“You’re here.” Almera smiled as she saw Mira waiting at the door.“Um.” Mira nodded.Almera invited her into the office and poured a cup of tea.“No one else has come?” Mira looked around curiously. The last time she came. It was earlier than this but there was a doorman at the door and a few salespeople at the front.“Friday is a day everyone starts late.” Almera smiled amiably as she sipped her tea.“What brings you back so soon?”“I finished the work you gave me. So, I wanted to check if it meets your satisfaction, or you wanted me to change anything.”“Finished?” Almera hooked her eyebrows suspiciously.Mira quietly took the completed cloth and placed it on the table for Almera to inspect along with the unused thread “I didn’t use the brown as I changed my mind. The others are…” Mira paused as she smiled sheepishly “I didn’t know how much I would need so I unwound them for washing… so they look a bit unkempt, but I swear they are not dirty.” Mira completed awkwardly in a low voice
Mira proudly handed her pouch to Jack as soon as they reached home.“You should keep it.” Jack pressed it back into her hand. “It is the wife’s job to take care of these affairs.”“Really?” Mira asked skeptically.“That’s how my parents did it.” Jack shrugged as a matter of fact and then pulled his pockets inside out “I don’t have any money now. But when I do, it will be yours to keep.”“I made you a pauper, didn’t I?” Mira lowered her head guiltily. She knew he had to take out all his money and also take a loan to buy this place.“I think it is a good thing.” Jack held her waist with one hand and with the other, lifted her face with a cheeky smile “Don’t we have our love nest ready for us?”“You… you…” Mira pouted as she gently hit him with her fists on his chest.“Let’s make the most of it.” Jack chuckled as he lowered his head and captured her lips. He deepened the kiss and ravished her senses, riding the storm with her all the way from the front room to their bedroom. Jack pulled
“What were you doing?” Mira asked curiously as they sat for breakfast.“You’ll see …. Soon.” Jack smiled as he poured her hot water.“Alright.” Mira didn’t ask further. She would wait for him to show her.“What should we eat for dinner?” Mira pouted as he nibbled the meat bun in relish.“What do you want?” Jack raised his eyebrows.“Can we go fishing?” Mira asked with an expectant sparkle.“Um” Jack nodded.“Then you finish what you are doing, and I will prepare some stuff for the fish.” Mira cleared the table as she spoke.“Um” Jack nodded as he walked out the door.An hour later, Mira had finished the preparation and also packed a basket with dinner which was a pot of tea, boiled eggs and a few slices of bread when Jack walked in “Wife, come take a look.”Mira followed him curiously.In the second bedroom was a beautiful stand with the height of a slightly tall table, her slate frame resting on it in a perfect fit.“Good Lord.” Mira shrieked in excitement as she circled inspecting t
“Aunt, I am home.” Jack stood at the door and announced.Unlike the last time they came, everyone was home today except for uncle and second brother. Farm hands at the Slegh estate had to work 6 days a week. Second brother was working as the blacksmith’s apprentice and also had to work 6 days a week.Anne-Marie the youngest came running as she heard her favorite brother’s voice. She moved back shyly as she saw Mira. She knew this big sister didn’t like them. Mira smiled sweetly at the little girl, but it didn’t have much effect, the damage from her previous vicious behavior was too deep.“Come in… why are you standing there?” Oden pulled the door to open wider.“This will always be your home.” Oden added as he saw Jack’s hesitation. “You left on your own, no one sent you off.”Oden wasn’t wrong. It was Jack who insisted on moving and never came back. None of them had seen him these 3 months. Actually, that’s not right. Beth did tell them about Jack’s visit 5 days ago, but no one bough
“What is it?” Mira asked curiously once she couldn’t see the horse cart anymore.“Must be tools.” Jack guessed as he opened the sack.Sure enough, the sack had 4 spades of two different sizes each, 2 hoes, 2 rakes and a pitchfork.“This….” Mira had a conflicted expression as she looked at the items. This would cost more than 10 gold coins.“Like Dad said, we must repay this kindness with our actions.” Jack knew there was no point in being conflicted. He swore inwardly to return this kindness when he had the ability.“Umm.” Mira nodded with determination.“Wife, has the fish soup finished?” Jack asked with regret as he saw the empty bowls on the table.“No. I have left a tiny portion for you.” Mira giggled as she took the bowls to the kitchen to wash.She bought a bowl full of the last portion of the fish soup after washing the bowl
Jack walked around for a while before he returned back home. The walk cleared his head and there was a smile dancing on his lips as he entered. Mira was waiting anxiously, she kept pacing back and forth in the front room.“Jack” Mira’s voice was strained as she rushed to him. She was stepped back in confusion as she saw his smile. She knitted her brows with a pout.“Wife, you are right.” Jack chuckled as he gently knocked on her forehead.“I know I am right.” Mira pouted as she rubbed her forehead “What are you talking about now?”“That you were too stupid.” Jack chuckled as he embraced her.Mira pursed her lips into a resentful pout as she gently fisted on his chests.“Do you want to hear what I figured out?” Jack tapped her nose with an affectionate gaze.“Um.”“Do you remember saying that you thought I stormed out of the room because I overheard your conversation?”“Um…mm” Mira nodded confidently.“That’s why I said my love is too stupid.”“Huh??”“Think about it…. you told me what
The next few days were without events. Mira completed all the embroidery work that she had bought home by the time Jack returned home on Thursday.“I will come to the city with you tomorrow.” Mira informed Jack as they sat for supper.“So fast?” Jack raised his eyebrows “Didn’t your Madam give you 10 days?”“Um” Mira nodded “But I finished them early.”“Love don’t tire yourself. I will work harder.” Jack frowned. He knew she was straining herself too much.“Not hard.” Mira smiled “The stand you made for me is too good. I don’t get tired that easily. We need to pay our debts and get better.”“I will make those stands.” Jack pursed his lips “Let me do the hard work.”“We will work together.” Mira smiled sweetly as she leaned onto his shoulders.“Um” Jack nodded with determination. He would work harder so that his wife didn’t have to tire herself.“The seedlings have all grown.” Mira remembered as they laid down.“Um” Jack nodded. “I will go to Godfather’s to pick up the horses for ploug
Mira was so happy, she literally skipped all the way to Almera’s shop. “Someone’s very happy.” Almera spoke with a lopsided grin. “Your brother called you a dragon.” Mira giggled and whispered. “And he’s the baby dragon.” Almera scoffed. “What are you going to do with this?” Almera asked curiously as she saw Mira playing around with the cloth, she took from the rag section. “I was still thinking.” Mira kept fiddling with the cloth before asking with a curious expression “How long does it take to make a neckerchief normally?” “Varies on the pattern and experience.” Almera shrugged “My most experienced worker might take a day for a complex pattern with embroidery. The less experienced can take 2 days.” “Um” Mira nodded pursing her lips. “Do you embroider?” Mira asked curiously. “Yes… but only my own clothes.” Mira nodded as she carefully took the watch pendant Almera gave her, like a precious treasure and opened to look at the time. It was getting almost 2 pm. She decided to sl
As Cornelius sat mulling over the past, reeling in guilt, the carriage reached the gates of Southamberston. Aglaya accompanied him silently, she was the keeper of his soul. She knew that this was the greatest regret and pain in his life. She gently patted his hand in a comforting manner as she heard Winkle announcing their identity at the gates, trying to pull him out of despair. She waited for him to nod acknowledging that he was fine before she lifted the curtains to look outside.To her surprise, well not surprise, she should have expected this, this was her wildflower, unlike the other duke and duchess who along with their household would be waiting at the entrance of the manor/castle to greet them, what greeted her eyes was Mira, who was running over to greet them even before their carriage reached the front entrance of the castle. It was not hard to guess, where Mira was, Jack wouldn’t be far behind.“Ha…ha… ha…” Aglaya couldn’t help laughing, shaking her head, peaking Cornelius
Cornelius and Agalya set off in the royal carriage along with Orseus to visit the Southamberstons early the next day. As the path started to become familiar to that in his memory, Cornelius raised the divider to question the footman-“I said we were going to Southamberston duchy.”“We are my royal sovereign.” Winkle, the footman replied bowing politely although he didn’t understand why the sovereign was angry.Cornelius frowned in distrust as he turned to Parker “Care to explain?”Parker rubbed his nose in embarrassment as he forgot to update Cornelius about the results of his investigation yesterday and spoke in a soft voice “Apologies for my royal sovereign.”Cornelius raised his eyebrow impatiently.“Stormwall was re-named as Southamberston when the previous king reclaimed the dutchy following the death of the old master.” Parker hurriedly explained as he noted the impatience on his master’s face.“Why was the dutchy reclaimed? Isn’t the right of inheritance for the Haribeort from
Once the king and the supreme rulers had taken the seats in the chamber of secrets, the chiefs of each governing body in the country entered for their private meeting with the king once their names were called out by the royal messenger. This solemn ceremony was the rite of passage where the new king is entrusted as the keeper of ancient secrets of the country from its inception, things that were for the king’s ears only. The other curious thing was no two chiefs entered at the same time. Each had only knowledge of the matter they were entrusted with. The only living person in the entire kingdom who had knowledge of all the secrets was the king and the supreme rulers.The rite passage ceremony went on till late through the night. No matter how anxious Cornelius was to get to his godson and blast the hell out of the household of Southamberston, he had to wait for the next day.The next day, Jack called everyone to the study very early in the morning. No one thought much of it till they
“What wrong?” Jack asked as he smoothed the frown adorning his wife’s beautiful face as they sat in the carriage on their way back to the Southamberston estate.Mira shook her head to indicate it was nothing although the confusion on her face didn’t disappear.“What is it that troubles my wife?” Jack tilted her chin to face him “Something is bothering you from the time of the crowning ceremony.”Mira raised her eyebrows in surprise. She never expected Jack to notice. She thought he was distracted by everything around them and that she had covered it well.“Nothing can distract me from you.” Jack chuckled looking at his wife’s silly expression.“Smooth talker.” Mira pouted as she rested back in his embrace although her heart felt it was dipped in honey. It was a blissful feeling to know that the person you loved also had only you in their eyes.“What is it?” Jack wasn’t going to give up without an answer.“Nothing… it’s just…” Mira bit her lips hesitating whether to speak but decided to
Thomas and Jack looked at their wives who were giggling foolishly and shook their heads helplessly. Thomas introduced Jack to the other gentry helping him build connections while the ladies gossiped. The hot topic for the ladies was of course, the fabulous gown that Mira and Almera were wearing. Everyone wanted to know where the materials were purchased and how long it would take to get them made.Matthew and Harry mingled with old acquaintances introducing their wives and John. Martin and Oden stood politely by their side. Both felt extremely awkward and overwhelmed as they had never attended such an affair in their lifetime although Oden kept a calm façade given his training at Slegh’s.Joan stood in the periphery of the hall with Emma staring viciously at their family that was dressed like the nobles, enjoying everyone’s admiration. Joan couldn’t understand why she had to stand in a corner forgotten even though she carefully planned for herself to rise to prominence. She couldn’t st
Cornelius’s eyes narrowed as he spotted Harrison behind Jack before sighing in a whisper “Kids! Didn’t we tell them to keep it quiet?”He turned to signal Parker as he realized that there was only Harrison following Jack. Of course, he knew Harrison represented the Hariebot’s and thereby Jack’s maternal home.“Wasn’t the edict awarding the dukedom passed on to Southamberston?”“Yes, your royal supreme majesty.” Parker bowed respectfully.“Then why isn’t the butler here to receive and guide the lord?” Cornelius’s temper rose “I need an explanation for this arrogance. I will visit the duchy after the feast. I want to see who dares?”“There…. There….” Aglaya gently tapped on Cornelius hand “Let’s deal with it later. Don’t spoil the festivities with your temper.”“Haiiii” Cornelius sighed before sitting back.Orseus hooked his eyebrows towards Bernard as he noted the change in his parents’ expression. Bernard shrugged before turning to look at his father for an explanation. Parker blinked
Similar to the sacred hall, everyone gathered in the grand hall according to their status. However, unlike the ceremony in the sacred hall not everyone attended. It was attended only by those who had an invitation among the freemen and servants.Jack and his entourage walked into the hall under the lead of Harrison and Lazarus to the section reserved for the Southamberston. Joan and Emma watched as they saw their family walking through the crowd unhindered under the protection of the Southamberston guards first with wide open mouths and then slowly gritted their teeth in resentment as they thought of their plight where they were waiting in the crowd.Emma clenched her fists as she threw a resentful glare at Joan whom she decided was the cause of all her misery; if it were not for Joan, she would be the one wearing that beautiful gown and walking through the crowd with her head held high, attracting the envy of the crowd. Joan did not notice the resentment in Emma’s gaze as she wasn’t i
“By this holy oil and the power bestowed on me by the ancestors and your Royal father, I anoint you as king of Hal from this moment forth” The chief of the elder priests poured the holy oil using the ceremonial spoon on Orseus’s head.The elders of each adorned him with golden spurs and armills. The grand dukes along with Knight commander Parker Hemmington knelt on the ground raising the four swords above the heads pledging their allegiance once the Elders finished and stepped aside. Each of the elders, blessed the sword and passed it finally to the chief elder; each time the chief elder would raise the sword and present it to Orseus who was seated on the high throne proclaiming-“With the swords of righteousness, do justice, protect the faith of the ancestors, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the things that are perishing due to our negligence, maintain that which have been restored by the life force of your ancestors, punish and reform what is unjust all the while upholdin
Jack and his team made their way to their position in the procession. Everyone was excited. This was their first time participating in the procession. Anne-Marie could help but keep looking at the bear within the sun printed on the smock. This was the only differentiating factor in the smocks. Every smock had the insignia of the duchy printed within the country flag which was painted on the front and back of the smock. Not even Matthew and Harry had attended one of these events.The previous king didn’t have a coronation, he upsurged the throne in anger. The coronation before that was more than 50 years ago and the ones who could remember the event could be counted on fingers as the event was not open to everyone. In the past, the coronation was only attended by the nobility. This was one of Cornelius’s reforms even though he never had a coronation; Everyone citizen, noble, freeman or slave could attend the coronation.In line with the past traditions, the bells at the clock tower rang