Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world

Looking at the votes, Maerina spoke ”By majority vote... House Vernuil is hereby elevated to Great Noble status. The fourth seat is filled.”

A round of applause echoed through the chamber.

A few of the older nobles rose to their feet in formal acknowledgment. Others simply stared, stunned by how quickly the balance of power had shifted.

Esmery blinked out of her surprise and stood up.

She reached the front, and despite the adrenaline rush, she spoke clearly ”Thank you for voting for me... I will be sure to live up to your expectations.”

Before the applause could die, Alandra quickly shook her head ”No, No, there is something definitely wrong here. How did she win?”

Hearing her words, everyone turned to look at her.

Maerina frowned slightly. ”Miss Alandra... the voting was done here right in front of everyone, how can something go wrong here?”

Alandra glanced at the Great Hoble House matriarchs and uttered ”No... but how is this possible? Lady Rhiannon? Lady Delacroix? You promised to vote for me!”

The two women’s gazes narrowed, and Rhiannon spoke ”What are you talking about?”

Alandra’s eyes trembled with barely contained anger. She gripped the edge of her table so tightly her knuckles turned white.

”Why are you two backing off now? All because of him?”

She asked, pointing at Brandon, who was just minding his own business.

”Is it because you are scared of him? Or did he blackmail both of you to vote for Esmery?”

Lady Delacroix stood up and replied ”My decision was not influenced by anyone. Nor by any kind of blackmail. I voted for Esmery Vernuil based solely on my own judgment, with no correlation to Mr. Brandon Kael or anything else.”

Alandra gritted her teeth and looked at Esmery ”You... you damn cunt. You must have slept with him so he can vouch for you.”

Esmery’s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed into pure fury.

She stepped forward without hesitation and delivered a sharp, resounding slap across Alandra’s face.

CRACK.

”How dare you-”

Alandra stumbled back in pain, and the bodyguard woman standing behind Alandra’s gaze condensed ”Matriarch-”

Before she could finish the sentence or even raise a hand, a brutal kick slammed into the side of her face.

THOOM.

The woman was blasted backward, crashing straight through the marble wall behind her in an explosion of stone dust and debris.

The impact left a gaping, jagged hole in the wall, with chunks of marble tumbling to the floor.

Everyone in the hall shot to their feet as chairs scraped against the marble.

Brandon slowly lowered his leg as the ether around his boot dissipated like smoke.

He looked at the broken wall, then at the stunned bodyguard now groaning amidst the rubble, ”You were annoying that day in the tournament too...”

This is the same woman who attacked him while he was beating Alyssa in the tournament.

Alandra stood rigid as her cheek blossomed with a deep red mark.

Maerina quickly stepped forward to dispel the situation and turned to Brandon ”Mr.Brandon, you are not hurt, right?”

E-Eh? Everyone was dumbfounded to see Maerina asking the question to Brandon instead of the woman lying on the floor.

With a wave of his hand, he replied ”I am fine.”

Maerina finally turned her head to Alandra ”Lady Sytheria,” she said sharply, ”you will apologize to Lady Vernuil immediately, or you will be removed from this assembly.”

Alandra’s jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.

She glared at Esmery and with visible effort, she forced the words out through gritted teeth ”...My apologies.”

It sounded like it physically hurt her to say.

Maerina gave a faint nod ”This assembly is now adjourned. Lady Vernuil’s elevation stands. Any further disruptions will result in immediate expulsion from the hall.”

The nobles began to file out, some whispering excitedly, others shooting nervous glances toward Brandon and the newly elevated Lady Vernuil.

Brandon turned to Esmery and spoke ”Let’s leave.”

She nodded and followed him out of the hall.

And soon, the grand assembly hall emptied.

Now in the hall, Alandra, Rhiannon and Delacroix were the only ones remaining.

Caressing her cheek gently, Alandra spoke ”I didn’t expect you two to betray me like this.”

Rhiannon leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other ”What was I supposed to do in that situation?”

”Before coming to the meeting, I did plan to vote for you. But after seeing that man walk in with his arm around Esmery Vernuil... I changed my mind.”

Upon hearing this, Alandra clicked her tongue ”So you are scared of him after all.”

With a nod, Delacroiz spoke ”Obviously we are; you know his influence and the power he holds...”

”His sister Charlotte destroyed an entire Great House for trying to harm her little brother.”

”Also, Maerina, why do you think she is so loyal towards Brandon... and why hasn’t she healed her left arm yet, even though she easily could?”

”It’s because of Charlotte... so yeah, I am not taking any risks that could potentially destroy my house.”

Raising her head, she looked at Alandra ”I will give you this piece of advice... don’t mess with that man.”

”I don’t know what your daughter did to anger him, but tell her to go and apologize to him first. Also you too... along with that bodyguard of yours.”

”It’s for your own safety.”

Alandra’s eyes trembled as she clenched her fist ”Me? Apologizing to a man? How can you call yourself a Great Noble House and... ask me to apologize to a man?”

Rhiannon let out a soft sigh ”Pride is not everything... to save your life, you need to lose some dignity.”

Delacroix stood up ”Think about it; don’t let your hate for men cloud your judgment.”

”Currently, he has almost four Empyreans at his disposal... I dare say if he wanted, he could even topple the world government and become the next ruler of the planet.”

”And him being the Herald... there are believers for the religion everywhere in this world. Millions. They would follow him without question if he ever chose to call upon them. He is their... Living Saint.”

”Just think of it as... you are currently living under the mercy of him because he doesn’t have big ambitions like ’world domination’.”

Alandra lowered her gaze and uttered ”...You are exaggerating.”

Hm? Delacroix let out a huff and shrugged ”If you think so... I am taking my leave.”

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the exit, her heels clicking sharply against the marble.

Rhiannon also stood up from her seat ”All I can say is, don’t make that guy your enemy.”

She took a slow step down from the dais ”How do you think the Great Noble Houses lasted for decades among such powerhouses... you can’t always cling to pride.”

”There are times when you should step back.”

She paused for a moment ”Now that I think of it, I am glad I didn’t vote for you... you are unfit for such status with that mentality of yours.”

”Huh?” Alandra’s eyes snapped up with irritation.

”Tch.” She clicked her tongue sharply and glanced away, refusing to meet Rhiannon’s gaze.

Rhiannon shook her head slowly ”Pride without wisdom is just slow suicide, Alandra. Remember that.”

With those final words, she turned and followed Delacroix out of the hall