The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 587: Ending Miscommunications

After a few minutes, Ella came back out with the last dress for Dave to fix, and a grim look on her face.

“That girl is a real piece of work. This one has a bunch of fresh scars from past attacks, and a cracked rib. I suggest that the other girl immediately be ejected from the event.

Possibly without an announcement, if you get my meaning.”

“Alright, I will take care of it. Do you know the name of the man that she has been accused of trying to steal?”

“Dean McAllister of Cleowey. Would you like to clarify things with him first?”

Dominic nodded. “Just to be sure that his version of things matches.”

“Remember, the one down here is Amira of Staptontave, the other is Jennifer of Darden.”

“Got it. I’ll go do that now, and then find our wayward bully.”

Dominic went back upstairs, looking for Dean. He knew who the man was, but had only spoken to him a few times. He was the son of a Baron, the sixth or seventh, if he remembered right.

Not in line to inherit anything, but he went to the Biverlow Academy, so he had some skills as a Mage.

A suitable option to stay in Wistover if that was his goal. For most of the men, it was.

It wasn’t completely shocking that one of the Dagos Noblewomen was getting bullied by a Cygnian Noble daughter, but Dominic wasn’t going to put up with it.

They all had equal status, and the war was over. Besides, it wasn’t like any of them went off to war. If the men were holding a grudge, he would understand much better. But teenage girls who had lost family members weren’t the cause of the same fate for others.

The anger was misplaced.

“Lord McAllister, a moment of your time, if you would.” Dominic called when he caught sight of the man he was searching for.

The young Nobleman immediately paled. Being called by your family name by the host was never a sign of pleasant conversations to come. Not when he was this far above you in standing.

“Of course, Your Grace. Perhaps we should find a seat?”

Dominic nodded and gestured to one of the tables in the garden. This was better done in public.

“Might I ask, to what do I owe the pleasure of being sought out personally?”

Dominic smiled. “It seems that your inability to choose a bride has caused some conflict. I’m not one to beat around the bush, so tell me, what is your relationship with Amira of Staptontave?”

“I fully intend to complete the marriage arrangements with her, but she has been somewhat hesitant. I don’t know that she has another suitor, but she has held out on signing a marriage contract so far.”

Dominic nodded. “And with Jennifer of Darden?”

He noticed that a few other women rolled their eyes, and a few of the men paused to listen in.

“We were in discussions. However, her requests for a bride price were beyond what I am able to provide, so we ended discussions. I will admit that I am fond of her, but I can’t see a way that the marriage would go through.

Her goals are far too lofty for my status.”

The crowd chuckled softly at the understatement. Jennifer was quite irate when she realized that her plans to woo one of the titled men had fallen through, and there were no particularly wealthy young men left.

Before the war, her family had much more money and status. But the territories had been heavily damaged during the invasion, and her father had been close friends with a number of Barons who had defected.

He was loyal, but the political fallout had been crushing to their family businesses.

So, while she had grown up hoping to marry a Count or Earl, so many heirs had been lost during the war that the men now had their pick, and her family could no longer provide the strong alliance that they once could.

Without the connections, she was learning the hard way that she wasn’t the only pretty woman in the world, and her attitude was not winning her any friends among the men.

They had long since grown wise to the tricks.

Well, most of them had. Dean McAllister hadn’t realized that he was being hustled until she asked for a bride price larger than his inheritance.

“So, you are intending to marry Amira? If you would like to make that formal, I will have Dave bring her here, and we can drag you both before the minister.

Her hesitance was not about your offer, but threats against her should she show favour to you.” Dominic explained.

It didn’t take long for the crowd to put the pieces together and realize that the Dagos Noblewoman had been targeted by Jennifer, who was after Dean. He was one of the best remaining options, and she was certainly unwilling to return home unwed.

Dean smiled. “No need to make a public spectacle, I will ensure that it is settled by the end of the day. A long talk seems to be in order. Do you know where she is now?”

Dominic paused to listen, and found that she was near the side door to the house, and out of the shower.

“She’s with Dave and Ella on the side of the house right now. It would be best if you could catch her before she heads to her room.”

That was one issue down, and a thousand more to go.

Now he needed to start on arranging a jousting tournament, when he didn’t have any horses, jousters, or an arena.

Minor details.

The best place to start would be the Merchant Guild, to arrange for horses, preferably mechanical, and then he would figure out where they were going to hold the event.

It should be easy enough to set up seats in any open field, but using transmutation magic to create a stone stadium would give them a permanent venue for minimal effort, and it could be used for plays and sports as well.