§eri@l (Vlad/ Alucard-Hellsing)

dreaming (14)

A long time ago from a memory of the past. It feels like dream but it's not...

Liliana looked out; a horse drawn carriage to see snow covered mountains. Her father sat next to her and pointed out landmarks for the area. They were traveling to a small castle. The young woman was to spend the summer, at this place, with a male relative. He was a scary young man and Lana was nervous. If you really upset this person, he impaled you, outside the castle.

"My child you are spending the summer with Vlad. You will listen to him on everything. treacherous people are everywhere."

"Yes papa, I will."

Her father kissed her on the forehead. "Make us proud, Draga mea."

Lana stepped out of the carriage then walked up to the door. She was greeted by men at arms. A higher up servant bowed. " The Voivode is out on a patrol. He apologizes for not being here to greet. It is a time of war, you understand."

"Yes of course. May I be taken to my room?"

The servant took her small bag of belongings and showed her to a room on the third floor. She was confused. "Is this not Voivode's level? His room is located up here?"

"Why yes, it is. He promised your father, to keep an eye, on you. I hope the room is to your liking."

"Yes, thank you," Liliana said.

The young woman sighed. She had a title and nothing more. She had one dress, a heirloom hairbrush and a gold locket, on a thick gold chain. It was empty. Someday, she hoped to have a portrait of a man, that meant a lot to her. She most likely would marry an older man, who only wanted heirs and that romantic love was just a dream.

The young woman left her room and sat on a window seat. She looked out and over to the scenes below. Lana wondered if her fate, involved the Voivode, personally. They were related third cousins; marriage was acceptable though most likely just a mistress. (Europe has different views) The sun was shining and so she got sleepy. Her eyes became heavy, and she fell asleep on the seat.

She woke with a start to yelling. It was a man and the volume rose in her ears, as he stomped up the stone stairs. Liliana jumped up then straightened her dress. She waited for Vlad to appear. The young woman tried not to gasp. He was in bloody armor and unkempt, long black hair with matching black facial hair. He had deep blue eyes that scrutinized her. The woman bowed and waited to be greeted by the Voivode.

He simply grunted an acknowledgement then went to his room. Liliana rose up and walked quickly to her room. This was a terrible sign for her. She knew she was no ravishing beauty but not ugly. Lana waited until it was getting dark then she headed downstairs. The table was almost set, so Lana sat down and started to play the harp. It was off tune, so she tuned it and began playing again.

Upstairs, the Voivode washed up to get the blood off. He had been ambushed, out with his men and then a young woman, more a girl, was near his room. He trusted no one currently and wondered if she was a spy. Coincidence he gets 'jumped' just as this female shows up.

The next step was to empty all the wine out, in case it was poisoned. He dressed then ran his fingers through his hair. It would do for now, just him, and few guests with the cousin. Vlad stepped out of his room, to hear, beautiful harp music. Perhaps this wouldn't be as terrible a dinner after all?

What else could this Liliana do?

Everyone stood when the prince entered the dining hall. The prince decided a test was required of his new guest. He still didn't trust her, so the woman became the poisoned food tester.

"Evening, I wish to introduce my distant cousin Liliana Draghicescu. As the new guest, I insist she eat first and sample all the dishes, along with the traditional wine choice."

The was a small bow from all the others as Vlad took Liliana's hand then seated her to his right. A servant dished the food up and the young woman started to take a bite from each choice. She drank some of the wine then stopped.

"My Lord, I am uncomfortable eating before you. How much more, do you wish me to eat, before the rest of you start?" Lana replied.

The Prince nodded his head and the rest received their food. He sat down at the head of the table, as a prince should. He ate with purpose and was not in a talkative mood. The other people made small talk about the day. An older woman looked over and saw Liliana eating her food quietly. The young woman looked down at her food the whole time. Lilliana felt eyes on her and looked up. She gave the older woman a polite smile and continued until she was done eating.

Liliana cleared her throat and looked up at Vlad. "My lord thank you for the food. It was delicious and for permitting me to be here. Shall I play some music for you?"

The prince had a wine goblet in his right hand and placed it to his lips, his eyes took time to study her over. He figured she was barely eighteen but old enough to be treacherous. She seemed quite innocent and nervous of him. She had every reason to be. Her hair was a dark, rich brown but it was her eyes that caught his. They were not brown, blue or even green but violet in color. Vlad nodded his head and gave her an arrogant smile.

Liliana rose and headed to the harp again. She hoped if she could find something the prince liked, he would want to keep her around more. The woman wanted to be valuable. Perhaps another man would decide to marry her, and she would be truly taken care of, as long as she bore children. She reminded herself, love was a dream and not a reality.

So, in honor of a dream, the woman started to play an old Romanian love song. Her slender fingers caressed the strings lightly and she closed her eyes, as to feel the music more.

The older woman rose up and grasped her husband's hand. The couple went to an area big enough to dance and they started. The couple were good at dancing so the song had become even more memorable. The young woman opened her eyes to see the older couple. At least her music brought joy to this couple. Perhaps they knew about love, true love?

Perhaps there was hope after all...

The next song brought more couples out to dance. The prince simply watched the merriment around him. Perhaps the music would lower people's defenses and would slip clues to who attacked him today? The woman could serve a purpose and not a waste of resources, to take care of.

She was a princess, in title only, as her family was penniless. He was her last hope, to get a possible suitor or it was the nunnery, for her. It would be a shame, to send her to the nunnery if she turned out, to be a good bed warmer instead. This Liliana was pretty enough to him for that, perhaps she had other skills he could use to his advantage.

That now gave her worth in his eyes.

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"We do whatever we enjoy doing. Whether it happens to be judged good or evil is a matter for others to decide."~H.H. Holmes

Note: third cousins is legal

The researchers found your third or fourth cousin isn't just safe to marry — they're your ideal partner. So go start shaking those branches on the other side of the family tree and see what falls out. Third and fourth cousin marriages are the, quote, “best of both worlds.” They're breakfast food for dinner.Mar 22, 2018

https://11points.com/marry-third-cousin/

In short, yes, it is legal for second and third cousins to marry in the US. Beyong that, state laws get a little more complicated. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures: "Twenty-five states prohibit marriages between first cousins.Apr 1, 2016

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https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/law-and-life/is-it-illegal-to-marry-a-third-cousin/