The Kings Mistress Chapter 189

[ … words ]

As soon as the door closed behind them, Lady Tessi was the first to speak.

“Let’s spare the formalities and cut to the chase. What are you doing here, Sierra? Did you not receive our letter?”

“I did, Lady Tessi. Unfortunately, the letter was intercepted before I had a chance to review it.”

“Intercepted? How could-”

“Lord Badol, with all due respect, I don’t think we have time to bark up that tree,” Sierra snapped at him with a stare before she turned her attention back to address all of them, “Lord Tarrick, does that name ring a bell?”

The faces of the Bancrofts turned sour at the mention of it. There was no doubt in Sierra’s mind they knew exactly who she was referring to.

“He was sent by Cedric to Drakin to arrest me. Clearly, I did not adhere, nor did King Alistair.”

Lady Tessi’s expression did not change at the information, “You should not have returned, Sierra. You would’ve been safer in Drakin…”

“Safer?” Sierra scoffed in disbelief at their concern for her well-being. They had never done so. Why start now?

“Pardon me, Lady Tessi, but I’m quite certain my safety has never been a concern for any member of the Bancroft Family apart from my father.”

“Watch your tone, Sierra,” Lord Finnian spoke up as he slammed his hand down on the table and pointed at her.

Sierra kept her calm. She knew what they were like and they had never changed. It was almost comforting to know. The Bancrofts leaned into one another, whispering information they clearly did not feel ready to tell her.

But with her heightened senses, she was able to catch a few snippets. She seemingly caught the most important bit of them all.

“A change in the head of the family?” Sierra saw red as she curled her hands into fists.

The Bancrofts were stunned. All of them stopped speaking all at once when they realised she had heard what they were discussing amongst themselves.

“My father is not dead yet as far as I’m aware and you’re already talking about who gets to take his seat?” She roared at them with fury in her eyes.

Lady Linnette stood up, “Calm down, Sierra, it’s not what you think.”

Marques Preston supported her, “I can vouch for that, it’s not what you’re thinking of.”

Preston was about the only person she trusted a little compared to the rest. Sierra relaxed with his assurance but her guard was still up. From the look on all of their faces, she knew something was amiss.

Her hand remained on the hilt of her sword.

“Then explain to me what it is that has left a look of worry and confusion on your faces,” Sierra said sternly.

Every minute she spent in the Great Hall was precious. The only reason she went to Bardford first was in case her father was there. It was nearer to get to Bardford first than to the Capital.

Lady Tessi produced a sealed scroll and handed it over to a servant. The scroll was then brought to Sierra. Tessi beckoned her to read it. The wax seal on the scroll was unmistakable.

“This…” Sierra gasped in shock as she looked up at the members of the Bancroft family gathered before her.

It was her father’s wax seal, the one he used as the head of the family. Only the most important family documents would bear the seal. One of such importance was the appointment of the next head of the house.

“You have permission to open and read it, Sierra,” Lady Tessi added.

Sierra broke the wax seal, careful not to ruin it. As she unfurled the scroll and read its contents, the word ’shock’ could not even begin to describe what was going through her mind.

Never in a million years would she have predicted this.

“No…that…”

“Oh believe me, we’ve counseled him for many moons to reconsider his decision. But alas he had made up his mind a long time ago,” Lord Badol said as he rolled his eyes.

“A long time ago?” Sierra could not believe it.

The scroll in her hands was in fact the appointment letter for the next head of the Bancroft family. Should anything happen to Leon Bancroft, the name of the person who would succeed him was written on it.

He picked Sierra.

“But I…” She shook her head as she looked back up at Lady Tessi, “But I…”

She could not find any words to defend or fight for herself. She didn’t know what she should do next.

“I can’t. How can I be the next head of the House of Bancroft?” Sierra protested.

Lady Tessi glanced at the others around the table. None of them had a clear answer for her either. Tessi got up from her seat and walked up to Sierra.

“I know this is a lot to take in…”

“I can’t accept this. He’s not even dead. I will not-”

“It does not matter if he’s dead at present, Sierra,” Lady Tessi snapped at her.

The elderly woman placed both of her hands on Sierra’s shoulders.

“We need a leader to guide us and my brother had already chosen his candidate for the task,” she was looking Sierra straight in the eyes.

Sierra was too stunned to speak. She needed time to think. Time to process all of this. But time was not on her side. She reminded herself once more.

Time was ticking.

Each moment wasted was a moment slipping through her fingers.

Lady Tessi could see that Sierra was trying to process everything. So, she decided to give her a rundown of how things came to be. The political struggle in the capital was felt by all. When it took a turn for the worst, Leon Bancroft chose to remain in the capital.

“You were all there with him?” Sierra asked, curious to know.

Lady Tessi nodded, “We all were. But he insisted that we returned home. He alone chose to remain in the capital. He also left specific instructions with regards to you. Since you were to be his successor, he wanted to make sure you were safe and far from Cair.”

“As luck would have it, you were already in Drakin, far from trouble. But when King Frederick passed and Cedric took over, everything went downhill pretty quickly. Cedric has a personal vendetta against you, that much was clear. And Leon, having been the loudest threat to his rule, was a thorn in his side.”

Sierra took a step back. If things had not happened the way they did, she might’ve remained in Drakin; blissfully unaware about everything. She curled one of her hands into a fist.

It was increasingly difficult for her to keep her emotions in check.

“Do you all accept me as head of the house?” Sierra asked monotonously.

She needed to know what her next steps were.