Chapter 11 - How to become a Duke

"Well then I will give you an overview off your holdings and such later on but first. Hmm." She paused and mustered me again then nodded. "You haven't been exactly raised to be a duke and according to what your friends told me you want to be a decent one correct?" She said with a firm voice. I didn't hesitated and nodded in response. "Good, good. I will start by giving you some simple questions. Once that is done we will see how well you did."

She raised her hand cutting off and protest. "Some would say you dont have to." You could hear the distaste in her old rough voice. "Well you will always find some fools, after teaching your two friends I decided to at least try and see where you are lacking in knowledge." The last thing we want is an duke that will fail in the first weeks of her new job. She looked at me with eyes that basically said 'don't you dare to disappoint me young lady'.

"Um .. I mean sure I can take your test and I wouldnt mind having a bit more reading material that is on topic." She chuckled. "I doubt that books alone will help there. No three, four tutors should do the trick for the next two years. Your friend Marie is a bright head, dont tell her that I said that!" She commanded with a firm voice but I could hear a hint of amusement. "But she really has huge gabs about practical application and such."

"You friend Johanna is an airhead at least with knowledge about government. I mean if someone is foolish enough to threaten you I am certain she is helpful and most likely with all those military fools, but beyond that?" She shook her head slightly. "Still she is loyal and the word of a loyal friend is worth a lot more then of an untrusted advisor at the end of the day. So you have your work cut out and not to many trustworthy sources."

She opened her desk and took out a huge pile of paper, enough to be a small book, then put it Infront of me. "Well shall we start?" she said with a small smile. I groaned inwardly before taking the first page to let my quill dance over the lines.

Three exhausting hours later ...

My finger was hurting as well as my brain. The questions started of easy and got more and more complicated up to the point that I was writing answers but most of them where pure guess work and assumptions. The questions where mostly about laws and managing a Dukedom somewhere about the customs of the city and a selected few even where going into questions about mirage and laws regarding that. Then there was a long exhausting list of questions about how to behave at court. I was not allowed to to leave empty space even if I had no clue, so I had to write my best guess.

The old lady was already checking my previous answered sheets commenting and writing into a note book next to her. Before writing comments on the pages in red inc. Her face was still as unmoving and strict as it was when I began. After five more page my hand finally touched the hard wood of the desk were the paged had rested. "Finally!" I almost jelled happily. She just nodded her head and I noticed that she was only one paper behind me which means she was working scarily fast.

I watched her silently when she picked up the last paper and read what I had written within short moments before noted something down and writing a comment on this page as well, before putting everything neatly away into her desks. "Well then ..." she said with her monotone voice. "I will write you a summery of where you need to improve if you want to. Additionally I will write my approval for the king and queen. You didnt do to bad all things considered but you need to really learn a lot if you want to manage your dukedom successfully."

I raised my eyebrow. I never went to a formal school but we had something similar were all the young ones of the tribes and visitors would be taught every day by the most experienced in any given subject. And I know that back then I woundt have bee able to make even an educated guess about most of the topics asked. I still only nodded to her and listen.

She went in a bit more details about where I need to improve and where I was a bit off in my knowledge and after another hour more of that, she went through me over the general holdings I was to gain. It was mostly the Dukedom of Laris, which contained a small city, an mining town, an spa town and some small surrounding Villages. As well as three Castles at the border, and their Villages. Additionally, there where a lot of business enterprises owned by the old duke. But the Dukes own records would help to show better which one was mine.

After two more hours I was finally released. Elaina had waited in a room next to us reading through some reports aprarently. The table was full with different documents and notes. She looked up and smiled. "She finally let you go hm?" I chuckled and nodded. "Apparently I did not to bad all things considered." Elaina looked surprised then smiled. "That's quite high approval coming from her. Give me a moment please to finish the report and we can go on were ever you plan to go next." I nodded and peeked curious at the paper. "I was trying to find out if the girl has been active as an assassin before. But it doesnt look like it."

I nodded. "So it was really a rushed job. Have they talked yet?" she nodded. "Yes and thats the problem. They are telling to much bullshit so it will take some time to get the truth out of them. Thankfully while you are in danger of a repeat attempt there are no signs of extreme danger so we will not rush this." I nodded and let her writ her final notes then helped her gather it all before we left for some more reading in the library.

The next days were a blur of learning and improving my knowledge it seems that if a duke was serious about their business, they did need a general understanding of almost anything. Thankfully in my time of being a desert patrol and Carawan guard as well as the many, many hours spend reading did give me a lot of general knowledge.

On the day of the judgment I was woken again, like every other day, by the sun gently shining on me. I could have closed the curtains, but it was honestly one of the few things I liked that I gained from being in that prison. You hardly can read without light, so I usually went to bed early and raised up as soon as it was bright enough. Now however I had all the light one could ask for in form of candles and oil lamps. All of them however where made with aroma so it didnt smell like half the palace was burning. Instead your nose was assaulted in an interesting and gentle way.

"Good morning." the captain said when i stepped out of my room. She was again sitting in the front chamber. She clearly had a bath and a fresh uniform and looked like she had more then enough sleep. How she did that while sleeping less then I did, I had no idea. "Good morning sooo how is the order of business today?" She smiled and opened the door for me guiding us towards the dinning room once more.

"First a lavish breakfast, then we will go to the chamber of judges where we will remain until the end of the trial. Then it will go straight to the ceremony of giving over the title of duke to you. This is of course only the emergency ceremony. The official ceremony of you becoming the duke will be happening in summer. So in 3 ... 4 months. At the great midsummer festival when everybody gathers together in the capital to celebrate."

"I was appointed your assistant for this since we know each other already and I can double as a guard if needed. Johanna and Marie will join us after the ceremony when we go to meet your future wifes finally." She explained when we entered the empty hall. As it has been every morning over the past week. The two servants presents greeted us with a small bow and i waved back to them before starting my meal.

The breakfast went by quickly we chatted a bit about the day ahead of us. After we were finished I went through the experienced hands of some of the handmaiden of the queen who spend some time to style my hair and fur as well as arrange my dress so that I would give off a good impression. I learned that after the trial I would have to come back to them for a second round. The tree young women spend the whole time chatting asking questions and had in general a quite good time while doing strange and confusing things to my hair but in the end I looked a lot more stylish, knew that one of the cooks mark was in a relationship with one of the gardeners John and Francis the guard at the same time, and forgot for a short moment were my next goal was.

Leaving them my cloth were a more simplistic style. An assembly of a shirt and long skirt that was more common for the tribes then the palace and I assumed that my aunt was mainly the reason for that. I bet that for the ceremony I would wear something more lavish but that would come later. I was guided by Elaine to a specific seat in the giant hall of judgment. It had a huge podium in the center where the king and queen were going to sit. Bellow them where three Judges that seem to be the guiding voice in most trials.

The halls did fill quickly, and many did look towards me when they filed in. I assumed that I was seated at a more specific position telling everybody that I was part of the trial. Sadly I havent read that many books on trail customs yet so it was all new to me. When all the ranks where full they big doors at the end opened and the duke was led in. Even through it had been 8 years since I saw him last, I recognized him right away. He however just looked straight ahead not saying a word while he moved his heavy body to his seat.

Once he was sitting a loud: "All raise!" Echod through the chambers and once everybody was standing the judges filled in taking their seats. Shortly after that the king and queen with their arms hocked into each other walked in. Both looked like they were relaxed but at the same time wore a serious look.

The trail to be honest was really boring for me. The King repeated in detail what the Duke was accused off and asked if he duke would admit to his crime right now and honor his agreement with the crown. For which the duke spoke the only two words in the whole trial. "I do."

The masses where in a mild uproar most had heard the long list and knew what a conviction after a court case would mean but then the king proclaimed the punishment. "Duke Tashirm Aram-duka of Laris you have plead guilty in all charges. Your punishment in accordance with the tradition and laws is that you will be imprisoned for 8 years the same amount you kept your victim captive, after these you will be released onto a merchant ship of your own choosing that will leave the kingdom and be banished from this realm for 10 years." The king paused and most people around seemed to agree with he punishment so far. "To safe those that depend on your rule and to compensate your victim the crown will transfer all lawful contracts and ranks to your Victim, Lady Misra Siderim De Juras."

The court exploded in Uproar after the king had finished the last sentence and sanctioned it with the heavy royal seal on the trial documents. The former duke had his mouth agape but managed to calm himself quite quickly even through you could see the rage behind his eyes. I bet he still had not understood what the transfer of a all lawful contracts to me would mean. Neither had I to be honest. After this two guards escorted the old duke outside on the way to his new home. The uproar itself didnt manifest an clear emotion. I could hear everything. From cheerfulness to anger. After the duke was escorted out a lot of eyes rested on me. Some were hostile but most seemed to be quite curious about all of this.

With a second "All Raise!" that masses went silent when they did raise and the King and Queen left the room. I as well was ushered outside by the captain to be redressed into an more fitting outfit. This dress was full of glamour and insignia. It was obliviously designed for the royal court, but they neatly added the missing tail hole. It was a dress that prominently featured two insignias one was the royal Lion the other was the strong tree of Laris.

Before it was fitted, I was rushed to another session with the handmaidens, and learned how exited everybody was and how lars had told them that the old duke had sworn revenge and Magrit had kissed Katerin during the court session. With my head once more filled with interesting details I got to some of the most exciting and boring hours of my life. I was presented to the court. To be sworn in and to take an oath on the kings sword. When I did read about the adventures of old I did not expected the rituals to be this ... mundane and even through the attendance was quite high it was clear that it was not the most important ceremony of all times.

The highlight of the ceremony was finally when after an hour of standing around and the master of the ceremony explaining two times in a row what the duty of the duke was, I finally was asked to steep Infront of the crown. The king and queen did each hold one unsheathed sword in their hands. I knew that the one in the kings hand was the sword of the crown while the Queen had the old sword representing the dukedom of Laris.

The queen steeped infront of me. "Misra Siderim De Juras of the tribes. In recognition of the great service that you did for the kingdom in bringing this deeply rooted criminal to justice as well as to repay you for the great injustice done to you by the hands of a servant of this crown, we the Royal house of Turgal wish to reward you with an title. Kneel Infront of the crown." I smiled and followed her command. She spoke with a clear trained voice, that carried far in the full hall. Now she stepped back and the king stood in front of me. "Repeat after me " I honestly cant remember most of what I repeated after this point.

Because in that very moment it hit me. I was going to be a duke. I a stranger in this strange city. Ruling over some strangers that I never met. For some strangers that I only knew for a week. And living together within an house full of strangers that I never had meet before as a family non the less. All of that, because I had been hold in a dark damp cell for eight years. I regained my sences just when I repeated the end of a sentence. "... I swear that I will serve you truthfully and me and my family will stand by the crown from this point onwards." I hope I will get a copy of all the stuff that I pledged to uphold from somewere. Maybe from marie. I tried my best to stay calm

When the ceremony was over and everybody left. The king and queen congratulated me before leaving as well. I was guided outside and rejoined with Johanna and Marie who both wore the color of the duke of Laris. My color. It was a simple white tree on black ground. My head was swirling with thoughts. Just one week. Just one week ago I was a nobody in a prison cell with no hope, no goal, no dreams. But now? Now I was worried and exited to what laid ahead. Captain Elaina bowed before me with a smile.

"Milady I am here to escort you to your home and your wives, if you so wish, and explain to them the kings order. After that I am to help and train your guards, if you would allow me, till the king is certain that his new Duke will not fall victim to an assassin. Many if not all of the old dukes guard will most likely need to be replaced so if you would not mind we will bring a sizeable escort to take over the duty of those so nothing gets misplaced."

I smiled. "I gladly accept all those offers thank you dear, have they received any news about what is going on?" She shook her head. "They should hear about it all by now from the official royal messenger." I sighed and just hope that the messenger does his job correctly and explains what it means for them. I nodded to her while we walked towards the palace gate.

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Sooooo next chapter intrduces the home and with that part of the future family ^^ this chapter was tricky because i didnt wanted to spend time on the ceremony or the trail but if it was to short it might feel pointless. Hence the its currently just a "Field" promotion till next year. The chambermaids were just a last minute addition but i loved them a lot. But now we finally left the Prologe that explained everything xD and enter the main potion of poor marisa conquereing the hearts of her future wifes. ^^ I hope you all liked it ;) And till next time