#even the roles...governess mother daughter little girl

[idontwikeit]

A new play for you and the ladies.

[evans23]

Daughter of mine II

Pairing : Judge Turpin x Daughter OC

Summary : The great judge Turpin tries to adapt to his new role as a father. Awkward, he doesn't realise that his daughter doesn't find her place in this new world.

Tag(s)/Warning(s) : A bit of angst I guess. Mention of prostitution and death. Awkward father. If I forget something, please mention it to me !

A/N: Hello dear 😁 Here the next part of Daughter of mine. Enjoy !

Part I - Part III

Also read on AO3

The first days were awkward, to say the least. Catherine was intimidated by her new surroundings and Turpin didn't know how to be a father. He didn't really try either. He didn't have any good paternal figure when he was a kid, his father being the kind violent. Besides, he couldn't stop thinking it would have been easier if he had been in the child's life from the beginning. 

Not only did he have to catch up with six years of his daughter's life, almost seven, which was utterly impossible, but also, he wasn't sure how to impose his authority on his daughter. His daughter... Even this word sounded strange to him. 

It had only been two weeks since the girl had moved in with him, in his mansion. The servants were totally enamoured with the child, who was reserved and overly polite. She never asked for anything and ate everything that was served to her, even when it was obvious she didn't like what was on her plate. Fortunately, her governess could read the little girl far more easily than her dad, and each time she noticed an imperceptible grimace of disgust, she warned the cook not to prepare this food for the child anymore. 

True to his words, two days after her arrival, Catherine got a tutor. In fact, more than one. One of the teachers had for a mission was to teach her how to write, read, and speak properly, like a well-mannered lady should do. Another one was there to teach her to speak French and Italian and another one to provide some music and drawing skills.

She probably should learn how to dance, sew, and many other things a mother would judge necessary for his daughter to know, but Turpin wasn't a mother, scarcely a father, and those trivial competencies weren't what mattered the most for Turpin. He wanted a well-educated daughter, with knowledge in his head and not just an empty brain as too much lady of his acquaintance. Turpin was a conservator, yes, but he knew how important it was to be able to think by itself, even for a girl, even more for his daughter !

The triviality would be learned later, when he decided it was time to introduce her to the high society, in a timely manner. For the moment, there was no place for any leisure. Anyway, the hectic schedule of Catherine didn't leave any room for that. She had a tiring day like she had never experienced before. 

She had to wake up at seven o'clock, half past six sometimes, and be ready with the help of her maid before eight. She had a light breakfast before the start of her courses, which only stopped once at noon to let her the time to have lunch and then at half past four in the afternoon. From half past four to five, she had some time to play on her own but she had to be quite imaginative, for there were no toys for her. Not because Turpin was too stingy but because it hadn't crossed his mind that the girl could need more than pretty dresses and coats. 

However, Catherine was so happy with those beautiful clothes that she wore them with unconcealed joy as she had never had new clothes before, even less expensive and elegant dresses like these one but only the old ones of her mother who took up it as best as she could, that she didn't dare ask for more. 

In addition, she had three meals a day, water at will, tea in the morning, and even orange juice and snacks during the day if she wished to. But what delighted her the most was the hot cocoa her governess brought her every night before sleep. A beverage her mother couldn't afford at all. Also, and for her biggest relief, she was allowed to keep her candles lit all night to make the terrifying shadows of her past disappear. And she knew how expensive was a candle, her mother told her so each time she asked to keep one alight for the night when she was alone and so afraid.

Unfortunately, despite all the affluence she was surrounded with, she felt alone. Terribly alone. She had no friends, wasn't allowed to go out, except for the backyard of the mansion, but anyway, it was too cold to play outside, but more than everything else, she missed her mom. She was also secretly longing for a father. But Richard didn't seem to appeal to the idea or at least, it was what she thought. 

Richard was never home. He left an hour before her waking time and came back far after her bedtime. He worked every day, including on Saturday morning, and during the afternoon, he was locked up in his office. The only room she was forbidden to enter in. Should she have been bolder, she would probably intruded into his sanctuary of peace to have the privilege of his company, but the natural severity emanating from the man was enough to keep her on track. 

Sunday was the only day during which she had breakfast with him, but he wasn't very talkative and she didn't know what to say to the man who, inevitably, dismissed her in her room or in the garden with her maid to let her have some clear air while he was, yet again, in his office, working on court cases or attempting some business with The Beadle. 

And because she couldn't have a piece of Richard, not necessarily his heart, not even his affection, even though she was in desperate need of a bit of that more than the beautiful dresses and the palatable food, she started to become sad. Sadder than she was when her mom died or when they were living in the paucity on the outskirts of London. Sadder than when she had lost her little cat, dead because he was starving and her mom couldn't buy enough food for the three of them, sadder than when she had been sent to the orphanage. 

In fact, she felt deceived by the man she had thought would be more than just his savior. The moment she had understood who he was, she had thought he would be his father, the one she had wished for on every birthday, and also for Christmas. She had begun to feel the need to fill in the hole in her heart with the presence of the man she had dreamt of. Moreover, the death of Elena, her dear mommy, had enlarged that hole, and the instant she had acknowledged Richard for who he was, she had wrongly thought he would embrace his role as a father. How stupid she had been. How a man who had left her mother with a broken heart could have loved her ?

The governess and the maids had already understood what the child was longing for. She needed her father's love to heal. However, Richard wasn't mean on purpose. He just didn't know how to step into the life of the child, how to take up his place as a father. Of course, he knew he just had to be himself, but the truth was that he was afraid to act like his father. Never could he forgive himself if his daughter was as afraid of him as he was of his own father when he was a child and even a young teenager. 

He had promised to himself, the day she arrived home, that never ever he would beat her, no matter her wrongdoings. Never she would hear the sound of a whip on her back and even less the feel of it. Nevertheless, he was a firm believer in the fact that a kid needed a sprinkle of authority. Even more than a sprinkle. 

Yet, he had to admit that she was easy to manage. She didn't run amok around the house and apparently, she didn't inherit the malicious and devious traits of the Turpin. Also, she never answered back, something Richard had done many times at the same age, which had owed him many slaps in the face. And surprisingly, he found himself wishing she would answer back because it would mean she was talking with him. In his presence, she was always silent and he didn't know if it was because she was impressed by him or just because she didn't adapt well to her new environment, but it was bothering him. 

"Sir, may I enquire how is doing the daughter of yours ?" asked The Beadle, that morning in the court office.

Richard looked down at him suspiciously. He didn't appreciate the attention Beadle thought necessary to have towards his daughter. He knew the man too well and didn't have any difficulties to figure out his intentions. He would be cold in his grave before a man like him could consider being betrothed to Catherine. The girl wouldn't have any suitor before her twenty-five. Or before his death. And he was able to defy God's authority on that matter just to be sure she wouldn't fall for a miserable like Beadle. A depraved man like him. In fact, after consideration, a man at all !

He dismissed The Beadle with a frown which said far more than his mouth. For God's sake, he thought, never come the day she would find man interesting. Not that they were all that bad, but Catherine's legacy would be substantial. Indeed, he had already found enough loopholes in the law to prevent his manor and all his wealth from being entailed to a stranger cousin he hadn't met in his life. All he knew about that man was that he was living in Australia with his wife and a son of sixteen named Elliott. 

"How is she ?" he asked as usual when he came back from the court to the maid.

"Asleep," answered merely the woman. 

She was the oldest maid of the manor, also the one who was able with Richard diplomatically enough to bring him around the right decision. 

"Did she eat ?"

If the answer was no, which happened sometimes, he always made sure she had a heavy breakfast in the morning, one she had to eat entirely if she wanted to have a break after her last course of the day. It only happened once that she was deprived of her playtime. Turpin knew it wasn't a solution to punish the girl when she didn't feel like eating, but she was so thin, even after two weeks of the best food that he was afraid to see her fall sick. Eating wasn't a pleasure, it was vital. 

"Yes."

The quietness of the maid made him suspicious. 

"What's the matter, Anne ?" he asked roughly.

The old woman wasn't impressed at all by the man. She wasn't afraid to stand up to him, even if she had already threatened to fire her or worse, to send her to a colony in the middle of nowhere in the upside-down. Perhaps the fact she had been his governess when she was a child had something to do with it. And even if she was grateful for the man to have hired her after her husband's death when he was still a young man, barely established as a young lawyer thanks to the influence of his family. 

"The girl is depressed," she stated frankly.

"Depressed ? We are not depressed at her age. She didn't know anything about the hardness of life," he prompted harshly.

"As you didn't know anything about it at the same age, I guess ?" Anne uttered perfidiously. 

The look Richard gave her would have made anyone else shriek with fear, but the woman didn't flinch under his stringent gaze.

"She is not mistreated here," he growled, his tone a dangerous warning.

"No, but she is alone. No friends, no toys, only studying the whole day."

And no father, she added for herself. 

"I've no acquaintance with child of her age," stated Turpin, "and for the toy, I'll leave money on the buffet tomorrow morning. Go into town and buy what you think is fit for her."

Anne shook her head with disapprobation.

"What ? Woman, do you want to live on the street ? It's where you would be if it hadn't been for my great kindness," groaned Richard, his patience thinner and thinner at each rolling eyes of the maid.

"The gift would have more valor if it came from her father," she simply pointed out. 

Richard, whose eyes were flashing with all his anger, hurried away to lock himself in his bedroom, slamming the door violently to let everybody know how angry he was in the whole house, but more peculiarly Anne, how displeased he was tonight.

The next morning, there was no money on the buffet, which made the maid smile. She was sure her words had reached Richard.

The day seemed to drag on for poor Catherine. She was too distracted to focus on her lesson, which annoyed her teacher who scolded her, promising her to give a report to her father about her bad behaviour. Catherine didn't say anything, even though she found it quite unfair as she just let her mind roam around. It wasn't as if she had disrupted the class by chattering incessantly. Anyway, except for the servants, there was no one to speak with. 

The second teacher was far more lenient with her, asking her why she was so lost on him. She shrugged her shoulders, but the man, who had three daughters and eight grandchildren, wasn't dupe. There was a heaviness in the heart of the little girl. He tried to incite her to open up, without success. He didn't insist as he didn't want to frustrate her. He understood that she was like her father : she didn't give her trust easily and the old man wasn't keen to damage the bond he had started to create with her.

At the Court of Justice, Turpin wasn't more focused than his daughter. He had adjourned the Court, even though he had found some pleasure in not temper justice with mercy. Anne's straightforward honesty had kept him up all night. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to hurt the child, yet he knew he would if he was too involved in her life. He hadn't had any good role model and it wasn't as if he wasn't providing the child with everything she needed. But deep down, he knew it wasn't what she really needed. He had been a child too and back in time, he would have traded everything he had, money, wealth, high education, and the best tutors for the love of his parents. Or at least their care.

Her mother didn't have any maternal instinct. She had been married by force to a cruel man. She had given him an heir, then another one, who had died at the age of fifteen. His younger brother, more sensitive, more fragile, had made the terrible choice to stop breathing by hanging himself to the attic load-bearing beam. Richard was already studying in London when it happened. It's the butler who had found his brother and the boy had been buried in the highest discretion. No one knew the truth, except for the Turpin's family. Richard would never forget the belt lashes of his father when he had made him swear to never reveal the real causes of his father's dead. The truth would have disgraced the family. 

Catherine deserved better than the heavy Turpin's legacy. She deserved to be happy. And because he had been raised by the worst parents, he could be better. He knew everything he mustn't do. He knew how he could destroy her, therefore he knew how not to. 

He left the Court earlier than usual and well-decided to have supper with his daughter. Yet, when he arrived he found the manor too calm, almost as if everybody was already asleep. It was only five, so the venue should have been alive with servants accomplishing their duties, not with the distant cries of a little girl.

Turpin strode up the stairs, worried that something had happened to Catherine when he stumbled upon Anne.

"What's happening here ?" he asked roughly, "while Catherine is crying and where is everybody ?"

"It has been a tough day for the little mistress. Her classes didn't go well. Mister Wosley, her morning teacher had been quite hard with her. He wrote a rapport about her bad behavior, but the governess was with them and she assured me the little girl was quiet as usual, she was just not focusing on her lesson."

"And she's crying for a rapport about her behavior?" asked Turpin bewildered.

"She's afraid you don't want her anymore. The paper is quite severe."

"Because you read it ?" asked Richard, his eyebrows arched, the slightest annoyance on his face.

"No. She did and then she read it to me because she couldn't understand some words. I explained them to her in a more... soft way. I also assure her that you won't send her away because of the angriness of a teacher."

"You did well," said Richard absent-mindedly. 

He pretended to go to his office to read the note, but the maid retained him by clearing her throat. He turned around to face her, a questioning look on his features.

"What else ?" he asked, annoyed at his highest.

"This afternoon, she went out with Mister Brandon. He wanted a change of scenery to cheer up Catherine and..."

The maid hesitated, biting her lower lip.

"Anne, I'm tired, my daughter is crying which, I have to admit despite my disgust at doing it, distraught me, and I'm terribly hungry, which only add to my annoyance. If there is more, then speak without any diversion," he chided, his square shoulders and his stern eyes leaving no room for argument.

"Well, they found a strayed kitten and Catherine had brought it back. Mister Brandon didn't see the harm in it. But once he left, Harry, the stableman, told her that you didn't like animals and that you would probably throw the little pet against a wall to kill it if she didn't get rid of it before your return. She and her governess were trying to find an appropriate hideout for the little cat when she heard you arrived. Yet again, we tried with her governess to tell her you wouldn't do that, but she didn't believe us and now she's afraid Harry told you about her new companion while she didn't find anywhere to hide it."

Richard sighed heavily. The weariness and tiredness put a strain on him. 

"Thank you for telling me, Anne. Ask the butler to thank Harry with no money and reference. The boy doesn't work in my stable anymore,' and with that being said, and the package in his hands, he headed towards Catherine's room.

The governess froze when, after having closed the door, she turned around, almost bumping into Richard.

"My lord," she said with a curtesy.

"How is she ?" he asked, ignoring her terrifying eyes on him. 

"I managed to calm her down, but she is very afraid that you scold her or worse for what Mister Wosley wrote about her. She swears it's not true. And also..."

The woman wasn't sure she should keep quiet. She knew everything she had to about Turpin's bad temper and she had been here for only two weeks, also she didn't know if he could kill or not an innocent kitten.

"What about the cat ?" asked Richard harshly.

If he hadn't been so concerned about the well-being of his child, he would probably have found the expression of the governess hilarious. Her eyes were wide, she was gawking at him.

"Well ?" he insisted, "did you find an appropriate hideout for it ?"

"Indeed," answered the governess with embarrassment.

"Well, let's see if I can find it."

And with that being said, Richard knocked on the door, then entered without waiting for any answer, as he was sure the girl wouldn't have given permission to anyone to come in. 

"Catherine," thundered Turpin's voice, making the little girl shiver.

Her sad eyes looked upon his. He opened his mouth, but he didn't have time to utter any words that the little girls rushed into his arms. Flabbergasted, Turpin didn't know what to do and stayed stunned while Catherine flooded his golden waistcoat with her tears. 

"Come on, come on, calm down," said Richard softly, "let's sit down, yes ?"

He led her towards the huge bed on which were laying Merlin and many other plush animals.

"There's a whole zoo on your bed. Are you aware of that ?" asked playfully Turpin, hoping to ease a bit of the distress of his daughter.

It seemed to work as she giggled discretely. 

"Where do all those animals come from ?" asked curiously Richard.

"The servants," whispered the girl. 

Of course, they were all so fond of their little mistress, and apparently, they knew her better than him as everybody but he knew her love for animals, that they had spent some of their pay into expensive kids' stuff. 

"Do they all have a name ?"

Catherine nodded, introducing him to each of her unanimated friends with enthusiasm, her previous outburst forgotten. Even though Richard was happy to see the mood of the child liven up, he needed to clear up the events of the day. He cursed himself for bringing up the topic when she started to cry with violent sobbing.

"Hush, hush. I'm not scolding you, am I ?" he said, bothered to not know how to talk without causing anguish to his child. 

He, eventually, took his little hand in his, frowning at how thin her little arm was. He could see her bones protruding from her neckline and her shoulders and he was sure that during bath time, her maid could notice the same things with her ribs and knees. 

"You're not angry ?" she asked bashfully.

"No," said Richard.

And it was true. He knew quite well the teacher and how harsh he could be with his pupils. Yet, he was one of the best in his profession and Turpin wanted nothing but the cream of the top for her. He would have a word with him tomorrow, asking him to be more indulgent with the girl. He wouldn't have to ask twice for the man restrained his sternness because no one could match up to the anger of The High Judge Turpin. The Death's Judge. 

"Yet, I would like to be acquainted with someone else," uttered Richard.

Catherine still, understood he was talking about her cat. 

"I put him out," she declared too quickly.

Her alarmed eyes wandered a second too long towards her wardrobe. Richard stood up in a flourish and walked briskly to the piece of furniture.

"NO !" shouted the girl.

"Hush !" prompted Richard.

He sharply opened the door and a little ball of fur ran through the room to find refuge inside a cardboard box that the butler had given to Catherine for her new companion. 

"Well, it seems to already feel at home," stated Richard.

"Please, father, do not kill him," begged Catherine, bursting into tears.

Richard felt his blood ran cold through his whole body. It was the first time she had called him father. And if he was honest with himself, it had made his heart beat faster. 

"Never would I do something like that, Catherine," he said genuinely concerned she could believe him able to do something like that.

Actually, if Richard was totally honest, he could do that without any qualms to blackmail someone or to torture an enemy. But never would he do that to this girl who had become so precious for him in such a short time. Also, for Richard, animals were the sheerest and most beautiful of God's creation. Nothing to do with the mongrel he had to deal with in his day-to-day life. 

"But Harry said..."

"Do not listen to this idiot. Anyway, he doesn't work anymore for us. Rather than being gullible and believing everything everyone's telling you, you should learn to trust me."

She looked down embarrassed but Richard forced her to look at him by lifting her head with the help of one finger under his chin.

"What's the name of this little opportunist ?" he asked, looking with an amused look at the pet tearing apart the old blanket Anne had put into the box.

"Arthur," answered Catherine with a bright smile.

"Arthur ?" questioned Turpin.

"Like the King !"

Obviously. Merlin, Mordred, Gwaine, Percival, Leon, Elyan were the names of her plush and now Arthur, thought Richard, suppressing a laugh. 

"Well, Arthur is more than welcome in this house. As long as he doesn't dare come through my office and he doesn't scratch the sofas of the parlor."

Catherine nodded vigorously, her smile and the happiness flickering in her eyes a reward for Richard's tortured soul.

"I've also a present for you. I'm sorry it's not another beast for your zoo."

With that, he handed her the box he had put down on the nightstand. Catherine looked at the box with surprise before opening it with the enthusiasm of a child who wasn't used to getting a gift. Inside was laying the most beautiful doll she had ever seen. A porcelain doll with curly brown hair and the same green eyes as hers, like the one she shared with her mother. The doll's dress was made of real cashmere and embroidered with golden threads. 

"Are you happy ?" asked Turpin with trepidation as he didn't know how to interpret the child's silence. 

"I've never had something as beautiful before," whispered Catherine, not daring to take the doll out of her box, too afraid to damage it.

Richard did it for her, placing the doll among the animals.

"She will soon have her own house. I'm sure Anne and your governess would be more than delighted to help you to install her in her new lodgings. Perhaps you may ask Anne to teach you how to sew so that you could create a whole wardrobe for your doll. I will provide you with all the pieces of furniture you could need for this new entertainment."

The little girl, overwhelmed with joy, didn't know what to say and Richard, as introverted as his daughter on the field of sharing his feelings, told her he would meet her for supper. But while he was ready to leave the room, he heard Catherine's hurried steps running towards him. He didn't have time to turn around when a mass of brown curls threw itself into his arms.

He gently stroked her back with one hand, the other one caressing with as much love as he could dispense her hair. She finally stepped back, diving her green eyes in his hazel one without quivering at the natural toughness his face was constantly bearing. 

"Thank you, father," she whispered quietly, almost as if she was afraid of his reaction, afraid to lose the little affection he seemed disposed to give her.

Richard's face softened, his heart swelling with a feeling he hadn't felt for long. The last time, it was when Elena, his beloved Elena, was in his arms after he had made love to her. Elena had betrayed him when she had left him with no explanation. And now she was no longer of this world. But Catherine, the fruit of their love was there and she wanted nothing more than to love him unconditionally. It was at this moment, when he saw all the gratefulness of his daughter for a mere doll and his permission to let her keep the kitten, that a thought struck him. A man could lose a woman, but never a father could lose his child if he was able to be a good parent for the said child. So, Richard silently swore to himself he would be the best father a girl could hope for. From now on and until death comes to take him away from this world.

"You're welcome, daughter of mine," he said with a smile matching his daughter's one. A Turpin's smile. 

[archduchessofnowhere]

Is it true that empress sissy was bad mother? Or just rumours

I think it really depends on what do you understand as being “a bad mother”. First of all royal women were not expected to be the main carers of their children: this job was divided among the many people in charge of the well-being of the kids. Parents usually only saw their kids little on a daily basis, since they did not even ate together. So one shouldn’t expect Elisabeth to have been changing diapers and heating milk bottles. The second thing to consider is just how young she was when she became a mother; giving birth to three consecutive babies in such a short time spam (with the additional stress of knowing everyone is expecting you to produce an heir) must have take a huge toll on her, so I don’t think is that surprising if she didn’t smoothly adjust to the role of mother.

Even so, she did love her children, as this letter she wrote to a Bavarian relative soon after the birth of her first child shows:

My little one really is already very charming and gives the Emperor and me enormous joy. At first it seemed very strange to me to have a baby of my own; it is like an entirely new joy, and I have the little one with me all day long, except when she is carried for a walk, which happens often while the fine weather holds. (Hamann, 1986)

But Elisabeth had no control in how her eldest children were raised: her mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie, took charge of them. Something important to keep in mind, however, is that taking charge of them doesn’t mean that she personally cared them (again, this wasn’t the role of royal woman), but that she chose the staff of nursemaids, nannies, governesses and tutors that oversaw the children’s caring and later education. But this lack of control over her children ended up being a great source of sorrow for the young mother.

During this time the first big conflict between Elisabeth and Sophie arose: the children’s nursery was placed on the same floor as Sophie’s appartements, which meant that she could go over to see her granddaughters with a lot more of freedom than Elisabeth, whose appartements where on a different floor. Being on a different floor meant than she could only see her daughters during the times set by protocol, and always in company of her retinue of ladies and lackeys, which ended up limiting even more the time she could spend with them in privacy. She told to her lady-in-waiting Marie Festetics in 1872:

Only now do I understand what bliss a child means. Now I have finally had the courage to love the baby and keep it with me [her fourth child Marie Valerie]. My other children were taken away from me at once. I was permitted to see the children only when Archduchess Sophie gave permission. She was always present when I visited the children. Finally I gave up the struggle and went upstairs only rarely.

This statement comes from almost twenty-years after the events, so it should be taken with a bit of a grain of salt (in the first letter I quoted Elisabeth mentions that she had Baby Sophie with her “all day long”, so she wasn’t “taken away at once” as she claims here). The most important takeaway from this statement to me is that even after all those years the fact that she wasn’t allowed to see her girls freely hurt her. So it’s not surprising that her first act of “rebellion” at court was when she decided to move the nursery to her floor in 1856.

After successfully moving the nursery near to her appartements, slowly Sisi started to take more and more control of her children. At the end of 1856 Franz Josef and Elisabeth went on a state visit to Lombardy-Venice and they took Baby Sophie with them. This tour was relatively successful, and months later they tried to replicate its success on Hungary. For this tour the parents decided to take not only Baby Sophie but also Gisela, since it was planned to last two months and they didn’t want to be separated from their daughters for such a long time.

As it’s known, Baby Sophie sadly died of typhus during this trip. Although is often repeated that Archduchess Sophie blamed Elisabeth for the child’s death, she in fact was very sympathetic towards the young mother, since she also had lost an infant daughter and could understand her pain. But Elisabeth seemed to blame herself regardless, and soon fell into a deep depression that lasted months and filled her entire family with worry.

By the end of 1857 she showed signs of being pregnant again, and in September of 1858 she finally gave birth to the long awaited heir, Crown Prince Rudolf. And just as with her daughters, Elisabeth had no control over the boy’s upbringing.

In 1860 Elisabeth started to become ill - of what, nobody knew. I won’t go much into this (since that’s just an entirely different post), but by the end of the year, after exhausting all possible treatments, it was decided that the Empress should go away from court to recover from her mysterious illness. This was the beginning of Elisabeth’s two years trip - first to Madeira and then to Corfu. Franz Josef offered her to take Gisela with her, but since she couldn’t also take Rudolf (the heir had to remain in Vienna), she decided to leave her behind because she didn’t want to separate the siblings, who were very close (Winkelhofer, 2022).

Elisabeth returned a changed woman, much more confident in herself, no longer the shy girl who was easily intimidated by courtiers. But she still had no control over how her children were educated. Or that was until Rudolf started his formal education. At the age of six he was separated from his sister and governess, given his own household, and Count Gondrecourt was assigned as his tutor. Gondrecourt had the mission of “toughening up” the boy, since he was considered to be weak of mind; his method to achieve this consisted in psychologically torturing Rudolf, and after he fell ill, seemingly of a nervous collapse. When Elisabeth discovered what her son was going through she was horrified and decided to step in. So she did something almost unprecedented, not only for her personally, but also in general for a woman of her status: she gave her husband an ultimatum:

I wish to have reserved to me absolute authority in all matters concerning the children, the choice of the people around them, the place of their residence, the complete supervision of their education, in a word, everything is to be left entirely to me to decide, until the moment of their majority. I further wish that, whatever concerns my personal affairs, such as, among others, the choice of the people around me, the place of my residence, all arrangements in the house etc. be reserved to me alone to decide.

Even more surprisingly for the time, Franz Josef agreed, and gave her full control of the children’s education. Gondrecourt was dismissed and Colonel Josef Latour was personally chosen by Elisabeth in his place. Latour was highly unpopular at court because he wasn’t an aristocrat and had very liberal political ideas, but Elisabeth protected him and he kept his job. Latour ended up becoming a close friend to his pupil until his death. But even though she now had what she had always wanted, total control of her children’s upbringing, she never became really close to her eldest daughter and son.

This is the part in which we can talk about her being “a bad mother”. When you compare her relationship to her fourth and last child, Marie Valerie, born ten years after Rudolf out of her desire to have another baby, raised entirely by her (as always keeping in mind that this means she had full control of the staff that took care of Valerie), to how she was with Gisela and Rudolf, the clear favoritism is evident. It seems that she felt more distant towards the eldest, probably a combination of her not having a saying in their upbringing until they were older and her constant trips away from court didn’t help her to close the gap. Gisela, who was a very down-to-earth person, a lot like her father, doesn’t seem to have minded this (or at least she never showed it), but Rudolf always craved for a close relationship with his mother, which he never could truly have. He adored her and was always grateful for her intervention when he was little, but seeing how all his mother’s love and attention went towards Valerie made Rudolf jealous of his younger sister; because of this the siblings also never managed to become close.

Valerie ended up feeling overwhelmed by her mother’s love. Elisabeth was very emotionally dependent on her daughter and made her her constant companion and support, which isolated the girl from the rest of her family. Valerie adored her father and felt that her mother put her against him, and Elisabeth insistance in raising her as a Hungarian (Valerie’s mother tongue wasn’t German, but Hungarian) made her hate Hungary. She turned out to be quite different to what her mother had planned, and that was probably just the result of having so many expectations imposed on her since she was born. But even so Elisabeth loved her and only wanted her to be happy. And this is shown by the fact that (unlike Queen Victoria with her daughter Beatrice) she didn’t want her to stay by her side forever, but to marry for love and form her own family. So she supported her decision to marry Archduke Franz Salvator, who out of all her suitors was the least favorite (Franz Josef wanted her to marry the Crown Prince of Saxony and Rudolf Archduke Eugen).

So was she a bad mother? It’s complicated. She loved her children (and I do think she loved all of them, despite Gisela being often considered the “forgotten” child), fought to have control on how to raise them (which was unusual for the time) and when she lost them she deeply grieved them. But she couldn’t be the support that her son needed, and the child she did gave her constant love felt suffocated. Sometimes an answer isn’t as a easy as yes or not, and I think we should keep that in mind when looking at Elisabeth as a mother. I hope you find my answer helpful, and sorry if it’s too long!

SOURCES:

Hamann, Brigitte (1986). The Reluctant Empress: A Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (translation by Ruth Hein)

Winkelhofer, Martina (2022). Sissi. La vera storia. Il camino della giovane imperatrice (translation by Federica Saccucci)

[enhyhoonie]

Red Moon (Prologue)

Pairings: No pairings (fem!reader)

Genres: Fantasy!au, DarkRomance, !NSFW!

Triggers: Gonna have smut, bad languages, blood, death, kinda gore

WC:  4.3k

A/n: It’s gonna be a loooooong serie...also there’s no pairing it will be like a all together thing (lol). I hope you guys will like it :’) Anyways if there’s anything you can always inbox me <3 Guys! Try to guess who said the last phrases 🤭

Prologue

Being the eldest daughter in the family has never brought me any luck... Especially when the child born after me is a boy. Jungwon, my little brother, was automatically proclaimed the future heir of our family. Ever since he was born, I've been almost invisible to our parents, and of course, this also rubbed off on the servants. All my governess and guardian had done my education and follow. Fortunately, they took good care of me and showered me with immense love to replace that of my parents. I was never jealous of my brother; He and I loved each other very much. It's not his fault that our parents favor him so much...it's something he can't control. Unfortunately for him, he's a terrible student. Ever since he was a child, he's only skipped his lessons with the tutor to practice with his sword. As a result, I did his homework on his stade. He wasn't fit to be an heir...but I...I absolutely wanted to...be the heiress. But of course, that would never happen...as long as Jungwon remained alive.

_"Jungwon, start learning your lessons more seriously. When you will be the head of the family, I will not do your job secretly for you like I'm doing now." I told him.

We were sitting at a table in the library; me reading a book; him sitting opposite me, almost lying on the table, looking at me sulkily.

_"Y/n I came to see you to spend time with you, not for you to lecture me."

_“I never asked you to come and see me, anyway.”

_"Wow, that's mean."

_"Look, we're not kids anymore. This is no time for jokes or making light of your role. Get a grip."

_"You're the only person I can be with without worrying about a role I never wanted and now you talk like everyone else... I thought you understood me." He said, really hurt.

I lifted my eyes from my book and looked at him gently.

_“I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that.”

_”Forget it”. He said before storming out of the library.

That was the last time I saw my brother before he disappeared.

It had already been a month since my brother disappeared. We had moved heaven and earth to find him, but to no avail. We found no trace of him, as if he'd vanished. The tension in the house was unbearable, and I spent most of the day in my room. How could he have disappeared so easily? How come he still hasn't been found? Is he still alive or... dead? I was worried sick.

The door to my room opened. I turned around and saw my mother and father.

_”Why did you do that?” My mother shouted.

_”What do you mean?” I answered, confused.

_”Don't play with us. You think we didn't understand your little ploy?”

_”I don't understand.”

_"You got rid of Jungwon so you could be the heiress."

_"I would never do that to my brother." I said in shock.

_”We're aware that you're desperate to become the heiress, and knowing you..."

I cut my mother off.

_”What are you insinuating? That I'm so cruel as to hurt my brother just for a position?" I said, feeling my rage rising.

My parents said nothing.

_”It's funny to hear you say you know me when you know nothing about me. You haven't even been able to fulfill your role as parents because I'm a girl who won't bring anything to the family."

_”Don't talk nonsense..." began my father, before being interrupted by the servant who came storming through the door.

_”The young Lord has returned!” He said breathlessly.

I rushed to the entrance of the mansion and saw my brother standing there unharmed. I ran to him and hugged him tightly. 

_”Jungwon, I'm so happy you're here safe and sound...you don't know how worried I was.” I said, my face buried in his chest, holding back my tears.

I stepped back a little and cupped his face to get a good look. He looked at me expressionlessly, which made the smile disappear from my face. 

_“Jungwon?” I said, confused.

He stepped back and passed me.

_”Don't worry, big sister, I'm fine.” He said indifferently.

Jungwon had returned to the manor after his disappearance. According to what he told us, on the day of his disappearance, Jungwon had gone to the river to practise his sword, fell off the pond and was swept away by the current. They then found him unconscious by a noble house, the Vempes, who took care of him for the past month until he recover and could come back to us. 

I never heard about this noble house. Jungwon said they are 6 brothers in this family and the head of the family is actually the older one. They are living in the far East of the Kingdom. 

The days that followed Jungwon's return felt like a surreal blur. His presence lingered in the halls of our family manor, but the vibrant, lively brother I once knew seemed to have left us at the riverbank where he disappeared. In his place stood a stranger, wearing Jungwon's face but not his spirit.

He became a ghost in our home, moving with an eerie silence that echoed through the corridors. The brother who once laughed and practiced his sword diligently now immersed himself in books and scrolls. 

His transformation was unsettling, as if the river had not only swept him away physically but had also carried away the essence of his being. I tried to reach out, to bridge the gap that had emerged between us, but my attempts were met with a stoic indifference that sent shivers down my spine.

The dinners we used to share turned into silent rituals, punctuated only by the clinking of cutlery on porcelain. Jungwon's eyes, once warm and familiar, now held an inscrutable gaze that seemed to penetrate through the very core of my being. It was as if a veil had been drawn over his soul, shielding him from the world.

One evening, I found him in the library, surrounded by ancient tomes and dim candlelight. His eyes were fixed on the text before him, but his mind seemed to be wandering through distant realms. The sight of him hunched over those books, a stark departure from his former self, tore at my heart.

_"Jungwon," I called softly, careful not to startle him. He looked up, and for a moment, I glimpsed a flicker of recognition in his eyes. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the cold, distant gaze that had become his new normal.

_"What happened to you?" I asked, the words escaping my lips before I could censor them.

He closed the book with deliberate slowness, meeting my gaze with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. "I'm just doing what needs to be done," he replied, his voice devoid of the warmth that once defined it.

The sense of loss deepened as I realized that the brother I had known and loved was slipping away, replaced by a version of him that was a mere shadow of the past. The mystery of his disappearance had been solved, but in its wake, a new enigma had taken root within the very heart of our family.

I hesitated for a moment, watching the flickering candlelight cast shadows on his unreadable expression. The air in the library felt heavy with unspoken tension as I searched for words that could bridge the growing gap between us.

_"What needs to be done?" I questioned, my voice barely above a whisper. "You've changed, Jungwon. Ever since you came back, it's like you're a different person."

He sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of an entire world. "Y/n, the responsibilities that come with being the heir, they're not to be taken lightly. I've realized I can't afford to be the carefree brother I used to be."

_"But that doesn't mean you have to shut me out," I pleaded, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "We've been through everything together. Why this sudden distance?"

Jungwon's gaze remained fixed on the closed book before him, a mask of detachment veiling his features. "You wouldn't understand, Y/n. The burden of leadership is not something you can grasp."

_"I may not be the heir, but I'm still your sister," I retorted, my voice gaining a hint of desperation. "We've faced challenges as a family, and we've always supported each other. Why push me away now?"

He finally looked up, and his eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made me catch my breath. "You don't get it, do you? This is not just about family. The Vempes taught me things, things that matter for the future of our legacy."

_"The Vempes?" I echoed, confusion etching lines on my face. "What did they teach you that turned you into this... stranger?"

He leaned back, folding his arms with an air of finality. "They showed me the importance of knowledge, strategy, and discipline. Qualities I lacked, qualities needed to ensure the prosperity of our family."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Jungwon, you were fine the way you were. You don't need to sacrifice who you are for some idealized version of leadership."

His expression remained impassive, unmoved by my plea. "This is the path I've chosen. I won't let sentimentality cloud my judgment."

A heavy silence settled between us, the words hanging in the air, echoing the irreparable distance that had grown between the brother I once knew and the stranger who now wore his face.

The Vempes remained an enigma, an unsettling puzzle. My curiosity, once a gentle whisper, had grown into a persistent ache, compelling me to dig deeper into the shadows that surrounded their name.

Late into the night, I roamed the vast halls of our mansion, searching for any hidden records, ancient scrolls that might shed light on the mysterious family that had claimed my brother for a month. The library, my sanctuary for solace and knowledge, yielded nothing. No tomes spoke of the Vempes, and the scrolls held no mention of their existence.

It was as if they were a phantom family. The absence of information about them only intensified the unease that had settled in my chest. Families, especially noble ones, were documented meticulously. Yet, the Vempes seemed to exist beyond the reach of such conventions.

Why did the Vempes keep to the shadows? What secrets did their distant home in the far East hold? My frustration mingled with the realization that, in the vast expanse of our mansion's library, the silence about the Vempes was deafening.

The Vempes had claimed to teach my brother essential virtues for our family's legacy, yet their own legacy remained shrouded in silence.

The library was dimly lit, and Jungwon was engrossed in a book, his eyes scanning the pages with an intensity that made me hesitate. The air felt heavy with unspoken tension as I approached, determined to breach the subject that had become an unspoken barrier between us.

_"Jungwon," I started cautiously, "we need to talk about the Vempes."

He closed the book, his expression shifting ever so slightly, a subtle discomfort surfacing. "There's nothing to discuss," he replied, his tone clipped.

_"But there is," I persisted. "You disappeared for a month, and all we know is that the Vempes took you in. I want to understand why they hold such sway over you, why their influence has transformed you into someone I can hardly recognize."

He met my gaze, his eyes guarded. "Some things are better left unexplored, Y/n. The Vempes have their ways, their reasons. It's not a path you want to tread."

Frustration bubbled within me, and I refused to be deterred. "They cared for you for a month, Jungwon. You owe them that much. Why the secrecy? What did they do to you?"

His eyes betrayed a hint of discomfort, but he quickly masked it. "They did what they believed necessary. Now, I have responsibilities to fulfill. That's all that matters."

The distance between us felt like an unbridgeable chasm. "Responsibilities? What did they teach you that turned you into this... stranger?"

He sighed, a weariness settling in his features. "Discipline, strategy, knowledge. Qualities our family lacked, qualities essential for our prosperity."

_"They've changed you," I pressed, desperation creeping into my voice. "You've become someone I can't reach, and I can't stand by without understanding why."

A fleeting expression—was it regret?—crossed his face gone in an instant. "Y/n, the less you know, the better. This is my path, and I won't let you get entangled in its complexities."

The finality in his voice left me with a sinking feeling, the realization that my brother, my confidant, had become a stranger guarding secrets. "Jungwon," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper, "I can't watch you disappear like this. Whatever they've done, we should face it together."

He stood, the distance between us growing palpable. "Some paths are meant to be walked alone. This is one of them."

And with those words, he left the library, leaving me behind in the quiet that echoed with unanswered questions and the heavy weight of an unspoken divide. The truth about the Vempes seemed to be a fortress. He had no intention of letting me breach.

The once vibrant streets of the kingdom now echoed with a silent unease. Whispers of fear flitted through the air like shadows, and the once bustling marketplaces were gripped by a palpable tension. The kingdom had become a place of caution and apprehension, a far cry from the lively realm it once was.

Reports of people disappearing and turning up dead with their throats gruesomely slashed had become a haunting reality. Each day, the list of victims grew, leaving behind a trail of horror and a kingdom on edge. The unsettling notion that a shadowy figure lurked in the shadows, preying on the unsuspecting, gnawed at the collective consciousness.

The manner in which these victims were left, drained of blood, sent shivers down my spine. The kingdom had become a dangerous labyrinth, and the walls were closing in. Questions raced through my mind like a tempest: Who could be behind these gruesome acts? What motive could drive someone to commit such heinous crimes?

Theories and suspicions danced in the recesses of my thoughts. Was it an outsider, an infiltrator with a vendetta against the kingdom? Or could it be someone within the court, hidden behind a façade of nobility? The air of uncertainty hung thick, and trust became a fragile commodity in the face of an unknown assailant.

The mansion's corridors echoed with hushed whispers as I passed by a group of maids, their heads bent together in a conspiratorial discussion. Unable to resist eavesdropping, I slowed my steps, catching fragments of their conversation that reverberated through the air like a clandestine melody.

_"...heard they found another one, throat slit just like the others..."

_"Awful, isn't it? And not a drop of blood left in them. It's like they were drained dry."

The weight of the kingdom's collective fear hung in the air, but one particular phrase caught my attention.

_"...vampires, they say. Creatures of the night, feasting on the blood of the living."

A shiver ran down my spine as I heard the word "vampires." It was a fantastical notion, an irrational explanation meant to feed the fears that gripped the maids and, perhaps, the entire kingdom. Vampires, in my pragmatic view, were creatures of myth and legend, not malevolent beings prowling the shadows of our realm.

I continued down the corridor, dismissing the notion as irrational gossip fueled by the escalating fear. Vampires were the stuff of stories, not plausible culprits in a series of murders. The reality, I believed, lay in the tangible world, a world where motives and individuals could be unraveled and understood.

The evening air was thick with tension as our family gathered for dinner. The familiar grandeur of the dining hall seemed to pale beneath the weight of unspoken words. The clinking of silverware against porcelain resonated in the silence, interrupted only by the occasional exchange of guarded glances.

The butler approached my father with an ornate envelope, sealed with an unknow insignia . As the wax seal was broken, a hushed anticipation settled over the room. The contents of the letter were read aloud, revealing an invitation to a grand ball hosted by the Vempes, celebrating their recent establishment in the kingdom.

_"They specifically request our family as honored guests," my father announced, his expression shifting between curiosity and caution. "It seems they consider Jungwon part of their family and wish to see how he's fared since his return."

A subtle chill settled over the room as the words hung in the air. Jungwon's eyes betrayed a flicker of displeasure, an emotion he struggled to conceal. The Vempes' influence, it seemed, reached beyond the realm of our immediate family.

_"I have no interest in attending their ball," Jungwon stated curtly, his voice laced with an undercurrent of resentment.

My mother's eyes flickered toward Jungwon, concern etched on her face. "Jungwon, dear, it's a formal invitation. It would be impolite to decline, especially considering the hospitality they extended to you during your... absence."

Jungwon's jaw tightened, his frustration palpable. "Their hospitality was unnecessary, and this invitation is nothing more than a pretense. I won't play into their hands."

The air in the room grew heavier as Jungwon attempted to dissuade our parents, urging them to reconsider attending the Vempes' ball. His objections were met with gentle dismissals, my parents seemingly captivated by the allure of the invitation.

_"But it's an opportunity to strengthen ties with the Vempes. They've extended a gesture of goodwill, and we shouldn't spurn it," my father reasoned, glancing at Jungwon with a knowing look.

I observed the exchange, torn between my brother's evident discomfort and the diplomatic considerations that seemed to sway my parents. The Vempes, with their mysterious influence and the recent unsettling events in the kingdom, had woven a complex tapestry that ensnared our family.

Jungwon's reluctance persisted, an unspoken tension radiating from him like an invisible force. Despite his objections, the decision had been made. The Vempes' ball loomed on the horizon, a gathering that held promises of both revelation and uncertainty. As the dinner continued, the looming specter of the invitation cast a shadow over our family, and I couldn't shake the feeling that attending the ball might unravel more than just the dance of formalities.

Under the veil of the night, I discreetly slipped away from the confines of the dining hall, clutching the Vempes' invitation in my hand. The flickering candlelight in the corridor illuminated the intricate calligraphy that adorned the parchment. My fingers traced the elegant curves of the writing as I read the words penned by the head of the Vempes family.

---

Dear Esteemed Guests,

It is with great pleasure that the Vempes family extends an invitation to you and your honored family to attend a grand celebration in our newly established residence within the kingdom. As we embark on this new chapter, we find ourselves drawn to the bonds that tie us to those we consider family. We have come to cherish the presence of your son, Jungwon, who, through fate's design, spent a month under our care. In honor of the unity between our families, we invite you to a ball where joyous festivities will abound. This gathering serves not only to commemorate our newfound place in the kingdom but also to renew the bonds between us. Our family, eagerly anticipates the pleasure of your company. We extend our warmest welcome and look forward to sharing an evening of merriment. May this event strengthen the ties that bind us. With utmost sincerity,

Heeseung Vempes

---

The words on the parchment painted a picture of warmth and hospitality, but beneath the polished surface, a subtle undercurrent of intent lingered. It was evident that Heeseung Vempes and his brothers sought more than just a social gathering; they desired news about Jungwon.

The inked script hinted at a genuine interest in our family, particularly Jungwon's well-being. However, as I read between the lines, a lingering suspicion tugged at the corners of my mind. The Vempes, with their intricate dance of family and enigma, seemed to be orchestrating a narrative that transcended the boundaries of mere cordiality.

The day of the ball arrived, shrouded in an air of anticipation that seemed to cling to every guest as they approached the imposing manor of the Vempes. The grand facade of the residence loomed overhead, its architecture both impressive and vaguely unsettling. As we stepped out of the carriage, the evening shadows cast eerie silhouettes, adding an undertone of foreboding to the already ominous atmosphere.

Dressed in a gown of deep red, I couldn't shake the feeling that the color mirrored the subtle unease that settled in my chest. Jungwon, clad in a matching hue, wore an expression of annoyance that seemed to deepen with each passing moment. His discomfort, palpable in the tension that lingered between us, mirrored the aura of the Vempes' manor.

Before we entered the grand hall, my parents issued a stern warning. "Y/n, we expect you to conduct yourself appropriately. Do not create a commotion," my father cautioned, his eyes stern. The unspoken implication hung in the air — any disruption would jeopardize not only our family's reputation but also our delicate ties with the Vempes.

The grand doors swung open, revealing a hall bathed in opulence. The chandeliers cast a warm glow, and the polished marble floors reflected the elegant attire of the assembled guests. However, an unsettling hollowness pervaded the atmosphere, accentuated by the conspicuous absence of the Vempes. The Vempes, the hosts of the evening, were notably absent.

Jungwon's irritation deepened, evident in the furrow of his brow and the tightening of his jaw. He exchanged curt nods with acquaintances, his gaze searching the room for any sign of the elusive hosts.

The ballroom, despite its grandeur, seemed to pulse with an undercurrent of unease. Guests engaged in polite conversation, laughter echoed against the ornate walls, yet an intangible tension lingered in the air. Jungwon remained by my side, his presence a silent reassurance in the midst of the enigmatic gathering.

As the night unfolded, I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of being observed. A subtle weight hung in the air, an invisible gaze that followed my every move. It was as if unseen eyes traced the contours of my gown, scrutinized the nuances of my expression. The sense of being watched intensified with each step, an eerie awareness that stirred the hairs on the back of my neck.

Jungwon's vigilance did not go unnoticed. His eyes, ever watchful, mirrored the unease I felt. His protective stance was both comforting and disconcerting, a testament to the unspoken understanding that something beyond the surface transpired within the walls of the Vempes' manor.

Amidst the masked dancers and glittering chandeliers, Jungwon's proximity offered solace. His presence, both protective and troubled, hinted at a shared apprehension. Together, we moved through the dance floor, our steps echoing in the cavernous hall, our senses attuned to the enigma that enveloped the night.

From the concealed vantage point of the interior balcony, six shadows loomed against the warm glow of the ballroom below. Their silhouettes, distinct and enigmatic, observed the festivities unfolding beneath them. Yet, their focus was singular, converging on one figure amidst the swirling dancers — Y/n.

Among the six shadows, one stood apart, his gaze fixated on Y/n with an intensity that bordered on predatory. His features were obscured by the dim light, rendering his intentions inscrutable. He watched her, not with the curiosity of a guest, but with the calculated interest of a hunter sizing up its prey.

The others, shrouded in whispered conversations, exchanged words in hushed tones. Their discussions seemed to carry an air of secrecy, as if unraveling a plan known only to the conspirators. Their eyes occasionally flickered toward the lone figure, their intentions veiled in the dance of shadows.

As the mysterious observer continued to scrutinize Y/n, his fellow shadows exchanged glances and murmurs. The air around them crackled with an energy that transcended the ordinary revelry of a ball.

The atmosphere on the interior balcony became charged with an aura of anticipation. The mysterious observer's gaze remained fixed on Y/n, his intentions cloaked in ambiguity.

The hushed whispers among the five shadows intensified, their clandestine conversation taking a more sinister turn. The air around them crackled with an energy that bespoke a shared malevolence, and their eyes gleamed with a devilish glint. Among them, the one who had been observing Y/n with predatory intent emerged as the central figure, the puppet master orchestrating the macabre symphony.

As the conspiratorial murmurs reached their zenith, the shadows exchanged knowing glances, their smiles widening into devilish grins. The atmosphere on the interior balcony became charged with an unsettling anticipation, and a shiver seemed to traverse the collective spine of the shadowy assembly.

The standing figure, with a sinister smile that mirrored his nefarious thoughts, spoke with a lecherous edge, "Should I just take her in the garden and do her like an animal? I just can't wait anymore."

His words hung in the air, laden with an ominous implication that sent a chill through the shadows' conspiratorial circle. The ballroom below, oblivious to the malevolent forces at play, continued its dance of revelry. Unaware to the shadows, a sinister undercurrent pulsed within the shadowy recesses of the Vempes' manor, where the convergence of dark desires hinted at a night that held more than mere celebration.

_”Alright, time to start the show.”

[janeeyreheresy]

Celine Varens

Here, let me rewind to the early days of Jane and Rochester's acquaintance and talk about a person I've not yet given time in this recap--Celine Varens, the mother of little Adele.

She was a French opera dancer to whom he once cherished a grande passion. Celine returned this passion. Narrates Jane:

He thought himself her idol, ugly as he was: he believed, as he said, that she preferred his “taille d’athlète” to the elegance of the Apollo Belvidere.

Did you know Edward was ugly?

Edward was besotted with Celine. He installed her in a hotel, gave her jewels and servants. Only to catch her cheating with another man--a vicomte Edward knew from society, in his words "a brainless and vicious youth". And just like that, Edward's love for Celine evaporated into thin air--if she could prefer such a man over him, she only deserved scorn. Edward overheard the two of them laughing about him, Celine making jokes about his ugliness when previously, to his face, she used to say admirable things about his looks. Unlike Jane, who point blank told him he was not handsome. (She didn't, though? He asked her if she thought him handsome and she answered by blurting out "no, sir" without thinking, for which she straight away apologised.)

Oh yeah. Did you know Edward was ugly?

Contrast the frivolous French floozy with the good, honest English girl.

The Roch broke up with the fair Celine at once, evicted her from the hotel and the next morning, met up with the vicomte and shot him in the arm. 

So who's violent now?

Celine had a daughter, Adele, who she claimed was Edward's. He doesn't believe it--not because he doesn't want to take responsibility, but because he sees no resemblance in her. Probably because she's not ugly. Because Edward is ugly, you know. Some years later, Celine abandoned her child and ran away to Italy with a musician. Seeing as little Adele had no one else, he took her in. 

I admit it was really good of him. Although with Edward, you never know if he had any ulterior motive.

"I e’en took the poor thing out of the slime and mud of Paris, and transplanted it here, to grow up clean in the wholesome soil of an English country garden."

So Paris is slime and mud.

He didn't mind the slime and mud when he was fucking Celine.

So am I going to argue the veracity of Edward's story about Celine? 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Honestly, at this point, who the fuck knows. I don't know why I always had it in my head that Celine died. Even after re-reads. I don't always remember every detail from a book, also it's possible I just skimmed that part on my last reading. (I don't read Jane Eyre often, I've only read it twice in English. When I need to look up something, I open it in Gutenberg.) She could be dead. There is no way of knowing. 

Rochester's monologue is hilarious, though, if you like that sort of thing. So much drama and flowery prose. Stage indeed lost an actor. I wonder if he and Celine met when he auditioned for a role. Maybe his time away from Thornfield was spent in the performing arts? Actually, now that I think about it, what if the conflict with his father was due to Edward's ambitions of becoming an actor? Papa Roch wouldn't hear of it so he sent him to Jamaica. Now there's a better sad emo boy origin story.

I hope Adele is NOT Rochester's daughter, for her own sake. Kid deserves better. But I have to say, yet again, what in the world is the fucking point of this tale? Charlotte needed a kid at Thornfield so that she could place a governess there, I get that. But why all that rigmarole with a French dancer? Why not have Adele be an orphaned daughter of an old friend or relative of Roch? He could have had friends, or distant relatives in France, if the child's nationality was that important. There is no need for an elaborate opera dancer floozy drama. All it accomplishes is 1. it shows Charlotte's xenophobia and 2. it shows Edward's misogyny. Same thing I said about the Blanche story--it didn't need to be there at all and nothing in the book would change. Just like Blanche could only have been an old acquaintance instead of a rival love interest, Adele's mother could only have been a plain simple mother. An orphaned child, taken in by the master of Thornfield, who now needs a governess. Why in the world does it matter who Adele's parents were anyway??? 

Because Charlotte couldn't help making herself feel better by not being a French slut who likes jewels. 

An opera dancer turning out to be an ordinary whore, HOW FUCKING REVOLUTIONARY.

Digression - What in the Sherlock?

Forty-four years after the publication of Jane Eyre, Arthur Conan Doyle redeemed the woman of stage in the character of Irene Adler in the short story A Scandal in Bohemia. Read that instead. The adaptations often turn her into Sherlock's love interest and don't do her justice (except the one with Jeremy Brett). In the original story, Sherlock was outsmarted by her and LEARNED from it. He realised she was in the right! 

Speaking of Sherlock Holmes. Copper Beeches features a case where a governess comes to consult the detective about whether to take a certain post--too much weird stuff around the job. Sherlock, after listening to the details, tells her to watch out. Turns out ***SPOILER*** she was hired to impersonate her employer's eldest daughter, whom he locked in a room, because he wanted her to sign over her inheritance from her mother to him. The daughter became ill with brain fever from this ordeal. And the stranger coming to the house--or in this case, watching it from the distance, is the daughter's boyfriend. ***END SPOILER*** 

In The Sussex Vampire, a man suspects his wife, a Peruvian, sucks their baby son's blood. Without giving too much away, this story not only vindicates the "foreign" wife, it also redeems the figure of the stepmother, so maligned in fairy and folk tales. Like, fuck it, Arthur Conan Doyle was more feminist than Jane Eyre.

End Digression - Back to Celine

One could question Edward about why he chose to have this relationship with an opera dancer in the first place. He complains she only wanted his money, but he chose to spend it on her. He complains she had another lover, but he was never serious about her himself. She was just a fling. Douchebag was MARRIED for gods' sake. Probably it was the fact that they laughed at him what bothered him most. His ego got a beating.

It could easily have been his wife's money he was throwing at Celine. And you blame her for being mad. 

Anyway, if Edward really did shoot the vicomte in the arm, then it proves he is dangerous, and Richard had a reason to fear him. 

[sunlightswallowed]

NO, BECAUSE, LISTEN---

She's six years old. Her beloved mother disappears. She's told that her mother is gone forever and not to ask questions or even speak about her. She immediately becomes the highest-ranking lady in Arendelle, and is expected to grow into that role as fast as possible. So she's raised by servants, her tutors, and her governess. She matures rapidly, because that's what her father needs.

Then her father dies. She is far from alone, but she's orphaned, with two younger siblings she feels responsible for. Who need protecting from all the people who might want to hurt or manipulate them. It's her duty. It's suffocating. She's been told her whole life that she's meant to marry and have children for the good of her family. So she travels, she sees the world, and explores and learns as much as she can. Tastes a little bit of freedom.

People start pressuring her brother to marry. Her brother, who is only a year her junior, but still her baby brother in her eyes. Her baby brother who is in love with a peasant girl his council wouldn't want him to marry. She settles down. Sails to Corona and marries her betrothed, to maybe buy Agnarr a little bit more time. Maybe if she gives him nephews, he won't be under so much pressure. But no children come. They try and try, but none of her pregnancies are successful. People start to whisper. Her father-in-law blames her. Decries her as unfit. Tries, even, to have her marriage annulled.

She has always been told that bearing children is her duty, and she is failing spectacularly. She is failing her family, and her kingdom, and her husband. And then, finally, a miracle. Everything seems to be going right. But she falls ill, so ill that she's likely to die. She's saved only by magic, magic that her father had always decreed dangerous. She has a living child, after all this time.

But then her child disappears too. She spends eighteen years as "Mother of the Lost Princess" and "Patroness of Orphanages", throwing all the love she was robbed of giving her daughter to the children of her country that need care. Yet when her daughter returns, Rapunzel is nearly grown. And Arianna, for all that her life has been centered around motherhood, truly has no idea how to be a mother.

The way I'm thinking about Arianna's relationship with motherhood and how complex it really is....

[dwellordream]

“Members of the socially active middle class did not lack compassion for the ‘fallen woman.’ A woman seduced by a man who had proposed marriage to her and subsequently broken his promise to her was held in considerable sympathy (Frost 1995). The mid-eighteenth-century Foundling Hospital was already admitting illegitimate babies mothered by women who had good cases regarding the circumstances surrounding their impregnation (Barret-Ducrocq 1991). In The Making of Victorian Sexuality (1994), Michael Mason has calculated that there were nearly 300 institutions (asylums) for prostitutes by the end of the nineteenth century. 

Different institutions specialized in different levels of rehabilitation, ranging from those that took in girls who needed to be protected from resorting to prostitution to those that housed unrepentant prostitutes under guard. Yet, the existence of institutions should not in any way give the impression that the Victorian family washed its hands of an errant daughter and sent her away pregnant and destitute. The family’s honour counted as much as the girl’s virtue. In most cases, a stay away from home was arranged and the child subsequently disposed of. 

Even the staunch, sexually conservative moralist Dr Acton, who headed a commission investigating prostitution, was careful to distinguish between housemaids who had been seduced by a member of the household staff (or by a member of the employing family) and those women who charged for their services. He recommended that the unfortunate housemaids be employed as wet nurses ([1857] 1968). While from a retrospective position we may find these facilities as little else than places of incarceration that put citizens under the increased control and surveillance of the state, they were, nevertheless, a better alternative than condemnation to utter destitution in the streets. 

The moral worry over unwed mothers was related to two positions taken by middle-class Victorians: (1) a woman had to be a virgin upon marriage, and (2) marriage was the ideal state for a woman wishing to be protected from the dangers of society. These two positions, when put together, did not leave much of a middle-class future for either a single mother or a woman who remained single and experimented sexually. Middle-class feminists, for their part, were not struggling for sexual freedom outside marriage as much as they were seeking rights to equal education and work. They continued to uphold the values of the family even while arguing that women did possess sexual needs (Maynard 1993, Russet 1989, Dyhouse 1989). 

Those who were part of the ‘sex reform’ movement, although they argued against the idea of a ‘classical sexuality’ (which concurrently rationalized prostitution by stating that men’s and women’s sexual needs differed substantially), remained committed to the idea of a monogamous marriage, albeit one in which sexuality was not repressed (Bland 1995). This fear of the sexually active woman was reflected in the precarious status of the woman of marriage age who had no husband. 

In The Spinster and Her Enemies: Feminism and Sexuality 1880–1930 (1985), Sheila Jeffreys describes the limited opportunities available to a woman without a husband. If she was at all attractive she had to live under the suspicious gaze of ‘respectable’ women who wondered if her celibacy was not an excuse for sexual promiscuity. She was either relegated to a position without status in her own family or had to accept a position as a governess or maid. The entry of women in the teaching and nursing professions in the latter part of the century was the first instance in which spinsters were able to meet their own subsistence needs while holding a relatively acceptable position in society.

Some of the Victorian rules of etiquette between men and women in public reveal this penchant for keeping the woman in an asexual role and decreasing the male’s opportunities for making sexual advances on her. They also reveal the extent to which the woman has been idealized as a sensitive being in need of protection. The following rules were embedded in the novels of the period, especially those of Jane Austen: • Walking along the street, the lady always walks along the wall. (This kept the lady away from the danger of the street and away from other men’s physical proximity.) 

 • Meeting a lady in the street whom a man knows only slightly, he must wait for her to acknowledge him. Only then may he tip his hat to her. A man never speaks to a lady unless she speaks to him first. (This excluded the possibility of a man verbally flirting with a strange woman on the street.) 

• If you meet a lady who is a good friend and who indicates that she wishes to talk to you, you must turn and walk with her if you wish to talk to her. You must not keep her standing on the street. (This was to prevent the woman from appearing as if she were habituated to being on the street along with ‘loose’ women.) 

• When they are going up a flight of stairs, the man must precede the lady. (This allowed the man to clear the way for the woman and defend her from all possible harm.) • If alone in a carriage, a man does not sit next to a woman unless he is her husband, brother, father, or son. (The privatization of body space was connected to an increasing distancing between men and women.) 

• If unmarried and under thirty, a woman is never to be seen without a chaperone in the company of a man. Except for a walk to church or a park in the early morning, she may not walk alone, but should always be accompanied by another lady, a man, or a servant. (The rule existed in order to diminish amorous encounters as well as vulnerability to crime.) 

• A woman must never call on a man when she is alone, unless she is consulting that man on a professional or business matter. (Again, the motive is sexual distancing and the exclusion of possibilities of damaging gossip.) • At a public exhibition or concert, the man is expected to go in first in order to find the lady a seat. Leaving a carriage, he is expected to help the lady out while making sure that her skirts do not become soiled. 

At a social function, it is always the man who is introduced to the lady and never the other way around – this, because it was considered an honour for a man to meet a woman who was considered the morally superior gender. Nor is a man allowed to cut someone verbally. This privilege is reserved for a woman who feels her dignity has been slighted or a moral imperative transgressed. 

The campaign against sexual enjoyment received the support of a considerable number of medical professionals. Themselves of middle-class backgrounds, they accelerated the middle-class project of chastity by publishing articles and books stating that frequent sexual enjoyment led to senility and an early death. Some of them, citing cases from the lunatic asylums, helped rationalize the denial of the natural drives of the body. Ornella Moscucci (1990), in The Science of Woman: Gynaecology and Gender in England, 1800–1929, and Cynthia Eagle Russett (1989), in Sexual Science: The Victorian Construction of Womanhood, have discussed the collusion of the medical sciences in the promotion of an asexual female. 

In the 1860s, Dr Isaac Baker Brown even suggested that many female medical problems were related to masturbation. He caused a scandal when he suggested that clitoridectomy be performed on such women. The public outrage was caused not only by the barbarity of his suggestion, but by the fact that many middle-class women took offence to the accusation that they were practising self-gratification in considerable numbers. Some companies even manufactured special corsets for men to wear so that they could not reach their sexual organs without undressing first. 

When medical practitioners announced that masturbation would have serious mental and physical consequences for men, some young men castrated themselves. Venereal disease was considered such a shame that many of those who contracted it avoided consulting a doctor. As for young women, many were taught that a single act of intercourse would produce a baby. That some young women committed suicide after succumbing to temptation was understandable. Predictably, sexual instruction of the young was almost non-existent. 

There was silence in the schools, and any sexual knowledge was acquired on the sly and shared in hushed voices. This led to a socialization process that taught that sex was a nasty necessity of life, best kept silent. In the upper classes young women servants were sometimes expected to provide sexual initiation to the young master of the house, but in middle-class circles, silence was often maintained regarding anything to do with sexuality. It was even forbidden to refer to a woman’s legs as legs – the word used was ‘underpinnings,’ the same words used for the legs of an armchair. 

In many of the conduct books, parents were advised to never speak of sexuality with their children. Such books warned that knowledge would lead to curiosity and curiosity to experimentation. This silence may partially explain Victorian art representations of children and youth in impossibly innocent surroundings and activities. Children were taught to see women as ‘angelic’ beings and to look upon women as they looked upon their sisters and mothers. The tendency in some Victorian literature to compare a beloved mate with the memory of a mother may be connected to this transference of love for the mother onto other women who are then idealized as pure reproductions of the uncorrupted feminine sex. 

That much of this literature was male-generated seems to indicate that sex was not a top priority for many ambitions men who were busy building the empire (Hyam 1990). It is understandable that Victorians, such as Hannah More, reacted indignantly to the popularity of a bold, sensual, and seductive French literature. Enough Continental works of literature argued against marital fidelity and in favour of passionate bonds consummated for the sake of passion alone that there arose a fear that English society was in danger of losing its moral centre because of the licentiousness of a growing part of the Continental population. 

This fear of sexual compromise was expressed by Tennyson in his epic poems Guinevere and The Passing of Arthur. Tennyson wrote that it was Guinevere’s infidelity towards the king that brought discord to the holy round table and caused a civil war that delivered the realm into the hands of the barbarians. Over-riding sexuality was a profound respect for romantic love. Mainstream Victorian romance novels did not emerge in order to sexually titillate their readers, but to express their authors’ belief in love as the ultimate grace. In his poems, Browning was not shy to suggest that if a person were to meet his or her true love and recoil for any worldly reason he or she would have turned life into a failure. 

It is easy to discount these writings as the musings of Romantic poets. But that would be an error, for English literature became a major force in the moulding of an English consciousness and lifestyle. In fact, one of the telling autobiographical writings of the period was Charles Kingsley’s (1877) Letters and Memoirs of His Life. Kingsley confessed to having lived a youth during which he was taken in by sexual proclivity only to awaken later in life and realize that he was beset by doubt. He solved his crisis by giving himself to love with childlike simplicity. And it was a woman who saved him from his disbelief by managing to promise him that eternity was love itself (164). 

The Victorian restraint on sexuality and the resulting high valuation of romantic love was a substantial return to the classic notions of chivalry and fin’ amour. By idealizing the woman as a romantic object it became possible to separate passion and virtue from outright expression of sensuality. This Romantic idealization of soul love – the idea that one must live one’s whole life in hopes of meeting that special soul mate – was ingrained in Western society long before the appearance of Romanticism in the nineteenth century. Perhaps influenced by classical writers, Victorian novels glorified love and the exciting passions of attraction, fear of rejection, and the joy of reciprocated love. 

A person ‘fell into love,’ which virtually meant falling out of a rational state. And, falling into love, he or she fell out of the body and its animalistic needs and into some realm that was poetic and tender. While marriages of convenience had been tolerated prior to the Victorian restraint of sexuality, there now developed a literature that denigrated arranged marriages because they did not fulfill the highest aspirations of men and women: the joining of two souls in a life-long relationship that had love at its central motive. For the Victorians, the love of home, the strict respect for family and the authority of that family, and the important roles accorded to the mother and father became legitimized and imbued with the cementing ideal of romance. 

That the parents rarely exhibited affection towards each other openly in front of their children does not indicate what took place during their private moments together, and we should hesitate before labelling the Romantic movement a hypocritical one. But we can safely say that the circumspection of sex must have had the opposing effect of stimulating the imagination of the young. The ideal of pure love is expressed in the lines of Tennyson’s poem ‘Guinevere’ (1898). 

King Arthur meditates over the type of love that prevents discord and corruption: I knew Of no more subtle master under heaven Than is the maiden passion for a maid, Not only to keep down the base of man, But teach high thought, and amiable words And courtliness, and the desire of fame, And love of truth, and all that makes a man. (474–90) The campaign against sensuality affected all walks of life, including art, theatre, and dress. For a painting to include a nude it had to demonstrate that it had a good reason to do so, a reason that went beyond titillating its viewer. 

A play that contained a scene referring to sex was considered a threat to public decorum and good manners. The music halls were the only places that brazenly defi ed the Victorian censorship; naturally, attendance at these ribald shows was considered unfit for members of polite society. It was only at the end of the century that  some of the avant-garde began attending such shows for distraction, and, even then, they were careful to register moral dismay through nervous giggles. The restrictions placed on overt sexuality and the idealization of romance led to the adoption of circumspect and indirect codes of courtesy between men and woman. 

Many young men who took these moral codes seriously must have rationalized in their minds that attraction to a woman meant that they were feeling love for her. The erotic impulse and the romantic feeling became merged for many and love became a rationalization for sexual arousal. Guilt was avoided in this way, for love was considered noble while lust was not. As shown in some of the manners prescribed for men and women in public, the male related to the female in an ambivalent way when it came to being in her proximity without the presence of chaperones. 

Being a ‘gentleman’ in the presence of a woman meant not making overt sexual advances, not with a woman of ‘good breeding’ at least. That was the meaning of modern chivalry – the gentleman was expected to protect a lady not only from other men but from his own self. So ingrained became the middle-class notion of ‘gentlemanly conduct’ that it carried over into the twentieth century, and we see it practised in America right through the 1950s before the arrival of the ‘sexual liberation’ movement. 

So, what the Victorians made of sexuality is extremely important to our understanding of contemporary relations between men and women in Anglo-American cultures, for the sexual revolutions of the twentieth century were acts of resistance (and undoing) against these previous restraints. Victorian views of sexuality were not restricted to English society but managed to spread to many other countries, including those frequented by colonial missionaries. The preoccupation with ‘danger’ during the nineteenth century had a seminal influence on the manner in which people interacted with one another. 

Much of the ‘reserve’ of the Victorians may have been connected to such cautiousness. A person who deviated from the norms of propriety was considered a ‘danger to society.’ For middle-class Victorians seeking propriety, it was a comfort to know that ‘danger’ was being eradicated or, at least, being put out of view. Evasion of the unpleasant and concern for public spaces became connected. Silence stepped in to ‘hush up’ disconcerting realizations. Indeed, anything that did not confirm with their cultural and political ideals might have been considered dangerous by zealous upholders of middle-class values. 

The woman who lit a cigarette when most women did not was dangerous. The spinster was dangerous. Street boys were dangerous. Authors writing in favour of free love were dangerous. Meetings without chaperons between young men and women who might become lovers were dangerous. This pervasive obsession with danger was the result of a society attempting to place itself within the boundaries of a set of practices that it could believe in and replay to itself as the best of all possible worlds. Having first restrained their own selves, middle-class Victorians set out to restrain their social environment.”

- Benet Davetian, “England and the Victorian Ethic.” in Civility: A Cultural History

[liss-99]

Loving your drabbles! 46 books

Okay I’m sorry this has taken literal months for me to do, I wanted to get caught up on my Bridgerswift asks, which I finally did! (of course, as soon as I did like 10 new requests came in ahaha, which is sick, but it’s gonna be a bit before I get to them since I’m going to catch up on regular drabbles now) So apologies for this taking forever, but here is a little drabble for Daphne and Hyacinth + books

When Hyacinth Bridgerton was born, each of her elder siblings took it upon themselves to help their mother with raising her. Of course, there were nannies and governesses, but it was a family’s duty to help provide. 

Anthony, being the eldest and assuming the role of viscount after their father’s death, made sure the best staff were hired for Hyacinth, and that she never wanted for anything. 

Benedict liked to teach her to draw, while Colin saw to it that he always had time to run around the park with her. Eloise and Francesca, though not much older than her, helped Hyacinth with her needlework, ensuring she stiched appropriate images and not something their mother would be embarrassed about. 

Gregory was only two years older than her, and while he did not do much to help in raising her, he played the role of annoying older brother very well, keeping Hyacinth humble and on her toes as she grew. 

Daphne, however, Hyacinth’s eldest sister, played quite a remarkable role in Hyacinth’s life. It was Daphne who taught Hyacinth to read, a job that was normally left for a governess. Daphne found great joy in reading to Hyacinth before bed each night, and by the time her little sister was 4, she had already begun to read a bit on her own. No matter how old they got, reading together at night was a pivotal part of Daphne and Hyacinth's relationship. 

One night, when her eldest daughter was 17 and her youngest six years old, Violet Bridgerton found the two girls cuddled up together in Hyacinth’s room. There was a stack of books sitting on the ground next to the chair they were cradled in. It was quite a sight, her two babies curled together, an open book in Daphne’s hands, and the blissful sounds of their snoring. Everyone in the family had long come to understand that Daphne and Hyacinth’s nightly storytime was not to be interrupted. 

Even when she was no longer a little child, Hyacinth loved reading at night with her older sister. In fact, on the morning of Daphne’s wedding to the Duke of Hastings, Hyacinth was in quite a mood. 

“Hyacinth, whatever is the matter?” Daphne asked her sister while their hair was being tended to. 

“It has occurred to me, Daphne,” Hyacinth mumbled, “That while I am very happy for your marriage, I am quite upset our nightly reading must end. I feel like we will not be sisters any longer.”

Hyacinth looked like she was on the verge of tears, which caused Daphne’s eyes to well with her own tears. 

“Oh, Hyacinth,” Daphne grabbed her hand. “You must know that my marriage does not mean I am no longer your sister. You are one of the most important things to me and I will always love you.”

“But you will not be here to read with me,” Hyacinth started crying, causing Daphne to remember her sister was still just a child. 

“Hyacinth, look at me,” Daphne said. “Every night, wherever I am, when I pick up a novel before bed, you will be who I think of. You mean that much to me.”

Hyacinth’s soft snuffles subsided and her eyes glittered with some hope. 

“Truly, sister?”

“Truly, my little flower.”

Bridgerton Drabbles

[sayuricorner]

Ever After High x Twisted Wonderland AU  Headcanons part 10: Milton Grimm’s and Snow White’s last stand and downfall

Part 9         Part 11

AU concept

MASTERLIST

Warning: English is not my first language so sorry if it’s confusing.

So I put a pause to the characters profiles headcanons to make this more continuity headcanons related part.

It will focus on Milton Grimm's and Snow White's last aptempt to get Raven back to EAH which will lead to their downfall.

-----------------------------

-So at EAH Milton Grimm is becomming quite deseparated: he lost most of his students, the majority of his teachers leaved to teach at others schools and his public image is degrading day by day.

-And for Snow White things aren’t better either, despites her best efforts to keep the upper hand in all this mess her public image is stained.

-The two don’t know what to do, if only they could bring Raven back and made her sign the book then surrely things would go back the way they were.

-That when Milton Grimm got an idea, maybe if they use one of Raven’s worst fear against her they will get her to sign the book, but to put that plan in motion he need to find the true storybook of legends and quick!

-After searching thoroughly in the whole school he finally found the book under the floor of the former dorm room of the Evil Queen and the Red Riding Hood.

-Milton immediately contacted Snow White and the two begin to plotting their newest plan.

-Meanwhile at NRC everyone was very busy, ‘cause the international magical shift tournament was about to take place on the school’s grounds, many schools from the country and from other lands were going to participate and NRC was making sure to have everything ready for the tournament.

-Since she join the magical shift club Ramona participate in the tournament with the school’s team.

-Raven with her friends assist at the tournament to show support to the school team with the others students.

-However Blondie was acting strangely, some time after the begining of the event she seemed rather nervous and jumpy but everytime someone asked her if she was alright she would always answer she’s alright.

-Everything seemed fine until two unwelcomed faces show up: Milton Grimm and Snow White.

-Raven become very nervous when she saw them and her friends, classmates and dormmates quickly between Raven and the two new comers two protect Raven from them.

-When asked what they are doing here Snow White and Milton Grimm with a serious face tell Raven that Apple is no more, she “go poof” because of Raven’s refusal to accept her destiny and that the only way to make her come back is to sign the storybook of legends and to become the next Evil Queen.

-Raven’s friends are outraged they yell at the duo calling what they say a bluff and telling them to leave Raven alone.

-And Raven... She was stunned, she was like a statue, her eyes wide in shock and horror and to everyone’s she snap.

-All her guilt, her stress, her distress, and sadness were released in a heartbreaking scream, the others tried to calm her down but it was no use, Raven’s negative emotions were unleashed making her overblot(see headcanons special 2 )

-Now Apple “going poof” is obviously a lie, she’s very well alive but her role in those events depend of the path whoever use this AU choose for Apple’s fate.

-If it’s follow the “Apple’s happily ever after” path: Apple don’t know a thing about the plan since after her parents’s divorce she left the White Kingdom with her father and go to a new school.

-In fact she was present at the international magical shift tournament as a player ‘cause when she joined her new school she took interest in magical shift and so decided to join her school’s team and she found out she was good at this sport and loved play it.

-Blondie spotted her at the tournament but since the wounds of the abuse were still open Blondie got scared and quickly leave which explain why Blondie seemed so nervous.

-But while the others were fighting against overblot Raven, Blondie knew what must be done in order to fix this mess so she gather up her courage she quickly go find Apple.

-She found her with her magical shift team helping to evacuate people to safety and after a little akward moment Blondie recompose herself and tell Apple what her mother and Milton Grimm had done.

-When hearing this Apple was horrified and angry, how could her mother do this?

-So she follow Blondie to where the others were doing their best to heal Raven from her overblot form and when Raven was weakened but not turned back yet in her normal form Apple throw herself to Raven, trapping her in a hug while yelling with tears in her eyes like “Raven please come back! None of what my mother said is true! Look at me I’m right here, I didn’t “go poof” it was all a lie! I’m so sorry you don’t deserve any of this please!”

-Raven just stood here shocked, Apple was there and very real, bursting in tears she go back to her normal self while hugging back Apple.

-The others gatered around them to make sure both girls were okay relieved to see Raven being back to normal but this relievement was cut short by Snow White and Milton Grimm being their idiots self, with Snow White blathering critics to her daughter and trying to convince her to go back to her side again while Milton Grimm was blathering about their destinies needed to be done which made Apple mad to the point she snap.

-She screamed at Milton Grimm and her mother telling a powerfull “the reason why you suck” speech telling how fed up she was with their non-sense and even tell her mother she disown her.

-This stunned completly Snow White and Milton Grimm they try to justify themself to convince Apple to change her mind not noticing a very furious Crowley and police officers with him.

-When he confront them Crowley told the duo he was fed up with their behavior and he will make sure to take actions to have them banned from his school and the whole Twisted Wonderland world.

-Of course Snow White and Milton Grimm didn’t like this at all and started being outraged like “how dare you?”, “You have no right to do this!” and even tell him it’s his and his school fault for even making Raven’s transfer to begin with which make Crowley shake his head in disappointment and tell them “No wonder Bella and Brutta Sister have done everything they can to get away from the Ever After world!”(There’s going to have a headcanons part about Bella and Brutta Sister soon! 😉)

-Milton Grimm and Snow White shocked by the fact Crowley know about the two sisters tried to get answers from him but were took away by the authorities.

-Aftermath Raven was send to the infirmary and while her recovery Apple, her and all the others EAH students got a long talk about everything what happened and while they’re not friends again yet they’re in a process of reconciliation which for Apple is a good start.

-Meanwhile things turned for the worst for Snow White, with the mess they created they have been officially banned from the Twisted Wonderland world and the people of the Ever After world are beyong pissed at them to the point a revolution against Snow White burst out and both her and Milton Grimm were arrested and a temporary gouverment was founded.

-At their trial Snow White is destitute from her queen title, Milton Grimm is stripped from his headmaster title, Ever After High is shut down and the duo is exiled from the kingdom.

-And so both Snow White and Milton Grimm are chased from the White Kingdom with both one objective: make Raven Queen and the whole Twisted Wonderland world pay for their humiliation.

- If it’s follow the “Apple’s badly ever after” path: Apple is 100% involved in the plan.

-She was tasked to stay in her room and to not come out unless her mother or Milton Grimm told her to do it.

-But being the delusioned nutjob she is, she decided to make some videos for her social medias.

-Said videos were saw by Blondie when she was looking on her mirrorpad which explain why she seemed so warry.

-After the battle against overblot Raven, the others try to talk to Raven but she’s still plagued with guilt believing Apple diseappered because of her.

-Thankfully Blondie remember the videos and posts Apple posted on her social medias just today so she showed the posts and videos to Raven to show her Milton Grimm and Snow White lied to her.

-When she saw this Raven was relieved and angry at the same time and confronted both Snow White and Milton Grimm about what they tried to do, which quickly turned into a screaming match between the two idiots and Raven and her friends.

-Crowley’s intervention is the same than in the “Apple’s happily ever after” path including the White Kingdom’s people’s revolution and Milton Grimm’s and Snow White’s arrestation, trial and exil.

-The only difference in this path is during the revolution Apple was taken by the authorities of the temporary goverment and was put in the care of her father but because of how crazy she become her father got no choice but to put her in a mental institution hopping she would be heald someday.

-At the mental institution since Apple was crazy magical inhibitors were put on Apple so like this she wouldn’t go overblot.

TAG LIST :( a reblog will get you a place in the tag list! ^^)

@virgil-is-a-cutie​ , @zebrabaker​ , @twistedwonderlxnd​ , @cowardlybravette​ , @iwilldietomorrowyees​ , @balsae​ , @shinypainterkid​ , @biscuitbirdpeach​ , @feuilleszuyu​ , @pale-lady-dreamer​ , @fanartreblogs , @kindestwalkingmentalbreakdown , @yue-caelum , @shuirosansshitposts , @icant-choosename-help

[reallifesultanas]

Portrait of Mihrimah Sultan/Mihrimah szultána portréja

Mihrimah was the most influential true-born sultana ever: she had the highest salary; she was a worthy child and descendant of her mother; she was a true charitable person who also had enormous political influence; her father’s partner and counselor for a lifetime; the only sibling ever to be an (unofficial) valide sultan to her brother; the "greatest princess" and matriarch of a dynasty ... She was a legendary persona, a unique princess.

Origin and early years

There is an amazing legend about the birth of Mihrimah Sultan. According to this, she was born on 21 March 1522, and for this reason the two mosques - built for her years later, designed by Mimar Sinan - were created so that on the princess's birthday, when the sun goes down behind the minaret of the Mihrimah Mosque in Edirnekapı, the moon just goes up between the two minarets of the other Mihrimah Mosque. An important part of the legend is that Mimar Sinan once had the opportunity to see the sultana and immediately fell in love for her. For this reason, his works of outstanding beauty and precision, the Mihrimah Mosques, are also seen as the embodiment of platonic love.

The legend is beautiful, but unfortunately not real. Mihrimah's brother, Mehmed, was born around October 1521, so Mihrimah could not be born in March 1522. Unfortunately, we do not have any evidence to know exactly when she was born. The discrepancies between the Islamic calendar and our calendar used today make it even more difficult to pinpoint. Most likely, in any case, she was born after August 1522, but definitely before 1523.

Although the date of her birth was unknown, the fact of her birth itself was distinctly extraordinary. According to tradition, if a concubine had given birth to a son, she could not return to the sultan's bed, so basically Hürrem, after giving birth to a son in the autumn of 1521, could no longer have been Sultan Suleiman's sexual partner. However, Hürrem not only returned to Suleiman’s bed, but became the sultan’s exclusive sexual partner and, after Mihrimah, she gave birth to four more children for the sultan. Hürrem had Mihrimah as her only daughter, while Suleiman already had a daughter, Raziye, who, however, died in an epidemic before Mihrimah was even born.

Mihrimah, as the only living little princess, was certainly not only the apple of her father's eye, but the light of the whole harem. She spent most of her time with her mother and governess, but they certainly also had regular contact with her family-centric grandmother, Hafsa. It was probably by this time that she began to learn the basics of embroidery from her mother. Hürrem was particularly talented in embroidery, her works being so outstanding that she sometimes sent them as gifts to the leaders of other dynasties. And Mihrimah was reportedly a great student to her mother, who mastered the technique well. In addition to her mother, her father also played an important role in her childhood. Suleiman often visited his family at the Old Palace, and from 1534 they moved together at the Topkapi Palace. From then on, Mihrimah could spend even more time near her father, whom she had regularly mesmerized with her mere existence.

Marriage and husband candidates

The marriage of imperial princesses has always been an important political tool. However, Suleiman did not make much use of this opportunity. His sisters were even married off by their father, Selim I, and after their widowhood he did not force them to marry again. He had a big amount of respect and love for the female members of his family, so he was expected to treat his daughter the same way. Suleiman, however, not only did not marry off his sisters again and again because of his kind nature, but fortunately he did not need allies what marriages could have given him. The empire was rising, the nation had never been so strong, and everyone loved him as a sultan, so simply he did not need allies by marriages.

Ttherefore, there was no particularly urgent need to marry off Mihrimah and it was not necessary to choose the future husband from among the senior and influental pashas. Thus, Suleiman could easily search for a statesman he liked, even from a lower position. Suleiman wanted a reliable, faithful husband for Mihrimah, while Hürrem would prefer a young and handsome husband. Hürrem recommended the Egyptian beylerbey to Suleiman, who was notoriously handsome and young. However, the sultan did not like the man, as he had a reputation as a womanizer, and it was rumoured that he had syphilis. Of course, many such rumors spread unfoundedly, but Suleiman did not investigate the Egyptian beylerbey, he simply rejected the idea. He had other plans. He singled out a particularly humble and trustworthy guy, who he had long known for, to Mihrimah’s side. His choosen one, Rüstem, was his personal servant for almost 10 years from 1526, after which he served as a governor for the sultan in various provinces of the empire. They were very close to each other, and Rüstem also taught the brothers of Mihrimah for a while, so the princes were well known by him. In addition, it is also likely that Mihrimah also had the opportunity to meet the pasha before, as he may have been in the same place as the sultana because of his proximity to the sultan. Eventually, of course, Hürrem was also accepted Suleiman’s husband candidate and the only question was whether Mihrimah would accept him.

Rüstem was roughly seventeen or twenty years older than Mihrimah, one of the ambassadors reported that he was not a particularly handsome guy, but was short and red-faced. So he was clearly not a teenage girl's dream, even if most sultanas had to marry much older pashas than Rüstem. Yet Mihrimah agreed to the marriage. The question arises, could she have said no at all? As a matter of fact, probably yes. She was Suleiman's favorite child, apple of his eyes, if she would had a personal and deep resentments towards Rüstem, she could have said no. But she didn't. Mihrimah was a very smart woman who stood by her mother's side since her childhood and who probably tryed to help her. She was obviously aware of the law of fratricide, that they had to do everything they could to remove Mustafa — his eldest half-brother — from their way, and with this, saving the lives of her blood-brothers. And Rüstem was a great opportunity to do so, as he had known and loved the sons of Hürrem since childhood, thus there was no question that he would side with Hürrem and Mihrimah in this bloody war. So for the sake of her brother's future, Mihrimah said yes to marriage.

Marriage and relationship with her husband

The wedding took place in 1539. Rüstem could have been around 35 at the time, while Mihrimah was 17 years old. The circumcision ceremony of Bayezid and Cihangir was held at the same time as the wedding of Mihrimah. The double ceremony eventually lasted for 15 days, during which the entire population of Istanbul shared the joy of the Sultan’s family during the festivals and feasts. Due to his position, Rüstem lived in Istanbul, so Mihrimah did not have to move far away from her parents either. That’s why Rüstem was a great choice, as neither Suleiman nor Hürrem wanted to lose their daughter. And Mihrimah, with her strong will, would certainly have manage to stay in the capital as well.

There is no question that it was not a love marriage, however, the relationship was by no means as bad as it was portrayed in the popular series. Mihrimah could at least marry a man he knew, who was a committed supporter of her brothers and was extremely loyal to her father, the Sultan. Their marriage was crowned in 1541 by the birth of their first child. Ayşe Hümaşah was the first child of Rüstem, the first grandson of Hürrem. By now, Suleiman was grandfather of at least one, as Prince Mustafa had a six-year-old daughter, but later Ayşe Hümaşah became his favorite grandchild. Mihrimah and Rüstem later — it is not known exactly when — had another child, a son, Osman. This suggests that they may have had a relatively balanced relationship, as the sultanas could have refused to have sexual intercourse with their husbands. Their fair relationship is also indicated by the fact that they had many charitable projects managed together.

The marriage of the two ended in 1561, with the death of Rüstem Pasha. However, their mutual respect is shown in the will of Rüstem. He left everything to his wife and daughter: the management of his charities was largely given to his daughter, but Mihrimah was given much similar tasks also. In addition, it was Mihrimah who completed the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, which was only half-finished at the time of Rüstem's death.

Her intrigues

According to legend, Mihrimah, with the support of her mother Hürrem, wanted to make Rüstem the next Grand Vizier, which plan was finally successfully completed. However, it would be wrong to think that only the actions of the two women led to the appointment of Rüstem. Rüstem had been the sultan's confidential man for twenty years so far, Suleiman found him worthy to be the husband of his only daughter, it was clear that the sultan himself wanted to give this position to Rüstem once. However, Mihrimah and Hürrem were not satisfied with this, but wanted Rüstem to enjoy the prerogatives that Ibrahim had previously enjoyed. The sultan, on the other hand, sharply refrained from letting anyone as close to him as he had done with Ibrahim.

One of the important cornerstones of Mihrimah and Rustem’s marriage was the multitude of common intrigues. Mihrimah was very active politically, with her husband she often was able to uccessfully convince the sultan. This was the case when, in 1542, Suleiman wanted to take the infant Hungarian king and his mother, Queen Isabella, to Istanbul as political prisoners. However, being a smart woman, Izabella knew she could get help from the sultan's daughter and wife. So she complained to Mihrimah and Hürrem about how young she was widowed, how she was left alone with her son and now even the sultan want to deprived her and her son of their throne. In addition, of course, she also sent very valuable gifts to Mihrimah and her husband. She must have mentioned her descent in her letter as well. Izabella was the daughter of the King of Poland, from whose country Hürrem Sultan came from. And this was an important link between Hürrem, Mihrimah and Izabella. Either way, Izabella persuaded Hürrem and Mihrimah, who together with Rüstem, easily persuaded the Sultan to support Izabella and her son instead of bringing them to Istanbul as prisoners. Thus it happened that János Zsigmond Szapolyai became the next king of Hungary.

However, the main task of the couple was to support the brothers of Mihrimah, especially Prince Mehmed. By 1543 it was quite clear that they wanted Mehmed to ascend the throne and the trio had done all they could for this aim. However, the early death of the prince made their situation more difficult. For a time they did not care which prince of theirs should be the next sultan, they worked only and exclusively to get rid of Prince Mustafa. It took another ten years before they were finally successful and Mustafa was executed by the Sultan. Exactly how much Mihrimah was involved in this process and what she did is unknown, as there is no evidence at all to prove the guilt of Hürrem or Mihrimah. But nonetheless, it would be naive to think that Mihrimah, who was the copy of her mother both in body and soul, would not have been involved in the struggle of her beloved mother and husband.

It seems that after Mustafa's death, the trio voted for Prince Bayezid, while the Sultan himself favored Selim. Perhaps that is why Bayezid was chosen: to balance the situation of the two princes. However, Bayezid’s nature resembled a timed bomb, so they were afraid that if he was not supported, he would raise the Sultan’s anger with a reckless act. Thus, the fact that Bayezid was supported does not clearly mean that they also wanted him to be the one sitting on the throne.

Loss of her mother

1558 brought a drastic change in Mihrimah's life. Hürrem Sultan died. Mihrimah and her mother were especially close to each other, of the known mother-daughter relationships, the two of them had the closest. Mihrimah visited Hürrem every day at Topkapi Palace, spending more time there than in her own palace. She also regularly accompanied her mother on her travels and visited her siblings together. Thus, the loss of Hürrem was certainly a great pain for Mihrimah. However, Hürrem, at the time of her death, handed over her responsibilities to her daughter, who thus had no time to mourn, she had to take immediate action to continue her mother's path. And this meant nothing more than the support of the Sultan and the protection of Prince Bayezid.

However, Mihrimah could not influence Bayezid like their mother, so she could not meke the prince to wait patiently and not annoy the sultan. Bayezid soon revolted against the sultan, and for this, according to several sources, Bayezid asked Mihrimah for money. And Mihrimah gave it to him. When the sultan realized this, he immediately questioned his daughter, who proudly replied that her mother asked her to do anything for Bayezid on her deathbed, so she was not guilty of anything. We don’t know how Suleiman reacted, but their relationship seems to have deteriorated for a while.

However, Mihrimah's support was not enough either, Bayezid failed in the decisive battle of the rebellion he fought, lost the battle and was forced to flee the battlefield. By this time, both Mihrimah and Rustem were helpless. And Rustem soon lost his life, so there was no one left to save Bayezid and his sons from execution. Bayezid was executed in 1562, and a few months later the sultan organized a huge wedding to marry off the daughters of the heir, Prince Selim, one of the daughters of the late Prince Mustafa, and the daughter of Bayezid who was at the appropriate age for marriage. Mihrimah faced her father again because of the wedding. Most sources say that it was only during the wedding preparations that Mihrimah learned that Bayezid had been executed, as by then the news had not reached Istanbul and Suleiman had ordered complete secrecy. Mihrimah, shattered and enraged by grief, found it deeply outrageous that a ceremony was being held in the empire shortly after his brother was executed. Therefore, she tried in every way possible to make the ceremony impossible, for example by forbidding anyone in the harem to have fun and show happiness. Since Mihrimah lived in the Old Palace since the death of Rustem and she probably led the harem also, her orders were accepted and there was no amusement in the harem. According to reports from the ambassadors, Suleiman was shattered and disappointed. However, upon hearing the news, Selim allegedly said, angrily, that he never loved his sister, nor her husband, nor their mother, for choosing Bayezid instead. However, the reliability of this news is in doubt, for the ambassador who wrote it deeply despised Selim.

Her relationship with her father seems to have settled over time, however, since in 1565, for example, Mihrimah persuaded her father to initiate a campaign against Malta, and she herself offered her own treasury, teasing to exhibit 400 galleys to the army. Thus, although there is no doubt that the execution of Bayezid left its mark on their relationship forever. It was probably at the end of his life that Suleiman could have his only daughter with him again.

The new era

Mihrimah lost her father in 1566 and a new world began for her with the reign of her younger brother, Selim. The relationship between the two was not the best, as Mihrimah was always on Bayezid’s side, but by this time only the two of them were alive from the family, so they chose togetherness instead of hatred. First, Mihrimah extended a helping hand to Selim when he was blackmailed and humiliated by the Janissaries before his accession to the throne. The Janissaries wanted to get their ascension fee immediately when Selim had not even ascended the throne. At that time, Selim did not have access to the imperial treasury, and it would have been too long to bring money from his own province, so Mihrimah paid the soldier's allowance for Selim to occupy the throne at all without riots. Selim did not remain ungrateful, for he made his sister the head of the Old Palace harem, and thus a de facto valide sultan.

During Selim's reign, she basically stayed in the background and spent her time on charity, construction projects instead of politics. Mihrimah has supported many construction projects, but the most famous are undoubtedly the two Mihrimah mosques, which are the most beautiful works of the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. She also supported Nurbanu's efforts to free two captured Turkish women from the French. Together, with Nurbanu’s daughters and her own daughter, they finally persuaded the Queen of France to send the women back home. Based on this, we can think that she had a good relationship with Nurbanu. There is no direct evidence of a relationship between the two women, probably it was a respectful one. However, Mihrimah’s daughter supported Nurbanu’s opponent, Safiye Haseki Sultan, which also raises the possibility that Mihrimah herself favored Safiye over Nurbanu.

The twilight of her life

Selim died in 1574 and his son Murad succeeded him to the throne. The relationship between Murad and Mihrimah is not known, but presumably a spike could have remained in Murad for Mihrimah supporting Bayezid. That is why there are those who suspect that Mihrimah lost all power during Murad's reign. In fact, this is unlikely, as Murad gave Mihrimah a salary as high as no other imperial princess has ever received in a similar situation. Mihrimah may have decided to retire by herself. With the death of Selim, she was left alone in the family, having so far lost four brothers, both parents, nephews, husband and her own son. Broken with so much pain, she probably no longer felt the urge to care with politics. Her daughter Ayşe Hümaşah, who was very active politically, continued her path.

Mihrimah died on 25 January 1578, in the Old Palace. Sultan Murad decided to bury Mihrimah next to her father, breaking the tradition that the sultans rested alone in their turbe. However, with her death, her bloodline did not disappear, as her daughter, her descendants, could be traced back to the 20th century, but presumably other family members still live today. They are the Mihrumazadelers.

Used sources: L. Peirce - Empress of the east; L. Peirce - The imperial harem;  Y. Öztuna - Kanuni Sultan Süleyman; N. Sakaoğlu - Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları

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Mihrimah volt a valaha élt legbefolyásosabb birodalmi szultána: övé volt a legmagasabb fizetés; méltó gyermeke és utódja volt édesanyjának; igazi jótékony személy volt, hatalmas politikai befolyással; apja társa és tanácsadója egy életen át; az egyetlen valaha volt testvér, aki nem hivatalos valide szultána lehetett öccse mellett; a "legnagyobb hercegnő" és egy dinasztia matriarchája... Egy legendás személyiség volt, soha hozzá fogható nem élt.

Származása és korai évei

Mihrimah szultána születését egy igen érdekes legenda övezi. Eszerint 1522 március 21-én született, és ezen okból kifolyólag az évekkel később neki építtetett két mecsetet Mimar Sinan, birodalmi főépítész úgy tervezte meg, hogy a hercegnő születésnapján, amikor a nap az Edirnekapıban található Mihrimah-mecset minaretje mögött lemegy, a hold az üsküdari Mihrimah-mecset két tornya között éppen akkor keljen fel. A legenda fontos része az is, hogy Mimar Sinannak egyszer alkalma nyílt meglesni a szultánát és azonnal beleszeretett. Éppen ezért, a kiemelkedő szépségű és precizitású munkáit, a Mihrimah-mecseteket a plátói szerelem megtestesüléseként is tekintik.

A legenda gyönyörű, azonban sajnos nem valós. Mihrimah bátyja, Mehmed 1521 októbere körül született, így Mihrimah matematikailag nem születhetett 1522 márciusában. Sajnos nem áll rendelkezésünkre semmi olyan bizonyíték, amely alátámasztaná, hogy pontosan mikor született a szultána. Az iszlám naptár és a ma használt naptárunk közötti eltérések tovább nehezítik a pontos meghatározást. A legvalószínűbb mindenesetre, hogy 1522 augusztusa, szeptembere körül születhetett leghamarabb, de mindenképpen 1523 előtt.

Születési ideje bár nem ismert, születésének ténye maga kifejezetten rendkívüli volt. A tradíciók szerint ha egy ágyas fiút szült, nem térhetett vissza a szultán ágyába, így elméletileg Hürrem, miután 1521 őszén fiút szült, nem lehetett volna tovább Szulejmán szultán szexuális partnere. Hürrem azonban nem csak visszatért Szulejmán ágyába, de a szultán kizárólagos szexuális partnere lett és Mihrimah után további négy gyermeket szült a szultánnak. Hürremnek Mihrimah volt az egyetlen leánygyermeke, míg Szulejmánnak volt már egy kislánya, Raziye, aki azonban Mihrimah születése előtt életét vesztette egy járvány során.

Mihrimah, mint az egyetlen élő kishercegnő minden bizonnyal nem csak édesapja, de az egész hárem szeme fénye volt. Ideje nagyrészét édesanyjával és dajkájával töltötte, ám emellett minden bizonnyal a családcentrikus nagyanyjával is rendszeres kapcsolatban álltak. Valószínűleg már ekkor elkezdte eltanulni édesanyjától a hímzés alapjait. Hürrem ugyanis különösen tehtséges volt a hímzésben, munkái olyan kiemelkedő szépségűek voltak, hogy előfordult, hogy más dinasztia fejeinek küldte őket ajándékba. Mihrimah pedig a beszámolók szerint remek diákja volt anyjának, aki remekül elsajátította a technikát. Édesanyja mellett, apja is fontos szerepet töltött be már gyermekkorában. Szulejmán gyakran látogatta családját a Régi Palotában, majd 1534-től összeköltöztek a Topkapi Palotában. Innentől kezdve Mihrimah még több időt tölthetett édesapja közelében, akit már puszta létezésével is rendszeresen levett a lábáról.

Kiházasítása és a férjjelöltek

A birodalmi hercegnők házassága mindig fontos politikai eszköz volt. Szulejmán azonban nem különösebben élt ezzel a lehetőséggel. Lánytestvéreit is még apjuk, I. Szelim házasította ki, megözvegyülésük után ő pedig nem forszírozta újra házasodásukat. Meglehetősen nagy tisztelettel és szeretettel viseltetett családja nőtagjai iránt, így várható volt, hogy egyetlen kislányával szemben is a rá jellemző alapossággal fog eljárni. Szulejmán azonban nem csak kedves természete miatt nem használta ki nőrokonait, hanem szerencséjére nem volt szüksége szövetségesekre, melyeket a házasságok jeenthettek volna neki, hiszen a birodalom szárnyalt, sose volt még ilyen erős a nemzet és őt magát is mindenki szerette.

Ilyen háttérrel tehát nem volt kifejezetten sürgős Mihrimah kiházasítása és nem volt szükséges magas beosztású pasák közül választani a férjjelöltet. Így Szulejmán nyugodtan kereshetett neki tetsző államférfit, akár alacsonyabb pozícióból is. Szulejmán megbízható, hűséges férjet akart Mihrimah számára, ezzel szemben Hürrem inkább fiatal és jóképű férjet. Hürrem az egyiptomi beglerbéget ajánlotta Szulejmánnak, aki köztudottan jóképű és ifjú volt. A szultánnak azonban nem volt kedvére a férfi, hiszen csapodár természet hírében állt, ráadásul azt terjesztették róla, hogy szifilisze van. Természetesen sok ilyen pletyka terjengett alaptalanul is, Szulejmán azonban nem vizsgáltatta ki az egyiptomi beglerbéget, egyszerűen csak elvetette az ötletet. Neki ugyanis más tervei voltak. Egy általa régóta ismert, különösen szerény és megbízható pasát szemelt ki Mihrimah oldalára. Kiszemeltje, Rüsztem pasa 1526-tól majdnem 10 évig a személyes szolgálója volt, utána pedig feltörekvő pasaként szolgálta a szultánt a birodalom különböző tartományaiban. Igen közel álltak egymáshoz, valamint Rüsztem Mihrimah testvéreit is oktatta egy ideig, így a hercegek is jól ismerték. Emellett az is valószínű, hogy Mihrimahnak is volt alkalma találkozni a pasával, hiszen az kifejezetten sok helyen ott lehetett a szultánhoz való közelsége miatt, ahol lehetősége volt látni a szultánát. Végül természetesen Hürrem is kénytelen volt elfogadni Szulejmán férjjelöltjét és már csak az volt a kérdés, hogy Mihrimah elfogadja e.

Rüsztem nagyjából tizenhét-húsz évvel volt idősebb Mihrimahnál, az egyik követ beszámolója szerint nem kifejezetten jóképű, alacsony és vörös képű férfi volt. Egyértelműen nem egy kamaszlány vágyálma volt tehát, még akkor sem ha a legtöbb szultána jóval idősebb férjet kapott maga mellé. Mihrimah mégis beleegyezett a házasságba. Felmerül a kérdés, hogy mondhatott volna egyáltalán nemet? Ami azt illeti valószínűleg igen. Ő volt Szulejmán kedvenc gyermeke, szemefénye, ha különös és mély ellenérzései lettek volna Rüsztem irányába, mondhatott volna nemet. Ám ő nem tette. Mihrimah igen okos nő volt, aki gyermekkorától kezdve édesanyja oldalán állt és valószínűleg próbálta őt segíteni. Nyilvánvalóan tisztában volt a testvérgyilkosság törvényével, azzal, hogy mindent meg kell tenniük, hogy Musztafát - legidősebb féltestvérét - eltávolítsák az útból, ezzel megmentve édestestvérei életét. Rüsztem pedig nagyszerű lehetőség volt erre, hiszen gyermekkoruktól kezdve ismerte és szerette Hürrem fiait, nem volt kérdéses, hogy Hürrem és Mihrimah oldalára fog állni ebben a vérremenő harcban. Így tehát testvérei jövője érdekében Mihrimah igent mondott a házasságra.

Házassága és viszonya férjével

Az esküvőre végül 1539-ben került sor. Rüsztem 35 körül lehetett ekkor, míg Mihrimah 17 éves volt. Hogy minél nagyobb ünnepséget kerekítsenek belőle, az esküvővel egy időben megtartották Bayezid és Cihangir herceg körülmetélési szertartását is. A dupla-ünnepség végül 15 napig tartott, melynek során Isztambul teljes lakossága osztozott a szultáni család örömében a fesztiválok és lakomák során. Rüsztem pozíciójának köszönhetően Isztambulban élt, így Mihrimahnak sem kellett szüleitől távol költözni. Rüsztem ezért is volt nagyszerű választás, hiszen sem Szulejmán, sem Hürrem nem akarta lányát elveszíteni. Mihrimah pedig erős akaratával minden bizonnyal szintén azon ügyködött volna, hogy a fővárosban maradhasson.

Nem kérdés, hogy nem szerelmi házasság köttetett, azonban a viszony korántsem volt olyan rossz, ahogy például a népszerű sorozatban ábrázolták. Mihrimah legalább olyan emberhez mehetett feleségül, akit ismert, aki elkötelezett támogatója volt testvéreinek és végletekig hűséges volt apjához, a szultánhoz. Házasságukat első gyermekük születése koronázta meg 1541-ben. Ayşe Hümaşah volt Rüsztem első gyermeke, Hürrem első unokája. Szulejmán eddigre már legalább egyszeres nagyapa volt, Musztafa hercegnek ugyanis volt már egy hat éves kislánya, azonban mégis később Ayşe Hümaşah lett kedvenc unokája. Mihrimah és Rüsztem kapcsolatából később - nem pontosan ismert mikor - született egy fiú is, Osman. Ez azt sugallja, hogy viszonylag kiegyensúlyozott kapcsolatuk lehetett, hiszen a szultánák megtagadhatták a szexuális együttlétet férjükkel. Erre utal az a tény is, hogy nagyon sok jótékony projektet közösen irányítottak.

Kettejük házassága 1561-ben, Rüsztem Pasa halálával ért véget. Kölcsönös tiszteletüket mutatja azonban Rüsztem végrendelete. Mindenét feleségére és lányára hagyta: jótékonysági szervezeteinek irányítását nagyrészt lányára, ám Mihrimahnak is jócskán jutott hasonló feladat. Emellett Mihrimah volt az, aki befejezte Rüsztem Pasa mecsetjét, amely Rüsztem halálakor még csak félkész állapotban volt.

Az intrikus szultána

A legendák szerint Mihrimah, édesanyja Hürrem támogatásával szerette volna elérni, hogy Rüsztem legyen a következő nagyvezír, mely tervüket végül sikerrel véghezvitték. Azonban téves lenne azt gondolni, hogy csak a két nő ténykedése vezetett Rüsztem kinevezéséhez. Rüsztem eddigre húsz éve volt a szultán bizalmas embere, Szulejmán méltónak találta őt egyetlen lánya kezére, egyértelmű volt, hogy a szultán maga is ezt a pozíciót egyszer Rüsztemnek akarta adni. Mihrimah és Hürrem azonban ezzel nem elégedtek meg, hanem olyan előjogokat akartak Rüsztemnek, amelyek korábban Ibrahim Pasát is megillették. A szultán viszont élesen elzárkózott attól, hogy bárkit újra olyan közel engedjen magához, mint ahogyan Ibrahimmal tette.

Mihrimah és Rüsztem házasságának egyik fontos alapköve volt a közös intrikák sokasága. Mihrimah politikailag igen aktív volt, sokszor férjével közösen sikerrel győzték meg a szultánt egy egy ügy kapcsán. Ilyen volt, amikor 1542-ben Szulejmán szerette volna Isztambulba vitetni politikai fogolyként a csecsemő magyar királyt és édesanyját, Izabella királynét. Izabella azonban okos nő lévén tudta, hogy segítséget kaphat a szultán lányától és nejétől. Elpanaszolta hát helyzetét Mihrimahnak és Hürremnek is: hogy milyen ifjan megözvegyült, egyedül maradt fiával és most még trónjától, jogától is megfosztanák. Emellett pedig természetesen igen értékes ajándékokat is küldött Mihrimah szultána és férje számára. Minden bizonnyal Izabella levelében kijátszotta származását is. Izabella ugyanis a lengyel király lánya volt, azé a lengyel királyé, akinek országából Hürrem szultána származott. Ez pedig fontos kapocs volt Hürrem, Mihrimah és Izabella között. Akárhogyan is, Izabella meggyőzte Hürremet és Mihrimaht is, akik Rüsztemmel karöltve könnyedén rávették a szultánt, hogy támogassa Izabellát és annak fiát, ahelyett, hogy fogolyként Isztambulba hozatná őket. Így lett hát, hogy Szapolyai János Zsigmond lett a Magyar Királyság következő királya.

A házaspár fő feladata azonban Mihrimah testvéreinek támogatása volt, különösen Mehmed hercegé. 1543-ig teljesen egyértelmű volt, hogy Mehmed herceget szerették volna trónra emelni és a trió ehhez mindent elkövetett. A herceg korai halála azonban megnehezítette helyzetüket. Egy ideig nem foglalkoztak azzal, hogy melyik herceg legyen az új kiszemeltjük, csak és kizárólag Musztafa herceg ellehetetlenítésén dolgoztak. Még tíz évbe telt, mire végül sikerrel jártak és Musztafát kivégeztette a szultán. Az, hogy Mihrimah pontosan mennyire és hogyan vett részt ebben a folyamatban, nem ismert, hiszen nincsenek egyáltalán olyan bizonyítékok, amelyek Hürrem vagy Mihrimah bűnösségét bizonyítanák. Ám ettől függetlenül naivitás lenne azt gondolnunk, hogy Mihrimah, aki anyja kiköpött mása volt testben és lélekben is, nem vett volna részt szeretett anyja és férje harcában.

Olybá tűnik, hogy Musztafa halála után a trió Bayezid herceg mellett tette le a voksát, míg a szultán maga Szelimet favorizálta. Talán épp ezért választották Bayezidet, hogy kiegyenlített lehessen a két herceg helyzete. Mindemellett Bayezid természete egy időzített bombához hasonlított, így félő volt, ha nem támogatják, a szultán haragját fogja kivívni egy meggondolatlan cselekedettel. Így az, hogy Bayezidet támogatták, nem jelenti egyértelműen azt, hogy a trónon is őt szerették volna látni.  

Édesanyja elvesztése

1558 drasztikus változást hozott Mihrimah életében. Hürrem szultána meghalt. Mihrimah és édesanyja különösen közel álltak egymáshoz, az ismert anya-lánya kapcsolatok közül, kettejüké volt a legszorosabb. Mihrimah minden nap meglátogatta Hürremet a Topkapi Palotában, ezzel pedig több időt töltött ott, mint saját palotájában. Emellett rendszeresen elkísérte anyját annak utazásaira és együtt látogatták meg testvéreit. Így minden bizonnyal Hürrem elvesztése hatalmas fájdalmat jelentett Mihrimah számára. Azonban Hürrem, halálakor feladatait lányára ruházta át, akinek így nem volt ideje gyászolni, azonnal akcióba kellett lépnie, hogy folytathassa édesanyja útját. Ez pedig nem jelentett mást, mint a szultán támogatását és Bayezid herceg védelmét.

Mihrimah azonban nem tudta úgy befolyásolni Bayezidet, mint édesanyjuk, így nem tudta azt sem elérni, hogy a herceg türelemmel várjon és ne bosszantsa a szultánt. Bayezid hamarosan fellázadt a szultán ellen, mely lázadáshoz több forrás szerint is Mihrimahtól kért pénzt. Mihrimah pedig adott neki. A szultán mikor rájött erre, azonnal kérdőre vonta lányát, aki annyit felelt, hogy édesanyja végakaratát teljesítette, ezért ő nem bűnös semmiben. Nem tudjuk, hogy Szulejmán hogyan reagált, de úgy tűnik viszonyuk egy időre megromlott.

Azonban Mihrimah támogatása sem volt elég, Bayezid herceg az általa szított lázadás döntő ütközetében elbukott, elvesztette a csatát és kénytelen volt elmenkülni a harctérről. Ekkor már Mihrimah és Rüsztem is tehetetlenek voltak. Rüsztem pasa pedig hamarosan életét vesztette, így nem maradt senki, aki meg menthette volna Bayezidet és fiait a kivégzéstől. 1562-ben Bayezidet kivégezték, majd néhány hónapra rá a szultán hatalmas lakodalmat szervezett, hogy kiházasítsa az örökös, Szelim herceg lányait, az elhunyt Musztafa herceg egyik lányát és Bayezid megfelelő korban lévő lányát is. Mihrimah újra szembekerült apjával az esküvő miatt. A források legtöbbje úgy írja, hogy Mihrimah csak az esküvő előkészületei során tudta meg, hogy Bayezidet kivégezték, addigra ugyanis a hírek nem érték el Isztambult, Szulejmán pedig teljes titoktartást rendelt el. Mihrimah a gyásztól összetörve és feldühödve mélységesen felháborítónak tartotta, hogy nemsokkal a testvére kivégzése után ünnepséget rendeznek a birodalomban. Ezért minden lehetséges módon igyekezett ellehetetleníteni a szertartást, így például megtiltotta, hogy a háremben bárki is mulatozzon és boldogságot mutasson. Mivel Mihrimah Rüsztem halála óta a Régi Palotában élt és valószínűleg vezette is azt, parancsai célt értek és a háremben elmaradt a mulatság. A követek beszámolói alapján Szulejmán összetört, és mérhetetlenül csalódott volt. Szelim azonban a hír hallatán állítólag feldühödve kijelentette, hogy sosem szerette nővérét, sem annak férjét sőt anyjukat sem, amiért azok Bayezidet választották helyette. Ezen hír megbízhatósága azonban kétséges, ugyanis a követ aki ezt lejegyezte mélységesen megvetette Szelim herceget.

Viszonya apjával úgy tűnik idővel mégis rendeződött, hiszen 1565-ben például Mihrimah győzködte apját, hogy kezdeményezzen hadjáratot Málta ellen, ő maga pedig saját kincstárát is felajánlotta, megígrve, hogy kiállít 400 gályát a hadsereg számára. Így tehát - bár kétségtelen hogy Bayezid kivégzése örökre nyomot hagyott kapcsolatukon - valószínűleg élete végén Szulejmán újra maga mellett tudhatta egyetlen lányát.

Az új korszak

Mihrimah 1566-ban elveszítette édesapját és egy új világ kezdődött számára öccse, Szelim uralkodásával. A két testvér viszonya nem volt felhőtlen, hiszen Mihrimah mindig Bayezid pártján állt, azonban ekkorra már csak ők ketten voltak életben a családból, ezért az összetartást választották a gyűlölködés helyett. Először Mihrimah nyújtott segítő kezet Szelimnek, amikor azt a janicsárok megzsarolták és megalázták trónralépése előtt. A janicsárok ugyanis azonnal meg akarták kapni a trónralépési jussukat, amikor Szelim még nem is lépett trónra. Ekkor Szelimnek nem volt hozzáférése a birodalmi kincstárhoz, saját tartományából pedig túl hosszú idő lett volna pénzt hozatni, így Mihrimah fizette ki a katonák jussát, hogy Szelim egyáltalán elfoglalhassa a trónt zavargások nélkül. Szelim nem maradt hálátlan, ugyanis nővérét tette meg a Régi Palota fejévé, ezzel pedig de facto valide szultánává.

Szelim uralkodása alatt alapvetően a háttérben maradt és jótékonykodással, építkezési projektekkel töltötte idejét a politika helyett. Mihrimah rengeteg építkezési projektet támogatott, ám leghíresebb kétségkívül a két Mihrimah-mecset, melyek Mimar Sinan birodalmi építész legszebb munkái. Emellett támogatta Nurbanu azon törekvését, hogy a franciáktól visszaszerezzenek két fogjul ejtett török nőt. Közösen, Nurbanu lányaival és saját lányával karöltve végül meggyőzték a francia királynét, hogy küldje haza a nőket. Ez alapján úgy gondolhatjuk, hogy Nurbanuval jó viszonyban voltak. Nincs közvetlen bizonyíték a két nő viszonyára, valószínűleg tiszteletteljes viszony állt fenn köztük. Mihrimah lánya azonban Nurbanu ellenfelét, Safiye Haseki szultánát támogatta, ami felveti azt az eshetőséget is, hogy Mihrimah maga is Safiyét favorizálta Nurbanuval szemben.

Élete alkonya

Szelim 1574-ben elhunyt és fia Murad követte a trónon. Murad és Mihrimah viszonya nem ismert ám feltehetőleg Muradban is maradthatott tüske, amiért Mihrimah Bayezidet támogatta. Épp emiatt vannak akik úgy sejtik, hogy Mihrimah minden hatalmát elvesztette Murad uralkodása alatt. Valójában ez nem valószínű, hiszen Murad olyan magas fizetést adott Mihrimahnak, amilyet soha egyetlen birodalmi hercegnő sem kapott hasonló helyzetben. Mihrimah talán maga döntött úgy, hogy visszavonul. Szelim halálával egyedül maradt a családból, eddigre elveszítette négy testvérét, mindkét szülőjét, unokaöccseit, férjét és saját fiát is. Ennyi fájdalomtól megtörve valószínűleg nem érzett már késztetést, hogy politikával foglalkozzon. Útját lánya Ayşe Hümaşah folytatta, aki politikailag igen aktív volt.

Mihrimah 1578. január 25-én hunyt el a Régi Palotában. Murad szultán úgy döntött, hogy a hagyományokat (miszerint a szultánok egyedül nyugodtak türbéjükben) megtörve, Mihrimah szultánát édesapja mellé temetteti el. Halálával azonban vérvonala nem tűnt el, hiszen lánya által, leszármazottjai a 20. századig nyomonkövethetőek voltak, ám feltehetőleg napjainkban is élnek további cslaádtagok. Ők a Mihrumazadeler-ek.

Felhasznált források: L. Peirce - Empress of the east; L. Peirce - The imperial harem;  Y. Öztuna - Kanuni Sultan Süleyman; N. Sakaoğlu - Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları

[isabella-aldwyn]

Isabella Aldwyn

Skeleton: The Hoyden  Name: Isabella Rose Aldwyn  Age: 24 Family Title: Viscounty Cheltenham  About: See Below FC: Caitlin Stasey

O1 ━◞ ISABELLA

Being the eldest of the female Aldwyns was always a curse for Bella, specifically because of her personality. Headstrong, independent and stubborn, if you told her to go left, she would go right without a moment’s hesitation. And when she did so, she’d speak with such a sweet and charming tongue abreast mirthful giggles that you’d always sigh in defeat because you simply can’t turn down that look of sheer joy. Known among the household to be as unruly as a wild stallion yet to be broken in, many of the house staff and family members who must manage her affairs are often chasing after her, her body racing as quickly as her mind (and attention span). Upon hearing such comments, Bella wholeheartedly agrees that she proudly has the spirit of a stallion, wild-hearted, adventurous and happy to indulge in what freedom she can taste. She believes very strongly in making her own decisions and following her own path, an opposite sentiment to what she’s been taught all her life and she struggles constantly with the tension of what she selfishly wants and what’s expected of her.

Bella wears her heart on her sleeve, unashamedly expressing her highest highs and lowest lows.  Neither does she shy away from confrontation. Especially when displeased or when facing conflict, she will say it as it is, no matter how hard she tries to keep her mouth shut. Her loose tongue has gotten her into deep trouble more than she’d like to admit.

While impulsive, Bella also lacks any sense of self-preservation. At her best, it means she will go above and beyond (perhaps even at her own expense) to those she loves and are loyal to. At her worst, Bella wouldn’t realize she’s in danger if she was looking at a wolf six feet away. (To be quite honest, she’d possibly try and attempt to tame it.)  As such, her schemes and fun often get away from her and put her in arguably dire circumstances.

The world outside her tiny universe in the Aldwyn estate always drew bella to it like a moth to a flame. It took time and numerous failed attempts to learn how to sneak out of the house; from taking advantage of the servant exits, to bribing the footmen, to convincing her maid Nancy to accompany her. When she managed to escape from her governess, Bella would explore Cheltenham (or London depending on the season) and became acquainted with as many of the townspeople and the common folk as she could. At times, her brother, Harry, would sneak out from his studies to accompany her. Other times, she would visit her cousin, Simeon, and wrangle his arm to convince him to take her around.

O2 ━◞ FAMILY

Teresa di Santa Maria del Ponte, the fiery ninth daughter of a Marquis in one of the Papal states in Rome, had not intended to marry an English man. But when Philip Aldwyn visited Italia for business and he met the saucy girl, it is as they say -- it was history. Teresa, who hailed from a large family, only wished to instill the same warmth in her own family. Teresa was fortunate enough to survive childbirth of nine children -- two sons, Edmund and Henry (”Harry”) and then seven daughters. (See more about Bella’s siblings here.)

As Teresa hoped, the Aldwyn siblings were as close as can be. Even as a wee child, Bella liked to follow her brothers, especially Edmund and all his schoolboy friends. But it was Harry who she was closest to. Proximate in age, they grew up as best friends. Harry would let her get away with the most, defend her against Edmund and their parents, and even assist her little acts of rebellion. Of all their family members, Bella believes that Harry is the only one to truly understand her desire to make her own choices and have her own thoughts.

In the same vein, Bella dotes on her younger sisters, often pushing her sisters towards following their passions and to ignore the pending doom of being married off. Her mother and governess, all too aware of bella’s tendency to spoil and lead her sisters astray, are particularly firm in their discipline with the younger Aldwyns.

The Aldwyns had intended to debut Isabella when she turned 20, but after having her heart broken by her first love, she begged her parents to delay her entrance. This was followed by both her Father’s passing, and then Edmund’s passing only years after, which delayed her debut further. Now considered rather late for her first Season, Bella is debuting with her two younger sisters simultaneously. She is more than aware that her Mama is anxious for her eldest daughter to make the first match and set the precedent for her six (6) other daughters. In light of the recent deaths, and the taking up of the mantle by Harry, who had never prepared for the role as Viscount, a secure marriage would assure their old name continued to thrive, despite the recent tragedies. 

However, Bella still struggles with Edmund’s sudden and mysterious death. Paired with the loss of her closest brother who must throw himself headfirst in being the Lord Cheltenham, Bella has been left stranded and alone in direction. What Bella is unawares of a dark shifting behind the scenes that may had led to Edmund’s death. 

The Aldwyn name is one of old money and old title, passed down from generations. Despite only being a viscounty, their family is known for their wealth and fortune. Bella had never given thought to how the Aldwyns made their means. What she does not know is the unseemly business that her Father, Edmund, and cousin ran -- that the Aldwyn fortune is dirty and has been for generations, their family having multiple hands in the shadowy sides of England and beyond. From the talk of the town, she had heard rumours milling about pertaining to the secrecy behind their mass fortune and snippets of her father’s reputation -- ones that slandered him, claiming that anyone who spoke dirty of their family would be ridden of. Such rumours were always quashed as fast as they appeared. Neverthless, Bella finds it hard to believe her sweet father and her doting brother who were widely respected in the Ton would be anything but honourable. 

O3 ━◞ LIKES, QUIRKS, AND TIDBITS

Growing up in Cheltenham, a region famed for its horse breeding and informal horse racing (soon to be formal in 1815 actually!), meant Bella was no stranger to horse riding. She had been riding with her Brothers since she was old enough to walk and handle a horse. Her favourite past-time is exploring the town and surrounding landscapes with Harry and her horse, Athena. Since childhood, bella always sought to be outdoors, preferring to run around on the grounds or to swim in nearby waterholes. Unfortunately, the older she became, the less she was permitted to do so.

Archery being one of the more active upper class activities that she is ‘permitted’ to engage in passionately, Bella is an excellent archer, and enjoys showing off her bowmanship at any garden or picnic event. Though she would not claim to be as polished in her pall-mall skills, she is irrationally competitive with the game. If she were to identify a reason, she would blame how often she and her siblings played in their childhood.

Having seen the way her parents looked at each other, Bella believes in marrying for love. That being said, the Season is not the most fitting of circumstances, and Bella finds herself more irritated than not after being constantly compared and sold around like cattle. The thought has crossed her mind to not marry as the biggest act of rebellion but finds herself waning in resolve at the thought of how it would affect her siblings. And she also has not put the possibility to rest that she possibly could be as fortunate as her parents and not only fall in love, but have the cards fall into perfect position. 

Tidbit 1: Her birthday is February 18.

Tidbit 2:  If she is to be courted, the way to her heart is dancing. Bella has every quadrille, every waltz memorized, enough so she can dance the steps in her sleep.

Tidbit 3:  Though she lacks the attention span to make the most of her studies, bella does happen to have excellent visual memory, allowing her to play the lyre or the pianoforte from memory in short bouts. (Excellent party trick!) She does rather enjoy music, especially that of the lyre where she is not forced to sit. 

Tidbit 4: She has a scar around her neck from an unfortunate horse-riding incident from when she was 12. Consequently, she is never without a large necklace. It is what she is most self-conscious of.

O4 ━◞ SECRETS

One of her dearest friends who she had met from town is one of the girls at her cousin’s whorehouse. There have been rumours that she frequents the place, more than any proper lady should, but not enough to have ever made trouble.

Something happened that scared her and that she’s buried deep in her memory; something that her Father covered up for her before he died. Will expand on this as roleplay goes. Dun dun dun. 

[lustandlordsrp]

The Hoyden | Isabella

Twenty-Four | The Honble. Isabella Aldwyn Viscounty Cheltenham

Formally or Informally Announced: Miss Aldwyn

Addressed on Formal or Informal Social Correspondence: The Honble. Isabella Aldwyn

Formal Correspondence Salutation:  "Madam,”

Informal Correspondence Salutation: “Dear Miss Aldwyn,”

Addressed in Speech: Miss Aldwyn

Referred to in Speech:  Miss Aldwyn

Social Correspondence Signature: Isabella Aldwyn

Biography

O1 ━◞ ISABELLA

Being the eldest of the female Aldwyns was always a curse for Bella, specifically because of her personality. Headstrong, independent and stubborn, if you told her to go left, she would go right without a moment’s hesitation. And when she did so, she’d speak with such a sweet and charming tongue abreast mirthful giggles that you’d always sigh in defeat because you simply can’t turn down that look of sheer joy. Known among the household to be as unruly as a wild stallion yet to be broken in, many of the house staff and family members who must manage her affairs are often chasing after her, her body racing as quickly as her mind (and attention span). Upon hearing such comments, Bella wholeheartedly agrees that she proudly has the spirit of a stallion, wild-hearted, adventurous and happy to indulge in what freedom she can taste. She believes very strongly in making her own decisions and following her own path, an opposite sentiment to what she’s been taught all her life and she struggles constantly with the tension of what she selfishly wants and what’s expected of her.

Bella wears her heart on her sleeve, unashamedly expressing her highest highs and lowest lows.  Neither does she shy away from confrontation. Especially when displeased or when facing conflict, she will say it as it is, no matter how hard she tries to keep her mouth shut. Her loose tongue has gotten her into deep trouble more than she’d like to admit.

While impulsive, Bella also lacks any sense of self-preservation. At her best, it means she will go above and beyond (perhaps even at her own expense) to those she loves and are loyal to. At her worst, Bella wouldn’t realize she’s in danger if she was looking at a wolf six feet away. (To be quite honest, she’d possibly try and attempt to tame it.)  As such, her schemes and fun often get away from her and put her in arguably dire circumstances.

The world outside her tiny universe in the Aldwyn estate always drew bella to it like a moth to a flame. It took time and numerous failed attempts to learn how to sneak out of the house; from taking advantage of the servant exits, to bribing the footmen, to convincing her maid Nancy to accompany her. When she managed to escape from her governess, Bella would explore Cheltenham (or London depending on the season) and became acquainted with as many of the townspeople and the common folk as she could. At times, her brother, Harry, would sneak out from his studies to accompany her. Other times, she would visit her cousin, Simeon, and wrangle his arm to convince him to take her around.

O2 ━◞ FAMILY

Teresa di Santa Maria del Ponte, the fiery ninth daughter of a Marquis in one of the Papal states in Rome, had not intended to marry an English man. But when Philip Aldwyn visited Italia for business and he met the saucy girl, it is as they say – it was history. Teresa, who hailed from a large family, only wished to instill the same warmth in her own family. Teresa was fortunate enough to survive childbirth of nine children – two sons, Edmund and Henry (”Harry”) and then seven daughters. (See more about Bella’s siblings here.)

As Teresa hoped, the Aldwyn siblings were as close as can be. Even as a wee child, Bella liked to follow her brothers, especially Edmund and all his schoolboy friends. But it was Harry who she was closest to. Proximate in age, they grew up as best friends. Harry would let her get away with the most, defend her against Edmund and their parents, and even assist her little acts of rebellion. Of all their family members, Bella believes that Harry is the only one to truly understand her desire to make her own choices and have her own thoughts.

In the same vein, Bella dotes on her younger sisters, often pushing her sisters towards following their passions and to ignore the pending doom of being married off. Her mother and governess, all too aware of bella’s tendency to spoil and lead her sisters astray, are particularly firm in their discipline with the younger Aldwyns.

The Aldwyns had intended to debut Isabella when she turned 20, but after having her heart broken by her first love, she begged her parents to delay her entrance. This was followed by both her Father’s passing, and then Edmund’s passing only years after, which delayed her debut further. Now considered rather late for her first Season, Bella is debuting with her two younger sisters simultaneously. She is more than aware that her Mama is anxious for her eldest daughter to make the first match and set the precedent for her six (6) other daughters. In light of the recent deaths, and the taking up of the mantle by Harry, who had never prepared for the role as Viscount, a secure marriage would assure their old name continued to thrive, despite the recent tragedies. 

However, Bella still struggles with Edmund’s sudden and mysterious death. Paired with the loss of her closest brother who must throw himself headfirst in being the Lord Cheltenham, Bella has been left stranded and alone in direction. What Bella is unawares of a dark shifting behind the scenes that may had led to Edmund’s death. 

The Aldwyn name is one of old money and old title, passed down from generations. Despite only being a viscounty, their family is known for their wealth and fortune. Bella had never given thought to how the Aldwyns made their means. What she does not know is the unseemly business that her Father, Edmund, and cousin ran – that the Aldwyn fortune is dirty and has been for generations, their family having multiple hands in the shadowy sides of England and beyond. From the talk of the town, she had heard rumours milling about pertaining to the secrecy behind their mass fortune and snippets of her father’s reputation – ones that slandered him, claiming that anyone who spoke dirty of their family would be ridden of. Such rumours were always quashed as fast as they appeared. Neverthless, Bella finds it hard to believe her sweet father and her doting brother who were widely respected in the Ton would be anything but honourable. 

O3 ━◞ LIKES, QUIRKS, AND TIDBITS

Growing up in Cheltenham, a region famed for its horse breeding and informal horse racing (soon to be formal in 1815 actually!), meant Bella was no stranger to horse riding. She had been riding with her Brothers since she was old enough to walk and handle a horse. Her favourite past-time is exploring the town and surrounding landscapes with Harry and her horse, Athena. Since childhood, bella always sought to be outdoors, preferring to run around on the grounds or to swim in nearby waterholes. Unfortunately, the older she became, the less she was permitted to do so.

Archery being one of the more active upper class activities that she is ‘permitted’ to engage in passionately, Bella is an excellent archer, and enjoys showing off her bowmanship at any garden or picnic event. Though she would not claim to be as polished in her pall-mall skills, she is irrationally competitive with the game. If she were to identify a reason, she would blame how often she and her siblings played in their childhood.

Having seen the way her parents looked at each other, Bella believes in marrying for love. That being said, the Season is not the most fitting of circumstances, and Bella finds herself more irritated than not after being constantly compared and sold around like cattle. The thought has crossed her mind to not marry as the biggest act of rebellion but finds herself waning in resolve at the thought of how it would affect her siblings. And she also has not put the possibility to rest that she possibly could be as fortunate as her parents and not only fall in love, but have the cards fall into perfect position. 

Tidbit 1: Her birthday is February 18.

Tidbit 2:  If she is to be courted, the way to her heart is dancing. Bella has every quadrille, every waltz memorized, enough so she can dance the steps in her sleep.

Tidbit 3:  Though she lacks the attention span to make the most of her studies, bella does happen to have excellent visual memory, allowing her to play the lyre or the pianoforte from memory in short bouts. (Excellent party trick!) She does rather enjoy music, especially that of the lyre where she is not forced to sit. 

Tidbit 4: She has a scar around her neck from an unfortunate horse-riding incident from when she was 12. Consequently, she is never without a large necklace. It is what she is most self-conscious of.

O4 ━◞ SECRETS

One of her dearest friends who she had met from town is one of the girls at her cousin’s whorehouse. There have been rumours that she frequents the place, more than any proper lady should, but not enough to have ever made trouble.

Something happened that scared her and that she’s buried deep in her memory; something that her Father covered up for her before he died. Will expand on this as roleplay goes. Dun dun dun. 

[madeleineengland]

Princess Marie-Louise Thérèse of Savoy: Marie Antoinette's best friend

She was a member of a cadet branch of the House of Savoy, better known as Princess de Lamballe. After her marriage, she went to the french court and became the closest confidante of Queen Marie Antoinette. She will be killed in the massacres of September 1792 during the French Revolution.

She was there along the other dukes and the duchess when Marie Antoinette arrived in France in 1770. The two girls grew close rather quickly and they had become truly devoted to each other.

The pair was rarely seen apart, and if they were, Marie Antoinette would draw images of the Princess and weep about missing her.

Marie Antoinette was reportedly charmed by Marie Thérèse, and overwhelmed her with attention and affection that spectators did not fail to notice.

In March 1771 the Austrian ambassador reported:

"'For some time past the Dauphiness has shown a great affection for the Princesse de Lamballe. . . . This young princess is sweet and amiable, and enjoying the privilèges of a Princess of the Blood Royal, is in a position to avail herself of her Royal Highness's favour."

Their friendship was so close that Lamballe managed to marry her cousins to Marie-Antoinette's brothers-in-law, and Marie Therese came to be treated by Marie Antoinette as a relative, and they spent most of the time together.

During these first years, many counts and countesses formed a circle of friends with Marie Antoinette and the princess de Lamballe, who was as almost constantly by Marie Antoinette's side.

Madame de Campan, a lady in waiting, described her and the Queen as twins.

On 18 September 1775, following the ascension of her husband to the throne in May 1774, Queen Marie Antoinette appointed Marie Thérèse "Superintendent of the Queen's Household", the highest rank possible for a lady-in-waiting at Versailles.

Her new role meant that the Princesse was elevated above all other women at court, on top of this she had to organise all entertainments for the Queen and she received all of the Queen’s letters and petitions.

After Marie Antoinette became queen, her intimate friendship with Lamballe was given greater attention and Mercy reported:

"Her Majesty continually sees the Princesse de Lamballe in her rooms [...] This lady joins to much sweetness a very sincere character, far from intrigue and all such worries. The Queen has conceived for some time a real friendship for this young Princess, and the choice is excellent, for although a Piedmontese, Madame de Lamballe is not at all identified with the interests of Mesdames de Provence and d'Artois. All the same, I have taken the precaution to point out to the Queen that her favour and goodness to the Princesse de Lamballe are somewhat excessive, in order to prevent abuse of them from that quarter."

Marie Antoinette said herself to Louis XVI: "Ah, sire, the Princesse de Lamballe's friendship is the charm of my life."

Princesse de Lamballe was described as proud, sensitive and with a delicate though irregular beauty.

Despite envy and jealousy of the court, she was mostly regarded as an honest and true friend who stayed away from plotting and gossip: not a wit and not one to participate in plots; she was able to amuse Marie Antoinette, but she was of a reclusive and quiet nature and preferred to spend time with the queen alone rather than to participate in high society.

In 1775, however, Lamballe was gradually replaced in her position as the favorite of the queen by duchesse de Polignac. The two didn't get along and Polignac always tried to overshadow Lamballe's presence at court.

Though de Lamballe was replaced by de Polignac as favorite, the friendship with the Queen nevertheless continued and it resisted through the time and the revolution: Marie Antoinette occasionally visited her in her rooms, and reportedly appreciated her serenity and loyalty in between the entertainments offered her by Polignac. "She is the only woman I know who never bears a grudge; neither hatred nor jealousy is to be found in her."

After the death of her mother, Marie Antoinette isolated herself with Lamballe and Polignac during the winter to mourn.

On 7 October 1789, Lamballe was informed of the events of the Revolution, and immediately joined the Royal Family to the Tuileries Palace in Paris, where she reassumed the duties of her office for being side by side with the Queen.

Even in those terribile moments she's always seen at the queen's side both in public as well as in private, and rallying support for the family.

The Princess de Lamballe became much more protective at this time, interrogating members of the Queen’s household to find out if those surrounded the Queen were truly loyal to her.

After the departure from France of the duchess de Polignac and most of the other of the queen's intimate circle of friends, Marie Antoinette warned Lamballe that now her visible role attracted much of the anger among the public toward the favorites of the queen, and that libels circulating openly in Paris would expose her to slander.

The King and the family tried to escape in June 1791, but they were caught in a town called Varennes and brought back to Paris.

The Princess de Lamballe was not told about the escape attempt until afterwards, she would have received a note from Marie Antoinette who told her to meet her in Brussels.

Princess de Lamballe was long in doubt as to whether she would be in most use for the queen in or outside of France, and received conflicting advice: her friends M. de Clermont and M. de la Vaupalière encouraged her to return to the service of the queen, while her relatives asked her to return to Turin in Savoy.

During her stay abroad, she was in correspondence with Marie Antoinette, who repeatedly asked her not to return to France.

"No, once again, do not return, my dear heart. Do not throw yourself into the tiger’s jaws. I suffer already too much uneasiness for my husband and my poor little children … Adieu, my dear heart; your friendship is my consolation and my only happiness."

However, in October 1791, the new provisions of the Constitution came into operation, and the queen was requested to set her household in order and dismissed all office holders not in service: she accordingly wrote officially to Lamballe and formally asked her to return to service or resign. This formal letter, though it was in contrast to the private letters Marie Antoinette had written her, reportedly convinced her that it was her duty to return, and she announced that the queen wished her to return and that "I must live and die with her."

During the Demonstration of 20 June 1792, she was present in the company of the queen when a mob broke into the palace. Marie Antoinette immediately cried that her place as by the king's side, but Lamballe then cried: "No, no, Madame, your place is with your children!", after which a table was pulled before her to protect her from the mob. Lamballe, alongside and a few noblemen belonged to the courtiers, surrounding the Queen and her children for several hours when the mob passed by the room shouting insults to Marie Antoinette. According to a witness, princess de Lamballe stood leaning by the queen's armchair to support her through the entire scene: "Madame de Lamballe displayed even greater courage. Standing during the whole of that long scene, leaning upon the Queen's chair, she seemed only occupied with the dangers of that unhappy queen without regarding her own"

Marie Louise de Lamballe continued her services to the Queen until the attack on the palace on 19 August 1792.

She and the other ladies-in-waiting were separated from the Royal Family and transferred to the La Force prison, though the Queen fought to keep the Princess de Lamballe with her and wept while she knelt at her feet and kissed her hands.

The two left each other with deep sorrow and the queen advised her to spend some days in the country for the sake of her health before she retired. In secret the Queen prayed the governess of her children, Elizabeth de Tourzel, to take great care of Madame de Lamballe and prevent, as far as possible, her having to reply to captious questions.

During the September Massacres, the prisons were attacked by mobs, and the prisoners were placed before hastily assembled people's tribunals, who judged and executed them summarily.

Princess de Lamballe was brought before a temporary tribunal, where she was asked to swear an oath to liberty and equality and to swear against Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It is believed that she refused to swear the oath against the king and queen, as it was “not in her heart.”

After this, agents of her father-in-law told her to swear the oath so that she might be spared, but she refused to do so and reportedly said: “I have made the sacrifice of my life”.

She was condemned, then released outside to the street to a waiting crowd, where she was murdered.

She was escorted by two guards to the door of the yard where the massacre was taking place: when the door was opened and she was exposed to the sight of bloody corpses in the yard, she reportedly cried: 'I am lost!'

One of her murderers, long years after, described her as a little lady dressed in white, standing alone a moment above the carnage...

She was first struck by a man with a pike on her head, which caused her hair to fall down upon her shoulders, revealing a letter from Marie Antoinette which she had hidden in her hair. She was decapitated, with its head placed upon a pike and paraded beneath Marie Antoinette’s window at the Temple.

Marie Antoinette did not actually see the head of her long-time friend, but was aware of what happened...

One of the officers told the king: "they are trying to show you the head of Madame de Lamballe". The Queen then fainted away.

Marie Antoinette's daughter said that her mother was seized with horror, that was the sole moment when her firmness abandoned her.

The murder of the Princesse de Lamballe marked Marie-Antoinette deeply; she never got over it.

"Adieu, my dear Lamballe, I embrace you again with my whole heart, as I shall love you all my life"

[Portraits by Elisabeth Le Brun]

Princess of Lamballe was described as sensitive and simple. "She had no love for intrigue, struggle, decision, anxious excitements, yet she, of all the Court, proved as a rock of friendship among shifting sands." - Blanche Hardy ~ Princess de Lamballe: A Biography

The Princesse de Lamballe’s body was never found despite her father-in-law searching desperately for it.

[shortskirtsandsarcasm]

Rereading Little Women as an Adult

Like plenty of other young girls on the verge of their first middle school dance, I read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It was a warm contrast to The Clique series and other young adult literature popular in the 2000s that centered on social snobbery and pettiness. The Little Women film (starring June Allyson) was also a staple in my house growing up, as I was not allowed to watch much mainstream media, most of all animated children’s films. However, none of the film adaptations ever gave me the same feeling I got from reading the book or made me want to give the book a reread. Until, of course, the newest version: Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation. As most people read this story in childhood, I thought it would be interesting to reread Little Women as an adult and pitched the idea to my book club and it became our April read.

Rereading Little Women as an adult gave me a different perspective on the characters and the message Alcott was hoping to cultivate. Inadvertently, it was the perfect book to settle into at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. The story and characters are heartwarming, wholesome, comforting during a pandemic where we all have to stay inside. In addition, the Marches’ story is one of survival. They are not wealthy and are living through the Civil War, already a time of financial difficulty and uncertainty. Their father, their only male family member, is away fighting for a good chunk of the story, and without him Marmee and the girls are vulnerable. The absence of March sons means that the girls have limited options for financial survival into adulthood. Meg worked as a governess before her marriage and Jo sells her short stories, but it is clear that neither is a long-term career with financial stability or independence. This societal and financial instability is parallel to the job-losses of the pandemic and

Amy has been much maligned as the worst March sister, but I heartily disagree. Amy is by far the best March. I blame the many movie adaptations for this portrayal. Amy is shown to be selfish and materialistic, which she definitely is, but no more than any other normal person is. Meg is just as selfish, but the movie adaptations do not explore it as much because she’s the oldest, and therefore a “second mother,” and cannot afford to indulge her petty luxuries. But reading the book, you can see that Meg likes to imagine herself as a martyr, and therefore keeps her selfish impulses to herself, lest she is seen as anything other than the perfect daughter (and later the perfect wife and the perfect mother). Amy’s contrast to the angelic Beth also makes her seem more selfish and nefarious than she really is. Beth clings to her image as a domestic angel on earth, even though she kills her bird by not feeding it for a week. With her painful shyness, exclusive love of the domestic, and dedication to good works, as evidenced by her many visits to the Hummel family, and her lack of ambition for literally anything, Beth slots into the Victorian ideal of the “angel in the house.” Her young death cements her status as a domestic martyr and helps to gloss over her lack of personality and that she killed her pet. Through her young marriage and motherhood, Meg can also be considered an “angel in the house,” but she will never reach Beth’s mythical perfection because she desires money and material comforts (what a bitch). Alcott sets Beth up to be The Best Sister™ but my hot take is that Beth is in fact, the worst character in the whole book. The most recent film adaptation is the only one, in my opinion, that does the character of Amy justice. We see her burn Jo’s collected fairy tales in a disproportionate childish rage, but we also see her calculate her family’s future and her important role in it, as the only one willing to “marry well.” The other films portray her strategic marriage designs as purely social climbing or gold-digging, but in Amy’s temporal context, there is not much she, or any of her sisters, can do to keep her family from going under financially, especially in the event of the death of her father. She has goals to be a great artist, but even if she did become one, it would realistically not pay the bills.

The two halves of Meg and Beth’s roles as “angels in the house” come together in Marmee, the mother of the March girls. She is more of a “mother” archetype than a real person. She always has the perfect lessons in wisdom at the right time and is simultaneously a gentle domestic goddess and an effective disciplinarian, even when her daughters are adults and no longer living at home. In the chapter “On the Shelf,” Marmee tells Meg that it is her fault that her husband spends all his evenings with his friend (and his friend’s young, childless wife) instead of with her and their children:

You have only made the mistake that most young wives make — forgotten your duty to your husband in your love for your children. A very natural and forgivable mistake, Meg, but one that had better be remedied before you take to different ways, for children should draw you nearer than ever, not separate you, as if they were all yours, and John had nothing to do but support them. I’ve seen it for some weeks, but have not spoken, feeling sure it would come right in time (322).

Marmee’s advice in this and all things always perpetuates the traditional gender norms that dictate that women should be quiet, gentle, and subservient, all while running an immaculate household. They should manage every situation and their husbands perfectly, but without ever letting their husbands feel managed, lest they should feel emasculated. The only advice that diverges from this is that Marmee tells Meg she should share childcare duties with her husband — a reasonable suggestion since they are his offspring as well. Marmee does limit these childcare duties to disciplining and teaching skills. Let’s not get crazy and ask John to change a diaper.

Someone in my book club pointed out that the messaging of Little Women seems particularly anti-feminist, even for the time it was published (1868) and I wish I had thought to say at the time that because this book was published in the United States, not Britain where I now live and attend book club meetings, the goalposts for what was “radical feminism” were very different. But of course, I did not think of this argument fast enough, and I will be bitter forever. If you look at the political debates — in the context of the pandemic or not — being held in the US vs the UK, you can see that much of American politics is deeply puritanical. It’s not surprising that these puritanical political ideals would be even more intense in 1868, especially since it was in the years directly following the American Civil War, a conflict about whether or not some people had a right not to be someone else’s property. The postwar political climate was all about the apportioning of rights to populations that previously had none or very few. It is certainly true that Little Women contains many outdated and problematic messages on gender roles and the meaning of womanhood, but it is important to remember that in the context of the experiences of white womanhood in the northern United States, Little Women was radical in its portrayal of young women and their individual approaches to domesticity. I enjoyed revisiting Little Women, but if I could expunge the memories of cringey middle school dances that came with it, I would.

[ladyamela]

Hold! Who goes there? Why, is that Améla Ashcraft the Lady of the House of  Ashcraft of Each Reach? They do look poised for a woman of 27 years. Don’t they call her the confident and curious broken bird? I’ve heard they’re also cautious and humble though, don’t take my word for it but they do look an awful lot like Lily Collins.

TW: Death and depression

Basic Info:

NAME:  Améla Sérafin Ashcraft

PRONUNCIATION:  ə-MEE-lee-ə,  seh-RA-fyeen

TITLE (IF THEY HAVE ONE, OCCUPATION IF NOT): Lady Ashcraft of Each Reach, Lady in Waiting for Princess Josefin Stoneward

AGE: 27

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Each Reach

FAMILY MEMBERS: Cousin Alek Ashcraft, Duke of Each Reach, Betrothed to the Duke of Seaworth

Physical Description:

HEIGHT: 5′5

HAIIR COLOR: Brown

EYE COLOR: Hazel

GENDER: Female

BUILD:  Slim & Athletic

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES? (SCARS, TATTOOS, PIERCINGS): There are a couple of scars around her hairline from when her parents were killed. Has a good number of scars on her body from her time in the military. At this time, only her ears are pierced.

ANY HEALTH RELATED ISSUES?: Depression (not that it’s diagnosed)

Personality:

Améla is the only name the young Ashcraft will acknowledge. Though, over the years, a few people who have been lucky enough to get close to her can get away with calling her Amé or Ams. Those are the people that know what a straightforward and determined young woman she is. While she’s mischievous at heart events in her past has taught her that impishness does not always end well.

To the world, Améla is seen as sweet, kind, innocent in so many ways, and carefree even. The perfect persona for someone who finds it better to hide who she is than anyone close enough to hurt her. The loss of so much in her young life, Améla has come not to trust so easily. She would preferably push people away, then allow them to get close and then lose them. She has established that this disposition can help her out in many ways, while other times, it has lead to more hardship than need be. Trust is not something she gives out freely. It is hard-earned by the person who earns it but easy to lose by anyone she does come to trust.

The real Améla is confident, curious, protective, but cautious and humble all at the same time. She loves with all her heart, not that there are a lot of people left alive that she loves. The count is at four at this point, or at least that's what she'll admit if asked. She knows it all can be taken from her in seconds and is not willing to open herself up to that pain unless it's worth it.

Outside of her primary group of friends, she's not much of a talker. She finds that the overuse of words tends to keep one from seeing the real person. She prefers to observe those around her, watch and listen to what a person says with their body language. Due to this, she discreet with who and when she opens up another about her thoughts. When it comes to inner turmoil, her tendency is to deal with them on her own unless pushed into talking by family. Over time, she has learned to keep her emotions in check. Thanks to the teachings from her cousin Alek, Améla has learned to close her mind off when need be. For you never know when a mind reader could be near.

Additional Info:

Betrothal: At the age of 20, her uncle started brokering a match with the Duke of Seaworth for her hand in marriage. For five years the two families have negotiated the alliance while Améla and the Duke took part in coordinated meetings. Shortly after her 25th birthday the Duke proposed to her and a yes reply has left them planning their nuptials for the last two years. The wedding had been set to take place the coming spring; however, with the attacks a delay may be in order.

Fellow Ladies-in-waiting: While it had never been an official title when she had been younger, Améla has always been by Josefin Stoneward's side either as a friend or confidant. As they got older more ladies joined their group in helping Josefin in her day to day life at court. Some may have become friends with Améla, some she questions their motives, and others she does everything to keep a close on eye on.

The Rebel: No one knows what Améla remembers from the night of her parents deaths, not even Améla. This has some rebels a bit worried about what she can tell or whom she might identify in the attack. Needing to know if Améla could be a threat to their plans they've sent in a mole to get close in case her memories of that night come back to her.

History:

Améla Sérafin Ashcraft would be the first and only child to the Duck of Ashcraft's younger brother. For years they longed for a child of their own; however, each time they thought their prayers answered, tragedy would strike once more. It would take almost seven years after they were married and many tragedies before their baby girl, at last, was held within their arms. They loved her from the moment they laid eyes on her tiny face. For three years, they doted on their little girl. Gave her everything she ever possibly need. They held so many dreams for her, but they would not live to see those dreams come true.

They were on their way back from a visit to the Glasswater Keep.  Améla being the same age as two of the King's daughters, she found herself chosen to become a companion/friend to the princesses. The first visit had seemed to go well, and more planned for the future. However, just hours after leaving Glasswater Keep the Ashcraft found themselves attacked by rebels. No only survivor would be three years old, Améla. From that day forward, her care would fall to her uncle, the Duke of Ashcraft. She showed up at his doorstep, a curious but shy little girl that did not fully understand her new position in life.

The loss of her parents afflicted her in ways that she is still dealing with to this day. She went from living a quiet life with her two loving parents to standing in the middle of a castle with no idea where she truly belonged. Améla pulled into herself over the weeks to come, and while hired a governess to take care of her, the child's aunt could see that what she needed was a mother. From the moment on her Aunt Emily would take time each day to spend with Améla. Slowly over time, the shy child started to open up and accept her new life. Six months after the loss of her parents, Améla finally felt safe and comfortable enough to show that she was magi to others. Like her aunt, she held the power of elemental magic, but her elemental gift would be Geokinesis.

The first person to see her use magic would be her cousin, Alek. While her aunt stepped in to become the mother Améla needed and longed for, Alek would be the one who showed Améla she was safe. He stepped into the role of a big brother as if he had always meant to be one. On the day Améla showed her gift, she had been the garden playing, having wandered off from her governess when Alek found her. Wanting to show him what she could do, Améla held her hand up, and while she wiggled her fingers just a little, two stones moved upward from the spot they were resting, drifting over to Améla and came to rest in front of her. The little girl did not know if wiggling her fingers was required to make the stones move; it was just fun to do.

Things changed once more for the young girl; only this time, the change allowed normalcy to come into her life. Once Améla's aunt found out about her magic, Aunt Emily knew the best course of action. Not wanting to see Améla's talents go to waste, she encouraged the girl to explore her abilities. Just months passed her fourth birthday, Améla visited the Magaesterium for the first time. Thanks to her natural talent, her love and willingness to learn lead to her acceptance right away.

For almost nine years, Améla lived what could be called normal life. Between her time at the Magaesterium, where she flourished in her studies, and Glasswater Keep, where she quickly bonded with Josefin and Adaline. Their bond became so strong, that over time; Améla started to be referred to as the twins' triplet. You never saw Améla without the twins or the twins without Améla. Améla loved being with the twins; they were the sisters she never got to have. Sisters, she would do anything for, anything to protect. That need to protect them became even stronger after the incident of her making almost killed Josefin.

As always, Améla let Adaline talk her into using her magic for fun. This time Améla connected to the earth so that she could raise the twins into the air before letting them drop back down just far enough to make it fun and then raising the dirt back up to catch them. They had been at it for hours when out of nowhere, Améla heard shouting from a distance that distracted her just enough to lose focus right when Améla should have brought the ground up to catch Josefin. With nothing there to grab Josefin at the right moment to keep her unharmed, she fell further than she should have. If Améla had not regained her focus when she did, she held no doubt that Josefin would have died upon impact with the ground.

After the incident, Améla would not see either twin for almost a year. She would leave Glasswater Keep within hours of the accident, sent to the Magaesterium for extensive training in the proper use of magic. It had been during her time away that Améla's Aunt Emily became sick. The young Ashcraft hoped, prayed for the best outcome; however, that was not to be and just shy of Améla's 14 birthday she lost her beloved aunt. Once more, her world shattered, and everything she knew changed. Only months after her aunt's passing, her uncle would remarry, leaving Améla to accept or not accept as the case was a new aunt. The woman, Ainsley Amaranthe, not even double Améla's age, could barely pass as an adult soon earned the nickname step-aunt. Unable to handle the changes at East Reach, Lady Ashcraft started spending more time at Glasswater with Princess Josefin and Princess Adaline.

Améla did her best not to let grief take hold by focusing on what she still had, Alek and her sisters. Soon enough, her adolescence came to an end, and at the age of 18, Améla joined Josefin in the military forces to train alongside their foot soldiers. It soon became apparent that Améla thrived in the environment created by the military. It did not take long before they asked Améla to use her magic to help track the rebels and weed them out. It had been one of these tracking expeditions were she found herself lead into a trap. The commander had been an undercover rebel that wanted to take Améla out. It took all she had to fight them off; however, using the amount of magic that she did, the Lady passed out once the last rebel fell.

She would wake hours later surrounded by royal military and the news that Josefin was missing. By the time she returned to the camp, they were bringing Josefin in on a stretcher. They whisked the princess away to a small tent without any word as to what happened to Josefin. Améla paced outside the tent for hours before they finally allowed her inside. While she longed to find out what happened as soon as she entered the tent, it would not be until years later that the princess opened up to Améla about what truly happened during her scouting mission. Even before finding out the truth, Améla hated for the rebels increased after Josefin's attack. She wanted them to stop them in any way possible, and she would see it done.

When their time in the military came to an end, Améla continued to stay by Josefin's side. Her new title, lady-in-waiting would be one the Ashcraft took quite seriously. While most saw her as nothing more than an attendant to the Princess, Améla saw herself as her protector. There was no way she would ever allow anyone to hurt Josefin again. However, her time with Josefin is quickly coming to an end.  At the age of 20, her uncle started negotiating for her hand in marriage with the Duke of Seaworth. For five years, the two families negotiated the alliance while Améla and the Duke took part in coordinated meetings. Shortly after her 25th birthday, the Duke proposed to her, and a yes reply being the only one Améla could give has left them planning their wedding for the last two years. They arranged for the ceremony to take place in the coming spring; however, with the rebel attacks, a delay may be in order, or the possibility of it moving up is also in talks.

[nataliademarquis]

HSHQTASK012: a timeline

so this is natalia’s life. and it’s super long, and idek ... this is like timeline x psyche. 

the answer mickey, is no one. 

TW: eating disorder

23 MARCH 1996

it is late into the night that that natalia is born. an easy delivery- and hell, she hardly lets out a cry when she’s exposed to the world. the doctors have to check if she’s breathing- she is. her mother holds her tight, grateful that her features won out on the gene pool, and she is safe.

04 SEPTEMBER 1999 (3)

her mother and father are arguing- she doesn’t see them for long before she’s swooped away by the nanny. she sits in the kitchen with her nanny with a toy and some shortbread until her mother comes to retrieve her. something is off, she can tell, but she knows better than to raise questions.

09 MAY 2001 (5)

there’s so many cameras. she’d been photographed a time or two before but it seemed there was a mob as she exited the car. her mother is behind her, guiding her into the palace. the night before she’d been pulled aside by nicole- she heard an explanation that she could barely comprehend. her new, actual father ? she hadn’t heard of such a thing ... they didn’t make movies for these princesses.

16 AUGUST 2001 (5)

she’s grown used to arthur, it’s nice to have a companion, toys are fun but they only provide so much entertainment before you realize you are alone. sharing is not a skill she was used to- but she’s learned she does not mind it. it is the nice thing to do.

2003 (7)

the girls are just. like. her. every morning she’s dressed in a starched white blouse and a pleated, plaid jumper. knee socks hiked up along with the shiny mary janes. you wouldn’t be able to pick natalia out of the gaggle of noble daughters by looking at them. but teachers are more lax; and every one’s mum and dad wave at her after school before she’s put in the car. because she’s not just a lady, she’s the princess.

after school her governess takes over- ballet classes for hours, then time spent where she’s taught etiquette before she learns how to do addition; what fork to use for supper before completing her reading comprehension homework. dinner is eaten in silence, and they’re dismissed when her father leaves the table ... and the day starts again, and again.

14 APRIL 2004 (8)

she is eight and arthur jr. is eleven, and they’re brought to the races with their father. at one moment they bicker and get annoyed by petty sibling squabbles, but the next arthur is helping brush grass of her dress- and she thinks it’s in that moment, that one moment of caring affection, she has a brother.

23 MARCH 2006 (10)

she celebrates her 10th birthday in the gardens at kensington- and already the girls from her class are vying for invitations. she invites the cavendish siblings and the fitzroys of course, along with girls in her class her mother found to be particularly interesting and useful. whatever that means. she’s seated next to the scottish princesses- there’s something enviable about their bond that natalia can see from just looking.

2009 (13)

two new additions. antonia ives, the eldest child of her father so far, and now her older sister. and andrew beaufort, another older brother. it wasn’t just she and arthur anymore it seemed.

2010 (14)

vaugh ashcroft is the next name, and it’s four siblings she has now, correct ? when she gets to school the girls at st. george’s gather around her- they’ve made her their leader - every move she makes is noted and sometimes copied, she can’t fathom why, and any of her wishes is their command. but natalia doesn’t know what to do with the power of a queen b.

2011 (15)

natalia made balancing schooling and every other extracurricular that made her great look simple. it would have to be so - natalia would be reminded by her mother that she was better than the other girls, yes all of them, and would have to show them so. and as if she needed a reminder of her imperfections her ballet teacher reminds her that part of her role is looking the part, as eyes scan her body. she skips dinner. and sometimes lunch. no one notices anyways - her mother only gushes about how good she looks in her clothes.

but it all seems worth it as she takes her bow on stage, but she looks into the crowd for a familiar face, perhaps her mother, father, or brother were late and couldn’t wish her good luck. but to no avail, the crowd is full of parents and family, but not hers, not “hers”. it was a silly thought anyways and natalia can’t hold back the tears for much longer as she exits the stage - and it takes only seconds before her so called minions are at her side, coddling her. you can’t cry in front of them natalia. so she puts on a smile as the water falls, and waves them away. happy tears, she says - though, she doesn’t know the feeling.

2012 (16)

another year, but everything’s the same - the crushing responsibility of being perfect still weighs on her - but she’s caught the attention of a cute eton boy that calls her pretty and sometimes gives her attention she craves. it’s more than enough to feed the void and makes her feel slightly less empty than usual. a distraction - she hardly remembers her struggles when being paraded as a debutante in a pretty dress.

but when he graduates in may, and says goodbye for college - he breaks her heart. she supposes she knew he was going to leave, but she can’t help but dwell on the good memories.

2013 (17)

no one knows if her injury onstage was intentional or not, but after her tendon is torn a slight weight is lifted off her shoulders. her collection of pointe shoes are shoved in the closet to never be seen again, though it’s clear that it’s not the root her problems. 

2014 (18)

all the girls in her class gush about their colleges and passions, and she smiles and congratulates them of course - as they do her - but they don’t know that her choice has been made for her.

graduation day is full of uncertainty, she asks her chauffeur if he knows anything about who would attend for her, and it’s with anticipation that she walks out on stage - and for once, her mother and father are in the crowd. granted, for only a moment, but for the first time the faces in the crowd aren’t all so unfamiliar.

her first semester takes adjusting. at first she’s determined to make a name for herself that’s not the princess, though failing miserably. the classes are hard and boring and frankly she is not above using her title in her favor. 

umm take everything after this with a grain of salt i’m still adjusting the years. actually the stuff above too lmfao

2015 (19)

but what she likes is the semblance of freedom, or it might just be the fact she is away from the root of her problems (at least, physically.) she makes herself busy enough so that she doesn’t have to think about it.

it’s in her second year at oxford that giovanni catches her eye. it’s the same flags as before but she doesn’t learn, no, this is different. she reads into things too much and thinks she’s decoded him, any rudeness or callousness just means he likes her. right ? oh, what does she know about love ??

2016 (20)

natalia is all too comfortable. the main problems on her mind is how her political theory class is a complete snooze fest, and how she will get excused from her midterm to attend new york fashion week, because being away from everything (even if not very far) causes her to turn a blind eye on things brewing. 

2017 (21)

her final year and she can almost say she’s happy - life is lax until well - betrayal has her cutting her italian holiday short, returning home to england. though it doesn’t stop there - only a few months into her third year, her father has been forced to abdicate. the air around her changes - her peers are unsure of what to say and she’s not sure she wants their condolences anyways. 

2018 (22)

she graduates ! magna cum laude, and she even gets to make a speech, despite controversy. 

and after much deliberation she’s sent to the greek island - her mother says it’s safer than england and she had any sense she’d use her connections wisely. she tries to make peace and a semblance of a relationship with her sibling, usually to little avail. and when gio makes an appearance again, the cycle of unfortunate heartbreak begins all over.

2019 (23)

she’s surrounded by people but has never felt lonelier. five siblings, and even an engagement. but nothing was tying her to her siblings anymore, they were all drifting away. ties were being severed for the sake of a title - a stupid title.

when her mother calls her, it’s only for new developments at home, or reminders of conversations she needs to have with monarchs, relationships she’d need to maintain.

no siblings, no father, and hardly a mother - what is there left ?