The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Finn.
"Well? What is it?" Aidan asked, his voice sharp with impatience.
Finn's gaze went to the pile of gifts, then to the weary faces of his family. "The Emperor declared Daphne the Most Beautiful Damsel of Eldoria," he said, stating the obvious. "It's a title of unprecedented honor, isn't it?"
The Duke nodded slowly, a deep frown on his face. "It is. And a curse."
"But it's a public title," Finn insisted, stepping forward with a newfound confidence.
"He made a grand show of it, for the entire court to see. He made it a matter of public honor. It's not just his opinion anymore. It's an imperial declaration."
"So," Finn continued, "If he wants to make her his consort based on this title, then he must make her the only one worthy of it. He must declare her beauty unrivaled, even by the Empress herself."
The room remained silent, confused by his logic.
"He can't possibly do that," Lady Elizabeth whispered, looking terrified.
"He won't have to," Finn said, a cunning smile on his face. "Because we will challenge it."
Aidan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Challenge the Emperor? Are you mad, Finn? That's treason!"
"Not if we frame it as a matter of Imperial honor," Finn explained, his plan pouring out.
"For years, the Imperial family has held a competition to determine the most talented, most graceful, most beautiful woman in the land. The Rose of Eldoria. The tradition has been dormant for some time, but it exists. We can demand the revival of this competition, but with a twist. The winner must be someone who proves her beauty not just through appearance, but through talent, wit, and wisdom."
He looked at Daphne, his eyes shining with certainty. "You will not go to the harem as his consort. You will go to the competition. You will win. And you will not only be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, but a woman of such undisputed talent that even the Emperor must honor your wishes. We will find a way to make the terms of the competition so that the winner can make a single demand, and that demand will be your freedom from marrying into harem."
Daphne stared at her brother, a gasp escaping her lips.
The idea was audacious, reckless, and brilliant. It was a direct assault on the Emperor's command, hidden beneath a veil of tradition and honor. And for the first time since the ball began, she felt a glimmer of hope.
Then, the cold, pragmatic reality of her past life settled over her once more. She shook her head, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "Except the Empress would kill me before the competition even commences," she said, her voice grave. "Do you think she would forfeit her position to participate in the competition?"
Her eyes, filled with a knowledge that surpassed their understanding, met Finn's.
"She knows if she loses, she would lose face, even possibly her position. There's no way she would want to compete with me. Her pride won't let her."
Daphne's words hung in the air, a cold splash of reality on their desperate hope. Finn's shoulders slumped, the brilliant light in his eyes dimming. She was right. The Empress's pride was her greatest weapon, and she would never risk it for a mere competition.
"Then what do we do?" Aidan asked, his voice filled with a fresh wave of despair. "We're back where we started."
Finn, however, was not so easily defeated.
"No," he said, his voice gaining its fire once more. "We don't need the Empress's consent. We just need the Emperor's."
The family looked at him, bewildered.
"The Emperor thrives on grand gestures and public spectacles," Finn explained, his mind racing. "And he just made the grandest gesture of all by giving Daphne an unprecedented title. We will appeal directly to the Emperor, to his sense of pride. We will ask him to sponsor the competition himself. A contest to find a true 'Most Beautiful Damsel,' one whose grace and talent is so undeniable that not even he can refuse her one wish."
He looked at Daphne, a knowing glint in his eye. "The wish, of course, being your freedom. The Emperor would be put on the spot. He can either sponsor the competition and secure his legacy as a just and honorable ruler, or he can deny it and reveal his selfish motives to the world. It would be an insult to the title he himself created. And the Empress would have no choice but to accept, because to protest would be to defy the Emperor publicly."
Daphne stared at Finn, a slow smile spreading across her face.
He was a genius.
It was a risky gamble, a bold challenge that could easily backfire, but it was a way to fight a war on her own terms.
"It could work," the Duke said.
"It's the only way," Aidan added, his protective instincts kicking in. "You should meet with your allies in court tonight, Father. Gather their support. We'll bring this matter to the courtroom tomorrow morning, and with their backing, the Emperor will have no choice but to listen."
The duke nodded slowly, accepting the task that had just been laid at his feet.
The family sat in silence, their individual fears now a shared determination.
The battle for Daphne's freedom had a new plan, and a new target: the entire Imperial Court.
"We really could use some good news," Lady Elizabeth sighed, her hand going to her heart.
Everyone at the table nodded in solemn agreement.
Finn shifted in his seat, his eyes darting between his parents and his siblings. "I... I think I have some," he said, his voice hesitant. "But with everything that's going on, I wasn't sure if it was the right time to share."
His father, sensing the weight of his son's words, leaned forward. "Please, son," the Duke said, a rare softness in his tone. "The house could use a reason to be happy. Don't let our worries stop you."
Taking a deep breath, Finn looked at his family, a nervous but determined smile on his face. "I'm in love with Lianna," he confessed. "And I... I would like your help in asking her parents for her hand in marriage."
The silence that followed was brief, and then the room erupted in a joyous cheer. Lady Elizabeth gasped in delight, and the Duke broke into a wide, relieved smile.
Aidan and Emma looked at each other, grinning. "It's about time!" Aidan exclaimed, his laughter a welcome sound in the tense room. "We thought he'd never say anything."
Daphne's heart swelled with happiness. She was so happy she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
Lianna was her best friend, the one person who had stood by her since they were little.
She was kind and loyal and deserved all the happiness in the world. And to see her find it with her beloved brother... it felt like a small, beautiful victory in a world that had suddenly turned so dark.
The room was still filled with the joyful sound of the family's cheers.
Lady Elizabeth held a hand to her heart, her face radiant with happiness, and the Duke wore a smile wider than any Daphne had seen in years.
"So," the Duke said, his voice warm with pride. "When would you like us to go?"
Finn looked at his father, a hint of shyness on his face that was quickly replaced by resolve.
He looked at Daphne, then back at the Duke. "After the Emperor is informed about the competition at the courtroom," he replied. "Maybe in two days."
Emma let out a playful laugh. She nudged Aidan with her elbow. "Looks like someone is in a bit of a hurry to get married," she teased, winking at Finn.
Aidan and Daphne both smiled, the shared joy a welcome break from the tension.
The Duke's smile softened with understanding, and he nodded in solemn agreement. "That is wise, my son. We will go then."