A Meeting and a Milkmaid

Gathered in a well guarded chamber are you, Camilla, Helga, Eliza, Beatrice, Franz Jacques, Alana and Franz Karl. Franz Karl had called upon this meeting in order to get started on his grand plans. Franz Karl inwardly laughs, finding it funny how majority of the women gathered in the room are pregnant. Each of them had a hand roaming across the roundness of their bellies with Camilla being the exception. Eliza had the largest belly at present.

“My fellow monarchs and nobles, good morning. Before we get started, I’d like to make a few clarifications.” Franz Karl clears his throat. “What I am about to tell you is of grave importance and secrecy is key. So please do bear in mind the equally grave consequences of letting this secret slip.” No one notices Eliza gulping and Helga growing a little smile.

As if on cue, two well-trusted servants of Franz Karl present them a map. It shows significant border changes. A select few countries got bigger while several countries effectively ceased to exist in the map. They had been absorbed by the enlarged countries. Asturias, Sudreich, Ostgrenze had gotten bigger. Asturias had annex its eastern neighbor of Aragon. Sudreich had annexed Bohi, Bayern, Battemburg and Wurten. Ostgrenze had annex the Silasie region of Bohi, the Almain-speaking part of Schlestein while Daynland got its Dayn-speaking part. It relieves to see that Rheinland, Nornover and Falenwest did not become part of Ostgrenze in Franz Karl's map. It means he is ignorant of your ambitions there. Furthermore, Zentraland had been split into three depending on the languages spoken by region and given off to its neighbors. But most alarmingly, the Italian Peninsula had been unified into one country.

“My, my, how incredibly bold and ambitious.” Commented Alana with a dangerous smirk.

“That can’t be right.” You comment. “Toscana is part of Ostgrenze!”

“Well yes but remember that other condition I didn’t mention so I’d keep your little secret?" You, Camilla, Franz Jacques and Beatrice narrow your eyes dangerously at the High Lord of the Confederation. "This is that condition. Toscana will be part of this new unified Italia.”

Camilla gulps this time. Helga’s eyes grow in curiosity, “Little secret? How curious. Very curious.”

“I cannot allow this! Eliza's considerations weren't probably taken into account.” You snap and get up from your seat. “I-” You stop when Eliza stands up and pleads, “My King, stop! Please.” She looks at you with saddened eyes which begs for you to backdown. “It is allright. I am not opposed to it. Please.” Her eyes tell it all. Franz Karl had gotten to her too.

“She and I have talked it out. I needed her cooperation in this too. Don’t worry, just like you, as long as she holds her end of the deal, she’ll get something better out of it.”

“And what is she getting out of it?” You hiss.

“Well your child will still be the next ruler of Toscany. But I’m sure being the Prince or Princess of Toscana will be a better title. You can still access and make use of its ports. Toscana will be granted a level of autonomy but its military and foreign policy will be determined by the new King.”

“And who is the new King of this unified Italia?” asks Franz Jacques.

“My second son, Prince Joseph.” Franz Karl answers his cousin.

“This is a very ambitious plan, Karl.” remarks Jacques. “But I wonder just how you’re going to get Holy States into your new Italy.”

For the briefest of moments, Karl has a sinister grin on his face. Everyone else still caught it and it sent shivers up Camilla’s spine. “I will cross that bridge when I get there. For now, this is the plan and this plan will make current maps moot and useless.” Then Karl looks at you, “Of course, you have your own plans and I’m certain it will make this map just as useless.”

The servants set the map aside and hid it away. “This is just the bear surface of the plan. We shall discuss strategy in another time and place.”

“Where will that be?” Camilla speaks up.

“After a wedding. Your friends Louis and Jacqueline... their wedding is finally set.”

With a devilish smile, Alana says, “It’s quite strange how their wedding has been delayed this long despite Francois saying their wedding were to take place ‘immediately’.”

Karl states, “I do believe something kept it from taking place much sooner. But that is neither here or there.” He drops his hands hard on the table, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure there are some of you here who now hold grievances against me. Rightfully so perhaps. But I am not your enemy. I need not be. This plan will end with everything all the better for us. Stay with me on this and I guarantee your future prestige and prosperity. Stab me in the back however and you’ll find that I take skins instead of eyes.” The feeling of dread has enveloped everyone in the chamber.

“I believe this meeting is over.” Franz Karl announces.

Alana is first to get up, “Camilla, dear. Would like to accompany me? I do believe it would do as both some good if we fellow Queens were to bond.”

Camilla bashfully nods. Your wife and Queen kisses you dearly and leaves with the older Queen.

“And they didn’t bother inviting me.” Remarks Helga before getting up from her chair and leaves too.

Eliza, looking distraught, runs off and you dash right behind her.

With most of the chambers occupants gone, that leaves Karl, Jacques and Beatrice.

Karl then summoned another servant, a woman with black hair and pleasant blue eyes complemented with a gentle smile. She wore the usual clothes of a maidservant but she was remarkably clean and proper. Her attire seemed new. A woman in her 50s with an average body type. But what was most notable about her were her enormous breasts. They were the big and heavy. Her dress was purposefully designed to be low cut and reveal a more than helpful amount of cleavage. The strings of her bodice which were at the front looked ready tear apart and spring her heavy breasts free.

In her hand was small tray and on it was a single glass of milk. It was warm from the faint look of steam rising from it. “It’s warm just like how you like it.” She says humbly.

“Thank you, my dear Miriam.” Says Franz Karl to Miriam. She nodded and handed the milk to Franz Karl.

“Hey!” Complains Beatrice. “Why don’t we get anything to drink?” Beatrice was not interested in milk. But she did find it quite rude that Franz Karl did not prepare any refreshments for them.

“Why?” Franz Karl takes the glass away from his lips. “You want some too?”

Beatrice is about to retort fiercely when Franz Jacques held her back. “My love, please don’t!” The worried look in his eyes told Beatrice she did not want to push this.

“Come, my love.” Says Franz Jacques offering his hand to his pregnant wife. As there were about to leave through the door, Franz Jacques stops and looks back. “Miriam, it is nice to see you again.” Miriam smiles happily at Jacques and flexes her fingers as a wave of hello.

Franz Jacques and Beatrice walk away, the former Queen turned Arch Duchess asks her husband, “Who is she?”

“That was Miriam.” Franz Jacques tells her. “She was the daughter of a milkmaid and a butcher who worked directly for Karl’s family. Miriam is Karl’s childhood friend and one of the few people in this world whom Karl trusts absolutely.”

“Do not let her gentle face fool you, my love. Miriam is smart, much smarter than her appearance and background would make it seem. Karl listens to her and considers her opinions. She is his prime mistress and a mother to ten of his children. Karl has been married twice but Miriam is his Queen. Beyond that, I don’t know much else.”