A few hours later, in the grand hall of the palace, the lords gathered in hushed whispers and heated discussions. The air was thick with speculation and anticipation of the impending meeting called by the Duchess herself to discuss her impending nuptials. The noblemen milled about, their rich robes swishing and their jewels glinting in the sunlight streaming through the tall, arched windows.
Lord Edric, a tall, thin man with a sharp, hawk-like nose, was the first to voice his thoughts. "About time the Duchess took a husband," he declared, his voice dripping with a mix of disdain and begrudging respect. "A woman of her...experience and beauty should not be left to her own devices for so long." His eyes flicked to a nearby lord, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. "Though I daresay, she seems to have kept herself quite well...entertained."
Lord Alric, a portly, jovial man with a hearty laugh, guffawed at Edric's comment. "Indeed, Edric! And who can blame her, eh? The Duchess is a woman of...particular tastes." He winked salaciously, drawing a round of chuckles and snickers from the gathered lords. "But in all seriousness, it is a wise decision. The Duchy needs a strong, virile man to secure its future and provide the Duchess with the heirs she so desperately needs."
Lord Bannon, a stern, stoic man with a long, grey beard, shook his head disapprovingly. "Aye, but I hope she chooses wisely. The Duchess is too valuable of an asset to waste on a mere pretty face or a silver tongue." He fixed Edric with a hard stare. "She needs a man who can stand as her equal, who can rule the Duchy with a firm hand and a clear mind. Not some simpering fool who will let her walk all over him."
Lord Cade, a handsome man with a roguish smile and a glint of mischief in his green eyes, stepped forward, his voice a low, persuasive murmur. "Ah, but I disagree, my dear Bannon. I believe it would be in the Duchess's best interests to choose a man who is...how shall I say it? A bit of a simpering fool." He smirked, his gaze flicking around the room, gauging the reactions of the other lords.
Lord Bannon's eyes narrowed, his bushy eyebrows drawing together in a frown. "A simpering fool? You cannot be serious, Cade! The Duchess needs a man who can support her rule and strengthen the Duchy. She doesn't need some witless pretty boy who will let her rule unimpeded." He crossed his arms, his robes straining against his broad shoulders.
Cade held up a hand, a placating gesture, his smile never wavering. "Ah, but there lies the crux of the matter, dear Bannon. The Duchess is already a more than capable ruler in her own right. She doesn't need a capable man by her side, trying to usurp her authority and seize control of the Duchy for himself." He shook his head, a look of mock horror on his face. "No, what the Duchess needs is a man who will stand quietly by her side, who will let her rule as she sees fit, and who will never dream of trying to overpower her or take the reins of the Duchy from her skilled hands."
Cade's voice dropped to a low, conspiratorial whisper, his eyes gleaming with a hidden meaning. "We cannot allow the Duchy to fall into the hands of another while the Duchess is still alive and well. She is our rightful ruler, and we must ensure that her reign remains unchallenged and unthreatened. We cannot allow her to be overshadowed or undermined by a man, no matter how capable he may be."
He turned to address the gathered lords, his voice ringing out with conviction. "The Duchess needs a man who will be her husband in name only, a figurehead to stand beside her and support her reign. A man who will not only accept her rule but will actively work to strengthen and solidify it."
Lord Bannon's brow furrowed as the weight of Cade's words sank in. He opened his mouth to argue, but paused, realizing the dangerous precipice he stood upon. "You're right, Cade," he admitted gruffly, a note of apology in his voice. "I confess I was so focused on the need for someone to keep the Duchess in check, to ensure she doesn't abuse her power, that I failed to consider the bigger picture." He shook his head, looking chagrined. "Forgive me for not seeing the folly in my thinking."
Cade's eyes narrowed, a sharp, warning glint in their green depths. "See that you are more careful with your words in the future, Bannon," he cautioned, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. "Speaking such things could be seen as...treasonous. And we both know the punishment for treason is a swift and brutal one." He let the unspoken threat hang in the air for a moment before continuing.
"According to your logic, if a ruler needs someone to keep them in check, then what of our beloved King? Who will be responsible for keeping him in line, for ensuring he doesn't abuse the power of his crown?" Cade's voice rose, his words ringing out with a challenge that could not be ignored. "Shall we all gather to choose a man to stand beside him, to temper his rule and hold him accountable? Or do we trust in the wisdom and benevolence of our sovereign, as we should?"
Lord Bannon shifted uncomfortably, realizing the trap he had walked into. He had no answer for Cade's question, no retort that could save him from the hole he had dug himself into. He could only stand there, his face flushed with embarrassment and a growing sense of unease.
Just as Lord Bannon stood there, floundering for a response, an attendant swept into the hall, his voice ringing out in a clear, melodic tone. "Her Grace, Violetta Cecilia Velyssia, Duchess of Velyssia!" The attendant's announcement silenced the murmurs and heated discussions of the lords, who immediately ceased their gossip and fell into line.
A hush fell over the assembled noblemen as Violetta swept into the room, her presence commanding and regal. She wore a gown of deep, rich velvet in a shade of violet that seemed to have been woven from the very essence of twilight itself. The bodice of the gown was tightly fitted, cinched at the waist with a wide, ornate belt of gleaming gold and adorned with intricate embroidery in shimmering silver thread. The skirt of the gown flowed out from the waist, the heavy fabric draping elegantly to the floor, the hem trimmed with a band of soft, dove grey fur.
Over her shoulders, Violetta wore a cloak of the same rich violet hue, the fabric lined with the same soft grey fur. The cloak was fastened at her throat with a brooch of glittering gems, the jewels catching the light and casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the room. Violetta's silver blonde hair was swept up in an elegant style, adorned with delicate braids and a circlet of gold that rested upon her brow. Her violet eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, swept over the assembled lords, her gaze sharp and assessing.
As Violetta approached, the lords bowed low, their heads inclined in a show of deep respect and deference. The very air seemed to crackle with the power and authority that radiated from the Duchess, her presence commanding and unmistakable. She moved with a grace and confidence that spoke of her long reign and the deep respect she had earned from her subjects. The lords could only marvel at the sight of her, their hearts swelling with pride and loyalty at the thought of being in the presence of such a formidable and beautiful ruler.
Violetta's lips curved into a warm, regal smile as she took in the sight of the bowed lords. "Please, rise," she commanded, her voice ringing out clear and melodic in the vast hall. The lords straightened as one, their eyes fixed on their Duchess as they awaited her next words.
"My Lords, might I ask why you all stand here in the hall, rather than making yourselves comfortable in the meeting room?" Violetta inquired, a note of gentle reproach in her tone. She began to walk towards the room, her heels clicking a staccato rhythm against the polished marble floor. "I had thought you would have already taken your seats, eager to discuss the matter at hand."
Lord Edric, ever the bold one, stepped forward to address the Duchess. "Your Grace, we were merely awaiting your arrival," he explained, his voice a mix of deference and a hint of something more. "We wished to show our respect and our eagerness to serve you in whatever way you require." His eyes flicked over Violetta's form, a glimmer of admiration and perhaps a touch of longing in their depths.
Violetta acknowledged Edric with a nod, her gaze sweeping over the assembled lords. "I appreciate your respect and your eagerness, Lord Edric," she murmured, her voice a low, thoughtful rumble. "But I would have you all remember that I am not a tyrant, but a Duchess who values the counsel and support of her lords. You need not stand on such ceremony with me." She paused, her violet eyes meeting each lord's gaze in turn. "Now, shall we adjourn to the meeting room and begin our discussion? I have much to say on the matter of my impending nuptials, and I would have your valuable thoughts and insights on the subject, gentlemen." With those words, Violetta turned and strode towards the meeting room, her head held high and her bearing regal and commanding, as befitted a Duchess of her stature and power.