THE INBETWEEN

[Zaerie 3410]

 

THE INBETWEEN

 

 

Issued by the

DUCHESS OF REINMAR

447 ES

 

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I HAVE DONE WHAT I PROMISED.

Upon the sudden and untimely passing of my late brother, the Baron of Sigradz, Konstanz Wilheim Barclay, I took up the mantle of Heir to the House of Barclay due to the Karenina Accord. This was a mantle I never asked for, dreamed of, or yearned to hold, and yet it is what I was given. An hour before I was wed to my husband, my father, the Duke of Reinmar, was murdered by road bandits, and I walked down the aisle as the Duchess of Reinmar.

 

It has been twenty-two years since my brother's death, and eighteen since the birth of my son. Upon Konstanz’ death, I swore that I would hold my position until I had raised an heir to take up the house. I have completed my promise, and I hereby pass on all titles that I hold relating to the House of Barclay to my son and heir, Wilheim Konstanz Barclay, Duke of Reinmar.

 

Alongside this, I will also be abdicating my position as Lady Vandalore and Margravine of Vanderfell. The title of Vanderfell shall return to the Waldenic Diet until they should be called upon by the Diet to decide who among them shall lead them into the future as Vandalore.

 

The only position I shall continue to hold from this moment on is Lady Palatine as it is the only position that I hold that wasn’t thrust into my life by death. I hope to continue to serve the Kingdom to the best of my abilities.

 

There is only one moniker I wish to hold from my time as Duchess, The Maus.

I believe that it has defined my tenure, as I have always felt like a mouse scurrying around in a house that was never made for me.

 

 

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GOTT MIT UNS,

Her Excellency, Johanna Klaudia Barclay, Lady Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Princess of Sutica, Duchess of Reinmar, Margravine of Vanderfell, Countess of Freimark and Kretzen, Baroness of Madvon, and Freising, Lady of Erwinsburg, Wilheburg, Freisburg, and Rozenfeld, Lady Vandalore, Chieftess of the Reinmaren

 

 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndj2qYnvT_s 

[This section is not published]

 

All around her, loomed tall dark trees, laced together with mist that coated her horse's feet. The forest became an ever growing labyrinth the more steps she took. She had been in this cursed, dark forest for years. Trying her best to navigate an impossible situation. But Johanna was not in a forest, a sticky mist did not cover her feet, and there was no winding labyrinth holding her, she was free in all technicality. This cursed landscape only ever existed in Johanna’s mind.

 

The trees were her brother, slain by a crow drake at 24, thrusting upon her the looming responsibility of heir to the house. 

The mist was her father, who was murdered by bandits on the road the day she was married, passing onto her a never ending fog of responsibilities. 

The Labyrinth was her mother, who died in someone else's keep and with a funeral she was not invited to, leaving her to wander lost for years.

 

For twenty-two years the life Johanna led was one she didn’t see as her own. The Duchess didn’t view herself as such, in her own mind she had been a placeholder. The bridge between her brother and her son. The little girl had dreamed of being an architect, an artist, a politician, an adventurer, every day until she was twenty four years old - and tragedy had ripped it from her hands. Forced instead into leadership and responsibility. Taking the Oath of Macken, leading her family, and making decisions she had never asked for.

 

For nearly half of her life was spent not as her own, but as a stand-in for a brother that had been born for the position, and then a son born to release her from it.

 

As Johanna woke up on Wilheim’s 18th birthday, she sat at her desk in Reinmar and signed her name for the final time as the Duchess of Reinmar. She entered into the great hall and handed the papers to couriers to carry out, 

 

and then she walked away.

 

[SethWolf 1382]

Felix looked down to the missive. "She's led her family well, and with honor. It gives me pride to be her Palatine Guard." 

 

Edited October 11, 2022 by SethWolf

[ColdestPepsi 1034]

Conrad lingered over the letter, letting out a small hum, not quite knowing what to make of it. She'd managed to last and pass on the torch which she took up despite never wanting it. This thought caused him to stop and rethink some things, if she could do it, why not?

[Fionn__TWG 2616]

His Princely Grace walked down the passageway outside the front door, the busts of his predecessors flanking either side, and their names sticking out like sore thumbs to the new Peer of the realm; names that were remembered years after their time. He only hoped his name would follow such a fate, for reasons other than his inheritance.

[SethWolf 1382]

(double post cause the forums died when i hit send.) 

Edited October 11, 2022 by SethWolf
delete this post please its a double post

[crazedpudding 2119]

Josefina Kortrevich folded the notice carefully, tucking it away into a well-worn box before moving to pen a letter.

[Deets 682]

Karl reads over the notice, his eyes doing a double take at the chosen moniker of the duchess. The Hunt for The Mouse Duchess still fresh in his mind years later. After a moment he'd shrug, simply thinking to himself "You have earned that moniker, I suppose."  a fond smile as he continued to muse, the letter still in his hands. "You were a good duchess, Johanna. You did your duty and more, everything that was asked of you. It was an honor to serve in your retinue, and hopefully still as your friend." his musing complete, he'd tuck the letter away before going to congratulate Wilheim.

 

Spoiler

@Zaerienever forget.

 

 

[ColdPepsi 31]

Frey pockets the notice, shivering slightly. "The Maus..."

Edited October 12, 2022 by ColdPepsi