The sun shined through the glass-walled greenhouse, as the smell of tea and scones combated the fragrance of flowers. Marchioness Phillips picked up her teacup and gracefully took a sip and had a piece of a scone that her personal maid baked in the morning.
The chattering of children filled the Marchioness’ ears. She gazed at her twins playing with the family pet and revealed a slight smile.
“You seem to be in a good mood Mother,” the sugarcoated voice came from a young maiden, Young Lady Olivia Phillips. The Marchioness’ first born. The Marchioness examined the upright posture and lithe figure of her daughter.
Feeling a bit of pride, the Marchioness appreciated the blond locks that framed her daughter’s face, pearl-dusted skin, and pale blue eyes. The dress Olivia wore was a casual sundress in a light fabric but was dyed in a pastel hue.
Marchioness Phillips could not find one thing lacking, her eyes moved to the side to see her second-born daughter leaning in her chair. Paying no mind to the conversation as her full attention did not divert from the pastries.
Marchioness Phillips felt a foreboding headache as she continued to gaze toward Octavia. Features were similar to her older sister's, but her hair was a tint darker, the girl was indeed pretty but her disposition held nothing of interest in dresses, cakes, and tea parties. This year both Olivia and Octavia were old enough to debut in the social circles. The Marchioness was reluctant to debut Octavia, but Marquis Phillips thought otherwise.
A talented scholar, but he was also a man willing to do anything for a more honourable reputation. Using his daughters’ marriages to better his social standings was something the Marquis thought was his children’s duty.
The Marchioness was reluctant but hired more etiquette teachers. The Marchioness and the Marquis were in a cold war for a couple of days because of the matter. The Marchioness was afraid that Octavia would embarrass herself and the reputation of Marchioness Phillips' ability in child-rearing would be tarnished.
The Marquis thought the Marchioness was overreacting and wanted to set up a beneficial marriage for his daughter as quickly as possible. During this cold war, the Marquis brought home another mistress and spent his nights with his new tryst.
Irritated by the unwanted visitor, the Marchioness agreed to Octavia’s early debut only if the Marquis fed the new mistress medicine that would prevent child conception.
Looking at his beautiful wife, Marquis Phillips fed his young lover the drug and visited the Marchioness’ bedroom once more. The situation was a formulated plan the Marquis used when he wanted his way. Marchioness Phillips was a woman filled with jealousy and Marquis Phillips knew that if he brought home another woman and played around with her for a bit, his wife would agree to his original plans.
Marchioness Phillips, originally Lady Sophia Cartwright, was the first young miss of Viscount Cartwright. Sophia. A well-known beauty in her generation, she understood that marrying for love was a luxury she could not have. In a small house like hers’, she did not have the comfort of who she chose to marry.
In her youth, like most girls, she daydreamed of her perfect husband.
In her time, the most eligible bachelors were Grand Duke Devoncourt’s first son and Marquis of De Costa’s heir, young Lord Arsenio. The Marchioness imagined one day, her beauty would bring her the attention of young Lord De Costa.
To her dismay, when the De Costa family went on their annual trip to Aswán, they came back with a bride-to-be. Thinking back at the opening ceremony to the social season, and seeing Marquis and Marchioness De Costa dancing the night away, Marchioness Phillips could not help but feel a knot in her gut. The aristocracy of Vicon saw other kingdoms as lesser. Seeing an Awsánian woman in the arms of a man that should be hers’ was a pill Marchioness Phillips had to swallow every time she saw the De Costa family.
From her youth, Sophia deemed Marchioness De Costa her lifetime rival, but she had to admit the beauty the De Costa family possessed was different compared to Vicon’s standard of beauty, but just as breathtaking.
The temperament of the Aswánians was steeped into Marquis and Marchioness De Costa’s blood and in turn, they passed it on to their children.
Azrael De Costa was built and endowed with the looks of his father. Katarina De Costa was a spitting image of her mother but her temperament was equally balanced with the manner of the Viconian etiquette and Awsánian heritage.
Picturing the Grand Duke Devoncourt and Young Lady De Costa, Marchioness Phillips could not help but admire the handsome match. Marchioness wanted Olivia to be goaded toward the Devoncourt Dukedom, but the impression the couple had on the ballroom was unsurpassable. Although the seat of the Duchess was soon to be filled that meant Marchioness Phillips’ daughters were the most eligible young ladies in the Kingdom.
In Vicon, there are six powerful families. Under the banner of the world’s tree, the Devoncourt Grand Dukedom upheld the Kingdom’s safeguard. The De Costa Marquessates. The hue of red-orange, a silver-lined foxtail represents the origins of the military family. Positioned as King Richard left hand in dealing with foreign affairs.
The Phillips Marquessates. A tint duller than Azura fashion with a single owl feather. Long-time charges of the Cypress Academy. Beige was the most acceptable for the Hess Earldom. Nobles and unofficial overseers of social events, Countess Hess as the current lily of high society. The Lanford barony. Coin being their one true patron laying claim as Vicon’s financial backbone since its inception.
Lastly, the Silva family, the blood of the sovereign and ruler over the Kingdom.
“Mother,” Olivia called her mother, to get her attention. Marchioness Phillips snapped out of her thoughts.
“Sorry my little deer,” Marchioness smiled toward her daughter. Thinking of the possibility if Olivia were to claim the seat of the Empress, Marchioness De Costa and her daughter would have to bow to her.
The thought got her excited, she couldn’t hide a blinding smile. “This debutant season, you will be the star of the Kingdom,” Marchioness Phillips reached over and tucked a loose hair behind Olivia’s ear.
Olivia’s cheeks reddened at the words as she felt like soaring until a soft giggle dampened the mood.
“Isn’t that Young Lady De Costa,” Octavia spoke inquisitively. “At the King's Banquet, it was Young Lady De Costa who was the center of attention! Not sister.” Marchioness Phillips’ face twisted at Octavia’s snarky comment.
“The Grand Duke has made his intentions clear with Katarina De Costa, she is as good as taken,” Marchioness Phillips smiled as she stroked Olivia’s cheek. “This is the year, the Phillips family will be the pearl of the Kingdom, Mother will make sure of it.” Octavia looked over at her eldest sister and grimaced at the loving gaze her mother and sister shared.
Octavia’s elder sister was the apple of her mother’s eyes. The feeling of being small was a common occurrence for Octavia in the Phillips household. Octavia found a tiny bit of pleasure in the fact that her perfect sister was beaten by someone. Octavia wanted Olivia to experience what second-best felt like, and thanked the gods that Katarina De Costa existed.
“Why did the Grand Duke choose Young Lady De Costa instead of sister Olivia?” Octavia asked, adding salt to injury. Octavia wore an innocent face but carefully watched Olivia’s pleasant smile falter for a second before returning to its proper form.
Marchioness Phillips shot a glare at Octavia as thoughts of wondering why she did not have an ounce of eloquence.
“The De Costa family is influential.” Marchioness Phillips spoke candidly before locking eyes with her longtime nanny. The head maid nodded and shooed away all the servants from the garden taking the twins by the hand leading them back to the main house.
“The De Costa household will always favor balance over power.” Marchioness Phillips watched her two daughters at a loss and shook her head. Mentally taking note that her daughters are still not cunning of mind to understand the subtlety of politics. So instead, she changed her gossip session with her daughters into a lesson.
“Olivia, how many princes are in the royal family?” Marchioness Phillips asked.
“One,” Olivia said confidently, but Marchioness Phillips was dissatisfied with her answer. “The King and Queen birthed two princes and one princess,” Olivia affirmed but the Marchioness shook her head.
“Three.” Octavia suddenly answered.
“Are you slow?” Olivia was about to continue but was stopped by the Marchioness.
“Why three, Octavia?” Marchioness Phillips asked. Seeing that her mother was giving Octavia the right to speak, Olivia quickly tightened her lips.
“There is Prince Alexander from the Queen. Prince Cesare from the late King Edward’s mistress, and his first born bastard during his youth.” Octavia quipped. “Although two of the three princes were born out of wedlock, they are still royalty.”
“So what! It’s not like they can compete for the crown.” Olivia argued, dissatisfied with her mother openly agreeing with her sister and not her. A glint of childish temper appeared in Olivia's eyes. Marchioness Phillips raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth to reprimand Olivia's crude behaviour but was cut short.
“Before King Edwards passed, he didn’t name an heir,” Octavia spoke, paying no mind to her agitated sister.
The young King Edwards was not the definition of modesty. His first born son was from his youth during his travels abroad. Prince Edwards returned to Vicon with a swaddle in his hands. It caused a headache for King Richard at the time as Prince Edwards’ engagement with Queen Meredith was already set.
It wasn’t until some years later did Queen Meredith conceive children of her through many difficulties. But it coincided with the birth of the King’s second bastard. Uproar in the capital when on the day of Prince Alexander’s name day, King Edwards did not name him crown prince.
“Yes, this proves to be a problem for Marquis De Costa.” Marchioness Phillips’ thoughts wandered to Arsenio but stopped herself. “ Grand Duke Devoncourt and Marquis De Costa sense a power struggle and decided to opt out of the game.” The Marchioness picked up her cup of tea.
“What game?” Olivia wondered, but before her words could drop, Octavia let out a sigh.
“Succession, Dear sister,” Octavia replied. “But why the De Costa’s?” Octavia turned to her mother in pure curiosity. “The Phillips and The De Costas share the same rank, do they not?” Octavia asked.
“That is true,” Marchioness Phillips nodded. “But the history of the De Costa family is different from ours.” Olivia and Octavia looked at each other and turned back to their mother.
“The Phillips’ prominence came from Vicon’s first King, who declared the Phillips family as overseers of Cypress Academy.” The Marchioness lectured. “The De Costa family was originally from Aswán.”
“The Kingdom of Vicon was once small until King Alexander I, declared rule over the lands.” Marchioness Phillips spoke swiftly. “Warfare ensued and Vicon was battered on all borders, but it wasn’t until the Aswánian Empress offered to aid King Alexander’s efforts in beating back his enemies. In return, he needed to honour the established monarch and nobility in the Aswán as equals.” Octavia was enraptured with the Marchioness’ story, but Olivia did not find it interesting.
“So, Why are the De Costa family different in power?” Olivia asked her mother for a straight answer. The Marchioness sighed at Olivia’s impatience.
“Aswán sent their strongest General to quell the warfare, and that was the De Costa family.” Marchioness Phillips explained. “General Rodrigo was a fearsome warrior and single-handedly ushered Vicon into dominance, due to his great service, King Alexander offered the General a Dukedom within Vicon. Similar to the title he held in Aswán.” Olivia and Octavia were shocked at the piece of detail their mother shared.
“Isn’t the Devoncourt Grand Duchy, the only Duchy appointed by the first king.” Octavia’s eyes went wide leaning into the table with great interest.
“Yes, but at the time, King Alexander held Rodrigo De Costa in such high esteem, he refused the Aswánian General to return home.” Marchioness Phillips recounted. “In a lengthy discussion, Aswán allowed the De Costa family to reside in Vicon as a liaison but requested for the family to pay tribute once a year.”
Olivia pouted. She always knew that the De Costa family was different, but never would she have thought that their roots and reputation were from another kingdom.
“When King Alexander offered General De Costa the position as Duke, he politely refused, and said he would not take a position higher than Marquis.” Marchioness Phillips said. “The De Costa family has such an intertwining history with the royal family, so although we share the same status, their influence is no different than one of a Duke.” Marchioness Phillips breathed.
“So the De Costa family not only holds a strong relationship with the royal family, but they’re originally Aswánian nobility.” Olivia finally understood the wide separation she always felt when she met with Katarina.
“And with no heir apparent, a marriage with Katarina De Costa could break the balance Marquis De Costa strives for.” Octavia chimed in.
“Yes my kitten,” The Marchioness stroked Octavia’s cheek. “If any of the princes married Young Lady De Costa, they would have Marquis De Costa in their pocket and the influence he holds not only in Vicon but Aswán as well.” Olivia and Octavia suddenly felt that the Phillips family paled in comparison to the De Costa family.
Seeing the defeated looks on her daughter's faces, Marchioness Phillips could not help but be affected by the dampened mood.
“Grand Duke Devoncourt and Marquis De Costa are no fools.” Marchioness Phillips tried to cheer up her glum-faced daughters. “Sensing the coming storm, what better way for shelter than a marriage, by doing this, it will keep the De Costa household out of the game for succession but that is good news for us.” The words were whispered as if Marchioness Phillips was afraid of letting her intentions show but her appetite for glory was insatiable. “It’s time for the Phillips family to finally produce a Queen.” Olivia’s eyes shined with excitement as Octavia dragged her attention back to the pastries carefully placed around her. No longer interested in her mother and sister’s conversation. Picking up her spoon, Octavia swirled her milk tea with no apparent intentions as her eyes slightly dulled once more.
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