Lystra has five major royal holdings. The central castle that is their main home. The southern castle that is their winter home. The northern castle that had once been a strategic castle during two of their great war and then there were the eastern and western reaches.
The East and west holdings are on secure land borders. In the east there is a vast desert that has currently never been successfully crossed and to the west was the Trembling Sea. This body of water had treacherous rip currents that could pull great ships out to sea, whirlpools frequently formed in the area, and there was a trench several meters from the shore that contributed to all of this and more.
In the west there was a keep but in the east there was only a watch tower, often used as a lighthouse in the past, and neither location had ever had any type of settlement.
When Ashley finally got a chance to see Grace she was both excited and furious at the same time. It was unheard of for a queen to deprive herself but she understood how her friend's mind worked and she knew that she would figure things out.
So she could actually put a natural smile on her face when she finally saw her best friend. Malcolm on the other hand had difficulty hiding his frown. He had sent word of the situation to his majesty. And Malcolm had no idea that message doves could travel so quickly. King Samuel's response seemed to return way too quickly and he was furious and pledged any help he could give to her Highness.
But her Highness had locked herself in her room and when king Samuel did not receive a timely reply he sent another dove. It was a very stressful situation for Malcolm because once the king knew her Highness had locked herself in her study and had not eaten he was even more furious. Malcolm was sure the king would've returned if he could have. He imagined his Highness being held down by several guards and all of his sisters.
Grace looked at Malcolm curiously. She had already heard about the message doves darting back and forth, she was fully updated once she allowed access, and she found it all to be rather interesting.
Her current situation had truly changed her world view and how she defined the things around her.
"Sir Malcolm. Is all well in Golden Sea?"
This made Malcolm suddenly pay attention, he stood just a bit straighter and then bowed moments later.
"All is well. We were just worried about you."
He paused. This was the concern of royalty of a different nation. His fiancée was not even technically of this nation so who was he to comment on things here.
Grace smiled, and as if reading his mind she commented. "You are the King of Golden Sea's representative and we are allies. Your opinion has value and is welcomed here."
She sighed. "Let's begin."
Ester sat with her elbow on the armrest of her chair and her chin in her hand. She looked annoyed and bored at the same time. Vanessa on the other hand had her hands in her lap, her expression neutral, and she was actively listening to the queen mother.
Everyone knew this because she nodded in the right places, she looked to her sister when needed, and she made slight facial expressions, quickly going back to neutral after.
In other words both sisters were unconcerned about the queen mother's opinion but one knew how to behave in public while the other didn't or didn't care. Gabriel's mother continued talking, fury brewing just below the surface of her being. Her daughters sat next to her calm and poised with full blown anger blooming in their hearts and forming lumps in their throats.
Gabriel watched it all. He listened to his mother and knew what she said was true but he also knew that this was his life now. He had exiled all the true natural beauty he had from his life. He would never get them back again. He made promises to his children that he did not keep and he disrespected his wife utterly and completely.
She had grown to love him, he could see it in their children and their artistic ability she never saw value in, and he returned home and shattered it. She was brave while he was weak and as just rewards he now had to live with Ester for the rest of his life.
It is what he deserved.
His mother finished speaking and he sighed. She closed her eyes and sighed as well. His family instantly knew his reply. His younger sister sat forward in her seat.
"And if we decide to help our niece and nephews?"
"Help in what way?" it was Ester who asked. Disgust intertwining authority lacing her voice.
The queen mother touched her daughters arm and the woman closed her mouth and sat back in her seat. His mother's gaze had never left his and Gabriel felt his mouth go dry as the lump in his throat grew bigger and bigger. After too long a moment he spoke.
"I. King Gabriel Brithe do so decree. That my marriage to Grace Temperance will be annulled and her children will no longer be heirs to this throne. They will be the bastard children of a lower royal of Lystra.
"For her service to Lystra Grace Temperance will be given both the eastern and western Lystra royal holdings. No matter what she does with them these two holdings can never be taken from her. I decree that even the crown of Lystra and its descendants can never take these two holdings from Grace Temperance or her descendants.
"Her and her children have two weeks to move from the northern castle and all crown personnel will return to the central castle for debriefing by the king and reassignment.
"This decree will be posted in every province and quarter of the Lystra kingdom and if it is not followed Grace Temperance will be arrested and her children placed in an orphanage of the crown's choosing."
The room was silent. It was forbidden to speak during a decree. Gabriel stood, signifying that he would not take any questions and he would not hear any dissenting views.
"This… I Gabriel Brithe… decree on this day the twentieth day of harvest month the year 865."
He walked from the room in complete silence without looking back. Everyone, even Ester, was shocked and no one could speak for a long time. Gabriel actually made it to his chambers, secured his door, and pulled a small lever on the huge fireplace in his study. The fireplace swung forward and he entered. It was a room full of art. Beautiful art. He even had recordings that were holes stamped into metal and when run through a machine the recorded sound could be heard.
He went to an area to the back of this vast room. It was in the back but one could tell it held great importance. There were paintings, sketches, sculptures, and piles of recordings.
They were his children's creative labors. He had begun buying and collecting these since his children were sent to the north. Although some were actually gifts from them as well, smuggled in and hidden here. When he sat down to listen to his daughter sing a song written and played by his son the royal chamber erupted into an angry confused cacophony that he could not hear.