Somehow, I managed to save my head by convincing the king that my action is just part of me being cautious for the kingdom's integrity. However, the noble who keeps on reminding me of the marquis keeps on insisting about my fault and my family's fault. I think I need to warn him to shut up.
"Sir, I just arrived here in the capital from the far north after nine years. Clearly, I don't know who you are and forgive me because of that. You must be one of the most respected nobles in the capital since you are here in the trial court. It is just you are reminding me of the marquis and his delegates. Wait, are you somehow a Marquis?"
The whole trial room look at him and he can't speak for himself anymore. He suddenly answered my question and he said that he is indeed a marquis. Pathetic bastard. He doesn't know that I've been dealing with people such as his self.
"Well, not all marquises are the same as the marquis of the north who is plotting behind our back… am I right marquis? You are perhaps for the kingdom right, are you?" I smiled.
The marquis kept quiet and sat down to his chair quietly. The king declared that I only did what I have to do for the goodness of his kingdom. However, a crime is a crime, and it will not be fair if I didn't get punish. At least, I am feeling that my head is save and whatever the punishment is, I think I have to just accept it. All that is important is that still I am alive. But did I speak too soon?
The king stood up and called his writers to record his statement. This is it, am I save or not?
"I am convinced that Lady Silvestine Winters, one of the wardens of the North, only did what is good for the kingdom. The incident is foreseen as another disastrous incidents happened in the nobles of our kingdom. Thus, Lady Silvestine Winters is pardon from being condemned to answer high punishment for the crime she did. The lady still needs to be punished with accordance od the law. I declared that Lady Silvestine Winters is now relieved from all of her duties to the North and is banned to enter the North unless it is needed and with the consent of her lawful guardian. If ever Lady Silvestine Winters indeed accidentally entered the North without her lawful guardian, she will be penalised and soon to be dethroned leading to banishment from the kingdom. This declaration will be foreseen for sixteen years on count from today. Until then, she will have to obey this declaration."
Upon hearing the king's words, my whole-body trembles and felt like it was cast away to an empty space. I froze like an ice block. This sentence was like a banishment form forbidding me entering my home.
The king asks for my response and I half-heartedly agreed with him. I felt humiliated and be little. It feels as if a cold ice poured down on me. Half of my life was with the North how can I simply forget it? How can I just leave it?
Father took me to his arms and helps me to stand up. My feet were numb and my whole body is so heavy. As soon we left with the carriage, I couldn't help but wail like a child. The pain is even painful than being stab by a sword. I just couldn't accept it. Is this the same pain that those people felt after I banished them. Is this the same pain they are suffering knowing that they couldn't enter the land once they love? I never thought that this is so much. Is this like what Lucas's notes talking about, "bounce back karma"?
The next day, I shut myself inside of the room and didn't even bother to eat. I heard that mother send a letter to my brother informing him of what happened. I guess it will shock brother the most since I will not see him anymore for a long time. I bet those people in town and in the army will celebrate that I wouldn't be around anymore. I never thought that this day will happen to me. I guess this is my punishment from all the things I've done.
The following days pass, I accepted the fact that I couldn't return to the North. Yet the pain is still lingering. I received a letter from my brother and he told me that he was sorry. He blames himself for reporting it to the king. But actually, I really blamed him because if he didn't write a report then I wouldn't be in this kind of situation. I should really blame him. But perhaps this is also indeed a karma.
Some of my important things in the North arrived in the mansion. Most of it is just books and weapons nothing much of a dress. Corra sends me books about the capital. I bet Silvester told her my situation. I was just sad that I didn't spend much time with her when I was still in the North. Well, the truth is, I also felt that no one is actually going to grieve about my situation but they must be celebrating back there. The town people are not much of fond over me. I just hope that those soldiers are not going to slack off. Well, Corra is around she knows what to do, besides she was an imperial knight before marrying Silvester.
Mother was so shock upon knowing that I only have twenty dresses and ten pairs of shoes. Silvester didn't send my military uniforms, I felt like he is being considerate about my situation. The only uniform I have is the one I wore going to the palace. I guess that's the last time I am going to wear it.
Since I only have few dresses, mother drags me to different stores to buy some gowns. She's the one picking it for me because if I were to pick it, I am just going to buy whatever I grab. I just don't get it, the details and art of the clothes, is that supposed to makes a difference on how a person looks? However, what bothers me is that people are busy staring at me. Maybe they already heard the news about me.
The next day, mother called at least three people to teach me about proper etiquette. I find it boring because usually it is all about how to sit, walk, talk, eat, stand, bow and the number one rule is do not run. No freaking way! Why running is forbidden? Are they stupid enough to make that as a rule? I protested and questioned it and they answered that it is not proper for a lady to be running. Screw that! Who made that rule? I was so annoyed for forbidding the 'run'. They said that it is ok to jog but not running. Is there any difference between the two? Jogging is a form of fast speed of walking and running is the faster way of jogging. The only different is the speed, so what makes its difference? Will it kill you if you run?
The following days is just the same, etiquette lesson after etiquette lesson. Its tiring.
I decided to walk around the mansion, it is my first time doing it so after I arriving here. I realize that our family is indeed wealthy, it is just I don't feel it in the north.
(Author: Silvestine didn't realize before how big the North is and how wealthy they are because all she think is about the army where mud and iron is around.)
Suddenly, I heard a clashing of swords, did I hear it wrong? I followed the sound and I saw Arthur swinging his sword back and forth in the air. Pathetic. He is so weak. Silvester was already good on swords during his age since he isn't born with a lot of magic in his body while I was born with over flowing mana. His instructor is actually soft on him and he just instructing Arthur by words. Screw that? Can you even call that training?
It suddenly became my hobby to watch Arthur during his sword lessons. Looking at him like a straw being swayed by the metal, makes my day. Don't get me wrong, I am not bullying him, instead I find it funny seeing him trying his best to perfect that technique. But that technique he is doing is not our family's signature technique that father teach Silvester when we were young. I happened knows it since I kept watching them both practicing and when we moved to the North, I nagged Silvester to teach it to me.
Arthur has a lot of flaws and opening and his balance is unstable. Come to think of it, Silvester was taught by our father himself but why father isn't supervising Arthur? The instructor saw me watching them and he suddenly staring at me with those flirty eyes. I don't mind really, because once he comes closer, I just have to deal with him. I review once again the notes that Lucas made for me. Like I always said, his notes are contradicting with each other so it is hard for me to analyze. So what should I do with this brazen instructor?
One month has already pass since I am forbidden to enter the North. I am so bored to the extent that I am desperate to do something even more outrageous. I started to plant vegetables in our garden in which mother became furious after knowing it. I once joined our farmers and hunters, which mother forbid me to do. I also tried to clean our armory in the mansion that cause me being grounded from living the room for three days. I am so dead bored to the extent of thinking of disobeying the king and run back to the North. I sometimes think that I don't care being banish anymore. I completely realize that being reprimanded to do something I want to do is worse than being banish.
Every time I am reminding myself that I am restrained to go back to North for sixteen years, I can't help but think that this is the worst punishment. So, I requested an audience to the King which he rejected. He could at least punish me to stay in the front line for sixteen years. That would have been better than staying in the mansion and keeps on doing nonsense. I decided to talk about it with father during dinner.
I told my decision to father and mother and they were shock and angry. I told them my reason why I want to be punished in that way. Mother suddenly burst into tears; I once again didn't think of the consequences but I am already old enough to make decisions for myself. I didn't mean to hurt their feelings; it is just that I felt I am being imprisoned. I don't have a goal at all and that makes me feel so empty. I rather be punished with a harsh condition, in the means I could do something useful.
That night, I couldn't sleep and kept on thinking how to approach the king. I also keep on thinking about how to relieve this boredom. I look once again at the notes, even though I already read it more than three times because it helps me to think. The contradicting use of words is really messed up but somehow helps me to calm down. It helps me to stop thinking and go back to being rational. Suddenly, I read a passage saying, "…you have to think your words before deciding something…". Words? What words? I suddenly remembered that the king didn't actually forbid me to be part of the military… he just relieves me from my duties in the North. It makes sense, the king didn't forbid me to participate in war but instead I just don't have to go to the North.
I really have to thank Lucas for his contradicting words.