Chapter Sixteen
The Gift
“My lady, don’t you think you should be going to join everyone to welcome the Grand Duke back?” Bella asked, peering out of the window. “Should you not at least oversee the preparations for his return?”
“I’m busy,” I replied, running my finger down the treasury document I was looking over. “Goodness. How much of a corrupt bastard was the previous duke?”
Sir Hayes coughed from the opposite side of the desk. “Lady Alicia, please mind your language.”
“Absolutely not. I shall call a spade a spade and a bastard a bastard if I please, Sir Hayes.”
Over the past three days, I’d learnt one thing: Sir Hayes, despite his initial impression on me, was a simple man who was quite easy to please if you had any modicum of intelligence at all. Not to mention that he’d become a knight because of his deep-rooted desire to help people.
In other words, my plan to create a legal system of aid for monster attack victims had basically won the grumpy git over.
With good reason, though. Five years ago, the Talwick marquessate had suffered an attack like the one that had just happened in the mountains. Not only had the Talwick estate been damaged, but many of the people living under the Talwicks had suffered great losses.
The then-duke had rejected all Marquess Talwick’s pleas for help. His only assistance had been to send a meagre number of mediocre knights for protection.
The people who lived under the authority of the Talwicks were amongst the lucky ones.
The marquessate had ultimately shouldered the burden of helping their people, resulting in a huge loss for the estate that they were still recovering from.
They’d even shouldered the heightened tax rate the previous duke had forced upon the citizens of Stein barely a year later, and had the empire not taken Stein when it did, House Talwick may well have fallen.
I looked at Sir Hayes and waved the sheet of paper. “Have you seen these numbers? He was robbing the citizens blind, and it’s not like there’s expenditure to justify it. He was just stockpiling money.”
“That’s one of the reasons some of the noble houses conspired against him and helped the empire,” Sir Hayes said, tapping his fingers against the desk.
“All his justifications for the high taxation never materialised, and many of the nobles who fought against the corruption grew weary. The empire was the only real means of ousting him. The conquest of Stein took eight hours from the moment the Grand Duke set foot across the border. The route was specifically planned through safe land, and by the time that bastard heard about it, it was too late for him to raise an army.”
Oh. So, he could swear, but I couldn’t.
He was a noble, too, damn it!
“Was he stockpiling for an army to invade another territory? The funds in reserve certainly suggest so.” I flipped to the next page. “This is an extortionate amount of money that’s unaccounted for.”
“That’s the summary. Compare it to the actual reports of the time, and you’ll see the true discrepancy.” He leant over the desk and tugged out another sheet. “The entire ministerial council was corrupt to their bones.”
“So, I see. Are any of the nobles on council still serving in Stein?”
“They were all swiftly disposed of.” His voice was far too bright for his words. “Their heads made for interesting decorations in the city centre.”
Right.
Of course.
Why wouldn’t you do that?
Although, seeing how much the people of Stein suffered… hanging the heads of corrupt nobility in the middle of the city didn’t seem like such a bad idea after all.
Look at that. I was fitting right in here.
Much of this society was based on medieval times, although there were a few modern conveniences…
like sanitary pads for periods. Magic also filled the role of many of the technological advances I was accustomed to in my past life.
Electricity was one of those things—nobles lit their homes and businesses by magic stones, and even fridges and freezers could be replicated with the right spells.
Even medicine had its variations. With divine power came the ability to heal serious wounds, so the priests and priestesses of the temple were often dispatched to war or tended to nobles, although I’d never been treated in such a manner, even after my accident.
Herbs were still the most common way to treat and heal minor ailments, and such salves and medicines were open to all.
The quality varied, of course, and many commoners chose to mix their own.
For those who could afford it, potions filled the gap of a lot of more powerful modern-day medicines, even down to contraceptives.
I was still trying to get my head around some of it, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth where contraceptives were concerned.
I bet none of these involved getting stabbed in the arm or having something shoved up through your cervix.
“I suppose that’s good, although I pity those who had to clean up the mess.” I sighed and rubbed my temples. “I’m beginning to regret taking this task on.”
“Nonsense, my lady.” Bella reached over and poured me more tea. “Even if you require assistance, your kind heart is what will make this possible.”
Sir Hayes raised his eyebrows. “She’s right, Madam. This will take many weeks, if not months, to be implemented successfully. Even the emergency fund will take us some time because there’s no framework to base it on.”
“Yes, but you’ll be back at the Grand Duke’s side when he returns. Unless you’d like to change your mind and work for me instead.”
He smiled. “I swore my sword to my lord.”
“Yes, yes.” I waved a hand. “Just find me someone suitable to help me with this.”
“Now that His Highness is returning, your aide will be quickly selected.”
The sound of a horn pierced through the air, and I jumped. Bella did the same, almost knocking a candle off the desk as she did so.
“What is that?” Bella gasped, clasping her hand to her chest.
Sir Hayes stood. “The Grand Duke is approaching the city walls. I’m afraid I must leave you, my lady.”
“Very well. Thank you for your help today, Sir Hayes.”
He bowed. “You are most welcome. Are you sure you won’t join us greeting His Highness?”
“I’m sure he’ll be busy now that he’s returned,” I said, dropping my attention back to the reports in front of me. “As am I while I draw up this emergency aid for the displaced villagers.”
As soon as he’d left, Bella picked up one of the reports, rolled it, and bonked me on the shoulder with it.
“Ow! What was that for?” I glared at her, rubbing my shoulder.
I had no idea why I did that.
It was paper.
It didn’t hurt.
“He’s your fiancé. I know better than anyone how you feel about this betrothal, and I will always be on your side, my lady. That said, you must follow basic etiquette if you’re to carry out your escape successfully.”
“I’m aware that he’ll be expecting me to greet him on his return. However, I can’t be bothered.” I took her weapon from her. “So let us compromise. Deliver this to Ark for me.”
I pulled a fresh sheet of paper towards me and dipped my pen into the ink pot, then scribbled out a quick note.
Bella took it from me and frowned. “‘Ark, please tell the Grand Duke that I apologise for not greeting him, but I am trying to draw up the emergency aid plan for the refugees. I am happy to see His Highness’ safe return to the castle and will await our reunion.’” She looked at me.
“Is the Grand Duke your fiancé or your butler?”
I shrugged. “Have it delivered to Ark as soon as possible.”
“I shall take it myself, lest anyone else see it and think ill of you.” With a shake of her head, she folded the sheet into four and tucked it into the pocket of her dress. “Please excuse me, my lady.”
I waved my hand for her to carry on and leave me be. Truthfully, I had no intention of greeting Kalon on his return from the expedition, and that would be the case even if I hadn’t taken on this task of coming up with an aid policy. This was merely a convenient excuse.
Quite frankly, I was being petty. He hadn’t greeted me or sought to delay my arrival to Stein so that he could greet me, so I was going to offer him the same treatment.
It wasn’t as if I wanted him to like me.
I didn’t even need him to care about me.
Still…
I got up from my chair and looked out of the window. The city centre was visible from where I was, and I only had to wait a moment before the parade of horses returning could be seen from my vantage point.
It was a large group, and the people on the street were all celebrating their return. They waved their arms—some held brightly coloured stretches of material they swung above their heads, and what looked like flowers were being thrown into the road in front of them.
A peculiar feeling spread across my skin as I leant against the window and traced their journey with my eyes. It was almost as though I could feel the love the people had for their lord as he returned with his honourable knights, and a wave of gratefulness washed over me.
After all, Grand Duke Kalon Stein was rumoured to be a fearsome man, ruthless in his pursuits, cold and unfeeling to everyone.
A harsh warlord.
A murderous general.
A living nightmare for the enemy.
Yet these people were happy to see him.
“Strange,” I murmured as his group approached the castle.
Hmm.
I really should have been waiting in the courtyard with everyone else.
“My lady!” Annie burst into the office without knocking, with Lydia on her heels. “Are you really not going to greet His Highness?”
“Sir Ark has asked you to reconsider!” Lydia gripped onto the thick doorframe. “You can make it if you hurry.”
I sat back down at my desk. “I’m sure the Grand Duke would much prefer I work on the emergency relief fund than greet him.”
“But Lady Alicia—”
“Annie, if you and Lydia would like to welcome His Highness back to the castle, you may do so. Do not concern yourselves with me. I am willing to take responsibility for my actions.” I stared at them both.
“As it stands, I am no genius mathematician, so I must focus. I believe I have made my position clear. Your interruption is quite unwelcome.”
They both froze.
“Lydia, you should greet the Grand Duke,” Annie said. “I will stay here to wait on Her Ladyship.”
“Whatever you’re doing, do it quickly,” I ordered, touching the tip of my pen to my cheek.
Lydia quickly left, leaving Annie behind with me.
“My lady, may I watch their return from the window?” Annie asked, wringing her hands.
“Yes.”
She darted over to the window and practically pressed her face against it.
“Remember who has to clean that window,” I muttered.
“I’ll do it as soon as they’re back, my lady.” She flattened her hands against the pane. “Goodness, the Grand Duke has quite a presence, doesn’t he?”
My jaw ticked. “He certainly does, Annie.”
“He’s so tall and imposing,” she continued. “I think I’d faint if I was down there with everyone else. He’s just so—”
“For goodness’ sake.” I put my pen down and got up, joining her at the window. “Look what you’ve made me do.”
“Sorry, my lady.”
“If you were sorry, you’d have stopped talking.” I poked her shoulder before peering over her head. “You’re right. He does have an aura about him, especially in the Stein knightage armour.”
“Ooh, he’s brought you a gift, my lady!” She clapped her hands together.
“What do you mean, a gift? Where?” I frowned at the procession. “I don’t see anything.”
“The horse behind him between the two knights. Do you see that black shape on the back of it?”
I narrowed my eyes and focused in as the horses came to a stop and Kalon dismounted. “That black blob?”
“I bet it’s one of the monsters they hunted.
There’s been some excitement amongst the maids due to the timing of your arrival, and the other day Madam Ingrid told me that in Stein, it’s tradition for a nobleman to offer his betrothed the body of a monster from his first hunt.
It’s a symbol of his strength and dedication to her. ”
“Annie.” I gripped her shoulder and clenched my jaw. “Do you not think that’s information I should have had long before now?”
She froze, then cupped her hands to her face. “Oh, you’re right, my lady.”
“How badly have I just insulted him? Bear in mind we’re talking about His Imperial Highness, First Prince Kalon of the Sada Empire, the Grand Duke of Stein, my future husband.”
Annie eked out of my hold on her shoulder and picked up a chair, then proceeded to carry it over to the door where she shoved it under the door handle to block anyone from opening it.
“Right, my lady.” She smacked her hands together.
“Do you have any bedsheets in here so that we can escape out of the window?”