Crowns of Heritage

Chapter 81-An Important Meeting

(ROSEMARY'S P.O.V)

I remained standing in front of the mirror, in the opposite direction. While Lucy and the seamstress helped me into my dress. I slowly turned around when the seamstress told me to have a look.

When I turned around, I was amazed as I looked at myself in the mirror. The ball gown fitted perfectly, I was glad that I changed the color of my dress from light pink to an olive color. Since I won't be wearing a disguise this time, my dress really suited my natural look.

“Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?”, the seamstress asked.

“It fits perfectly, I really love it.”, I said, “Thank you for making such a gorgeous dress”, I said.

The seamstress chuckled as she watched me spin around in the dress.

“I only took the princesses measurements, the actual dresses were personally made by our shop's owner.”, she said.

“The owner of the shop?”, I asked.

The seamstress nodded, “She personally wanted to make it herself,” she added.

I was about to say something else but was interrupted by the clapping sound she made.

“Now Princess, let's pick a hairstyle that would suit your dress," she said.

I nodded my head.

After staying in the dressing room for two hours, I finally chose a hairstyle and Duchess Mary, and the seamstress helped me pick out accessories that would go well with my dress.

When we were done in the dressing room, the seamstress remained in the room. While Duchess Mary, Lucy and I toured the castle. The castle was massive, even though I've been here for a while, I haven't really explored the entire castle.

We were still on the third floor and walked to the left wing of the castle. We walked down until we reached a room that sat on the right side of the hall. When we entered it was a room filled with portraits and various items that looked very old and historic.

“This room is filled with history from the previous rulers and royal family members of the Winter Kingdom.”, Duchess Mary explained as we walked around the room.

There were over a hundred portraits. What really stood out to me was that all the previous rulers all had the same gray eyes as Sage and our father, the only difference was their hair colors.

When we continued to walk around the room, Duchess Mary stood in front of a portrait of Queen Malaysia.

“Your grandmother Malaysia, was the second woman in the Winter lineage to inherit the throne. She was an amazing female general who fought in wars before she met King Lincoln. They met on the battlefield, and she found out he was her destined partner.” Duchess Mary explained.

I was shocked for a moment until I realized Sage and Prince Antonio met the same way.

“I haven't brought Sage into this room yet, because I didn't want her to feel discouraged, when she sees her destined partner again.”, she said.

I looked over at Duchess Mary, “Are you concerned that she would end up like our grandmother and live an unhappy life?”, I asked.

Duchess Mary shook her head, “No, unlike Malaysia who was an only child. Sage has you by her side, and has a more solid support system then Malaysia had, while enduring life inside that palace”, she said. “When the two kingdoms combined, the nobles from the Vanuatu kingdom gave Malaysia a very hard time during the first couple of years. The nobles from the Winter Kingdom would retaliate and take up for their Queen. It caused many fights between the nobles and they split into factions. Lincoln ended up taking another Queen because of the pressure from the Vanuatu side of the nobles. Even now, there is division between the nobles who were rooted in both of the kingdoms. I wish that she doesn't have to experience the same thing, when she marries into another Kingdom.”, she said.

I was trying to process everything she was saying, “Is this the main reason for the rebellion?”, I asked curiously.

She nodded, “After Moises was exiled, the Duke and Morgan decided it was time to separate the two kingdoms again. But, since the majority of the commoners and some nobles who followed behind Moises from both Kingdoms. We decided it should remain one kingdom so the citizens wouldn't suffer because of the noble society. The rebellion was planned, when King Lincoln decided to Crown Marshall over Morgan for the throne.”, she explained.

We were interrupted when a maid entered the room.

“My lady, your guest has arrived.”, the maid said.

“Come now my dear, I have someone I want you to meet from my side of the family.”, she said.

“Who?”, I asked,curiously.

“Lady Victoria, she's my relative's youngest daughter”, she said.

(DUKE WINTER’S P.O.V)

After traveling for a couple of hours, we finally made it to the capital city in the central region. We made our way to the palace and the guards opened up the gates. Captain Capilano pulled in front of the entrance of the palace. He got out of the car and helped me, while Peyton helped Sage out of the car. Captain Capilano handed the keys to the guard, so he could move the car while we walked towards the palace.

I looked at Sage and saw that she wasn't as nervous anymore. She looked ahead confidently and I smiled a little.

One of the palace guards escorted us to the conference rooms. While walking through the palace, I noticed Peyton looked a little concerned. I'm certain she's having mixed emotions about returning to the palace after a long time.

Captain Capilano and Peyton stood in the hall with the other guards. While the palace guard opened the door for Sage and I.

When Sage and I entered the conference, I immediately noticed that Viscount James wasn't in the room. The seat arrangement was divided as usual, the leaders of the aristocratic faction sat on the left side of the room while the noble faction sat on the right side of the room. The ones who remained neutral sat in the middle of the room.

Sage and I took our seats next to Morgan, Duke Pordigase and Count Vaughan and a couple of other noblemen and their successors who followed Morgan.

I looked across the room where Prince Marshall, Duke Haverhill and his successor, Count Livens, and Marquess Francis and two more noblemen that followed behind Prince Marshall.

Duke Vernon, Young Duke Nashi, Countess Katsura, Marquess Lombard, and Count Lapland sat in the middle of the room.

King Lincoln sat in one of his chairs in front of the room.

“Before we get started, I received some terrible news that Viscount James’ wife was murdered and found hanging in their garden. He will be excused from the conference, in his time of grieving”, he said.

Too bad, I wanted to see the suffering on his face, I thought to myself.

I heard everyone gasp and whisper amongst themselves as I watched their facial expressions change. Count Livens and Prince Marshall looked surprised.

“King Lincoln, I would like to report something before we get started.”, I said while looking directly at that bastard.

“What would you like to report, Duke Winter ”, he asked, while looking uninterested.

“A few days ago, some assassins broke into my castle and tried to harm Sage. During the incident, her sister ended up getting injured and was unconscious for a while. She recently recovered and will also be having her debutante alongside Princess Sage”, I said.

I heard everyone in the room gasp again. King Lincoln looked unaware of the situation. So did Prince Marshall from the looks he was giving.

I noticed as Count Livens and Marquess Francis flinched a bit. I knew it, you two sons of bitches, I thought to myself.

(SAGE P.O.V)

When I first entered the conference room, my attention was on Duke Haverhill's and Nashi. When Duke Winter and I took our seats next to Prince Morgan. I felt Nashi and Duke Haverhill staring at me.

After hearing about the nobleman who wanted to harm me didn't attend the conference due to his wife's death. I knew Nathan and my grandfather had to be involved in that. I was relieved that I didn't have to see that man.

When Duke Winter started to speak and told King Lincoln about the attempt on my life. I watched his expression as well. From the look on his face, he didn't know anything about it.

After the commotion in the room, quiet down a bit. King Lincoln started to speak again.

“Were the intruders caught or did they get away, Duke Winter?”, he asked, looking directly at Duke Winter.

I thought it was weird that he didn't ask me personally.

“The three intruders were killed by Princess Sage and Her sister Princess Rosemary, they fought against them on their own'' Duke Winter replied.

I heard gasping again.

“I guess they take after their father after all. That foolish son of mine”, King Lincoln said, in an arrogant tone while smirking “For them to be illegitimate children” he added.

You bastard, I mumbled and felt Duke Winter placed his hand on the top of my hand after I balled my fist under the table.

I heard Prince Marshall clear his throat.

“Let's get started”, King Lincoln said, "This is an important meeting. We have many things to discuss.", he added

The man Marquess Lombard, one of the king's advisors, got up from his seat and walked in front of King Lincoln.

“I received a letter from the Avalorian Kingdom, the delegation will be arriving in a few days to discuss Princess Sarah's marriage and the peace treaty. They will remain in the kingdom for two weeks”, Marquess Lombard stated.

Seriously, she hasn't even become of age yet, and they are already trying to marry her off, I thought to myself.

I was interrupted while thinking when I heard King Lincoln called out my name.

“Princess Sage, I'll acknowledge you as Duchess of the Winter Dukedom, since your succession ceremony is in a couple of days. Your first duty as one of the highest ranking nobles and the oldest princess, you will be the host for the delegation.”, he said with a grin on his face.

What, I thought to myself.

“I will be attending your debutante and succession ceremony with Queen Malaysia, make sure to get along with Crown Prince Antonio of the Kalpana kingdom”, he said.

Something tells me he doesn't know about Prince Marshall's plan of going to war with Kalpana Kingdom or anything he is involved in, I thought to myself.

I heard someone click their teeths and heard rude comments from the left side of the room.

I glanced over and saw Nashi's expression, and Duke Vernon whispering to him.

Duke Winter leaned closer and whispered to me and told me to accept the King's demand.

I stood up and bowed, “I understand, I'll do my best to host them properly, your Majesty.”, I said, while looking directly at him and grinned a bit. Causing him to frown for a few seconds before Marquess Lombard started to speak again.

The conference went on for another hour, while they discussed Prince Marshall's coronation. A few minutes later, they called for a thirty minute intermission before resuming the conference.

Some of the people got up and left the room. While some remained sitting and talked amongst themselves.

I got up after Duke Winter, Prince Morgan and Duke Pordigase and followed behind them.

When we exited the room, I heard someone called Peyton's real name and looked over in her direction and saw an older man standing in front of her. Peyton was holding the side of her face. A second later, Duke Vernon and Nashi walked out of the conference room and were standing behind us.

(PEYTON’S P.O.V)

Captain Capilano and I were waiting in the hallway while Sage and Duke Winter were in the conference room. Captain Capilano and I became close friends during the time Massey and I trained with the Winter knightage. He welcomed me into the knightage after I fought against multiple knights during my entry test. Most of the older knights remembered me from the time I served Prince Moises before his exile.

We talked for a long time until some of the people started to come out of the room.

I was preparing myself for the moment I saw my father again. A few seconds later, he exited out of the room and noticed me immediately.

He walked over as soon as he saw me.

“Marianna”, he said and slapped me on the right side of my face. “How dare you show up after disappearing for years. You foolish girl”, he said.

“Nice to see you too, Father”, I said.

Suddenly, the door opened and Sage and Duke Winter came walking out of the room with Prince Morgan and Duke Pordigase.

A second later, Duke Vernon and Nashi came walking out as well.

Shit, why did Vernon have to witness this, I mumbled.

I heard the people in the hallway whispering amongst each other.

“Count Lapland, how dare you cause a commotion inside of the palace”, Prince Morgan said.

My father looked at me with disdain, and grit his teeth.

“You foolish woman, your mother died, while grieving for you. She was worried sick about you after you left the kingdom. You better visit her grave soon”, he said and walked away.

Sage walked over and Duke Winter followed behind her. I reassured her that I was fine. Duke Winter asked one of the guards to bring us to one of the waiting rooms while he attended the rest of the meeting. Sage and I followed behind one of the palace guards and entered the room.

I looked at Sage's expression, and decided to tell her what happened before I left the kingdom.

We took a seat on the couches, and Sage asked me if I was okay again.

“I'll explain everything”, I said, “My father only cared about my brother and never cared about me. He wanted me to be one of the obedient noblewomen that would be married into a useful household. Duke Vernon and I's family are originally from the Vanuatu kingdom. My father dislikes Prince Moises and Prince Morgan. That was when Duke Vernon and I got engaged, when I turned eighteen and became of age. When I decided to attend the academy to become a knight, he was furious and disowned me. I met your father and Nathan around that time. Your father chose me to be his personal knight, because he didn't like the fact that the noblemen from the Vanuatu side of the kingdom didn't respect female knights. Which caused my father to hate me even more.” I explained.

I watched as tears fell down Sage's face and I wiped the tears from her eyes.

“When you visit your mother's grave, can I come along with you?”, she asked.

I nodded, “Actually, I kept in contact with my mother over the years through Duke Vernon”, I said and reassured her.

A second later, we heard a knock on the door, I walked over and answered it.

“Shouldn't you greet me properly”, that son of bitch Prince Marshall said.

I grit my teeth and bowed, and then lifted my head.

“You can leave now, I'd like to have a minute with Princess Sage before the conference resumes”, he said.

I looked back at Sage and she nodded. I gritted my teeth and walked out of the room.

“I'll be in front of the door”, I said glaring at Prince Marshall.

He smirked, “It's good to see you Marianna”, he said.

(SAGE P.O.V)

After Peyton left the room, Prince Marshall walked over to the couch and sat across from me. Duke Winter already mentioned that he would try to talk to me alone.

“Last time we saw each other there were iron bars between us”, he said and smirked.

I smirked back, “How could I forget such a memorable moment”, I said, in a sarcastic voice.

He continued to smirked, “I will find out who helped you and your lowborn mother escape, and when I do I'll personally kill them in front of you.”, he said. “Seeing that Marianna is back along with your father. I'm guessing it's someone in the noble faction.”, he added.

I made sure to keep my composure, I knew what he was trying to say. It's a good thing Duke Vernon is in the neutral faction, I thought to myself.

“Guess my mother and I were lucky enough to get out of there”, I said and leaned back in my seat.

“Just wait, I'll kill your father, your mother and everyone around him soon enough”, he said.

Bring it on, I'll make sure you never make it to see your coronation if you harm my family, I thought to myself.

He stood up after hearing the guards outside the room saying the conference was starting again. Since I didn't have to attend the rest of it. I decided to mess with him before he left the room.

“Speaking of my mother, she left a message for you”, I said, and continued to smirk.

He frowned and glared at me.

“She said congrats on your recovery, what a nasty accident you were in. Too bad you survived this time”, I said, in the same tone she told me to tell him in.

I held in my laughter when I remembered my mother telling me to relate the message to him, If we happened to be alone together. When she came to my room earlier the day before I went to look for Rosie.

“You bitch”, he said, he was about to step towards me until the door opened and Peyton entered the room.

“Your time is up, Prince Marshall”, she said.

He grit his teeth and stormed out of the room. I felt satisfied seeing that bastard's expression.

Peyton walked into the room and walked over to the couch. A few seconds later, Nashi entered the room and his expression was concerning.