The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 668: People spreading rumors

Zyran’s grin grew. "Cruel."

Isabella looked at him. "Only to people who earn it."

He put a hand on his chest. "That is somehow sweet."

"It was not meant for you."

Before anyone could continue, another voice came from outside.

"Isabella!"

The next moment, Ophelia rushed in so quickly that the fur at the entrance almost got dragged down with her.

She looked personally offended by life.

Shelia followed more calmly, but her face was thoughtful in that quiet way she had whenever she had been listening more than speaking.

The moment Isabella saw them both, she frowned. "Why do you both look like someone insulted your favorite chicken?"

Ophelia hurried closer. "Because some of the new women are saying strange things."

Shelia nodded and added in her soft voice, "Very strange things."

Kian set the report aside completely now.

"Say everything," he said.

Ophelia took a breath, then immediately began, "One of them was helping prepare vegetables, and she said you are very generous now, but people in power always change once they get used to being obeyed. Then another one said free learning sounds wonderful, though things like that never stay free forever, and she smiled in that way people smile when they are trying to sound nice but are actually being weird."

Isabella’s eyes narrowed.

Shelia spoke next, and unlike Ophelia, she repeated every word with frightening accuracy. "One woman also said that no place stays peaceful after too many outsiders arrive, and perhaps some people in the village would soon be pushed aside by stronger favorites."

At that, Zyran’s expression changed.

His smile remained, but it had gone sharp around the edges.

Cyrus’s eyes cooled too.

Kian looked at Shelia. "Who said that?"

Shelia answered at once. "The taller one with the narrow face and the blue cloth around her wrist, though she said it while smiling at me as if she expected me to agree."

Isabella stared at her for a moment, then slowly began clapping.

The sound was soft, but very clear.

Everyone looked at her.

Shelia blinked. "Why are you clapping?"

"Because," Isabella said, "that was perfect. If I ever need someone quoted word for word after their own downfall, I am choosing you."

Shelia looked a little pleased.

Ophelia, naturally, looked upset and pouted. "I remembered things too."

"Yes," Isabella said. "You did. Yours were just slightly more offended and less exact."

Ophelia lifted her chin. "I was emotionally involved."

"That is obvious."

Zyran laughed again, while Luca looked deeply satisfied that he was no longer the only bringer of bad news.

Then Ophelia remembered something else and gasped. "There was more."

Isabella looked tired already. "Of course there was."

Ophelia moved closer. "One of them asked whether you were working too hard in your condition, and whether perhaps the males around you had too much influence while you rested."

The room went silent.

Then Isabella slowly turned her head.

"Excuse me?"

Ophelia nodded with all the seriousness in the world. "That was exactly how I felt too."

Isabella stared at the ceiling for one long second. "So now we have spies, rumor planters, and people trying to suggest that I am lying down somewhere while the men run my village."

Zyran looked delighted. "That last one is especially funny."

Kian’s expression darkened instantly.

Cyrus’s lips curved faintly, though the amusement in his eyes was cold.

Osiris looked openly confused. "Why would anyone think that?"

Zyran turned his head toward him. "Because some people are deeply committed to being stupid in public."

Osiris considered that, then nodded once. "Fair."

At that exact moment, another knock came from outside.

This time it was one of the workers from the storage yard.

Kian gave permission, and the man entered quickly, bowing first to Isabella before speaking.

"My lady, there is the matter of one of the alliance elders."

Isabella put a hand over her face. "Wonderful. Bring me everything. Let me drown in nonsense tonight."

The worker hurried on. "The elder has been lingering around the storage yard all afternoon. He keeps asking how grain is measured, how often supplies are moved, and which guards watch the food buildings after dark."

Kian’s eyes turned icy.

Luca muttered, "Unbelievable."

The worker swallowed and added, "He speaks politely, but the others feel uneasy around him."

Isabella removed her hand from her face and sat very quietly.

Inside her head, Bubu chose that moment to hum in a way that made it sound like a useless little demon with absolutely no responsibility and far too much enjoyment.

For two breaths, Isabella said nothing.

Then she smiled.

It was a very beautiful but dangerous smile.

"Interesting," she said.

The entire room became still.

To be honest, everyone there knew that tone already.

When Isabella said interesting like that, someone somewhere was usually very close to regretting their life choices.

Kian looked at her. "You already have a plan."

Isabella turned to him and blinked with perfect innocence. "Of course I have a plan. Do I look like a person who survives this many annoying people without one?"

Zyran rested his chin on his hand and smiled. "You also look like someone enjoying this a little."

She pointed at him at once. "That is slander."

"It is observation."

"It is simply you slandering me with confidence"

Cyrus almost laughed again.

Kian did not smile, but the corner of his mouth moved ever so slightly.

Then Isabella straightened, and when she spoke again, her voice turned calm and clean and sharp enough to cut fruit.

"We say nothing," she said. "Not yet. I want them comfortable. I want them to think their little whispers are working, and I want every bit of information they gather to rot in their hands before they can use it."

Kian’s gaze settled on her fully now. "I can change patrol routes tomorrow."

"Yes," Isabella said. "Do it without announcing anything, and change them often enough that anyone trying to count them starts looking stupid." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Kian nodded once. "Done."