The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 485: House Sizes

"So, what you’re saying is that most of the former Barony Houses would actually be suitable for Knights? And then the actual Barons would just have authority over the Knights living closest to them, while we’re all under your Command as Duke?

I think that can work with what we were told about the number of old houses which have been left in the area.

The Crown Prince described the situation as it was when he left, so we do have a decent idea of how things work here." Dax informed Dominic, as more of the Natural Sons came over to say hello.

"The Crown Prince should have a pretty solid grasp on the situation. The houses were built to the size of the family living in them, not their status, so I think that the most appropriate way would be to just let all the Barons pick, with respect to the amount of land that they would normally have, and then the Knights can fill in the other houses.

There are too many Knights, though. There aren’t three hundred Barony Houses in the region.

So, we might need to draw a map before everyone gets to choose, so that we don’t end up with a real mess.

We’ve got all the skilled trades here to build family compounds for all the Knights, which would be more appropriate than some of the Barony Houses, which were just a large stone house on a hill.

If they’re not in great shape, or they were always small, they can just be left as historical memorials, or assigned to someone who is willing to put in the work to expand them."

The soldiers shrugged. "I don’t see the problem with that. You did joke about letting us find a wife during the parties and then brining her, and that would work out rather well.

Not as some sort of test of wifely virtue, but simply on a practical level. They’ll be there as long as we are, and I am one hundred percent certain that they would rather be included in the decision than simply informed of where they were gonig to be living after marriage.

Not many people get that option. You move into whatever property the family you married owns.

But this time, we have the unique chance to not only pick our homes but our neighbours." One of the men offered.

Dax raised his glass in a toast to the man’s brilliance. "Why didn’t I think of that? Most of these young ladies also know each other, as much as we do. And while we’re all brothers in arms, they have their politics and cliques to consider.

It might be best not to force ladies who don’t get along to live next to each other.

But that also assumes that we do manage to find one.

There are sure to be more men coming, and while there are more ladies in total, these are the finest of the batch. The competition will be fierce."

"Not so fierce." One of the men in the crowd laughed, and Dominic saw that he had a blushing lady tucked under his arm.

"You’ve found just the lady for you?" Dominic asked.

"Aye. She’s one of Princess Poppy’s friends from Axbridge. We’ve met a few times in the past, when the Princess came to visit the Palace. My father is a Royal Guard for the King, you see.

But her parents didn’t approve of her marrying a Guard’s fifth son with nary a title to their family name.

However, things changed a bit when they had some family troubles, and now she assures me that they will have no objection to me courting this lovely lady."

Dominic didn’t pry into the situation. If they were still allowed to send their daughter with the Princess to the Debutante events, then it was more likely a financial ruin issue, or a fall from grace in political circles than something extreme or criminal.

"In that case, you have my blessings, and we will arrange the formalities after the event, when you are both absolutely certain that this is your choice.

I’m not sure if Princess Alexis explained earlier, but I won’t be presiding any weddings during the Deubtante ball. Only when the event is over will we begin the ceremony, so there will be no trickery leading to a same night forced wedding.

There might be need to backdate a few applications, to save dignity, but I do hope that most of you can be more subtle than the ones who are currently at the base of the Manor Wall, getting to know each other."

"Noted. The guards can see into the trees from above, and the spot is taken."

That might not have been the right lesson to gather from his speech, but it would do well enough.

Dominic just hoped nobody got injured trying to sneak off into the hay loft while the Blink Cat was sleeping. The creature might be adorable, but it was a powerful magical creature in its own right, and its claws could be deadly.

"Now, let’s all move the party back to the garden, instead of standing on the roadway."

Back in the garden, the congratulations were flowing as quickly as the rum, and everyone was getting increasingly inebriated, to the point that not all the swaying was in time with the music.

A good sign, Dominic assumed, as Castellan Julio looked at least ten percent less stressed out than usual.

"Any issues?" He asked, walking up to the Castellan.

"Nothing major. We’ve got a long line for the private meetings, and most of the tables in the gardens are full as well. It’s a good problem to have, it means that our young Nobles are getting along well with the Debutantes.

But it is also a rough situation for the Nobles that will be arriving later, as this day is going so well that I suspect many of the debutantes will be effectively off the market by the time that the last of the suitors arrive."

Dominic sighed. "We probably messed things up that way. But there isn’t much to be done about it now, and the guests of honour are all here. They can only blame themselves for missing the first nights.

But if there are so many fine options, I suspect that the first day or two will only shorten the list for the two groups.

Should we have them make a list tomorrow of the ones they would like a second meeting with, outside of a formal event? If both sides list each other, it would make things easier, and we could arrange the meetings all day tomorrow before the after dinner dance."

"I believe that Princess Alexis is already on it. Her Highness Poppy dragged the Duchess away some time ago to plan more events."