Chapter 3

Ludwig's mouth twitched as if he was suppressing a smile, but he said solemnly, "Yerika will come for you."

"She already is," Aiden promptly responded.

"I think you know very well what I am talking about."

Aiden frowned.

"Unlike others, I do not intend to let those I love come to harm by her hand."

Ludwig leaned forward.

"Your truly have grown up and become brazen. To think you would mock me to my face… Very well. A future King should exhibit some amount of boldness."

*

The first thing Jeremiah did was take care of the servants, and hold back the hot headed second son of Hannah and Pascal from running to the Third Prince's palace and wrecking a havoc there. Saul only settled down when his older brother Michael thumped him on the head and growled at him to stay put.

"You've only become more unbridled since you've started spending more time with the young master. Since you have so much energy," Michael glared as he dropped a large sack in front of him, " you can peel the potatoes."

Saul paled when when saw the sack.

"Are we trying to feed an army?!"

"Yes, we are. <i>Your</i> army in fact. And there are two more sacks after this one," he growled, making Saul flinch.

Jeremiah had to hold her laughter. Despite the fact that Saul towered over Michael and had a good deal more muscle than him, he was scared of him. Michael had a steady character usually but his brother had a knack for driving him up the wall. In fact, the time when Saul was on expedition was the longest she had seen him go without losing his cool. Michael and Saul looked similar in appearance otherwise, with ordinary brown hair and eyes, just like their mother.

Despite Prince Luther's intrusion, they had to carry on with the preparations. Usually, a small feast was held in welcome for the returning master and his men after an expedition. Otherwise, all the men ate from the rations made at their barracks or they arranged for their own meals.

The suddenness of the expedition's return causing there to be lesser time to prepare for the feast was likely adding to Michael's foul mood, on top of Saul's impulsiveness and Pascal's injury. It was easy to see that the latter especially was frustrating him, but he was choosing to not do anything about it. Other than bullying his rash brother into submission.

Jeremiah also had things to do. Her plan to start a cake shop was relatively simple. As a noble, she had access to the Count's properties in the capital of Premsil, and she could also purchase or rent a shop. However, her plan had been to withdraw from nobility and live out of high society.

Years of being subjected to abuse and isolation had made her averse to continuing to interact with nobility. Her horrible engagement had also put her off from seeking to marry anyone. It wasn't that she was against love and marriage. Rather, she valued it all the more after seeing her parents' love. No, she was just not optimistic about finding love herself. Additionally, withdrawing from high society would limit her options, even if one did not take into account the fact that nobody would want to marry her so long as Luther held some semblance of power, even if the King himself had assured her that wouldn't be the case.

So, for the foreseeable future, she would be single and involved in business. A very unconventional route for a noble lady.

But what she had to take into account now was her new title and fief. She could leave the latter to her father for now, but even so her title gave her unprecedented power, and unwanted attention. Jeremiah felt a headache come on as she thought about the nobles who would still try to approach her in spite of the King's warning.

She sat in her room and laid down her plans on paper. As evening drew near, she dressed with the help of her maid and went to greet her father.

Count Rubel looked tired. The day's dealings had exhausted him even more than the continuous battles. But given how refreshed and peaceful Jeremiah looked, he felt a bit relieved.

There was one thing he was sorry for, and that his powerlessness to stop her engagement to Prince Luther. As Jeremiah walked down and greeted him, he gently patted her head. He was proud that she broke away by herself. She walked beside him, Dale on the other side, as they walked into the large garden where the knights were gathered and waiting. They made an impressive sight with their navy blue and silver uniforms.

There were a total of 80 knights in the company. Some of them still sported injuries from the ambush the previous day, but they stood straight and tall. They saluted and greeted the Count and his children.

Jeremiah looked at all of them, thankful that they were all back. It was right then that there was a bit of a commotion at the gates. A servant came running to the Count and whispered to him, making him frown.

"I'll come to the gates."

Count Rubel looked at his children, then told Dale to come with him. Puzzled, he followed.

A few minutes later, they came back… with the First Prince. Prince Aiden had also joined the expedition, so it was natural for him to join the feast as well. But nobody expected him to do so.

He walked in front of the Count and Dale as his position was much higher. But when they reached the garden, he turned to the Count and said, "As leader of the expedition, it is only right that you sit at the head of the table. Do not trouble yourself on my account."

Rubel knew better than to argue with the Prince over this. Having spent the better part of the year fighting with him on the border of the kingdom, the Prince had always deferred to his authority. Today would be no different.

The Prince then looked at Jeremiah, who flinched, then bowed in greeting. He nodded in response.

Jeremiah wanted to thank him for earlier, but this wasn't the time to do so.

As luck would have it, she had the opportunity soon enough. When they sat down at the table set for the main family, Aiden sat right beside her.

As they ate, a comfortable silence pervaded the table. The feast was extravagant, despite the short preparation time. The Count was happy that they could show this much honour at least to the Prince. Meanwhile, Dale was surreptitiously observing the Prince and his sister. He was curious about the two of them, especially after the way the Prince had defended Jeremiah, but while the two of them were sitting next to each other, it was clear that they were perfect strangers.

Eventually, the Count started speaking.

"Jeremiah."

"Yes, my lord?" She answered. Since it was a formal setting, she would need to address him by title.

"I am proud of you, for enduring, and for taking back your freedom with your own hands. But I am also sorry that I could do nothing about it."

Nobody at the table didn't know what the Count was referring to.

"My lord, no, father," Jeremiah replied softly, "I could only do that because I could trust you to be there and protect me."

The Count smiled at his daughter.

Prince Aiden, who was quietly observing the interaction, gave a smile of his own. That caused Dale to choke on a piece of meat he was eating. The Prince had not smiled once in all the time they were together. In fact, he was the pinnacle of stoicism. But to see a gentle expression on his face shocked him. He hadn't seen the Prince smiling at Jeremiah in the court.

As all attention was suddenly upon him, he felt his face grow hot.

"Ahem… Don't mind me…" he muttered.

The Count frowned at him. Jeremiah watched her brother as he tried to look anywhere but at the three of them.

"Thank you, First Prince," she said softly, taking advantage of the distraction.

The Prince didn't respond. She wasn't sure he had heard her. But then he nodded in acknowledgement.

The knights, who were at the other tables a level below their own, were enjoying the feast before them. It had been a while since they had eaten so well. They did not maintain a quiet atmosphere as they were already used to Prince Aiden's presence, but they were not as rowdy as usual either. Most of them didn't yet know what had transpired that morning.

When they were finished with their meal, the desserts were brought out.

"Hmm… did you make this?" Dale asked Jeremiah, who nodded in affirmation. "Oh great! I missed your cooking!"

"Dale…" the Count called out in warning, "Mind your manners."

"It's fine, father. After all the Prince is someone we all know very well. Except Jeremiah."

"Don't mind me, Count Rubel. Besides," Prince Aiden looked at Jeremiah, "I look forward to eating Lady Jeremiah's cooking."

Jeremiah was a bit embarrassed. All she had made was a simple caramel custard. But the Prince seemed to enjoy it just as well. Dale and the Count were both astonished to see him eat with gusto.

It was a good feast, and a good day.

*

As the Prince prepared to leave, Dale, who was going to escort him out, quietly spoke to him.

"Are you fond of my sister?"

The Prince paused for a second but then continued putting on his cape and sword. The servant who was helping him had hastily left when Dale dismissed him.

"Is it a matter of concern if I am?"

Dale mulled over the question.

"No. But what does concern me is Queen Yerika."

Prince Aiden looked at Dale. Dale, as much as he appeared to be carefree and frivolous, was really a responsible man. He had to be, in order to succeed his father's title. But he also had a very discerning and intuitive side, which was evident in the way he quickly brought up the possibility of the Prince favouring Jeremiah.

"You don't have to concern yourself. I have no intention of taking a wife until I have removed the threat of Yerika from the Kingdom."

Dale was shocked at that response.

"Is… isn't that a bit extreme? I know the Queen opposes your right to the throne but…"

"Yes it is extreme. But it isn't extreme because <i>I</i> want it to be that way. I only respond to provocation in kind," Prince Aiden quipped.

A bloody battle. Dale could foresee it. But when would it happen, and how bloody the lead up to it would be? Given how reckless the recent ambush already was, he didn't dare to think.

"If you need it, you will have my sword, Your Highness."

Prince Aiden raised an eyebrow.

"You only address me respectfully now?"

"Well, I should show this much respect to the future King," Dale said lightly as he fixed the Prince's collar.

'Really,' the Prince thought, 'if it were someone else, Dale would have already lost his tongue.'

"What makes you think I am interested in your sister?" He asked curiously.

"You don't like sweet things, but you ate two bowls of custard, While I know my sister cooks well, she isn't that great a cook, certainly not enough to make someone who has no sweet tooth eat twice as much as me."

Prince Aiden quietly noted to himself to keep his preference for Jeremiah and the lack thereof for sweets better hidden.

*

The maid was trembling as she handed the letter.

"Leave."

The voice was soft and, some may even say, beautiful and delicate. But the scurrying maid didn't think so. She snorted as she read the letter.

"My foolish son has gone and done it again. Well, no matter."

Yerika took the letter and placed it over a candle. As the letter burned, she snapped her fingers. A gruff voice replied from the shadows.

"My lady?"

"Get ready to set out. It's time I return home."

In the dim moonlight, Yerika peered out of the sole window of the room as she muttered to herself, "It' time I start paying close attention to my dearest son."

*

Jeremiah slept peacefully that night. The best sleep she had had in years. When she woke up the next morning, she immediately set to lay the groundwork for her new career. First, she would need her father's permission.

She found the Count seated in his office, peering over the affairs of the estate. Everything had been left to the butler, who remained in their fief, and he had managed everything well by working with Jeremiah, who was left in charge at the capital. All said and done, despite the pressure on her, she was a well organized and competent woman.

So when the same daughter came to him and said that she wanted to quit high society and work at her own dessert shop, he was not surprised, nor did he think she would fail.

Listening to Jeremiah lay out her plans and look anxiously at Count Rubel for his approval made him chuckle.

"You are a Viscountess now, Miah. You can do whatever you want so long as you don't overstep your authority or station."

Jeremiah felt her face grow hot.

"That… the title was not something I expected…"

"None of us expected it, least of all me that my daughter would gain an independent title before even my son," the Count shook his head. "But are you sure you want to do this? You will face even bigger obstacles if you decide to do this. And it's not just regarding the shop. Nobody will be willing to accept you quitting high society, especially after the King has shown you much favour and given you a title and fief. They might think that you're trying to consolidate your power in secret, or hand it over to me and strengthen our position. Even though Sarim is small and rather worthless."

"Sarim is not completely worthless," she said softly. "It has a sugar industry. Not a very strong one, but a decent one still."

The Count stared at Jeremiah. He had completely forgotten about that as Sarim was a fairly small fief next to theirs. He snorted.

"Are you sure you didn't lay your plans before the King? By gifting you control over sugar trade…"

Jeremiah had nothing to say to that. Part of her shock when she had received her title and the fief was related to Sarim. It had a robust agricultural industry for the growing of sugarcane, and its sugar industry had developed in tandem with it. Sugar was still pretty expensive and was considered a luxurious commodity. Those who were aware of the wealth that sugar could bring in would stop at nothing to gain control over it.

And the King had just handed it to her like it was nothing. The Count was right to suspect that the King knew of her plans. It's what she felt as well.

Being the master of Sarim would mean she could acquire sugar at a lower price, without being taxed for it. It was an unexpected boon as sugar was definitely one of the most expensive ingredients for cakes and desserts.

Starting a business was an expensive venture, and every subsidy was worth it. In addition, Jeremiah could also develop the sugar industry more with the Count's support. It was an unexpected windfall.

But that also made her apprehensive. King Ludwig could use this opportunity to get greater control over the Hestia family. As such, she thought it was better if she kept the Sarim estate separate from the Hestia estate until she was sure the King wasn't trying to use her.

Although Count Rubel Hestia was a Royalist, he was different from other Royalists in that he didn't invest so much in the political sphere but in the military one. While it would be too much to say that he had the Royal Family depending on him to manage the safety of the border, his contribution to it was definitely not minimal. In fact, the Count was probably already planning another excursion to the border soon. Nobody freely used their fief's resources to protect Amisdale as much as the Count did. Naturally, the resources he gained back from the endeavour were also enormous.

The Count mulled over the matter, but then gave up. He had no knack for politics and he hated dealing with underhanded and sly nobles. But he was at least confident that he could push back against whatever motive King Ludwig had, should it come down to it.

So he gave Jeremiah permission.

Now, what Count Rubel did was a bit unconventional too because most nobles would use marriage as a means to secure deals for themselves. But he had never done so himself when he had married a commoner, using his own strength to build his power, and he had instilled the same value in Dale. Naturally, he didn't take advantage of Jeremiah's engagement to gain power for himself or the Royalists either. He had no intention to tie Jeremiah down.

It was a unique family in every way.

But what Jeremiah hadn't counted on was high society's increased interest in her. She found herself drowning in a stack of invitations to tea and parties when she had finished talking to the Count. And the one at the top of the list of invitations was one from Marquis Harrison. More precisely, it was from Jewel Harrison.