OOC: This is what it's like to be a character with 1 diplomacy.
Chapter 2 - My Lady's Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun
What for!
Cower in fear, you wretched fools, for you face the terrible might of
Jordan the Red! Red was my father's blood when he conceived me in the heat of passion, and red is my hair that drives the Moor to terrible flight. I have instructed my subjects to address me as Prince, for I am indeed to inherit a kingdom, from MYSELF. Brilliant, yes, I am aware. My father for all his martial prowess was over-gentle with his relations, and I have no love for my boy-cousin Roger. I have seized my independence, and the "duke's" regents cower in Cathacem daring not challenge me.
And furthermore I am a Prince for I have married the most beautiful princess in all of Latin Christendom, Emma Capet. All of our surely numerous children shall be born of noble blood, not of bastardy. As of yet, we have one precious girl, but MANY sons shall surely follow! Already I have prepared my coronation. But I require a suitable victory to confirm this GLORIOUS new era. Malta, I have chosen as the site of my crowning triumph. It is but a shade of what is to come, for as I reign now as Prince of Malta, I shall soon reign as King of Sicily! Ahahahahah!
Hah. Wait, what are you doing here? Guards...guards!
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Herein lies the chronicle of Emma Capet, Princess of France and of Sicily, and regent of my daughter's domains. The sight of my husband's mangled corpse was truly unfortunate to behold. He was a beautiful, strong man of many virtues, but foresight was not among them, I fear. All of my late husband's councilors despised him, both for his boldness and his strength, I am sure. For his part, my dear Jordan did not do much to win over the landholders, and for that, his life was taken.
Our daughter now holds, ever so tenuously, my husband's lands. I have acted immediately to secure her reign, disbursing much of my husband's treasury to the bishops of the land to win the allies in the Church that dear Jordan so scorned. My husband, in his less than infinite wisdom, granted Trapani to his old friend William, who quickly declared himself a count independent of our court in Syracusa. I have acted to remedy this situation, as well. Duke Roger's councilors sought to stop me, of course, but my eye is discerning, and loyal soldiers were found to force the issue. William of Trapani now bows to me.
I have been confronted with the specter of a band of Sicelot peasants terrorizing the countryside, but my exhortations and benefices have born fruit: The Norman gentry came at my call, and the peasants were routed. So too was a rebellion of heathens on the isle of Malta my husband conquered. The peasant leader I had killed as an example to his fellows, but the follower of Mahound I spared, after he accepted the teachings of Jesus Christ. I believe these lessons to be instructive upon my daughter's subjects.
Following these triumphs I sent my daughter's soldiers north, to uphold the reign of our Apulian neighbors. Young Bohemond de Hauteville, so recently a man, is himself dead, and his infant daughter now reigns. What curse stalks the men of this dynasty? As they are now beset by Capuans and other such filth, I believe it is best to defend Norman and Frankish rights against foolish Italiots. And I am sympathetic to the young girl who rules, so like my daughter.
The Archbishop of Syracuse has agreed at my insistence to declare my young daughter the Duchess of Sicily, elevating her title above the other lords of the land, as is necessary for her security. I shall continue to safeguard her interests with my life, and I have taken to educating her myself, so that under my constant care and protection, she might avoid my husband's fate.