Before Val-de-Tréport: See the ongoing Introduction posts!

The Family:

That day, the elders of the Ysengrin Noble family, Dame Astrid and Seigneur Bertrand, had come to the seat of the Hautfonds House to meet Seigneur Eloi. The Ysengrin were enraged with the construction of a new Almshouse on what they argued was their land, a large terrain off the coast.

“The land you’re building on is Ysengrin land! It’s clearly marked as ours on the Queen’s cadaster! What madness possessed you to build your cursed poor-house on it?”, seethed Astrid.

“Perhaps there’s been some sort of mistake Eloi, I’m sure we will find a solution,” said Bertrand, vainly trying to soften his wife’s harsh accusation, “I’m sure you see, as we all do, that the land belongs to the Ysengrin.”

Eloi broke into a mirthless laugh.

“Half of that land belonged to my wife, Astrid. She never claimed it during her lifetime, but it was due time someone put it to good use,” he said.

“Nonsense, I’m the eldest, I inherited everything, including our familial lands! Beatrice decided to marry into the Hautfonds family, and she paid the price for it. My sister owned no land to pass on to you,” argued Astrid.

“I knew you Ysengrin lived in the past, but reviving an ancient law to deprive your dead sister’s family of her due, that is unacceptable,” declared Eloi, struggling to remain calm behind his polished façade.

“Don’t presume to judge me you weasel!,” shouted Astrid.

“He is your brother in law...”, muttered Bertrand, trying desperately to accomplish the impossible- smooth over a family conflict armed only with goodwill.

“Weasel! I have had enough of you, witch! I’m graciously inviting you both into my home, only to be insulted... and all this for an Almshouse! I’m trying to do some good, and this selfish crone only thinks of her ill-gotten gains!”

“Almshouse! Ha! Call it what it is, a place to dispose of your bastards! You were never faithful to my sister, and now you’re stealing from her family! Watcher knows, I’m glad she’s dead so she won’t have to see this.”

Eloi winced, silent under Astrid’s verbal onslaught. When she finished her last sentence, she stopped herself, aware that she had gone too far.

Eloi took a deep breath. His usual quick wit had deserted him.

“Get out,” he simply said.

-

“Clotilde, calm down darling, your hands are trembling! What’s the matter?” asked Seigneur Edouard Hautfonds.

“Oh Edouard, I’m just back from the courts... those Ysengrin have done it! They’ve blocked all further construction on the Almshouse until the matter is settled by a judge... I can’t help but think of those poor orphans going hungry... it’s heart-breaking!”

‘That’s terrible Clotilde. I don’t understand why your aunt is so intent on taking back those lands, it’s causing you and your father a lot of pain.”

“Ugh, my father...” moaned Dame Clotilde, putting her head on her husband’s chest.

“Right, I’m sure he won’t be pleased...”