Mary Casimira of Carrington

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Dame Mary Casimira The appearance of Mary Casimira, age 34 (Art by Alexis Grimou). Governor of the Augustine Palace Tenure: 14th of The First Seed, 1821 - 1847 Predecessor: Anna Henrietta of Provins Successor: Anna Mariya d'Arkent Born: 1803, Trissingham Court, Augustine Palace, Providence, Oren Spouse: Viathan Aleksandr Othaman House: House of Carrington Father: Charles Augustus, 3rd Baron Carrington

Mary Casimira, of the House Carrington was the firstborn daughter of Charles, Baron of Carrington, only son of Mary Lucille and Joseph John of Selm. Following the death of her father, Charles Augustus d'Arkent, Baron of Carrington, the Carrington and her siblings were primarily raised by her mother, Anna Henrietta of Provins, before becoming a ward with Princess Elizabeth Anne. In 1819 she married Lord Viathan Othaman, heir to the County of Valles, and together they had four children, though more children are speculated to have been born to the couple that didn't survive long past birth. Mary is known primarily for her work within the palace under Emperor John VIII, where she published many works along side the famed Amadea of Pompourelia, Countess of Renzfeld.

Early Life

Mary Casimira d'Arkent was born 17th Sun’s Smile, 1801 at Trissingham Court to Charles Augutus, the 3rd Baron of Carrington and his wife, Anna Henrietta of Provins. Upholding the tradition within the Carrington line Mary was named after both of her grandparents, the late Baroness, Mary Lucille and Viscountess-Dowager Casimira Philippa of Pompourelia.

At her birth Mary's father was in the prime of his tenure as Governor of the Palace resulting in a palatial upbringing with court tutors and palace servants at every turn. The girl swiftly took notice of the inner-workings of the court and the many facets of Imperial Court and it's courtiers. Following the disappearance and presumed death of her father, Mary's mother took his place as the first Governess of the Augustine soon lofting her daughter take the role of Majordomo of the Augustine at the age of fourteen.

"A Fair Young Lady" (Circa. 1815), By Painter-Extraordinaire Claire Maire Elmpool. The portrait depicts a young Mary and was painted in order to show her future suitor, Lord Viathan, and his father the physical wellbeing of the Carrington girl. Art by Vigée Le Brun.

In her youth Mary enjoyed many different activities at the Augustine, the first of which being the Providence Scouts led by Emerentia Kovachev, though the d'Arkent swiftly stopped all participation after an excursion to the bastian was far too "Boyish" for the prissy, petite d'Arkent. Mary found her groove within the courts, however, finding much more enjoyment working alongside her mother rather than even other children. The girl even went as far as to aid the palace garthers in their efforts of the Imperial Garden's upkeep, often saving clippings from her favorite flowers to gift to her now dearest friend, her mother. Her close relationship with the palace's staff certainly aided her overall opinion at court, swiftly becoming a beloved member by the Imperial Family and courtiers alike.

Within her aforementioned role of Majordomo Mary soon flourished, being deemed too young to take on such a role by her worrisome mother caused a pause before she began publishing her first events and missives, however the courtiers did not wait in vain as the girl produced her first missive at the age of fifteen, an institution that is still in use today under one of the woman's collages. After her first, many others followed, the most popular of which being the Carrington Soiree of 1817 [1]. The event was popularized by a missive written by Mary's cousin, Maisie d'Arkent, that detailed everything wrong with the event from the lack of order to the missing guests of honour. Maise recieved quite a bit of backlash from the public since she made the fatal mistake of putting her own name on the gossip column.

The Social Season of 1817

Upon the year of her sixteenth birthday the second Social Season was announced [2], Mary often joked with her sister that the season was made for the two of them since they were the exact age a debutante should be. By the time the season began Mary had already began her work as Majordomo alongside her mother, the Lady Governess Dame Anna Henrietta, so eyes were on her to throw the most lavish and beautiful parties of the season, however it would seem as if the pressure grew too much for the budding woman as the season was filled with the exact opposite type of talk that she would have liked to have heard. After the initial debut and announcement of this season's ruby, Lady Elisabeth Tuvyic, the girl was spotted visibly upset over her loss of the title and many rumored that Mary insisted her mother remove the title from Elisabeth and name Mary Ruby of the Season, though these schemes saw no fruition. Following this season Mary began to make many enemies at court, mostly of the ladies at court.

"A Match Made in Floral Grandiosity" (Circa. 1817), by Clair Maire Elmpool. Mister Anthony dancing with the season's Floral Queen, Mary Casimira.

Tho

The First Match

Following shortly after the debut was scheduled a dance where the debutantes may become better acquainted with the gentlemen of their choosing. Mary had her eyes set upon a certain gentlemen since before the season had even begun, however his presence was missed at this ball in particular, instead a blonde Fitzpeter boy had seemingly caught the debutantes eye in the original suitor's place. The two were seen dancing not once, but twice the night and even speaking after the ball had finished. Throughout the season the two were seen together on many occasions although with a swift change of heart, or mind, the match was not withheld.

The Second Match

Intertwined with her match with the Fitzpeter was a second match with the Othaman heir, Lord Viathan. The two shared multiple dates and they were even seen together at an event Lord Viathan hosted after the date he had truly invited didn't care to show up. It was rumored that the match was all crafted by Mary and her mother before the season even began and all of their conversations were calculated moves made by Lady Mary leading to the proposal they had hoped for since the girl's childhood.

Career and Life at Court

Majordomo of the Augustine

In her youth the title of Majordomo was bestowed upon Mary, a title previously held by the like of Milena of Dobrov, Vespira d'Emyth, and HIH Princess Elizabeth Anne. Albeit she was too young to take on the role fully after only a year of training she began the work of her predecessors just the same. The first formal event planned by the Majordomo was a collection and feast of the nobles of the empire where she stood alongside John VIII, Holy Orenian Emperor in the absence of her mother, she worked as the stand-in Governess.

Soon after the many feasts and small teatimes held by the youthful Majordomo the, now woman, began preparations for her first large-scale event. Many missives have surfaced of letters and correspondence with the d'Arkent woman and many tradesmen and even exotic animal-tamers in perpetration for the grandiose event. Even though the girl had prepared for the event in various ways, even going as far as to have an elephant brought to her family's estate in the Orenian countryside despite it being far from its natural habitat, the event was a massive failure and certainly a stain on her event planning career. Leaving an even larger stain on her career was the flurry of gossip that soon followed. Almost as soon as the party closed hundreds, if not thousands of parchments fluttered through the palace halls detailing the failures of the girl's event written by her cousin Maisie d'Arkent.

Shortly after the failure of the soiree the girl had all but quit the job in its entirety, denouncing any event planning for the rest of her life. Although the girl had ran from any responsibilities her job had brought her she soon persevered with yet another institution, this one of Orenian Court Ladies. The Lady's Society was a group of courtly ladies that gathered every once and awhile to discuss the matters at court and even traveled to Haense to visit with their Lady's Society while they did the same. Lady Mary often jested that she strengthened the diplomatic ties betwixt the states through the power of women and consorts, for the fastest way to a state's center is through its ladies.

The Majordomo whilst mourning her mother. (Circa. 1822).Art by Joseph Karl Stieler.

The Carrington Cover-Up Scandal

Though the Majordomo was not involved as much as her brother, Wilhelm d'Arkent, and her mother, Dame Anna Henrietta, towards the end allegations arose that could have destroyed her reputation for life. Following the publicity of her half-brother's lineage, eyes were on the Carrington family, including herself despite her seeming lack of involvement with the scandal itself. Later it was revealed the three; the young Baron Wilhelm, herself, and their mother, Dame Anna; formed a tribunal early into the lives of the children's lives to manage the legacy of the House. It is widely speculated that, along with her eldest brother, the two ordered a hit on the claimed-bastard following the publication. Though the speculated hitman was less than fit for the job as he muttered the names of criminalized siblings as he failed to carry out the alleged plans. Later that month, after a single meeting with the Ministry of Justice, Mary and her brother were summoned before the court. The d'Arkent often mentioned of the Ministry's incompetence, saying they had asked her meaningless questions and seemed to value the word of one sibling over the other. With seemingly new accusations coming out each day the lives of Mary and her Baronial brother, villainizing them with many of the citizens of the Crown City of Providence where they mostly resided.

Mistress of the Arts

With the rise of the Countess of Renzfeld court reforms were in order, for the previous Empress-to-be had left the courts in quite a tizzy after her annulment with Emperor, John VIII. Talks of court reforms were hot on every courtier's lips throughout the Orenian Courts as the ladies planned for many changes. The Countess of Renzfeld, with the help of HIH Helena Augusta; Lady Mary Casimira; and the late Governess Dame Anna Henrietta, created a three-headed courts system set with a Mistress of Ceremonies, Mistress of the Household, and the Mistress of Arts; the role Mary had chosen to take up, having always taken a liking to the artistic side of her pervious job.

Almost as soon as the new courts were set in place the woman began the first of her works: Fashion. Fashion within Oren had always been a passion of Mary's, learning to sew from the works of her mother and great-grandmother alike, hence the reason this was the first sect of courtly culture she chose to focus on. With the aid of her court Mary produced the first of many Fashion Reforms for Orenian court [3], practically banishing the more revealing and high-waisted dresses of the past to be replaced with elongated bodices and modest garments.

The Fashion Reforms put in place by Lady Mary were well-liked among the courts, especially among the wig-sporting Imperial Family of present. Although some portions were harder for some to understand, such as dressing above ones station. It is believed that Mary struck down many that dressed above their station, never shying away from an argument with a younger imperial lady who hadn't studied the reforms prior to welcoming themselves at court. Whilst overseeing the third Social Season alongside Princess Imperial, Elizabeth Anne, Mary even went as far as to call out a girl with exposed shoulders at the lesson prior to the season and it's rumored that certain debutantes had their chances at the season's ruby lessoned due to their contrasting dresses and accessories.

Mary on horseback at age sixteen.

Governess of the Augustine

Rising to the position of Lady Governor of the Augustine after a series of strenuous interviews performed by Emperor John VIII, Casimira's beginnings as governor were slow. She didn't publish a single missive for a month or so after settling into the position. The first event of her governorship was her own Inaugural Ball, held three months after her receiving of the title was made public during a routine session of His Majesty's court. Following this momentous event Mary continued her contribution to fashion at court, though the heavy work load took a toll on her marriage causing a strain between herself and her Lord-Husband, Viathan Othaman. Throughout her tenure as Governor of the Augustine many of Mary's past actions, even those of recent history, were brought to the forefront of all gossip in the palace and throughout the Empire. Due to Mary's somewhat blunt disposition she made many quick enemies that hurled rumors about her throughout the courts. Notably an old friend, from which she had grown increasingly far from following their social season, Elisabeth Leopoldine made claims of Mary hiring an assassin to murder the Tuvyic, though these claims never saw much evidence.

Marriage

The Season had served its purpose, a match had been made and was set in place by Holy Matrimony. The marriage of Lord Viathan and Lady Mary, him six years her senior, had been a plan crafted by her mother when she was only six or so. The plans for her betrothal had not only secured her a spot on the Empire's short list of consorts, but also held her higher in regards to aiding the family she had married into. Due to family's messy blodd, Mary was set to begin the fight against such and aid the family into courtly relevance, a place she had most certainly succeeded unlike the family she married into.

The two first met far before the social season at a ball held by the Princess Imperial, Elizabeth Anne. The two were spotted by the girl's mother sharing a juice box and it is said that in that moment the marriage was set. The late Dame of Provins began having many meetings with the- then Othaman Heir- Sergei, where they supposedly discussed the future of their two children, however gossip articles suggested they discussed far more than that. The stirring between their two parents drove the two apart for a while, no trace of any communication between them until the beginning of the Social Season in which they were both placed. Even in the beginning of the season the two avoided each other, and it is said that Lord Viathan even withheld his presence from a ball just because Lady Mary had been in attendance. However with a bit of hard work the two were talking once more, putting the dramatic past they shared behind them.

"A post-wedding soiree" (Circa 1819), by Claire Marie Elmpool. The portrait depicts the newly-wedded couple alongside their close family and friends after their wedding.

Lord Viathan and Lady Mary were wed on the 16th of Sun's Smile, 1819, in a private ceremony attended only by her family and his as well as her sister's betrothed. The two received many gifts and Mary often said that was the last time she was happy. In the wedding Mary sported a gown similar to the ancestral that had been passed down on her father's side of the family though the thought of wearing a dress that had been worn by many different people in her own family drove the d'Arkent away from such, causing her to seek the help of hobby seamstress Leopoldine Vimmark-Roussard. Alongside the newly crafted gown Mary donned the tiara her mother had at her debutante, the Pruvian Tiara from the Princess Anna Sophia of Pruvia. The tiara was decorated with an array of pearls and intricate gold workings that accented and framed the girl's face as it has never been framed before. It was almost instantly after the marriage that Lord Viathan did all but die, he had simply left the city leaving the girl- as she said- to sire an heir and family all on her own.

After the Marriage and Pregnancy

After only the most minimal of visits from Lord Viathan, Lady Mary was with child, however the pregnancy was quite difficult for the woman though she managed their first and only boy, Jon Aleskandr Othaman. Following shortly after Jon were the girls, first Elizabeth then Irena and finally Lorina though not without their difficulties as well. Intertwined with her few successful pregnancies were two still-births, one a second son and the other a set of twins before and after their middle daughter Irena Sigismunda respectively. Despite the many difficulties Mary had with her pregnancies she still longed for a second son, often saying she wished for a boy of her own as she felt the son she had grew to resemble his father far too much for the woman's liking. Years later the product of an affair with the Duke of Adria came the woman's final child, and second son. In his youth the Dame doted on him, visiting the boy often and seeing to it he was educated on everything except for his own lineage.

Assassination of Philip Aurelian, Duke of Adria and Subsequent Death

Following her forced retirement by Emperor Philip II the former Lady Governor fled the capital to a summer home in Redenford she had inherited from a distant Uncle. It was reported by Redenford locals that this was when she truly went mad. Even on the carriage ride to the mountain top estate the landau was seen shaking and radiating the most awful screams and screeches. The woman, who had taking quite a liking to her very public life in the capital of Providence became a shut in, hardly ever seen by the towns people until that infamous day she finally returned to city.

Mary returned to the city in the wake of a trio of letters, one in return to, then, the Duchess of Furnestock, another to her former love, the The Duke of Adria, and a final letter to her brother Wilhelm d'Arkent. The most controversial of the three letters being the letter to her lover. She wrote the Prince often, although the replies wilted into nothing toward the end, and with his marriage to Princess Charlotte Augustua the letters in return stopped completely. In this final letter to the Duke of Adria Mary wrote,

"Whilst away in my Redenford Estate I have had much time for reflection, and have thought often of the past the two of us share, the son we have brought into this world. In my times of most agonizing sadness I have thought of these little loves, 'peu d'Amour' in Campagnon. With this letter I extend an invitation to meet one final time before I leave with my sister. Please do not let me rest alone."

The two were seen by various palace servants walking about the palace and talking for hours until they finally reached their end point in the private powder room in which they first met.

Amor ti vieta di non amar, 1859 by Artist Gracia Falcone

From there they entered in a heated argument about their son, and the life the Prince had sought to leave behind in his marriage to the Princess Charlotte of Aldersberg. At the height of the argument a masked Sedanite trotted in, hitting the Prince in the head with the back of his crossbow and knocking him unconscious. The Sedanite supposedly in on the scheme along with the Baron of Carrington, Mary's own brother, who locked the door to slow down any soldiers patrolling the palace. Soon after knocking the Prince unconscious the Sedanite man made a swift escape through a window, and down the palace walls.

It isn't exactly common knowledge what was said between the Dame and the Duke of Adria, although from the maddened shouting proceeding the gruesome event it can be assumed that it was something of a sick affair where Mary proclaimed her love for the Prince- putting forth her prior plans to marry him and to make their affair an official union.

Soon after the intimate moment the soldiers patrolling the palace became suspicious of the shouts of Dame Mary as she'd realized what she'd done. The first of the soldiers to enter the, now crime scene, was the woman's own son. Having to see his own mother, covered in the blood of another, and in a state of panic because of such. The woman was dragged away from her victim and brought into a room where courtiers rushed by just to catch a glimpse of what was sure to be the biggest scandal of the century.

Thereafter she was taken to the bastion and given the same death as any other murderess, likely the same death her aunt was soon to face before the sudden vigilantism of Minerva de Selm. Although it is said that the trio that were tasked with executing the woman were seen quite upset by the whole ordeal. Whether that be because of the new chaotic state of the Empire, or because of such a pillar struck down and crumbling to the ground.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and Styles

• 1801 - 1849 The Honourable, Miss Mary d'Arkent of Carrington

• 1816 - 1822 The Right Honorable, The Majordomo of the Augustine

• • 1819 - 1849 Lady Viathan Othaman

• 1822 - 1833 The Right Honorable, The Mistress of Arts and Culture

• 1833 - 1847 Her Excellency, The Lady Governor of the Augustine

• 1846 - 1849 The Right Honorable, Dame Mary Casimira of Carrington, Knight of the Order of Merit

Issue

With her husband, Viathan Aleksandr Othaman, Mary had four children. Three girls, a single legitimate boy and heir.

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage
Jon Aleksandr Othaman	1819	Alive	Miss Johanna Elizabeth Victoria Galbraith	First and only son to Mary and Viathan, Grand-Heir to the County of Valles.
Elizabeth Augustina Othaman	1823	Alive	Philip Rupert Galbraith, Viscount of Rivia	Firstborn daughter to Mary and Viathan.
Irena Sigismunda Othaman	1825	Alive	Unwed	Secondborn daughter to Mary and Viathan.
Lorina Isabel Othaman	1828	Alive	Unwed	Thirdborn daughter to Mary and Viathan.
William Joseph Trissingham	1834	Alive	Evangeline Marie, Baroness of Artois	Bastard son of Mary and Prince Philip Aurelian, Duke of Adria.