Fire with Fire... or Deception with Deception

You quickly walked back to your room where you wrote a quick missive to your alchemist. You commanded him to make two alchemical potions to induce a miscarriage.

In your studies abroad as a religious monk you learned of another kingdom’s invention of an alchemical potion that could be used soon after conception to reverse a pregnancy. It was only usable before the fetus developed a heartbeat, but it was immensely popular in that kingdom. Your brothers helped you bring the recipe to your alchemist when you returned home. The growing opinion in your cloister was that royalty needed to change and lose a lot of its power... but Romans proved that giving the power to nobles was worse.

Then you state:

“… should the royal seal to this missive be broken. See to it that Warden Christopher has Sir Trindon brought up on charges of treason.”

Then in the early morning you swiftly went to Sir Trindon’s falconer and gave him the letter to send to the capital.

As you addressed the soldier, you looked meaningfully in his eyes so that he understood the importance of what you’re about to say. “I have made note of your name Lieutenant Margrave. If I find this letter given to anyone other than my own falconer, you will join the new lord on trial for treason… Do I make myself clear?”

With a slow abruptly nervous swallow Margrave responded, “Yes your highness…” The man is probably ignorant of Sir Trindon’s machinations but there was little reason to add the risk.

Then you laid in bed after returning to your room for three hours, and tried to get at least a little sleep. However, the mere idea of ‘sleeping’ in the castle of a treacherous fool like Sir Trindon was absurd.

Therefore, you rose early before anyone else, and woke up your attendants from their rest to begin preparations to return to the capital. This castle and its nobles were making you sick.

Both mother and eldest daughter were deep asleep, and purely out of spite you woke them. As they reluctantly open their eyes, you were bereft of any remorse for it.

When you enter the room of the eldest daughter Edythe the Second, the mother follows you. “Why are we leaving so early? We aren’t even ready!” The mother complains, more for her daughters’ obvious fatigue than her own. It might have been endearing given Sir Trindon’s attitude towards his own blood; Yet you recall unbiddenly last night’s vivid scene in your mind's eye.

“I gave you enough time from dinner until sleep to get ready. The attendants should have finished preparation while you slept. Are you telling me that you’re already disobeying me?” You responded with more venom than intended.

“NO! Your Highness, we live to serve you.” The daughter groggily tried to cover for her mother, and she stumbled to her knees. That’s enough to chip away at your fury. Seeing any teenage girl in pain is far from pleasing to you, regardless of how close they are to becoming a spinster.

“Then get dressed and meet me out front in fifteen minutes… You will be beaten if you are late.” Of course, that was a lie. You have little intent to harm the two of them; yet they only knew your reputation, and were ignorant of your character.

Your more analytical part of mind reminded you that you should direct that anger to someone else, one who is related to them. However, that specific subject is probably still in drunken slumber. You had already ordered his servants to keep him that way until you left.

After furiously storming out of the room, you have an epiphany of feeling grateful that you chose to leave Angelika, Dobra, Edythe the First, Misha, & Shara at the capital. Having them anywhere near last night may have left them tainted. You felt tainted just by witnessing Sir Trindon’s treacherous depravity.

You were of half a mind to conquer the area by **** in the next two decades, taking what he had built up away from him. You’re also **** to leave others behind, especially the younger sisters of Mary and Agytha. Hearing obscene words coming out of their mouths spoke in the heat of sexual congress seemed wrong. Especially given their age, they lacked the experience to know how to control themselves, or know exactly the depravity of what they were saying. However, you are at a loss for what to do about it. Simply claiming them as King and stealing them away could incite the civil war you were trying to avoid.

The morning is crisp and cold as a thick dense fog covers the area. The clouds above are so thick the sun could barely be seen. Meanwhile, the stench of pig faeces blankets the whole surrounding, making the whole environment more uninviting. You want nothing more than to just leave, but you do feel a little obligated to wait for your two new concubines. Whether they were too mentally damaged to be salvaged is a question that has yet to be answered.