Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 31: Her First Council Meeting...

Chapter 31: Her First Council Meeting...

Evelina stirred as the soft morning light came through the curtains, waking her up. As her senses returned, she became aware of the plush mattress beneath her and the blanket draped over her.

A frown crossed her face, showing her confusion. She clearly remembered falling asleep in the chair last night while reading. How did she end up in bed?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Damian’s cool and distant voice. "Finally, you’re awake."

Startled, Evelina turned her head to see Damian seated in the same chair she had occupied the night before. The book she had been reading rested in his hands, his silver eyes scanning the pages without much interest.

"I didn’t..." Evelina began, sitting up and smoothing her hair. "I don’t remember—"

"You fell asleep," Damian interrupted curtly, not looking up from the book. "I moved you. It was easier than letting you stay like that all night."

"Oh." Evelina wasn’t sure how to respond. She glanced at him, noting the stiffness in his posture and the cool edge in his tone. Something was off.

Damian closed the book with a soft thud, placing it on the table beside him. "Get ready. You’re coming with me."

Evelina blinked. "What? Where?"

"To a council meeting," Damian replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You’re under protective custody, remember?"

Evelina bristled. "I thought we were continuing the investigation today. You promised."

"That will have to wait," Damian said, rising to his feet and walking to the window. "The council’s concerns are more pressing at the moment."

Evelina bit back her retort, clenching her fists under the blanket. "Fine," she said tightly, swinging her legs off the bed. Her irritation grew as Damian pointed to a gown draped over the foot of the bed.

"You have a few minutes to freshen up," he said, his voice still devoid of warmth. "Wear that."

Evelina glared at his back, tempted to argue but ultimately deciding against it.

Instead, she grabbed the gown and made her way to the bathroom, slamming the door a little harder than necessary.

***************

The council chamber was a grand room with high ceilings and detailed carvings on the walls. Evelina followed Damian inside, feeling the curious stares from the gathered nobles and advisors.

She straightened her spine, refusing to show discomfort, even as the tension in the room became obvious. Damian took his seat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable as he gestured for Evelina to sit somewhere not too far off.

As the meeting began, Evelina, with nothing much to do, listened and quickly realized the topic of discussion revolved around palace defenses.

Heated arguments filled the air as council members debated strategies to fortify the kingdom against potential threats.

Evelina leaned back in her chair, trying to stifle a yawn as the debate dragged on. One particularly pompous lord was in the middle of a long-winded monologue when Evelina couldn’t help but cough to cover a laugh.

The room went silent, all eyes turning to her. Evelina’s cheeks flushed, but she met their stares with a calm expression.

"Well, isn’t this amusing," came a sharp voice from across the table. Evelina’s gaze snapped to Selene, who was seated a few chairs away. The woman’s icy blue eyes were filled with disdain, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "I didn’t realize we were entertaining court jesters today."

Evelina’s fingers curled into fists, but she forced a polite smile. "Oh, I wasn’t laughing at you. Please, continue."

A ripple of quiet laughter spread through the room, though it quickly died under Selene’s withering glare. "Perhaps you should save your comments for things you actually understand," Selene said coldly. "This is a discussion of palace defenses, not a children’s story."

Damian’s jaw tightened, his silver eyes flicking between Selene and Evelina, but he said nothing.

Evelina’s smile didn’t waver. "You’re right, Lady Selene," she said sweetly. "But since we’re discussing defenses, perhaps I could offer a suggestion?"

The council members exchanged skeptical glances, and Selene scoffed. "By all means," she said with a wave of her hand, her tone dripping with condescension. "Enlighten us."

Evelina ignored the jab, leaning forward slightly. "From my knowledge, I suggest using a system of layered defenses. For instance, rather than depending only on walls or gates, you can combine surveillance, strategic chokepoints, and deterrents such as trenches or reinforced barriers."

The room fell silent as the council members absorbed her words.

One of the older advisors, a man with a sharp gaze and a thoughtful expression, leaned forward. "Reinforced barriers? Can you elaborate?"

Evelina nodded, her confidence growing. "Barriers designed to withstand impact—using stronger materials or even layering them for added protection. And surveillance could involve elevated towers or strategic vantage points to detect threats before they reach the walls."

The advisor stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Interesting. It would require resources, but the concept has merit."

Another lord chimed in, nodding in agreement. "If we could implement even half of these suggestions, it would strengthen our defenses significantly."

Selene’s expression darkened as the council began to murmur approval. "A quaint idea," she said sharply, her tone cutting through the discussion. "But impractical. We don’t have the luxury of indulging every whimsical notion."

"It’s not whimsical," Evelina shot back. "It’s effective. You wanted a contribution, and I gave one. If you’re not interested in solutions, perhaps you should reconsider your priorities."

A few council members smirked, clearly enjoying the exchange, while Selene’s cheeks flushed with anger. Before she could respond, Damian’s voice interrupted them all.

"That’s enough!" His tone left no room for argument. His silver eyes flicked to Evelina briefly before settling on Selene. "We’re here to discuss defenses, not trade insults. If Evelina’s suggestions can improve our strategy, then we’ll consider them."

Selene’s jaw tightened, but she forced a smile. "Of course, Your Highness."

Evelina sat back in her chair, feeling a small surge of satisfaction.

But as the meeting continued, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Damian’s support had been reluctant, and his cold attitude remained even after her small success.

**************

When the meeting finally ended, Damian rose from his chair, gesturing for Evelina to follow. She trailed behind him as they made their way to the dining halls, her mind racing.

"What’s your problem?" Evelina asked once they were alone in a hall, her frustration boiling over. "You’ve been acting like a block of ice all morning."

Damian turned to her, his expression unreadable. "I’m fine."

"No, you’re not," Evelina shot back, crossing her arms. "What happened to the guy from last night? Did I break you or something?"

Damian stopped mid-stride, his silver eyes narrowing as he turned to face her fully. For a moment, the tension between them was high, and Evelina wondered if she’d crossed a line.

His jaw clenched, and his face showed no clear emotions.

"You didn’t break me," he said coolly. "But maybe you should focus less on diagnosing me and more on preparing yourself."

Evelina raised an eyebrow, her arms crossing over her chest. "Preparing myself? For what exactly?"

Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair as he gestured for her to follow him. "We’re having breakfast with the King and the rest of the royal family."