Paperwork is always a tedious affair, regardless of what sort it was. Regardless of the time period or even world one lived in, as long as paperwork existed it was and always will be a necessary inconvenience that all must suffer through.
Thankfully, Stephanie only had half the paperwork to go through seeing as the rest was already arranged in a neat stack beside her own unfinished papers.
For nobility, one normally had their servants bring the needed paperwork to their homes for them to sign before sending it right back to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Whereas commoners would have to travel all the way to the nearest branch in order to finalize their respective marriages.
Noble lady she may be, but it was only in name.
For his selfless act in defending a royal, the previous king no less, her grandfather was granted a noble title and a small patch of land to call their own. From a simple, hard-working commoner to a noble overnight, that was how her family came in possession of the barony in the first place. Additionally, a significant sum of money and treasure was also awarded to her grandfather, because saving the nation's king was no light matter.
Though they were mere commoners and had not a single drop of nobility flowing through their veins, their act of selflessness was acknowledged by everyone. Even if they invited the ridicule of every old noble family and the envy of many other commoners, they of the Lindell family held their heads up high.
It was this ostracization from both aristocrats and peasant-folk alike that taught her grandfather never to flaunt one's wealth lest they attract not just unwanted attention, but also greedy hearts and tainted hands.They only used their newfound wealth when they needed it, but otherwise did not put on any lavish displays of superiority over the common masses just because they were able to. If anything, the most lavish event to ever happen in the Lindell barony would be her dear grandfather's birthday, but even then they only invited close family friends.
No matter how much money was thrown at them, they were still simple people in the end and that was how they preferred it.
That's why they didn't even have their own carriage which was a staple to even the lowliest of noble families, having rented a public one on their way to the civil office like most commoners.
Just as Madeline was about to hail for another public carriage, another halted right in front of them. It was a tall structure, the tallest carriage most people have seen in their lives and gave of an imposing air from its aesthetics alone. The material was dark, almost pitch black but was furnished with what could only be gold decals. From the actual carriage itself to even the fierce-looking horses, onyx and gold was their primary theme. Even the village buffoon could tell that whoever this belonged to, it wasn't anyone to be trifled with regardless if they were blue-blooded or just peasants.
The maid shivered, trying her best not to grab her mistress and run away as if a horde of monsters were on their trail. It would do no good to besmirch the honorable Lindell family name if she allowed her cowardice to blind her from her duties as a maid and lifelong companion of her lady.
"Lady Stephanie Ines Lindell"
From the driver's side of the carriage a man stepped down, dressed in a smooth suit of black with not a wrinkle in sight. His dusty gray hair was combed back, allowing one to take notice of the impeccable brass spectacles that sat on the bridge of his nose and glinted in the sunlight.
"His grace has tasked us to bring you to the Oswynn Estate"
Whispers broke out at the street, ordinary passerbys hooked on the scene currently taking place in front of them. The carriage itself was already eye-catching, but the obviously high-class steward who resolutely voiced his intentions and origins to the humble young lady and her quivering maid was what kept them glued to their spot.
"Allow me to be the first to pay my respects to our new Grand Duchess. House Oswynn is yours, milady"
He could have spoken softly, just enough so that only the lady might hear and yet he spoke so clearly that it allowed everyone around them to hear his announcement.
Most people probably wouldn't have noticed this, too caught up with the revelation that they just passed by the newest duchess and most powerful woman in the kingdom aside from the queen herself.
The duke's steward wasn't merely here to pick up the duchess, he was here to make a point. A show of power to all those vultures who circled the duke's manor in wait for a single exploitable weakness that this woman was off limits.
She is now part of the Oswynn family and as such, cannot be trifled with regardless of her humble origins and the circumstances of her union with the duke.
History has shown time and time again what befalls those who deem themselves able-bodied enough to poke the sleeping dragon.
The envoy of a now lost neighboring kingdom, one of their many, many princes, once kidnapped the bride of that time's Grand Duke Oswynn. The aftermath left the neighboring kingdom in ashes and their foolish prince nothing but a head on a pike for all to see. A grim reminder for all that should they wish it, Oswynn and all its powers will show them exactly why their family has stayed in power for all these years.
Dynasties and kingdoms rise and fall, but House Oswynn will always stand tall.
Such is an indisputable fact of life.
Though a pleasant smile decorated the man's lips, a cold glint shone in his eyes, daring anyone foolish enough to make a move all the while maintaining a gentle facade around his new mistress.
Let them try.