Kismet’s Tale

      Natalya entered the great manor with her eyes going to the Countess, the current matriarch of their house. She had expected to be placed in a room with all of them together, but before they clambered up the stairs. Countess Elma, now Marcher Lady, stepped in front of the group, hands on hips, and eyes looking down on everyone.

“The Tomas boys shall go upstairs, you as well, my child,” she said to the Tomas’ and then to her child. The little heiress of the Tomas Family nodded, clearly unable to resist her dearest mother. Marcher Lady Elma, directed Natalya to follow her. Mavin gave her a look, before he followed his Cousin upstairs while she followed the Marcher Lady to the drawing room. Elegant. That was one thing to describe the Marcher Lady of Lazon.

Natalya had caught sight of her, and in some ways admired her ways of doing this. Marcher Lady opened the door, she sauntered next to the couch, and twisted on it. She crossed her arms, then ordered, “Close the room, and seat down my ‘sister-in-law’.

Her eyes followed Natalya until she sat down. Marcher Lady Elma, leaned back, set her jaws, and squared her shoulders before speaking up. “Did the Emperor force you into this marriage?”

“Hah?”

“When I had decided to come into Lazon, I was told about my father, my mother, my cousin, and my dearest sister about how brutish this place was. Although, I do understand their concerns. Outside of Lazon, the people are ignorant of our ways, and the people here are also rather picky on who they think the Lord and Lady should marry. Do you know what the first thing that they told and said to me?”

“What is it?”

“Can you handle a gun?”

Her face continued to remain still. “I have never had a weapon in my life. I spent three months somewhere, learning how to handle a gun, and was later on told that I had to shoot this demifiend dead. It was a fourteen meter tall demifiend that was one of the many monsters that they caught for me. It took thirteen rounds to kill the monster. I later learned that such strange thing happened to be a request of my partner.”

Natalya didn’t know why she was speaking this, but she remained attentive.

“Lazon men…they care about merit and the strength of their women. Do you know what I thought during such days? Hmm, I couldn’t find the right words during those days, so I had to show it through what I think would express it the most.”

“I punched my husband in the nose. For the first time in my life, I had punched someone, and showed what I truly meant by all the trouble that I have gotten during the past days. I know it was a rite of passage, and believe me when I had rationalized everything thoroughly. My husband, who received my punch, gratefully took the punch well. Lazon men aren’t so weak to be stunned by some Lady’s punch, though I did make sure to at least bleed his nose. I thought it was irrational and unbecoming of a Lady, but that seemed to have calmed their hearts towards me. I spent some time in Lazon, got to know my partner, and found it pleasing. Although Lazon leans on the side of being brutish, the women of Lazon do not easily lose, for there is no greater equalizer here other than merit. So tell me, did the Emperor put you into this marriage?”

“I think Milady knows this very well.”

“Oh, I do know who you are, and what you have done to lose an arm and almost your life. I may become braver, bolder, and become fond of some of the things that I never thought I would be fun off since I became the Matriarch, but I could never be the Lady Bellatrix, and Lady Angelus in terms of bravery.”

“So…the lady knows me very well.”

“It’s hard to miss those who come near our Young Master. When I first came here the young master was honestly a friendly man who was amiable and hospitable. He was naturally gifted in the ways of governing, and although my husband has done a lot of good to this region. The way he founded what my husband built on is…astonishing. In a few years he had done so much change that even now, he’d be welcome to rule again. You might already know this, but the young master has an eye for finding people who have potential and attitude to better this part of the Empire. So even if he does throw the burden of rule to my husband, we still keep an eye on those who might try to use the Young Master. We know you’ve been with the young master since the day the war ended, the two of you had come to that city of filth and had spent time together. We imagined that you two got along, but not to the point of the Young Master marrying you.”

“Is this about my allegiance?”

“Please, you insult us,” she snorted. “Lazon has always been welcoming to those who can work. Not to mention, that you are not some nobody, Miss Natalya Wilde, o Lady of Death. Truthfully, there was only one person that the Young Master cared enough about. That was the princess, and for him to throw away the Princess thoroughly, and marry someone who he almost shot to death, and was also someone who almost was killed and had her arm cut off...would you believe it? That she was not forced after being put through that? So I ask again, since I want this coming from your mouth personally, were you forced into this by the Emperor?”

“In the event that I was forced into this arrangement. What will the Lady do?”

Marcher Lady Elma leaned forward. “I will decide the best way to go about this. But I need to hear your opinion of this, I want to know if this was your will or not. I love my husband, I adore the Young Master, and love this region more than everything now. But as a Lady, I abhor the thought of someone being forced into marriage, especially when it is to plunder the resources of another.”

Natalya stared at the determined Marcher Lady. She looked down, then said playfully. “I can only say that I was not. When the Emperor told me of this marriage of necessity. I accepted it because it was him. You might find me odd, to marry someone who almost shot me to death, and who cut off my arm. But…there are reasons that I cannot tell you why I choose to be with him.”

She could not tell anyone about what she had done.  Even if she was tortured to death. She would not tell anyone about what those ‘visions’ ended up. It was a secret that she was not willing to tell anyone other than him. They wouldn’t understand. She doubts that they could understand.

“I know the look in those eyes. I’ve seen them in the quagmires of the Empire,” Marcher Lady Elma said. “I understand if you truly do love him, but it seems you are looking for more than love.  I refuse to believe this. That the Lady Bellatrix, admired by so many, would throw away her pride for a man.”

“You misunderstand,” Natalya cut her off. “Pride? I threw it away? Please, it is because I have pride that I choose to be with the only man who could have defeated me, and could tolerate me. I have my own reasons and whether or not someone would believe them is something that I do not care about. Please, I wouldn’t marry someone so casually. He compliments me. And if I want a co-pilot in this life, then I choose him. Is that good enough for you?”

Elma stared at her, she nodded. “Very well, I accept this answer,” she raised her lips. Natalya was somewhat bothered by the fearlessness of this Lady in front of her. Countess Elma, even before her marriage to the Tomas Family, was somewhat famous in the circle as someone who had strong ideals. She was a woman who had an open yet strongly guarded mind. She was not someone who could easily be threatened, and was certainly someone that Natalya could respect because she did not put vagueness in her words. Straightforward people were people that Natalya liked.

“Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law.”

“Nonsense, I truly was worried that you were someone who had been forced into becoming a Lazon woman by the Emperor. I do not like it when one has to marry someone forcibly.”

“Hmm, I thought your marriage was arranged?”

“It was. But I fell for my husband. I was expecting a rather quite cozy life, but young master Mavin had given the burden of rule to my husband, and as the Matriarch of the Tomas Family, I must become the hearth of this family. That’s why I must know from the very person herself if she didn’t want this marriage.”

“Would you have helped me get away?”

“Of course, I would, but after the Emperor and this family gets what we want. Family comes first, although I do follow my ideals when I can. I understand that this deal with the Wilde Duchy is important to the development of technologies of this region and the Empire. Lazon grows by the day, and we need to continue to better ourselves. It’s hypocritical, no?”

“Perhaps, but I understand the reasoning.”

Elma clapped her hands. “Now that the first topic is done. I must ask if you have consummated your marriage.”

Natalya nodded. “I have.”

“I see, then has he planted the seeds?”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh please, woman. I am saying if he has done it inside!”

“I…didn’t expect this. Coming from the Lady of the Tomas Family.”

“Why do you think that I sent my daughter away? She’s too young for this. Quickly, have you?”

“Somewhat?”

“Hmm, how many times do you do it?”

Natalya hung her lower jaw. She stared at Marcher Lady Elma as if she was looking at some eager grandmother who was waiting for more family members to come before she goes to her grave in peace!

“Well? Oh my, you can’t be shy now can’t you?”

“I…well…we still have time. Besides, I think I’m somewhat too active. If I loosen up for more days and not practice then I might get a swollen belly.”

“Hmm, I heard that those who are physically active and push their bodies to their limits are hard to be impregnated with. I was rather quick to have a child since this Lady has no strict training regiments and wasn’t Lazon-borne.”

“Is it common here in Lazon?”

“More than you think,” Elma snorted. “The women here are seriously active, and sometimes because of the way they keep such an active life that they have menstrual disorders. That is why usually when a woman gets married here in Lazon, she is to not do anything, soften her body, and indulge in luxury so that her body may soften.”

Natalya raised a brow. The sudden change of topic had made a mess of her mind. Though she had indeed tried in those visions as well, there were simply not enough days for it to happen. Also, it seems that Lazon had this ritual because of the women here. She wondered about it as well, if she continues to have such an active nightlife.

“Oh, I am not pressuring you to give my little dearest a new playmate. But as the Matriarch of this family, I must know,” she pressed her palm on Natalya’s belly. “Your stomach is hard as stone. I smell alcohol and cigars on your breath as well. Tell me when you want to bear a child or wish to be softened. I have been educated by the elders of the Strongarm Clan how to soften the body of a woman,” she then traced her hands on Natalya’s hips. “Hmm, good hips, indeed.”

Natalya was at loss. She stared at her rather eager sister-in-law. How she could change the topic suddenly was quite amazing to her. In a way, there was warmth in her heart.

“I honestly don’t know what I should say to you.”

“What should you say? If you have already decided that this marriage will continue for you, then fight for it. I don’t know about the feelings of the young master, but if you are willing to wrest that heart of his, then why not? Goodness, you have a really firm body, and such firm breasts!”

“Is this part of your duty as well, Milady?”

“Of course not, I am merely admiring the body before me, also, you may call me sister if you would do so.”

Natalya felt her voice stuck on her throat. This was quite a welcome from the Matriarch of the family.

karsev

Thank you for those who are still reading this!