The Great Houses

Once Madeline heard the news she went straight home to confront her mother and father. When she arrived, it was obvious that they were expecting her to come as they had already prepared to greet her together. Madeline sat down and looked at them both and simply asked, "Why?"

Her parents looked at each other and then Duke Aumont set his own tea down and said, "I wasn't asked to accept the marriage, I was told." He stood up and started to pace around the room then he stopped and looked at Madeline before continuing, "I understand that you have a young man that you are interested in at the Academy?"

Madeline nodded and said, "Yes, father, Duke Montfort's son, Lord Guy de Montfort."

The Duchess made a derisive sound and said, "Guy the molester?"

Madeline made a face at her mother and then said, "Lord Guy de Montfort, he is nothing like that reputation."

Duke Aumont frowned but nodded, "The King only allowed Prince Andre to humiliate us the first time because he was trying to provoke me into rebelling. I believe this reinstatement of the engagement is more of the same. I also believe it could also be aimed at House Montfort this time as well."

Madeline looked at her father and said, "I'm going to marry Lord Guy de Montfort."

Duke Aumont sat down again and asked, "Madeline, how much do you know about the history of Pays Des Abrutis?"

Madeline raised an eyebrow and asked, "Father?"

Duke Aumont sighed and then said, "When I was a young man my father was a Count, a vassal under a Duke. Were you aware of that?"

Madeline nodded and said, "Grandfather was the first Duke of the Aumont house, right?"

The Duke nodded and said, "Yes, my father was raised to Duke by the King's father." He rubbed a hand through his hair, "You see, the la Marche family weren't always royalty. They were one of the four great houses. The four great houses used to be House Chalon, House Harcourt, House Taillefer, and House la Marche."

Madeline nodded as she listened, "Mm, I recall that the old King had no heirs?"

The Duke nodded and said, "That's partially true, he had an heir and the family still exists to this day, however, the Duke of the Fall, Duke Chalon, had the most powerful army in the Kingdom and when the old King passed away, he made a power grab."

Madeline nodded and said, "Then how did the la Marche family come to be the Royal family?"

"The Royal family at the time united with the other three great houses against House Chalon. In exchange, House la Marche, the second most powerful great house would be raised to the crown. The old King's House would become of the great houses and House Harcourt was allowed to raise one of its vassals to the other great house." He explained.

Madeline gasped and covered her mouth, "Then House Montfort?"

The Duke nodded, "Yes, they used to be the Royal family, going back hundreds of years. This was erased from the history books by the la Marche family."

"The House Aumont used to be a vassal of House Harcourt?" Madeline asked.

The Duke nodded and said, "That's right, and House Chalon was erased, all that was left of their house were Queen Annabelle and a few retainers, that the la Marche family turned into their Royal Guard and the Black Knights."

"But Father, why is the King trying to provoke you?" Madeline asked.

The Duke sighed and then explained, "When I was a young man before I married your mother, like you, I went to the Academy de L'échec. While I was at the Academy I had two rivals for the top student honor. Prince Gerard de Montfort and Albert de la Marche."

The Duchess snorted and said to Madeline, "He means the top student outside of Annabelle de Chalon and myself."

The Duke turned red and stammered, "O-of course, my dear." he cleared his throat and went on, "During our last year at the Academy the world was plunged into chaos by the Duke of the Fall. Our houses all united and we fought a bloody civil war. At the end of that War, the la Marche family took the throne and you ended up with the four great houses you now see." He took a drink from his tea and then continued, "The la Marche family has never seen House Aumont or House Montfort as anything but unneeded. They first drove a wedge between House Harcourt and House Aumont to make sure we would never be untied. They did this by favoring our house over House Harcourt over and over again. As for House Montfort, that one is obvious, since they are the former Royal family, they have been continuously slighted and undermined at every opportunity. I doubt a la Marche and a Montfort could ever become friendly."

Madeline who was sipping her tea nearly spit it out, coughing, "Yes, that would be crazy."

The Duke nodded and then went on, "I was engaged to Annabelle de Chalon but Albert de la Marche wanted her. So when the war was over, they canceled my engagement and she was married off to Albert, our current King."

The Duchess added, "I was originally to marry Albert but ended up having my engagement canceled. That's how your father and I first really started to talk."

Madeline then asked, "Gerard, um, Duke Montfort, then he also was trying for your hand in marriage, mother?"

The Duchess looked surprised, "Yes, how did you guess that? He was smitten with me, but I didn't have the same feelings for him. He was too cold, I think his family losing its position really hurt him. In fact, the only time I have ever seen him show emotion was when his son was born. Gerard didn't even smile at his own wedding."

The Duke then sighed and said, "After that debacle with our marriages, Albert was always afraid that House Montfort and House Aumont might unite. So when he became the King, he started to tear us down bit by bit. Both Gerard and I were too clever though and raised strong military vassals and lured the best knights to come under our banners. We have never united, but we have both worked to stay strong independently. When Albert learned of this potential pairing with you and the boy from House Montfort, it would make sense that he would act."

Madeline looked deadly serious as she thought out loud, "Guy is too weak this time." She looked up and said, "Father, I understand, I don't blame you. Thank you for explaining things. I think I know what I must do now."

The Duchess set her own tea down loudly and said, "Madeline, sometimes we don't get a say in our marriage, as a daughter of a great house, we are little more than political pieces to be played on a chessboard by the men in power. That doesn't make us powerless."

Madeline nodded and said, "Mother, I understand. I know that I am not powerless."