Vincent was alone in his room again. However, this time, he was reviewing the letter that his sister had gave him the other day. Neirin clearly gave him an order to deal with matters regarding about the vassal. As the young lord of the duchy, he can't disobey orders coming from the head of the family.
As he stayed there seating while the servant was gently pouring him tea, Vincent frowned several times as he read the disrespect that the letter contain. His right hand moved to loosen his cravat for him to breath freely and with ease.
If he was the one who was addressed to this, then, a warning would never be just the end of it.
"Young master, the tea is ready," The maid said with respect as she gave a little bow. Vincent did not look at her however, he mumbled his gratitude and let her be dismissed.
After staring the letter for a while, he fold it and put it back on the envelop and let it sat on the table as he grabbed his tea before taking a sip. In his mind he was weighing on how to deal with such matters.
This can't be taken lightly for this was a matter that involve the duchess herself. If the vassals which are were the part of the core system of the whole Halstead duchy, can't give respect to the duchess, then, what more to the people of the society? If this happens, the power of the Halstead would be mock.
From the looks of it, his new adopted sister had already seen this outcome that was why she had sent him to clean up the matter. The vassals were disrespecting and mocking her because she was not the right heir. She was adopted and her background can be subjected into harsh criticisms and it won't be long until she can be humiliated in public.
Although Vincent can let that happen, the duchess reputation is the reputation of the Halstead duchy. He cannot let anyone mock her.
Heaving his breath, Vincent took a sip of his tea again and this time, the cup was half empty. He stared at the fireplace as his mind begun drifting with his thoughts.
It would all be different if Vincent was the one who will take care of this matter. His support given to the duchess signifies alone that her, sitting to the throne was acknowledge from the very start and she won't be subjected to such humiliation ever again in the future. Well, not in a brazen way.
Gossips and rumors would stir the whole noble society but Vincent can already see how Neirin will deal about it.
Finally coming up to a conclusion, he put down the tea cup and went to his own table to get three pieces of high quality paper and envelop. As soon as that, he grabbed the quill and begun writing. These three letters was meant for the three people who had sent their letters of mockery.
The letter did not contain much as it was only telling the receiver that the young master of the duchy of Halstead will be coming to their territory and that they should prepare.
As soon as Vincent was done, he called the maid and the butler. He gave the letters to the maid to send. Now, only the butler was left. He took the initiative to ask if there was something the young lord need.
The fire from the fireplace flickered illuminating Vincent's calm expression. The young lord then answered, " It's just a small matter. Tell the academy that I will be returning after a few weeks and the second one, prepare my things for I will be going on a trip."
"Where to, young lord?" The butler blinked as his eyes flickered with worry and anxiousness. Vincent was able to see it clearly. He turned his gaze around and looked outside the window where the frozen forest were.
"No need to be fret or be worried. I will just be following my sister's orders to visit some vassals here in our north territory."
"How long would you be staying there my lord? Would it be a fortnight?"
Vincent gave a subtle smile. "I'll just stay in there for a few hours before returning. No need to pack everything."
The butler gave a bow. "Yes, young master."
--
The Halstead territory was vast for it was the whole northern land. In this place, there were only three season. One was spring were everything was luscious, blue, and warm. The flowers bloomed and the forest were full of animals. The sea was not frozen and every city was bustling with people.
The second was autumn, the time before everything get cold. In this season, everything was yellow, orange and red. Leaves begun to fall from the trees and only few people went outside to work and full their supplies for the harsh winter.
Finally the winter where everything was white and cold. The city had no life and only those who were desperate dare to venture outside. In this time, the whole north was in the season of winter. Vincent had already took off with his carriage in order to set foot to the houses of the three vassals he needed to meet.
As the carriage rolled down on the pave path, through the windows, Vincent can see very well that there were only a few people outside dressed in heavy clothes hoping to combat the harsh winds of winter. There were no children outside and only men ventured to find jobs hoping to feed their family with their earn gold pounds.
Some were even left with no choice but to beg outside the streets in hope that some kind but noble stranger took pity on them and help them. The whole city of the land looked too cold and barren with the winter icy serenade.
Seeing everything as this now, the duke really had neglected their territory after being invested with what he swore to find. Still, until his death, he wasn't able to see even the source of it. With his thoughts, Vincent leaned on the seat of the carriage and pulled the curtains down. He closed his eyes and let himself drifted with the calm noises outside.
--
In the house vast house of Count Lewis, in his office, two people were anxiously pacing back and fort with their desperate expression. These people were Baron Perez and Count White. They were called in this house by count Lewis himself after receiving a letter from the young master of Halstead duchy, the right heir to the position of head.
If it was the duchess, they would not bother appearing and making their presence known for that bastard child have no right to sit on the throne of the duke. However, some miracle that happened, now, they were forced to bow on such illegitimate child whom they do not know where her background and origins were from.
"What would be the agenda of the young lord on us?" Count Lewis asked. He was seating on the sofa sipping coffee. Contrary to the others, the count was rather calm. He was confident to himself that his actions and decisions would tell the young lord how he was taking stand on his side to the battle of heirs and would soon be rewarded.
"For god sake, why are you drinking coffee!" Baron scoffed seeing the count sat there leisurely without any worry at all. "You should help us think of excuses to help appease the young lord."
"That's right!" Count White butted in. He crossed his arms over his chest. "We should think of excuses ready to answer the young lord once he ask us something! Have his accommodation and room been prepared?"
"Gentlemen, have we done anything wrong to the young lord?" The count gave a confident smile. Both the baron and the count paused their pacing and looked at Count Lewis. They both tilted their heads as though they were thinking.
"We have done nothing wrong." the count shrugged. "Instead, we took a stand in his side if ever he wanted to reclaim the position of the duke to his bastard of sister. If I may be right, the most probable reason he is going here was because he wanted to give us his own gratitude."
With his statement, the baron and the count's expression suddenly changed and their distorted faces formed a smile expressing their happiness as though they haven't experienced being anxious earlier.
Before they could express their relief, a servant came knocking in. This time, the servant informed to the three of them the arrival of the young lord.