I'm still somewhat crying on the floor in my room when there's a light knock on my door.
"Olivia? Sweetheart? What's wrong?" I hear my mother say from outside the door. "You didnt actually hear that conversation did you honey?"
I quickly dry my tears before standing and opening the door. My mother looking like she's about to cry herself.
"Mother. You don't have to be strong for me you know. I know what's going on, and unfortunately we can't do anything about this situation. We're... lucky I guess, that he isn't going to get us executed." I say rubbing her back and she sighs.
"Honey. I want you to know, we can't trust that man. The minute he stepped foot into our house, and blackmailed us, I dont believe he'll just take our money and go. We must prepare." She says looking seriously at me.
"Prepare for what mother?"
"For them to still forsake us. We must start packing now, and once we get the news, we'll at least be prepared!" I sighed before agreeing. The house is bustling now, super early in the morning as we're packing up and grabbing things we do need with us. In the meantime, father is in his den in silence looking defeated. I put down the stuff I'm carrying and go into his den.
"Father?" He looks up at me trying to put a smile on his face but it doesnt work. His hands interlocked in front of him.
"Honey." His voice cracks a little. I look solemnly at him before going over and hugging him from his chair. He sounds like he's silently crying and I 'hush' to calm him down.
"I dont know what's to come father, but I know that, together, we can handle anything. This may be the start of the worst part of our life but, we got this, together. The Rhinehart Family!" He chuckles sadly.
"Thanks hun. I appreciate the peptalk. I'll join you guys in a bit here okay? And I'll try to think as you said." He kisses my cheek and I walk away.
AT THE KING'S ROUND TABLE
"I have gathered the round table at this time to discuss some interesting news I have recieved from Baron Cartho." Everyone at the table whispering amongst themselves.
The King's Round Table consisted of Baron Cartho, Duchess Amelia Lipen, Duke Vine, Duke Hans of the Prigent Family, Duke James of the Delyan Family, and Duke Turuk of the Flacilla family.
"Please, hold onto comments until the end of the discussion. To start, Baron Cartho?" The king announces for him to stand up which he does. "Please, and do not withold anything."
"Yes, your majesty." The baron bows his head, a slight smirk crossing his face where no one could see. "It hurts me to have to even suggest or state this but, I have terrible news. The Rhinehart Family is poor!" There are a few gasps but the rest remain silent.
"I know, I know, it may not seem like much but they were caught using their money to support Duke Vaughn in his quest for power. And that, is strictly against the King. They have committed.... treason!!!" Now everyone is surprised and gasped.
"If I may Baron?" Duchess Amelia the only female at the Kings table stands and the Baron nods for her to continue. "You state that the Rhineharts were caught. Where is the proof of this... so called treason?" Most people at the Round Table knew the Rhineharts and their kindness and duty to the King. So this came as a surprise to most.
"Ah, yes. The proof, right here." He takes out a scroll and starts to read. "We, the Rhinehart Family, leave our money and gold for the use of Duke Vaughn Malon. And this is to be instated now and used however he deems fit." There is a signature of both Rhineharts as proof on the document. The dukes and duchess all gasp and throw a fit before the King hits the table with his mallot.
"Silence!" Everyone quiets down. "This is most definitely proof Baron Cartho. And so, what might you be hoping for us to do in this case?" The King stares at him and everyone else too.
"Ah, right." He gets nervous from the stares before clearing his throat. "I believe they should be... executed for their clear treason against your majesty!" Everyone is back into an uproar.
"SILENCE!!!" And they go quiet faster than they have before. "I do understand the uproar and I understand your request Baron but I'm afraid I cannot do that. No matter this case, the Rhineharts still supported me in my cause and helped everyone as they could. So I cannot execute them, understand?" Baron glared, a bit upset, before nodding his head.
"Instead, I suggest stripping them of their title and downgrading them to a small and humbling house in the Poorhouses!" He slams his mallot again and everyone knows the decision is final. The baron smiles at the fact that at least something was done.
"How could this be. Genievieve is my close friend she would never.." Duchess Amelia states to Duke Delyan. The Duke knows the family too, so much so that his son is childhood friends with their daughter. He sighs.
"I'm not sure what is going on, but it could be the start of the new dawn." Duke Delyan says.
[New Dawn being the rumored time when the kingdom would no longer be calm and safe and that there would be a fight for the throne.]
Everyone leaves but the King and Duke Delyan.
"Your majesty, might I inquire with you about something?" the duke asks and the King beckons for him to start.
"I do believe there is more to this than the Baron states." The king nods.
"I do believe so, my brother is something else but the Rhineharts would never do such a thing, I refuse to believe that! But unfortunately, we wont find out, unless we follow along with their plan, and maybe, just maybe, the Rhineharts can help us dig into this before it turns...bloody." Both men then say their goodbyes before going their own ways.
BACK AT THE RHINEHART ESTATE
"By order and decree of King Gregor Malon, the Rhinehart family is from henceforth stripped of their titles and to move into the Julio Property in the Poorhouses!" A voice states outside the door.
I race downstairs and see my parents looking glum.
"I assumed this would happen." My mother says before wiping a tear away.
"It's okay honey, we packed early and everything." My father says trying to calm her down.
"Mother? Father? What's happening?" I say walking up to them and they shake their head at me to indicate its over. I sigh before opening the door. There was an imperial knight stood in front of the door with a scroll in hand.
"Rhinehart family, you are to come with us, with your stuff, and leave immediately from this estate." I look at my parents and they're ready to leave. I nod at the knight and he leads us to the carriages they prepared.
I look back at the Rhinehart Estate with its majestic bushes and flowers planted everywhere on the outside of the walls and the walkway. With a fountain in the front and gardens everywhere the eye can see. I tear up for a second before gathering myself and getting into the carriage.
The ride is silent and I look out the window the whole time as we pass all the sights Im used to and go into a more glum and dark town, the poorhouses or the slums.
The house we stop in front of is still decent sized but looks pretty disheveled and not taken care of.
We immediately head inside with our small amounts of things before getting to work fixing the place. The carriage takes off before we even get the chance to say anything.
I look out the house window and see people who look dirty, tired and in unkept dresses and clothes with messy hair as well. But the biggest thing is the fact that they are all walking by our house glaring at us. Like we did something wrong.
"Mother? Father? Why do the people look... upset?" I ask them and they shake their head.
"Imagine these fancy-looking people taking up a decent house, coming around and acting like they 'own the place.' It'd make anyone slightly upset." My mother says and I frown.
"But we aren't doing that!"
"Oh but darling, we don't have to do it, we just have to look the part." She says fixing and dusting the place.
One thing about my family is even though we had a good bit of fortune, we barely hired workers and did a good bit of work ourselves. I was never spoiled and was forced to learn things on my own. Things like even cleaning and cooking myself.
"Hmph, then I'll just have to change their mind huh?" I say putting my hands on my hips and my mother sighs.
"Ah, to be young again." I glide around the house dusting at the same time while my parents laugh. Even though our situation is glum, we still felt happy and like no matter what, we could make it!