Robert of Hermione

Robert of Hermione is a deceased Marathine citizen and Lord, and resident of the Mirador, as well as the brother of Lady Emily Teveria, and brother-in-law of Lord Stephen Teverius, Lady Victoria Teveria, and Lord Shannon Teverius. He is a noted antagonist towards Felix Harrowgate. He is sentenced to execution for his involvement with the various conspiracies around Lord Cornell Teverius.
== Appearance ==
He typically wears rings.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. According to Mehitabel Parr, “Robert was tall for a man of Marathine blood, his hair still dark and glossy, although he’d developed a definite paunch, and the lines of what must once have been a handsome face were sagging and puffy.”Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
When Felix is under a compulsion to madness, Robert appears like a snake.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
== Personality ==
Robert is a hostile, conniving, jealous, and brutal man. He is openly hostile and loathing towards Felix. He typically weasels his way out of trouble. Whenever he doesn't like what Stephen does, he goes out of his way to make other people miserable.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 3.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Robert is homophobic, which is one reason he hates Felix.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. The only thing he cares about is maintaining his own power.
== Life ==
=== Pre-Canon ===
Robert rises to some power due to his sister marrying Stephen.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 17.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Robert tells Emily, "that he had many enemies in the court who were plotting against him.” It preys on her mind near the end of her life, and so Stephen promises to protect Robert against his enemies.
After Emily's death, Robert joins conspirators, including Lord Ivo Polydorius, who decide to try giving Cornell the Protectorship, but change their minds when Ivo notes Cornell will betray them before they can get him the seat.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 14.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. In 20.1.7, a group of people, headed by Vey Coruscant, have Cornell murdered, potentially at Robert's behest via Hugo Chandler, with Mildmay doing the deed.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 6.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 16.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Mélusine ===
At a soiréeMonette, Sarah. “Chapter 13.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. in the Hall of the Chimeras in the Mirador, Robert shares information about Felix's past as a prostitute in Pharaohlight.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 1.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. When Stephen arrives and gets some of the truth out of Felix, this prompts Felix to return to Malkar Gennadion, kicking off most of the story.
Robert goes to visit Felix at St. Crellifer's, allegedly sent by Giancarlo. He tries to capture Felix, who runs away.
Later, Robert returns, and Brother Orphelin and Brother Lilburn take Felix to Robert, and they tie him down to torture him at Robert's behest, so Robert can take Felix's magic. This happens at least one more time. Afterward, Robert takes Felix to the Mirador in an attempt to mend the Virtu. Although it fails and is heretical, Robert avoids being burned for heresy due to the Mirador's desperation and Felix's marginalization.
Later, after seeing Felix, Giancarlo asks Robert why he didn't notice the compulsion on Felix, and Robert says he thought it was the interdict.
===The Virtu===
Robert is present when Felix explains to the Mirador that Felix performed the obligation d’âme, and as a result has an expression on his face that pleases Felix.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 10.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
At a soirée in the Hall of the Chimeras in the Mirador, Robert goes up to Felix to ask if Felix is recovered from his madness. Felix leaves.
Robert catches up to Felix some time later and says that Felix looks unwell. He threatens Felix in order to get Felix to go to St. Crellifer's with him, in a gambit to try and get Felix confined there again. The visit triggers Felix's memories of Robert's experiments, though Robert denies them. Felix departs.
===The Mirador===
Robert dislikes most of what Stephen arranges with the envoys from Vusantine. Robert is present when Stephen declares he is looking for a new wife and greatly upset by it.
Robert attends a gathering of Stephen's, along with Mehitabel Parr, Victoria, Shannon, Lord Philip Lemerius, and Lady Enid Lemeria. Robert is furious when Stephen announces his plan to marry Enid.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 12.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
Robert reveals Mildmay murdered Cornell and Cerberus Cresset to discredit Felix while Stephen is within earshot.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 13.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Felix threatens to talk about Robert's actions in St. Crellifer's.
Mildmay discovers Hugo's connection to a lot of information, which results in Robert's connection to Cornell and other plots being revealed. Robert is brought to the Hall of Chimeras to be questioned about his involvement with the various conspiracies.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 18.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. After Ivo's testimony, Stephen charges both Ivo and Robert with treason, and sentences them to death by burning. After Robert's pleas, and as a favor for Emily, Stephen grants Robert the more merciful death under the sanguette, but notes when Robert is taken away that he is to be granted the courtesy due to his rank. Mehitabel notes this includes leaving a means of suicide handy.
== Skills ==
He's not considered very intelligent. He is also not a strong magic user.
== Relationships ==
=== Agnes Bellarmyn ===
Agnes is Robert's mouthpiece in the Curia.
=== Brother Orphelin ===
Robert seems to have an agreement with Orphelin to torment Felix.
=== Felix Harrowgate ===
Robert loathes Felix. He directly helps to get Felix committed into St. Crellifer's, where Robert rapes Felix's mind to try and repair the Virtu, and then attempts to get Felix re-committed during The Virtu. Felix loathes Robert in return. According to Simon Barrister and Rinaldo, Robert hates Felix because Robert is homophobic, and because Felix is inconvenient as Felix has ideals, doesn't compromise well, and his influence isn't dependent on anyone's good will, unlike Robert's.
=== Shannon Teverius ===
Robert hates Shannon, which is purportedly part of the reason Robert arranges for Cornell to take the Protectorship. For a time, Robert complains about Shannon's claim to the Protectorship, seemingly supporting him because this would allow Robert to maintain his power, but stops once Shannon notes he doesn't want the role. Shannon hates Robert.
=== Stephen Teverius ===
Stephen protects Robert because of Emily.
== Quotations ==
* Simon to Mehitabel: “Felix, you see, doesn’t need to worry about who Lord Stephen marries. And that must gnaw at Robert’s dry little soul like a rat.”
* Felix to Robert: “You’re incompetent, darling, and really I can’t think of a worse thing to say about anyone.”
== Trivia ==
*Robert comes from the Germanic Hrodebert "bright fame."
*Hermione is derived from the name of the Greek god Hermes, possibly meaning "cairn."
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Mélusine
Category:The Virtu
Category:The Mirador