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I would rather starve with my family.
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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“She is useless anyway.” Joan smirked as she pulled Caster’s hand. “Leave this house today and the two of you are dead to us.” John warned as Emma was about to walk out the door with Joan. “Makes no difference.” Joan shrugged her shoulders as she walked out. Silence filled the room. No one spoke… only Anne-Marie’s tiny sobs could be heard. Oden hugged her comfortingly. “Mom hasn’t woken up…” Anne-Marie sobbed bringing everyone’s attention back to Beth who had fainted. “I will take her to the healer. You lot stay here.” John stood up; his step faltered although he put a tough front. “Dad, you stay here with Anne-Marie.” Oden supported his father “I will take mom along with Martin.” “Um” John nodded as he rubbed his chest and walked over to his bed. Anne-Marie watched both her parents miserable state and didn’t know what to do… Her father was putting a tough appearance… but she wasn’t so sure… She did the only thing she knew… She waited for her father to lie down and left the hous
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Both Beth and John were back to normal after a day’s worth of good rest. Ursula went back home with Matthew when he came in the afternoon, after preparing both dinner and supper. She didn’t wait for Oden and Martin to come back as Beth was already feeling better after eating the porridge with the medicinal herbs that Mira gave. Mira and Jack didn’t have any other distractions. They both worked hard fully concentrating on their work. They even ate in space as the food was already cooked and placed there. They only came out to water the crops, let the animals out to graze in the morning and lock the barns at night. Martin couldn’t deliver the crown clasp on Monday as promised but Jack and Mira didn’t care. Jack paid a visit to the smithery on Mira advice and told Simeon to deliver on Wednesday as they had some inconvenience. Simeon just laughed in good humor. How could he not understand? Martin bought the short chain and crown clasp on Wednesday as promised and the long chain on Thurs
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“Aunt, I am home.” Jack called out standing at the doorway. Beth hurriedly wiped her hands on the apron rushed to open the door, but Anne-Marie beat her to it. “Cousin...” Anne-Marie jumped into Jack’s embrace before looking behind him and asking with a sad pout “Where is cousin’s wife?” “She is working … she sends her love.” Jack ruffled her hair as he walked in. “Jack, son what is it?” Beth asked anxiously. Jack wouldn’t come on his own if there was nothing wrong. “Shouldn’t you be telling me what’s wrong?” Jack complained unhappily. “Me?? Wrong???” Beth knitted her brows before laughing “It’s all better… thanks to your medicine.” “Aunt, do you even consider me as your son?” Jack frowned seeing that his aunt had no intention of speaking the truth. “My boy… what are you saying?” Beth sighed but before Beth could open her mouth, John and Oden entered in a hurry. “Jack… son…” John called out in a fluster before calming down. “Are you here to check on the blankets?” Oden asked
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The next day was the same. Both husband and wife only took a break from their work to take a dip in the hot spring to relax their tired muscles and to sleep at night or dawn when Jack made a ruckus. Sunday morning had a slight twist with Ursula and Agnes arriving to cook. Both frowned as they saw the fireplace that had not been lit for days. Jack took a break from his work and entertained Matthew and Harry. They decided to plant the saplings that were waiting to be planted in the morning. Mira had to stop work and come out as Ursula and Agnes would not hear about any excuse. She was no match for her two moms. She could only compromise, come out gobble everything they put on her plate and run back. Jack chuckled looking at his wife bulging cheeks as he saw her stuffing all the food in her mouth like a hamster. She looked really cute. “Ddd..oo….n.n.m…ll….mmmee” Mira pouted as she chewed her food fast… Jack “???” “Don’t laugh at me.” Mira repeated with a pout as she swallowed her fo
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“Husband, I want to go to that cloth merchant’s shop.” Mira tugged Jack’s hand acting like a spoilt child. “I just remembered something…. Please…” Mira pouted and blinked with a pleading gaze. “Um” “Let’s go now.” Mira ran to the room to change and take the money. They hired the cart from their usual cart person. He was about to go home disappointedly since he didn’t get a single ride when Jack and Mira rushed up to him. Jack rode fast as Mira kept urging him; He had no idea what she wanted to do, but he was happy to comply. He could see the excitement in her eyes. “You’re back.” Stranton smiled before teasing “4 weeks are up… only 4 more weeks for our bet.” “Yes” Mira smiled mysteriously as she walked into the section for fine linen. She chose one pista-green and sky-blue. She turned to Jack “Brown or grey?” “For whom?” Jack raised his eyebrows with a knowing smirk. “Brown or grey?” Mira asked with a pout. “Brown for big bro and Martin, Grey for uncle.” Jack chuckled. “How
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Martin came in the evening as usual. He bought the chains as always. Mira came out as she heard Martin’s voice. “Cousin’s wife.” Martin raised his head as he saw Mira “Cousin just told me about what happened in the morning.” Mira shrugged. “Is all your work spoiled?” Martin asked anxiously. Mira stared from Martin to Jack with a blank gaze before realizing that Jack didn’t tell him about the back-up “I need your help with something.” Mira decided to change the topic; She didn’t want to lie to family. She didn’t know how Jack managed to pull wool over his head, but she knew Jack wouldn’t lie. “What is it?” Martin asked eagerly. “It might require you to do something bad.” Mira pouted with a conflicted expression. “Like??” “Stealing...” Mira pursed her lips. Martin took a deep breath as he made up his mind “I will do it… what should I steal?” “Are you tired?” Mira quirked her eyebrows “I need it today.” “Okay” Martin stood up. “Can you steal a dress of your mom’s and Anne-Ma
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Jack and Mira woke up together. Mira got breakfast ready while Jack milked the cows and let the animals out. He ate breakfast before going to get the cart. Today was the day they used the cart for free, but Jack insisted on paying a full day’s wage as he needed it for the whole day. He told the cart owner that he would use the free ride next week. Mira pushed the stands from space into the front room as she got ready for Jack to return with the cart. Jack loaded all the stands and took the milk to deliver at his uncle’s place. Mira handed him a small cloth with measurements for her mother and godmother, the sample dresses of Beth and Anne-Marie along with the embroidered cloth for each one and reminded Jack repeatedly which one was for whom. Still not satisfied, she wrote the color for each person on the small cloth “Deliver this to Almera on the way back. Tell her we will pick it up in the evening. I will finish Thomas’s cloth by then.” “Um” Jack kissed Mira goodbye and locked the
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The process was well thought through. There were two guards manning the gate. Only two, at the most four, people were allowed to enter. At the counter stood six of the king’s most trusted men. They would take the entry and attach a number to the entry and give a cloth badge with the same number to the participant. This would then be put into the rolling drum like bin with other entries and the whole bin rotated so that no one could guess who the entry belonged to. Not even the guards looked at the number that was handed over. The numbers were three digits and randomly arranged. Mira and Jack got off with Jack holding their basket. “We will wait here.” Martin and Oden didn’t get off. They didn’t know what cousin was up to … but Martin didn’t feel confident entering the palace grounds. He felt flustered looking at the imposing structure. Oden nodded in agreement. He wasn’t flustered but he didn’t think it was appropriate. “We will accompany you.” No one knew when Samuel’s men reached
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The king’s men actions were swift. It took them a day to find the truth behind Jack’s drugging event and submit their report. Meanwhile, the Slegh’s gathered in the old master’s study to discuss counter measures. Old master Slegh rubbed his chest uncomfortably as he listened to his sons quibbling.“Father, the only solution is to give up on Lotta.” Cole decided to be the devil’s advocate. Cain frowned; It wasn’t that he had any love for the bastard, but his intuition told him that Lotta was just the tip of the iceberg.“What are your thoughts?” Old master Slegh looked towards Cain. Caster and Cole followed the old master’s gaze.“Somehow, I doubt that will be enough.” Cain shook his head as he slowly lifted his face “Father, do you think it’s old debts catching up with new ones?”“What old debts??” Old master Slegh furiously tapped his walking stick on the ground “Don’t speak carelessly.” His fury shut their mouths but not their doubts, which danced all over their faces in the form o
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“Come... come… let’s talk inside.” Matthew invited everyone inside.“Dad…” Almera stood up in surprise as she saw the newly arrived guests “Why are you here?”“Have you finished dinner?” Aldrin asked Jack before anyone could respond.“Um” Jack chuckled although he was curious why the Dulstons were here.“It was …yumm…” Thomas rubbed his tummy with an exaggerated satisfied expression. Aldrin pursed his lips into a dissatisfied pout while everyone laughed, breaking the awkward situation.Jack invited everyone to take a seat while Mira and the ladies withdrew to the dining room. Orseus and Bernard came out and took their seats with faces full of jouissance, ready to watch the show. Almera stood at the doorway between the two rooms and repeated scrunching her face “Dad, why you here?”Cyrus sighed not knowing where to start.“It’s a long story.” Albert spoke in an unhurried tone as he couldn’t bear to see his father’s embarrassed face.“Start from the beginning.” Almera crossed her arms as
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“Erm…. I have not seen them before, so I don’t know… but there was a man who was leaning back against the cart…” Ursula squinted as she tried to think back “He looked very miserable… like he was on his last leg….”“Can you try and think where he was hurt?” Orseus asked excitedly.Ursula pursed her lips downwards as she tried to think back “Not sure… but his shirt was dyed red…. The lady…. I mean Jack’s mom had a wound to the left side or may be right….” Ursula frowned “She had a wound that was oozing blood on one side… I remember because she was clutching this wound as she was urging me.”“Aunt, do you remember anything?” Jack turned towards Beth.Beth shrugged pursing her lips before whispering “It was a complete shock…. One minute we were happy and looking forward to the future… the next second everything came crumbling down.” No one thought more about Beth’s mumbling.“Ummm” Thomas hummed as he narrowed his eyes in thought “Looks like we have to unlearn everything we know and start
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Thomas continued with the narration-“By the time they returned, it was 3 years later and never a word of the trouble brewing in the heart of the city. The letters your father sent kept them abreast of state and political affairs but never his personal affairs.” Thomas shook his head helplessly “They knew something wasn’t right but couldn’t do anything from where they were.”“When they got back, fate wasn’t generous. There wasn’t much time for them to even ask your father about things as trouble broke out in the southern borders and they were deployed again. Your father urged them to go and would discuss when they got back.”“He didn’t go along with them which was very unusual for him given the enormity of the trouble at the southern borders.…. He didn’t state his reasons, but father said that he thought that it must be due to trouble at home.” Thomas pursed his lips “Father said that Uncle Alex would never let them wander into death’s lap without him…. this was the first…. but who kne
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Mira ignored him and continued to ask Thomas hinting at the extra guests “Should I get Harrison to entertain them while we go down?”“Big sister” Tyson called smiling sweetly shocking Almera and Thomas. When did the little devil turn sweet?“I will be bored if I sit with you all. Are there kids in my age-group so that I can play with?” Tyson blinked innocently looking at Mira with his most adorable expression. Thomas raised his eyebrows skeptically as he heard his brother’s strange request. ‘When did his brother think adult company was boring? When did he start enjoying the company of kids his age? Didn’t he think they were silly?’“Oh… how silly of me!” Mira tapped the back of her head as she pouted “There isn’t anyone your age” She twisted her lips “Jack’s cousin is much younger than you…. but she can show you her pet bunny if you like.” Mira tried to entice, thinking Tyson wouldn’t be interested.“Alright.” Tyson shrugged feigning an unwilling expression and muttered “Better than ad
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“What case?” Martin turned around curiously before realizing that he was the butt of the joke and sitting back crossing his arms resentfully.“Hur…hur…hur….” Oden and Jack burst out laughing along with Mira “Puchi….”In the evening, everyone started arriving as planned. First Matthew and Harry arrived with Ursula and Agnes.“Your mothers didn’t want to stay at home on their own.” Matthew shrugged when Mira raised her eyebrows quizzically.“We came to keep Beth company.” Agnes walked forward ignoring the skeptical gazes of the boys and Mira.“Yes… yes… we came to give Beth company.” Ursula nodded with a guilty smile.“And not to spy on us.” Mira raised her eyebrows in a playfully taunting manner crossing her arms.“Would we?” Agnes blinked innocently as she whispered to Mirah “Even if your fathers have that intention, do you think we would betray our dear girl?”“Old woman, are you digging my grave?” Harry put on a pitiful expression which led to a bout of laughter.Mira quirked her eye
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“I don’t think I heard anything confidential that warrants his fear.” Oden knitted his brows as he opened his mouth for the first time since he entered the room.Jack nodded to agree but Mira pursed her lips and knitted his brows.“What is it love?” Jack noted that she didn’t agree.“Maybe… maybe not…” Mira’s expression didn’t loosen as she continued “Think about it…. this is knowledge that only a few share…. Knowledge that could if used by those with malicious intent, incriminate the king of a treacherous act. One if instigated in the right amount could even start a rebellion.”“But what puzzles me is why the old master decided to take it sitting down.” Mira twirled her finger around a loose hair strand “The Haribeort’s must have had some clout to be able to write their own law of inheritance that didn’t conform to the normal laws of the land.”Mira kept twirling her hand as she spoke “He must have been betting on his grandson… something must have reassured him that there was no need
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Carl took a deep breath as he regained composure “We were later told by the old master in confidence that we were not to ask any questions and that the dukedom would be annexed to the Royal estate due to lack of heir. We were strictly forbidden from contracting this version of the story.”“The current king as far as I have heard is righteous.” Jack pursed his lips skeptically “If this property was annexed unlawfully, then he would have passed it to its rightful heir and never kept it, let alone gift it to another.”“Your Grace, the inheritance rights of the Haribeort family are not widely known. Only a select few are preview to this knowledge and are not allowed to reveal it to another soul. Other than the Haribeorts, the king and the chief of chamber of inheritance rights no one has the privilege to know this.”“Usually after the new king’s coronation, there is ceremony where the chief of every governing body in the country will have a meeting with the king… something like a rite of p
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“This current understanding is that Southamberston was annexed under the management of the king’s estate as our master died without an heir…. But that is not true.” Carl started at the beginning.“Is that not the case?” Mira raised her eyebrows.“Not in its entirety.” Carl shook his head. His eyes reflected a deep-seated regret.“Continue.” Jack waved his hand.“The Haribeorts who are the original owners of Southamberston do not follow the norms of inheritance. The father to son or closest male relative rule for inheritance does not exist for Haribeorts.”“Their legacy has always been father to the oldest offspring, whether it is a male or female.”“The only exception is when the heir passes the inheritance to the next in-line.” Carl continued “Let’s say, the eldest daughter who is the heir marries off to a distant land or another dukedom where managing both estates is more than she can handle; She can pass her birthright to her next sibling.”“That is such a fair system.” Mira nodded
