[center][h1]Filiberta-Marie of House Marietta[/h1][/center]

	Within the Mariettan Palace it is another day of decadence and disarray.  Within this masquerade resides Filiberta-Marie, wearing a pale red dress with a black moretta mask.  Attached to the mask are flowers of gold and pink, and her hair is braided black into a fishtail.  Flowers were also placed within her hair and along her large fur collar, matching the colors of the flowers on the mask.  
	
	She danced with one of the many counts within her duchy who had been invited to this masquerade, his name seemed to evade her memory.  Harsh music from a hurdy gurdy and a harpsichord played in the background.  Servants walked about with plates of alcohol and food, and some were carrying in tables into the ballroom to be used for the feast.  As she danced with the count he finally spoke, "your highness, you are quite the marvelous dancer, I must ask how no gentleman has sought to win your favor yet."

	She chuckled behind her mask at the comment before she responded, "many have, my dear count," she then stomped upon his foot.  He let out a sharp howl and let go of her, backing away as he hopped on one foot, "but men like you are neither tasteful dancers or romancers."  She walked away from the dance floor then to watch as her servants brought in the tables and chairs for her company.  There upon her throne she watched this all, while also keeping an eye upon the ballroom floor.  She paid special attention to the count she had spurned, watching as he tried unsuccessfully to dance with another noblewoman, his steps on his left foot seemed to be pained and out of sync.  Filiberta-Marie laughed to herself at the sight, her mask hiding it all.  

	Soon the guests gathered around the three tables, taking seats.  The three tables formed the shape of a u, and at the center of the center table was Filiberta, who kept her mask on while the nobles feasted.  Before them were various forms of venison and duck, along with locally harvested vegetables that Filiberta had acquired from the peasantry.  The nobles feasted like hogs as Filiberta again watched, only occasionally lifting her mask to drink from the goblet of wine in front of her.  

	She interrupted the conversations half-way through the meal to raise her glass and speak to all.  "My dearest vassals, I hope you have all enjoyed the decadences of this evening!  And now I ask that we take a moment to remember why we are gathered here, to celebrate the lives of those above myself who have passed."  A mumbling of agreement was heard throughout the crowd, and she spoke again, "and to help us through these trying times, I do invite you to watch a performance by our court jester, would dearest shar... I mean Charles," the crowd laughed at the purposeful stutter, "please come in."  Through the doors of the ballroom a man wearing a harlequin mask with a fake crown entered, and he was covered in rags and rusted squire armor.  The man was of a thin and unimpressive frame, and his voice was squeaker and idiotic.  He began to perform a comedic monologue on his dearest friend the king and how he had come upon the king’s crown.  

	Filiberta watched the monologue she had written with glee and smiled at the thought of the uncivilized squire she had met just days before.  She was still surprised that she had gotten the armor just rusty enough to fit the aesthetic!  As the crowd laughed Filiberta-Marie suddenly felt the tap of a handmaiden on her shoulder, who then leaned in and whispered in her ear.  Filiberta continued to hide her emotion behind her mask, and she turned to the handmaiden, "so the Northerners want to play the jesters in our tale then?   I could not have hoped for better entertainment this evening."  She stood up now and walked away from the table with the handmaiden, "I must prepare a letter for the old man immediately!  Please bring a raven ... no, I think a crow would be better, please send a crow to my study."  The handmaiden accepted the task as Filiberta made her way to her study.

	She entered the dark and dusty room, old tomes and tapestries that were slowly deteriorating lined the walls along with a shield holding her family's crest.  She smiled in the old room as she took a seat at the old wooden desk.  She took out a piece of parchment and a quill with ink.  She gazed out the window in the study for a moment, the lake far below glistening in the moonlight.  She then took a lit candle upon the windowsill and used it to light the incense beside it.  With the atmosphere now set she took to writing her letter to Karl Müller-Hohenstein.

"My dearest liege,
		
	I hope that your body does not ail you today, and may your health remain reasonable at the least!  I also hope that you enjoyed the festivities in the capital as I did.  It is strange to say the least that a man of such low class of Sharles could dare to stand before the great nobility of this country as he did and speak in such an insulting manner!  Despite this bold display, there are those within our country that are willing to support this madman.  

	Of course, there are those who also support Anyamara, a somewhat more noble heiress, one who is less likely to incite the peasantry.  No matter what position you have on this issue I must tell you this, I am in full support of your will for this archduchy.  Although I have had some disagreements with your policies in the past, I cannot deny that you have been nothing but an effective ruler of this land, and that your will has done good in keeping those below you in line.  And it is with this limited degree of respect that I ask you to choose wisely whom you support, and if you are to support someone at all.  After all, you of all people must know that as an archduke in a time of crisis you have much to lose.  

	Seeing as your decisions in this time will greatly affect my fate as well as yours, I propose we have a meeting with some other likeminded fellows at some point soon, perhaps a ball at my manner should you want a less imposing space than your personal domain, it will at least make our guests feel less worried about espionage.  It would be imperative for such a meeting that it remains somewhat more secretive, and perhaps it may be important to ensure that no Northerners get too involved.  There is much work to be done in this time, Karl, and I expect that you will need many allies such as myself, and you can help many with what they desire as well, my dear royal librarian.

	Also, please send Michaela my regards.

In adoration,
Filiberta-Marie"

	She smiled as she wrote "in adoration," and this whole letter had been an excercize of irony to a certain degree.  She did not like the old man, but he could prove useful.  It was then that the proper crow was brought into her study and inspecting it the specimen seemed perfect for the letter.  She left it in the hands of her servants, and so Filiberta-Marie returned to her masquerade and watched the end of the jester's routine.  At the same time, the letter was sent out, and the crow danced through the night on his way to Karl Müller-Hohenstein.

[hider=Summary]
Filiberta-Marie holds a masquerade with her vassals (counts and barons) which is a decadent feast and dance.  She has a jester perform a satire on Sharles, and her enjoyment of the party is interrupted by news from the North.  She writes a letter to [@Pagemaster] (Karl Müller-Hohenstein) requesting a meeting at some point to discuss his position on the future of the kingdom.
[/hider]