Nothing Immediately concerning, but the Queen does grant you a favour

"It's an outrage is what it is, an absolute scandal, in our city no less," Shouts the old wizened figure of High Priest Markson.

"It's a little unusual we agree, but come now, an outrage and a scandal is being a bit strong," Replies the charismatic tones of Lord Melchett, who flashes you a smile his golden tooth glinting in the sun.

"A bit strong?!?!" High Priest Markson below, "A Prince has been removed from existence, a diplomat, one who only yesterday was joining us at these very meetings," The Priest continues to decry.

"Sure, but they gained a Princess, now I'm no religious scholar, but wouldn't that be one of those, ah whatchamacallits," Lord Melchett replies, drumming his hand laden with various heavy rings. "A Miracle that's it," He adds in a triumphant tone.

"Are you trying to insult me, good lord?" The Priest yells. "A miracle, I can assure you what happened in that pit of blasphemous filth, was no work of any Divine being would, rather foul degenerate magic," the High Priest adds in disgust.

"Magic, Miracle, there's basically the same thing, just different mojo powering it," Lord Melchett counters, the High Priest, pale complexion deepens from red to a deeper crimson.

"No, Miracles are earned through prayer and devotion, Magic is attained by studying the profane, its origins are unknown, most likely unholy," High Priest Markson responds, banging his bony fist on the table for emphasis.

"But Magic could have come from a Miracle, couldn't it?" Lord Melchett replies with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Absolutely not," The High Priest responds a little too quickly.

"You just said yourself, no one knows where it came from, so we can't say for certain it wasn't given to use by some of that there Divine intervention," Lord Melchett replies smoothly.

You can't help but smirk at this back and forth, but the watchful gaze of Matrician Lady Angela keeps you from vocalising your amusement, knowing well enough that antagonising the old priest wouldn't win you any favours. You look around at the rest of the council members, the various elected heads keeping out while the Faith and Merchant Councilors bicker. By now the light teasing was escalating into petty squabbling and Lady Angela decided to bring a close to the matter.

"Thank you for your spirited input," Lady Angela announces, her voice cutting through the squabble and bringing it to an immediate end. "However, the point is moot as Mistress Selene wouldn't have been able to intervene even if she were so inclined," She continues, gazing down at High Priest Markson who was about to object once more. "Like it or not, Selene's club attracts a lot of visitors to Haven, and brings in a lot of important figures we'd otherwise not be able to deal with," Lady Angela continues.

"Please my Lady," The High Priest pleads before Lady Angela silences by raising her gauntleted hand.

"We've debated this matter enough already, the conclusion is always that even if we closed her club, people would find a way to find the means to act out their fantasies," Lady Angela explains. "At least with the club, it's controlled, taxed and far away from the upper city," Lady Angela continues. "Mistress Selene contributes far more than any of your guilds or organisation in both gold and other resources," Lady Angela explains.

"With the favour to Queen Alfira, the Kingdom of Fortis is looking to sell all her excess harvest here instead of her neighbours," You announce in a calm and composed tone. "We could easily use some of this to smooth over any issues with people trying to lay any blame at our door," You add diplomatically. "Although from my own sources in the nearby kingdoms, the overall consensus is one of bemusement at Queen Alfira's rather unique solution to her line of succession," You add with a smile.

"Does that match up to what you're hearing?" Lady Angela asks a hooded figure standing just off to her side.

"Indeed the good Mistress is quite right," The hooded figure or Spymaster Rodderick confirms. "Most kingdoms are considering it much more palatable than the usual tactic of **** or marching them off to lead an army in a war they're ill-prepared to lead," Rodderick continues. "I'm sure were we able to speak with the new Princess, they might agree her outcome is more favourable than traditional approaches," Rodderick concludes.

"Well then, I believe we can close the matter then," Lady Angela announces, "We'll keep an ear out for any changes to opinion, but you're all dismissed for the day," Lady Angela says. There's a collective sound of wood dragging on stone, as the various council members get up to leave, but as you motion to do the same Lady Angela holds up a hand. "Not you, Mistress Selene, we have a matter to discuss privately," Lady Angela says.

You patiently wait as the various councillors make their exit a few giving you a cheerful wave to let you know they'll be stopping by the club that evening. You were already making a note to ensure Lord Melchett has a complimentary crate of his preferred whisky set aside for his little verbal sparring match with the Priest.

You also make a second note to ensure you increase the monthly donations to the few charitable causes the High Priest personally champions. He'll never thank you for it or acknowledge you, but you like to remind him your heart is in the right place, even if his scripture demands he's to be offended by your existence. The High Priest gets to do his good work and help some of the worst off of the city get to benefit which you're sure makes it easier for him to endure the other councillors teasing.

Besides, having lived in Haven all this time and seen your fair share of religious leaders, High Preist Markson is considerably preferable to any of his predecessors despite his bluster. You'll happily take someone decrying your name and business publically by someone as honest and decent as Markson over those who supported you and your club while using the tithes and donations to line their own greedy pockets, rather than help people.

"So was there really nothing that could be done, to prevent last night's incident?" Lady Angela announces suddenly, bringing your focus back to the room.

"Plenty of things that could have been done, but then we'd officially intervened in the matter of a Kingdom, which rather sets a bad precedent," You reply with a professional tone.

"Spare me the diplomacy act," Lady Angela replies with a heavy sigh. "There's no one here for you to impress," Landy Angela adds coldly, leaning her head on her gauntleted hand as she stares at you.

"Be that as it may, we both know I couldn't ban the Prince from my establishment, otherwise he'd have been even more insufferable and unwilling to do the few duties he had while he was here," You reply casually.

"True, but you could have sent the boy back to his Mother, let her take a more traditional route with the matter in their own borders," Lady Angela replies in a calculating tone.

"Not a very Champion of Haven approach to things," You quip, earning you a sigh of contempt from Lady Angela. "So tell me what's really the issue here, Sis, because it isn't this nothing of a diplomatic faux pax that's got you this highly wound," You reply with a smile.

"You're right, as much as it pains me to admit," You Sister replies. "Also you better hope no one's eavesdropping at the chamber doors discussing our relationship," She adds dismissively.

"I think we both know there isn't given our affinity for hearing things," You reply, rubbing your pointy ears for effect. "Besides too many of the races really struggle with the concept that a light elf and dark elf could have children and that those children might not have the same skin tone," You giggle.

"There is that," Your Sister agrees with a chuckle.

"So what's got your armoured underwear all twisted up?" You ask with a grin. "The council seems content for a rare change," You add thoughtfully. "Or is this one of those it's too quiet moments," You add with a smile.

"No, but thanks for that last thought, my paranoia needed something new to fixate on," Your Sister replies. "I'm hearing more and more rumours and whispers of something big coming," Your Sister offers ominously, "For you in particular," She adds with a sigh.

"Me, what did I do?" You reply in a joking manner, "Was it someone I fucked? Or someone I didn't fuck?" You ask with a grin. "Because I'll happily take one for the team to keep the peace, you know I will," You add with a laugh. "I'll sleep with you if it'll help you sleep better, Sis," You offer with a mischievous grin. "Hell, maybe we should do that anyway just in case it helps," You offer in a hopeful tone and a cheeky smile.

"Fuck off Sel, this is serious," Your Sister replies shaking her head. "Somehow, you've managed to upset some Arch Demon," She says in a serious tone.

"What, no way, Demons fucking love me, how can I possibly have upset one of their bosses," You reply in surprise. "Also I note, there wasn't a specific rejection vis-à-vis me rocking your world," You add with an impish smile.

"I have no idea, so far it's just rumours and whispers, but too many from different corners of the realms," Your Sister says. "So promise me you'll be careful, no unnecessary risks or wild events that will draw too much attention," Angela continues. "I hate to admit it, but I'd be lost without you, Sis," Angela says sincerely.

"Well if you love me so much, I know a place where I'll be safe and you can keep an eye on me," You reply with a teasing tone.

"Sel!!!" Your Sister groans.

"Yeah, you'd be screaming that a lot too, I think we're on the same page here, Sis," You reply with a laugh.

"Take the threat seriously, please, and stop trying to just use it as an excuse to get back into my pants," Your Sister yells in exacerbation.

"I'll meet you halfway, I'll take the threat seriously, but I will never stop trying to get back into the White Silk lacey number I bet you're wearing right now," You reply with a grin that grows even wider when you can tell by your Sister's face that you were able to guess her underwear correctly.

"Well, I guess that's the best I can hope for," Your Sister replies, her face softening into a smile for the first time.

"Also in all seriousness, it's me you're talking about, you do remember that time we took down that cabal of Dragons trying to take over the various elemental planes, right?" You reply with a confident tone.

"I know you're skilled in the arcane and are as strong as ever, but it's been a long time since our adventuring days," Your Sister replies.

"Eh it's only magic, you point vaguely in the direction of the asshole you need to explode with fire or blast with lightning, say the right words and use the right ingredients and hey presto your problems are no more," You reply with a smile.

"Yes, things did seem a lot simpler back then," Your Sister muses, "I definitely miss that," She adds nostalgically.

"I miss those long nights by the fire, and cuddling up in the cold," You reply with a smile. "Don't suppose you still have the old tent?" You ask with a grin.

"Oh you mean our old tent, the one you asked me to dig out so we could enjoy a nostalgic trip together for your 300th birthday," Your Sister begins to rant. "The same tent that seemingly makes you very forgetful about pulling out," Your Sister continues.

"So many fond memories," You reply with a giggle.

"I think I may have requested it be burnt when I was feeling a little hormonal from the pregnancy," Your Sister growls

"A shame, but that reminds me have you heard that Annabell is top of her classes at my old mage college," You reply with a proud smile. "Barely 20 winters and already studying advanced arcane theory and summoning magic,"

"Yes, our Daughter is very fond of telling me, she also likes to continually ask why I dedicated my life to perfecting martial combat, instead," Your Sister replies with a heavy sigh.

"In Annabell's defence, I don't think she's seen how great your ass looks from all the training," You reply. "It's why I stopped questioning it," You add with a smile.

"Yeah because having one family member lusting after me isn't enough," You Sister says with a sigh.

"Ah you love it really," You reply with a smile. "I understand we have to keep things up for appearances in the city, but you tell me you wouldn't want me in your bed at night cuddling up until we drift off to sleep if you could," You say with a confident smile.

"Yes," Your Sister mumbles.

"Right, I better head back, got a low profile to keep and start my own people trying to look into these rumours," You say standing up and give your Sister a polite bow.