SMILING FACES, SHOW NO TRACES

[Moenah 1069]

 

 

I do not own ANY of the artwork.

The original artists are credited.

 

 

 

[Artemisia Gentileschi c. 1623-1625]

 

 

I WRITE FORMALLY TO ANNOUNCE my resignation from Lady Chamberlain of the Clementine Court. With a heavy heart burdened by the weight of unfinished affairs, I depart, yet bear no remorse in my wake. I have, in service of this nation, undertaken deeds surpassing my many predecessors over half a century, thereby creating a foundational structure that shall foster both order and practicality. I wish naught but earnest success unto all the enlightened members among the court, who aspire to guide our noble assembly towards yet another golden era of prosperity. 

 

Yet—if I permit for this affliction to fester unchecked, we shall find ourselves without a kingdom to prosper.

 

I need not utter names, for the ones whom my words are directed are well aware of who they are; the shadow of recognition falls upon you all. Your recent accusations, though delivered with fervor, are void of substance and misconstrued. I make no attempt to malign your character, for your actions serve as the canvas with which your character is painted, visible to all who observe. Your resurgence, nearly half a century following the disappearance of your lineage, can only be attributed to your keen eye for opportunity. Your pathetic ambition only revolves around what your forefather so flagrantly lost, and your methods are akin to that of a parasite. A parasite that clings to the very fabric of this kingdom until it is absorbed into your dominion.

 

I have watched and known of your true intentions since your reappearance in Petra, where you proclaim yourselves as royalty, reclaiming a kingdom that was stripped from your grasp and dissolved from your incompetency to rule. And now, your hubris outshines the jewels on your false crown—perched upon the foundations of a kingdom already constructed for your benefit. It is through the downfall of your family’s realm that this one persists, and thus, the legacy endures. No empire was built in a day, but your progeny taught the world that it could be lost in one.

 

For a house whose elevation transpired through the mere numbers of guards you bring, I beseech you, where were these steadfast sentinels in the face of tragedy? Where were they when the King, whom you swore to shield, found himself ensnared within the watery confines of the palace? Where were they when the very heart of the realm was sieged, leaving both commoners and nobles destitute of their homes? And where, indeed, was this house?

While every other peer extended their helping hand, your kinsfolk reveled. Unperturbed within your walls. Deaf to the kingdom’s anguished cries — Preoccupied with hunts and frivolity. Yet now, you claim you speak in His Majesty’s best interest, with smiling faces that conceal the evil that lurks within. 

 

This house stands as a testament to its own interest, driven by self-serving motives. What you label as ‘threats’ against your consort were in truth the opportunity to partake in the noble duty of contribution; a task that graces those estates aspiring to nurture not only themselves but the kingdom they have pledged themselves to. Do you not demand that your contribution serve your own interests only? This only became glaringly apparent on the day you arrived at the gates of Merryweather with your gaggle of troops, brandishing threats. Threats that echoed your intent to force your way into my home should you not be granted entry. I suppose you believe the reins of this realm rest firmly in your hands, as all hasten to appease you.

 

Continuing this facade of feigned concern for our kingdom proves futile. The world’s watchful gaze now looks down upon you through the very heart of your deception. I implore the people of this realm, the council, and the king to open their eyes to the undeniable truth. We witness your persistence and insistence on this image of authority, one that calls back to your long-lost kingdom, as though we still dwell within your fallen realm. Perhaps it is time to cast aside your lies and reveal your true nature to the world, for I find it unbearable to live in a nation where your lineage persists in drawing breath. I must thank you for your vital role as a pitiful conclusion in the annals of history, a final remark at the end of another man's legacy.

 

Two distinct paths are laid out before you, as I shall convey to you personally. UNTIL THEN,

 

[St. Jerome and St. Catherine of Alexandria, anonymous ; ca. 1480-90]

 

I PRAY YOUR ASCENSION TO THE SEVEN SKIES GOES UNDELAYED,

 

HER HIGHNESS, Aleksandra of Vidaus, Princess of Merryweather and the Rhine,

Landgravine of Alstreim, Baroness of Corwinsburg, Lady of Blackwater

 

[venclair 713]

 

FROM THE SHADOWS, the rat observed with its lone unblinking eye. Two women engaged in a discussion that seemed to unfurl like a sinister tapestry, casting furtive glances and speaking in mere whispers. The eerie atmosphere hung heavy in the room, casting an ominous pallor. The scratching of their pens on paper echoed through the dimly lit space, a symphony of intent and secrecy. The rat, a silent witness to their clandestine exchange, wondered what its master wove beneath the flickering candlelight.

[Junoix 2301]

Isabel looked over the missive at the low table, her eyes widening with every sentence. She nudged the Knight at her side, handing it to him with her mouth agape.

"Oh my GOD?!"

@Dyl

 

[ferdaboy 3472]

Gawyn thought back to his few interactions with the people mentioned as he read the missive. He cast it aside and reflected upon the words it bore. "This'll be fun," he said sarcastically. 

[ncarr 2806]

Adela was left with much to ponder, walking aimlessly about the - now emptied - halls of the Hand of Horen whilst her mind raced.

[zuziee 4004]

Marlene of Merryweather's face slowly fell into shock as she closely ran her finger under each line, reading aloud her aunts scripture to her husband. As the final words fled from her lips, a moment of silence encaptured the room. 

 

"Stassion did pop out of nowhere..." 

[veganwalmart 1059]

The junior Alexandra bore a steely countenance as she stood atop the parapets of Valdev's Esrova Palace, her features arrestingly similar to those of her Lady Mother's. Her fiery red hair, the mark of her house, drafted about her as the bitter Haeseni cold whipped against the girl's frame. She turned to her mother, her gaze as frigid as the snow-buried Haeseni capital, and spoke thusly, and with a fervor that far exceeded her years: "Know this, Mother: that all those who would threaten you - all those who would question you - will one day bow at your feet. I swear this to you. Your enemies will fall." 

 

[Dyl 2088]

Just now, Juno. said:

Isabel looked over the missive at the low table, her eyes widening with every sentence. She nudged the Knight at her side, handing it to him with her mouth agape.

"Oh my GOD?!"

@Dyl

 

"Spoken well kid!" Ser Vlad let out a laugh as he grabbed the missive. "Ea should visit her sometime, check up on her!" He'd choke on the food he was eating, patting his chest to dislodge the food. "After Ea finish eating..."

[alienescence 1415]

3 minutes ago, Enlightenment said:

"How concerning... " the Illatian was very glad he lived on the other side of the kingdom, "I'm sure... everything-a will be peaceful."

Leutwin eats Emilio's pasta.

[JustAngel69 513]

Philip Laurent Halcourt munched on a piece of cake as he read the missive. "Oh boy, this is gonna get good." 

[Pureimp10 5691]

Spoiler

 

 

Patriarch Josef writes a quick note, "Do not anger Aleksandra of Vidaus."

[OP bandamont 901]

Young soldier named Arthur from the territories of Veletz read the message and giggled "Lots of familiar black and yellow colors" 

[Orphvius 482]

Miss Elizabeth applauded 

[Kitomine 902]

Princess Charlotte of Marsana is delivered the missive during one of her many paintings in the Castle of Stassion. Brought to her by a maid, she read it over with careful amber eyes. The more and more she read, the more furious she became. The fellow Ruthern expected more from her distant cousin. “To hell with vy!” She spat, sending the missive to the floor in one swoosh of her hand. The maid flinched, her highness exiting the room in a huff. 

[Marshi 1184]

"Typical Rutherns...She acted on her own authority and betrayed her King, yet somehow Stassion is the problem? Strange..." The Princess Royal chuckled as she read the missive "This ought to be fun"