Phoebe202

To the horror of many, the Dowager Countess of Dover would make her return, armed with a retinue of old-world Illatian remedies for the sick and otherwise ailing. How shall the Count survive the utter torture of being made to eat soup with more spice than mere salt & pepper? Of understanding his mother's thick accent for such a prolonged period?

A fair Lady-in-wait to HRH Valentina burst into the room bearing a copy of the pamphlet. "Your Imperial Highness- the latest Truthful!" Cried she with much fanfair. @kuerbis

Francesca, leal lady-in-waiting of Her Imperial Highness, offered her overwhelming support as she herself returned from maternity leave!

The bride's Nonna prepares a gift in advance!

A de Sennan lady read the missive from afar, face souring as she guffawed upon hearing the news. "Mama, I knew our kin are awful, but frankly I'm disgusted by their fragrant lack of aura. One drop of conflict in their ranks and they fumble and sway like a house of cards in a tornado! Yes, it's good they see the light, but to accept a mere Barony when they were formerly of Ducal status? Are they simple-minded? Is it karma for their past stupidity? If it's the latter, it is hilarious- and if the former, I am ashamed of them. They must fortify their will and quiet their anxieties if they wish to stand among Imperial Vassalage."

The Dowager Countess of Dover signed the Lorraine oer herself upon hearing the news. Thusly, did she declare: "Oh, Mio Dio, How time has passed!" Soon after, she made preparations to return home to her surviving kin...

why do u refuse to use the graphics mods and texture packs and shaders i send u when u have the best computer of any1 i know? :(

Elsewhere, a sister bereaved quarreled with her family over their next steps. A sister lost- a suitor found. They say a man is never a plan, but at the same time, a woman's intuition is never something to be doubted. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. They say a phoenix rises from its ashes, but poor Lorena would not.

Francesca knew something was up when the moment she left her house, she was summoned to the Archanellor's office by the very man in question- her father. The hours drawled on far too slowly, anxiously- like a slow, poisonous death. She awaited answers, decisions... as her father slept, an effort to regain the strength to face such a monumental problem. Same old energy baby, history repeats Same old energy baby, they'll march you through the streets Thus was the tune uttered in her distress

As if it were a mere joust, a certain Lady prepared a favor for the de Savoie, a small token of luck. "Do you think he'll like it, Alexandria?" Inquired she of a cousin.

"Papa, is this a legitimate warrant?" a de Senna inquired of the Imperial Archancellor, handing off the document @cadazio "Only a single signature of authority! Most peculiar. Do you think this involves the incident in Norland? You and your peers were there to oversee it all transpired peacefully and legally. Surely they wouldn't.... would they?"

✠ Legal Name: ✠ Francesca Valentina de Senna ✠ Age: ✠ 25 ✠ Residence in Rotesberg: ✠ Grensewacht 1 ✠ I cast my vote in favor of… ✠ Ezra Helenus de Senna

[!] A letter thusly was delivered to the new Duke (@CasChaos): Your Grace, My sincerest congratulations on your ascension to the position of Duke of Kvasz. Furthermore, I offer my prayers for your Lord father given the unfortunate circumstances of such an inheritance. May you both be well. Francesca de Senna

A certain lobster trainer grinned, with swift hands wrapping a maritime offering before venturing to the home of such a family.

"YIPPEE!!!" Cheers Francesca de Senna upon reading the above article.

my character's dad ruined her reputation + turned everyone she loved against her for shits and giggles now this is not my story but it has always stuck out to me, this character's grandmother got kidnapped by her brother, thrown by the hair into a meat cave, and tortured+had her arms ripped off. all over an inheritance dispute. so clearly it ran in the family LOL

*rubs hands together like an evil little fly* let me talk to some ppl.... then i'll get back to you. edit: dm me on discord if you're open to discussing this pls <3 my username is majesticpasta

Fiorenza wept.

The bride's childhood best friend smiled from afar.

song “You should fashion yourself with the esteem you deserve, and take it with you through life in remembrance, like the flower you are. Countess Fiorelle.” – Prince Owyn Rostova Home didn’t feel the same since the death of Papa. The day Haense captured him, it felt like a piece of the soul of Ravenmire went with him. Again and again, Alicent fought back tears as she passed the empty apartments that once belonged to her parents. Once, it was a place of solace. It was filled with laughter, smiles, happiness. Now, it was silent, painful to behold. Like a monument to the weals and woes that come with the passage of time. But, more than that, Alicent felt like a ghost in her own home. Sure, she was a Princess of Ravenmire and a Countess in her own right. But, she felt ignored and unheard. Overlooked, even. The only one who she felt listened was Owyn, who was busy making sure Ravenmire didn’t burn to the ground. It felt to Alice that every shoulder she had to cry on would eventually leave her. First, it was her godfather, John of Balian. Then, Papa, and Mama followed him in her grief. Uncle Constantine was last. She remembered vividly the tears of her youth; the hands stained red and blackened curtains and garb donned throughout Eastminster Palace. Her bodyguard Honglie had left, too, unwillingly–only he came back. But it was too late by then. Once, Owyn had said to her: “You should fashion yourself with the esteem you deserve, and take it with you through life in remembrance, like the flower you are. Countess Fiorelle.” Only esteem never came. She worked herself to the bone attempting to form the Corvid Courts, the work her mother had spent most of her time as Princess Royal and Duchess of Eredmar completing; granted, construction had halted it for the former half and the war in the latter. Alice’s siblings and the rest of her family all had their own duties and projects to complete, leaving her utterly alone in it all. And what’s more? The very same day that her ascension to the role of Princess Royal of Ravenmire was to be announced, her brother was slapped and punished by the Burgundian king for the transgression of attempting to honor their mother’s name. She heard the whisperings of other courtiers. Stupid, all of them. The sovereignty of her kin was tarnished. For what? Her lip trembled, a gloved hand balled into a fist. What was meant to be her day was utterly soured. Alicent stormed out, never to be seen in the public eye again. song “John.” – “Once, I called you Uncle. Once, I wished to save you and my kin within Balian. I was ignored, ridiculed, admonished, for wishing to save those I loved. I am sad to say that the girl who felt that way is dead, John. Just like my father. You expect mercy? You are too late. For months on end, I prayed and plead you would see the light. You know I hate to say it, I told you so!” Once, there were many mirrors veiled in black velvet, and a girl who dreaded seeing her father’s reflection staring back at her. Somewhere down the line, the face staring back at her was not the golden prince of Ravenmire but something uniquely her. And it hurt. Alice couldn’t recognize the girl she saw in the mirror anymore. Long gone was the carefree, rambunctious girl who lit up every room she entered. The girl who spoke her mind as freely as water poured from a knocked-over glass. She had been replaced with something less than sugar and spice. Something bitter. Something that felt like a punch to the gut. Though it was she who had locked herself in her apartments, this self-imposed exile gnawed at the very core of her being. A princess no more than a caged animal. She needed to get out. Alice found herself unraveling a little day by day. She didn’t even know when the point of no return reached her. Was it when the letters started to pile outside her door? Was it when people stopped asking where she was? How she was? “Ma’am, I know you’ve been unwell lately, but I really must ask when you’ll be well enough to start planning your debutante ball. I recount your exuberance–” Chimed a voice at the door, a servant’s. “CANCEL IT.” Alicent roared from within. “CANCEL EVERYTHING. EVERY. *******. THING.” And that was the last time Princess Alicent Elena was burdened with royal duties. Chairs upturned. A balcony door practically torn from its hinges. Was this how Mama felt? Her sole source of comfort was the construction of her yacht, the Periwinkle. Once intended for brief excursions and parties by the shoreline, now it would be the conduit of her escape. Owyn stopped by every few days to provide updates on its progress. His presence alone was all Alice could stomach. song Alicent, my daughter, I am sorry to have left this world before seeing your 18th birthday. I am very proud of the woman you are showing yourself to be. I pray you go far in the future my dear child. – Final letters of Prince Thorin Rostova We will figure it out, Alicent. These things… just take time. – Princess Isabel The day was fast approaching. Owyn, always a man of science, had insisted upon a voyage to research various facets of the ocean. Sea life, salinity of the water, trade routes, and other such boring things. Alicent had begged to go along, to give Periwinkle a proper maiden voyage. He had agreed. They would be away for a quarter of a year, ample time to rest their ailing psyches, and who but Owyn deemed research a vacation? They boarded long before the morning light could reach them. Waves crashing upon the shore provided all the serenity of an orchestra and the peace of a church choir as the siblings took turns on the oars. A gentle fog creeped over the horizon, soothing the fears of the younger. If you asked Alice to point out where she was on a map, there was absolutely no way she could answer with any accuracy. She knew they were somewhere tropical. A beautiful little island where the locals had offered them friendship and shelter when the rainy season came and the seas became too rough to return home. She missed Allerick, Alysanna, Bo, and everyone else–especially Einin–but she knew they’d be alright even with her absence. This was where she belonged now. song Letters MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF ROSTOVA EININ HONGLIE

Alicent observed the waves from where she stood upon the deck of her beloved ship. Naval training be damned, this maiden voyage was not what she expected. Still, she had Owyn. It was nice to be away from the pomp and duty of royal life, just once. Just this once...

Alicent screamed long into the night, her fury a near re-enactment of her mother's expressions of grief from only a few years ago... My, how times change, she thought. The girl who once looked to Constantine as an uncle was now distraught at the fact she'd ever deemed him kin.

Wide-eyed and stained in red, Alicent remained in a state of shock. "You think you'd know a guy you've known your entire life!" She screeched, upturning pillows and the like as she found a decent one to scream into.

A cousin of the residents of Salia merely glanced towards the direction of the now-ruined keep and shook her head.