Reborn as the Psycho Villainess Who Ate Her Slave Beasts' Contracts-Chapter 153 --

"How do you know this?" Elara asked.

"I delivered messages for her. Saw the planning documents. She doesn’t know I can read noble script—thought I was just dumb muscle. But I saw everything."

"Prove it. Give me specifics only someone with access would know."

Daniel described meeting locations, code phrases, payment schedules. Details that matched what Elara had extracted from other interrogations but with additional context that could only come from direct observation.

It was credible.

"Acceptable. Immunity granted. Protective relocation to Port Crestfall. You’ll testify at trial." Elara made notes. "Anything else?"

"Yeah. She’s planning something big. Didn’t hear details, but she mentioned ’final solution’ and ’if the assassination attempts aren’t working, we need different approach.’ That was two days ago."

Elara’s analytical mind immediately started calculating probabilities.

Duchess Merchant. Sophisticated strategist. Multiple failed assassination attempts. Now planning "different approach."

Options: Political coup? Military action? Public discrediting campaign?

All dangerous. All needed immediate countermeasures.

"Thank you. You’ve provided valuable intelligence." Elara stood. "Guards will escort you to secure quarters pending relocation arrangements."

After Daniel left, Elara pulled out her communication crystal—magical device for instant messaging with her Port Crestfall administrators.

**PRIORITY MESSAGE: Investigate Duchess Merchant’s assets, connections, recent activities. Need comprehensive intelligence within 24 hours. - E**

Then she turned to Petra. "We have a problem." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Just one? That’s an improvement."

"Duchess Merchant is the strategic mind behind noble resistance. She’s intelligent, well-connected, and apparently planning escalation after assassination attempts failed." Elara pulled out maps and charts. "I need to predict her next move before she executes it."

"How do you predict what someone else will do?"

"By analyzing their constraints, resources, and objectives." Elara started making notes. "She wants to prevent reforms that threaten noble power. She’s tried assassination—failed. She’s tried sabotage—partially successful but insufficient. She’s tried economic pressure—marginally effective but slow. What’s her next logical escalation?"

She worked through the options systematically.

"Military coup—unlikely, she doesn’t control enough forces. Political petition—already failed. Public uprising—possible but requires significant population manipulation. Legal challenge—weak case given imperial authority. What else..."

Elara paused.

"Marriage."

Petra blinked. "What?"

"She submitted marriage proposal. I rejected it. But what if she tries again—not as proposal, but as political fait accompli?" Elara’s voice was calm but her mind was racing. "Forced marriage. If she can create situation where I’m legally or socially obligated to marry into her family, she gains direct control over imperial authority through spousal influence."

"How would she force that? You have final say over marriage decisions—"

"Unless I’m compromised. Blackmail. Kidnapping and forced ceremony. Magical compulsion. Social pressure through manufactured scandal." Elara started writing rapidly. "She knows I’m emotionally detached. Standard romantic or social pressure won’t work. So she’d use legal or magical mechanisms. What magical mechanisms enable forced marriage..."

She pulled out books on imperial law and magical contracts.

After twenty minutes of research, she found it.

"Ancient betrothal law. If two noble families formally agree to marriage contract and exchange binding magical oaths, the contract becomes legally enforceable even without consent from involved parties. It’s archaic—hasn’t been used in centuries—but technically still valid."

"But you’re not from a noble family anymore. Your mother’s family is gone—"

"But the Emperor is technically my legal guardian. And he’s in magical coma." Elara’s voice went very quiet. "If Duchess Merchant could get someone with legal authority to sign a betrothal contract on the Emperor’s behalf while he’s incapacitated..."

"She’d have legally binding marriage contract," Petra finished, horror dawning. "But who could sign for him? You’re the regent now—"

"Imperial law allows council of ministers to act as proxy for incapacitated Emperor in certain ceremonial and legal matters. Including marriage contracts for unmarried imperial daughters." Elara pulled out the legal code, flipping pages rapidly. "It requires majority vote from the council. Duchess Merchant doesn’t control majority—but she might if she’s been bribing or blackmailing ministers while I’ve been focused on administrative reforms."

She stood abruptly. "I need current status of Imperial Council composition. Immediately."

One of the beast knights left at a run to fetch the records.

While waiting, Elara continued analyzing. "If this is her plan, she’s been positioning for weeks. The marriage proposal was initial attempt—test to see if I’d accept voluntarily. When I rejected it, she shifted to forced legal mechanism. That requires: council majority, magical contract preparation, timing when I’m vulnerable..."

The knight returned with the council roster. Elara scanned it, her eyes moving rapidly across names and affiliations.

Fifteen council members total. Needed eight votes for majority.

Her eyes narrowed. "Three ministers have family connections to Duchess Merchant. Two more are under investigation for corruption—vulnerable to blackmail. One is known to oppose reforms. That’s six potential votes."

She flipped through recent attendance records.

"Minister Rothschild has been absent from last four meetings—illness cited. Minister Patel died two weeks ago—replacement hasn’t been appointed yet. That reduces total voting members to thirteen. Now majority requires only seven votes instead of eight."

Petra leaned over her shoulder. "You think Merchant arranged Patel’s death?"

"Unknown. But convenient timing." Elara made rapid notes. "If she controls six votes plus one more from wavering ministers... she gets majority. Emergency council session could be called, vote conducted, contract signed before I have time to counter."

"When would she try this?"

Elara checked the calendar. "Council next meets in three days. But emergency sessions can be called with twenty-four hours notice. If she’s planning this, she’ll call emergency session when I’m occupied with something else. Create distraction, push through vote while I’m unable to intervene."

She looked at the schedule for tomorrow.

"Tomorrow I have scheduled trip to inspect northern garrison. Six hours away from palace. If emergency council session is called while I’m traveling..." She stopped. "That’s when she’ll do it. Tomorrow. While I’m out of the capital and can’t physically stop the vote."

Petra grabbed her arm. "Then cancel the inspection! Stay here!"

"Can’t. Northern garrison is showing signs of potential mutiny—inspection is critical for maintaining military stability. If I cancel, it signals weakness and potentially triggers the exact military problem I’m trying to prevent." Elara’s mind worked through options. "I need to be in two places simultaneously. Impossible. Therefore I need proxy who can represent my interests at emergency council session while I handle garrison."

"Who?"

Elara looked at her. "You."

"What? No! I’m not—I don’t have authority—"

"You’re daughter of maquise Rose, who is legally my father secretary . Subordinate family has standing to represent imperial interests in emergency situations." Elara pulled out legal precedents. "It’s obscure but valid. You can attend council session as my designated representative."

"I don’t know anything about council procedures!"

"You don’t need to. You just need to do one thing: if they try to vote on betrothal contract, formally object and demand twenty-four hour delay for me to review documentation. That’s standard legal delaying tactic. Gives me time to return from garrison and block the vote personally."

Petra looked terrified. "What if they ignore my objection?"

"They can’t. Imperial law requires consent period for marriage contracts involving direct imperial bloodline. Your objection triggers mandatory review period." Elara handed her the legal code, passages marked. "Memorize this. Tomorrow, stay in palace. If emergency council session is called, attend immediately and invoke these procedures. Can you do that?"

"I... I think so? Maybe?"

"Insufficient confidence level. Let’s practice." Elara stood. "Roleplay scenario: you’re in council chamber. Ministers announce betrothal vote. What do you say?"