Hestia de Casteret

> *"My long for the throne is dearer than my longing for you you."* **- Hestia, Cursed by Blood**
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Hestia de Casteret is the Empress of Xotia and is the wife of Emperor Consort, Ivan de Casteret. She is at the head of House de Casteret and has two children: Nathaniel de Casteret and Mariposa de Casteret.

### History

Hestia was her parent's first child and thus was trained for the throne from a very young age. When she was five, her mother gave birth to another girl. Hestia's younger sister was deemed second to the throne and so was not as trained as hard to be the Empress, which she was content with. Hestia's life was consumed with politics, making alliances, attending balls, war strategies and so on. Many were impressed with her skills and were confident that she would make a strong Empress.

She attended a prestigious school, where mostly every child in High Society (bar Valreaux) recieved their higher education. There, she met a boy called Augustus Begre. They became good friends and eventually fell in love with each other. He was also the Heir to his family and could relate to the royal protocols that were embedded in her brain - as House Begre were second to the throne if something happened to de Casteret.

At fifteen, Hestia Cordaline de Casteret was no longer the Heir to the Empire - she became second to the throne. Her mother had given birth to a boy, who was immediately recognised as the new heir. Enraged, she yelled at her parents who didn't do anything, for they were just following ancient protocol. The officials who also once favoured Hestia turned their backs away from her and began promoting her younger brother, a newborn.

Hestia decided to take things into her own hands. She explained the situation to Augustus, who was shocked but not surprised. She told him how she needed to seek ways to appear more fit for the throne than her brother, who had the advantage of being a boy. At this time, Augustus was also suffering with the voices of the Bloody Citadel torturing his brain.

Hestia endeavoured to the Underworld secretly, where she saw Asterope Valreaux with three girls around him outside a tavern. Asterope was surprised to see her and killed the three girls around him, allowing Hestia to freely speak. Hestia asked him for help, seeing as he was obliged to be allies to her family due to the Blood Eyed Curse. Asterope explained that doing this went against House of de Casteret, which she argued saying that he would be helping a de Casteret. Ultimately, he agreed and took her to the Eastern Kingdom and told her about his connections with the House of Jefunde, a distinguished Duchy who technically overpowered the useless King and Queen.

Asterope arranged a meeting and, whilst they were making their way, Hestia wanted to see what commoner life was like in the Eastern Kingdom. They left their carriage and walked around. There, a boy bumped into Asterope and he killed him, meeting a distraught girl who identified herself as Delphini. To his surprise, Augustus was also in the Eastern Kingdom - he was following the voices but made up a story saying that he needed to protect Hestia.

Asterope told Augustus Hestia's plan of uniting the Southern Empire with the Eastern Kingdom and Augustus agreed with it, wishing him the best with his family. Hestia returned with sacks of bread and counterfeit jewels and dropped them all when she saw Augustus. He smiled and all three of them made their way to House Jefunde.

Reaching House Jefunde, Hestia gave a marriage proposal. At first they were hesitant, but were pressured by the menacing eyes of Valreaux to agree. Ivan Ziku Jefunde was to be the Emperor Consort of Xotia.

When she returned to Xotia, she told her parents that she is to be married to Ivan and that a new alliance will be brought. They were surprised at her skills of persuasion and the lengths she went. They arranged a grand royal wedding and made up a story of true love for them, covering up the fact that they were solely married to prevent future wars.

Seeing Hestia's potential and value she brought to the Empire, officials began favouring her again over her brother. Her father was conflicted, he didn't know who to choose, he kept changing it from Hestia to her brother, until one day he was found dead on a day where Hestia was deemed the heir. Hestia was crowned the Empress and met up with Augustus for the last time, where he hinted that his death had something to do with him. Hestia was grateful and thanked him for loving her and they went their separate ways.

Over time, Ivan and Hestia grew to love each other and gave birth to two children: Nathaniel and Mariposa.

### Relationships

#### Ivan de Casteret

Ivan de Casteret is the husband of Hestia.

#### Augustus Begre

Augustus Begre was Hestia's former lover.