When they reached the assembly, Zaydan stepped down from their carriage and looked around, sweeping his rich hair back from his eyes, notably drawing eyes before he turned and held a hand out to Marie-Fey, gripping hers tightly as she stepped down, linking her arm through his before following the rest of their party up the steps to pass off their outer clothes and greet the hosts.

As Marie-Fey reached the top of the steps and spotted the host, she stopped, staring, Zaydan looking at her in question.

"Sir Harris," she said.

Zaydan glanced at the man that was vigorously shaking hands with Marie-Fey's father, his smile bright as he gestured to his wife, she and Izzaro laughing at whatever he said.

"Yes?" Zaydan said, tilting his head towards her.

"You said he was a friend, correct?"

"Yes, one of my university friends."

"Were you close?"

"Certainly, he was one of my two closest friends during my studies."

Marie-Fey looked up at him. "And you would have missed his assembly? Just because I was being difficult?"

Zaydan looked at her for a moment, before his expression softened. "My lady, for all the ways you can be difficult, these last couple of days have not been one of them."

"But—"

"Let's greet them," Zaydan said with a bright smile and he dragged her towards his university friend who glanced around at his approach before his face beamed.

"Zaydan! Old boy, you made it!" he cried, grabbing Zaydan into a tight hug and smacking him on the back, "I thought I wouldn't see you when you were absent last night. Must say I'm happy to see my little shindig is the one you make your entrance at."

"Don't be shameless, dear!" his wife cried, "He's not a showpiece."

"Ah, but between the Leigh Siblings and The Lord Rias here, talk of the town," Lord Harris said with a stage-worthy wicked grin as he comically rubbed his hands together before shoving Zaydan aside and gripping Marie-Fey's hand, bowing and kissing it. "And Lady Rias, and absolute pleasure, as always, to have you grace us with your presence. We missed you last night."

"A little under the weather, nothing serious," Marie-Fey replied with a polite bow of the head.

Harris smiled as he straightened, still holding her hand, before he gave it a gentle squeeze. "Anything you need, Lady Rias, we shall follow your lead," he said.

"What?" Marie-Fey, frowning, forgetting herself but Harris was already letting go of her hand to turn away, ordering Zaydan to join him shortly for a drink with the boys before the dancing began.

She just had time to greet Lady Harris before she and Zaydan were moving out of the way of the next set of guests, Zaydan taking her arm again as they entered the grand ballroom where guests mingled and talked, taking sips from glasses servants offered out as they slipped seamlessly through the crowd.

More than one or two pairs of eyes turned in their direction as they entered and Marie-Fey had to fight with herself to not shrink back and instead kept her head high and expression disinterested and aloof.

Sophia soon spotted her from the crowd and waved, making her way over and Zaydan squeezed her arm before releasing her and turning her towards him, taking both her hands in his and making a great display of bringing both up to his lips to kiss them.

"Whatever you choose, Lady Fey, I shall follow your lead," he said softly, locking his eyes directly on hers, before he lowered her hands and smiled brightly. "Save the first dance for me, my dearest," he said, loudly enough for those around for them to hear before bowing slightly and turning away just as Sophia reached her, link arms.

Marie-Fey stared after him as she finally realised what he was doing.

He was setting the stage for if she so chose to pretend they were married.

And if not, well they were family, it could be passed off as a dedicated family member.

"Is that Lord Rias?" Sophia whispered as they watched Zaydan be caught by two more young men of similar age, both shaking his hand and clapping his back.

"The one and only," Marie-Fey muttered back because rephrasing, "Well, the one of notable existence."

"There was talk of a foreign gentleman at the Leigh estate, but no one knew who he was."

"No one knows?" Marie-Fey asked, surprised, looking at her. "No one's asked my family?"

"People wanted to but since they didn't say anything, people thought it might be a somewhat sensitive topic."

"Sensitive?"

"Well... that he might be your husband, finally in the country... but then with what happened the other day... people don't know. He's been seen with Sir Harris and Mr. Rochards but they haven't been saying anything."

"So... only you and Ivy know who he is?" Marie-Fey asked, her voice dropping even lower as she glanced towards Zaydan who was laughing with several young men, all of whom seemed to know him while others hovered around the group, clearly wanting introductions but not being given the opportunity to politely interrupt.

Marie-Fey watched him for a moment, long enough for him to glance her way then smile brightly when he caught her eye, lifting his drink to her in silent enquiry – people looking to see what he was looking at.

Marie-Fey quickly dragged on a natural, small smile and tapped the dance card that hung from her wrist.

Zaydan's smile widened and he nodded before turning back to his company, laughing at something one of the men said.

Marie-Fey quickly tightened her hold on Sophia's arm and they turned away, heading further into the crowd, her eyes scanning the people as she watched her siblings settle in with their groups, chatting and laughing, men and women hovering around them in the hopes of being asked to dance or to put their name down for a dance.

It appeared both Gharam's and Zaafira's dance cards were already full – Zaafira talking to Rosalia while Gharam stood with Beldon who was introducing her to one of his close friends, Avery Dore, who was succeeding in quickly making her laugh – while Maanah shook her head, still seemingly flustered by the idea of dancing.

Constantine seemed to be staying close to her that evening and he seemed to be the only man she could relax around. His eyes were staying firmly on Maanah and, when Marie-Fey scanned the room, she found Ivy's eyes constantly flicking back to him.

They made her want to lock them in a room together until they fixed things.

She even considered the idea as she and Sophia slowly walked around the hall, it gave her something else to thinking about other than the people who watched her and whispered behind their hands.

"Sophia, dear."

Marie-Fey blinked, pulled from her thoughts as Sophia's fiancé approached them, smiling at Marie-Fey before looking at Sophia.

"Sorry, my dear, I know Marie-Fey just arrived, but can I borrow you for just a moment?" he asked, before shooting Marie-Fey an apologetic wince, "I promise we'll be as quick as possible. It's just my great-uncle has arrived from the continent and has never met Sophia and is insisting on meeting her right this second. I'm the heir to his inheritance and he does like to threaten disinheritance for every small inconvenience – have to keep the old man happy."

Sophia bit her lip, looking past her fiancé, obviously torn between helping him and staying with Marie-Fey.

"Don't worry, I'll survive a few minutes. I'll go join Con and Maanah," Marie-Fey said, patting her hand before letting go.

"Are you sure?" Sophia asked.

"Absolutely, I'll be fine. Go help secure the inheritance."

Sophia gave an inelegant snort and her fiancé tried to cover his laugh before offering her to his and, with the promise to be as fast as possible, vanished into the crowd.

Marie-Fey watched them go for a moment, then let out a breath, running her fingers down her dress for a moment, turned and almost ran straight into Lady Rowe.

Ice instantly filled her stomach as Rowe looked at her with a mildly disgusted expression and she forced herself to not back away.

"I didn't expect you to be here," Lady Rowe said, politely.

Marie-Fey swallowed, scrambling to find her voice and her cool before she folded her arms.

"Why ever should I not be?" she asked – relieved at the steady arrogance in her voice, like she was speaking down to Lady Rowe.

Rowe just raised an eyebrow. "Why?" she copied, "People do have a tendency to avoid public outings after being humiliated in said public."

Marie-Fey pursed her lips, then forced a dismissive wave of the hand. "It's not my problem if you choose to listen to the idle chatter of a lady from my court," she said, giving Rowe her own raised eyebrow. "We both know how vicious courts can be – of course you, unlike myself, have never stood in any great position of power within a court, so I realise you do not encounter these power plays as often as myself – but you must surely be able to see when there are simply small scuffles being fought."

"You arrogant little bitch," Lady Rowe muttered under her breath and Marie-Fey gaped at her – beyond stunned by such language in their current setting.

"Excuse me?" Marie-Fey hissed, they ice in her stomach melting as anger hit her hard and fast.

"How dare you speak to me like that," Rowe seethed, "How dare you speak to me like you are somehow better than me. Just because you're a damned Leigh Lady. I fully believe your husband has abandoned you – whoever that joke of a man is you've brought with you; I don't believe it. What dd you do? Find some half-decent looking servant and dress him up? Like that will fool anyone. You should have stayed away after the last party. Your family should have stayed away when you lost all your money but no. No, you all clawed your way back into the good graces of the elite, because no one can see that none of you belong here. Because no one can see just how damned arrogant you all are. All of you. You're all like this, like you're so much better than the rest of us. Because you're all pretty and clever, you all think people should stay under your feet. There's nothing nice about any of you and yet everyone lets you get away with everything. Someone finally – finally – treats you like you damn well should be treated and you dare throw your court position in my face, like you earned your title in any way. I will not be spoken to in that way by you! I will not be sneered at by an inferior!"

All Marie-Fey could do was stared at her, mouth open, as she felt both things fall into place but also the world fall out from under her as her voice almost failed her, barely about to wheeze out a whispered, "Inferior?"

The rage that had been building inside Lady Rowe's eyes suddenly vanished and she blinked, shock appearing in replace of the fury, as her skinned pale and she swallowed

Perhaps she realised she'd gone too far but she refused to back down. She just gave herself a moment, then nodded, decidedly, her anger beginning to appear again, though not quite masking the fear that was starting to lurk in the corners.

And yet she wasn't going to back down. Marie-Fey knew she wouldn't because Marie-Fey didn't have it in her to rebuff the words.

She was so stunned by the venomous rage rolling off Lady Rowe, something that had clearly been building for years, that she couldn't find her voice quick enough. The self-confidence she barely had felt like it was beginning to crumble away again, and she didn't know what to say. She didn't know where to start. Who to defend first.

Protection came from the most unlikely quarter.

Maanah was hurrying towards her, eyes on fire. She hadn't been close enough to hear but she clearly read Marie-Fey's expression correctly.

Gharam wasn't close enough either but she parted from Beldon, taking her cue from Maanah.

However, it was Zaafira who slammed into Lady Rowe, physically and bodily moving her aside, arm looping through Lady Rowe's and forcibly guiding her away from the hall area, her smile pleasant, her eyes blazing as she hauled her towards the doors.

Marie-Fey stood there, stunned for a long moment, then blinked as her ladies reached her.

She grabbed their hands in horror and dragged them after the vanishing pair, terrified Zaafira unleashed the fury she used back at the palace on Lady Rowe.

She couldn't do that here.

It wasn't her reputation she was liable to wreck. She had done enough damage the other night! What the hell was she going to do now?!

"Zaafira!" Marie-Fey cried, rushing after them as Zaafira hurled open one of the parlour room doors and dragging Rowe inside – who seemed so shocked she just went along.

Zaafira marched across the room, straight towards the balcony doors, wrenched one open and all but flung Lady Rowe into the cold.

Lady Rowe just gaped at her as Zaafira smiled a smile that looked ready to tear her throat out, hands on the door handles, blocking the way back into the room.

"I think you're a tad hot headed this evening," Zaafira said, her voice so sweet it was like poison, "And I cannot simply stand by while you so deeply insult Lord Rias – servant indeed. And a fool who cannot manage her emotions in polite society should not be seen in it, yet there you are, howling at Lady Rias to try and make yourself feel better than her, while there is nothing she can do to make herself less than you. She shall always be your better, and until you learn to stay where you belong – which is, indeed, under her foot – I suggest you stay away from her, her family, and her company. Keep yourself and your bullying idiocy out here until your silly little head has cooled off. The likes of us have no time for the likes of you."

And with that, she slammed the balcony doors closed and wrenched the curtains loose from their bindings, wrenching them closed on Lady Rowe and turning to Marie-Fey who just stood there staring at her with Gharam and Maanah.

Zaafira stormed forwards, her anger not even slightly stunted as she grabbed Marie-Fey's wrist in a bruising grip and hauled her from the parlour, all four leaving just as they heard the balcony doors opening.

Zaafira didn't stop until she was through the door of another side room, slamming the door closed behind them, turning on Marie-Fey, raising a hand and slapping her.

Only she didn't slap her on the face – which Marie-Fey fully expected. She hit her on the arm, making Marie-Fey recoil as Maanah surged forwards, Gharam catching her hand to stop her.

"OW! What was that for?" Marie-Fey snarled.

"You are lucky we are in public and I cannot blemish your cheek or I would have backhanded you across the face!" Zaafira snarled back.

"And yet it still hurt! What is wrong with you?"

"NO! What is wrong with YOU!?"

Marie-Fey blinked, confused as Zaafira shoved a finger in her face, stepping into her personal space, rage making her eyes almost black.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she repeated, "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"What?"

"Who do you think you ?! Because you clearly do not think yourself Lady Marie-Fey Rias! I know Marie-Fey Rias! I have suffered her existence for two years and the woman I know would have ripped that hussy to shreds for daring to speak to her that way. The woman I know is strong and proud! She was dumped in a new land without a single ally, next to no knowledge of the culture she was entering, no friends, no history amongst her court, no trust of the women she would rule, and she strode into my palace – my palace – and took her place without an ounce of fear! My Lady Marie-Fey Rias is fearless and brilliant and any fears she may have, she tackles and fights without hesitation. She is a woman who was not afraid to face me down and fight me for power. And she is the only woman I would ever have conceded any power to! So I ask again, who do you think you are? Because for the woman I see before me, I would never have given an inch, and she could never rule my palace the way Marie-Fey does."

Once again that night, Marie-Fey was completely lost for words.

She just stared at Zaafira who folded her arms across her chest, looking at Marie-Fey was an exceedingly unimpressed frown, before she finally took a step back and sat down, hard.

After a moment, Maanah, Gharam and Zaafira took seats around her, the room falling into silence as the sounds of the party drifted through the closed door.

"You're lucky, you know?"

Marie-Fey looked up, looking at Zaafira who sat with her arms and legs crossed, eyes turned towards the windows.

"Excuse me?"

"This... all this is about your husband never meeting you," Zaafira said with an encompassing wave of the hand, "But you're lucky. You've never met him."

Marie-Fey's brow creased and she straightened as Zaafira turned back to her.

"You may not have met your husband, but I have. I know him. I grew up around him. I have known him since I arrived in that damn palace. Your husband is a horrible man. He's cruel and cold. His women are possessions and his own brother is an object to control and beat into submission. Zaydan being the better man. He is so much more than your husband. Its frankly a tragedy that Zaydan wasn't the one to marry you, you would both be a lot happier and you wouldn't have to..."

Her brow creased and she looked away, shaking her head.

"Such a waste," she muttered, "I'll never understand why Shala would be so cruel."

Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow, glancing at her ladies at the mention of her mother-in-law's name before looking back at Zaafira as Zaafira looked back at her.

"I don't know why you've decided you're somehow less than your siblings," she said, dropping her cheek on her knuckles. "So be it, I don't care. But nothing annoys me more, at this moment, than you pottering around, letting these idiots walk all over you in a way that I know you would never allow back home. I understand that you are clearly used to looking after yourself, but there is nothing wrong with letting Zaydan look after you for just a moment, to help you out and protect you like you protect us at home."

"Protect you? I don't protect you," Marie-Fey said, frowning.

"Not obviously, no. But you tell me that you did not notice how the women of the palace took the lead from you when Zaydan's men arrived. How they took confidence from you because you did not show any fear of them."

Marie-Fey leant back in her seat, folding her arms. "I noticed," she muttered.

"And you tell me that, if some of those men began to harass one of the ladies, you wouldn't have stepped in."

Marie-Fey had nothing to say to that because she probably would have stepped in – and rained fire and fury down on the man.

"And you tell me you don't step in to protect the women from each other when it is absolutely needed. You might rule with a brutal tongue, but you have a fairness about you," Zaafira said.

"What's your pint?" Marie-Fey snapped.

"You have the means to be as imposing and untouchable here as you are at home. All you need to it a little help, a prop."

"How can you say prop when I know you're talking about Zaydan. It's like I'm using him."