Chapter 38: Leur

　　The realm of Nor remained paralyzed by inaction. The baffling conduct of Lord Simitris had created a vacuum, allowing his authority to be seized by his wife, Melkonora, and his mother, Morazia. These two women skillfully masked their control under the guises of wifely devotion and maternal love, using their respective family networks to exert a decisive influence over the Lord.　　Melkonora had been the darling of the Driman family elders since her youth, and upon reaching adulthood, she enjoyed their unwavering protection and support. Her lineage could be traced back to the minor chieftains of the Queen’s Era. Her father and brothers, possessed of both status and capability, were well-suited for high responsibility and provided sagacious counsel on the affairs of Nor.　　The Lord’s mother, Morazia, hailed from Kemoris. The late sovereign Larman was her cousin, and the current ruler, Cosiri, was her nephew. To reflect the nobility of the bride and the grandeur of the wedding, she had come to Nor not only with a lavish dowry but also accompanied by a family of humble station—the Ledways.　　Distantly related to the Rhys clan, the Ledways had long resided in Kona, far from the capital. Yet, they had been ensnared in the fallout of the Lugates case. While a stern judge had spared the family due to a lack of evidence, they could not escape the toxic suspicion of Lord Larman.　　Historically, the lords of Nor had always welcomed foreign families, treating them with grace and favor. This tradition, coupled with Morazia’s patronage as the consort of the heir-apparent,