Anastasia

* Part V
* Part IX
* Part X

Anastasia of Toledo, known by those close to her as "Ana", was a former crown princess of Toledo, and later the queen of Toledo after her father's death. She is known for her non-threatening and welcoming demeanor but just punishment for the deserving. She became crown princess after her half-brother's disappearance. She is ethnically part-Bavarian. She was among the most loyal people to her country, and was willing to fight for it even if it meant her end.

## Personality

Anastasia always possessed a curious, soft-spoken and kind demeanor. She is quietly rebellious and has a desire to learn about the truths that Francisco had sealed from her her entire life, still maintaining a degree of confidence, reason and mental strength. She is rather intelligent and able to process things rather quickly. She is very loyal and would never leave someone without a proper reason and proof of doing something wrong, which has led to her becoming a sought-for ally. She is also a mediator and will usually step into a fight. She is a peaceful ruler and a polite person, which has also allowed her to easily befriend many.

## Biography (before events of the story)

Anastasia was born in 875 in the Summer Villa of Francisco II in the Kingdom of Toledo. At the time of her birth, her grandfather was King of Toledo. Her father was Francisco, who was, at the time, the Crown Prince. Her biological mother was a noblewoman from Bavaria. Her adoptive mother, however, was Alma, who Francisco married after her birth. Anastasia was told that Alma was her biological mother.

When she was two years old, Francisco was crowned. Francisco was well established in Toledo and had already gained the favor of his family before becoming King. As such Francisco and his children lived a life of prosperity early on. Anastasia's education began early and she was very studious, but Francisco did not see this as a good thing. To him, his children's education was a threat to his own power, and he later condemned Luc, her French-born private tutor, to jailtime. He would eventually be freed by Africans and convert to Hellenism, becoming an augur.

She didn't give in and eventually taught herself how to read. One day, however, she was found by Francisco reading his scrolls, through which she learned many secrets about him including the fact she was not Alma's child, which was punished by him locking her in her room without food or water for a day. Her adoptive mother, Alma, however, who deeply loved her, provided her food and water. Anastasia, due to her mother's generosity, never told her that she knew of her adoption. The experience traumatized her and caused her to have a great fear of her father, rarely making eye contact with him for the rest of his life. She stopped reading from then until the age of ten.

Francisco, who was still angry, forced her to fight him and said that if she wanted to be an heir to the throne she would have to prove herself. She told Francisco that she wouldn't fight him, but she was made to, and she was badly injured by the fight. Her father's abuse caused her to have a very fearful personality. She began to heal from her fears later on, but her quiet and submissive demeanor remained through her teenage years.

At nine years old, her half-brother, Roberto was born. She attempted to hold him but she was stopped by Alma, who told her that Francisco would be angered by it. Francisco arrived as she was nursing the baby, and told her that she would meet him in the courtyard. Alma told him to back off, and that Anastasia had a right to be with a newly born member of her own family in its early moments, but Francisco was angered by such a direct threat to his power. He told Alma to retreat to her quarters. In the courtyard, Anastasia told Francisco very quietly that she would not allow his violence towards her any longer. Francisco was enraged, and tried to attack her. He was stopped by Alma, who threatened to tell his court of the violence, which would certainly provoke a rebellion.

At ten years old, the African-Roman invasion of Spain began, and Francisco left to fight. It was at this time that Anastasia began to cautiously read again, and learned more about the war and about the story of Cato. She wanted to assist the war effort but knew that her father would refuse such an idea and forgot about it for a time. Alma supported her self-education and provided her with more information. Alma also told her that she would be the ideal heir. Francisco later returned, and she ceased reading once again.

As her brother and herself grew, Francisco grew to despise Anastasia and spoil Roberto. It was at this point Anastasia began to grow braver. She told Francisco that if he continued to abuse her, she would leave the royal household entirely and seek shelter with the Romans, who would be eager to have in their custody his daughter. Upon being asked how she even knew of their invasion, she replied honestly that she had been reading. Francisco told her that if she wanted to leave for the Romans then she would have to fight him once again. He handed her a knife but fought her with a wooden stick, telling her "I am not afraid. You will not hit me.". In the fight, however, she cut into his arm. This caused her to have a panic attack and flee into her room. Francisco later met her again after making it back inside, and told her that he had newfound respect for her and would not repeat his actions again. This created an invisible boundary between them, and they rarely spoke to one another again afterwards. Anastasia grew to be very unnerved by this but eventually felt relieved and happier that her suffering was, for the most part, over.

Francisco continued spoiling Roberto. As such, Roberto began to develop a sense of greed, power hungriness, and imitated his father's violence. Alma suggested in private Roberto would be a terrible King, as he could never sufficiently manage a country due to his dependency and would give up Toledo's sovereignty to the Roman-Africans. Francisco claimed that Roberto would be the only acceptable King for Toledo as he was the only male child. When Alma left however, Francisco began struggling with the question. He thought the idea of designating Anastasia as heir would destroy his honor, but he realized his parenting methods with Roberto would end up causing him to be a terrible heir. Roberto's relationship with Anastasia was volatile, as he would harass her even after Francisco stopped, and they had little connection as siblings, the only similarity being their shared father.

When she was 14 she had her first encounter with Roman-Africans, who had come into the court to negotiate with Francisco. In this encounter, she gained a true view of the animosity between them due to the passive-aggression of the meeting. Francisco refused their demands and the Roman-Africans promised retribution. Twelve days later, Roberto disappeared.

After Roberto's disappearance, Francisco was devastated with the loss of his heir. He faced the decision of either making Anastasia the heir to the throne or making an enemy of her and choosing someone from the court. Francisco sought salvation with God, and when Anastasia was fifteen, he confronted her and delivered a formal apology. Anastasia told him that he could never be fully forgiven but that she would accept becoming the heir. Shortly after, Francisco promised he would teach her the exploits of the ruling class.

Anastasia caught on remarkably quickly, which Francisco connected with her reading as a young child. From that point on, she was raised as the Crown Princess of Toledo. At only 17, she became the Queen.

## Physical Appearance

Anastasia has soft facial features, with a round face and long, wavy strawberry blond hair, dark blue eyes, a small nose and a very pale complexion. She is of average height. She typically wore royal garments but occasionally wore some kind of casual clothing. Her hair is typically loose at all times.