The World Dragon's Heir

Alexis strode down the stairs from the upper floors just as her brother stomped through the front door.

"Little brother! So good to see you again. How is the Kerian borderland treating you?" She shouted before flinging herself into his arms and laughing.

"You evil imp, have some decorum. What will the Duke think of us? And when did I become your little brother?" Prince Russel replied in a stiff tone.

"Unlike your mother-in-law, Lord Dominic isn't much of a stickler for the rules. But what brings you all the way across the country with a military convoy?

Where is Dominic, anyhow? Did he stay to get them settled?" She replied.

He was currently doing that, with the Cavalry headed to the stables to have hooves checked, as they were all Mechanical Horses and didn't need feed or brushing. He had informed the cavalry that the barracks were currently empty, and they could rest there, with the trucks parked inside the walls for security.

While Dominic got the soldiers settled, Prince Russel carefully inspected Alexis for any signs of injury or mistreatment.

It wouldn't be easy to find if she wanted to hide it, as she could heal herself. But that took energy, and he seemed more interested in whether she was being well-fed or not.

"Those clothes are new, are they not? I don't recognize the style." He asked.

"They were made by the local Tailor. Quite stylish, and comfortable for casual wear around the house. The local fashion is a bit different from it is on your side of the country, but I like it." Alexis agreed.

"So, you're not suffering here in this recently settled backwater? I am told that there were no people at all in the region when you arrived." Russel asked.

Alexis smiled. "There was one half troll and his human wife. They're just outside town, as our doctor and midwife. Well, one of the midwives, as we have more of them now.

Lord Dominic has some solid connections with the Merchants' Guild, and they have been bringing us all the specialists and farmers that we could want.

Our Father asked that the Duchy manage to work enough land for subsistence and build a population within two years, But we've already got hundreds of residents, with more coming and two Baronies who are taking some of the overflow for us."

"That is a large part of why I have come today. My unit had just returned to the Capital when we were sent back out with official news, but also with a proclamation for you and the Duke."

Alexis made a 'get on with it' gesture, but her brother just sighed. "The Royal Decree has the Duke's name on it. I can't open it until he is in the room."

Dominic chuckled as he entered. "Very Noble of you. I usually just cave to her demands so she doesn't beat me."

For a moment, Dominic could have sworn that he saw a smile on the taciturn Prince's face, then it returned to his default professional mode.

"Perfect timing, Duke Dominic. I have here a Royal Proclamation." Russel replied, then broke the wax seal and unrolled the message.

"In recognition of their exemplary efforts to repopulate the wilderness regions of the Stansia Province, The Crown does hereby expand the lands granted to the Wistover Duchy to twenty thousand square kilometres, encompassing two hundred kilometres of border territory between Stansia Province and the former Cygnia frontier.

This territory will extend for one hundred kilometres upriver, centred on the point where the Wistoverke River meets the Stansia Provincial border, near the Wistover Manor." He began, then paused, as the extent of Dominic's new holding sunk in.

No longer could they call it a glorified county.

However, the shape of it suggested that there was a chance it would be expanded again, toward Lympsbury and the main highway. Territory that was largely uninhabited and unclaimed by any Nobleman for the last decade.

Dominic only saw one small issue with that allotment.

There was never any population there to speak of, only a few scattered Baronies and demihuman villages. But should there be an increase in hostilities from Dagos, he would be the first expected to reinforce both Lympsbury and Causter.

If the Dagos Army simply bypassed the two cities, it would also have them marching straight through his Duchy to get to Castle City again.

He needed more people again. With this much land, a force of twenty trained soldiers wasn't going to impress anyone who wasn't intimately familiar with the situation. Fortunately, he now had more than enough farmland to invite every displaced farmer they could find.

Even if they lived a rural life, most would not complain. In fact, the further they were from Noble oversight, the happier many of the demihumans would be.

Alexis nudged him, and Dominic realized that he had forgotten a step.

"I humbly accept His Majesty's proclamation." Dominic informed Prince Russel, who handed him the scroll.

Then the Prince walked over to a sofa and took a cup of coffee from one of the veiled maids.

"There is more, but it's not in an official message.

The Armistice is complete, signed and recognized by every nation that borders Cygnia or Dagos. However, that will not be the end of their problems.

Dagos is in a state of civil war, officially. King Gustav declared it three days ago, with an execution order for Prince Kaizon and his supporters on charges of treason. Most of the Northern Peninsula is in open rebellion, and Kinewen Province is now under martial law.

Or, I should call it the Kinewen Governorate, as it is currently under the direct control of the new Duke of Albroles, who is serving as Governor, while King Gustav rules Albroles City.

The situation in Dagos is going downhill fast, and the army is being redeployed from the battlefield to the Stansia Province's major cities in expectation that the war will start to expand again if King Gustav doesn't manage to hold on to power." He explained, then paused and stared at his cup.

"Where did you get fresh roasted coffee? This is wonderful."

Alexis laughed. "We have a Garden Witch. With her help, even growing coffee beans on the Manor walls isn't impossible."