Chapter 196: Chapter 196 - A New Home
A few days later, we are in a meeting in the Palace.
Grandpa Halinard, Grandma Thieda, Uncle Jyllian, Lovelace, and me.
Mother said something about the separation between Religion and State to explain her absence. Which makes sense.
Her divinity also puts me as second in the line of succession. Which is sad. I don’t want to be queen. I would even avoid being a Duchess if it were possible at all. But it’s too late for that now.
"And that is the agreement signed by Princess Urraca of Castro and Princess Aurea, as the commanders of the two armies. That is the basis for our truce."
Lovelace was just finishing her report on the terms I discussed with Urraca on the peace deal.
Of course they had already heard what happened, but in a meeting like this it’s always good to begin by dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
"The war was not a declared war from the nations involved but rather a crusade called by the Church itself. The nations sent troops to the Church at their request. So I’m not sure how bound those nations are to any peace settlement."
"Oh, don’t worry about that, Aurea."
My grandfather was smiling like a kid who just got a new videogame.
"You did your part, which was to win the war. And you did it splendorously. You may rest on your laurels, for you did well."
"Yes, what father said is true. Your handling of the hidden army under your command was astounding, and the way you fought in the Steelgarden Battle is fit to be sung by bards for the centuries to come."
"You made your grandma very proud, little Aurea. You showed those guys what happens when someone messes with Wesgoth."
I can’t with those compliments... I...
"It’s okay, Aurea. It’s okay..."
Only when grandma say those words do I notice that I’m crying. I feel like something really heavy has been lifted from my shoulders.
She comes to sit at my side on the sofa and hugs me, which bursts open the dams. The next moment, I’m sobbing on her shoulder.
"It’s okay, it’s okay... You did well, Aurea. You saved our country, and everyone is so happy and grateful to you for it."
I don’t know why I’m crying or why I feel so relieved like this, but the tears and sobs just keep coming, and I’m unable to do anything about it.
After a couple of minutes, I finally manage to regain my composure and get back to the meeting.
"I’m sorry for the unsightly scene."
"No problem, Aurea. You had a heavy weight over you, the hopes and lives of all inhabitants of Wesgoth. An ordinary person your age would have crushed, but you owned it instead. It’s normal to feel like that after such a monumental job."
Grandpa’s smile is as warm and welcoming as his words are wise. That’s a king for you.
"Thank you, grandpa. Grandma. Everyone. Thank you."
"We should be the ones thanking you, my niece. I wouldn’t be able to do half of what you did there."
Can we please stop focusing on me so much, everyone? We have to talk about the peace deal...
"Erm... about the deal. Did I overstep?"
"No. As the commander of our forces, you did the right thing. And the terms you presented are good as well. The Church will be demoralized after that battle, so I don’t think that the kingdoms will oppose some of the points. And they will probably shove the paying of reparations onto the Church itself. The thing they will probably whine about is the repatriation of slaves under them."
Everyone nods at the king’s words, which are then complemented by the Crown Prince.
"Exactly. But we might end up getting a compromise, in which they agree to send back anyone who is enslaved after this date but not the older ones. It isn’t optimal, but it’s a step up. Don’t worry about it. Father and I will catch up from here."
"Yes, Aurea. Go to your new home, the manor reserved for the Duchess of Altenfeld, and take some time for yourself. Rest and recover before tackling any other task. This is an order I’m issuing as the king.
"Huh? But the beastin..."
"Some people have brought to my attention how prone you are to overworking yourself. Well, Lovelace here will be with you, and she will be the one with the authority to let you go back to work. Other people will be facilitating the coming of the beastkin to your territory. Trust your subordinates."
"Okay... I will."
:::
The manor is an old building at the top of a small hill overlooking the city of Altenfeld, the capital of the province I’m the Duchess of.
The city is a big and bustling one, directly north from East Rising. It controls the trade between the central and northeastern regions of the kingdom.
Altenfeld is known for its big open market and also for the several crafts made from materials gathered from the monsters of the Barren Wilds, which are coveted throughout the continent.
And is now my home. The capital of a big territory, about a third of the size of Switzerland. A territory I now govern.
There is a portal from the palace directly to the manor, but I decided to take the scenic route. We used a portal to the road just outside the city and entered through the main gate.
Yaci, Lovelace, and I. Ingela went to her family’s home to spend some quality time there but will come visit us soon.
We don’t have an entourage, nor any grand anything to announce us. The three of us are wearing plain clothes, something any commoner would use. I’m just using an illusion to conceal my giveaway red hair.
After all, I want to catch a glimpse of the true nature of the city and people I’m going to govern. And I won’t be able to do it if I come as the duchess.
I just hope nobody recognizes any of us.