The Edelsteins

Marge

Marge Edelstein never wanted to be a queen—nor does her parents want her to be. When King Freidank hosted a soirée to fish potential suitor for their uninterested son, Prince Conrad, Marge and her neighbor, Alys Verbeck agreed to not come and risks their family name in the eye of the king. Though at the very day of it, both found themselves sitting next to each other. When King Freidank hosted a winter ball, they told one another that they won't be coming either and still finding themselves in the arm of their own gentlemen during the ball.

"That was Lord Alec Wilson." Alys whispered as they both stand at the provision table, plucking the tender lamb meat away from lettuces and whatsnot. "I don't like this green thing..." she complained.

"How did you land a Wilson?" Marge asked back in between her munches. "Did you pick him because both your name starts with Al? Would you name your child Al too?"

"What? No!" Alys elbowed. "At least not soon. Who was that fair gentleman you brought with you? He's very comely. I like him, though I'm sure I saw him a lot, I can't quite put my finger to his name."

"Fair? Comely? Alys, my darling," Marge put her plate on the table. "He's the Gaillart Achatius and he is a treat!"

"I've heard of him, perhaps. How did you-- oh, mind me not. Shall we turn ourselves back to our gentlemen?"

And in a blink of an eye, Marge found herself standing in front of Gaillart Achatius once more after the ball ended. Cradled to the man of every woman's heart, stand the meek Alys Verbeck. It was four winters after the ball. Marge was as joyful as the bride. It was the one moment that Marge will treasure later in life. She will have a painting of this moment with the three of them hung in her living room, next to the picture of her baby son.

Not longer than soon, Gaillart and Alys moved to their kin abode in Garth Haught. Then sat Marge Edelstein alone in her summer house with the endless winter on her heels. She employed her spare time with a municipal orchestra that plays often. In the near future, this municipal orchestra will be the main royal entertainment that King Freidank brought to be. Sometimes she traveled alone through the park, making acquaintances of lords and ladies in her path. With no bosom friend nor a gentleman on her arm, she quickly catches the attention of certain Grisel Richolf who often walk alongside either Prince Conrad or Lord Vincent Gilesbie.

The bond between Marge and Grisel came to be when Marge approached her one fine evening in the park. Both without bosom friend, a gentleman, nor a strong family bond—camaraderie came almost instantly to both. Marge accepted eagerly when Grisel invited her for a hot pie supper. While letting the pie cools, Marge asked if Grisel liked being around the prince or the upcoming grand duke. Grisel, unlike Alys, doesn't speak much of her opinion, only things as they are—and Marge loved her that very night. She asked of Werthsylvan and in return, Grisel asked about Brookested. Marge came home late that night and dear mother was furious, but she was happy and that matter most to her.

After their first encounter, Marge saw more of Grisel in more get-together. Sometimes they skip the main event and went on a walk, but wherever they go, either the prince or the upcoming grand duke seems to follow. Grisel was very much unlike Alys, but she loved both the same. When soft Alys catches none an eye, Grisel turns head where she lay her toe. When chatty Alys was closer in mind than frame, Grisel touches Marge as if Marge is a man of her own heart.

But her friendship with Grisel only lasts for a while. While she was jolly upon the arrival of his brother, Rudi, from the many years he devoted to the naval service, Grisel left for Werthsylvan without so much a goodbye. While she felt woeful about Grisel's departure, Rudi's company was all she needed at the time.

She saw Alec Wilson again one fine evening at the Grand Duke's tea party. They talked until the night ended and he offered to take her home. Though they canoodle along the way, she wasn't a fool of a woman. Even then she knew that she would not score a Wilson even if she made the effort to. From then on, she saw more of Alec Wilson. What stopped her from doing Alec further later on was Rudi, who then made sure both will not cross path anymore.