challenge for the throne

Joe was not the only one who had this thought but the others chose to keep quiet because of different reasons. Some felt that only a person from Gousho might be able to take them down. Others did not just want the princess to step on their dignity the way she did with the old General, the Liberian, and Lord Kun.

That did not mean that if someone was willing to take the lead they would remain indifferent. So a few people echo his words but to their surprise, the princess did not look bothered. "Don't you know who my ancestor is?" Princess Jessica turned to Joe. She did not know him but looking at his robe, she could tell that he was from a noble family.

"They are those who...." Joe paused, he wanted to call the Tait family the slave master but if he did, he would not end up any better than the old General. "The Tait family are not originally from Dumbi, although you have ruled us with fairness and Justice, at the end of the day, True freedom is when we have our blood seated on the throne," Joe replied. He was pleased with himself, he felt that he almost fell into the princess trap because he was in a hurry to defend himself.

He finally understood why the others had fallen, from beginning to end the princess was composed and picked on the mistakes of others.

"My Mother is also the daughter of Dumbi," the princess stated. when Joe heard it, he did not jump to argue with her. he considered if there was a hidden trick in her statement.

"your Highness are you not forgetting that a daughter would follow after the family of her father? this has always been the custom of our people are you trying to change it because it doesn't favor you?" Joe asked

"what is there for me to change? Have you forgotten for the sake of a family lineage if a father does not have his son he can choose that his first daughter say Back at home and marry a husband into the family in order for her children to continue the lineage of her family," Jessica asked

when Joe heard this response, he did not continue to argue, as the late queen was indeed the only child of her father before his early death. although he was not good at playing tricks he knew when to stop and think.

"your Highness, you cannot just say that. late Queen Isabella did not marry a husband into her family. As a matter of fact, your father married her like every other woman married and become a wife. How can these two situations be compared with each other? even if your father had married into your mother's family which makes you someone from our Kingdom you are not from the royal bloodline and cannot be the next to sit on that throne," A lord stood up and argued. He was part of the people who were secretly plotting with Ramsey.

Princess Jessica did not feel pressured instead she turned her head to look at Lord Kaun who had become quiet after his episode with her.

"You know so much about the history of Dumbi, can you tell everyone what happened to Princess Diana's daughter?" she said

as soon as lord Kaun heard this question he understood why the princess was so confident. 

As someone with a good memory, he remembers that the maiden name of the late Queen was Isabella Gamaliel. There is only one family in the entire Dumbi who could bear this family name, it was the same for the Baratheon family.

"With the king's blessing, she married a husband into her family after growing up. she did not want the throne, so the Baratheon continue to rule but the throne is the right of the Gamaliel family, every child has been taught this history. the Gamaliel family treated males and females equally. the first child was the heir and the one to continue the family name," Lord Kaun replied.

Many of the lords could already guess the meaning behind his story.

"where is the Gamaliel family now?" Princess Jessica asked.

"The family name of the royal family can only be used by the heir. the late Queen happens to be from the Gamaliel family," lord Kaun answered.

Princess Jessica looked at the lord who just questioned her.

The lord looked humiliated, after all, this information was taught to every noble son as they were expected to know and understand their history. He was very unwilling but he could not climb on the late king Edward the third. it was a decree and they had to follow it.

"I am the firstborn of the family, what is wrong about wanting to restore the throne of my ancestor?" Princess Jessica asked the lord.

"I Princess Jessica Tait Gamaliel, first of her name would restore the throne that belongs to my family. if the Baratheon family is not convinced, I challenge them to a fair match for the throne," Her voice was powerful. It shut the mouth of those who had objections.

Joe looked at the princess, she was challenging the throne, and this was not against the custom of the people of Dumbi. since the Barathoen family has been sitting on the throne for so long, of cause they might be unwilling to let go of power. although the princess held the staff of authority, she still wanted to give the Baratheon family a chance.

He was convinced by her strength as a ruler, she was intelligent and bold. Her skill on the battlefront could not be overlooked. what he did not understand was how a person like her could be fooled by Ramsey.

"I Joe Barathoen, accept my princess challenge," Joe step forward. no matter how good she is, she was still someone Ramsey manipulated in his eyes. he was unwilling to give up without a fight.

Princess Jessica was not surprised when he stepped forward.

"This is a chance, if there is any other, in the royal family of Barathoen or a decedent of Gamaliel who wants to fight for it, I am giving you the chance now," the princess announced.

Two young men stepped outside, they were the sons of Queen Isabella's cousin, back then the man had taken over the family property after Queen Isabella's father's death and changed his name to Gamaliel. He even pretends to want to adopt the Queen but Iseballa's mother was stubborn and insisted on having the main courtyard and raising Isabella on her own. She claimed that she did not want her husband to be forgotten.

So everyone knew that Isabella was the only child of the first son of the family and she alone had the right to the family name, according to custom.

Of course, since their father was unsatisfied these two men also wanted to fight for it. after all, they would have to change their family names if they don't.