章節 21: Meanwhile
"Duchess, may I ask for the seal of approval here?" Rose said, handing over a piece of paper to Margaret from the mountain of other papers piled on the desk.
"What's it about?"
"I have some ideas on how we can improve the agricultural system for the farmers. From what I have seen, there are vast plots of lands that have remained unused for years. If I can obtain permission to use some of the lands, we can distribute it to those families with no proper income along with seeds. That way, the work per cent will increase and so will income."
"I do not entirely understand what you are saying, Lady Rose. Though I can make it out what you mean. The final decision will be taken by the King but you can prepare to present it to him. But some lands are sacred to the kingdom. Would you mind looking around and marking them out? This will make it easier when you are presenting your idea to the King."
"Yes, Duchess. I will go once everyone has gone to sleep. That way I do not cause any disturbance."
"Of course, Lady Rose."
"Would you like some help, Duchess?" Rose asked, putting the paper away.
"That would be lovely, thank you. You see there is the Winter's Ball coming up in four months' time and it is an auspicious event, the King's twenty-fifth birthday and his first appearance to the public after six years. We have to send invitations, and also prepare the banquet hall, there are so many preparations that need to be made and so little time. Then there are the people too. How does Roman do this??" Margaret placed her head in her hands, the pressure clearly getting to her.
"Duchess. Why don't you take care of the Ball? I will take care of everything else." Rose said, trying to calm her down while separating the papers into different piles.
"I wouldn't want you to have to handle all the hard work, Lady Rose. You are my guest."
"It is an honour to be able to do this, Duchess. Hosting parties and all that is extremely hard for me, you are the only one who will be able to take care of it, Duchess."
"Really? You think so, Lady Rose?" Margaret's eyes sparkled.
"Yes. I do. Now concentrate on the ball. I will see to the complaints of the people."
"Thank you so much, Lady Rose. I need to make a list of who to be invited." Margaret jumped from the seat and ran to the door. "If you will excuse me, Lady Rose. I will see you at dinner."
"Of course, Duchess. Take your time."
And she is gone.
"The Duchess sure is energetic." Rose chuckled, "Now about the complaints from the peasants. If I categorize each complaint by their similarities then I can start from the most to the least and work from there."
Three hours later,
"Amazing how much complains there are about the irrigation system when we aren't really an agricultural-based kingdom. But that is most of the complains, so I've been able to narrow them down."
Rose stared at the largest pile of papers on the desk and pulled open the drawer. Papers came flooding out, each one a different proclamation. Discarded.
Three more hours later,
"Lady Rose. I came to call you for dinner. Oh my." Margaret stopped when she saw the pile of paper scattered on the floor. "Is everything ok?"
Rose sat on the ground reading each line of every paper, carefully. She didn't notice when the Duchess entered the room until she tapped her on the shoulder.
"Lady Rose?" Margaret asked, brows creasing with worry.
"Duchess. Is this the King's handwriting?" Rose asked, holding some papers up.
Margaret read the paper and nodded, "This is Roman's handwriting."
"Really? Whoa?" Rose took back the papers and studied them.
"W-whoa? Is everything alright, Lady Rose?"
"This is incredible, Duchess. Some are rules and laws others are just scribbled. He's also already gotten the concept of democracy down but why would he write all these things and shove them away in the drawer? Isn't he planning on purposing them?"
"I do not understand, Lady Rose."
"Doesn't the King have a group of advisors?"
"He suddenly dismissed them one day. No one knew why. Most of his staff were also dismissed. I came to try and talk to him but he refused to admit me in his chambers. After a month, he came and apologised to me, still refusing to explain himself. So I just left it alone."
"I need to dig deeper into this. I hope you don't mind, Duchess." Rose stood up and dusted herself off.
"I do mind, Lady Rose."
Rose stopped on her tracks and stared at the Duchess.
Did I do something to displease her? I should have been more respectable, damnit.
"You cannot wander out just as the sun is beginning to set without having dinner. Now come first, after that you may use whatever resources we have."
Margaret walked out of the room, leaving Rose to stare after her.
I thought I made her angry! Oh my goodness! I need to be more careful for now. Man, I wish Jasmine was here.
A figure moved in the darkness, perfectly in synch with the stillness of the place. The figure moved like the wind, leaving no trace of its presence.
Rose stopped on the balcony of a cottage. She roamed the entire kingdom, making notes on the map she carried. Many parts of the kingdom needed repair but something confused her.
When did this house appear here? I've always been patrolling but I never saw this one before.
"Who's there?" A man's voice came from outside the house.
I thought he was sleeping?
Rose jumped down from the balcony and landed right in front of the man, light as a feather.
"Who are you?"
Several other people came and pointed their sword to her.
"I came from the King. May I ask, what happened to the house here? And when did you get the permission to renovate it?"
"The King? You are from the King?" They talked amongst themselves, excited.
"I only came to inquire about the house. Could you tell me where the previous owners went?"
If I remember correctly, this area was given responsibility to the Cueck family by the late king to protect. And last I saw it, they were in a sorry state. Did they finally sell it off? I don't blame them though. I would do the same.
"We are the original owners. This place was passed down from our father who got it from his father who got it-"
"So it's a family heirloom? Could you be the Cueck?" Rose asked.
"Yes. We are." They all said, pride in their voices.
But then, how did they get the money to build this house? The palace doesn't even sanction them. Though it should.
"About the house," one of the men spoke, "there were a group of travellers that came by here two or three nights ago and when they left, the house turned to this. They even left a bag of gold coins for us."
"Travellers? Were they in a carriage?"
"Yes. I though every traveller covers distance through carriage."
"Two women?"
"Yes. They were wearing the same dress, so they must have been handmaids."
"What did they look like?"
"Well, one had a very gentle voice."
That's Jasmine.
"And the other had hair like a bush."
Yup, that's Lillian.
"Is there anything you need from them?" The man asked, curious.
"No. Not really."
He said that they gave him gold coins. Lillian doesn't have any money and Jasmine is very miserly, even when it comes to money entrusted to her. For them to do this much, I can't just leave it here.
Rose turned to them and smiled.
"I came here for you actually."
"But didn't you just say that you came to inquire ab-"
"Details. Details. Now, I am from the King and I will be needing some help there. May I request for one of you to come to the palace?"
"Of course! We live only to serve the King. How many of us do you need?" Another man spoke up, he appears to be the oldest here.
"I do not need you just yet but I will be needing you soon. I will be sending monthly support and supplies for your family starting next month. Just come when I call for you. I do not mind who comes."
"Thank you so much!" They shouted, voices thick with emotion.
"I am only doing what's due. Wait for my summon."
Rose disappeared in the blink of an eye and the men weren't sure if she was actually there or if they just imagined it but they needn't wonder for too long.
A week later, carts of supplies came to their doorstep, all with the seal from the palace, confirming the other mysterious woman's appearance.
"We are so blessed." Their oldest brother's wife cried. They can now afford to spend more without having to worry about the next day.
Even the gold coins the women gave them was still there.
"Yes. We are."
"Who were those women anyway?" One brother said, looking up at the sky.
"I do not know but they are angels. After they came only good things begun to happen to us. If we ever see them again, let us remember to thank them properly. Now, come, Levon. We need to head to the marketplace."
"Yes, Michel."
I just can't get that woman out of my head. There is just something so different about her.
I hope and pray I meet her again.
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Winter_Iris
Winter_Iris I'm back!
Thank you all for being so patient with me.
Honestly, I don't know what to do with this new character. Any ideas or suggestions are welcomed!
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