The Dreamer's POV

"What is this?!" Sarah cried, holding the parchment strongly and threatening to tear it. It was one thing to be treated rudely by a butler, it was another to show this humiliating farce to her.

"What is this Theo? Seraphina? Engagement? What is all this? When did your father decide to take in a son-in-law, and without consulting me? This is a fake, I should have you arrested for impersonating authority." she proclaimed, glaring at Luke.

The young man pretended not to hear her words, maintaining the poised elegance of a seasoned butler.

"I'm the oldest in the family, the city has healed well under your leadership, but it needs a firm leader, and you're much too young, this however has nothing to do with any of it. Whether he was to be your sister's husband or not, it's preposterous and do not steer away from topic."

"I don't intend to. You stated that I'm too young, and I acknowledged that, and so in my stead, Sir Luke will take up the role until I'm old enough and people wouldn't look down on me as a kid, or is he not old enough? I'm sure you've heard of his achievements, I think father's legacy will be in good hands, and besides he's just as Lyma as you are." Theo explained.

"Don't you dare call him a Lyma!" She commanded hitting the hand holding the scroll on the table, and startling the children who had stopped eating, the tension had grown a thousand times stronger, there was hardly any stopping it.

The city was recuperating, and enemies may choose to strike and capitalize on the situation, Sarah was certain that the Lyma region needed a stern leader, one resolute and cunning like she was, whatever act Theo was putting up paled compared to her experience politicking and creating alliances, she was the perfect person for the role, and a mere butler seeks to stand in her way.

'Who do you think you are Luke?'n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Luke cleared his throat, calling everyone's attention to him.

Once all eyes were on him, he began,

"The city has recovered at a speedy rate, and she has recovered well. The people recognize only the duke and his family, and Theo is the only one left of the family, besides Theo was the one present during the repairs, he gave orders and rewarded appropriately. The people have come to love and trust him, they wouldn't let a stranger come and demand their loyalty. By all means Theo is the most qualified, and his efforts show it glaringly."

'Stranger? Did he just call us strangers? And who cares about what uneducated peasants think.'

Sarah slammed the wooden table, her act was brazen and ignoble, and she would cringe over it if she ever thinks back, she wanted to comport herself, but she couldn't this time, she couldn't hide how she truly felt.

"He's still too young, it isn't just done, the family has taken enough shame as it is now." She declared.

"Fine grandmother," Theo said with a sigh.

'If an older person is what you want, then you will get it' he thought.

"I wholefully agree with you, and I appoint Luke to rule in my stead. He knows the people, they trust him, and his presence and skills has been most crucial in the success of the city's rejuvenation, his input will ensure our continued success." Theo repeated his same thoughts, ignoring whatever Sarah had in mind.

"You can't be serious!" Margarette found words and she blasted them, Sarah looked her way, approving her intervention.

"The certificate of engagement, how can we tell it's not a fake? All these are strangely convenient to Luke, are you sure you're not under his control?"

Theo clenched his fists and opened his mouth to speak, but before words could come out, Luke stopped him, placing his hand on the young lord's shoulder.

"Check the certificate properly, your experienced eyes should have little problem deciphering the veracity of the certificate Sarah." Luke said with poise and dignity.

Sarah gave up, and thought to check through the certificate, properly this time around.

"It can't be. How? Why did he..? He couldn't have done this without informing him? What were we to him?" Sarah was flabbergasted, and confused, she really didn't want to think it was true, but it was, Seraphina was engaged to Luke, and though she's dead, the conditions stipulated didn't declare the document void, they were together and he's a Lyma even if she didn't want to admit it.

She gritted her teeth, almost tearing the papers, but she immediately sank the peasantry thought, regal nobles didn't tear important certificates, and she very much didn't fancy ruining anything that had the family's seal on.

She let out a sigh, and slouched, feeling drained of her energy, her elaborate plan was squandered and the prospect of ruling the Lyma region was shrinking.

Even if she tore the one that was in her hands, it's likely like the two had other original copies, it was unnecessary, and it would only make her look like a fool.

She gave up, her cunning had gotten her nothing, she looked to Fiona who was still traumatized from last night's effect, seeing her she bit her lower lip and looked at Luke.

'This man needs to be out of the picture, for good!'

Then she looked at Margarette who seemed to be waiting for an opportunity, appearing to be reliable in the moment, and then to her favored grandchildren, Theo had betrayed her, would they eventually come to do so?

She let out an exasperated sigh, and spoke,

"Children, go play in the lawn." The children quietly left their seats and the scene.

'I have tried talking, violence is for the barbarians, the peasants, men, and unfortunately Luke, you've made me become one.'

"Seize him!" She stood, yelling, and from the curtains burst forth men in armour holding up swords, and ready to enact necessary violence in the name of their lady.

Luke had anticipated this, he grinned.

"Yes! Come!" He announced with his arms wide, as if he wanted an embrace.