Princess Anna Lucilla, Countess of Varoche

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Anna of Alstion "Princess Anna of Aaun" c.1906. Countess consort of Varoche Tenure: 1910-1916 Predecessor: Emigliana Sofia of Napoliza Successor: Incumbent Born: 11th of Snow’s Maiden, 1883, Palatio Monterosa, Atrus, Balian Spouse: Sigismond, Count of Varoche (m. 1910) House: Alstion Father: Charles I, King of Aaun Mother: Eleanor of Provins

Anna Lucilla Alstion (11th of Snow's Maiden, 1883 - present) of the House of Alstion, was the youngest child born to Prince Charles of Alstion, later King Charles of Aaun, and his wife Eleanor of Provins. She was styled as Countess of Varoche, the first in nearly two centuries, by marriage to her husband. After his execution amidst the Adrian Rebellion,

Early Life & Adolescence

Born in the bleak midwinter within the Southern city of Atrus, Anna's most premature years were spent at the Courts of Monterosa under the Kingdom of Balian, with her mother being positioned as the governess at the time following the fall of Oren and subsequent dividing of the Heartlands. Her father was not present during her childhood due to his brief separation from Eleanor, and thus Anna grew up with little to no father figure. As a young child, Anna was largely isolated from the other children at court, likely a result of the strained relationship her mother held with the other ladies at the time. As a result of this, the young Anna mostly kept to herself and was made to find solace in the company of her siblings and various statesmen her mother befriended.

At the age of six, the Alstion family embarked to Aeldin in exploration of the Southern colonies, namely Fausten and the surrounding areas. Whilst her elder siblings were fast approaching adolescence, Anna herself was still very much a small girl of little dialect during these travels and Eleanor sought the opportunity to enrol Anna into the prestigious Aeldenic finishing school of Brillantmont. Despite early reluctance, Eleanor as a maternal figure was firm and expecting, leaving Anna no choice but to succumb to the education. Two years after their arrival on Aeldin, the family made a tearful departure back to Almaris, leaving Anna behind to begin her studies in politics and philosophy, amongst other subjects. Said studies would prove to be extremely fruitful in nurturing Anna's character and intellect, and she had been known to accredit the school for providing both liberty and a number of philosophical influences in her adolescence, of which went on to shape her well into adulthood.

Return to Almaris

Despite remaining in steadfast contact with her family via letters, and thus wholly informed on the establishment of the United Kingdom of Aaun [1], with her father instilled as King Charles I, Anna opted to remain at Brillantmont until her eighteenth nameday. Upon the month commencing, a ship baring the Alstion Coat of Arms was sent to collect Anna from the Aeldenic city of Velling, of which she then embarked on the lengthy journey back to the Almarisian crownlands under the encouragement of her family. Anna arrived in the early hours of the day to a now united heartlands, and as a subsequent Aaunic princess.

The next few years saw Anna become somewhat of a socialite, and within the year of her arrival she'd already been accredited to sparking a resurgence in Illatian hairstyling amongst Heartlander women of the time, of which were often adorned with decorative hairnets, coiffures, ribbon and gold wiring. She became known firstly for her undeniable beauty, though soon for her charisma, kindness, and wit, with many at the time describing her as 'agreeable'. Befittingly, the princess's social circle was wide and varying, known to have been a close confidante to Princess Augustina of Balian, Edith of Reinmar, Duchess Austina of Adria and Marguerite of Lewes. During this time it was also recorded that Anna visited Valfleur for informal lunch with Renilde I, Archduchess of The Petra, though little else is known about the matter.

As the Countess of Varoche; 1910-1916

Anna's early adulthood was spent largely from place to place due to her newfound independence and search for likeminded philosophers across Almaris, and she was often attending foreign parties and balls across the realm. Sometime during this period, Anna was thought to have been briefly acquainted to Sigismond Varoche, a Royal Advisor to her father and ten years her senior, within Velec, though they grew close after exchanging many letters to one another over the course of three years. In one letter Anna writes; "Pressures from both my mother and the Lady Chamberlain on the subject of my marriage grow ever frequent, [...] I fear that soon I shall be bored quite to death." (c.1908).

Marriage

In the late Summer of 1909, Austina, Duchess of Adria, of whom was thought to have been the matchmaker of the pair, and Princess Anna announced the wedding of the latter and Sir Sigismond Varoche, patriarch of the House Varoche, titled 'The Varoche Affair' [2] in witty reference to the House's infamous scandal over a century prior. It was assumed that both the Duchess and Queen Eleanor were aware of Sigismond’s later ennoblement as the Count of Varoche in the succeeding month hence why the marriage went ahead under Eleanor’s regime as both an austere mother and ambitious queen. The ceremony itself occurred one year later within the Basilica of St. Alexander of Furnestock and was officiated by High Pontiff Pontian IV.

The bridal party, consisting of three flower girls; her niece Princess Adeline, her step-daughter Lorina Varoche, and Kzenia Adriata Sarkozic, as well as two bridesmaids, namely Amelia Varoche and Anna's then ward Philippa von Reuss, later Margravine of Velen, were all dressed in matching locally-tailored dresses in signature Alstion purple. Anna herself wore the wedding dress of her ancestor, Henrietta, Princess of Alstion, of which itself was an iteration of a dress worn by Emigliana of Napoliza, Anna's predecessor as Countess of Varoche. Moreover, the dress was stylized with a grand pearl tiara and a rose embroidered veil. She was seen up the aisle by her father in traditional manner, and the ceremony was attended by many of the noble families of Aaun and Adria alike, as well as members of the royal family of Balian.

Following the matrimony, guests rode with the bridegroom from the capital to the Adrian town of Velec as a symbolic hand off. Celebrations continued on arrival, where guests partied into the late evening around the bonfire of Adria, with food and drink aplenty provided by House Varoche. Notably, Anna received a wedding gift of a yellow Pygmy flint lizard from the Balianic County of Salia, said to be in the very image of the golden Aeldenic dragon pictured upon the House Alstion coat of arms.

Anna gave birth to her first child with Sigismond one year later, a daughter named Isabella, of whom was affectionately called the 'Bel fiore' by family. The birth was thought to have been physically excruciating for Anna and nearly cost her her life.

The Adrian Rebellion

With Sigismond as the Lord Chancellor of Adria, the Varoche family had been brought to the near forefront of the Adrian political sphere, and many had expected him to be a strong candidate for the next Duke of Adria. This could have very well been the case, though in the year 1916 the Chancellor released a public statement titled 'Heinrik's Folly' [3] in which the Duke Heinrik Sarkozic was accused of a vast number of crimes against humanity and the church; consorting with Azdrazi, adultery, kinslaying, as well as fraternizing with heretics, to name just a few. This letter was signed by a majority of Adrian council members, as well as the King himself. In the days after the missive was made public, Anna garnered support for her husband's claim, and was additionally placed upon his council as an advisor. Following this, the Adrian Rebellion was sparked, and following Heinrik's denouncement he used the opportunity to proclaim Adrian independence with the backing of the Neo-Renatians, of whom had since began to flood into the city of Velec. Perhaps ironically, these same Neo-Renatians were those named in the original denouncement as heretical due to their burning of the Golden City of Ves centuries prior.

In the following year, with the war still very much raging on, Sigismond Varoche was captured by the Adrian marshal, Joseph Vasile, along with an unnamed backing force, within the Commonwealth of the Petra. He was then taken to Veletzia alongside a son, Charles Varoche, from his previous marriage. The two were publicly executed within the city, leaving Anna widowed at thirty four.

Days after this event, of which had devastated Anna entirely, and upon also hearing word of the recent capture of Duchess Henriette of Minitz, she wrote to the royal family of Balian seeking refuge for herself and her daughter. The letter was said to have detailed the growing danger amidst the heartlands, and upon acceptance of King Alexander I, Anna left the March of Velen where she was being temporarily housed and made the journey South to Atrus. Once settled, Anna entered an official period of mourning, and she was described by Balianese courtiers alike a 'passing shadow', clad only in full black garb and a veil to conceal her deep grievance.

Throughout the duration of the war Anna was consistently attending mass and making donations to the cause.

Titles and Styles

• 1883 - 1893 Her Serenity, The Hereditary Princess Anna of Alstion

• 1894 - Present Her Royal Highness, The Princess Anna of Aaun

• 1909 - Present Her Royal Highness, The Princess Anna of Aaun, Dame of the Order of the Petrine Laurel, Hero of The Petra

• 1910 - 1916 Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Varoche, Dame of the Order of the Petrine Laurel, Hero of The Petra

• 1917 - Present Her Royal Highness, The Dowager Countess of Varoche, Dame of the Order of the Petrine Laurel, Hero of The Petra

Full title as Countess of Varoche

Her Royal Highness, Princess Anna of The United Kingdom of Aaun, Countess of Varoche, Dame of the Order of the Petrine Laurel, Hero of The Petra

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage	Notes
Isabella Fiorel Varoche	1912	Living	Unwed	Firstborn child to Anna and Sigismond. Thought to be an exceptionally complicated birth.
Emilio Sigismondo Varoche	1916	Living	Unwed	Secondborn child to Anna and Sigismond. Born during the Adrian rebellion after Sigismond's death and thus named in his honour.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Anna Lucilla, Countess of Varoche

16. Henry Stephen, Prince of Alstion               8. James Francis, Prince of Alstion                       17. Aileen d'Anpalais               4. Leopold John, Prince of Alstion                             18. Malcolm Gromach               9. Mairi Adelheid Gromach                       19. Maria Tiberia Beauclair               2. Charles I, King of Aaun                                   20. Frederick Owyn, Count of Ravensburg               10. Robert Victor, Count of Ravensburg                       21. Constance Maria Hartcold               5. Victoria Elisabeth de Ravensburg                             22. Issak Castile               11. Esther Castile                       23. Jynnah de Ravensburg               1. Princess Anna of Aaun                                         24. John Michael, Viscount of Provins               12. Simon Casimir, Viscount of Provins                       25. Casimira of Pompourelia               6. Philip Michael, Viscount of Provins                             26. Philip II, Holy Orenian Emperor               13. Princess Anne, Duchess of Auvergne                       27. Judith Alice of Rochefort               3. Eleanor of Provins                                   28. Griffith 'of Gwynon' Ashford de Savoie               14. Olivier I, Prince of Savoy                       29. Maria Luisa Ashford de Bar               7. Princess Claude of Savoy                             30. Adrian Othodoric, Count of Rochefort               15. Adeline of Rochefort                       31. Charlotte Rosamund Pruvia-Albarosa