Chapter 84 - The King's Bite

The coffeehouse's owner agreed to speak to them, but Allegra was certain it only happened because of who they were. The blonde woman sat at their table across from them with her daughter beside her. While the daughter had an open expression of curiosity, her mother was clearly suspicious of their intentions with her distrustful gaze.

Allegra smiled to break the tension. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. I'm Allegra and this is my husband, Vladislav,” she said even though she knew they were fully aware who they were taking to. “We didn’t catch your names.”

“Sabrina Timko,” the blonde woman said bluntly. “This is my daughter, Natashia. What is this about?”

The Duchess took a sip of her mocha and almost hummed with pleasure. Although the woman’s demeanour left a lot to be desired, she certainly knew how to make a great cup of coffee.

“We wanted to get your input on the recent changes in your town,” Allegra said and immediately saw the other woman’s shoulders relax. She had not believed them when they said they had no interest in buying her business from her. “How has the experience been as a business owner?”

Just like Frank had, Sabrina took a moment to think about the question thoroughly.

“I think it’s a double-edged sword,” she finally said. “on one hand, our shop has never seen so much business, but on the other, land around the fountain is prime real estate, so I'm constantly having to field offers to buy the place. Sometimes it is even tempting, but I know my family worked too hard and too long for this place to be taken away from us.”.

“You own the land?” Allegra asked in shock. She had assumed it was being rented like most shops back home.

“Yes” the blonde nodded. “It has been in our family ever since Estoyya was established.

Allegra nodded understandingly. “And as a resident?”

“As a resident I am actually pleased with the changes. It feels like we are taking a step into the future and it’s lovely seeing the town so vibrant with life. I just wish everyone that came here to settle had the best intentions.”

The Duchess turned to her daughter. “What about you, Natashia? You're a teenager, aren't you? How are you taking to the new Estoyya?”

“Yes, I'm still in school. I love it,” the teenager said excitedly with a megawatt grin, as if she could not wait to speak. “They had to resize and renovate the schools to make room for all the new kids coming in and like Mum said, we've learned a lot from them. I knew what a cell phone was, obviously, but they were never available here. Ever since Prince Niklaus moved our network provider here, they set up their towers and I finally got one.”

She held out her phone as something to marvel at before putting it back into her pocket. “But it isn't just that. I love learning about all these things, because until it happened, I hadn't realised how much of the real world we were being shielded from. It’s so exciting.”

“Is anyone against the new changes?” Vladislav asked, causing both of them to jump slightly as it was the first time he had spoken.

“It’s mostly just business owners who are facing competition or tired of being bombarded with requests to sell to the newcomers,” Sabrina said.

“It seems like the biggest issue here is having a vetting process of who gets to come here,” Allegra said to her husband, but was overheard by the coffeehouse owner.

“Exactly!” she said passionately. “That's what I've been saying all along.”

Vladislav sighed, clearly not liking the direction the conversation seemed to be headed in.

“And the apartment buildings?” he asked suddenly. “Are you alright with them?”

“Those are luxury apartments,” Natashia said. “The rich people already separate themselves by living on the outskirts of town. That's where they're being built, so it doesn't really make that much of a difference.”

Vladislav’s lips thinned as Allegra realised the sparsely distanced houses closest to their home counted as Estoyya’s rich neighbourhood.

The King turned a defeated gaze to their company. “How can we be certain this is how the entire town feels?” he asked.

“Well, it isn't the entire town,” Sabrina said sternly, “but we had a vote on letting the royal residence's builders extend the town the last time Prince Niklaus was in town.

Natashia wordlessly got up, but they paid her little attention.

“I think everyone was just tired of the level of monotony in Estoyya,” said Sabrina thoughtfully. “Nothing ever changes around here, at least not then. This was our first chance at some real change and an overwhelming majority of us were up for it. I’m not sure if the vote would end the same if it were taken again today.”

Allegra silently admired her honesty as Natashia walked back to the table with an old, framed newspaper clipping. She handed it to them as she sat down. It was an article on the vote. Eighty nine percent of the people of Estoyya had backed Nik up. She did not think it was possible for Vlad’s lips to turn down even further, and yet they did. He returned it to them with a sigh, rubbing his temples with one hand.

“Why do you still have this?” Allegra asked curiously.

“Because that was the day that marked the beginning of a new Estoyya,” the teenager said proudly and Allegra could not fault her for it.

“I suppose the best way to vet everyone who emigrates here would be to form a council of some sort. One with people who would not easily be swayed or bribed into letting in the wrong sort of people. It would be easiest to involve the fae, but I doubt anyone would be comfortable with involving them with the conflict going on in the three kingdoms,” Vlad said.

Both mother and daughter shook their heads at that. If they let one fae in, there was a chance they would be powerful enough to break the enchantment on their land and more warring fae would be able to come.

“I think you should be on the council since you already have prior knowledge and experience with a lot of these questionable people, Sabrina,“ suggested Allegra.

“Agreed,” Vlad said. “But I am also going to need the council to come up with a cut-off point. After a certain number of these newcomers arrive, no more will be let in. The population will naturally grow after that anyway, and I do not wish to see the streets of Estoyya crowded the next time we return.”

“But, I have no experience with this sort of thing,” Sabrina argued.

“No one on the island does,” Vlad said dryly. “Now, what I need from you is to devise a list of people you believe would be best suited for this council. Make it as long as you possibly can and do not fill it only with the people you get along with most in town. Fill it with those who you think want the best for Estoyya.

Sabrina nodded woodenly.

“I believe most of the people in town know Jairus,” Vlad said as mother and daughter both nodded. “Good, because he knows most of you, especially those of some importance. He will be the one to narrow the list down and he will be joining the council. Vampires may not use magic like the fae do, but we are adept at pinpointing a dishonest or mistrustful human, so he will be a good addition. Just be warned that if Jairus does not approve your name on the list, you will not be called to join the council.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Natashia said confidently. “He’s our best customer and he loves my mum. Word is he was pretty good friends with my grandpa before he died, so he’s known her since she was a baby.”

“Shush, Tashia!” her mother whispered as her cheeks burned in embarrassment.

If anything, her chastisement only made her daughter grin and Allegra had to fight to keep a smile of amusement from breaking out on her face.

“I understand, Your Majesty,” Sabrina said, her first time actually addressing him by his formal title. “It is an honour that you find me trustworthy enough to share all this information with me.”

“Well, as I said,” Vlad responded, brushing off her thanks, “vampires are good judges of character when it comes to humans. We must take our leave of you now. We are on our honeymoon, after all. Be sure to give the list to Jairus when you are done compiling it. Off we go, pet.”

Allegra held out her hand as he helped her stand up from the table. She saw Natashia hug her mother excitedly.

“You’re going to be great at this, Mum,” the teenager said, practically jumping for joy in her seat. “I can’t wait.’

The close bond between the two was evident and it made Allegra smile again as they headed for the door. Vladislav slipped a couple of bills in the tip jar on their way out and as soon as they stood on the pavement outside the coffee house, his wife rounded on him with a smug look on her face and her arms folded.

“Well?” she prompted with a cocky grin.

Vlad sighed, eager to get this over with. “You were right. Satisfied? May we please leave now? I still have more of the town to show you.”

Allegra relented and slipped her hand in his as they walked hand in hand.

“Just a friendly reminder, Vlad: you’re going to have to apologise to Nik, too.”