A week had passed since Duke Graywood's son's birthday banquet which turned out to be such a waste of my time to attend. Not only did I haven't gotten a chance to talk to Alistair, but it also seemed like Aynnah had already made contact with him first as I saw them walking together when I was looking for her at the party.
Well, I guess that couldn't be helped.
Today is another legal codes lessons which I have taken quite of an interest.
As a victim of fake crime accusations in my past life, studying the laws is quite a weapon I can use to my advantage if ever the same thing will happen again.
"You have already studied the whole articles and chapters of the Palace Codes, my lady. Shall we advance our lesson to the Gold Code?" Randelle gently flips the pages of the book he's holding.
"You mean the Reinngold Kingdom's Constitution?"
Since the Palace Code are declared to entail obligations of the Palace's and Gold Tower's subjects, the Gold Code on the other hand pertains to the laws, statutes, and codes that is implemented within the whole Kingdom that commoners and nobles must follow.
"Exactly, my lady. Shall we start?"
This lesson is only taken when a noble or a scholar reached the age of 17 as it is indeed a difficult and complex topic to understand. However, I, the princess of Reinngold Kingdom will start to study this at the early age of 12.
Well, my consciousness is already 17 years old though.
"Unclaimed lands are those that have been abandoned by the border's ruler for at least a decade. Some reasons why these lands have been abandoned are because cultivation seems impossible, and another one is it's located at the end of the border which is far from the main border's capital."
"In order to claim possession of an unclaimed land, the subject must meet all the written requirements."
The first chapter of the Gold Civil Code, article 233 to 272 is the land property law, which deals with the rights of ownership and use of the lands within the Kingdom's border.
It's quite simple at first glance, but it is actually complicated that I need to excused my self for a moment in order to relax the nerves on my brain.
"The articles and statutes are wriggling in my head, ugh!"
I am walking in the hallway towards the pantry to get myself sweet treats when I accidentally overheard three servants talking about their personal predicament.
One of them is Aynnah's personal maid, Stella.
"Just when my family finally starts to harvest the crops from the land we cultivated for years, Viscount McCrow claimed that it is a part of his property and he's now driving us out. Oh, where will my family go and live at this state?" Maid Stella cried while the two comforted her.
"Can't you ask your lover to take them in for a while? I'm sure he'll understand."
"I can't, Filbert has a sick mother to take care of. And besides, their house couldn't accommodate anymore number."
I can sense the hopelessness on Stella's tone that I couldn't help but to meddle in their conversation.
["Do you like prying into other people's business that much? Didn't you also did this back at the emporium last time?"]
'Right, I just realized I'm that kind of person. Now shut up.'
["Aren't you considering the harm it may bring to you. She's your sister's maid, getting involved with her might as well be one of the reasons of your downfall."]
Of course, I'm considering that. But my intrusive thoughts are getting ahead of me and pushing me to do this.
Nevertheless, this is also a chance to know the nature of someone who's always close to my enemy.
"My apologies if I intrude." I spoke behind them which caught them off guard.
"P-princess Avory, m-may I assist you?" Stella asked with startled expression.
"Well, I overheard your conversation earlier. May I know the full content of that story?"
"It's okay if you don't want to disclose it with me. I totally understand. But I wanted to be of help since you seemed really bothered, Stella."
Stella's eyes suddenly became watery and she instinctively hug me. I was too appalled at first, especially when she started wailing while the other two tried to separate her from me while also teary-eyed.
"Oh, princess Avory! What do I do? Viscount McCrow of the southeastern border wants to take our land and drive my family out of our settlement. This is too much to take." Stella wailed.
"Princess Avory, please accept our apologies for Stella's current behavior. She is just too heartbroken ever since last week."
"That's right, princess Avory. Viscount McCrow gave her family just one week to leave the place. Tomorrow's the promised day and they still have nowhere to go." These three seems pretty close with each other if they defend Stella and her family this much. Ah, friendship.
I hold Stella's arms that are embracing me to straighten her up. Her eyes are bawling so much and some of her red curly hair strands latched on her face.
"I'm so sorry, princess Avory. Please forgive my rudeness."
I felt a sting of pity for her. I remembered when I was also asking for forgiveness like this. The only difference was I am begging for the forgiveness of the sin I didn't even do.
["Must have hit a painful spot, Lily."]
I reached for her cheeks and wiped her tears that made her and the two surprised.
"Don't cry, Stella. These precious vermilion orbs shall only shed tears of happiness."
She flashed an interesting surprised face, her lips formed a little circle then she eventually stopped crying.
["Are you perhaps a master of romance, Lily? If I ever cried in front of you, would you wipe my tears and say those same words to me?"] The Demon King is anticipating and quite antsy. Shall I crush his heart, if he has one?
'Sure, but let me make you cry first.'
"T-thank you, princess Avory." Stella finally smiled, the others also calmed down.
"But, what should I do now? I don't want my family to sleep on the streets."
I think for a moment what would be the best course of action for this. Should I temporarily allow her whole family in the estate?
No, no, father will not allow something like that. Stella and her family will just receive humiliation otherwise.
There's only one thing. Take things in a legal action and defend the land ownership.
"Stella. Do you want your family to stay in that place?" I asked to assure one thing before vocalizing my final suggestion.
"Yes. I believe that's what my family wants as well. My father cultivated the land and already produced high quality crops. It's the evidence for his and the family's efforts." I saw the firmness in her eyes, and that made me smirk.
"Then, trust me and let's claim that land!"
Early morning the next day, me, Randelle, Fara, and Stella went to the latter's place to visit her family and check things out. We were just a few kilometers away from her home when I noticed the fields has sprout so many good crops.
"Wow, there's not even a single sign of the old swamp and lifeless land from way back ten years ago. Stella, your family is impressive." Randelle commented which made her scratch the back of her head shyly.
"T-thank you, sir Randelle."
Upon arriving at their house, we were welcomed by her parents and four little siblings.
"A blessing to have the presence of such an important person in our humble place. I am Stella's father, Steben Fernthumb. Thank you for always taking care of my daughter."
"It is but a normal thing to do. Rather, it was Stella who's always taking care of us in the palace."
After a few formalities, I go straight to the reason why we paid them a visit.
"It was such a nice offer, princess Avory. But who would help such lowly commoners with nothing but crops to offer in return?" sir Steben dejectedly stated as he looks over the field.
"Randelle, can't you stand as their lawyer?"
Randelle shook his head in response.
"It is a written rule that professors of Gold Tower can't stand as a lawyer of any side. We have to be on no one's side as well as to be on everyone's side at all times when it comes to this matters."
In other words, they have to be neutral at all times.
We were interrupted when men riding on horses appeared, at the center is a middle-aged man who seems to be the said Viscount McCrow.
We all welcomed the newcomers with sour faces. As soon as the Viscount saw me, I noticed how his left brow flinched for a second.
"I didn't expected the princess of the palace to be here today. Greetings, princess Avory Reinngold. I am Viscount Leroy Vanzelbilt McCrow of the Southeast border." The proud Viscount introduced.
"If you may excuse me and my men, princess Avory. But we have unfinished business to settle with this family here."
He was about to pass us when I spoke.
"You can't take this land from Mr. Fernthumb and claim ownership just like that, Viscount."
He stopped at his tracks and looked at me. "What do you mean by that, princess?" I can sense mockery behind his words. As if hinting that what would a young princess like me would know.
"Well, this is an unclaimed land..." I wasn't even finished talking when McCrow intervene.
"It is not, princess Avory. I own this part of the border, therefore, I own this land."
Just how many times did he just bypassed me by now? This man is really getting on my nerves.
But I am mostly frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find my voice and confidence to trample this man's pride after all those bravados I had earlier.
" But they're the ones who brought the life in this wasteland..." Fara and Stella started to get worried of me when the Viscount interrupt me again.
"But it doesn't mean that the land will be theirs. Actually, they're the ones at fault for laying their hands on someone else's property without consent."
"Princess Avory, don't make things complicated for me. Step aside, will you?"
Why can't I retort like I did before? Is it because I'm in front of someone who actually has power and position? Nonsense!
But if I continue to be like this, Stella and her family will be driven out even though they have the rights to this land.
"Wait!" I shouted which made everyone shocked.
"What now?!" The Viscount also displays his irritation.
"Let's get this matter on court, Viscount. After all, Fernthumb really have the rights to do so!" The weight in my stare met the Viscount's. At this point, he doesn't have the rights to reject nor bypass me.
He sighed. "Sure, princess. But can Fernthumb get himself a lawyer to defend him on court? Hah! I doubt that."
I gritted my teeth and toughen my posture. "I will stand as Fernthumb' s lawyer at the court!"
Everyone, except for Randelle, was stunned. The Viscount started to suppress his laughter but he was undoubtedly making it obvious to mock me.
"Hah! Aren't you such a good princess? Haha! Very well, I'll see you in court."
"Hah! A lawyer, she says. Hahaha!"
Viscount McCrow and his men left the place and soon, Stella and her family come at me at once.
"You don't have to do that, princess Avory!"
"Oh, good heavens! Are you serious, princess Avory?"
"It's alright, princess! You don't have to."
Randelle and I calmed them down, but it took us a while.
"It will be fine, trust me."
— to be continued...