Rowen History

Jewels heart dropped when she heard the young Princess call Raiden "beloved." The smile that was on her face, quickly dropped along with her eyes before she quickly caught herself and plastered a fake smile on her face that did not reach her eyes.

"Princess Anna, this is this Prince's golden gift. This Prince's golden gift, this is Princess Anna or Mulberry. " Raiden said as he introduced them to each other.

Jewels stood up from her grandmother's side and bowed to her formally. Her Grandmother did not wait for Jewels to bow all the way when she pulled Jewels up so she could stand.

"Granddaughter," Duchess Rowen said. "Come sit by your Grandmother. Your Grandmother misses you!"

Obeying her grandmother she sits down next to Duchess Rowen and Aunt Nora sits down on the other side of Jewels. The three of them start conversing while leaving Princess Anna standing in front of them. When Princess Anna finally got the clue that Duchess Rowen was snubbing her out of the conversation, she turns to Prince Raiden to talk to him. However Raiden was engaged in conversation with Uncle Sam that Prince Raiden's back was facing Princess Anna. Seeing her family give slight to Princess Anna, Jewels heart secretly rejoiced.

After spending a good two hours talking with her Grandmother and Aunt. Jewels excused herself to the ladies room. After finishing her business, she came out of the room to find herself bombarded with ten maids. The lead maid walked up to her and looked her up and down with judgement on her face before telling her why they were there.

"You need to come with us." The maid said.

Not paying any of them any mind, Jewels walks forward to walk past them when she was grabbed by the maid. Jewels knocks the hand away and punches the maid in the face. Blood gushed out of her nose and Jewels knows that she broke the maid's nose.

"I don't need to do anything, especially follow you." Jewels said. She looked around her and she knew she could beat all the maids with her eyes closed.

Anther maid steps forward and says. "Our Lady wishes to meet with you."

"If she wants to talk to me then she should come talk to me instead of sending her minions to do her biding. I am not some dog you or your Mistress can call or dismiss."

"If you do not come with us, you will force our hands and you will regret not following us when we asked nicely!" The second maid said.

"Oh, I have a feeling the only people who is going to regret this is all of you and your Mistress. Me? I'm going to enjoy every minute of this!" Jewels said.

Two maid jumped towards Jewels aiming to grab her arms. Jewels easily punches them, hitting them in their face and knocking them unconscious. When she felt two more maid grab her hair, Jewels spins around and slaps them in the face with the back of her hands. She infused her fire energy into her hits so they would feel the maximum pain. Not only will they feel a stinging pain, but the fire energy will burn deep underneath their skin, leaving them not only a bruise, but a burn mark as well. Jewels purposefully aimed to hit their faces because she wanted them to remember who she was and what she did to them every time they looked into the mirror.

Jewels quickly took down the rest of the maids and the last one standing. The only reason why she was left standing was because she was too afraid to attack Jewels and hesitated. Jewels grabs the maid's hair and wraps it around her hand and pulls her head back.

"Tell me," Jewels said with a menacingly smile. "Who is this Mistress that you serve?"

When tears started falling down the maids eyes, Jewels smiled even brighter.

"Shh, shhhhh," Jewels hushed her quietly. "Why are you crying, I haven't even marked your pretty face yet. Shhhh."

The tears came out faster and the maid hiccuped a couple of times before she told Jewels.

"Our Mistress, is Her Highness, Princess Anna of Mulberry."

"And where are you guys suppose to bring me?" Jewels said as she pulled the maids hair.

"There's a side room, next to the hall. She is waiting there."

"With guards?"

"Yes."

"To talk or to kill?"

"I don't know what she intends. She just wanted us to bring you to her." The maid said.

Nodding her head, quickly punches the maid and knocked her out. Jewels let the maid fall down to the ground and walked over the bodies that were either unconscious or writhing in pain, crying out for help. Jewels made her way to her Grandmother when she noticed that her Uncle Jude and Pop pop had joined them at their table. Both sides of her family were enjoying themselves, talking and laughing. When Jewels joined the table, she saw Roku walk up to Prince Raiden and whispered in his ear. Jewels scoffed at them. Roku was probably tattle-telling on her about her altercation in front of the ladies room. Raiden quickly looked at Jewels from her head to her toes before he nodded his head once dismissing Roku.

"What took you so long?" Aunt Nora asked.

"Oh, you know, long line." Jewels said as she took the drink Uncle Jude offered to Jewels.

"I've heard that Princess Anna of Mulberry came early to the 4 Kingdoms Peace Talk," Uncle Jude said. "Is she the young lady by Prince Raiden's side through out the celebration."

"Unfortunately yes." Said Duchess Rowen.

"Where ever could she be?" Uncle Jude asked while looking at Jewels. Jewels looked back innocently and shrugs her shoulders.

"We're not her keeper," Aunt Nora said. "Lets celebrate some more, our precious niece came out first in her cultivation group! Now that's something to drink to! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone yelled out.

After awhile a fuming Princess Anna comes stomping towards the group. When she reaches the group, she stops in front of Duchess Rowen and pouts.

"Aunt Rowen!" Princess Anna cried as tears ran down her face. "You have to help me seek justice!"

"Who here is your Aunt?!?" Duchess Rowen said sternly. "Who would've thought the Princess of Mulberry would have manners of a pig. To call someone older than her and of no relation to her Aunt as if we have a close relationship."

With large tear drops falling down her large eyes, it made her look like a lost puppy.

"Please come with me Duchess Rowen, you must help me seek justice!" Princess Anna asked again. "Your granddaughter attacked all my maids and I seek justice on their behalf."

Hearing the accusation, Duchess Rowen stands up and says, "Where are your maids right now?"

"They are in the private room next to this hall."

"Let us take this conversation in privacy." Duchess Rowen said.

Jewels and her family on both sides followed Princess Anna and Prince Raiden followed after them. When they entered the private room, Raiden's bodyguards where already there and cast a sound barrier. In the room were six Mulberry guards and ten maids with purple bruises and red burn marks on their faces.

"You see," Princess Anna pointed at her maids. "Look at how injured they are!"

Duchess Rowen stepped up to one of the maids and asked her questions.

"How did you receive your injury and tell me from the beginning." Duchess Rowen said.

The maid looked at the other maids first, then she looked at Princess Anna before she told Duchess Rowen.

"We were on our way to the kitchen to fetch our Mistress some food, for she had not eaten much in the ceremony hall and wanted something light to eat. On our way to the kitchen, we had to pass the ladies room where were accosted by Lady Jewels. She demanded to know what relationship our Mistress has with Prince Raiden and when we did not tell her, she attacked us." The maid cried.

Duchess Rowen turned to Jewels and said. "What do you have to say about this?"

Smiling smugly, Jewels steps towards them. With each step, the maids shrink back in fear.

"It takes ten maids to fetch Princess Anna some food?" Jewels questioned. "You must be having a feast to send ten maids for "some food" or were you planning on gorging yourself to death?"

"You attacked my maids without cause!" Princess Anna yelled.

"They were in my way, that's cause enough for me to discipline your maids." Jewels said. "Your maids blocked my way and even tried to touch me. Who are they, but maids to touch a Lady of standing. I don't know Mulberry Kingdom etiquette very well, but here in Madewell Kingdom, no maid has the right to touch a Lady of standing unless it is their own maid. When they came at me, I as Lady Jewels Brooks of the Madewell Kingdom, daughter of General Harvey Brooks, niece of General Jude Brooks, Granddaughter to the great Professor Jordan Brooks of Madewell and daughter to Lady Iris Rowen, niece to Duke Sam Rowen and Duchess Nora Rowen and Granddaughter to Duke Harper Rowen and Duchess Ivy Rowen of Mulberry. I had to teach them a lesson in etiquette. I disciplined them for you, for their lack of knowledge. For they represent you and the Mulberry Kingdom. If it was anyone else who encountered your uncultured maids, they would have asked for all of your maids heads and word would have gotten out about your uncultured, undisciplined, no etiquette maids. Then you, as their Mistress would have been implicated in their ill behavior and you and your kingdom would lose face in front of all 4 kingdoms and the Madewell citizens. Instead of asking for justice, you should be thanking me for teaching them a lesson and saving your reputation."

Duchess Rowen smiled genuinely at Jewels, she did not know how wickedly sly her granddaughter was until this moment. Not only did she beat up ten maids, but she turned it around and placed blame on her maids for their lack of manners. Jewels taught Princess Anna a lesson at the same time she sent her a message of warning not to mess with Jewels. Jewels was not someone who could be easily be messed with.

"And!" Jewels said as an afterthought. "I am Prince Raiden's golden gift. And as his golden gift only Prince Raiden Osamu of Redbane is qualified to seek justice on my behalf."

Turning to Raiden, Jewels tells him. "Prince Raiden, you must seek justice for your golden gift. Your golden gift has been accused of attacking Princess Anna's maids for no other reason than jealousy. This is just slander! This golden gift knows where this golden gift belongs and knows this golden gift's place. This golden gift knows that this golden gift shall not reach for the stars when this golden gift is nothing but a blade of grass to Prince Raiden's night sky."

Watching the show in front of him the whole time, he enjoyed all their performance, especially his golden gift's performance. But when she turned to him and asked him to seek justice for her slander, he could not say no to her. He misses her with every fiber in his being, he misses her more than he thought he would. Only she can make life interesting. Only she was able to make him laugh and smile. Only she can talk to him like a friend and not like the Prince of Redbane. Only she can take the heat and burn away from his veins. Only she can heal him, soul, body and mind. Although his hands was in a bind at the moment, she still believed in him and believed in them.

"This Prince shall seek justice for this Prince's golden gift." Raiden said as he stepped forward.

"But Beloved---" Princess Anna cried out.

"This Prince's golden gift had every right to discipline your maids. Their standing and this Prince's golden gift's standing in life is like earth and heaven. Earth cannot touch the Heavens. Justice shall be dealt with."

Prince Raiden took out a crystal the size of his fist and held it in front of him. Using his lightning energy, he took all the energy that the maids cultivated so far. As he drained them of all their energy, he forced their body to regress in one level in their skills. This was an Osamu technique that only the leader of the Osamu Clan knew how to perform. It was a terrifying technique that no one was able to break out of, once cast. When all their energies were taken from them, Prince Raiden gave the crystal to Jewels.

"This crystal now belongs to this Prince's golden gift. Do what this Prince's golden gift's will with it, for it is the justice this Prince's golden gift sought for the slander that the maids of Mulberry Kingdom made." Prince Raiden said to Jewels. He then turned to Princess Anna and said. "Let this lesson be learned that the actions of servants are the actions of their Master."

Raiden turned around and looked at Jewels one more time before he left with his bodyguards. Duchess Rowen wanting to add salt to the already open wound said.

"Princess Anna should retire and reflect on Princess's actions. Slandering the Granddaughter of the Rowen Clan will bring much calamity to His Highness, King Greg Roses and the royal household. Has Princess Anna forgotten? With the support of the Rowen Clan did the House of Roses finally claim the royal crown." Duchess Rowen reminded her. "Those who giveth can taketh away."

Duchess Rowen scared Princess Anna until her whole body started shaking.

"And never call me your Aunt ever again. We share no blood relation for you to call me that. Do not claim to be my niece and never claim yourself a Rowen, for you are a Roses."

Princess Anna nods her head to agree with Duchess Rowen and quickly made her exit with her maids and guards. Duchess Rowen waited until the Princess and her entourage left the room completely before she started laughing happily.

"Oh granddaughter, you don't know how long I've waited to see someone step on Princess Anna and crush them under their shoe!" Duchess Rowen said as she hugged Jewels. "In Mulberry, it was only me who reprimanded her for her foolish behavior and it started getting boring. Now Granddaughter has totally annihilated her with one shot!" Duchess Rowen laughed until tears came out her eyes and she grabbed her stomach in pain.

"Grandmother, why don't you get along with the royal house?" Jewels asked.

"Grandmother will tell you Mulberry history over breakfast tomorrow, okay?" Duchess Rowen asked.

"Sure!" Jewels answered as they made their way out of the Ceremonial Hall, calling it a night and returning to their respective homes.

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The next morning, Jewels made her way to her grandmother's courtyard to have breakfast with her and her Uncle and Aunt.  When she arrived at the dinning room, breakfast was just being served and they were already sitting down with Uncle Sam sitting at the head of the table and Aunt Nora sitting to his left as Grandmother Rowen sat down on his right.  Jewels bowed and greeted them good morning before she sat down next to her grandmother and watched as she piled food onto Jewels's plate.  Building the food pyramid higher and higher. 

"Thank you Grandmother," Jewels said as she looked at the leaning tower to food on her plate.  Coming to her senses, she starts eating the food placed on her plate, whittling it down one by one.  "So Grandmother, about what you promised to tell me." 

"Getting to the point already, aren't we?  Not even trying to enjoy your food, huh?"  Aunt Nora teased.  

Jewels nods her head vigorously up and down while still chewing her food.  Duchess Rowen lightly laughs and begins the Rowen Clan's history in Mulberry Kingdom. 

"Many generations ago, the Rowen Clan were uncultured warriors who liked to fish.  One day, an ancestor wondered where the end of the sea ended, so he built a big boat that carried six men that were willing to go with him.  To everyone's surprise, when they came back, they came back with riches.  From that day on they would trade with the land across the sea.  Over the many years, the Rowen Clan became rich, so rich they became wealthy merchants that they bought land from the land across the sea and build a warehouse to store goods.  And named it Rowen Trading Company.  To this day Rowen Trading Company is still running." Duchess Rowen said as she sipped on her tea. "Anyways, right after the 4 Kingdom Peace Treaty, there was an attempted coup in the Mulberry Kingdom.  The Roses family, though small, had held on to the reigns of the crown for many generations.  The coup was lead by General Hatter and a small group of his followers.  They did not agree on the Peace Treaty, they wanted to keep fighting.  General Hatter had a great plan in place and surprised everyone.  He was able to kill many royal crown supporters along with the King at the time, King George. At the time, King Greg was only a 14 years old Prince and held very little power on his own.  By this time, the Rowen Clan has become a force within itself.  Not only did we hold a monopoly in the trading business, but we never lost our roots and every Rowen is a strong warrior to their own right.  Some better than others, so some Rowen Clan members entered the military and excelled."

"So you're saying the Rowen Clan is not only filthy rich, but also has a strong presence in Mulberry military?"

"Yep."  Uncle Jude said.  "Not only that, but your great great grandfather went into politics and became a minister for the King.  And he excelled so much, that he befriended the King and the King bestowed on to him a Dukedom for his loyal services." 

"So let me get this straight, Rowen Clan is rich, has a strong military presence, and has political ties to the government? How could the King stand to have such a strong Clan that has so much power in one Kingdom?"

"You're correct," Duchess Rowen said as she looked over at Jewels. "Keep eating, you're too skinny."  

"With King George's reign, he rallied all of Rowen's enemies that we made over the vast generations and set them against us.  With every turn we made, they were there countering us.  And he almost succeeded in causing the Rowen Clan a huge set back, until King George was killed by General Hatter." 

"Convenient wouldn't you say?" Jewels questioned them. 

"If it was anyone else who said that, I would have cut their tongue this very moment." Duchess Rowen said icily.  "But since its granddaughter's history lesson, this Grandmother will let it pass." 

"Granddaughter apologizes." Jewels says.

"No, no, no," Uncle Sam said as he looked at Jewels. "You should question the things you hear, its the only way to clear misunderstandings and find truths. Anyways, to answer your question, was it convenient?  Yes. Did the Rowen Clan betray the Crown? No.  We hated General Hatter more than the Crown and we have always been loyal to the Crown. If the Rowen Clan had a set back, we could always work to get it back, however many Rowen Clan members were ill treated by General Hatter and many of them were sent to their deaths because of his incompetence in the war, so we hated General Hatter with a passion, but King Greg was just an annoyance. When the 14 year old Prince Greg came to the Rowen Clan to ask for help.  We of course, obliged. We attacked General Hatter and his supporters and along the way if we slew our enemies, who's to say they didn't support the coup? We were brought in by the rightful heir to the throne to uproot General Hatter's supporters, who had the authority to  question the Rowen Clan?"

"Wow," Jewels said out loud. "I'm truly impressed." 

"Yes, well, you did inherit your sly craftiness from us." Duchess Rowen said proudly as she puffed up her chest. "Well, from then on, the Rowen Clan has become a force to be reckoned with.  Rowen Clan holds power in the military, the government and in the trading market.  There are no other clans in Mulberry Kingdom who can compete with us."

"So is the King, your puppet?" Jewels asked. 

"The King, his family, his clan and the whole Mulberry Kingdom, is OUR puppet."  Duchess Rowen said. "We give them as much face as we can. We don't flaunt our power or richness.  And any Rowen Clan member who does not adhere to the Rowen Clan's laws, they are banished out of Rowen Clan and forever excommunicated."

"Is that why Princess Anna called you Aunt?" Jewels asked.

"That trifling girl has been wanting to become my adopted niece since she could talk.  Her horrible mother kept putting ideas in her empty brain about becoming my adopted niece.  By being adopted into the Rowen Clan, you get all the benefits that the Rowen Clan has.  They want some of our power and would do anything to get it.  Even selling their children to us.  But we Rowen Clan are picky about who we adopt and accept into our clan." 

"What about my mother?" Jewels asked. "How did you guys accept Harvey in to your clan?" 

"At the time, General Harvey had many accomplishments.  He was a General to be feared and respected.  Your mother, Iris, fell in love with your good for nothing father at the 4 Kingdom Peace Treaty.  Your father had been a widow for a very long time and with the end of the war, he wanted to settle down.  He also fell in love with your mother.  At first we were against their marriage, however, General Harvey courted your mother for a year before we gave into Iris's demand and accepted his proposal.  You were born a couple years after that." 

"When you said that you heard rumors about my mistreatment, why did it take 10 years for you guys to hear about my mistreatment?" 

Duchess Rowen placed her tea cup down and grabbed Jewels's hand and held it between both of her hands.  

"My dear precious Granddaughter.  After your mother passed away, we have been trying to find out who killed your mother and why.  We have been searching for any clues and followed them til the very end.  We assumed that since Harvey loved your mother so much, he would in turn love and cherish you.  We have been so consumed with finding your mother's murderers that we failed and neglected you.  For ten years we have not heard any stories or rumors about you or the Brooks house hold. Before we came to Madewell Kingdom, our trading company came to Madewell to establish our trading company here.  Before the Kings of Madewell had denied our purchasing rights to establish the Rowen Trading Company on Madewell land.  So we had to trade through a thrid party.  When the our trading company was here, they started hearing strange rumors about the Brooks family and started to investigate.  When they found out about how you have been treated, they became so furious, that what should have taken them a month's work, took them two weeks.  They were able to purchase land and start construction on the building.  They left behind two Rowen Clan members to over see the project while, the rest came back to deliver us the news.  We came as soon as we could to see you for ourselves and hoped to take you back with us. But we were too late.  You had already been given away to Prince Raiden as a gift of appeasement and you two seemed to get along quite well.  And although you were bullied and mistreated, your Uncle Jude and Grandfather raised you well.  Still, we couldn't sit back and swallow the pain and humiliation that you went through, so we went to King Jonas and demanded justice for you.  That was how we were able to get you, your gifts of appeasement." 

"Thank you." Jewels said. Remembering Princess Anna by Raiden's side, her heart squeezed so hard that she was unable to breath. Jewels brought her hand to her chest and squeezed her chest as if that would help alleviate the pain.  

Upon seeing this, Duchess Rowen took Jewels into her arms and hugged her.  

"Everything will be alright." She said comforting Jewels. 

"What is Princess Anna's connection to Prince Raiden." Jewels said with her head in the crook of Duchess Rowen neck. 

"They are engaged." 

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Awe SH1T!!!!!! Too cliche? Will Raiden and Jewels end up together?  Maybe, maybe not....  I don't know where they will be leading us on their journey, unless you keep reading. As always, thanks for all the love and support!  And just a quick reminder, English is my second language so grammar edits will be made later.  xoxo -ptd