The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Eighty-Seven

The walk to their camp was quiet. Some of the soldiers had walked to where we had left the horses and carriages to retrieve them. I was surrounded by the men who had helped raise me, none were able to get close.

Not even my father who was leading his men. 

I could see the man who was supposed to be my father frown as he turned to watch us every few steps. Once we reached their camp, we did not have any need to fight further. The camps we had burned caused enough chaos for them to withdraw many of their men, leaving a skeleton army to keep watch over the camp. These men were easy to overpower and capture. 

A large tent was set up for me right next to the commander's tent, and I was seated in the commander's, my father's, tent with Dennis serving me a hot cup of tea. My father watched as the men served me like I was the lord here, and not him.

"You are my child?" He asked with a frown as if he had a distaste at the sound of it.

"You are my father," I stated with the same tone he used. Dennis and Fenrir each snorted, smiles visible on their faces as they stood behind me. The two men of roughly the same age standing beside my father seemed as confused as he was.

"Why is my daughter here?" He asked, clearly aggravated. The question was directed at Dennis. "She should be at home learning etiquette."

I tilted my head slightly, a brow lifted as I tried to gauge how serious he was.

"Ah, you will have to ask the Duchess yourself, Commander Havenhell."

"The... What do you mean by calling a child the Duchess?"

Dennis merely smiled, stepping back as though he was stepping out of the conversation.

"If you are quite done questioning my men, Commander Havenhell, I will be happy to update you on what you do not know."

He snapped his gaze to me, seeming to think everything over as he sat down slowly. 

"Serve the Commander some tea, Dennis."

"Yes, Duchess." he walked forward and did as asked.

I waited patiently as he watched me and finally took a sip of the tea in front of him.

"Before I explain, do you have any particular questions?"

He shook his head, eyes keenly watching me as I continued to remain calm under his scrutinizing glare.

"As you should know, my mother died when I was only a few months old. You were not in the Duchy. Your vassals did what they could to keep everything running. However, as the law states, a Duchy is only allowed to remain without a Ducal family member at the head for ten years. Of course, your favourite Emperor was waiting for this time to pass while you were wasting your time fighting a pointless war he sent you on.

"So, your vassals did the only thing they could do, they raised me, your only heir, to take over the Duchy. I was named Duchess Havenhell when I turned 9 and you were removed from the seat. On paper, at least. We hoped that you would return soon enough to take the helm again, even if you were not the Duke in name any more. As time went on, we merely ensured my seat remained unshaken. Right now, you are no longer needed as Duke Havenhell. 

"I seem to recall you were informed of this through letters. So while I have been running the Duchy and funding your pointless war, you have been wasting my resources, Commander. I am here to end this war, before your idiot Emperor gets even more absurd ideas in his head about selling me off while you are encircled by the enemies on my lands like a caged duck."

My father choked at the last part, Fenrir too late to keep a bark of laughter from escaping his lips.

Dennis, who was busy pouring another cup of tea for me, went completely red in the face while his shoulders were shaking.