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“Mom, we are home.” Oden called out as entered the house. John was sitting on a chair drinking ale; he had just arrived a few minutes earlier. “What did you do?” John looked curiously at the linen bundle in Martin’s hand and the pheasants in Oden’s hands. “Son, don’t …” Beth frowned. “Mom, cousin gave it to Big brother.” Anne-Marie hurriedly interrupted her mother “Big brother tried to refuse…” “This child…” Beth smiled helplessly but she felt happy that her nephew cherished her. “This is from Mira for you.” Both Martin and Anne-Marie spoke in unison. “What is it?” Beth asked in curiosity as she opened the bigger bundle. “My goodness…. This much…” Beth grinned, she had eaten it long ago when she was a child and went to the house her mother worked as a maid. “What is it?” “Mom this is the tastiest thing on king’s land.” Emma and Anne-Marie spoke in unison. “Mom, Mira said something about drying if we can’t finish in 2-3 days.” Oden reminded his mother as he remembered Mira’s
The next week, both Jack and Mira worked hard. They had a goal to become rich, actually Mira had a goal; Jack just wanted Mira to be happy. Mira worked for long hours every day. Jack did five frames this time as well- 2 with adjustable slate frame holding width, 2 with adjustable height, 1 table stand and one chair stand. Thursday night, Mira handed her cloth to Jack to calculate the total time. She was too lazy. Day 1~6 - 12 and three quarters;1 -6; 6 and a half hour - 8 and half. Day 2~ 5 and half hour - 12;12 and quarter - 3 and half; 4 - 6; 6 and three quarter- 8 and three quarter Day 3 ~ 5 and half hour - 12; 12 and quarter - 3 and half; 4 - 5 and half; 6 - 8 and three quarter Day 4 ~ 6 – 12; 12 and quarter - 3 and quarter; 3 and three quarter - 5 and three quarter; 6 – 8 and half hour;9-11. Day 5 ~ 6 – 12; 12 and quarter – 4 and quarter; 4 and half - 5 and half; 6 - 8. Jack’s looked at the times and summed it up; He scribbled 70 at the bottom. “Love don’t kill yourself li
“Penny for your thought?” Jack raised his eyebrows as he saw her pensive look. She turned to look at him and he saw the tears in her eyes. “What happened, My love?” He asked in concern as he hurriedly mounted the cart. “Wuuu…huuuu….” Mira threw herself into his embrace and cried miserably “I have wronged you terribly. Why did you have to take the blame? Wwuuuu….Huuuu” Mira couldn’t extricate herself from the scene; Jack had no idea what had happened, he still comforted her in a gentle voice “I am here.” Mira sat up wiping her face and lowered her head in embarrassment. His voice and warm embrace bought her back into the present. “I … I … thought of when you took on the blame for something terrible that I did ….” Mira whispered; a sob left her throat. “It hasn’t happened yet. We are fine. It won’t happen, okay?” Jack pulled her back into his embrace and hugged her tightly. “Look… look…. Your husband is a free man.” Jack raised the ‘all debt paid off’ parchment in his hand. He had
“Um” Mira smiled. She had come to the shop on her own. Jack said he would walk around and see if there was any locker suitable for them. He told her he would come to the front of the shop once he finishes. “Let me see.” Almera almost snatched the basket. Mira was a good mood and wanted to tease her. She slowed her movements considerably and slowly opened the flap of the basket. “You are too wicked.” Almera pouted as she watched Mira’s deliberate movements. “Ha…ha….ha…” Mira laughed happily as she took the cloth and gave it Almera. “This …. This….” Almera choked… it was exquisite… She ran her finger through the work. It was so lifelike… even the dew drops! “Not what you wanted??” Mira’s smile disappeared and she asked hesitantly. She didn’t know what to make of her expression. Tears were running down Almera’s cheeks. “I love this.” Almera hugged the top “Girl, you have magic fingers.” “I will be right back.” Almera ran with the top to the dressmaker to ask her to do the dress no
“Old man Wheeler" “Larkin, sorry to come to your door this late.” “Not late…not late… come in. These doors are always open for you.” “I want to buy a piglet, sheep and a milking cow. Do you have any for sale?” Harry announced his purpose straight forwardly. “Milking cow that does not kick.” Agnes and Ursula spoke in unison. Larkin “” Harry’s lips twitched but he was not brave enough to retort. Mira had a straight face. She did not think her mothers request was strange. Jack and Matthew had similar expressions. They didn’t hear anything. They were wise to know the deaf child lived longer. “Come.” Larkin invited them to his barns. First he took them to see the sheep. There were 10 baby sheep ready to be sold. Two gold coins each. Then he took them to the pig stye. There was 20 odd piglets for sale. The youngest ones that were just weaned were a gold coin. 2 gold coins for the ones that were 4 months old, 4 gold coin for the ones that were 6 months old and 10 gold coin for the one
“Uncle, Aunt I am here.” Jack announced as he stood at the door. “Come…. Come..” John opened the door wider. “Uncle” Mira greeted as followed Jack inside. Unlike the other times they came, everyone was home. Anne-Marie came flying out as she heard Mira’s voice and sat beside Mira and began chattering “Has the plants they planted grown? Did the hen peck the plants?...” Her questions were never-ending. Mira answered patiently. “What’s in this?” She tapped the lid of the basket. “Do you want to see?” Mira pursed her lips upwards. “Ummm” Anne-Marie nodded eagerly while Oden and Martin watched the interaction with an amused smile. “But you can’t scream… okay?” Anne-Marie raised her hands in an action to swear an oath. Mira slowly raised the flap. Two heads raised out of the basket. “Awwww” Anne-Marie screamed excitedly forgetting all about her promise. The two heads hid back into the basket. “Oh…” Anne-Marie’s face fell “They don’t like me…” “They are just scared.” Mira spoke in
On Thursday night, Mira gave her cloth to Jack for calculating. Day 1~ 7 and a half hour - 10 and half. Day 2~ 5 and half hour - 5; 6 - 9 Day 3 ~ 5 and half hour - 12; 12 and quarter - 3 and half; 4 - 5 and half; 6 - 8 and three quarter Day 4 ~ 6 – 12; 12 and quarter - 3 and quarter; 3 and three quarter - 5 and three quarter; 6 – 8 and half hour;9-11. Day 5 ~ 6 – 12; 12 and quarter – 4 and quarter; 4 and half - 5 and half; 6 - 8. Jack scribbled 58 hours at the bottom of the cloth; He had only prepared 4 adjustable stand frames, two with width adjustment and 2 with height adjustment. While Mira was sleeping peacefully nestled in Jack’s embrace not everyone was peaceful. Jason couldn’t help the nagging itch that was gnawing at his heart. Mira hadn’t come to find him for almost 5 weeks. Before trying to kill herself, she would run home almost every other day and come to pester him. He had just finished a high voltage restricted scene exercise with Alina but his mind couldn’t help
“Goblin’s foot!” Almera swore as she hit the back of her head “Mira, I didn’t pay you in the morning.” Mira giggled. She hadn’t noticed either. “How much do you want to charge for this?” “10 gold coins” Mira wrinkled her eyebrows “I really don’t know.” Mira shrugged helplessly. “Didn’t you say you would charge for your designs?” Almera raised her eyebrows teasingly. “Why are you so mean?” Mira pouted. She did say such big words when they met; who asked her not to know how high the sky was? “Ha…ha…ha…” Almera laughed “I would charge 20 for the whole design. Considering this is half done, I will pay 10 now and 10 when you finish the other one.” Mira nodded happily. “Also, for the 58 hours of this week” Almera quickly calculated “It will be 2 gold coins and 90 silver pieces.” Mira nodded and extended her hand. Almera counted and gave her 12 gold coins and 90 silver pieces but not before reprimanding her “I won’t pay you any money next time you don’t eat dinner.” Mira poked her t
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 t
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 s
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
“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 upholdi
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
The arrangement for the coronation ceremony was slightly different from previous years to increase efficiency. In the previous years, the elite of the society met in the palace hall and joined the procession after breakfast. This year, the palace guards formed 20 parking stations and associated tents for the nobility and 20 parking stations with tents for commoners although the facilities in the tent were not comparable to that of nobility; Each carriage that would park at any one of these stations where the palace guards would provide the smocks in the color identifying their social status.The concept of wearing this head-to-toe smock was to represent the flag which was the rising sun. The royal family and their household would be wearing golden smocks; similarly, the grand dukes and their household would be wearing orange, the dukes and their household would be amber, the lords would be yellow mixed with amber, nobles, scholars, merchants of high status in bright yellow, commoners i
“I am afraid I have to disappoint you.” Thomas’s lips curled up as he remembered his banter with Mira. “Your Grace is being modest.” Ecky shook his head in denial as he thought ‘No one would be able to match his master’. Thomas chuckled as he let Ecky help him dress. Although he was no longer in a panic to rush to Almera’s side, he still got ready hurriedly. He had figured out the reason for her scream, now it was more out of curiosity… curious what shock Mira had given his wife. Almera had just finished dressing and walked into the main lounge when she saw Thomas staring at her in a daze like a fool. “Who stole my husband’s soul?” Almera giggled as she walked up to him. Who didn’t like to see undisguised admiration and infatuation in their lover’s eye? “The enchantress is before me…” Thomas whispered as he hugged Almera’s waist claiming sovereignty “But I will be gladly held captive by her for all eternity.” “Someone’s got their mouth in the honey jar... Tsk…. tsk…” Almera feign