Lady Sonya

"My name is Sonya," the daughter of the late Grand Duke of Bohi says in respectful greeting to the Queen of Ostgrenze. Dietrich had brought the girl to Camilla inside the council room. General Gunther and Spymaster Benjamin are still there. The two wanted to leave but Dietrich told them they needed to hear what Lady Sonya had to say.

"Lady Sonya," says Camilla with authority, "I am Camilla, Queen of Ostgrenze. These men with me are my and my husband the King's trusted council. I welcome you formally to Ostgrenze. Have you been given the hospitality you are due."

"I have. Thank you, good Queen. I have been treated well since I have arrived. I have come to speak with you."

With his elbows on the table, Gunther folds his hands together and hides his mouth behind his hands. "Lady Sonya, you are aware that the King is away to attend a wedding in Frankia."

"I have been made aware of that before I traveled here." Sonya says back to Gunther. "You men and the Queen will be enough for what I have to say." Looking down sadly, Sonya gives them the news, "My father, Grand Duke Jan of Bohi, Elector of the Confederation has died not too long ago. My sister and her husband are now regent to my eldest nephew who is now the new Grand Duke of Bohi." She tries not to sound sorrowful but experienced men as they are, Dietrich, Gunther and Benjamin hear clear as day her grief for the **** of her father.

"Our condolences, Lady Sonya." Camilla says sincerely. "But a visit by a child of a newly deceased Lord is rather unprecedented when a messenger would have sufficed. I suspect you are here for more than just relaying new of your father's passing."

"Y-yes, good Queen. After his ****, my mother brought out my father's will and read it out loud to my father's councilmen and prominent Lords. His will told that Bohi would now be formally annex into Sudreich."

Benjamin and Gunther shifted eyes at each other in suspicion. With Bohi now officially under the control of Sudreich, they now had a small direct border with King Franz Karl's domain. Dietrich remains neutral in expression while Camilla ponders on the new development. With Bohi as part of Sudreich, that is one less independent state within the Confederation and a new Elector will have to be selected.

"My nephew will still be a Grand Duke but under the sovereignty of the King of Sudreich." Sonya sigh, "Furthermore, the Silasie region of Bohi will be awarded to the Kingdom of Ostgrenze."

The three men tried and succeeded to hide their shock. The region of Silasie is a large amount of land good for farming. It is no doubt a great addition to Ostgrenze's territory.

"But why?" Camilla asks without sounding too curious, "Why would Silasie be given to Ostgrenze?" She turns to Dietrich, "My Lord, was there some sort of agreement between Grand Duke Jan with my husband's father that I am not aware of?"

Dietrich shakes his head, "None, my Queen."

"Perhaps the Lady Sonya would care to explain." Benjamin offers to let the noblewoman speak.

"Unfortunately I do not know. But that is what was read from my father's will."

"Very unprecedented to be sure." Dietrich comments. "Not something I had ever expected to happen."

"Still though," Camilla says bringing the attention back to Sonya, "it still odd you, Lady Sonya, of all people had to be the one to tell us when a messenger would have been enough."

"Perhaps to lend credibility to her words, my Queen." says Benjamin. "It would not be too far of a stretch to say that a messenger was simply giving out false information in order to lead two states into a war based off a purposefully created misunderstanding to ultimately weaken them both in the end."

"This is not scheme or plot, gentlemen." insists Sonya. "There is one more reason I am here and the reason why I have to be here personally. You see, my father was a man who did not arrange betrothals for his daughters without giving it much thought. He... never arranged for me to marry." Sonya looks Camilla right in the eyes, "Good Queen, please do not mistake my words but prior to your husband's ascension to the crown of Ostgrenze, my parents were debating on betrothing me to the previous Crown Prince of Ostgrenze. When he died followed by his father and your husband became King, they pondered on arranging me to marry the new King. But nothing came to pass."

"What exactly are you trying to say, Lady Sonya?" Dietrich inquires.

"I am not trying to say anything. My mother with King Franz Karl's endorsement has arranged for me to marry the son of the Count of Silasie, the highest ranking Lord of the region appointed by my family several generations prior to administer said region."

"That is good news." says Dietrich. "Earl Magnus is a good man with a good son if I am not mistaken. A good match."

"Yes, it is the best I could have hoped for. Aside from that, Earl Magnus will come here at another day and time to swear loyalty to the King of Ostgrenze. As will the more minor Lords of the region." Camilla, Dietrich, Gunther and Benjamin simply nod.

"Will you head for Silasie soon?" asks Camilla.

"Yes. Mustn't keep my intended waiting."

"I offer you at least stay the night. It will be our pleasure to offer you our hospitality." Camilla suggests.

"I truly am grateful for the offer, my Queen. But I must go." Sonya bows, "Thank you for your time," she raises her head and stands straight, "but I need to go."

(Switching's Note: I'll admit. At the present time, I don't know what to do with Sonya. So for now, her fate is determined.)