A New Era: Kalparainia Chronicles Book One

Chapter Thirteen

With the help of Williem, I was trying to figure out a new plan for Willow Groves and how to ensure the land stayed in the Grove family. I had a few ideas-like have whichever of Lady Grove's daughters had a child first to inherit the land, but Williem shut that down pretty quickly. Now that I thought about it... it wasn't that great of an idea. I twisted my fingers together and tried to come up with another idea. One that Williem would tell me was flawless. I had tried to get Xander into helping me, but I guess he didn't want anything to do with helping the Grove family.

"Did something happen between Xander and Lady Grove that made him like this?" I asked Williem after a while.

"Willow Groves has been...a very small thought of the Royal Family for generations, my Queen," Williem bowed his head. "For generations the Groves have been the lowest ranking noble family in Kyrain."

"They're still nobles," I stated, "and you're the one who suggested that I bring them into this."

"I didn't anticipate your husband finding land for your brother," Williem sighed. "That doesn't matter though. You are the first Queen to invite them to Court."

"So they've been stuffed away onto their own land for generations, barely any help from the Crown?" I frowned.

"To shorten this discussion up-yes," Williem nodded.

"So, in a lot of ways, the Groves are like me," I pointed out to Williem.

"Except they do not hold a throne," Williem tried to pull his logic on me.

"I didn't say in all ways we were the same," I smirked at him. "I think that I will enjoy having them here, and whichever daughter doesn't get picked, will inherit Willow Groves. She will stay here as a Lady-in-Waiting and choose her own husband, but the land will be hers-not go to her husband."

"Very well, Your Grace," Williem bowed down.

He gave me a smile as a look of confusion filled my face, "You're agreeing to that after shooting down everything else?"

"You weren't asking, you were telling," Williem smiled proudly. "You were confident, which is what you need to be now with everything you do."

"Thank you, Williem," I returned his smile, and then looked into the hall, where Gwen and Heather, my sister's handmaidens, were following behind my sister down the hall. I turned back to Williem immediately, "Did you give the handkerchief back to it's owner?"

"I did, though I must say, she was rather confused," Williem sighed. "So either she wasn't the woman you heard in the gardens, or she's a really good liar."

"It could have been Heather's?" I offered.

"Or it could have been your sisters," Williem pointed out. "Who knows what poor knight she could have gotten those claws into?"

"Williem, that's gossip," I warned him. "Without proof, there's nothing I can do that Celeste is going against Xander and my wishes."

"Of course, Your Grace," Williem nodded. He looked behind me and a small smile played at his lips, "Though... you do have a way to find out what your sister is doing now."

I glanced back at Sora, who was curled up, taking a nap by the window. The black crescent moon on her forehead seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.

I shook my head, "Until I feel she is doing something wrong, we will not do anything."

Williem bowed, "As you wish, my Queen. Now, what you need to know about the Bacises and Wishburns..."

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Ingrid and Lord Rosewall stood beside me while people made their way into the ballroom. Williem had ensured that every one of the guests would have somewhere to stay within the castle, and that there would be plenty of food for everyone throughout the season.

"So, Alyse, have you figured out what you'll be doing with any leftovers?" Ingrid asked me.

"Jillian recommended that I give any leftovers to the people, so that's what we'll be doing," I nodded.

Ingrid glanced over at Jillian and grinned, "That was smart of you to suggest. I was just about to do the same thing."

"They never did anything like that in Heartstone, so I thought it'd be nice to do here," Jillian shrugged shyly.

"No need to feel modest about such a suggestion, it'll come out making our Queen look very caring to the people," Lord Rosewall offered his support.

Where's Xander? I thought that he would be here...Byron was standing close to me, looking around the ballroom nervously. He seemed anxious to meet his bride before Riely got a chance to meet his. Either that or he was just wanting to be there, so that he could get it over and done with. I couldn't feel sorry for my brother, Riely and Veronica lost so much more than their home. They had lost Markus...

"Your Grace!!!" a larger woman with rabbit-like pudgy cheeks, came moving towards me quickly with three young women closely behind her.

"Lady Elenore Grove," Ingrid whispered to me before the woman got to me.

"I cannot thank you enough for inviting us to Court or for setting up betrothals for two of my daughters," Lady Grove's light green eyes shined with unshed tears. "You are a gift from God to Kyrain, my Queen. I had given up hope on ever being invited to Court in my lifetime."

"I am happy to help in any way that I can, Lady Grove," I smiled back at her, surprised by her overwhelming emotions. "I'm sure that Williem explained everything to you?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Lady Grove bowed her head. "You are much too kind. The Grove family is forever in your debt."

"Don't think anything of it," I felt myself blush. Lady Grove was just overflowing with compliments, and it felt strange being shown so much kindness.

"Before I forget, my Queen," Elenore Grove straightened her short form. "These are my daughters, Terisa, Susha, and Maryanne."

Each young woman curtsied as their mother said their names. Terisa was several inches taller than me, she had long autumn red hair that seemed to flow elegantly around her face. She was a beautiful young woman, but in a unique way. Susha had her mother's blond hair and height, but not the weight. She had kind of a mousy look to her, but that didn't mean she looked bad. Maryanne was slightly taller than Susha, she had strawberry blond hair, and while she had a little weight on her, she was very pretty as well. All three women had their mother's eyes, and I couldn't see how Elenore was having such trouble marrying them off.

"It's very nice to meet you all," I smiled. "Lady Terisa, this is my brother, Byron Thane."

Terisa blushed as she curtsied again, "It's nice to meet you..."

"Riely is around here somewhere, but you will meet him today," I smiled at the women. I looked over at Williem, who waved at me as to get me to go to him. "If you'll excuse me, Williem is calling for me."

"Of course, Your Grace," it was strange hearing everyone say at once.

I gave my head a small bow as I went to Williem's side. He looked at me proudly, "My Queen, this is Lord Thomas Noxtis."

"Hello, my Lord," I smiled as I looked at the slightly older man. He had a scar down the side of his face that would have been sophisticatedly handsome with his strong jaw. It was easy to tell that his nose had been broken once or twice, and I was sure he was one of the Lords who marched off with Xander.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my Queen," Lord Noxtis bowed deeply as he spoke with a husky voice. "Williem tells me that you're looking for a husband for your sister?"

"Yes, that's right," I nodded as I glanced over at Williem.

"Lord Noxtis is an close friend of mine," Williem smiled at me.

"My late wife, Farrah, passed away last year," Lord Noxtis informed me. "I've been looking for another bride, but the only available Ladies are Elenore Grove's girls."

"What's wrong with Elenore Grove's girls?" I asked.

"Elenore is my sister," Lord Noxtis chuckled. "Though I know it's natural in other kingdoms, Kyrain tries to avoid marriage from direct family."

"That's one of the laws that lead to exile, right?" I looked at Williem, who nodded.

"You're learning our laws quickly," Lord Noxtis seemed impressed.

"I noticed a lot of things are punishable by death," I frowned.

"There's good reason for that," Williem told me quietly. "a******y, murder, r**e, polygamy... those are things we want people to think twice about here in Kyrain."

"a******y is only punishable by death in Kyrain though," Lord Noxtis pointed out.

"As is polygamy," Williem stated. "It's to maintain the honor in our kingdom."

"What would be the punishment for going into another kingdom to get a divorce?" I asked.

"You know, I don't think we have a law for that," Williem raised an eyebrow at me.

"But it's up to a month of imprisonment if the couple manages to secure a divorce in Kyrain. Wouldn't that go over to going into another kingdom to secure a divorce?" I played out.

Lord Noxtis let out a husky laugh as he looked at Williem, "You were right about our Queen being a smart one. I should just let my intentions be known. I would like for you to consider me an option for your sister to marry. I have military experience, my family has always been loyal to the crown-which is why Elenore was ecstatic to be invited to Court for the first time since she married the late Lord Grove."

"Let me speak about this with my husband, and I will give you your answer by the end of the week," I told Lord Noxtis.

Lord Noxtis bowed and looked around the ballroom, "Where is your husband at? It would be rude of me not to greet my King."

"He's probably coming up with a new plan to take on Dragoon," I shifted uncomfortably.

I honestly had no idea where Xander was. It was the only thing that I could think of that didn't sound as though it would be a complete excuse. I looked around the ballroom and realized that I couldn't see Celeste or her mother around as well. Riely and Byron had found their way to Lady Grove and her daughters, and my father was standing by himself drinking a glass of Kyrainian wine. Lord Noxtis excused himself and left me with Williem.

"Where is Xander?" I asked Williem.

"As you said, my Queen, he's probably coming up with a new plan to take on Dragoon," Williem smiled at me. "Now prepare yourself. We should go make sure Byron gets the right bride."

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I was trying my hardest not to grit my teeth as Lady Bacise and Lady Wishburn argued right in front of me over exactly what Ingrid had told me they would. A single tree that stood on their property lines. They were trying to get me to choose a side and decide who actually owned the tree. Lady Bacise was practically shouting, while Lady Wishburn had a snide smile on her face as though she was the one who owned it. I looked over at Williem, who made a gesture of throwing his hands in the air to let me know he was staying out of this argument. It was for me to decide what to do. Either pick a side, leave, or come up with something else. I was trying my hardest not to just snap at the two ladies.

"Who planted the tree?" I asked, but I didn't think either of them heard me over the bickering.

"You just like to think that your property is bigger than it really is," Lady Wishburn let out a chuckle.

"Says the woman who constantly lies about her husband being sick, when he's just having an affair with the servants," Lady Bacise shot back.

"ENOUGH!" I shouted before I could stop myself. I looked at Lady Bacise and glared at her, "You realize that the punishment for a******y by Kyrainian law is death?" Lady Bacise's mouth became a thin line as she kept her mouth shut as I turned to Lady Wishburn, "Now, you will answer my question. Who planted the tree?"

"Well..." Lady Wishburn shifted a bit as she looked over at Lady Bacise. "That I don't know, Your Grace."

"I don't know either, Your Grace," Lady Bacise looked down.

"Then look at it this way. The tree is royal property," I told them without thinking twice on what I was saying. "Split the tree in half, and those are your property lines."

"That is..." Lady Wishburn seemed shocked, as though that idea had never crossed her mind before.

"That's probably what the original intent was for the tree," Lady Bacise glanced over at Lady Wishburn.

"If you two fight over the tree again, I'll send someone out to burn it," I told the ladies. "Now, please, excuse me."

Williem started to laugh as we walked away from the two ladies, "I don't think that I've ever seen them agree on anything. Their mothers even hated each other."

"Over the tree?" I frowned.

"I'm sad to say that it was over the tree," Williem chuckled as he shook his head, "but maybe now, they'll find something new to fight about."

"I hope not," my frown grew. An idea popped into my head as I remembered something Williem had told me about the two families, "Didn't you say that Lady Wishburn has a son who's twelve and Lady Bacise has a daughter who's nine?"

Williem raised an eyebrow at me, "I did, my Queen."

"I need to speak to them again," I told Williem.

He followed me back to where the two ladies were now trying to make some kind of small talk, and they were doing it rather poorly. I cleared my throat, causing both women to look back at me and curtsy gracefully with a kind "Your Grace" from both.

"Lady Wishburn, Lady Bacise, I thought of a way to solve both of your problems with your property and lack of friendship," I told them. They both looked intrigued by my words and waited for me to continue. I looked at Williem, who encouraged me to continue with a nod, "When Kyla Bacise turns of age, I want her to marry Tyler Wishburn."

Both ladies stared at me as though I had told them that the sky was green. Williem grinned at them, as though daring them to speak out against such a betrothal. It had just popped into my mind, and it seemed as though it should have been done long ago. I wasn't going to force them into it, and I realized that it was probably something that I needed to tell them. "It's something I would like for you to do, but it'll be ultimately your choice. By the end of the season, I would like your answers."

"That is too kind of you, Your Grace," Lady Wishburn curtsied. "I have no objection to the match. A betrothal sounds like a wonderful idea to me."

Lady Bacise shot a look to Lady Wishburn, as though she was offended that Lady Wishburn had spoken up for the betrothal. I could already see the wheels turning in their heads. Lady Bacise smiled brightly at me in turn, "I have no objections either, my Queen. I'm happy to take your kind offer."

"There's no need to rush," I reminded them.

"It's not rushed, Your Grace. It's only logical we end this fighting the oldest way we can," Lady Bacise smiled brightly at me. "And I believe I can say for both of us that someone in the royal family put an end to our fighting."

"I'm glad that I can help," I smiled back at them and walked away from them. Next, I need to make sure to get the weddings for Lady Grove underway.