Adela of High Peak

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Adela of High Peak Viscountess of Valence The appearance of Adela, age 15. (Art by John Rogers Herbert). Queen Mother of Aaun Tenure: 1937 - 1952 Predecessor: Eleanor of Provins Successor: Title in abeyance Lady of Alba Tenure: 1929-1952 Predecessor: Edith of Reinmar Successor: Prince Alexios of Balian Viscountess of Valence Tenure: 1936-Present Predecessor: Title Created Successor: Incumbent Born: 13th of Owyn's Flame, 1908 The March of Haute-Epine, Aaun Spouse: Henry Charles, Lord of Alba (m. 1930) House: Rosius Father: Louis, Marquis of Haute-Epine Mother: Marguerite of Lewes

Adela of High Peak (born Adela-Olympe Dieuxmont de Rosius on the 13th day of Owyn's Flame in the year 1908) was the eldest daughter to Marquis Louis August of Haute-Epine and Marquise Marguerite of Lewes. She was born only minutes after her elder brother, Olivier, Baron of Rosius. Following her twenty-second name day she was betrothed to Crown Prince Henry Charles of Aaun and wed only a few months following, raising her to the status of Lady of Alba and Crown Princess of Aaun.

Following her husbands death, Adela was raised to the title of Viscountess of Valence by the doting old King James of Aaun, however after the King's death she began to style herself as Queen Mother, not only to assert herself within the courts, but also within the council of regents that advised her son.

Early Life

Adela-Olympe Dieuxmont de Rosius was born on the 13th day of Owyn's Flame, 1908, to the Margrave Louis August of Haute-Epine and his wife Lady Marguerite of Lewes, from which her name is derived. Following her fifth nameday her father employed a fleet of governesses and servants to educate his eldest children. Her brother, the Baron of Rosius, was educated in matters of politics while Adela learned harp and needlepoint, two hobbies she took quite a liking to. However Adela’s governesses were somewhat inattentive, leaving the girl with only her hobbies to entertain her.

In the peak of her tenth year Adela was sent to her aunt Henriette, the then Duchess of Minitz, to serve as a Lady-in-Waiting in the still growing court of Minitz. She would often go missing from courtly events in exchange for the company of the townspeople of Brandthof, from which she learned many games she would later introduce to the courts of Aaun.

"Adela, Lady of Alba and Henriette, Grand Princess Minitz - Niece and Aunt", by The Court Painter of Minitz.

The Adrian Rebellion

During her time as lady-in-waiting to the Minitz Duchess, and in tandem with the outbreak of the Adrian rebellion, many of the Aaunic citizens who had previously lived in Adria began to flock to Brandthof in masses; namely the Count Varoche, his wife Anna of Alstion, and their daughter Isabella Varoche who would later go on to be a dear friend of Adela’s. Throughout the war Adela exchanged letters with her father, as he was stationed in Florentine to begin establishing a safe haven for refugees unable to house themselves within Brandthof, regarding the war. The letters mostly regard familial relations, though on occasion- as expected- there were mentions of the war, a topic in which Adela found no interest.

“Please, Father. Let there be news soon of this needless war’s conclusion. I so long to return to our home, this place is not right for me. I find little enjoyment in that cold palace with Henriette, it is no fun here.”

However, in one excerpt of the letters exchanged between father and daughter the girl expressed her feelings regarding the war following the public Adrian execution of the Count Varoche and his son, and heir,Charles Stefan Varoche. It was clear, alongside her natural maturation, the war had wisened Adela in matters of politics:

“My dear companion has lost her father, the war does nothing but tear families apart. My dear Isabella is forlorn after the loss of her father, and Princess Anna is forced into mourning at such a young age. You must put a stop to this war, please!”

Despite the war, and the sadness that came in tandem with such a catastrophic world event, Adela found ways to enjoy herself within the city of Brandthof alongside new companions in the citizens of the city as well as rare trips across the realm when the war permitted.

Adela of High Peak" (circa 1922), by The Court Painter of Minitz. A portrait commissioned by the Marquis of High Peak during his time in the City of Florentine.

Within her fourteenth summer, while on holiday in the city of Atrus, Adela first heard of her betrothal to Crown Prince Henry of Aaun from a pair of chatty Balianese courtiers. In response to the lady of High Peak’s flippant attitude regarding the impending union the courtiers were noted sarcastically replying, “What is a crown worth if not great fun”.

Marriage

The betrothal of Crown Prince Henry and Lady Adela Olympe was announced only three months preceding the union and it is said that the palace worked without sleep to ensure the couple was well prepared for the upcoming nuptials. In the short time prior to their wedding Adela spoke highly of her to-be husband, often regarding him as agreeable and personable among her ladies at court. However, her cheery disposition and childlike outlook garnered some negative attention from a few impertinent courtiers saying, “She looks like a child.” in regards to the to-be Crown princess.

The union took place in the Temple of the Four Exalted, the first since the temple’s completion, on the 22nd of Owyn’s Flame, 1930. Adela regarded her betrothed as “handsome and agreeable” to her maids of honor as they began to ready themselves for the procession.

Despite her somewhat rocky start at court, Adela’s public opinion skyrocketed following her wedding day and the many public appearances she made following her union to Prince Henry’s announcement. Coins were minted in honor of the union, namely a coin titling Adela “The Rose of Aaun”. Following the wedding papers were published naming the new Crown Princess a fashion icon of Aaunic ladies, and regarding her as the “More fashionable of the royal couple” [1]. Still, however, many doubted Adela possessed the proficiency expected from the future Queen of Aaun, though her absence of political skill was made up for tenfold in the beauty and charisma she possessed.

As Lady of Alba

Following her union to Crown Prince Henry of Aaun, Adela garnered far more public attention than she was used to, however, the public’s eye found itself warmly welcomed by their new Crown Princess. Due to her naturally charismatic disposition, Adela was well liked among the citizens of Whitespire and made many quick friendships among those living within the city. However, despite being well liked among the citizens, Adela was known to carry herself in ways not accustomed to a Royal Princess of the staunchly traditional Johannian Dynasty. Most notably, during a meeting of the city council, the Lady Alba was supposedly ‘up to childlike antics’.

Juxtaposed with her great success in friendships with the common folk, Adela found great difficulty asserting herself within the Clementine Court with many courtiers taking note of her naivety and general childlike disposition. Due to this, she was quickly taken advantage of at court, and a few ambitious courtiers even tried their hand at manipulating the Crown Princess in hopes of raising their own position at court. In a pivotal moment during Adela’s tenure as Crown Princess whilst Henry was away on a diplomatic mission in Numendil the city of Whitespire was threatened with an attack of darkspawn. In a nervous frenzy Adela charged a retinue of Aaunic soldiers to extract salt from the Silver Sea that sat adjacent the city and to line each doorway of the city with the salt.

Throughout this all, she still had not produced a child, as was expected of her as the future Queen of Aaun. This caused much stress, not only between the newly wedded couple, but also throughout the Clementine Court. Principally in a month of extreme dejection for the Crown Princess rumors of the wedding’s dissolvement spread throughout the court as she was especially tense, though only a few short months later she gave birth to her first, and only, son, Edmund. Following the birth of her son, Adela and Henry grew far apart, hardly seen together at public engagements. Despite this, they managed to further secure the line of succession with the birth of their second child, a daughter. Most scandalously, their daughter - Mary - was born with flaxen trusses just as her mother had which of course caused rumors of the girl’s parentage but such was hastily dispelled by her doting mother. However, shortly after Mary’s birth, Henry met an untimely death prior to ever ascending the throne. Stricken with grief, Adela was not seen at court for nearly three weeks as she’d hardly left her chambers. Once she finally did rejoin the court, prior to the death of the elderly King James, Adela received the styling Viscountess of Valence which she would utilize to maintain her station within the Royal Household until her son’s ascension to the throne only a few months later.

Viscountess of Valence & Queen-Mother

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Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage
Edmund II	1933	1952	Unwed	Firstborn son of Adela and Henry. King of Aaun.
Mary Cecillia Alstion	1935	Alive	Unwed	Firstborn daughter of Adela and Henry.

Titles, Styles, and Honors

Titles and Styles

• 1908-Present: Her Ladyship, Adela-Olympe of High Peak
• 1930-1935: Her Royal Highness, the Lady of Alba
• 1936-Present: Her Royal Highness, the Viscountess of Valence
• 1937-1952: Her Majesty, the Queen Mother