The sink of the slave trade followed there after. King Delu refused to repeat the same actions as his predeccessors. He established a democratic system, a knights security brigade and aid for the citizens by supplying food and land. Over time, different statuses were provided to hard workers of society with the grounds of power being even. Most citizens thought this was fair, a far cry from when immortals ruled, enslaved and abused humans, yet a small group thought better of themselves. They reverred their skills pushing for stricter lines between those with titles and those without. For King Delu, it was only the beginning of the downfall of his reign...

"Sonja!" An loud echo bounded off the main hall of Winchester Manor. A shuffle of footsteps tapping against white marble followed by four other pairs hurried to the second floor of the residence. The older women in front slightly panted, exerting the minumum movement of exercise she was was used to preforming. Her dark green dress swept around her in a frenzy as she carried the front. Her brown eyes shrouded in rage paired with an ugly snarl on red lips. On this hot day of August the high lady of Winchester, Grace Winchester, wore too much makeup as it was slipping off her face.

"Sonja Winchester, where are you?!" 

All the rage she could muster was put into every word. Catching wind of shadows leaving further away into an office, Grace's heels turned scraping the marble none-to-gently. Stomping down another corridor through a set of double doors the high lady of the house stopped short of another pair smoothing the wrinkles in her dress before nodding her head to the maids behind to open the doors. They swiftly obided opening both doors while bowing their heads. On the other side of the room in front of three large bay windows at a desk set the Marichioness of Winchester, Sonja Winchester. Her long silver hair fluttered over a shoulder loose from its ribbon. Her blank expression met the irritated look of Grace's with a raised brow. Intelligent green eyes regarded the older women carfully, sharpening ever so slightly with a hint of stardust in the forground.  

"Do you need something...stepmother?" The end held less importance indicating the low regard of the women striding towards her desk. It was already full of reports from about the territory, what could this women want from her? 

When Grace stopped a few inches from the desk holding back her anger that was gradually making her face red, the high lady hummed once clearing her throat.

"You missed your appointment with Viscount Huxley this morning." 

Sonja waited, staring at Grace with an expectant expression now. She knew the old broad was trying to sale her off. Not even marry but sale her off to a different family in order to take over the house. It made no sense to expect any less after her father died, the late Marquess of Winchester. 

Sonja put an elbow on the desk leaning her cheek against a fist in wait. Grace stared clutching her hands together in front of her. 

"This was another marriage proposal you foiled with your idiotic need to take care of work first." The sneer was there as it had always been. Even as a child Sonja did not understand how her father delt with Grace and her various mood swings. It made her question what he saw in her stepmother. Zoning back into the conversation Sonja stared at Grace not giving her the satisfaction of seeing any emotion. Instead she provided facts that would end the conversation faster. Replying to the comment involved pulling out a large folder from her desk. It fell with 'thud' in the middle of other important paper. 

Sonja leaned back into her chair flipping the folder open with a slim finger. A paper was taken from the middle of the stack and handed to Grace. She shook it once uncaring of who took it. A maid scurried forward taking the paper for Grace before holding it upwards. In this moment, Sonja could not see Grace's face but she could make out the furry of her hands fisting in her skirt this time.

"You wanted me to marry a man who was stealing taxes from citizens in her territory on to charge them double?"

The paper held dates and transactions of the Viscount's misdeeds. It was not hard to find with the information guild Sonja established in her teens. All information in the kingdom could be used as leverage if need be. However, Sonja knew one thing about herself - she wasn't a terrible person by nature.

Grace snatched the paper from the maid's hand pushing the brunette to the floor. The others behind moved out the way refusing to help anyone who is punished since they would be punishment themselves. 

A manicured hand slapped the paper down on the desk glaring at Sonja. 

She couldn't have her way-why were things not going her way!

The weak reaction from her step-daughter only fueled the fury inside her. 

She was the high-lady of Winchester! How dare this good-for-nothing- 

"Are you done?" Sonja's question was soft, full of asperation from the display disturbing her time at work. There were many things to think about during this time of year - expcially the winter harvest for the villagers. Green hues continued their onslaught of little commitment to Grace's display of bewilderment turning to the pile of evidence against Viscount Huxley. It's a shame another family will lose their prestigous 'position' in society - not that she cared for his downfall. Sonja flipped the folder to a close looking up instantly when Grace threw the paper at her face. It fluttered against the front of Sonja's nose before hitting the desk. The maids face looked grim slowly taking a step back from Grace. The high lady looked around in a huffed then back at the Marichioness. 

A beat of silence passed before a hand from the head of the household waved upwards dismissing the maids. The one sitting on the floor removed herself quickly like a fly on the wall. As they scurried away, Grace called after them spewing curses at their lack of spine to listen to their 'real' master. 

"Come back here! You wenches will be beat for this!"

None of them were the wiser to go too far but to wait outside the office. Sonja's stepmother wiped around pointing an accusing finger, "How dare you undermine me! I am still the high lady of this house!"

"When my father was alive you were but you are only relevent to that title on paper."

Sonja was quick to remind Grace of her place. She couldn't legally do anything to her as the high lady since it was only mandated in her father's will for Grace to retain the title. Nothing more. He hadn't left her any land or dowery to live off. The only thing she was good at as causing Sonja a migraine from spending the estates money.

Her stepmother was red in the face. One thing Grace hated the most was a reminder of what she could not have - unlimitless power in the household. It was hers. She was the adult-

"I do not need to remind you who is Marichioness and who is not." Her stepdaughter's reply held no tenderness. It cut deep with an underlined meaning. Despite entering the household of Winchester at thirty years old, Grace had not gained an inch of respect from the main staff. Any authority she had thought would be hers was given to a mere child. A child at age seven! 

Grace's hands fisted together scraping the skin with her nails. Her next words were bellowed, bouncing off the walls in a faint echo.

"It should have been me in that chair and not you!" 

Sonja scowled, finally sitting straight in the leather chair. It creaked it response catching Grace's attention who leaned forward sweeping a hand over the paperwork on Sonja's desk, effectively scattering the reports to the floor. The action to Sonja was dramatic. Overally emotional for what would come next.

"Lex!" Sonja called to her aid quickly, producing a tall woman from the shadows. Her grey suit was crisp added by the waxy shine of black leather shoes taking a step forward. Lex bowed to Sonja briefly before righting herself in the direction of her master. Withdrawn ruby hues peered from under the hazardous state of black hair. It was cut short in the back drawing the eyes to its curly state in the front. A hand pushed forth the glasses on her nose waiting for Sonja's command.

"Please escort Grace out of the mansion." 

Grace paused, unsure if she heard her step-daughter correctly. She sputtered catching her words slowly, it all flowing out faster by the minute. The anxious tick in her shoulders squeezing together followed by the loss of color in her face was the reaction Sonja wanted. Grace never thought Sonja wouls ever throw her out. 

"N-no! You can-can't do that!"

Grace's head shook not believeing what is happening. This was her home. This twat couldn't throw her out with cause!

This can't be happening! No - she can't throw me out!

"Where will I go! I am the high lady of Winchester - it says in the will from your fath-"

Sonja cut in swiftly, "That until I am of age you can reside in this residence. Since I am of age, eighteen years I may add, you need not remain here at Winchester manor." She leaned in for good measure emphasizing the point with a point to Grace's chest, effectively pushing the older woman back a step.

"I only allowed you shelter because my father loved you. This isn't revenge but the reality of the situation you put yourself in time and time again."

Lex took this moment to walk towards the double doors. Sonja didn't stop her knowing what would happen next. Grace looked back, hair tossing over her shoulder before looking at Sonja with wide eyes. They grew bigger by the moment, lips trembling in unison from the shock. None of it made sense to her. The situation was in the palm of her hand the day before.

Sonja stood up straight placing both hands behind her back. She would treat this last interaction with the sense of buisness finishing up. A contract ending on its last terms.

"From this moment on, you are stripped of your title as High Lady of Winchester. The allowance allooted by me will cease and all transations recorded late at the bank will be sent back to the Winchester Manor. Any children you may have will remain under this roof without your assistance of parentage. Lastly, all connections with this family is severed this moment forward."