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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
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
“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
“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
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
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
“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
“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
Everyone waited outside the room while Leal, Cornelius, Baldwin and Caleb entered the room along with Emeralda and Jerome.“Lie down.” Esmeralda had a faint smile as she requested. It had been more than a decade since she saw their young master; even though he didn’t remember them, her inner world was peaceful. They had found each other, they were halfway…. It wouldn’t be long.She sat by his side, concentrating on the examination once she was able to quieten the noises from her inner excitement. She frowned as she realized that although he appeared to be fit from his physical appearance, the information she gathered from his examination was not so promising.Her brows knitted further as the examination continued, raising the anxiety of the men who were standing in the room observing Esmeralda. While Leal and Caleb stood still like pillars, regardless of their clenched fists and knitted brows, both Corenlius and Baldwin started pacing in the room unable to stand still.“How is it?” Th
Caleb wasn’t far off with his prediction although the healer's arrival had nothing to do with his message. The healer and a hooded man arrived at Southamberston Duchy late evening of the same day. Everyone was resting in their rooms when Harrison announced their arrival to Jack; Jack asked Harrison to clear the hall of everyone and to inform the others as he went down to the lounge area to greet his old friends. “Venerable one…” Jack greeted as he always did, without the airs of his newly found status. The healer narrowed her eyes as looked at Jack; she didn’t have her usual airy, fairy daze but this time, her gaze was sharp, like that of an eagle, before her lips slowly curled up and she knelt on one knee “Esmeralda greets the young marquess.” She had noted the Butler clearing everyone away from this area and the young commander circling with his men, she knew that there were no more prying eyes around them. The only thing she didn’t anticipate was the audience that was coming dow
Mira kept scolding and kicking the man, without showing the slightest hint of stopping or displeasure from touching his already bloodied body; the truth was, she was trembling in anger, her eyes red with rage, barely attentive to notice the state the man was in. Jack was stunned for a minute before he rushed after her and held her back in his embrace as he coaxed her, shamelessly boasting “Wife, I am fine. Look…. Do you think his three-legged skills are enough to harm me?” “Wife, calm down… let Lazarus deal with him.” Jack held her tightly in his embrace; he could feel her trembling in his embrace and his heart ached for her; although no one in the room knew, he knew why that statement triggered her so much. She had told him about her past life memories. Matthew and Harry had a helpless expression while everyone else other than Thomas and Almera had their mouths agape as they saw Mira in action. Thomas didn’t have time to admire Mira’s gallantry; he was busy soothing his wife who wa
Thomas and Orseus stepped on their toes as they leaned over their father’s shoulders and read the scroll along with them; tears rolled down Cornelius and Baldwin’s cheeks as they saw the scroll in their sworn brother’s hand and read greedily.Their tears didn’t stop even though they finished reading the letter. The guilt of not being there when their sworn brother needed them the most was eating into their soul; they listlessly handed the scroll to Jack and Mira.“So now we have to find Esmeralda to cure Uncle Jerome.” Orseus pursed his lips. He called out to Jerome as Uncle Jerome smoothly, he had no difficulty as he grew up hearing these two names, Alex and Jerome; to him, they were family, more closer to him than Uncle Alaistair and his sons.“If we have guessed correctly, we don’t have to go anywhere searching for her.” Cornelius shook his head and added with an air of mystery “She is much closer than we think.”“Are you saying that the healer that we go to is, this Esmeralda that
“If only we knew….” Harry sighed regretfully “Then we could have followed that man’s trail and found Alex sooner.”“You think too beautifully... Alex would never lead a trail if this was his contingency plan.” Baldwin sneered before his expression turned serious “But we may have stumbled upon some unexpected luck in finding Alex.”“Did granduncle Zumerong shed some light?” Orseus asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Heh!” Corenlius scoffed “They were kept in even greater darkness than us.”“Then are you talking about the man who lives at Mer waters?” Thomas asked hesitantly; he really didn’t know why his father and godfather were so confident, just because he trained with Jack?“Son, you don’t know.” Cornelius shook his head “Leal can never be separated from Alex; wherever Alex is, he will follow, whether it is in life or death.”“There has never been a more loyal shadow.” Baldwin too sighed regretfully.“Then what are we waiting for?” Almera looked around curiously; Mira leaned forward an
Jack and Mira, along with the rest of their group, dragged their exhausted bodies and reached Southamberston palace at the break of dawn. Without making any noise, they all went to their respective rooms without any fuss. Everyone had a room at Southamberston palace even though they each had cottages specially prepared for them; both Martin and Oden went to the rooms that were prepared for them instead of their cottage.Early morning was unusually noisy with many unfamiliar faces around the breakfast table and yet it was as if no one noticed the familiarity of the unfamiliar faces at the table; the only exception was the three unfamiliar unfriendly faces as they sat through the farce as though they were watching a show and not part of it.Almera and Katherine joined them shortly after breakfast, as noisy as ever with Almera complaining that her husband didn’t love her anymore and that he was in love with his first wife, the estate responsibilities and that she always came second.First
Jack and Mira rushed back without stopping; their pace was originally fast, but it became even more rushed after they received John’s message which wasn’t much, just a short line written in a shaky hand ‘Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’.Don’t misunderstand the shaky hand, it wasn’t fear… It was just John trying to write in his best hand. But unfortunately, it was bound to be misunderstood, due to John’s years of acting, acting timid, which was more believable for his son and nephew, more believable than his daring persona.Thomas had just entered his palace when his page rushed in and announced that he had a note from Southamberston and passed the note. It was the same note that was sent to Jack, written in the same shaky hand, 'Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’. However, it evoked an entirely different expression from Thomas.Thomas stood up excitedly as he reached for his cloak that he had just hung up; he wrapped it around as he walked and called out to
Back at Southamberston, by late afternoon, a travel weary Matthew and Harry had arrived back at Southamberston with three additional unfamiliar men who were covered from head to toe, leaving only sharp eaglelike eyes.Without Harrison’s calm balancing act, the household was on the verge of being thrown into chaos when Beth walked in, in a hurry, ushered in by one of the maids who was flustered.The chaos resulted from the fact that there were three strangers who looked suspicious; the imaginative minds of the young staff who worked at the castle had worked themselves up with a theory they had concocted.Their theory was that the two elders who had gone to relax were held hostage, and they were unable to escape and were brought back here for the young Duke to save them; but the young duke wasn’t here; even Lazarus and Harrison weren’t here.The young maid who ran over to call Beth and gasped, almost out of breath “Lady…. Lady… Lady Beth, the elders have been held hostages by three sinis
Jack and Mira set off in the afternoon along with their men since there was nothing left for them to do here, at the manor and considering that they had been away from the duchy for almost a week.They first made a stop at the healer’s place as per Jack promise to Cornelius and Baldwin; however, there was still no one at the cottage. Jack quietly took the scroll that he had prepared previously and jumped over the wicket gate. He walked around the cottage a few times and returned as though nothing had happened.This was his agreement with the healer; he never understood why she was so paranoid, but he had always respected her rules in her place. When he returned, he no longer had the scroll in his hand. He had placed it in their usual place, inside one of the potted plants, one that looked just like the many potted plants that were placed in the backyard and yet she would correctly identify the one with message scroll.Out of curiosity, he had watched her once as she walked in through t