Things Get Better

You meet Duchess Erica and she looks tired. The Duchess was not raised to be the ruler of Falenwest and while she's been doing her best and did a good job so far. Her face is stern and hard yet the tired look in her green eyes does not escape you. Duchess Erica is a slender woman of thin frame. Long arms, long legs and long blonde hair flowing down to her ass. Her breasts are small, very small but her ass is just the right amount of round.

"Duchess Erica, my salutations and my thanks for your invitation to your realm." You give a respectful bow while Otto and a few guards with you kneel on one knee.

Duchess Erica returns the bow, "Welcome, King of Ostgrenze," and signals for the men to rise. "Good king, if you would be so kind, I would like to speak with you," she looks to your men, "alone and in private."

"And leave the King alone with someone we barely know and trust, I speak for me and my men when I say I think not." Otto declares and the men behind him nod in agreement.

"And I agree with the King of Ostgrenze's young commander," says the Captain of her guard, "My Lady, I cannot allow you to be alone with the King." The captain faces you next, "No disrespect intended, good King."

"Tis allright, my good man," you say, "It just means Duchess Erica has good men keeping watch over her. Just as I have good men watching over me." You turn to Otto and the men with a bright, appreciative smile. They gladly return the smile.

Erica sighs and closes her tired green eyes, "Very well then. If neither of you will allow our privacy, I shall simply have to say it here. King of Ostgrenze, your expansion of Ostgrenze has not gone unnoticed. Mostly done through diplomatic means, yes. But Nornover is now under your control which gives you a direct border with my realm." You decide to remain silent and let the Lady speak. "My ears are not deaf to what others say. That my family and my realm are in the palm of Ostgrenze. That Falenwest is Ostgrenze's vassal in all but name."

The men behind Erica bite their lower lips. But everyone wonders where Duchess Erica is going with this. Could it be she is turning her back on the previous treaties and agreements made by the past Kings of Ostgrenze or...

"I wish for Falenwest to be formally integrated into Ostgrenze!" The guards behind her gasp. Their mouth wide open in shock of their Lady's declaration. As though Erica knew they would protest, she raises her hand and stops them, "I have spoken, gentlemen."

"But my Lady, it would mean we would be official subject to the crown of Ostgrenze. Our independence, our-"

"It is not as if much would change for us. We're vassals in all but name. Might as well just make it official. We would be nothing if not for the past Kings of Ostgrenze helping us." That and of course the part where men from Falenwest are often recruited into the military of Ostgrenze to keep their manpower low.

"King of Ostgrenze, my land, my people and myself but under the condition that I get to remain as Duchess of Falenwest and my daughter's birth right be respected."

Boldly you tell her, "I agree to you and your family retaining your power in the region but not to the second one."

"What!" Erica exclaims.

Your green eyes meet her green eyes, "Your daughter shall be not harmed. I assure you of that. But it shall be my child who shall be the next Duke of Falenwest after your passing."

"But you said you would let my family retain our power as Dukes of Falenwest!"

"And your family will. The next ruler of Falenwest will be a member of your family. Your immediate family in fact. But he shall be from our union."

Erica gapes like a fish out of water, "You want me to bear your child?"

"Precisely." You say seriously. "Your daughter will be looked after. I will find her a marriage in the future worthy of her station and she will never have to worry about her future. But it shall be our child who shall inherit this Duchy."

Duchess Erica remains in silence as her thinking eyes stare at the floor. Her captain steps up just behind her and says to her ear, "Just say the word, my Lady, and we will show them out."

"No," she whispers to him before turning her sight to you, "King of Ostgrenze, do you swear to keep your promises?"

"I do." You say sternly.

"Then Falenwest is yours. Yours to govern, yours to lead, yours to do as you wish. And your child I shall bear... happily so." She sighs as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Get married and bear children was what she was taught for the majority of her life. At least now, she could do what she knew to do well.

"My Lady, the only thing I want you to worry about anytime soon is our child."

"I shall have the treaty written up and we can sign it."