"Young master?" A lively male voice called out as a knock was heard on the door. Theodore recognised this as the voice of his appointed steward Mr Heardly.
"Yes, what is the matter?" Theodore answered
"Ah, you sound much livelier young Master. It seems your health is returning to you. We've arrived at Fivernely castle. Mr Bates is ready to receive you in the grand hall." Mr Heardly narrated.
"Alright. I'll be out in a minute. Please inform mister Bates I will be with him shortly."
"Yes, young master. May I also suggest you take miss Ilverny with you? She can assist you if anything arises."
"Alright, she will accompany me then. Please hurry the arrangements, I would like to settle this quickly." Theodore answered quickly.
"I'll see to it, young master." Heardly then turned on his heels and instructed the waiting miss Ilverny as he himself made his way to the castle.
Theodore stood up from his seat and opened the door. As he alighted from the carriage and stepped from the iron footplate he was greeted with a stern look from miss Ilverny.
"Young master." She said, her voice dripping with annoyance.
"Yes, miss Ilverny?" He responded. He knew what was coming, but still played innocent - he did not like the way she had been trying to fit him in noble attire. His former self didn't like it. And neither did he.
"You are aware that you're infringing on many noble etiquettes right now, Theodore?"
Of all the people that escorted him to Fivernely, only few would dare call him by his first name. Miss Ilverny was one of them. As a clerk under the lord's chaplain, she had been responsible for teaching him throughout his youth. She had taught him foreign languages, history and math. The math was a joke to Theodore now, but he knew how important she had been to him all this while.
She had volunteered to join him on his journey and continued to care for him during the journey. He knew he could trust and rely on her. She might be strict in her teaching, but she had a great heart. Theodore had already decided to keep her within his sphere of influence and repay her for her care.
Because of their shared history and their teacher-apprentice relationship, she was among the few who would call out his name on occasion.
"I'm aware of the infringement miss Ilverny." He couldn't help but smile wryly. He had it coming.
She sighed "You're really a handful Theodore. At least straighten your jacket and button-up. Mr Bates will be in a hurry to leave anyways and won't bother too much with the proper decorum." She acquiesced. "But don't you dare stand so silly when representing yourself later on. Back straight, chest up, walk confidently. We've been over this a million times." She reminded him.
"Yes, ma'am." He grinned. Guess he got off lightly? The thought made him chuckle as he walked off - with miss Ilverny in tow.
As he approached the gates he noticed many filled up carts and carriages parked by the side.
"Is Mr Bates even taking the furniture?" He asked as he raised his left brows.
"He won't dare take what is not his, Theodore. He is just an appointed knight of a vassal under your father. Each vassal is appointed to take care of these lands for four years. So each vassal appoints a knight or clergyman under his service to oversee these lands. They travel with most of their possessions and family to here. So the amount of carriages you see here is not that unusual." She explained.
"What a messy arrangement. Why not appoint one of our own knights or clergyman?" Theodore asked.
"Your father and his father before this made an arrangement with their vassals. All profits of lands won during the war - or conferred by his Majesty after the war would be split with the vassals. In return, the vassals would administer these new lands. Some lands that were conferred were very profitable. Later on, the king also conferred the area around Fivernely. Because of the existing structure, the retainers were expected to administer these lands as well.
"Because of the distance and the fact that the lands are barren, none of the vassals wanted to have the lands under their estate. Because of this, the current situation exists. The vassals administer the lands and deliver manpower whilst your family foot the bill for deficits that arise. This way, the family does not lose money and precious manpower."
"I still find it a convoluted mess. But I guess my presence solves the problem for both the vassals and for the family." He sighed.
"At least he gave you lands." She softly said.
Theodore could only nod. Many people were worse off. He was given lands, a castle and personnel. At the very least, he was still very privileged. Even if it was barren and unprofitable, it was his nonetheless.
He tightened his fist and crossed the drawbridge and passed the castle' gates. The castle courtyard was spacious and many people were working hard to make sure the convoy could depart quickly.
He crossed the courtyard and found Mr Heardly waiting for him in front of the main hall's entrance.
He acknowledged Theodore with a nod and quickly told him "I'll announce your presence now. You can entire a minute after me."
The steward then disappeared behind the great oaken doors and quickly a herald's loud shout could be heard.
"I present, Theodore Thompson, the sixth in line to his Lordship - Viscount Thompson!"
Theodore grunted at his introduction. Was he forever going to be stuck as the sixth son of the viscount?
His annoyance must have shown on his face because he was swiftly kicked on his calves by miss Ilverny as she locked eyes with him afterwards - her look telling him more than words could ever describe.
He quickly regained his composure, pushed up his chest and straightened his back. He then briskly pushed the oaken doors open and entered the main hall with measured steps.
After entering he found little of what he had imagined - there was little furniture, almost no painting on the wall and the hall was not crowded at all. He could only suck up his disappointed. His grand entrance had been for nought.
In the middle of the hall, a tall man stood, together with Mr Heardly.
The man raised his hand and with this gesture also put Heardly at a bit more distance. The few people present also quieted down and it seemed that only now people did notice him. How could they ignore him after the herald had announced him? Was he not worth noticing?
He couldn't care. They were all leaving anyways.
"Theodore Thompson, an honour to meet you. I've already been notified of your arrival early on by your father. I can guarantee you our leave today. My chamberlain has already done the accounting for the year so you can take a measure of the lands immediately upon our leave."
"Thank you mister Bates. My father always moves quickly upon his decisions. I thank you for readying the accounts."
"It is only my duty, young master. Pardon me for being direct, but there are many things I still have to take care of. Having my entire entourage relocate is not an easy task. If there's nothing else I would like to skip to the official moment and sign the fief over to you officially."
"That's fine with me." Theodore nodded.
A very anticlimatic ceremony ensued wherein Theodore signed some paperwork and was properly instated as the Lord of Fivernely. There was no decorum. No speech. No music or feast. Just plain signing some documents.