To be a Matriarch

[Cheese 8882]

 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW2FUY3N-n0&pp=ygULZnJvbSBub3cgb24%3D 

 

 QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST

 

 

ISSUED BY THE

 

ON THE

14TH OF PETER’S GLORY, 159 B.A.

 

˳˙⋆  ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻──────────────────────  ⋆˙˳

 

 

FOR THIRTY-NINE YEARS, I have been the Matriarch of House d’Arkent. Sixteen of these years were spent as the Countess-Consort of Salia; nine were as the Countess; and fourteen were spent as the Duchess of Sunholdt. In my time, I have learned much about leadership and shepherding one’s family; how to steward my own lands and represent my kin as their figurehead. Now, nearly four decades after taking the name Arkent upon myself, I am more than a Duchess or Countess. I am a mother, a grandmother, and an aunt, both blessed and tasked with raising my family to be just as great as myself and my predecessors.

 

IT WAS ALSO THROUGH MY being a Matriarch that I have been able to fulfill my duties upon Balian’s Duana. Like my own children, the people of Balian I hold so dear have required my leadership, counsel, and care. It has been an honor and blessing to serve my people, and it is something I have sworn to continue until my dying breath.

 

AS MY ARKENT CHILDREN HAVE grown, all into respectable, intelligent, GOD fearing people, I am left with no doubt they have become the leaders I wished them to be. In particular, my capable eldest son and heir, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO, has proven his worth and abilities in leadership. Named firstly for his late father, and secondly for myself, he has done both his parents proud in his time, and I have great hope for the things he will guide our House and family to.

 

THUS, IT IS WITH THIS missive that I make my last decree as the Duchess of Sunholdt: that ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT is to inherit his birthright as the DUKE OF SUNHOLDT, COUNT OF SALIA, LORD OF EL PALAU DEL SOL, and PATRIARCH OF HOUSE D’ARKENT. His dutiful and insightful wife, my daughter-in-law LAURELIE OF AQUILIAE, will reign at his side as the DUCHESS-CONSORT OF SUNHOLDT. Additionally, I bequeath upon Achillius our House’s ancestral blade, to raise only in valour and defense of his honor, beliefs, kin, and people.

 

AVE ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, 6TH DUKE OF SUNHOLDT.

AVE LAURELIE CELINE D’ARKENT, THE DUCHESS-CONSORT.

 

˳˙⋆  ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻──────────────────────  ⋆˙˳

 

 

Her Royal Excellency, ESFIR ARTEMISIA  D’ARKENT, 

Duchess-Emeritus of Sunholdt, Countess-Emeritus of Salia, Baroness-Emeritus of Selm, Elder of House d’Arkent, 

Amiratus of Balian, Lady Seneschal of the Crown, and Chief Minister of the Royal Duana

 

His Excellency, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, 

Duke of Sunholdt, Count of Salia, Baron of Selm, Lord of El Palau del Sol, Patriarch of House d’Arkent,

Constable of Balian, Strategos of the Regiment of St. Lothar

 

Her Grace, LAURELIE CELINE OF AQUILIAE, 

Duchess-Consort of Sunholdt, Countess-Consort of Salia, Baroness-Consort of Selm, Lady of El Palau del Sol, Matriarch of House d’Arkent, 

Arch-Magus of La Cort de la Taronja, Medico Anziano of the Clinical Society of St. Julia

 

Spoiler

I’ve had an incredible time leading House d’Arkent these past several months. You are some of the best friends I’ve ever made on this server, and it has been an honor to be your Countess and Duchess. Chronics and Lucy, you’re both going to do incredible, and I hope you have just as much fun as I did. 

I’ll of course still be around as Esfir and continue to be Balian’s Amiratus, but I think it’s time that someone who’s well deserved their title has their turn <3 :)

 

Love you all so so much

 

p.s. Real ones know this is the Esfir good ending

[HIGH_FIRE 5490]

Caliope sat in the Colborn keep with a soft smile gracing her visage as she read the missive. Nobody truly knew how much the woman admired her mother, perhaps not even Caliope herself. However it brought her great pride to read that her mother would be allowed some level of retirement amongst all the stressors of the ongoing war. Of course as she had many times, she would send her mother a letter as well as her Ducal brother.

[xo31 3979]

Elijah microdosed Ur-Ba within the volcano, and peered upon a missive of his old family. A smile crossed his face, to see that they still thrived throughout these years.

[zuziee 4004]

Philippa hoped this meant that Esfir could take more vacations (north). 

[Lalosia 988]

The eldest son of the new Duke gulped, seeking comfort in reading his storybooks thereafter.

[GhostSHTR 1205]

Edvard Lother Ludovar would read the missive from the Keep of Isaakev. "GODAN be with my Borsa-in-law and my mamej-in-law...I pray for peace," he'd say to himself, then to his wife, who was holding their newborn daughter by the fireplace.

[Spellblades 749]

Warrin would read the missive with a smile, seeing his former Commander rise in status along with his wife. 

[Chronics 482]

Achillius would stand inside the walls of Portoregne as he pondered what to do next.

[Travisty 1020]

Miyako prepared to bake a cake for the family, she hoped now that Esfir would finally have a bit of time to treat herself!

[annanicole__ 2802]

Beryl Augustina D’Arkent smiled warmly. “Does this mean you’ll be spending more time with me, Grandimma and Tod? I suppose that means I’ll have to step up, too…” With a grin, she scooped up Tod the Frog, perched him on her shoulder, and dashed off to tackle the day’s adventures.

[TaraJess 2848]

Far north, an old ex-ward reads over the missive. Aera smiles, glad that her old mentor would finally get some time to relax. She prayed, in some sense, that perhaps Esfir would be proud of her new career.

[ratlordmagic 1484]

Miroslaw Jazlowiecki smiled and raised a glass from the tragically-diminished Jazlowiecki Liquor stock for the retired Amiratus. “Enjoy your retirement, God knows you’ve earned it.”

[MapleSunflower 1889]

The halls of the Cathedral echoed as Kathryn knelt before the altar. Signing the Lorraine over her frame, she prayed for Achillius, the boy who had grown into a strong young soldier. A leader of blade now made Duke, she wished him wisdom blessed by GOD, that his life be long and happy, and his decisions be made in righteousness. Her prayers turned to Laurelie -  the new Duchess -  and she support her husband with strength and tenderness in all his endeavors. Finally, she prayed for her friend Esfir: "May peace find you, my dear, and the mantle be passed to your noble son. Do not fear; He shall make you proud."

[FireAGN 1207]

Malcolm looked over the flyer as it made its way to his home, wincing as he read over the third paragraph in particular. He set the flyer to the side after reading its first sentence, planning to finish reading it some other time, though likely to never pick it up again. 

[framalam 837]

A confused priest quips among the gathered war tents of the Burgundian host!:

 

”Didn’t we already conquer this one? I’m not wholly sure it’s their title to hand out! HOH!”

 

Like any good quipper, he sits back, sips his tea, and takes a puff of his thyme pipe.