1 Chapter One: A Celebration Misplaced

Wind whistled across the short hills, accompanying in stark contrast to an atmosphere of joy in the mountainous stone structure sitting atop. Accompanying the celebratory mood was a glaze of lanterns and torches from the surrounding city. Bimelburg had great reason to celebrate, this was essential for the morale of the capital and besides, who could be unhappy with the Duchess distributing communal spirits. As men and women, and the odd child, drank in merriment the charred structures which they sauntered near felt like a far-reaching memory. Retired soldiers plucked the thoughts of the great fire out of their mind and scrubbed the hazy black smoke out of the clear night air. Momentary joy blew past these negative remembrances.

Two figures obscured by thick brown coats gazed at the low walls of the nominal seat of power, peering for a glimpse at the progression inside. Almost every window in the castle had shone with a radiant light, acting almost as a protector from the rowdier noises inside. One of the tipsier citizens bumped into both occupied men, with his slurred apology warranting a sarcastic sneer and leer from the stockier figures. As the sepia draped men walked into a nearby drainage tunnel, out of the bustling night life, the alcohol tampered wit of few bystanders wondered,

"Why would one need a coat in this summer heat?"

This thought did not linger in the minds of many, more pressing matters fell into hand. Afterall, who can focus on some random strangers when the Sovereign Guard themselves are circulating aged kegs throughout the oceanic mob. This was truly a blessed night.

As fewer serious eyes glazed the castle, the celebration went on as usual. The lower Laucren canals and levees filled with visitors and well-wishers coming from upstream as the royal staff of two different houses welcomed them warmly. A banquet hall had been requisitioned and extended to accommodate for the festivities, draperies had been replaced, rugs had been requisitioned, and any dust which had once been present was thoroughly off the guest list. And as the excitement progressed to a climax, Duchess Matilda's wine filled glass clattered to the hard floor, alongside her own aching body. A small entourage of trusted servants who had been monitoring closely rushed to her crumpled side. They lifted her as she meekly whispered,

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

Thankfully the other party guests were sufficiently occupied, not noticing as servants facilitated her quick departure away from the crowded banquet hall. The noise continued in jovial passion as the finest lords and ladies of numerous lands sullied their senses with aged spirits.

The mayor of Lofefenb accompanied the Count of the Western borderlands, with both looking as tired as they were jolly. The celebration was a welcome change of pace for them, as the previous years were quite difficult. The salt trade which was bonded with the Murgen river had been cut off by the recent conquest of its lower half, blocking trade with the southern Cabuecor artisans. Without this, the borderlands simply became another outpost, no longer the strategic trade asset it was used to being. Recent cooperation with Imperial engineers worked to expand the Stautosc river further on to Sanquela, opening trade once again. However, despite this cooperation, their coffers simply were empty compared to profits of years past. Their entourage conversed with the Lord Protector of Husenzelgen, who was neck deep into a bowl of crawdads he himself provided, in the preparation for the celebration of course. The staff and council of the Lord Protector had done wonderful work with the purpose of flattering, or fooling, the Imperial guests to a certain degree, as the fanciful nature of the atmosphere was not a reflection of the Duchy's pocketbook. While some economic relief was provided through the revitalization of trade, the industries and shipping which the people desperately relied on was faltering after the last war with the Grand Duchy.

The Trio of Earls Steiamt, Uhtengenburg, and Laucserach were guarding their conversation, an action which they had become known for recently. Previously, they had recently received much larger concessions by the former Duke, allowing them to set heavy interstate tariffs through their "eastern economic reform council". Despite all this, eastern loyalties laid firmly with the new Duchess, as her oversight, or lack of, had resulted in the enrichment of many personal pockets. Attempting to chisel his way into the stony personal chatter was the overlooked Earl of Dorwald. The marriage had been a major opportunity for him diplomatically, as his son's affair with the daughter of the Emperor had resulted in exclusion from domestic economic and social circles. The most prestigious guest was in a similar situation. Most everyone recognized the Duke of Veras from his rich armored robe, nearly rivaling that of the groom. Yet, despite his appearance, the iron and copper trade which he once had a stranglehold on had slipped from his hands after an Imperial decree of embargo on his goods. This was in spite of the fact that he had little influence over the cause for punishment. Still, it was his men who attempted to kidnap and ransom the Emperor and two of his daughters, no small offense.

Newly appointed, the Commander of the Kupengengen fort of the bay island was organizing a security sweep after an anonymous letter promised harm to present company. He himself was the younger brother of the Duchess. And, despite his young age, many had respect for him over the skillful organization of fort Kupengengen's construction. Many of those who were present in the hall which would be happy to see a strong-willed man, such as him, take the place of his sickly sister. Not much idle chatter reached him as he suddenly rushed off in a panic after a courtier shared the information of the Duchess's collapse.

"Clink, Clink", the sound of hollow glass being tapped by metal rang throughout the hall.

The attending eyes rotated themselves to a small band stage where First Prince Horatio stood beaming. Guests gazed at him with a mixture of admiration, passion, and sympathy. Afterall, he was the epicenter of both economic cooperation between Duchy and Empire, as well as the wedding they were now attending. Horatio had been in contact with Matilda for the three years in which their engagement had now been firmly secured. However, he and his father seemed to leap at the idea of a wedding following the death of the former Duke and the ascension of Matilda to the seat of power. Despite this, the nobles present did not fret over the eagerness of a youthful Prince to marry. Especially when the Duchy of Orwol was guaranteed a peaceful integration into the Empire of Contalusia upon Prince Horatio's ascension to the Imperial throne. This was especially pleasing for the western nobles of the Bimelburg border regions, as they had become unable to rest following legions of Hoftalian probing attacks into their territory. The prospect of having a future Empress in charge of the territory would certainly ease their worried hearts. However, their minds and hearts could only pray for a decent night's rest following this union. And they would be presented with it.

"I would like to humbly thank all of you for attending this most honored ceremony," the Prince began with gusto, "any thoughts of doubt have surely been deposed by such a boisterous gathering." The Prince cleared his throat quietly as his lips opened climatically.

"To a new future of happy union between me and my wife!"

His hand thrusted triumphantly in the air as the room erupted in polite clapping and less polite cheers. This was truly a happy day. But, as clamorous as this was, the sounds which filled the banquet hall soon rang in silence. As, simultaneously to the conclusion of the Prince's speech, glass shattered, and stones shuffled with the pandemonium of an explosion.

Winding halls lined with cheap paintings did little to comfort the tortured Duchess as she was led to her simply ornate bed chambers. Precious opal lined fabric of a wedding gown was folded and creased by the hands of worried servants laying her on a mattress. Two the group rushed out of the room to collect cold cloth for her feverish skin, while the remaining frail, greying woman opened a small wooden box. Her bony hand reached for the metal rod nestled at the bottom and swiftly tapped the chest and head of Matilda, then placing her ear on each.

"Empty." She stated as she opened the eyelids of the still wriggling patient. From the box emerged a bottle of viscous liquid which was promptly placed on her forehead and neck. The maid had little she was able to do after that, little do but wait and hope.

"Please my dear, do not leave. Not tonight".

The maid pleaded with the dying girl as a mother would with her child. For this was the woman who raised the Duchess for the whole of her life, becoming a surrogate mother in both of their eyes. Sickness was not a new concept for either of them. Matilda was sickly as a child, only recovering to a major degree little few months before the engagement. The Duchess's body then suddenly raised up in a snapping motion, leading the old maid to jump back into a nearby mirror as the body fell limp on the bed. The glass clattered to the ground in a spectacular motion of shattering, as the maid sat helpless in her aged weakness. Sitting, watching as what she viewed as life's light going dark. The maid rose from the floor which she had fallen onto and held the Duchess's hand in her own, sobbing as much as her aged tear sacks could allow her.

"Tap, tap, tap". A trio of knocking on the door was followed by the restrained voice of one of the previous two servants,

"May we come in ma'am?"

And the Duchess's eyes froze with certainty, and her form truly became limp. The elderly maid's hands did not stop grasping, as every part of her body was frozen still in grief. Impatient due to the sudden course of events, the duo of servants entered the room, water still dripping from the rags which they had been ordered to collect. With a surprising amount of discipline, the state of the elderly maid was put aside as the cold compresses camouflaged themselves with the similarly cold body of the Duchess. The air stood still as the three languished in utter silence, waiting for something they knew was not going to happen.

However, while the trio stood in painful remorse the wet cloth which had covered the Duchess's previously limp arms began to shift with the sluggish fervor of assumed death.

"Where?" She paused for a moment, gazing at her surroundings like a newborn babe, "Where am I?"

Matilda cut the silence in the air with a hazy, weak query. Blank eyes filled with a mix of shock and tears, gawking at the newly moving and speaking woman, seemingly back from the dead. Before any of the members of the gathering were able say words of gratitude or disbelief, a third figure came bursting through the door, which most likely was quite tired from the recent momentum and upset from being slammed into the adjacent wall.

"Matilda! I had heard that they had taken you away! Are you alright? What happened?"

Words spewed out of his mouth with the love and worry of a sibling possessed. Afterall, it had just been Matilda and Thomas in the years after their father's passing. Thomas had always filled the role of a protector, fending off the vulturous suitors which circled around her during the interlude before the present stable engagement. His eyes were just as inflamed, if not more, than her surrogate mother, crying in an unseen period before his entrance to the chamber.

Matilda sat up as if not a thing had happened and smiled with the warmness of the summer sun, "Everything is alright now, do not cry for me."

Her words hung sweetly for a few simple moments, with the room taking a heavy breath of relief. Soon contradicted by the reverberation of the explosion which rocked the entire building.