FaRtaL Chpt 36

==From a Ristar to a Lady - Chapter 36 -==
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
===Preparations for a Special Day===
Kalinski Estate, Inman
Milligan PDZ, Woodbine Operational Area
28th August, 3061
0900 hours (1300 hrs on local 28 hr cycle)
“Stretch your arm out, my lady!” Lusia instructed.
“Like this?” Anastasia did as she was told.
“Yes, this is perfect!” Lusia held up different fabrics and ornaments, holding them up against Anastasia’s arm.
“Just as I thought!” the maid chirped, full of enthusiasm, “Rather than adding lace to the sleeves, we should keep the design simple and pair the dress with a ruby bracelet instead!”
“If you say so.” Anastasia suppressed a sigh. No matter how many times she had gone through fitting sessions, she still could not get completely used to it.
Seeming to sense her mistress’s mood, Luisa said, “Let’s take a break, my lady. I’ll prepare some tea for you while you rest.”
“Alright then.” Anastasia agreed. Before leaving the dressing room, she did take a good look at the unfinished dress she was going to wear on Kentares Day on the 4th of October.
Anastasia’s 21st birthday on the 13th of August had come and gone. She had opted for a small and intimate party involving just her immediate household and her closest friends, especially those from Venice’s clique. She found herself inexplicably missing Finn, but he had apparently made arrangements because a beautiful bouquet of roses with inlaid chocolates was delivered to her, much to the envy of the other ladies.
Surprisingly, Raymond Haynes did not turn up, which relieved her greatly.
She had been a bit worried about the optics of keeping the party small, but thankfully Venice had come to her rescue by spreading rumors that she had not been feeling too well due to her sudden forced separation from Viscount Rason, which prompted a flurry of sympathetic well-wishes from the rest of the ladies. Anastasia did not really like this solution or what it implied, but since it got her off the hook, she guessed she could not complain too much about it.
She made up for the small scale by organizing games for the ladies she did invite, instead of just the usual tea and chatter. They played cards and charades. There was also a video gamebox that Hawise had brought from Delacambre for her children, but Anastasia borrowed it for the ladies’ entertainment.
It even included a mechwarrior simulator that could be played on several screens at once, and Anastasia had to intentionally hold back on her skills while Hawise grinned knowingly from the sidelines. The ladies squealed and cheered with glee as they struggled with the control keypads while playing the once verboten games, safe in the Kalinski estate where there would not be anybody to snitch on them for their unladylike activities, since Anastasia and Hawise had impressed upon the staff the need to safeguard the privacy of the ladies.
The event had gone off so well that the ladies were eager to visit her estate again for such activities. This indicated to Anastasia that despite all the efforts to tamp down on the ambitions of the women of the Trivet, there was still a yearning to break free from the confines of the social strata imposed upon them.
Then there was the Assumption Day festivities on 15th August, which started with a service Mass, then followed by processions, street fairs, dances, capped off by a grand feast to end the day. Anastasia initially felt sad that Finn was not able to attend, and then angry at herself for even feeling sad in the first place.
A few days ago, they also received the invitation to visit the Haynes palatial manor for the observance ceremony for Kentares Day, which included unveiling some of the new additions to the military might of the Trivet. Anastasia wondered what these additions were. Virtually every aristocrat on Inman would be attending. Her father had declined to attend, citing his exhaustion and need to rest, so she had decided to bring Hawise along in his place, since two pairs of eyes would be far better than just her one.
Hence her servants’ insistence on a new gown, despite her own protests that she did not need a new one. But while she could command them in almost everything else, Luisa and the other maids were adamant that she had to be dressed as fashionably and lavishly as possible. Anything less would reflect poorly on the household and on them. Anastasia had finally given in reluctantly.
Come to think of it, I have not heard from Finn yet, thought Anastasia, seated at her table while Luisa poured tea for her. He said he would send messages, I should have received at least one by now? She found herself fuming for seemingly no reason.
No, maybe she was just being selfish. He could be in a situation that made it difficult to send any messages out. Besides, there were not a lot of HPG stations near the Periphery, so perhaps there was no way for him to send any messages at all.
A thought occurred to her, causing her to freeze with her teacup on the saucer. What if something terrible has happened to him?
“You’re thinking about Viscount Rason now, aren’t you?” Luisa blurted brightly, causing Anastasia to start a bit, tea spilling out of her cup onto the saucer.
“N… no I wasn’t!” Anastasia denied vehemently.
“Oh, come on,” teased Luisa, “did you really think you could hide it from me?” The maid went on reassuringly, “It’s only been three weeks since he left. I’m sure he’ll write to you as soon as things have settled down where he is.”
“I told you I’m not thinking about him!” Anastasia lied unconvincingly.
Luisa chuckled knowingly, “I’m sure Viscount Rason misses you terribly too. Why don’t you think of things you can do together once he gets back?”
“Luisa,” Anastasia decided to distract her maid, “shouldn’t you be checking on the dresses?”
“Oops! My lady, I’ll be back in just a moment!” Luisa dashed off, leaving Anastasia to sigh in relief at the reprieve from her maid’s teasing.
She stared out of the window at the reddish sky. This is an unfamiliar feeling… waiting for someone… and spending the whole day thinking about them. So strange… I have never felt this before with any of the other warriors of the clan.
She cursed softly under her breath. It was all Finn’s fault for not being able to send a message to her!
Trying to shift her thoughts away from him, she realized that Venice was also late. Her friend should have arrived by then, it was well past their agreed upon time. There were no messages on her handphone either.
It is not like Venice to be late. What is going on? How unusual of her. Anastasia took another sip of her tea.
-----
===Source of Tears===
Codina Estate
“It’s not true, is it?” Venice asked desperately. “Please, tell me it isn’t true, father.” Her voice was almost breaking. “You say I’m to be married, but that doesn’t make any sense.”
Viscount Codina’s reply was cold. “What about that doesn’t make sense to you? You are of marriageable age, and we cannot postpone your marriage any longer.”
“But you’ve never said a word about it to me before today.” She tried to reason with him. “And now, you’re simply notifying me about it? Don’t I get a say in the matter?”
He sighed, “Why are you making such a fuss over this? It’s all for the good of our family.” He pinched his forehead with his fingers. “This is a great honor for the Codina family, and you should consider it as such.”
Venice cried, “What about what I want?”
“Venice! You’re a woman who’s to be married. It won’t do for you to raise your voice like this. It appears you require further education.”
Venice turned to her mother. “Mother, please say something. I do not wish to marry Renard Haynes!”
Her mother sighed identically to her father. “Venice, my child, haven’t I always told you that you need to learn to be patient… in case you end up marrying a man who’s quick to anger?”
Venice flinched. Her hands squeezed her dress. “Don’t tell me…” her voice quavered, “This has been your plan for me all along? So…” she followed the chain of logic, “so that’s why you never stopped Vince from doing what he’s done to me since I was a child?”
She spun to an inscrutable Vince Codina, standing quietly in a corner. “Because Father allowed you to…” then she turned to Virgil, who was seated at a corner of the table, “and Father ordered you to stay out of it, and you would never go against Father’s orders!”
Virgil Codina was silent for a moment, before he sighed, “Stop acting like a child, Venice. Father only has your best interests at heart.”
“My best interests at heart? I’ve seen for myself what an odious man he is! How could you expect me to marry someone like him?” Her voice choked with frustration. “Virgil, put yourself in my shoes. Could you bring yourself to marry a man like him? Besides, he was to be…”
Virgil cut her off, “We are all duty-bound to act in our House’s best interest. If you wanted to do whatever you wanted with your life, you should have refused the protections provided by the confines of our family.” His voice was as cold as her father’s. “You know very well how all this works. It’s only thanks to our family that we only enjoy these privileges. None of us can live the way we want. Neither me, who isn’t the head of our House, nor you, my father’s only daughter.”
Virgil sighed again, but his sigh this time was filled with disappointment. “Venice, I thought you were different from Vince, but it seems you’re exactly the same.” His eyes were cold and judging. “But until the day of the wedding, you’re free to do whatever you please. That’s the best we can offer you.” He walked away with a chilling finality. Her parents and Vince followed after, leaving her alone in the cold, dark discussion room.
Venice mumbled under her breath, “The best… you can offer…” She was utterly dejected.
She didn’t know how long she stayed alone in the room, but the door creaked open. The clacking of heels on the marble floor echoed through the empty room.
----
“Venice, it’s me, I’m coming in.” Anastasia called out. “You never showed up, so I decided to come over and see for myself. I couldn’t just sit around and wait… I was worried that your brother might have hurt you like he did last time.”
“And look!” Anastasia held up a box proudly. “I bought a cake from that dessert place we’ve been wanting to visit.” She looked around. “Anyway, what’s with the gloomy atmosphere? Even your butler seemed a bit down when he showed me in…”
Venice did not turn around throughout Anastasia’s entire monologue, so Anastasia gently tapped her friend on the shoulder, trying to get some response out of her.
Venice turned around slowly, revealing a face streaked with tears, her eyes swollen. “An… Ana!”
Anastasia was shocked. “What happened? What’s going on? Who made you cry?”
Venice reached out with a trembling hand, sniffling with fear. “Ana…” Anastasia clasped her hands with her own, trying to calm her down. “You have to know that I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“What? What are you talking about? Calm down and tell me what happened,” said Anastasia calmly. She was tempted to raise her own voice in alarm, but she knew that trying to stay calm herself was the better choice at the moment.
Venice continued to sniffle as she said, “It’s… what you’ve wanted for so long, Ana.” Sob. “And I’ve gone and stolen it from you.”
“Huh?” Anastasia felt confused. “Venice, calm down, I’m not angry with you, nor will I be. Tell me what happened.”
“I’m to be married to Renard Haynes!” cried Venice. “Ana, I don’t want to marry him.” The chair slid out behind her, and she collapsed into Anastasia’s arms. “I truly don’t, Anastasia.”
She continued to explain between sniffles and sobs. “My father, my brothers, even my mother… they said I should be happy about becoming the most esteemed, powerful woman in the Trivet… but what’s there to be happy about?”
She squeezed Anastasia’s hands. “I’m not happy at all!” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “Besides, you and Baron Haynes were…”
Anastasia thought that aff, it was true that it was the marriage that the real Anastasia wanted. So much so that she was even willing to sacrifice her own life to get it.
But she was not that Anastasia.
“Venice, first of all, calm down.” She handed her friend a handkerchief. “How many times do I have to tell you? I lost my memories.” There was the usual slight pang of guilt behind that lie, but she pressed on. “Even if I got my memories back, I wouldn’t care. I’m not hurt, so please stop crying.”
Venice continued to weep, so she tried to cajole her a bit. “Come on, Venice, it’s okay.”
“Ana, I don’t want to marry him.” Venice sobbed. “You see… well…”
Anastasia understood all too well. “I know. You don’t actually want to marry that… ****** either, do you?” She remembered in time to use the correct Spheroid insult, sighing internally in relief at using the correct term.
Venice started a bit, then replied, “You’re right. I… have no desire to be the wife of the future Count.” Sniffle. “I thought I could stay like this for just a little longer.” Sob. “I thought my father would at least try to arrange a marriage that would make me happy.” Sniffle. “But I know better than he does just exactly what a foul man Renard really is.”
“He did such a terrible thing to you… and was laughing in your face!” Venice bowed her head in despair. “He’s the type of person who takes pleasure in hurting and bullying those who are weaker than him!” Venice blurted out, “I don’t want to be like Janet Solway!”
It took Anastasia a moment to recall the name from her lessons on Davion history - the wife of one of the earliest Davions, a political match who was abused by her husband. It was a dirty not-so-secret known to all the nobles in the realm, but never fully divulged to outsiders. In the Trivet, she was used as a warning of sorts for wives who were unable to bear and raise children for their husbands.
“And I still can’t believe my own parents are the ones pushing me into this marriage.” Sob. “I don’t know what to do…”
Anastasia looked at Venice in understanding. It was a marriage, not just an engagement, which meant Count Haynes had already approved of it. It was also kind of expected since Venice was considered the foremost lady of her generation in the Trivet, with the right looks, family background, and bearing. Anastasia cursed the social order which expected most ladies to nurture their physical beauty and cultural refinement in order to be sold to the highest bidder, so that she might land the best possible husband and essentially become a broodmare for him.
I too was arranged to be married to Finn, she thought. Of course, when we met, I made it clear that we would eventually be divorced. But do I even have the right to refuse if Finn had insisted on us staying married? What rights do I actually have as a noble lady? Even Venice, who was brave enough to stand up to Richelle Aubert at the Day of Honor, was completely helpless in this situation.
Her friend continued to sob, “There’s no one who can help me now…” Hiccup. “No one!”
Anastasia looked on sadly. “Venice, no. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” She gave her friend’s hands a gentle squeeze.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The best person who can help you… is you.” Venice flinched. “Venice, you are one of the smartest and most capable people I have ever met.”
“But that won’t be of any use…”
Anastasia continued, “Since it’s to be a grand affair, I’m sure there is still quite a bit of time left until the actual wedding date, right?” She kept her tone calm and determined. “Until that day comes, let’s work together to find a way to get you out of this.”
Venice stared at her, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were still full of disbelief and fear.
Anastasis pressed on. “I know we can do it, I’ll help you anyway I can.”
“But…” Venice said weakly, “we can’t stop the wedding from happening… it would bring great shame to my family and my House.”
“Your father, your family is forcing you into this marriage. So don’t worry about their reputation. If you continue to put their interests first, you’ll never be able to come up with a way out of this!”
“But!”
Anastasia squeezed her hands again, trying to give her friend strength. “Your family chose to throw you to the wolves,” she made a mental apology to Clan Wolf. They might be cunning fleabags, but at least they still had some smidgen of honour. “You don’t owe them a thing.”
“Ana…” The tears were still trickling down, but they were starting to subside just a bit.
“If you can’t see another way out, just say you’ve fallen ill. It might hurt your family’s reputation, sure, but who cares about that? It’s still better than marrying Renard!” Anastasia stated adamantly. “You are more important than your family’s honour! Don’t ever forget that.”
It was strange to say that, when the Honour Road of the clans ingrained in her emphasized the importance of honor at each level - foremost the honor of the clan, followed by honor of the caste, unit, or Bloodhouse, then finally that of the individual. However, at least in the clans, there were always avenues available to seek recourse, Trials of Refusal or Grievance. Here in the Inner Sphere, Venice had no such recourse.
She added, “Or you could always run away!”
Venice shook her head vehemently. “Ana, that’s a dangerous suggestion!
“I’ll take care of you! You could live quietly with me on Altoona!” I could also hire a dropship and make off with my mechs and volunteers from the household guards to form a new merc unit, Venice can come along. Bringing the Valkyrie here to squash Renard would also be satisfying if I knew I had a chance.
Venice chuckled through her tears. “Ana, that almost sounds like you’re proposing to me.”
Anastasia frowned slightly and released Venice’s hands. If I were the old Avryl, I would have thought her a pathetic whiner who was not putting any real effort into extricating herself from her admittedly unfortunate circumstances. Back in the clans, I was also a woman, but I had the skill and the means to effect some change, and the clans had always been egalitarian regarding the genders anyway. I would have accused her of simply being unwilling to give up the privileges she was entitled to as a noble lady.
But she could understand what Venice was going through now. These ladies were raised almost solely with the sole intent to benefit their Houses, indoctrinated their whole lives to believe that their worth laid in securing alliances and legacies for their Houses. How could they ever be able to escape that mindset?
Just as she was trained as a mechwarrior and believed that her purpose was to restore the Star League with her clan, the purpose for these ladies of noble birth was to protect and raise the honor and prestige of their families.
“Venice, I don’t think there’s anything more I can say that will comfort you right now. But there’s no need to push yourself like that.” Anastasia knelt down in front of her friend, “I’ll be by your side, no matter what choice you make. So don’t blame yourself for any of this.” You are an incredibly confident, delicate woman, and a thoughtful, intelligent friend. You shattered my preconceived notions of what it meant to be a lady. You are so dear to me, and there is still so much I could learn from you.
The cries had subsided, and Venice had calmed down noticeably. She forced a smile through her swollen face, “All right, I promise I won’t give up. Even if nothing else works and I have to resort to feigning illness.”
“Great!” Anastasia agreed brightly. And I had better get started on the paperwork, just in case!<br>
----
==Chapter Note==
*;Chapter Note from the Author : Politically, it makes more sense for Renard’s supporters to get House Codina on their side rather than have him marry somebody like Richelle, since it gets them another House on their side. But in this case, it was Viscounts Drake and Aubert doing the pressure play on House Codina, and Viscount Codina was already inclined towards putting his chips (ie Venice) on what was deemed the winning side.Let’s see what Raymond has to say about this though. Venice, of course, will also realize she still has options.Janet Solway was the estranged wife of James Davion (2457 - 2467), 10th in the ruling line after Simon Davion. I embellished the history a bit, but here’s what is written down in ‘House Davion’ sourcebook, which, of course, is also debatable since it was written from the perspective of a Comstar researcher, who might not be privy to all the facts, and probably had a word count to worry about as well.{Though James Davion won the High Council’s approval to inherit the Crucis March Principality, he was not what he appeared to be. James had always been unhappy in his marriage to Janet Solway, daughter of the Marquess of Glenmora, which Simon had arranged to suit his political needs. Though the match had produced a son, the child died in infancy. After that, the last tenuous thread holding the marriage together snapped. James and Janet were never divorced, but James became a husband in name only-and then only when the two were in the public eye. He began a series of secret extramarital liaisons, which he flaunted more and more openly, after his accession believing himself above the laws of either planet or federation.}It’s not too difficult to surmise that James Davion probably wasn’t the most loving of husbands.Again, this chapter was cribbed from the original work, so the structure’s largely the same.''
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Chapter 36