gives birth to her child. She's not going to let him do the same thing he did to her to her child.

"Well, the thing is, Father…I don't do threats either", she muttered under her breath but he heard her no less.

Think carefully, child. Thread carefully…

You taught me well, Father. I learned my lessons well…

He tried to push himself into his brain but she just bounced him off with such ease. She's no longer the same girl who used to be afraid of him. She's more powerful than her father, more powerful than any other Whisper in Norta or Lakelands. Henry Merandus is nothing for her.

"Enough, Elara!" Elindra's voice rang throughout the room silencing her ability right away.

The situation is quite familiar. Her mother siding with her father, allowing him to abuse her over and over again.

"You just used your ability on your Queen", she hissed.

"I am your Mother! You will listen and obey to me and your father!" Elindra exclaimed.

Elara gritted her teeth. She must protect herself. She must protect her future, her child.

It takes almost all of her energy but she managed to do it. One of the Lakelands' soldier nicked her mother's thigh, causing her to lose her hold on her daughter. Elara was quick enough to subdue her without letting her father get through her brain.

"I still have all of them under my whisper even when you suppress my ability. They will hurt anyone who tries to hurt me. Call it insurance. Now, you broke the law. Both of you. You tried to attack your Queen. You threatened and blackmailed your Queen before using your abilities on her. That is a major crime but I am merciful. I will let you live, but there's something I am going to take away from you and that's your ability to oppose me. From now on, you will live only to serve the Queen of Norta. No one else. You are now my puppet", Elara declared.