"As I told you multiple times, he provoked me. What else could I do?" Thomas had explained his side of events multiple times but either his father or the attendant of the Osterlands had another question on why did he feel the need to escalate a situation they were already leaving. Truthfully, Thomas didn't have a good answer for that. The slander against his late mother had made him lose his composure.
***Ding: Mission Parameters have changed. Question the Duke on what happened to his late wife***
System seriously? Thomas quieted the system notification, but made sure to revisit it.
"Leave us." The Duke told Lorilei and the Osterlands. "Rest assured, you will be kept up-to-date on the decision made by the Empire regarding this incident."
"I trust that the Empire will make the right decision." Draven Osterland stated, making his way out of the mansion and toward his waiting carriage. Draven waited until he was seated in the carriage and already on their way back home before speaking again, "Humiliated in this provincial duchy, how ludicrous."
Back in the Duke's study, Thomas was getting the dressing down befit only the innocent in guilty circumstances. "Have you any idea the trouble you caused not only this family but the Empire with your little outburst tonight? I had almost secured you a promising bride and you had to go and fuck it up. Does everything I do for you mean nothing!"
"He spoke ill of mother, said the Emperor orchestrated her death. Said she was a wh*re." Thomas muttered, tired of explaining his innocence to someone who had inexplicably already found him guilty despite Lorilei's testimony.
"Your mother? She was a wh*re from another country who lied about her status and was punished accordingly. The only good thing she did was give me you. For that reason alone I have not erased her name from memory. Listen well Thomas, I love you but what matters above all else is the reputation that I protect for House Plantagenet. If you don't listen to anything else I have said, heed those words well."
"You knew?! You knew what they did to her and you just let them?" Thomas couldn't believe what he was hearing. First the man gives him gold to buy a building and purchase slaves, now he's telling him the Empire killed his mother and he was complicit in the entire thing.
"Son, it's not that simple. Commoners CANNOT marry into the nobility. That's how it's always been. You think I wanted her gone? Of course I didn't but I had a family, a name, A LEGACY to protect. It was bigger than me, you or her." In the midst of yelling at Thomas, a stray tear passed down his father's face. A testament years too late to display the grief he had at his lost wife.
"Yeah, old man. You didn't have a choice. Hopefully your new wife understands her position, lest you find yourself having to choose between the family or her." Thomas stormed out of the study off to his bedroom, leaving a fuming Duke in his wake.
***Ding: Mission Accomplished- Find out what happened to the late Lady Victoria***
***You have been awarded the following: 1000 exp***
System we need to talk about your timing.
***Host, your inner turmoil is not a concern of the system. Our goal is to make you the strongest existence on the continent so that you can live freely. All other goal pale in comparison. ***
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Waking up the next day, Thomas felt that he didn't sleep a wink. The realization that he had a father that loved him but also had no issues with what had happened with his mother left him deeply troubled. He knew that while he loved his father, he couldn't square away what his father had done. He wasn't sure what the future held for them but their relationship had been irrevocably changed.
A soft knock came at the door, "Young Master Thomas, the Duke requests your presence in the study." Thomas got up knowing that the request was anything but. Getting dressed, he made his way to the study; passing maids refusing to meet his gaze. Sun filtered through the windows lining the hallway as if deliberately teasing a beautiful day regardless of the events going on inside the mansion.
Thomas knocked on the study door, dreading the upcoming conversation given how the previous day was left. After receiving word to enter, he pushed open the heavy wooden door surprised to see his father along with his chief retainer and an additional fellow garbed in the royal colors of purple and white. "Thomas, good you're here. We can get this conversation underway. This is Magistrate Williams, he weighs in on punishments for this region of the realm when the alternative would be a week long trip to the capitol. The facts as we see them are, regardless of provocation, you struck a visiting dignitary which resulted in serious bodily harm. Without proper punishment, the entire empire is on the verge of unrest and Valois is clamoring for your imprisonment. The magistrate and I have come up with a fitting punishment that does not place you in irons. You will be stripped of our family name and sent to assume a Barony far to the west. This barony has not had much development due to frequent monster attacks. Your mission from the crown to avoid a prison sentence is to develop this land or die trying. Do you have any questions before you depart?"
"You decided I was guilty with so much evidence to the contrary? Nevermind, it's not like it matters now. Everything has been decided and set in motion. I have two additional questions. When do I leave and what is to become of my shop in town?"
"One hour and your shop has already been closed. The 12 slaves we purchased to help with your business are traveling with you. I don't need extra mouths to feed around here if their original purpose is gone."
The magistrate started nodding his head, "Very well, Your Grace. We will consider the matter closed." Turning to Thomas he said, "Rejoice, though this seems like a punishment you've effectively started your own family line as a Baron. This does mean, however, that your previous engagements are null and void. Those arrangements were made with the son of a Duke which you are no longer. I look forward to hearing of your success."
With that the magistrate left the office, leaving father and son staring at each other awkwardly. Neither wanted to be the first to speak but Thomas broke the ice. "Well Duke Geoffrey, I think it's time I go pack for my journey. Could I request the use of a carriage to the new Barony?" Geoffrey winced, his son now treating him like a noble of a higher status rather than a father. He nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. He coughed to clear his throat and slid 2 letters across his desk to Thomas.
"Read the first once you leave the Duchy and present the 2nd to the village chief that you'll be Baron over. It should explain everything moving forward to them and give you the authority under the Crown to assume command. Good luck, Thomas."
Thomas nodded and retreated back to his room to pack, suddenly realizing that word must have gotten out. That explains why the maids refused to make eye contact earlier. They must have overheard. Thomas looked around the room that had been his effectively for a year since arriving. It was the only place that was truly his up to this point so he was sad to be leaving, especially under these circumstances.
Packing the last of his clothes into a travel pack, he quickly took it down to the carriage waiting outside. To his surprise, Gloria was there waiting with a forlorn look on her face. Unprompted, she hugged him close to her; a shock to him given her previous attitude towards him. Whispering into his ear, "Thomas, I am so sad to see you go. You were the last remaining piece of my dear friend, Victoria. Your father didn't have dalliances and she wasn't a wh*re, not to me. I lashed out at you in anger at my own weakness, unable to prevent her death. I regret that weakness everyday. Please write so I know you're okay. I'll try to arrange a visit with your father as soon as we can. Give him time, you know he loves you."
"Just not as much as he loves the name of Plantagenet. A little late but thank you for clearing up what it seemed like you hated me. It may take some time, but I'll write when I'm comfortable with a visit." Given their history, Thomas was not sure how much to believe from Gloria so he would be cautious from here on out. After all, if his father didn't care about his mother why would she?
Climbing into the carriage, Thomas looked at the mansion one last time before indicating to the coachmen to begin the journey. Even with long days of travel, it would take a week for the two carriages, one containing him and the others the slaves and luggage, to the barony. Thomas couldn't help but feel like in both lives, he was disappointed if not betrayed by his family. One for coin and the second for prestige. Remembering the notifications of successful missions completed, a determination lit in Thomas' eyes.
***Finally Host, you're ready to engage in the system missions and become the strongest. System has waited for you to finally get on board instead of go through the motions. When you get to the barony, additional missions regarding its development will be added.***
Name: Thomas
Age: 15
Level 6: 305/800
Health: 50/50
Mana: 00/100
Mana absorption rate: 5 mana/min
Breathing technique: Lazy Dragon Monarch
Bloodline: Gold Dragon Monarch
Strength: 7
Agility: 6
INT: 9
Charisma: 3
Wisdom: 5
SP:1
Free attributes: 3 (unlocked following the formation of his mana core)
Abilities: Appraisal
Description: Ability to analyze any person or thing within 2 levels of your power band. ex: you can view up to 3rd circle mages but are unable to view 3rd circle and beyond.