All Chapters of The Discarded Heir's Return : Chapter 71
- Chapter 80
87 chapters
Episode 71
Lord Nicholas seeing the scene and how this respected guest was being respectful to Arthur finally believed Arthur was the New Head of the Guild. His face turned in to a frustrated look. The wealthy cloth that he was wearing just dropped still hitting softly on the polished stone floor, but he ignored it. All this incidence was too all real to be like a game Lady Philippa was playing. All this could not have been a coincidence. He turned to Gideon. “Kneel, you miserable whelp! Kneel!” Lord Nicholas’s voice was like a ragged high-pitched screech, that was devoid of the baronial authority his voice usually carry. He pointed a trembling, jeweled finger at his son, Gideon. Lord Gideon who was in a heavy velvet and a golden chain that was meant for noblemen, stood frozen, his jaw locked. He was not ready to knee to Arthur as he was not ready to believe Arthur was the New Head of the silver hand guild. His pride was about to be crushed in front of all this noble guest. He hissed. H
Episode 72
Silence filled the carriage as the driver rode. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the steady carriage hooves on the cobblestones. The evening sun streamed through the small window, falling on Arthur’s jaw and the expensive wool of his clothe. He hadn't say a word since the carriage drove out of wysteria Castle. Lady Philippa watched him from her seat opposite, her own hands were clasped tightly in her lap. All the events of what happen at the wysteria Castle replayed in her eyes, the introduction, Lord Gideon foolishness, the venomous words, the noble guests, the way Arthur had simply… dusted himself off. The memory only made the corner of her mouth tweat as she let out a low smile.. “You handled everything with tremendous grace, My Lord,” she faced Arthur as she finally murmured... “The way you simply let their words fall away… it was good to watch.” Arthur’s head turned slowly as a smile touched his lips. "It was necessary. They needed to understand their p
Episode 73
Next morning! The atmosphere inisde the Guild office was filled with parchment and ink from ledgers and writing material blend with a metallic tang which was a faint smell of metals from the mithril and iron from the sample brought into the office this morning. Arthur passed through the main hall, his dark riding coat hitting around his boots, his mind already on Argent and Wine Trading Co. The building was already up. Next on his list was the inaugural and opening ceremony. His hand landed on the wooden door but it was locked. Weird! He reached out into his pocket and brought out a spare using it to open the door. His eyes landed inside the chambers but her desk was empty. Arthur stopped dead. The usual early morning smell of ink was not there. Even the silver-inlaid inkwell he’d gave her last winter was not on her desk. The air inside the chamber felt cold, vacant. He didn’t need anyone telling him that Philippa has not checked in for today. His voice sounded through the
Episode 74
The air in the parlor was still filled with a heavy silence as Arthur was still there with Philippa’s head resting on his shoulder. Arthur’s knees was in contact with the cold stone floor, his thumb making small circle on her shoulder. He didn’t dare to move. He was still all through as Philippa’s sob finally die down and turn into low sniffs and hiccups. The only clear sound in the parlor was the crackle fire from the hearth and the clatter of a cart from the street nearby. Arthur did not bother to offered one of those meaningless words, or any empty words about her grandmother being in a better place. His simple support was a much more support Philippa needed than any empty phrase and Arthur knew it. When she finally pulled herself together, her face was a mess and her eyes were very reddish and swollen. She sniffed as she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. Her current state made Arthur’s chest ache. “I… I know i look like a mess,” she murmured, her voice hoarse.
Episode 75
The air in the Peckham manor was filled with tensed. Lord Aethelred paced around the hall. “It is her fault, I say!” Aethelred’s voice sounded as he swung his arm towards Elara, who stood near the hearth. “Had she not abandoned her duty to be Arthur’s wife, had she simply held herself and treat him like a true loyal wife would, then none of this would have happened to us. Even the family standing would be better." Maren nodded. “Aye! The Citadel project was our only hope. Now he won't allow other lords to invest in it and he won't change his mind on the 80/20 split. It all because of your disloyalty, Elara." A low murmur of argument continued to sound in the hall. The Peckham had tried to approach other lords for the Citadel project but it kept getting rejected because of Arthur. “They speak true, Elara,” Godric muttered. “If you had stayed by him, the 80/20 split would not even have been spoken of. He would've agreed to the project. But now, he is the Head of the Brotherhood o
Episode 76
The scent of overripe fruit and unwashed bodies filled the air in the SqudCity Market air, a familiar market place for trade and struggle. Arthur watched from a top from a spice merchant’s stall, his arms were crossed over his chest. He wasn’t here to buy anything. He was here to observe the final public humiliation he had written for the Peckhams. Just then, a commotion erupted near the grain merchants’ row. Lord Aethelred Peckham was trying to argue with a tall man with beard. The man's name is Borin. The man has a notoriously short temper. “You will have your payment on the morrow, Borin, I swear it upon my house’s honor!” Aethelred’s voice was like a plea, a plea that Borin was not interested in hearing. Borin let out a laugh that sounded like a mockery. “Honor? Your house’s honor is a jest told in filthy taverns for a laugh.” He took a step forward, his tall shadow covering the small body of Lord Aethelred. “Your contracts are dust and your word is also worthless. You have
Episode 77
“It’s all your fault!” Maren’s voice sounded through the manor as the air inside were still. "My father was humiliated in the market today, and it is on your head, Elara!” In the centre of the threadbare rug, Maren scolded Elara. Elara stood in the doorway. “Stop your scolding, Maren. It's not on my head.” Elara’s voice was low. Maren’s head snapped up, her pretty face blotchy and twisted. “Stop? How can I stop? We are finished! And you dare tell me to stop? It’s your fault as much as any of ours! You fawned over him at your wedding with Gideon just the same, simpering and batting your lashes. And still he never accepted you back.." A muscle ticked in Elara’s jaw. She stepped fully into the room. At least I was trying!” she shot back, throwing Maren’s own wretched plea back at her. “What did you ever do but try to seduce him? You think that wins a man like that?” “You had him!” Maren cried, her voice climbing again. “He was your husband for six years! Six! If you had only been l
Episode 78
The place was spanning in Arthur’s vision as the scent of ale drifted pass his nose. His head stand in a lazy relaxed way against the wooden headboard and a low groan was leaving his lips as the world turn into a dull cloud. His limbs all felt heavy and useless. The guard who had followed him to the inn today had a loom of concern on his face, “My Lord? Can you hear me? We must leave now.” The bodyguard’s voice sounded lace with worry. Gareth reached out to help him balance. Arthur felt a powerful arm hook under his own, pulling him upward. His boots scrape against the floorboards as Gareth tried to help him toward the door. "So heavy. Why am I so heavy? " Arthur’s thoughts as he struggled to keep his balance. Just then a sound of splintering wood and a sudden roar of voices erupted from the tavern below. Gareth’s grip on Arthur tightened, his head snapping toward the commotion. “What in the seven hells…?” A figure dressed in a black cloak, walked toward them as he passed the
Episode 79
“Marriage.” The word sounded through the big hall chamber, making Arthur’s frowned to deepened the more. The council voice that sounded was not a question but it was a verdict. Arthur furrowed his eyebrows as he forced his eyes to focus, the pounding in his skull was not helping as it matcher the voices of the Council of Elder. Thump. Thump. Thump. Each sound and pound finalized his fate. The light from the high wooden windows landed on his eyes as he squinted them close for a while. The murmurs of the assembled nobles were starting to become a n angry bees.. Arthur tried to stand straighter, but his legs gave way. The strong, steadying grip of his man-at-arms, Gareth, was the only thing stopping him from fallen to the floor.What happened last night? His memory was completely empty after the first sip of that cider drink he took last night. Now, this? “To Lady Elara Peckham,” the Elder continued, his voice dry. “It is the judgment of this council that you shall be wed by
Episode 80
With a sighed, Arthur shock his head. Right now, he was standing at Philippa’s house with a painful look. He was trying to gather the courage to walk inside the gate. He had ran from his manor because of Elara’s demanding. It's not even upto 24 hours after their marriage and she was already demanding. He shut his eyes tightly as his mind shifted back to the scene at the carriage between them. The almost near kiss scene.When he thought he was making a progress, this happened. Arthur’s eyebrows furrowed again as he ran his hand through his hair and also wiped his face. He took a deep breath before pushing the gate and he entered. And there she was. Philippa was standing near a bare-branched rose bush. She was dressed in a black wool gown and a leather shoe. Her face was a pale and her expression cold. She was taking in everything that had happened as if there all a dream snd she would soon wake up. Just then, her eyes shifted and landed on him. There was no surprise in the