Austina of Aldersberg

This page contains information about a character that has been or is still played by a member of the LotC community. Please keep this in mind as you proceed reading.

Austina of Aldersberg "The Duel Countess" by Stefaniya de Sarkozy, c.1904 Countess of Aldersberg Tenure: 1909 - 1914 Predecessor: Edward Clement, Count of Aldersberg Successor: Cressida Marie of Aldersberg Duchess-Consort of Adria Tenure: 1903 - 1914 Predecessor: Charlotte of Aldersberg Countess-Consort of Veletzia Tenure: 1897 - 1914 Predecessor: Founded Baroness of Aldersberg Tenure: 1887 - 1904 Predecessor: Alexander Leopold, Baron of Aldersberg Born: 11th of Owyn’s Flame, 1876, County of Aldersberg, Kingdom of Oren Death: 8th of Harren’s Folly, 1914, Velec, Adria Spouse: Heinrik, Duke of Adria m. 1897 House: House of Aldersberg Father: Edward Clement, Count of Aldersberg Mother: Anne of Sunholdt

Austina of Aldersberg (13th of Tobias' Bounty, 1872 - 8th of Harren’s Folly, 1914) was the eldest daughter of Edward Clement, Count of Aldersberg, and his wife, Anne of Sunholdt. She'd serve as a ward to Queen Amadea of Susa, Baroness of Aldersberg, and later the first Shieldmaiden of the Circle of Saint Emma in Petra. Eventually, she would settle down with the Duke of Adria, Heinrik Otto, and take the name Sarkozic. Amid her tenure as Duchess, she’d be known for hosting short, yet flashy parties, between her bouts of illness that kept her bedridden.

Early Life

Austina Prudence Novellen-Aldersberg was born on the 13th of Tobias’ Bounty in 1872 to the Count of Aldersberg and his consort, Anne of Sunholdt. She was subsequently welcomed into the world five years after her elder brother's birth, being the only daughter between the pair. Her birth was seen as a symbol of peace between her bickering parents. Austina was named after her parental great-grandmother, Anne I, and only two years later her little brother Arthur Marie would be born.

Edward would later comment on how alike Austina looked to her parental aunt, Georgiana. “Her tresses just as platinum, and her eyes just as inquisitive.”

"The Lady Prudence" by Swanhilda de Owynsburg, c.1879

As an infant, her father was stressed by the changing political states instigating her care to be entrusted solely to her mother. Austina was diagnosed with multiple illnesses ranging from fevers to deadly ailments that kept her locked inside her bed chamber for months. When ill, her mother treated her with loving diligence. However, as her physical state improved her mother's treatment of her worsened. Her face would be bruised numerous times and her wrists would be sprained to restrain the girl into behaving a certain way.

Austina eventually adapted and became quiet and alienated from other children, including her siblings. She’d learn to serve her mother, being instructed on well-bred manners, ways of dress, and proper court politics. In her free time, she’d read, her only solace found in history books. The only reason Austina ever learned to write was due to her older brother gifting her a series of novels that he had learned from, published by a company in Hanseti-Ruska.

Whilst she was customarily kept inside the Aldersberg residence, on the few times the youthful Aldersberg did appear in public during her juvenility, she was always accompanied by her father. Many of the nobility noted her cheery disposition and how she could charm anyone she’d become acquainted with. Little did most know about the estrangement at home.

Ward of Haense

Following the victory of The Eastern Almaris Treaty, Austina would be sent away by her father in 1880 to travel to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska to ward under the Queen, Amadea. No longer under the strict thumb of her mother, she’d finally formed friendships. Noteworthy ones are Elia Colborn, Manon Yvaine, Baroness of Verskaya, and her distant cousin Viorica Irena, Countess of Jerovitz.

As a ward, her perfectionist upbringing and fondness for history set her above the rest. She’d be given the task of compiling the biographies of all the Princess Royals in Haense history and Austina took this assignment seriously. It took her almost two years of rigorous study until it would be edited and formally published in 1884 as her first missive [1]. Thereafter she’d help write multiple biographies for the Grand Ladies of Haense, however, those were never published.

Baroness of Aldersberg

On a trip to visit his love, Princess Octavia Helen Novellen, Austina's older brother, Alexander Leopold, would succumb to a bandit attack leaving no heirs or successors other than Austina herself. After a quick mourning period, she'd take up the Baroness title on the 7th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1888. Her first action as Baroness, as instructed by her mother, was to find herself a husband. Together, they concocted a scheme for her to take the hand of Valdemar Baruch, the heir to the Duchy of Valwyck. Yet, Austina could never get close enough to the young suitor to enact said plan, especially after her debut in Lifstala.

Lifstala

A portrait of Austina's debut outfit at Lifstala c.1889

Upon the eve of her 19th name day, all the ladies in the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska gathered early in the courtroom dressed in their finery to debut in front of the Queen, Princess Royal, and Grand Lord, for the 5th Lifstala Season. This one, unlike the others, spanned women of all nationalities and ages. Austina found herself in a sea of brides with little to no grooms.

She was the 5th to present, wearing a gown of pastel yellows with delicate floral designs and a large royal red cape. Atop her head was the Tiara of Furnestock, a most prized possession. Yet, as gracefully as she walked, her discussion at the edge of the aisle ended with failure. As she curtsied to the Queen and her companions, the Princess Royal, Analiesa Josefina, asked her what she would do if she were to marry a Prince. Reportedly, Austina gave a rather simple answer which displeased the Princess Royal enough to send the dais into silence. The awkwardness of the situation sent the Baroness into ruin, leaving her no choice but to end her wardship under the Queen and leave Hanseti-Ruska immediately to protect her family's honor.

At the same time, the younger brother of the Baroness, Arthur Marie, was engaged to a woman who was shortly disowned by her family. The scandals surrounding this era not only marked the downfall of the line of Aldersberg but the downfall of Austina herself.

Vanishing to Petra

Austina would use her family's connections to rehome herself as a simple secretary to Miss Yvaine Beitris, leaving Arthur to fend for himself. In this action, she seemingly gave up. This was until, by God's grace, she was recruited by the Archduke of Petra, Paul Salvian, to serve as the very first shieldmaiden of the Circle of Saint Emma. Austina took this role with great honor, gathering up all the ladies in the land and attempting to unify them under common hobbies, goals, and dreams. Something she would later achieve as Duchess of Adria.

Her time as Shieldmaiden was cut short by a recurring illness that kept her bound to a sickbed for many years. During this time, the heirlooms of Aldersberg were briefly in the trusted hands of her cousin, Viorica. Furthermore, she would announce to Yvaine that the title of Aldersberg ought to die with her. It was a cursed lineage, and she herself had all but given up knowing how most of her paternal aunts had passed at her age.

Marriage

A Portrait of Austina and Heinrik c. 1900

Austina found that her presence in Petra was more than welcomed, having two brief flirtations with men of the land but refusing to marry either. This was because her cousin, Viorica, had read her fortune many years prior. This fortune indicated that she would not only marry well above her station but that as long as she was gentle with her husband, their love would be eternal.

She held onto this future, praying for it nightly, along with her health. This was until one day, she would be granted a knock at the door of her tiny cabin. Yvaine had brought a simple, yet ambitious, Heinrik Sarkozic, to her door. The pair hit it off instantly, with his thirst for greatness and her detailed initiative from years of tutorage under her mother. He would tend to her for many moons, waiting for her to garner enough health for them to wed. During this, he would confess to her his dreams of reuniting the Crow houses under the banner of Adria once more. She, awestruck, happily engaged herself in his dream.

They would wed in 1897 in a private ceremony registered by Heinrik's cousin, High Pontiff Pontian IV, with her mother, Anne of Sunholdt, as a witness to the service. Austina wore the same wedding gown as her mother, which she was gifted by her husband who was granted the gown by Amadea of Pomp. Together, they would move to the capital of Aaun so that Heinrik could continue his service to the crown and she as the new Countess of Veletzia.

Duchess of Adria

Heinrik was first elected duke in 1896 before the pair were married, but due to certain disagreements, it was considered void. As the people readied up for another election, Austina would be aiding in the completion of the Castle Saint Emalyne and the beginnings of the City of Velec. She would also give birth to her first child, Suzana Otta, in 1902 after a tragic accident pertaining to her husband's kidnapping. Austina would blame Heinrik for Suzana's sickly condition, putting the first strains on their marriage.

"The Duchess of Adria" by Stefaniya de Sarkozy c.1911

In 1903, as Austina was pregnant with her husband's second child, the fourth Dumapalooza was hosted in the kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. There, Heinrik was elected duke for a second time and this time, it was official. Viorica had been correct. As they returned to Veletiza, they were met with thunderous applause and adoring Adrians waiting earnestly for their home to be returned to them. Later that year, Viktor Stefan was born followed by two more between the years of 1904-1906. As a mother, she was strict and would punish both of her daughters heavily for any minor missteps.

- Went on to write the biographies for the duchesses of Adria - Began to write the duke of Adria's biographies, but passed before such could be completed - Began a wardship program where she fostered many young Adrian lady's hobbies. (Lorena and Lemons, Wilhelmina and painting) - Collected more tiaras - Played matchmaker between Princess Anna and Count Sigismond and Count Jan and her niece, Cressida - Declining marriage - Barony of Aldersberg raised to a County

Death and Legacy

Austina's health began to decline in the early 1910s, being put on forced bedrest along with her eldest daughter, Suzana. This time was hard on her and the people of Adria who felt abandoned by the Duchess for little knew of her true ailments. For almost four years, she would battle feverishly but to no avail. In a last-ditch effort, she would open the walls of Castle Saint Emalyne for guests. During this period, she would learn of her husband's ill intentions and adultery as she lay in bed sick. This sent her into a frenzy where she would stab him in the arm in front of guests before fainting from exhaustion.

Austina would never wake after this, being pronounced dead in the midnight hours of the 8th of Harren’s Folly, 1914. She had succumbed to her lifelong battle with Leukemia, leaving little to no instructions. Her title as Countess of Aldersberg and relics would pass to her only known relative, Cressida of Aldersberg, and her belongings would be sold.

Titles and Styles

• 1872 - 1888 Her Ladyship, Austina of Aldersberg
• 1888 - 1892 The Right Honorable, Austina, Baroness of Aldersberg
• 1892 - 1897 The Right Honorable, Dame Austina 'The Affluent', Baroness of Aldersberg, Shieldmaiden of the Circle of Saint Emma
• 1897 - 1903 The Right Honorable, Dame Austina 'The Affluent', Baroness of Aldersberg, Countess-Consort of Veletzia, Dame of the Circle of Saint Emma
• 1903-1914 Her Grace The Duchess of Adria, Countess of Aldersberg, Countess-Consort of Veletzia, Dame of the Circle of Saint Emma, Mistress of Castle Saint Emalyne

Full Style as Duchess consort of Adria

Her Grace, Dame Austina 'The Affluent', Countess of Aldersberg, Duchess-Consort of Adria, Countess-Consort of Veletzia, Dame of the Circle of Saint Emma, Mistress of Castle Saint Emalyne

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage
Suzana Otta Sarkozic	15th of the Sun’s Smile, 1902	Alive	Unwed	Firstborn child of Heinrik and Austina. Born two months early due to stress on the mother which resulted in a lifetime of sickness.
Viktor Stefan Sarkozic	6th of Owyn's Flame, 1903	Alive	Unwed	Secondborn child of Heinrik and Austina
Markus Marie Sarkozic	8th of Owyn's Flame, 1904	Alive	Unwed	Thirdborn child of Heinrik and Austina
Kzenia Adriata Sarkozic	20th of Horen's Calling, 1906	Alive	Unwed	Fourthborn child of Heinrik and Austina

Ancestors

Ancestors of Austina of Aldersberg

16. Joseph II, Holy Orenian Emperor               8. Prince Joseph Leopold, Count of Aldersberg                       17. Anne I, Holy Orenian Empress               4. Prince George Alexander, Count of Aldersberg                             18. Henry Louis, Count of Österland               9. Henrietta Maria of Österland                       19. Angelika Helena of Kvasz               2. Edward Clement, Count of Aldersberg                                   20. Iskander Alexios, Count of Susa               10. Anthony Alexios, Count of Susa                       21. Elizabeth of Helena, Princess Imperial, Countess of Rosemoor               5. Juiya Rose of Susa                             22. Erik, Duke of Reutov               11. Valeria Eleanor of Reutov                       23. Theresa Polyxena of Sunholdt               1. Austina Novellen-Aldersberg                                         24. Alexander-Lucian d’Arkent               12. Peter Alexander, Duke of Sunholdt                       25. Victoria Adelheid of Balain               6. John Alexander d'Arkent                             26. Philip II, Holy Orenian Emperor               13. Josephine of Crestfall, Princess Imperial, Duchess of Crestfall                       27. Judith Alice of Rochefort               3. Anne Josephine of Sunholdt                                   28. John Michael, Viscount of Provins               14. Simon Casimir, Viscount of Provins                       29. Casimira Philippa of Pompourelia               7. Anne Adelheid Pruvia                             30. Philip II, Holy Orenian Emperor               15. Princess Anne of Crestfall, Duchess of Auvergne                       31. Judith Alice of Rochefort