Another of Roland's secrets.

Quiet settled in the hall but not one single person moved to stop Sigrid, her family figured that she had a reason for her actions, the servants knew better and the guests preferred to be uninvolved. Sigrid was set to become the crown princess in two days, why offend her for a woman whose family lacked a noble title.

"Lanai," Sigrid called.

"Yes my lady," the maid rushed to the side of her mistress.

"Pour the contents of this cup down my friend's mouth." She ordered.

The word friend was stretched and said with sarcasm, conveying to all that understood the undertones that this was no friend. Judging from the way Sigrid was treating her, it looked more like an enemy.

Lanai did as instructed and all of the tea, down to the last drop went into Rosalind's mouth. She struggled but she could not fight back against Sigrid, the daughter of a general that had grown up learning how to fight in close combat.

Sigrid threw a sniveling Rosalind to the floor.

"On her knees." she ordered.

Lanai and Lama put Rosalind in a kneeling position while Sigrid returned to her seat, taking up a position as if she was already royalty. Her domineering aura certainly gave off that energy, she was like the queen.

Rosalind had never seen this side of Sigrid, it was worse than the normal brainless Sigrid that did bad things just because she was the granddaughter of a duke. Now, she was like a mountain shadowing over a small ant.

Sigrid looked down at the young woman. "Rosalind Alexander, how brave of you. I did not think that someone would attempt to poison me only two hours into my new status."

A myriad of gasps echoed through the great hall following Sigrid's words, her accusation stunning them all. To poison a noble was a crime but it would get one a prison sentence. To poison royalty on the other hand was different, there was no escaping a death sentence and since Sigrid was now the crown princess, Rosalind was guilty of attempting to poison a royal.

Whispers traveled through the room, words like beheaded could be heard and the culprit that never dreamed she would be discovered grew frightened.

"I didn't." Rosalind denied in a weak voice. "I did not poison you, I just put some aphrodisiac in the tea."

Sigrid's shrewd eyes lit up. "Ooh."

She held herself back from laughing as Rosalind came to the realization of what she had just confessed to.

"You dare!" Duchess Mila banged her hand on the table. "You want to feed the crown princess with an aphrodisiac, who gave you the guts? What is your aim?"

Rosalind shook her head, denying what she had already admitted to.

"Who dares to poison my daughter?" A new voice came from the doorway.

General Paxton Thorin, Sigrid's father walked deeper into the hall. He was a tall man with good looks, somewhere in his fifties but his age had only enhanced his distinguished appearance and despite the slight limp in his walk, he carried himself with an air of imposing authority.

He was not alone, three younger men followed him, all wearing knight's armor and wielding swords. They were the general's sons and Sigrid's brothers.

The oldest was Lord Nathaniel Paxton Thorin the first, he was now a knight and general, taking the place of his father that had retired. The second was Lord John Thorin, commander of Eldoria's largest navy and the third was Lord Elowin Thorin the strongest sword mage of the family.

There arrival spelled doom for Rosalind as the three men were famous for pampering Sigrid as much as the duke himself, all of them had contributed to Sigrid's arrogance.

"My daughter has not even been wed officially and already there is an attempt on her life, I do not approve of this marriage." Paxton Thorin declared.

He handed Sigrid a pouch of red gems. "I got these from a trader from Vecentia."

Vecentia was the largest empire on the continent, it was only slightly bigger than Eldoria but greater in terms of development.

"I am the one that got them." John whispered.

Paxton ignored his son and focused on Rosalind. "Speak, on whose orders are you attempting to harm my daughter?"

Rosalind twitched and shook her head, her breathing was becoming heavier, signs were showing that the drug was taking effect.

They could all see that no proper answer was going to be got out of her, especially when she started attempting to remove her dress.

It ferried awkwardness into the room, the men hardly knew where to look.

"Take this thing away before she embarrasses us all, we have a few unmarried stable boys find her a husband." Duchess Mila ordered the servants.

Rosalind was dragged away and Sigrid decided to retire as well. She exchanged polite greetings with her father and brothers hen escaped to the sanctuary of her bedroom where she could finally be alone and breathe for a moment.

"Congratulations host, you have changed the plot and steered the future in another direction. Your rewards are now available for extraction when needed."

"Tell me system, what is the newest secret of the crown prince and don't say something stupid like he likes rats and cats."

"The crown prince is a virgin."

Sigrid gasped and sat up abruptly, a faint mosquito like noise escaped through her mouth.

"No way, isn't he like thirty five?"

"Thirty one." the system corrected.

Sigrid shook her head, refusing to believe it, this was also another thing that had not been mentioned in the novel but made no sense.

"Is he impotent?" she asked.

"No."

"Is he gay?" she tilted her head and crossed her fingers.

Her plans to become the future empress would be for nothing if the man she had married was not attracted to women. To secure the throne, one needed an heir, and Sigrid intended to be faithful to her vows. 

Emmah and Roland did not share any physical intimacy in the novel, she would tease him and then act innocent and shy, unaware of what she was doing.

She juggled about five men using that move and like fools, they all ate it up.

"No," the system replied.

"So, what's his problem? Did he take vows of chastity?"

It was highly doubtful too because he visited taverns and brothels with his brothers occasionally. He never touched the women, at least not according to the plot.

"No, he believes in fairy tale kind of true love so he is saving himself for that special woman."

Sigrid stretched her feet and she shook her head, prince Roland was a marvel, everything about him was unexpected, from dogs to innocence. These things did not match the man that had been described in the book, he was portrayed to be short tempered and rude.

This was to Sigrid, to Emmah he was kind, loyal and generous.

But, he was also described as physically attractive, fierce in battle, decisive and protective of his men. He was kind to the commoners, generous to the weak and ill and sweet to young children.

These were some of the qualities Sigrid found admirable in him.

"Fairy tale love..huh!" She chuckled.

Would she have to play the role of a damsel in distress or the knight in a shining armor?