Sanguine

Another New Countess

More time passed and soon, only two Karnstein children remained in the castle: Magdalena and Mircalla. The others had all gone their separate ways. Matilda had finally married off, ending up as a countess anyway, just in the different castle. Maria, herself, had been married off. It pained Ferenc to see her go, but her husband was a prince. It would've been foolish to deny the request. So now Maria was a country away, but still just as bossy. Margreta had also married off, moving as far away as England. Maximiliana had also since married off to some small lord a few countries off. The lord in particular died after Maximiliana conceived her third child. This left her as the sole proprietor of that castle. Or at least, it would until the deceased lord's brother could come and lay claim to the castle.

So that left Magdalena and Mircalla and the castle needed another new countess.

"I guess you'll be it," Mircalla sighed, both in envy and in weariness. "I hope I get married off soon."

"You're only 16," Magdalena reminded her younger sister.

"So? I've heard of nobles who married off at 12!" Mircalla argued half-heartedly.

"Those were just rumors. That doesn't happen that often," Magdalena waved Mircalla off.

"Whatever," the younger deadpanned, although she knew that Magdalena was right.

"Besides, if anything, I'm going to marry off first because I'm older," Magdalena added a moment later.

"What?" Mircalla snorted.

"The oldest always gets to go first!" she said. "It's how numbers work!"

"Yeah, Magdalena, I am well aware of how numbers work," Mircalla replied sarcastically. "But in case you didn't realize, just because you were born first doesn't mean you'll marry first. Besides, what about Matilda? Papa replaced her with Maria, remember?"

"Yes, I remember, but Matilda was still countess first when Papa went away to war," Magdalena said.

"That wasn't a war, it was a skirmish," Mircalla argued. "It was temporary."

"Yeah, but she still went first so that means I will marry first because we always go in order!" Magdalena declared stubbornly. Mircalla could only roll her eyes. God, her sister was stupid! Mircalla could not wait to marry out of this wasteland...

But sadly, it was not to be. Instead, just after Maria finally moved out of the castle for the last time, Ferenc called Mircalla to his bedside. He was ancient, but still very much alive. In the back of her mind, Mircalla wondered when he would finally just keel over, and if there was any way she could help speed that process along. It was a dark thought, but rather than being bothered by it, she was amused. Clearly, living under Ferenc and Maria's thumbs had done a number on her. Most of her sweetness was gone and she-

"Mircalla!" Ferenc snapped. "Are you listening?"

"Yes, Papa, I am sorry," the young woman bowed humbly, knowing it would appease her father. It worked and his wrath subsided.

"I was trying to tell you that you are to become the next countess of Karnstein," he rasped.

Initially, he had not wanted Mircalla to be countess because she was too soft and sweet for his liking. As callous as she thought she was, it was all a farce. The only people she acted cynical and bitter around were her father and sisters. Towards everyone else, though, except the servants, she could still be very friendly and likable and enjoyable. She may not have realized it, but the others did. Visitors to Karnstein often were charmed by Mircalla's smiles and pleasantries. Ferenc didn't like it, but with him and his wife too old to lead, and Magdalena being the only other choice...

As much as Ferenc disliked his youngest, his second youngest was worse. She was incredibly obedient, something Ferenc did like, but she was so stupid. Intelligence may not have been a woman's strong suit or a woman's place, in Ferenc's mind, but Magdalena was a cut above the rest. She was as hollow as a dying tree and twice as stupid. Ferenc would've rather had Mircalla in power because at least she had some common sense.

Besides, Ferenc told himself, as nice as Mircalla was right now, he could still train it out of her. Because there was no way he'd surrender Karnstein to Magdalena or any other weak woman. No, he would give Mircalla a hardened heart, and then she would be even better than Maria ever was. Those were some high standards but, as far as Ferenc was concerned, they were going to happen. His body was weak but his mind was not.

"But what about Magdalena?" asked Mircalla once she'd absorbed what Ferenc had said.

"What about her?" the man asked coldly. "She can rot in the dungeons or go marry the first man who will be crazy enough to take her for all I care!" there was true venom in his voice as he said this and even Mircalla felt a twinge of pity for her older sister, but it didn't last.

"Very well," she bowed her head again. Ferenc beckoned for Mircalla to come closer.

"Starting right now, you are the new countess of Karnstein and I, personally, will show you how to run this place. Am I understood?" he growled.

"Yes, sir," Mircalla replied with another dutiful nod, her eyes empty.

"Good," the old man rasped. "Then let's get started."