A question lingered in her mind. Her family was able to escape the Duke Esmeralda’s interference in their territory and held a powerful position in the king’s court as their food supplier. 

Why was Anastasia De La Guerra considered a social pariah?

She had no choice but to ask her father.

“If we are able to escape Duke Esmeralda’s interference, then why are we regarded so low in social circles?” she asked. 

“Anastasia, I know this entire situation is unfair and your cousin has caused you endless grief, but there isn’t anything we can do to change our social standing,” her father said.

“I’m not trying to change it but rather understand it.” Anastasia wanted to learn more about this situation and continue the conversation by stating, “I lost most of my memories, and I want to be able to understand our family and this world better, " she said. 

That seemed to work since Count De La Guerra relaxed his posture and poured himself another cup of tea.

“ Duke Esmeralda resents the fact that we have this freedom. He won’t sabotage us directly by harming our properties, but he does it indirectly by harming our social spheres. The other nobles in this territory are beholden to him, and unlike us, they do not have the protection of the crown. Some of the nobles are too afraid, others are too cowardly, others are jealous, but all of them are opportunists. They are hoping to see which of our houses has more power,” he said.

“We don’t have any, I see,” she said.

“Anastasia, the reason why I don’t act against Duke Esmeralda is because of our blood ties. He is my cousin and we grew up together. Why he chooses to go against his family, I do not understand, but I want to do the right thing. Just remember that doing the right thing doesn’t always make us powerful, but it does make us respectable,” he said. 

She nodded, and her father continued.

“Our freedom comes with a price; however, if we are unable to produce enough food for the castle and the surrounding five villages, then we lose our land and titles. It is then up to Duke Esmeralda to consider whether or not he will give us our titles again. This is another reason why I do not go up against him,” her Father concluded. 

Their conversation ended naturally after that. She thought about it, and her father’s reasoning was sound. However, she felt like a sitting duck trying to hide from a group of hunters.