The Revenge of the Exiled Villainess:Ch1

Eleanor groaned, flunking out of bed. Today the Imperial Council would be meeting here at House Labyrinth, and she unfortunately, would be forced to attend.
She thought that maybe, just maybe if she stayed in bed for long enough, they would forget about her, but her mother would scoff at the idea.
"You are a lady! Act like it." she would say firmly.
Her father would only glare down upon her, eyes as cold as the Sea of Death just Northeast of here. He'd be glad for an excuse to internally call Eleanor a failure, not fulfilling her duties as a lady of one of the most prominent houses in the Imperial Empire.
Sure they were well respected, but they were also feared. Seen as a threat to the Imperial Palace due to their extraordinary abilities passed on from generation to generation.
Sometimes Eleanor wondered if the rumors were true, whether her parents were really plotting to overthrow the Imperial Court, and Family, and just hadn't told her or her brother Kai.
Well she wouldn't expect them to tell her. She was rarely trusted with anything. But she'd expect them to inform her older brother at least.
Well it didn't matter now.
"Alia!" she called to one of her servants, most likely waiting outside the door for her mistress to wake.
Right on cue, she burst through the doors, her brunette bun flying behind her, followed by another blonde, unnamed servant.
Alia was the lady's maid, in this case, her's.
"Oh dear me Lady Labyrinth what've you done with your hair? Oh you certainly cannot meet them in this state!"
Alia was in fact close with her, and she often regarded her as a friend, though she insisted on always referring to her as lady.
"I've only just gotten out of bed." Eleanor grumbled, fiddling with her hair and face insecurely.
Alia smiled, signaling to the blonde servant to step forward, now holding a pile of neatly folded, colored garments, each one of them more embellished than the last.
The servant gently put them on the couch opposite Eleanor's bed, near the door to the washroom, then bowed, taking her leave.
"Who was that?" she asked Alia curiously.
"She's the new hire." Alia replied in a hushed voice. "Poor thing's quite frightened. Explained she's here to provide for her little sister's education. Her mother's busy with work and her father......her father passed away a long time ago."
"It must be tough." Eleanor whispered sympathetically, Alia nodding.
"What's her name?"
"Hannah. Hannah Lanchester."
Eleanor contemplated this for a moment.
"I'll make sure to the full extent of my abilities she feels comfortable here."
Alia's eyes widened. "You'd do that my lady?"
Eleanor rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course." she teased.
As Alia giggled, directing her to the washroom, giving her fresh towels and soaps, Eleanor felt a small cold residing inside her, pricking her over and over again.
The extent of her abilities didn't go too far.
...
In the shower, she turned the water to steaming, applying the Chrysanthemum-scented soap on, her fingers gently combing through her hair as she shut her eyes, trying to block out the stress of the impending meeting.
It wouldn't be anything good.
She remembered the last council like it was yesterday. The very same meeting discussing the disappearance of the High Wizard's daughter, and the declaration of war, and how her father, Duke Labyrinth, was caught in the middle...
"Lord Yulden. We plead with you to see reason..."
"NO!" he roared. "My daughter, my only heir to the throne of Yulden, heir to my throne has vanished! And I have reason to believe it's something to do with one of you. Return my daughter or I swear by the blood of the Goddess Reynah you will feel the wrath of my power!"
The Imperial Council of the East, was holding a meeting with the Wizarding Council of the West, right in the palace of the Emperor, in Feran, the centermost region of the continent.
Eleanor nervously sits in her assigned chair, to the left of her brother Kai, and the right of her mother, the Duchess. Her father, Duke Labyrinth sat next to his son, eyeing the situation stoically.
The Imperial Emperor groans, closing his eyes in an irritated manner.
"Lord Yulden." he finally responds. "We've nothing to do with this. If you wish we may aid you in the search. I will command portions of my army to come help you, and I'm sure the other dukes of my kingdom will gladly assist you as w-"
"No." the High Wizard hissed. "That won't be necessary. I already know who's responsible."
Silence.
"Duke Labyrinth has committed treason against me and my daughter!"
The room was in an uproar, the councilors of both sides yelling at each other and amongst themselves, while her father stood up, red in the face. The Emperor stood up, along with the Empress and the Crowned Prince.
Everyone attempted to make themselves heard, but it was all just one cacophony.
Finally, her father had enough. The Earth rumbled, and his eyes became a charcoal black, like empty sockets.
Black veins pulsed along his face and body, and curses swirled around him.
Then, the High Wizard started to choke, as the Duke tensed, aiming the full of his power to Lord Yulden.
"ENOUGH!" the Emperor roared. "Duke Labyrinth I command you to seize this assault, or by the throne of Feran your title will be stripped away!"
The Duchess gasped, shocked by her husband's sudden outburst. Kai eyed the situation helplessly, while Eleanor cowered in her chair.
But then, the Duke released his power, freeing the High Wizard.
Lord Yulden spat on the table, standing up and commanding his council to do the same thing.
"This means war." he declared menacingly.
"Lord Yulden please..." the Emperor begged.
The door slammed shut, as the Wizarding Council left the room.
The Emperor, seething, whipped around facing the Duke, now sitting down wearily, looking he regretted his actions.
"This is your fault! You lost control, Duke Labyrinth, and ruined our only chance for peace!"
Sighing, the Duke puts his hand to his face. "My apologies, but he was uttering blatant lies and-"
"THAT isn't your concern! Your concern is to act for the best of the regions of the East, just as the other houses, instead you openly offer war! You may as well have handed it to him on a silver platter!"
The Duke abruptly sits up once more, gesturing for Eleanor, Kai, and the Duchess to do the same.
"We'll be taking our leave." he responded curtly, turning to the door.
"That isn't your decision!" the Emperor yelled, while the Empress grew pale, eyes dilated.
"D-dear. This is the last thing we need. T-to fight amongst ourselves. We need to arm ourselves for battle against the wizards..." she pleaded with her husband.
The Emperor hesitated, then snapped, "What if Lord Yulden's claim was true? Tell me, Duke Labyrinth, have you any idea what happened to Lady Siffen?"
...
"No, your highness."
...
"I don't believe you."
Gasps filled the room, as all eyes darted between the two men, both their teeths clenched.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. How am I supposed to trust you, when you haven't, no, never acted for the good of this kingdom?"
Silence grasped the room, the soundless air tightening around them all while they waited for Duke Labyrinth's response.
Before he could respond, a man with slick black hair, and piercing hazel eyes stood up, surveying the situation with a mock interest.
"Duke Allegran." the Emperor acknowledged stiffly.
"Your highness." Duke Allegran bowed his head. "If I may..."
The Emperor nodded, shooting Eleanor's father dirty looks.
Eleanor clenched her fists, looking away. This smooth, cruel, conniving man shouldn't even be allowed to speak here. Not after everything he did. How could the Emperor STILL trust him, even after he switched sides between the East and the West 2 times?
Some say Duke Allegran still sided with the High Wizard, planning to take down the East from the inside, aiding Lord Yulden. Others thought he fled here, for purposely committing treason in the West. Regardless, his reputation was one as cold as ice.
"I must say. I believe Lord Yulden on this matter." he claimed smoothly. "I mean, your highness, surely you understand? The only way to reign in the Labyrinths is to strip the titles of the whole family away."
The Emperor opened his mouth to reply, but Duke Allegran rushed on.
"I mean no insult in your decision making Imperial Emperor, but surely that would be for the best? Some say they've been plotting against you...and I must say I quite agree."
Duke Labyrinth whipped around.
"Say that again...Promiscuous."
Allegran's first name.
The cruel duke dropped his facade, and soon, they were both shouting insults at each other, eventually interrupted by the Imperial Emperor.
"This council is adjourned." the Emperor snapped. "And as for you...Duke Labyrinth...you have lost the trust of the throne."
Duke Allegran smiled, smugly watching the beginning of the downfall of House Labyrinth.
...
Sighing, Eleanor left the shower, gripping the soft white towel around her soaking body.
She stood in front of the mirror, examining her face closely.
"Alia, I'm ready to be dressed!" she called, and soon enough, the cheerful servant entered the room, carrying a blow dryer, some makeup, perfume, and skincare, and a slim black and magenta gown, accented by a silky black bow, hung around the torso.
...
"Good luck my lady." Alia smiles, as Eleanor thanks her, leaving her bedroom on her way to the Dining Hall where the meeting would take place.
The Imperial Emperor set this up in advance, and her father offered their house to be the point of contact. The Emperor was hesitant, considering this was supposed to be an act of peace with Lord Yulden, but he didn't object.
Eleanor appreciated the gown Alia picked out for her. It complemented her long, silky obsidian hair, and her deep purple eyes, physical traits most of the Labyrinths inherited when they were born.
She turned a corner, and heard the voices of arguing councilors from the other end of the huge double doors.
Rolling her eyes, she made way to enter the room, when she heard a remark that made her blood draw cold.
"Remember, we're here to gather more information on the Labyrinths. We can't risk them being untettered. The war with Lord Yulden must not grow worse. We've enough to worry about as it is."
The voice of the Crowned Prince.
Eleanor peeked inside, inspecting the occupants.
Most dukes of the East have arrived, along with the Crowned, and Second Prince. They must be representing the Imperial Family. But what kept their parents?
Lord Yulden has not yet arrived, but she could glimpse a few members of the Wizarding Council nodding along with the Crowned Prince.
If Prince Feran was acting on behalf of his father, and if the Wizarding Council was agreeing then...
No, Lord Yulden hasn't yet arrived. Surely he wouldn't agree to this. And yet...
She was sure he'd agree to anything against her father.
She must warn her family, but first, she'd confront these brooding men and women.
Eleanor stormed into the room, eyes ablaze. "No words against my father." she seethed.
She turned to the Crowned Prince. "What makes you think this is allowed?"
He smirked, while the other councilors laughed arrogantly.
"Lady Labyrinth...so naive. My father has in fact issued this order. The war with Lord Yulden has gotten much worse, and all things considered taking away you and your family's titles may calm things down."
Eleanor's voice drops to a deadly whisper.
"I don't think you're aware to the extent of my abilities. I will warn my father the Duke, and-"
Prince Feran snorted, rolling his eyes irritably.
"My lady at the end of the day all you care for is your privileges along with your surname, with all do respect." he added the last part mockingly. "You don't care any more for the Imperial Empire than your father, which happens to be very little."
"Why you little-"
"Oh no Lady Labyrinth we can't have you throwing insults around. I advise on behalf of the Imperial Council, and I daresay most of the West as well, to keep your mouth shut."
Then, his eyes darkened.
"Or I'm afraid your family's fate along with yours will be more than just giving up your titles. Give or take a twenty-to-thirty-year exile."
Eleanor shook with rage, but forced herself to keep quiet, looking away.
"You've made the right decision." Prince Feran smirked, as everyone in the room eyed her sarcastically.
She sat down to the side of the chair across from the Crowned Prince tersely, silently wringing her hands on her lap.
After a couple minutes, the Duke and Duchess arrived, followed by Kai.
The Duke sat in the chair across from Prince Feran, the Duchess on his other side, while Kai sat next to Eleanor.
Grinning, the Crowned Prince claps his hands once.
"As acting representative of the Imperial Family along with my younger brother your Second Prince, this meeting has officially begun!"
The door barges open, and Lord Yulden storms into the room.
"Would you've bothered to wait for me?" he snaps, sitting at the far end of the table, followed by the remaining members of the Wizarding Council.
"My apologies, High Wizard Yulden." the Crowned Prince says, quite ruffled.
Lord Yulden rolls his eyes.
"Now we can begin."