Chapter 46: Decisions
Fiona’s carriage took us to the gates of Castle Octavian. I knocked on the door. Manfred answered.
“Lady Ren. My apologies Lady, but your father ordered us not to let you enter.”
“I am here to deliver a message to my father.” I answered.
He nodded, “Then I am at your service. What is your message?”
“Father is waiting for me to make a choice. Tell him I have made my choice and am ready to give my answer before the whole House. I will wait here. I suspect he will have instructions for both of us once you deliver that message.”
Manfred nodded again, “I suspect that you are correct. Please wait here.”
He closed the door with a gentle hand, and I waited. He returned in less time than I expected.
“Lady Ren, your father has instructed me to bring you to the council hall.”
Duke Leon stepped forward, “You will be taking us all.”
Manfred looked up in surprise, “Her father ordered me not to allow Lady Fiona or Amy Boulanger.”
Duke Leon nodded, and I watched his face harden into granite before my eyes. “That order came from the brother of a baron. I am ordering you as your Duke. Is that clear?”
Manfred’s eyes widened, “Yes, your grace.”
Manfred led us to the council hall. The lords and ladies were filing into the house. My uncle sat in the baron’s seat at the top of the bowl. My father sat behind him.
I took my spot in the bottom center of the bowl. And waited as the others filed in. Once everyone had seated and gone quiet, my uncle stood up.
“Lords and Ladies of House Octavian, my niece has come to denounce her actions. She will renounce those actions of hers which bring shame to House Octavian.”
I shook my head, “You misunderstand my intent, your lordship. I am here to do no such thing.”
My father stood up, "You must stop this foolishness, and take your proper place! You said you were here to recant!" Father snarled.
“I said I was here to announce my choice. Nothing more.”
"That is unacceptable. Daughter, you are not listening to me. You will recant your relationship with that baker’s daughter.”
"You’re right. I'm not listening. Because, I have already decided that you are correct."
The crowd buzzed at my words.
My father smiled at this. "Excellent, then go ahead. You know what you must say, what you must do."
I nodded, "Yes. It's time to stop all this foolishness and take my proper place. I love Amy Boulanger. I say this here and to these witnesses. I will not hide it and I am not ashamed of it. I hereby abdicate my place within House Octavian, effective immediately. I give up my place in Castle Octavian. I give up my inheritance and my place in the line of succession. I give up all rights and privileges associated with House Octavian. I have given up on foolishness, and I will take my proper place."
And there it was, the rival’s ending. I had brought it on myself. Father stared, his mouth hanging open. Silence rolled across the room. Nobody spoke.
“Now.” I said into the silence, “Let’s talk about your business dealings with Hyperborea. Let's talk about Hyperborea's secret military presence in the family catacombs.”
My uncle snapped out of his stupor, “What are you talking about? This is nonsense.”
“Really? Because there are a shocking number of Hyperborean weapons in the catacombs. And almost enough Hyperborean soldiers to use them.”
“Nonsense,” My father said.
“Admittedly there are fewer of them now that Duke Leon killed the ones guarding Lynn.”
They went silent again. And then uncle spoke, “Why would the Duke of Delmar murder Hyperborean visitors? This is nonsense.”
I reached into my purse and pulled out the letters I had found. “For a start, he read these letters. Letters between yourself, father, and the late Prince Wulfric of Hyperborea. He wasn’t pleased when you agreed to promise your daughter to the prince as a distraction. He was less pleased when you agreed to smuggle weapons and soldiers into his Duchy. He became angry when you agreed to aid in an invasion. All in exchange for a place in the puppet government that Hyperborea planned to set up.”
I paused. This time nobody tried to speak.
In the silence Aunt Theresa stood. She turned to her husband, her face set. And then Theresa slapped her husband. The baron shook his face but remained silent. And my father stood. He stepped between the baron and his wife. He struck Theresa with an iron fast backhanded blow. I gasped along with the crowd as Aunt Theresa fell to the ground unconscious. The hall filled with whispers.
As the whispers subsided, I collected myself and began speaking again.
“Duke Delmar considered dissolving House Octavian,” I said.
The crowd went silent again.
I continued, “And in fact that option is still on the table. Anyone who wishes can look out the windows.”
Heads turned and people ran to the windows.
“For those of you not near a window,” I said, “The Duke has Delmar’s marines surrounding Castle Octavian. So, as I said, what you decide here and now will determine whether House Octavian survives. Duke Delmar has annulled Lady Carolynn’s marriage to the late Prince Wulfric. The duke has done this on the basis of these letters and at the request of the lady herself. She is once again first in line of succession. He will not allow House Octavian to survive with Giles or Jean Octavian within its ranks. My lords and ladies, you can save House Octavian. But you must cut out the cancer that brought you to the edge of destruction.”
“This is nonsense!” My father yelled into the silence.
“You keep saying that word father. Does your study not have a dictionary? Or have you been too busy reading that book about the Catacombs?”
My father snarled at me.
I laughed.
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