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[i][color=86608E][center][h2]Homeward  journey[/h2][/center][/color]
[/i]

Dorothea sighed heavily, letter in hand. The journey homeward was not one she particularly wished to partake in, however it is one she must. A pained expression covered the girl’s face. [color=86608E][i]I am not ready for this. I don’t think I’ll ever be.[/i][/color] The thoughts of taking a friend with her as emotional support haunt her. She truly would love nothing more than to have a friend with her yet she knew that she’d rather not involve her friends into that pit of problems.

It was still rather concerning that the place of meeting was in Wismar. Usually when Annalie kept it within her own holdings within Forchberg, was this sanctioned by the other houses or perhaps it was nothing more than a trap. The only thing the girl knew for sure was that she could not back out of this whether she wanted to or not. Her family’s reputation relied upon it.

[hr]
[i][color=86608E][center][h2]Meeting at the Capital[/h2][/center][/color][/i]


Upon going through the gates of Wismar, the Kaufmanns himmel, it has been so long since she saw the city that shows both sides of the coin that is her beloved country. The city was truly opulent, showing off its wealth everywhere it could. It also showed off the ugly side, the homes filled with wealthy merchants. Rumors around the merchants have spread towards the main houses that merchants around Dami’s eye will do almost anything for a spot in the city. [color=86608E][i]Selling your soul to demons like the Rednitz just for monetary gain, just thinking of it makes me sick[/i].[/color] a weak grin covered Dorothea’s face as she realized the irony in her train of thought. 

Heinrichsburg, the palace of the five seats. What a horrid place for a meeting. A sign of the victory of the five ruling houses… However, it is also a reminder of the failure of her own house. It should still be her family’s palace! It should be her palace! Walking past the halls, the walls had memorabilia of her family. Paintings of past rulers, battles fought by Heinrich the Great. It all felt like mockery, how dare they. If it were not for her forefathers the other houses would’ve been nothing more than low Kerreman nobility.

The doors were opened by the Wismarwacht as she approached the chamber of the five, however something was off, there were six seats around the large table. Not only that, only one of the six seats were filled, did the others not arrive yet? [color=bc0f46]“Ah, Lady Hohnstein. It seems that you had a safe trip back to our beautiful city?”[/color] The woman in the seat stood up and bowed courteously. A warm smile covering her face. [color=bc0f46]“Or would you rather be called Gräfin now?”[/color] Dorothea smiled back, somewhat annoyed by the warm welcome from a woman like her. [color=86608E]“It has been quite a while since we met, hasn't it, Herzogin Rednitz?”[/color] The girl bowed back. [color=bc0f46]“Herzogin? No, no, I am but a Gräfin this cycle. Alfred Benrath is the herzog now.”[/color] Annalie pointed towards one of the seats. [color=bc0f46]“Come now, enough formalities. Sit. We have much to discuss”[/color] 

Annalie cleared her throat. [color=bc0f46]“My sincerest condolences, Dorothea. I was truly saddened to hear the news of the attack.”[/color] The woman put up a face filled with regret. [color=bc0f46]“If my informants were allowed on your father’s lands I might have been able to save them. Now they have fallen victim to the Traveller’s radicalized bandits.”[/color] [color=86608E]“I’m still surprised there wasn’t an attempt on the other houses.”[/color] Dory interrupted. [color=bc0f46]“Ah, now that I think about it it is weird, isn’t it?.”[/color] Annalie replied. Dorothea’s expression still looked somewhat saddened but a soft spark of anger lit as she started to put the puzzle pieces together. [color=bc0f46]“I do hope you won’t end up like your father, that would truly be a disgrace to such a historical [i]great[/i] family. You show a lot more potential than that coward.”[/color] Annalie grinned. Dory gritted her teeth. [color=86608E]“I would prefer you not talk about my father like that now that he is no longer among us.”[/color] The Rednitz woman looked somewhat surprised by the response the other gave. [color=bc0f46]“Why is that? Did you really revere your father?”[/color] [color=86608E]“It is because he believed in me, to lead the family-…”[/color]  Before Dory could even finish her sentence Annalie bursted out in laughter. [color=bc0f46]“You truly think your father had faith in you? The only reason you were still heir was due to your brother revoking his claim onto it.”[/color] The words of the woman stabbed deep into the girl’s heart. [color=86608E]“What are you saying? My father always showed his utmost love towards me…”[/color] Dorothea started to slump into her seat. [color=bc0f46]“Is that how you see it?”[/color] Annalie pointed right at Dory. [color=bc0f46]“Then what about your tutors? No true magic tutors, no real others past etiquette, Avincian and our own mother tongue.”[/color] 

Having enough of the slander Dorothea jumped up from her seat. [color=86608E]“You have no right to talk about my family like this!”[/color] Annalie’s expression changed to an irritated stare. [color=bc0f46]“Sit down, Dorothea. I do not wish for this to get messy. You can cry about how little people cared about you after we finished our talk.”[/color] Dory’s eyes stabbed into Annalie’s. [color=86608E]“I have learned quite a bit of languages… and my magic-..”[/color] [color=bc0f46]“Ah, but that is because of yourself. Not due to your shameful example of a fath-.”[/color] The Hohnstein girl began to draw. [color=86608E][b]“Enough!”[/b][/color] The Rednitz woman looked unimpressed. [color=bc0f46]“Sit down, this is your final warning.”[/color] The warning was not received by the girl as within moments Flames started to appear… But before the girl could do anything further she was forced on her knees. Annalie stood up and walked towards Dorothea. No matter how much the girl tried to stand up she was kept on her knees. 

Annalie Grabbed Dorothea’s chin to force her into facing her. [color=bc0f46]“You’ve shown much potential, yet your obsession with your family gets in the way of achieving greatness.”[/color] Dorothea’s eyes burned with maddening anger. [color=bc0f46]“You growl like a rabid hound, but in reality you are nothing more than a pup wishing to be a wolf.”[/color] [color=86608E][i]How dare she? How dare she? How in the hells dare she look down on me like this?[/i][/color] If she could use her hands she could kill her, if only she could use her hands… The expression on the woman changed to a sadistic grin. [color=bc0f46]“But you will be a well behaving little one, will you not?”[/color] The look on Dorothea stayed defiant. Annalie’s face inched closer to Dorothea’s ear. [color=bc0f46]“You know, I know about your little fling with the Kerreman lad. What was his name again? Ah, right… Manfred was it not?”[/color] The woman blew into her ear. [color=bc0f46]“It would be a shame if you lost him as well, wouldn’t it?”[/color] 

Fearful thoughts raced through Dorothea’s mind. [color=86608E][i]She wouldn’t just kill a foreign noble to get her to fall in line would she?... No, no. She definitely would. A woman like this is dangerous enough that even Manfred would not be safe.[/i][/color] The fear was enough to cause the girl to nod. [color=bc0f46]“That’s a first step, I’ll bring up to greatness yet.”[/color] With that the woman walked back to her seat, letting her grasp of the girl go. [color=bc0f46]“Now that that’s settled, there is something I wish to discuss with you.”[/color]  Annalie paused. [color=bc0f46]“Do you not hate the fact that your house is one of the major houses yet does not get to decide anything? Does the fact that these incompetent fools run the country not anger you?”[/color] Dorothea looked hesitant to speak up. [color=86608E]“I believe that the five houses have been overall a detriment to Feska…”[/color] [color=bc0f46]“Then how would you feel about the Hohnsteins, or rather you taking a seat as one of the five houses?”[/color] With that one of the seats fell to the ground. [color=86608E]“Then what would the other houses say?...”[/color] Dorothea was still unsure to agree. [color=bc0f46]“In that case… We just get rid of those as well.”[/color] The other seats fell down one by one until the two occupied seats remained. [color=bc0f46]“If they refuse to accept you then I will make sure we will be all that remains.”[/color] Annalie grinned. [color=bc0f46]“But does that not sound so bad, now does it? Two houses instead of five in charge? No longer cycling the title of Herzog, just the two that share the title.”[/color]  The Rednitz woman opened up her arms with a warm smile. This has to be a trap. [color=86608E]“Will the other countries not intervene with a powergrasp like this?”[/color] The girl questioned the idea the other had. [color=bc0f46]“No, not really. As long as we keep the trade flowing they do not care.”[/color] Annalie stood up triumphantly. [color=bc0f46]“Now, will you join me in the making of a new age of our beloved Feska?”[/color] Dorothea nodded before standing up herself. [color=86608E]“I will be a part of the new age of our beloved Feska.”[/color] After quite a hefty discussion between the two the plan was set in motion and Dorothea returned to her home at Linthlan.

[hr]
[i][color=86608E][center][h2]Sorrows[/h2][/center][/color][/i]

Walking around her home gave her mixed feelings. On one hand it is still her home, the place she grew up in… but it is also a lot more quiet than she was used to. Out of curiosity the girl explored the rooms she never truly got to enter before. The room of her father was ransacked. The effort was made to make it look somewhat presentable, however it was obvious to the girl that something happened here. The pain from seeing her father’s room turned into something more akin to boiling anger as she entered her mother’s old room. Empty, it was as empty as could be. Did she know this would’ve happened and went back to those dirty Herbeumonts? 

Then her brother’s room. Floris was always the goofy type, a child that never wished for the burden of ruling. To think they could take the life of such an innocent child. After looking around she stumbled upon a letter, did he mean to send a letter out before the attack happened? Filled with curiosity she opened the letter and noticed that it was addressed to her. 
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[indent][center][i]Dear Sister, 

If you read this I will most likely have been gone for a while. Seeing how you are, you must have been sulky in my room. Well I have something to tell you if that is the case. First, don’t look too deep into my room! It is not yours even if I may be gone! And second, please don’t be too sad. I will still be able to see the incredible things you can do even if I won’t be with you anymore. 

The reins of the family will be in your hands if my fears are true. But do not fret, you have enough people to push you forward. It is okay to ask for their help from time to time, you know? 

We will meet again when your time comes, although I do not hope for a reunion before you can brag about all the great things you’ve done in life.

The best brother,
Floris.[/i][/center][/indent]
[hr]

Tears began to drip off the girl’s cheeks. [color=86608E]“Floris.. You dummkopf… You should’ve said that with your voice, not with written words. I am not ready for this... Ich vermisse dich so sehr....”[/color]


[hr]
[hider=Summary]
❖ Dory returned home after receiving an invitation.
❖ Her together with Annalie Rednitz have begun plot to overthrow the other houses.
❖ Dory still has doubts about it, her hatred for Annalie only grew.
❖ She returned to her home and found a letter of her deceased brother. 
[/hider]