The early morning light dawned over thick black smoke as the cremation piles smouldered, darkening the sky to the point that it was nearly impossible to tell night from day.
For the residents of Burton, this was a day that they would never forget. Not just the thick smoke, but the smell that came with it, as the bodies had been doused in thick tar oil to help them burn.
The remnants of the Dagos army were in full retreat, not attempting to hold formation, and Dominic wondered how much banditry was going to increase between here and the border.
Many would not want to go home and face the results of a lost war, but they couldn’t stay in Cygnia. Even their accent would give them away as foreign soldiers, if their face didn’t do it first.
But that wasn’t Dominic’s first concern.
"What do you mean, ’The Marquis is missing’?" He asked in an even tone that made the Guard Commander’s spine shiver.
"Just that, Lord Advisor. This morning, his quarters were empty. His maid is also missing, along with a small amount of his clothing. There were no signs of a struggle, but he cannot be found, and he was not seen leaving the Keep." The guard explained.
Princess Alexis gave a nod to the Royal Guard, and they sent a pair of soldiers to search the secret exit tunnel for signs of recent usage.
"The Marquis was in a delicate mental state, but I hesitate to think that he would have harmed himself. Could it have been more traitors?" The guard asked.
"That is possible. But it is also possible that he has secluded himself for his mental health. The Royal Guard is joining the search now, but we will need you to bring the eldest Son here to stand in his father’s place while he is unwell." Dominic insisted.
"Lord James is... going to need a few minutes to prepare." The guard stammered.
Dominic gave the guard a grim smile and patted him on the shoulder. "I completely understand. But he still has a duty, and unless he’s willing to pass his birthright to one of his brothers, he needs to do it."
The City Guard left the room, and Princess Alexis winked at Dominic. "You are getting better at that. Almost like you were born to give orders."
Dominic laughed. "I suspect I was actually born to dodge the attacks of wooden spoons when I tried to sample dinner before it was ready. I was a true artist as a youth."
The Royal Guard took in the light atmosphere between the two as they waited for the Marquis’ heir to arrive. The sorcerer and the Princess were very well attuned to each other. They might be Paladins from the same order as the Princess, but she had always been more like a sister to them.
With Dominic, it was different, and for a moment, they began to consider that she might be feeling romantic towards something other than a book.
However, that was when Dominic took a thin tome down from the strategy room bookshelves and handed it to her.
"To study while we wait." He offered.
Alexis looked confused for a moment. She wasn’t interested in the bookkeeping of the Marquis Estate.
But when she opened the plain leather cover, she found that it was actually a Romance story, rebound as if it were one of the record books.
"There are a dozen more like it hidden on the shelves. I can tell by the paper." Dominic explained.
He sat on the sofa to wait, and the Princess took the other side, then leaned against him, so she could put her legs up to place the book on.
Definitely more than a friendly bond, the Royal Guards decided.
The sight of the Princess casually using her advisor as a backrest as she studied a ledger was what greeted James Burton as he walked into his father’s strategy office, accompanied by a pair of Royal Guards.
"Your Highness, I believe that you need to read this." The Guard insisted.
The flat tone made it hard to tell what he thought of the situation, but Dominic was getting better at guessing, based on experience with the Royal Guard.
This was one of the ’this is going to be a pain in the ass’ flat tones.
Princess Alexis popped open the wax seal on the thick envelope addressed to her, and began taking out documents.
Dominic read the beginning of the first page.
{Inheritance Transfer of Title and Deeds}
Princess Alexis skimmed through the pages, and then got to a handwritten letter at the back.
{Your Highness, given my mental state after the untimely passing of my wife, and the toll of stress taken by the siege on Burton City, this Humble Marquis requests the Crown grant a living transfer of title to my eldest son James.
I have trained him well, he knows the Keep and all city business. He will serve the crown well and faithfully in my retirement.
Please understand, I cannot continue to rule Burton from the same building where she died.
I have taken one personal maid with me, as well as a driver and two guards. We will be retired to the capital to spend the remainder of my years in mourning.
Your Faithful Servant,
Marquis Burton XXXIV}
Princess Alexis got up and closed the romance novel, then placed the documents on the table.
"Your father has chosen to retire early and pass the title of Marquis to you. We don’t have enough Nobles here for a proper ceremony, so it can wait until after the war, but as of today, you will officially take over your father’s estates.
Everything has been passed to you. If you wish to reward your brothers or anyone else for their duties, that is up to you.
I will inform the Crown with this afternoon’s message." She explained.
James Burton, now Marquis Burton the thirty-fifth, sighed deeply.
"Thank you, your Majesty. What news do we have today? I am somewhat out of the loop, as I was charged with military logistics until just now." The young Marquis replied.
Dominic handed him a copy of the morning’s messages. "We will catch you up on everything that happened during the battle later.
That report is what is happening right now."