Chapter 24: Conspiracy.
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Kingdom of Holfort.
Bartfort Barony.
Grounds of the Main House.
Omni POV (Nile Based)
Last Night.
Two guards could be seen making their usual rounds through the estate under the cover of darkness.
The moon hung high overhead while the distant sounds of insects filled the night air. The manor itself stood illuminated in the distance, its windows glowing softly against the darkness.
"Did you hear?" Drew asked quietly. "Lady Zola came back from the Capital."
Casey immediately groaned. "Yeah. Her ship arrived this morning." He shook his head in disgust. "You've got a point though. The last thing I need is to hear that blood-sucking demon's name."
Drew chuckled. "I've just been wondering what she wants this time. The maids say every time she visits she's always angry about something."
Casey glanced around before lowering his voice.
"If you really think about it, there's only one reason."
"What do you mean?"
Casey snorted. "Think about it."
He held up a finger. "First Young Master Nicks."
A second finger. "Then Young Lady Jenna."
A third. "And now Young Master Leon." His expression turned thoughtful. "All of Lady Luce's children keep showing signs of greatness."
Drew's eyes widened slightly. "...Oh."
"Exactly." Casey nodded. "Then compare them to Lady Zola's children." He immediately grimaced. "Honestly, they take after their mother a little too much."
"They are a couple of little—"
"Shits," Drew interrupted. "While at the same time, Lady Luce's children are completely different."
He scratched the back of his head. "They actually treat people like people."
He scratched the back of his head.
"They actually treat people like people."
Casey barked out a short laugh.
"What do you expect?"
He gestured toward the manor in the distance.
"Lady Luce's children grew up here." His voice carried a hint of bitterness. "They spent their childhood looking at a manor they aren't allowed to live in while staying in a farm shed."
"And the woman who was supposed to be living there?" He snorted. "She spends most of her time in the Capital."
Casey folded his arms. "Lady Luce's children are different."
"They've met and lived with the people."
"They've worked alongside the men and women whose exhaustion keeps this Barony running."
"They know what hardship looks like." His expression darkened. "Meanwhile, Lady Zola's children spent their whole lives in the Capital, surrounded by luxury while everyone else worked themselves half to death paying for it."
He spat onto the ground. "Sometimes I wonder if they even know where their money comes from. Or if they even care."
Drew nodded slowly. "You know, if one of Lady Luce's children ever launches a coup against the succession..." A grin appeared on his face. "I might actually join them."
Casey immediately laughed. "Me too. Hell, half the knights probably would."
"Careful." Drew smirked. "Someone might hear you."
"Then maybe they should ask why so many people think that way."
The two shared a bitter laugh.
*Cough.* *Cough.*
Both men immediately froze. Slowly turning around, they found themselves face-to-face with the Head Knight of the Bartfort Barony.
Nile.
The two guards immediately snapped to attention.
"Sir!"
Nile stared at them for several seconds before sighing.
"Aren't you two supposed to be working?"
"Uhh..." Neither man could think of an excuse.
Eventually, Nile waved them away. "Just get out of here."
The two men immediately relaxed. "Yes, sir!"
As they hurried away, Nile added one final comment. "And remember." His gaze remained fixed on the darkness ahead. "It's still Lady Zola."
The two guards quickly disappeared into the night.
Several moments later, after putting a safe distance between themselves and the Head Knight, Drew glanced back toward the manor. "What happened to him? He wasn't always like this."
Casey frowned. "There isn't much mystery." He spat onto the ground. "Lady Zola bought him."
Drew blinked. "What?"
"There are rumours." Casey lowered his voice. "Him and a handful of knights and officials suddenly started living a lot more comfortably than their wages should allow."
His expression turned bitter. "Paid for with taxes squeezed from the people of this land."
Drew looked back toward the manor one last time. "Shame."
"Yeah." Casey nodded. "With men like him around, things are only going to get worse before they get better."
With that, the two guards continued their patrol through the night.
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Kingdom of Holfort.
Bartfort Barony.
Main House.
Omni POV (Nile Based)
Moonlight poured through the windows of the manor's private sitting room, illuminating expensive furniture and decorations that had no business existing in a rural barony.
Sitting comfortably in a cushioned chair while sipping imported wine was Lady Zola Bartfort herself.
Across from her stood Nile. "My Lady," Nile said with a respectful bow. "I trust you are enjoying this beautiful evening."
Zola immediately scoffed. "No." She took another sip of wine. "I despise every moment I spend in this backwater hovel."
Her eyes narrowed. "Now tell me why you requested this meeting."
Nile lowered his head slightly. "My Lady, it has come to my attention that many of the knights not under your patronage have begun expressing concerns regarding the future succession."
Zola looked unimpressed. "So?"
"The opinions of commoners are of no interest to me."
Nile remained calm. "Ordinarily, I would agree."
That immediately caught her attention.
"But?" Nile folded his hands behind his back. "If left unchecked, public sentiment could eventually influence the succession."
"The Mistress's children are becoming increasingly popular among both the household staff and the military."
Zola's expression darkened. "Because of their Graces?"
"Possibly." Nile carefully chose his words. "The recent awakenings have certainly contributed."
"However, that is not the only factor."
"Oh?"
"The people see them as their own." Nile continued. "They were raised here."
"They interact with the servants."
"They speak with the soldiers."
"They spend time among the people."
"Whether intentionally or not, they have cultivated loyalty."
Zola's grip on her wine glass tightened slightly. "Loyalty, loyalty, I always hated that word,."
Nile nodded. "Yes, it's a dangerous thing. Especially when combined with talent."
Silence lingered briefly. Then Zola slowly swirled her wine. "Tell me. Which of her children should concern me the most?"
Nile had already prepared an answer long before entering the room.m"Neither Nicks nor Jenna."
Zola raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Both will spend most of the coming years away from the Barony pursuing their education." He paused briefly. "But Leon is different."
Zola's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Nile answered immediately. "Unlike his siblings, Leon isn't leaving."
"For the foreseeable future he will remain here."
"And that means?"
"It means he will spend the next several years building relationships."
"With the knights, the merchants, the servants and the citizens." His gaze sharpened. "Popularity is easiest to cultivate through proximity."
The room fell silent with Zola appearing genuinely interested. "So he's the problem?
"In my opinion?"Nile nodded. "Then yes, my Lady."
She leaned back into her chair. "Interesting." A slow smile began spreading across her face. "Then perhaps it would be wise to ensure he is from the line of succession."
Nile remained silent.
Allowing her thoughts to develop naturally.
Eventually, she placed her wine glass onto the table.
"If that's the case..."
The smile on her face widened.
"I already know exactly how to deal with him."
Nile lowered his head respectfully.
Hidden from view, a small smile appeared on his face as well.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
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The Next Day.
Zola's Mansion. Tea room
"Marriage?"
Leon stared at his father as if he'd just spoken another language.
"What do you mean by marriage?"
Balcus looked visibly uncomfortable as he glanced at the altercation between his son and his wife.
"Lady Zola has arranged an engagement," he explained carefully. "The woman in question is an acquaintance of hers.Her seventh husband has just died in battle she's been looking for a new husband."
Across the table, Zola calmly sipped from a cup of tea made from the finest leaves available in the Bartfort household.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Hmph. Even the highest-quality tea in this backwater tastes inferior."
Leon barely heard her. His eyes remained fixed on the information sheet Balcus had handed him. The longer he read it, the more horrified he became.
Slowly, he lowered the paper.
"No." The room fell silent.
Then Leon slammed the document onto the table. "No. Absolutely not."
Zola raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly is upsetting you?"
Leon pointed at the portrait attached to the document. "For starters, this woman is horrendous."
"Leon—" Balcus began.
"No, Dad, let me finish."
He held up a finger. "First, according to this information sheet, she's the daughter of a Baron in name only. She doesn't even have a house to inherit."
A second finger. "Second, she's been married seven times."
A third finger. "Seven, and all her husbands died in battle, she's clearly gunning for my survivors pension."
A fourth finger. "Third, she's over fifty years old."
A fifth finger. "All of her children are older than me."
Then Leon pointed at himself. "And finally, I am ten years old." He threw both arms into the air. "Ten for godsakes!" By the end of his rant he was breathing heavily.
And honestly, Leon was making some very compelling arguments but Zola remained completely unmoved. "She has always treated me with the utmost care and respect."
Leon blinked. "What?"
"She is also a noblewoman from a family that has faithfully served the Crown for generations."
Leon stared at her. "Did you listen to a single word I just said?"
"I did." Zola took another sip of tea. "I simply do not care."
A vein twitched on Leon's forehead.
Balcus quietly sighed to himself, "If I ma…"
Zola interrupted him, "The family's finances are suffering," she continued calmly. "As a son of this household, it is your duty to help alleviate that burden."
"She is willing to provide a substantial dowry in exchange for your hand."
"So you will marry her."
Leon actually laughed. A short, disbelieving laugh. "Financial difficulties?" He pointed directly at her. "With no help from you."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Zola slowly placed her teacup down. "I will not tolerate my integrity being questioned."
"Then maybe you shouldn't spend all our money giving people reasons to question it!"
BANG! Zola slammed a hand onto the armrest of her chair.
The force startled several maids standing nearby. "How dare you!"
"How dare I?" Leon pointed toward the window. "How dare you!, the people working those farms are the reason this family still exists!" His voice rose. "Meanwhile you spend most of your time in the Capital pretending this place doesn't exist!"
"Leon, please don't go there," Balcus warned.
"No, Dad!" Leon wasn't backing down now. "She treats this Barony like her personal piggy bank!"
Zola's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You insolent little bastard."
The room froze such that even the servants stopped breathing.
Balcus' expression immediately darkened.
Leon merely stared back.
Then Zola turned toward her husband. "Balcus." Her voice was cold. "Is this how you raised your mistress's children?"
"Come on, Dad," Leon said immediately. "You can't seriously tell me this is how I'm supposed to get married."
"Oh, it is." Zola smiled. A cruel smile. "The marriage contract I signed when I entered this family grants me authority over all matters."
She leaned back confidently. "As Matriarch, my word supersedes everyone else's." Her eyes shifted toward Balcus. "Tell him."
Balcus stared at the ceiling for several seconds.
Then he sighed heavily. "Funny."
"What is?"
"It's just for the last ten minutes the two of you have been arguing." He pointed at himself. "And you've been sidelining me, now you want me involved."
"I don't require your sarcasm," Zola replied coldly. "I simply require you and your son to understand that neither of you has the authority to refuse."
For a moment, Balcus remained silent. Then a smile slowly appeared on his face, a smile that immediately made Zola suspicious. "Well, what I've been trying to say is neither you, Leon or I can decide to have him marry," he said casually.
Zola frowned. "What are you on about now?"
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble." Balcus leaned back in his chair. "Leon can't get married."
The room went silent.
"What?" Leon
"Leon enlisted in the military."
Zola blinked. Then blinked again.
Balcus couldn't help looking slightly pleased as he delivered the finishing blow. "And according to Kingdom law, enlisted soldiers cannot marry until after completing their first tour of service."
Silence. Absolute silence.
Then for the first time since entering the room, Zola's expression cracked.
Leon slowly turned toward his father who looked tired of all that was happening in the room.
Then a soft smile spread across his face, 'I'm sorry I ever doubted you dad'.
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I am writing my A Levels this year so I'm already stumped and if you add the time I use writing I think I'm entitled to POWER STONES sooooooo give them to me, I mean by 6 I'm going to school, 1300hrs I'm going to extra lessons and I only get to come back home at 1900hrs, and after that I still need to study on my own, so help me stay motivated.
P.S
Let it be known that the Story is undergoing a Rewrite, hence if you read the unedited chapters its on you, they are no longer part of the story.