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In Alina’s cottage- “What did you find out?” Jason asked anxiously. “Jack leaves the house around 5 in the morning and only comes back after 2 in the afternoon. Mira stays in the house all day.” Alina spoke in a bored tone. “Um” Jason nodded as he calculated in his head. Alina thought of Mira’s last words and wondered if they should let go of these stupid schemes and live their lives happily. She was no more in between them. Was there a need for these schemes? “Jas, why don’t we let go and live our lives? She will no longer come between us.” Alina asked hesitantly. Hope filling her heart. ‘Maybe they could …’ “What do you mean?” Jason narrowed his eyes in anger “You don’t understand, do you?” “Do you want to live like this?” Jason snarled “Waiting for handouts from your mom and that …. That… man?” “Is this even a life??” Jason sneered, his eyes rolling with disgust. “Jas, don’t be angry…. I ….I…” Alina bit her lower lip “Forget I said anything.” “Alina, dearest…” Jason sat ne
“Oh.. no…!” Mira frowned “What’s wrong?” Jack tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ears. “We have to get home.” Mira looked anxiously at the door “We can’t get out…. That cunning fox is going to send someone over to our place to see if you are home.” “If we go out now… the door is guarded and the estate gates closed.” “Oh Jack…. I have made things a hundred times worse for you.” Mira’s eyes filled with tears… “Oh… how could I be so selfish??” “I didn’t want to give Lotta a chance to squeeze into our lives.” She sobbed “I wanted to save you…” “I….” Mira was feeling terrible. ‘Why did she have to be so selfish?’ “I would rather be stuck here with you than anywhere else.” Jack hugged her. “I am very happy to hear that you are selfish when it comes to me…...” Jack’s lips curled up “That tells me how important I am to you…” “Sweet talker.” Mira pouted even though her heart felt like it was smeared in honey. “What do we do?” Mira raised her head to look at Jack’s face. “Ho
“She has used up all her life force.” The healer had a nonchalant expression. “What does that mean?” Jack’s voice rose a few notches. By this time, the front room was no less than a theater. Firstly, Oden arrived with Mira’s parents and godparents, then Uncle John came with Aunt Beth and Anne-Marie… Lastly Almera arrived in her grand carriage. She didn’t want to cause a lot of noise, so she got the footman to stop a few yards away from Mira’s house and she walked into the house in a fluster. Almera was overwhelmed by the number of people crowded in the room; Their endless chatter didn’t help her nerves much either. She had just arrived in time to hear Jack’s outburst. Not just her, everyone heard; Their expressions became serious. Martin sat on the steps in a corner wallowing in guilt. To him, this was all his fault. If he had not told Mira about their situation, then she wouldn’t have worked herself into her grave. His cousin was so happy, and he spoiled all of it…. He grew up wit
While Mira was rushing out to meet Jack or rather rescue Jack, two people were heading towards her home. They missed running into each other by a few minutes. They decided to be wiser this time and came together. They were going to use the pretense of reconciling with her to get her to open the door. Once inside…hehe…hehe…. They stood at door ringing the bell and knocking on the door. Only silence greeted them. Jason wondered if he should use the side gate like last time but gave up on the idea as they heard voices coming from the road. Three men who were dressed roughly knitted their brows as they looked at the sneaky people outside the house. “This is my friend’s house” Alina smiled sweetly at the peasant that were looking suspiciously at them. “I am here to pay her a visit with my husband.” Alina held on to Jason’s hand affectionately. “You are friends with the lady of the manor?” One of them scratched his head. “Um” “The lady left a few minutes ago.” Another pointed in the d
Everyone waited silently for Mira to come out from under the blanket. Mira slowly put her head out from the blanket thinking that everyone left since the sounds stopped. Jack watched his wife with an amused smile. His heart that was hanging by the thread fell back to its original position. “Mom” She called out embarrassedly with a pout ‘Why was everyone here?’ “What else can I do if your husband refuses to eat for a day?” Ursula thought Mira was venting on behalf of Jack and explained helplessly. “A day??” Mira shrieked as she looked around. “Um” Anne-Marie jumped to Mira’s side and began to animatedly explain everything she saw and knew… which surprisingly was a lot. “I have worried you all.” Mira looked apologetically at everyone, mostly Jack. “You have woken up…. That is all there is to it.” Ursula wiped her tears. Once all the mushy sentiments were out of the way, Anne-Marie started to talk animatedly about the grand lady that came and blasted the stinky pair that came. Mir
They both woke up early but the temptation of having his soft and warm wife snuggled in his arms was too great for Jack to resist. They indulged shamelessly; Mira leaned bonelessly in his embrace as they reached the peak of bliss together. They realized that they had left their dresses back in space after regaining their senses. Mira kissed Jack as she transported them to space. They decided to take a dip in the hot spring so that Jack didn’t have to go to the stream to take a bath. Mira realized that the hot spring also has healing properties as she saw the telltale marks left behind by Jack disappear as she dipped in the spring. They quickly dried themselves using the linen Mira had left on a tree branch and came out in their unique style. Jack quickly went to milk the cows while Mira busied herself making Jack’s breakfast. He was going to be seriously late for work but luckily for him, he had the horse that he had to return to the tavern. He went straight to Almera’s dressmakers t
Friday mornings were always the busiest. Jack milked the cow and went to deliver the milk to his aunt’s house and get the cart while Mira stocked up fodder for the animals in the barn and refilled the rabbit hutch. She took a quick bath and went inside after locking all the doors of the barn and letting the dogs who had grown into a considerable size out to roam the entire space. She quickly prepared and packed their breakfast in a basket. Jack arrived as she wheeled the first stand out of the work room. Jack came up to help her when she pushed him towards the kitchen “I will wheel this one. Get the two from the outer shed.” “Um” Jack quickly bought the two and loaded them before helping Mira with the rest. Mira left the stands and the basket with Jack to load while she went and locked the outer shed and the kitchen door. Mira fed Jack as their usual norm when they rode out to the city. They were neither late nor arrived when they arrived at Almera’s shop. Jack kissed his wife goodb
“Mira, this week I won’t give you any of my work.” Almera pursed her lips that were curling up as she saw Mira’s grumbling face. “This week, I want you do these four dresses for me.” Almera took out four clothes which were black, blue, pink and a beige color. “This one is for Thomas’s mother.” She pointed at the beige one “She really liked the work you did last time on that off-white dress.” “Um” “The black is one of the prominent ladies at court. She wants everyone to know she is mourning her husband” Almera pursed her lips in ridicule “in style.” “Her orders were that black should be the next ‘it’ in court.” Almera giggled before telling Mira how much the lady hated her late husband who had at least 10 mistresses. “Then it truly must be a showstopper.” Mira didn’t have any sympathy for cheaters. Almera laughed. “The other two are casual wears… do what you like.” Mira nodded and stood up “I will go to your brother’s store and be back.” “You’re here.” Aldrin almost stood up in
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
“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
“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
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
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
“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
“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
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
“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