It had only been a few hours since the festival had come to a close, and I had officially clocked Fifteen. It had been a long day, but an even longer night. I didn't think I could get excited over anything anymore, but I supposed having the chance to rule over an area as big as a small country in a medieval era would be the obvious exception.
At last, after having quite an exciting and near sleepless night, the sun had finally risen over the horizon, dawn. Father was travelling 'bright and early' to Eriow for his inspections. I waited a few minutes in my room to hear some activity from outside.
And suddenly, I heard a knock on the door, I straightened myself up and it was then I realized I hadn't changed out of my nightshirt.
Panic.
The regent of Aville couldn't be caught in his just his nightshirt for goodness sake! Or could he? I questioned myself, surely the form power took didn't matter much so long as it was power, right?
I took a look at myself in the mirror and what greeted me was a bloodshot, messed up hair and grimy teeth. And I'd found my answer.
I scrambled around, entirely confused between grooming and changing out of my pyjamas. Until I heard her voice.
"Lord Rainald? Your bath is ready, the Duke said to prepare your bath earlier today, that you'd be awake?" It was a servant. I let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.
I set my nightshirt right, a comb in my hair and set out to greet the uncertain servant. I swung the door open, letting out a smile to the stout woman I nodded and she led me to the bath.
My room was the last room in the corridor, and the smallest as well. It didn't fit in a bathroom of my own, and thus I was forced to use a separate bathroom ever since I'd moved in at the age of eleven.
On having my bath another servant entered the bathroom with a set of clothes. "Are those meant to be mine?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, my lord. The Duke ordered these to be prepared and given to you this morning."
"And when did he give these orders?"
"Quite early in the morning, before the festivals had begun."
It seemed I'd underestimate Father once again. He'd anticipated quite a lot about me.
"He also said to tell you he'd be waiting in the throne room, my lord." I gave her a nod and she bowed out of the room, along with every other servant involved in my bathing as I began to sample the new clothing.
There was a full set of clothing, including, a white-shirt lie, white socks, breeches, a black suit waistcoat embroidered with gold, identical to the coat and breech beside it and black shoes.
I'd never worn something as expensive as this. I certainly didn't know how to put it on or even where to start from. But it seemed I simply hadn't noticed the single servant who hadn't left and was simply waiting outside, observing me from the open door.
I rose an eyebrow at him, my question was clear.
"Uh, The Duke sent those clothes and I as well," my eyebrow remained risen and a second after his eyes lit up in realization, "Ah, my Lord, I am to assist you in getting dressed."
At this, I couldn't help the embarrassing red hue that stained my cheeks. I'd unknowingly let on to the boy, not much older than me, that this would be the first time I'd be dressed by someone else. But this much should and could be known as general knowledge within these walls. The Duke's bastard wasn't true nobility, wasn't a true gentleman.
"Oh, my Lord, please do not fret, I will not do anything inappropriate, I was personally picked out from the male retainers by the Duke himself to serve your noble needs henceforth."
Retainer? Noble needs? What exactly was going on here?
"Ah, if you are ready, my Lord." He reached out to take off the wrapper I had on but I immediately slapped his hand away, reflexively backing away from him with my hands wrapped around my body.
At my overreaction, the boy took a deep bow and began apologizing, "My Lord, forgive me!"
He'd been apologizing profusely for at least three minutes before my eyes finally saw and my mind had fully processed my actions. I shook my head clear and moved to get the clothes.
He fell silent and I could feel his eyes on me as I walked past him "What's your name, servant?"
He turned around to face my back, still a bit nervous he answered, "It's Alfonse, my Lord."
I took a peek at Alphonse from over my shoulder. He had a well-built body, as most servants and retainers did in noble homes. His hair was a deep, almost glistening black, similar to his eyes.
I repeated the name under my breath, he heard me and responded, "Yes, my lord."
I let out a sigh turned to face him, "Well then, Alphonse. Let's get dressed."
***
After I'd gotten dressed up, apparently quite little effort was required on my part in the process, I stood there, in one position for most of it. Alphonse complimented me on my looks, saying I now looked like a true gentleman, in other words, like my father. At his words, I looked myself in the mirror and had a moment of peace and relaxation for a split second before I realized again that the regency meant I held many of his responsibilities on my shoulders.
I'd walked with Alphonse behind me, often enough he'd move ahead to open door in my stead. I found everything about today quite new. My clothes were new, the young man who followed behind me was new, even the looks I got was new.
It was exciting yet very humbling as I realized this was what it was like to be my siblings, and thinking back to my previous status I knew this too could pass for good or for worse.
At last, we arrived at the throne room, it was typically what one would expect. A large spacious hall, a throne, seated a few stairs above the floor, was a simple enough red cushioned long seat, the floor right below the throne was covered with a carpet designed with the coat of arms of the House Adelard; a man seated on a lion whilst holding a scale and sword in each hand.
On the throne was where father was seated, in front of him were his councillors. I took the first step in and strutted all the way, greeting the guards as I went by.
Alphonse had stayed behind, in line with every other retainer and squire out in the hall. The throne room was no place for lowborn and men without class.
As I approached the throne, I bowed toward my father, a deep, legged crossed bow, and took my place beside Mathilda.
"Welcome to the ranks, Rainald." She whispered, "The Duke filled us in on how things will be changing going forward, he trusts you."
I took in a breath, nodding at her words, hoping his trust was placed in the right person.
"Rainald," Father spoke, at last, he gestured for me to come forward. As I strutted on, I noticed he had brought out the sceptre that always hung in his office, I got to the steps and he shoved the sceptre at me, "Kneel and hold onto this, you may begin Edward."
Edward stepped forward with a large scroll in hand he stood beside me, kneeled on the steps of the throne. Clearing his throat, Edward began
"Lord Rainald of House Adelard, do you solemnly swear upon your faith and upon your honour, to be loyal only to your Liege, your Sire?"
"I do."
"Do you promise never to conspire treason and harm in any form as you take on the rank of Regent?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to faithfully and dutifully carry out the duties of Regent, to guard, develop and cultivate the land and peoples of your Liege, in sound mind and health?"
"I do."
"Now you may rise, Regent, rule wisely and justly in my place." Father let the sceptre go, leaving it to my hands, he smiled fondly, and proudly at me.
Now I could hear the applause come from behind, the councillors acted as witnesses to the quiet and humble ceremony. I smiled and gave a bow, still not quite sure how to hold on to the sceptre.
"Now, Rainald," Father had left the throne and retrieved his sword from Mathilda, "If you get news of my death, hand over power to your brother Orson, but guide him, he won't be able to reform the members of the council until a year, so I'd rely on you four to guide him straight."
My eyes widened at the mention of his death, I made to inquire why he'd say such but he'd already started trotting off to the carriage that was no doubt waiting for him.
"Don't think too much about it, he's always done that little 'just in case I die' bit before leaving for anywhere," Mathilda said, sounding quite sure of her words. I believed her.
I looked around and noticed Desmond and Edward, packing up to leave, "Wait a minute!" gotten their attention they turned to face me with questioning looks, "Where are you lot off to?"
Edward shrugged "Home."
Desmond kept silent, his response seemingly corresponding with Edward's.
"Aren't you going to stay and help me run the place?"
At this Edward looked like he'd just realized something important, "I almost forgot to give this to you," he said as he approached with a key in hand, "It's the key to your Father's study, there you'll find all the documents you need to finish the work he left over."
"And wouldn't I need your help to understand and navigate through most of these documents?"
Again the man shrugged, "You won't need me for much unless you plan on revising the budget, which is quite unnecessary at this point seeing as with the surplus from the festivals yesterday, we have enough to manage things a lot more comfortably than we would have without your intervention."
He gave me a cheeky smile and began to leave, "Besides, the genius that you are I doubt you really ever needed my help, to begin with."
After he'd left with the last word, I turned to Desmond who was currently being served a full cup of wine, his already messed up coat made me shake my head in dismay.
"Desmond?"
"Huh?" he drawled sounding shockingly primitive.
"Would you like to help me running the Duchy, Desmond," I repeated his name sternly as he'd already begun gulping down the full cup. I glared heatedly at the waiting servant, my dismissal clear.
"Well, Rainald, Milord Regent," How was he already drunk? "The Duke hath assigned onto me the duty of recruiting many powerful Monarchs to his cause, I too must travel," Ah, he was just being ridiculous.
He straightened up and smiled, this time not perversely, "Besides, you don't have any need of me. But if you do, you can have my assistant Seinerd assist you. Goodbye for now, Lord Regent."
And so there I stood, facing an empty hall, in clothes I'd never been in, and a sceptre imbued with a power I'd never held. I couldn't help but smile to myself.
"That's a very disturbing grin, Rainald."