The Maid and The Usurper - Chapter 20
His voice was dripping with sarcasm. For some, a birthday was merely a reminder they were still alive; for others, it was a time to mock that fact.
“We need to do a final check of the guest list and the clothing. And…”
Lady Wegener began somewhat heavily.
“It’s time to consider a fiancée as well. Lord Bard has selected a few young ladies for this occasion.”
“As if there’s a woman with a screw loose willing to join me in prison.”
“That’s uncertain. She might be the one who can give you some breathing room, my lord.”
Lady Wegener slid a piece of paper in front of Leopold. A neatly arranged list of names, not exceeding ten, was displayed. His eyebrow raised slightly.
“The Marchioness has chosen to take Zollern’s name over Bard’s for your sake.”
This tragedy unfolded because Bard had given up the rights of the ruling house for love. For her son, Victoria became the adopted daughter of the Marquess of Zollern. Thus had Leopold preserved his right to succession.
“The great seven houses have long been wary of Baden. None of them have a better card than you.”
“So, you’re saying I should become a stud to keep Baden in check?”
The corner of the paper crumpled in his hand. Leopold knew better than anyone that there weren’t many ways for a powerless bastard child to survive. But hearing it laid out so brutally was something else entirely.
“Your succession rights are what keep you alive. As long as you don’t willingly discard them, as your ancestors did, they remain.”
“What… did you say?”
It was still a well-known story in Argen, repeated by countless minstrels and transformed into different versions—a distant legend now. The sixth Count Bard had fallen in love with his nanny’s daughter. The nanny was a slave, and her daughter was no different. After countless separations and reunions, the count finally held on to his love. But for loving a slave’s daughter, he willingly relinquished his family’s claim to the succession rights he held as one of the great seven houses.
“Marriages between mismatched ranks are called misalliances.”
Nobles marry nobles, commoners marry commoners, and the ruling houses marry ruling houses. That was the law. Bard had been a ruling house, but the sixth Count of Bard’s marriage had cost them the rights to the throne that ruling families held. So even if their descendants married into royalty, they could not inherit the right of succession to the throne.
This is why Victoria, despite being a member of the great House of Bard, eventually moved to Zollern: she remained the Marchioness of Zollern and secured Leopold’s right to the throne.
“My lord, you must let go of any woman who does not match your rank without hesitation, just as His Majesty did.”
That was the duty of the king. Victoria had to be let go without hesitation. However, Francis II ultimately could not part with his lover, leading to countless tragedies. If the blood of the father flowed through him, if the blood of the ancestors flowed through him, he might eventually go mad with love.
“That’s enough, Lady Wegener. I believe you’ve overstepped your bounds.”
“My apologies. I am an old woman, and my concern for you made me forget my place.”
Lady Wegener gracefully bowed. Leopold irritably snatched up the paper.
“I will review this and let you know my thoughts. I would like you to take your leave for today, my lady.”
At his gentle dismissal, Lady Wegener curtsied.
“Then I shall take my leave, my lord.”
With no crack in her composure, Lady Wegener withdrew. Leopold carefully examined the list she had given him. These were noblewomen who had been thoroughly vetted and selected. The edges of the paper slowly crumpled in his grip. His jaw tightened, and the veins on his pale hand began to bulge. He knew his situation better than anyone. He didn’t need this pitiful reminder.
“…Is anyone outside?”
“You called, my lord?”
A servant bowed. A subtle and uneasy silence lingered. Normally, his master wasn’t so temperamental, but there were times when it felt impossible to understand him.
“Can you discreetly summon the head maid without Lady Wegener knowing?”
“The head maid, sir?”
The servant asked in surprise. Leopold nodded indifferently.
“I have something I need her to handle quietly.”
It might have been nothing more than the arrogance of youth, but I just wanted to confirm that there was something I could do.
‘After all, I was born here, and it’s not something I can just give up on. I’ve simply done the best I could.’
Letting go and resigning myself might not be the answer after all. As long as I did my best within my abilities, that would be enough.
