Stack the Chips High to Watch Them Fall

The noble women wasted no time convincing their husbands for support. They enforced their subordinates' obedience to the lie, and made sure servants planted seeds to other servants and commoners. It didn't take long for a coordinated rumor mill to be running through the palace.

Valerr's nobles bribed sympathetic palace staff and commoners loyal to moon-cash, to be witnesses to the fictional exchange between Court Visor Jan and Aldrick-pasha. The palace guards turned down the bribes. She was given a disturbing report of Kairo's rising popularity within the guard barracks after the Honor Battle fight. So, nobles planted more servant claims to validate the lie; going around the guards' unwavering loyalty to the real truth and Demon Prince Lyon.

Her prize winning supporter was a high ranking visor who agreed to back her claims against Jan on the condition of promotion. Of course, she promised to praise his worth to the Demon King, which would earn him the high honors.

She had all she needed to pay a visit to Lyon's court. That day, she stood before Lyon, who was seated on his audience throne—a smaller version of his main one. He met her in a separate area of the Throne Room, reserved for all harem officials, including herself. This rare visit from her was the most satisfactory day of her life. The shock and cries from Court Visors when irrefutable evidence was stacked against Jan, and Lyon's defeated sigh after declaring Jan be held in custody for a formal investigation was truly satisfying.

But there was one loose thread left. She returned to her mansion in the harem and had Lady Foster and her son escorted to her water prison basement. It didn't take much persuading for the centurion's support. She was able to gain two things out of her, a confession of Aldrick-pasha being fully aware of the record tampering and a copy of the Palace of Princes Codex.

Lady Foster was released on surveillance, ensuring she upheld the lie. However, her son was cared for within the harem for good measure.

A few weeks later, Valerr sat smugly on her throne as her nobles proudly reported success of the implications and the alien being imprisoned, awaiting trial.

"Finally, justice! Let all honorable demon women know that crimes shall not go unpunished!" She cried out to her audience, who roared and shouted with their passionate cheers for her cause.

"For Countess Leela! Justice for all honorable demon women!"

The rally cries were so fierce and loud, servants felt the floor quake outside the audience chambers. Everyone felt an internal war had been declared within the Palace of Princes.