Time had further continued to pass and Violant had turned nineteen years old a few days ago. Now, in September, Yteland still continued struggling to establish their rule in the new territories. Especially the formerly Mérovian areas kept the new rulers busy, as patriotism for Mérovie was still rampart at least among the upper class of the new territories.

The previously grand ducal territories were much easier to pacify, as the dominant sentiment there was not patriotism but longing for peace. The population was tired out from the late Grand Duke Svyatoslav’s militaristic reign, especially as the warmonger always had been less popular than his father Skarbimir who still continued to be praised for his rule of peace and prosperity and whose popularity among the common folk was unabated. In fact, Yteland made use of those sentiments to show itself as Grand Duke Skarbimir’s true successor, if not by blood then in his spirit.

The situation in the remaining parts of the grand duchy remained chaotic, for the strife of succession was still ongoing. Mérovie was silently licking its wounds instead.

It was obvious that both Violant and Wynkin were kept busy by the continuing unrest in the formerly Mérovian territories. The major part fell to Ealdon after all, and as such it was their obligation to deal with the situation.

Today was one of the rare days when both spouses were present in Ealdon. At the moment the couple had breakfast in the dining hall of Whitehill Castle.

“Violant, are you fine?” Wynkin inquired when he saw that his wife had a pale complexion.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” replied the redhead “It’s only that our child is quite active today, kicking me again and again.” While saying so she caressed her protruding stomach, the obvious sign that she was in her seventh month of pregnancy, and smiled gently, so unlike the tomboy she had been before becoming a mother. Her character, however, remained every bit as unfaltering as it ever had been, albeit not as obviously anymore.

“Oh… If you say so…” the berserk made an expression showing that he was at a loss, a look that rarely could be seen on his face. If there was one thing that made the grand duke of Ealdon feel helpless, then it was pregnancy complications. He hated the thought of his beloved wife suffering. Luckily it had been only false alarm for now. But as he thought back to the heavy morning sickness Violant had suffered before, he felt his anxiety rise again.

“I really am fine, dear. No worries.” the grand duchess appeased her husband. At the same time she couldn’t help but smirk, for the sight of the worrywart berserk was just too cute. She really was taken with this vulnerable and sensitive side of the man who normally was as strong as an ox.

In their first year of marriage the newlyweds had become much closer to each other. Wynkin had managed to win Violant’s heart, and although the grievances of her last lifetime didn’t leave her heart, they became clearly less important to her. The expectant mother still continued her silent feud against Gervase but it wasn’t the most important to her anymore, in particular as she was completely satisfied with her current life except, of course, for the continuing unrest in the new territories limiting the couple’s togetherness.

Still, looking back, Violant wondered why she never had gotten pregnant in her last lifetime although her marriage with Gervase had lasted much longer than the not even full year she was now married to Wynkin. But if she was honest it didn’t matter much.

Sybil, too, was now pregnant. She was in her third month. Mortimer turned out to be even worse a worrywart than Wynkin but that was no wonder considering his wife’s weak constitution. The future margravine suffered a whole lot from morning sickness, even worse than what Violant had to go through.

Parcie was still unwed and it was doubtful if he ever would find a wife. Hubert, on the contrary, was currently swamped with engagement offers from all over the kingdom. Countless noble houses sought the prestige of calling the captain of the royal knight order their son-in-law. Curiously he was previously rather avoided since the count of Wuldington lacked influence at court. As true as it might have been for Alphege of Wuldington, it wasn’t true any longer for Hubert who nowadays was the most eligible bachelor in Yteland right after the royal princes.

One of the more weighty recent news was that King Baldwin seriously considered choosing Prince Edric as his successor. The monarch had declared his intents about a week ago. The official investiture of Edric as crown prince had yet to be done though. Myrtis actively supported her husband in all his endeavors both scholarly and political, as he too supported his wife in her mainly scholarly undertakings. Both were still too tied up with throne succession and their respective scholarly interests to seriously consider producing an heir.

All of a sudden the door to the dining hall flew open and the wild huntsman Rambold entered with an urgent expression on his face. Following the last war, Violant had stationed a wild huntsman as messenger both in the capital – Rambold’s post – and in Avallach – Waldolf’s post. It also had been Rambold informing them about King Baldwin’s decision regarding the throne succession. Had the ghostly messenger looked cheerful at that time, his current gloomy expression heralded bad news instead.

“Bad news, Ms. Violant!” the ghost hollered “The king is dead. He suddenly perished last night and it is said that it is the fault of the plague.”

Hearing the terrible news, the grand duchess and the grand duke bandied looks fraught with meaning. The pregnant woman couldn’t help but chuckle.

“The plague?” she said “Ha! As if! Hasn’t the plague medicine we spread long since nipped the epidemic in the bud? Who is going to believe such drivel?”

Soon after their marriage, Violant had remember that there was an outbreak of plague in the 38th year of King Baldwin’s reign during her last lifetime, taking the lives of Prince Edric (who had been a monk and no longer a royal), and Lady Salome among many others. She had used the excuse of her future precognition to inform Wynkin about this matter and they both had asked Alarun if she knew a good remedy. Of course the hoary schrat knew an appropriate medicine. Thus the grand duchy of Ealdon had taken on the task of producing the plague remedy in huge amounts and of spreading it through the kingdom as soon as the first signs of outbreak became known. Thus the epidemic that had cost many lives the last time around only claimed a few. As especially the royal family had been sufficiently provided the medicine, it was less than likely that King Baldwin died because of the plague, the more so as a death by plague was nothing too sudden and heralded by obvious symptoms.

“I agree.” concurred Wynkin “Father was silenced by someone who is against big brother Edric officially becoming the crown prince. His investiture as crown prince didn’t happen yet, after all, and father’s intent is nothing more than a spoken word for now.”

“True.” the berserk’s wife nodded “I am afraid the factions vying for the throne will soon cause a civil war. The factions of both Humphrey and Fulk will likely unite in future to contend against the superior factions of Edric and Gervase.”

“That’s nothing to worry about, my dear.” the grand duke declared “Both my elder brothers Humphrey and Fulk lack influence while this venomous snake Gervase has lost a good part of his influence. Allow the war to happen if I really must. Brother Edric will remain victorious with or without it and succeed the throne for a better Yteland. I will make sure of that.”

“As will I.” responded the expectant mother.

Then Violant and Wynkin smiled at each other. Come strife or war, they would protect those important and dear to their hearts and help creating a peaceful and prosperous future for their child to grow up in. For this, Edric becoming king was imperative. If they would have to spill blood for the greater good, so be it. With the participation of both the berserk grand duke and the Valkyrie of the other march, the coronation of Edric was but a question of time while it would be the beginning of the end for Gervase and his vicious schemes. A new history was in the making.