Kyrisse

The First War

"And without his protection. I'm sure he would be concerned."

Olivia huffed at his words and his fatherly tone. What did he know? The Count was, of late, concerned about only one thing. Her marriage to that old marquess thrice her age and even older than himself. The thought irritated her so much that she vowed to argue with her father about it again as soon as she was back in the castle. She would get out of that agreement whether he liked it or now. How did he expect her to react? He should have at least chosen a younger man. A man like the one sitting across from her now.

Her thoughts brought about memories of when she first saw the young Duke-to-be 9 years ago. He was handsome then, he was a lot more now. She wondered if he had, during his absence, found himself a wife and if he did, how disappointed she would be.

"I arrived in Westrock suddenly, without notice. I was giving the Lord Regent some time ... to ... to form a proper welcome for me. He is a Noble ... and a noble gentle-man ... so, I am sure he would want the time and opportunity to do things right."

Talking about her father brought back her irritation but before she could speak her mind about the matter, she noticed the distracted look on his face again. When turned his attention back to her and steered the topic to her mother, she immediately knew where she stood with him. Of course. What should I expect? I am only his sister's daughter and nothing more. I should have just greeted him and left him to that Sophia Blake. I am sure he would appreciate her company more than the company of a foolish girl like me. And now he is stuck here trying to make polite conversation. She inwardly sighed yet responded to his question, her tone a little more polite and a little less comfortable. She shook her head. "Mother is well. I am sure she would be happy to see that you have returned. Grandmother, however, has been ill for some time now and has been sent to the Monastery to be cared for by the priests. I have sent her so many letters but I have yet to receive one from her. I suppose she is too ill to even write," she looked a little downcast, she had been close to Lady Eddithia ever since she was younger and frequented the castle. "I have also requested to visit her and bring her fruits to help her get well but father has forbid me to do even that," she said, unable to keep her annoyance out of her voice.

The First War

Darma, still adamantly suspicious of Sophia, stood up. "Well, Sophia Blake, shall we see to it that the Lord has clean clothes? We simply cannot have him continue on soaked in ale, can we?" She turned to the two nobles. "If you'll excuse us, milady, milord," she bowed politely before she firmly took the brunette's arm and led her away.

"Y-yes," was all Sophia could say as Darma led her away, glancing briefly back at the nobles and then irritatedly turning her attention to the woman who was leading her away. She had no choice. She had to play along.

Olivia watched her handmaiden lead the peasant away before she turned her attention back to Paul. She gave him an apologetic smile. "I apologize. I was going to introduce myself properly had it not been for that unforeseen accident. However, Sophia had been correct in assuming that I wanted to keep my identity hidden," she paused and then lowered her voice. "My father has forbade me to mingle with the townsfolk and my being here is without his knowledge..." she paused again and then chuckled embarrassedly, her cheeks turning bright pink at her confession. "I wanted to welcome you back and was impatient to wait for you to walk through the doors of the castle."

The First War

"Would your hand maiden like to join us?"

The smile on Olivia's lips widened at both invitations. She didn't really expect that Paul would extend the invitation to Darma as well, seeing his caution as graciousness. "Oh. Thank you," she said as she took a seat and motioned for her handmaiden to join them.

Darma was watching Paul carefully from her vantage point near the door to make sure that her mistress was safe. It was rare for a noble to be as warmhearted as the the blonde teen, merely two years younger than she was. While most in the household still looked at her as a vagabond who lucked out by winning the Count's youngest child's favor, she knew that she was more than that to Olivia. She was right, of course. Being the only female child in the Count's four children, Olivia longed for a sister and found it in Darma. And in return for the affection given her, Darma treated Olivia as a sister and was extremely protective of her. When the younger woman gestured to her, she raised an eyebrow but approached the two nobles nevertheless. She bowed low to Paul before settling down on the seat beside Olivia.

"Please forgive me, m'lady. I do not believe myself capable of forgetting the name of a Lady as indescribably beautiful as yourself. Therefore, I am forced to believe that we have not been introduced before... however ...!... if, by chance, I have tragically forgotten you, please allow me to lay the blame upon the many times I have thumped my skull in battle, and not any chance that you, m'lady, are in any way unforgettable."

Olivia felt a little crestfallen at the nobleman's words. But of course he would not recognize me. I was 9 when he first saw me...if he did at all It seemed unfair to be upset about his ignorance of who she was so she pushed the thoughts aside. Better to just introduce herself. She paused for a moment, contemplating whether she should speak her real name or give him the moniker she used while in town. It wasn't prudent to let everyone know who she really was, was it? But then again, why would she keep it from the soon to be Duke?

"It would be foolish of me to expect you to remember me, my Lord. I was merely--" her words were cut off when she noticed the young man to be distracted. Before she could turn to look, the source of his distraction came walking towards them and spilled both herself and the ale she had with her on Paul. She almost stood up to see if she can be of assistance when she felt Darma's hand touch her arm.

Darma looked at the dark haired woman, critically assessing her with narrowed eyes. The way she entered the scene made it painfully obvious that she was either intruding in her mistress' conversation with the Lord of Westrock or was just desperate to catch the noble's attention. A peasant looking to improve her status, perhaps? Or a whore looking to make a pretty penny?

Sophia was taken aback by Paul's reaction to her. Most men would jump at the chance to remove their clothes and have her launder them as well as other parts of their bodies. But this man was different. Of course, he was different. It was probably the reason why she was employed by the Count for this job. She'd have to think of a different tactic. Being her usual assertive self was probably not gonna work. She flashed him a sweet smile. "I would still insist that you let me clean your clothes, my Lord. It is my fault, after all. I should be more careful on my feet next time." Yes, she'd have to be sweeter and... She stopped and stared at the young blonde woman sitting across him. She didn't recognize her at a distance earlier but now that she was closer...

"Lady Olivia Barker," she blurted out without thinking. It was the woman she had always envied. But before her face could betray what she felt, she plastered a smile on her face and bowed low.

Olivia blinked, not really expecting anyone to recognize her. "I..."

Darma's eyes narrowed a bit more as she continued staring at the woman but she remained seated. "Who are you?"

Sophia looked from Olivia to Darma, an innocent look on her face. "I apologize. I had no idea you wanted to keep your identity hidden, my Lady. My name is Sophia Blake, a simple farmer's daughter."

Fabula Nova Crystallis: War of Transgression

@Landaus Five-One Thank you.

Fabula Nova Crystallis: War of Transgression

@fer1323 @JBRam2002

All I have is my character name and pic for now. Will have my paradigm and stat distribution ready later.

Nyxia

Fabula Nova Crystallis: War of Transgression

Working on my character while reviewing paradigms. I'll be a little slow cause I've been having nasty headaches the past few days.

The First War

Portston

"How will I greet him? Just come up to him and say 'Hello, do you recognize me?' Or 'I am relieved that you have returned alive?'" Olivia whispered to Darma as they stood outside the Black Raven. Her words sounded awkward and strange.

"Are you serious? You have spent so many years imagining meeting the Duke's son and you're hesitating now?" Darma whispered back in a slightly exasperated tone. She always spoke informally with the Count's daughter when they were in their secret trips to the town.

"I am not hesitating. I just want to at least make a good impression. I want him to take a liking to me just like Richard did," the blonde argued.

Darma rolled her eyes. "There is no sense comparing him to his dead brother. Come on. If he likes you then he likes you. If not, we will return to the castle. There's so many of your father's men lurking about I am afraid they will gag us and throw us back to the castle even before we can take one step towards your prince." She reached out and took her mistress' hand and pulled her towards the door of the tavern.

"He is not a prince. He's a duke," Olivia corrected as she let herself be pulled along.

As both women stepped into the tavern, they were met with a barrage of noises from tankards being slammed onto wooden tables to raucous laughter to screams of pleasure coming from the second floor of the establishment. Olivia pulled off the hood of her cloak, unafraid of being recognized (except maybe for her father's men, which Darma assured her were not in the tavern). The youngest daughter of the Count had been forbidden to mingle with commoners that no one knew who she was. When asked, she always claimed to be a distant relative of a baron down south. Several heads turned towards her. She was pretty, after all, with her hair braided and fashioned so that it framed her heart shaped face. She scanned the room and her eyes fell on a blonde man who was staring straight at her.

Her heart skipped a beat. There he was.

Paul Cranston.

"Go," she heard Darma whisper encouragingly to her.

Olivia took a deep breath and walked straight towards Paul. Once she was at his table, she smiled and curtsied. "I am pleased that you have finally returned, my Lord," she said, wondering if he would recognize her.

---

Sophia snatched the coin purse and walked away. She silently cursed her life for putting her in situations where her dignity was put on the line. What dignity? she asked herself. She had stopped being worthy of respect the moment she had opened her legs to different men. Even she couldn't look at herself in the mirror at times. She focused her mind on the money. What was dingity when you're starving? As long as she was paid, she was willing to do anything. She'll make sure that her sisters are provided for and unharmed even if it meant selling her body to every single man in the town.

She turned and headed back to her house to make herself a little more presentable. The old, stained dress that she had on would not catch the attention of a noble.

"From now on, the only cock that finds comfort in that well used hole of yours ... is that hanging before the Noble thighs of Paul Cranston."

Sophia stopped, the familiar hesitation overtaking her. Should she really go through with this? Was it a good idea? Will she really be able to pull it off? What if Paul Cranston didn't fall for her tricks? What if he found out that she was a spy for the Count?

She took a deep breath to calm herself and focus on what was important. Pleasuring a single man for a hefty amount of money, it really wasn't such a bad deal. What was it to her if the Count wanted to know everything about this man? Just as long as he fulfilled the end of his bargain then it'll all be worth it. She reached into her pocket and withdrew the coin purse Crone gave her. There will be a lot more of this when I succeed, she thought and then nodded, slowly regaining her confidence. Why had she hesitated? This was what she had been hoping for. A chance to earn a bit more, a chance to make her life and that of her sisters' better. Unaware of what she was getting herself into, she murmured a silent thanks to what she thought was a little blessing sent her way. There would no longer be frequent trips to married men's houses in the middle of the night. The tax collector would have to visit the whore house if he needed his itch scratched.

As soon as she got home, she headed straight to the small wooden box where she kept her presentable dresses in. She pulled out a pretty blue dress out of it. If she was to seduce a noble, she'd have to look sweet and pretty. Men always found it more exciting to bed the sweet and innocent.

Several hours later, she stepped out of the house after painstakingly making sure that her whole body was scrubbed clean, particularly the areas that Paul would be using excessively. In a pretty blue dress and her long dark hair braided neatly down her back, she headed towards the tavern.

She stepped into the tavern and immediately zeroed in on the heir to the Duchy. A young blonde girl was with him, innocent and pure. It would be easy to snatch the man's attention from her. She strode purposefully towards the table of her target, swiping a tankard off the serving tray of the tavern maid. She took a swig of the ale and pretended to trip as she passed by Paul. She angled her body so that she fell on the man, her breasts brushing across his cheeks as the ale in the tankard she was holding spilled on his shoulder and across his chest. She pasted an innocent smile on her lips as her cheeks turned pink with feigned embarrassment. She quickly righted herself and bowed her head at the noble. "Forgive me, my Lord. I was momentarily unsteady on my feet." She lifted her eyes shyly and when they landed on the mess she made, her embarrassment turned into a horrified expression. "I have soiled your clothes." She bowed her head low again. "A-allow me to make ammends, my Lord," she hurriedly said.

The First War

"I think Father is not at all pleased that Lord Paul has returned," Olivia said thoughtfully as Darma braided her long hair, unaware that the Count was more than not pleased. She felt that familiar tug of suspicion but she still insisted that nothing was well founded. "He's grown so used to governing the Duchy that he's probably feeling melancholy about turning over the reins." she continued, downplaying her real thoughts.

"Are those your real thoughts?" Darma asked, knowing her mistress quite well to be fooled by her words.

"No..." Olivia admitted after a thoughtful pause. "But it should be. I don't have a reason to doubt my father's motives."

"But you doubt him anyway," the handmaiden said as she fastened the end of the braid with a silk ribbon.

"I can't keep anything from you, can I, Darma?" she sighed and then turned around to face the dark haired girl tending to her. "I suspect that he wants Adam to be the next Duke." She spoke of her eldest brother and firstborn of the Count. "I do believe he has the makings of an excellent leader, I really do. But the Duchy rightfully belongs to the Cranstons. When I was younger, I thought that Lord Richard would become duke," she paused, a fond smile appearing on her lips. "He was a good man and treated my like his own sister. But then he died. And now the only remaining heir is Paul..." her words trailed off, the wistful look on her face replaced by a mischievous spark in her eyes. "Maybe we should sneak out and meet him," she suggested. She and her handmaiden had snuck out so many times that the suggestion was made with confidence.

Darma chuckled. She loved going on adventures with her mistress and had a knack for not getting caught. Her dark eyes mirrored the mischief in Olivia's blue ones. "I will have to find out first where our Lord Paul is, Iya," she said, using Olivia's chosen nickname she frequently used during their secret trips. "It would be foolish to go around town with no idea where he is,"

Olivia grinned, knowing full well that Darma's answer was as good as a yes. "I am certain that you will not have any problems finding that out." She reached out, finished the remaining rose tea in her cup and then stood up. "I'll be ready."

Darma returned the blonde's grin as she began placing the fine china back onto the tray.

---

At half an hour past midnight, two cloaked figures stealthily left the castle, heading towards Portston.

---

Sophia was walking towards the Tax Collector's house when she noticed a familiar looking man standing by the side of the road. If she didn't know him, she would have tried to see if he was willing to pay money for the services she offered. But it was the man that had once bought Belladona from her. He was also the man she had often seen with the Count and was there the day they made the deal. She walked towards him when he whistled. What did he want now? Did he need more of the poisonous plant? Was there a new deal the Count wanted to offer her?

"Someone arrived in town overnight while you were waxing some married man's cock."

She bristled at his words. While he was accurate, she didn't appreciate the way he said it. He didn't even understand why she needed to do what she did. She had no other choice. But before she could retort, the man spoke a name she never expected to hear.

"Lord Paul of Westbrook."

Paul, the Duke's last remaining heir, the man who had been missing for so many years. He was also the man she was supposed to seduce. "...Keep your legs and ears open and report to me everything...EVERYTHING." The deal had been simple. Bed the Duke's son, make him trust her enough to loosen his tongue around her and then relay all the information to the Count in exchange for a hefty amount of money that would keep her sisters from ever getting hungry again.

While she didn't believe that the deal would actually be put into action, here it was. Paul was back and was currently in the Black Raven. It was the opportunity she had been waiting for. If she pulled this off, she won't ever have to pretend to be enjoying herself with sweaty grunting tax collectors or frustrated, sex deprived married men. She batted Crone's hand away, glaring at him. "If you want to touch me, you'd have to pay like everyone else." Her eyes narrowed when he threatened her sisters. "If you even so much as glance at my sisters, I will make sure that your cock hangs on a wall instead of between your legs." She warned in a low voice as she passed by him.

The First War

"My Lady, the scout has reported spotting Lord Paul on his way back here." Darma, Olivia's handmaiden whispered as she ran a brush through the young woman's blonde hair. Of all her attendants, the Count's daughter liked her the best and brought her along with her everywhere she went. The handmaiden tended to everything Olivia needed from fixing her hair to helping her dress up to making sure she attended her lesson with her tutors every day. She also loved listening to news and gossips and relaying it to her mistress whether she wanted to hear them or not. The particular news she had now was sure to perk the young blonde up.

Olivia, the Count's youngest and most favored child felt her heart skip a beat in excitement upon hearing her handmaiden's news. She had been wondering and hoping for Paul Cranston's return for years, in the hopes of sharing with him the same close relationship she had with his older brother...or maybe a bit more. Truth be told, she has had a crush on the young heir ever since she had encountered him several years ago. But he never paid her any attention perhaps because she had been too young then to be of interest to him. She wondered how he would react to seeing her all grown up now. It was something she had time and again discussed with Darma but would never breach the subject with her father or anyone else in the family for that matter. If they knew that she had been nurturing her childhood infatuation all these years, she knew that she'd never hear the end of it. Paul was, after all, a relative and fantasizing about him the way she had been doing was in all sense inappropriate. "Where did you hear that news from?" she asked, interest coloring her tone.

Darma grinned, leaned forward and lowered her voice. There was no sense letting anyone know that she exerted extra effort to listen to everything especially the things she's not meant to hear. "I heard the scout relaying his report to your father, milady," she gestured towards the Count who was indeed in the company of a man she can only assume to be the scout. She made a quick glance at Darma, wondering how she had picked up the news when they were a bit far from hearing distance of her father. "How did you...?" she started then raised her hand to negate what she had begun to ask. She shook her head and chuckled. "Never mind. I will content myself to be forever amazed by your news gathering ability." And with excitement shining in her eyes, she turned her whole body towards the dark haired handmaiden. "Did you hear when he'll arrive? Do you think I am dressed properly to greet him?" It had been years since she had set foot in the Duke's castle and it was fortuitous that Paul came home on her very first day back. She looked down at the white and gold gown she was wearing.

"I'm afraid there has been no talk about when he'll be setting foot in the castle. We can only hope that it will be soon," Darma said with a not of disappointment in her voice. She looked at the dress of her young mistress and nodded her head. "Of course you are, milady. You always look beautiful no matter what you wear," Darma complemented sincerely. She was loyal and devoted to Olivia and treated her as she would treat her own flesh and blood. It was the least she could do to express her gratitude. She had lost her family when she was younger and would have stayed in the streets begging for food if young Olivia hadn't passed by and saw her. The Count's daughter had automatically insisted that her father take the hungry girl with them. Her doting father had agreed albeit a little reluctantly and ever since then, Darma had stayed by her side and served her loyally. "And with my skills at fixing your hair, Lord Paul will not be able to help and stare at no one but you."

The two girls giggled but was stopped abruptly by the Count's booming voice.

"Every one ... out!"

Olivia looked over to her father and found him staring at her, meaning for her to leave as well. She would have complained and insisted on staying if not for Darma taking her hand. "Come, milady. There is no use staying here when your father is in one of his moods. I'll make you tea and finish braiding your hair in the garden."

Olivia looked at Darma and nodded. She stood up and looked back at her father briefly. The Count had served the Duke's family for as long as she could remember, even acting as regent to the Duchy in their absence. He had also time and again reiterated that he had all intentions of turning over the power once Paul returned. Although she sometimes glimpsed her father's lust for power, she firmly believed in his words, believing in his goodness. The obvious unrest her father was displaying, however, was making her suspect him a little, the same way she had suspected him when she saw that he had raised the banner of Ryrstone in place of Westrock. She turned and made her way to the door.

At the door, she turned back to look at her father, just in time to see him engage the Captain of the Guards in private conversation. Thinking that she'd ask him about it at a later time, she turned and exited the room.

Sophia sighed as she looked at the five silver coins in her hand. She had just spent an entire night pinned beneath the sweaty, flabby body of the tax collector, listening to him grunt and groan as he pounded into her. While she detested him, he paid good money and that made tolerating him easier. She pocketed the coins. There had been a time when he paid twice as much to let him use her body but times were hard or so he said. But money was money, no matter how small the amount and doing sexual favors earned her a lot more of it than she ever did doing odd jobs around town. If it helped put food on the table, she couldn't really complain. She looked up as she heard a door swing open.

A middle aged woman carrying a basket full of freshly baked bread came out of the house right across where Sophia was standing. She watched as the woman's husband, still wearing an apron powdered with flour press a kiss to her forehead. He reminded her to take care on her way, bid her farewell and then disappeared back into the house, closing the door behind him. A happy couple.

Or so it seems.

As soon as the woman had walked a good distance away from the house, the door slowly swung open. The man peered out, looked around and when he was sure that no one was looking, gestured for Sophia to come in.

A few hours later, sore but satisfied with the sound of coins chinking in her pocket, the young brunette discreetly walked out of the house with a loaf of bread wrapped in a white cloth in her hand. She looked up at the sky. Although it was still dark, the sun would rise soon, signalling the end of her clandestine meetings with those that needed her special services. She made her way back to the small hut she called home to feed her sisters and for a change of clothes. When the sun peeked on the horizon, she'd have to look for a job again no matter how tired she was. No rest for the needy.

She laid the loaf of bread on the table along with a small piece of goat cheese she found tucked in with the bread. She had, apparently, pleasured the baker enough for him to add a little extra bonus. She made a mental note to exert extra effort for him the next time he availed of her services to ensure his generosity. She walked over to her bed and laid down on it, meaning to rest her weary body for a few minutes.

"Sophia, are you not feeling well?"

The voice of her younger sister jarred Sophia awake. Realizing that she had fallen asleep, she immediately sat up. She looked at the 17 year old girl who was staring intently at her. "I'm fine, Anna," she said as she stood up and peered out the small window by the bed. The sun was already high up in the sky. She sighed. All jobs that paid well would have been taken by now.

"Vanessa is still sick and she threw up what she ate again," the younger girl informed her.

Sophia reached into her pocket and pulled out the coins she had worked her body ragged for. "Here. Go into town and buy medicine for her. Make sure she eats after." She instructed as she placed all the coins she had earned into Anna's open palm. She gave her sister what she hoped was a cheerful smile. "I got paid extra for the job I did last night. This will buy us food for the whole week."

Anna nodded and then looked down at the silver pieces in her hand. "Sophia, I'm old enough to help out now. So is Isabella. If you teach us how to do the job you're doing, we can earn enough for all of us."

"No!" Sophia exclaimed, horrified at the thought of her two younger siblings selling their bodies in exchange for a small amount of money. Better her than them. "I...I mean, the fields would need tending. When we're able to sell the grains we've harvested, we'll be able to make a little bit more money. I'll be able to support us til then," she hastily added. It would've been good if it were all true. But even if they made a bit of money from their harvest, more than half of it would be collected for tax. She reached out and patted the girl's cheek. "Don't worry. I'll find a way to earn more,"

An hour later, Sophia walked back in town, looking for the tax collector. The man's sexual appetite was second to none and she was sure he'd readily agree to let her into his bed again tonight.

Final Fantasy 13 / Fabula Nova Crystallis RP Idea

@JBRam2002 Yay, we're growing. Must do in depth reading soon! And I'll most probably create a female character from Gran Pulse.