Maya of Muldav

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Maya of Muldav Baroness of Antioch Maya of Muldav, commissioned by Andrew IV Peter c. 1746. Queen-Consort of Hanseti-Ruska Born: 13th of the Sun's Smile, 1730 Reza, Haense Spouse: Andrew IV of Haense (b. 1746) House: Alimar Father: Kazimar I of Muldav Mother: Sofiya of Haense

Maya Valeriya Casimirovna (Common: May Valeria), known regally as Maya of Muldav, was the incumbent Grand Lady of the Queen Milena Ekaterina's court from 1744 to 1746 and a princess of Hanseti-Ruska as the daughter of Prince Kazimar and Princess Sofiya. Through her father, she was the paternal grand daughter of Josef of Bihar and Aleksandra of Antioch. Through her mother, she was a descendant of Marius II of Haense and Valera of Adria, the illegitimate daughter of Princess Alexandria, Duchess consort of Adria and Augustus I, Emperor of Man.

Biography

Early Life

Born in the first city of Reza, Maya was raised in a fine manor within the noble district. Maya was introduced to the harsh realities of life in her early youth, with her father taking her to an execution at the age of five and having her spectate. Her mother, on the other hand, was strict and believed her premature daughter was corrupt because of her grandmother’s blood. Maya took quick interest in politics due to her family ties despite her young struggles, and frequently attended courtly matters with the Queen-Consort of Haense at the time, Milena of Adria.

Because of such interests, she was one of the few caught within the Prikaz walls as the city caught fire. The princess escaped in time with the Queen, and later reunited with her youngest sister, Karina Sofiya, as they waited out the fire in the crypts of the Bascilia Cathedral. The two clung together to block out the faint screams of those burning and endure the crowded space they were confined to. Maya and her sister were able to survive through the night and into the morning when the fire had died down.

The aftermath of the fire, and memories of its terror, soon faded as she busied herself with studies and duties similarly to a chamberlain’s at eight years old. She was tasked with event-planning within New Reza, and hosted numerous festivities despite her age. In secret, she trained in swordsmanship with her uncle Vladrick Alimar, Prince of Rubern, and made frequent trips to Rubern to spend time with her beloved cousin, Anabel Alimar. During such a time in her life, she was introduced to Andrik Barbanov– the crown prince of Haense. Though their meeting was by accident, the two became close nonetheless. Maya insisted on helping the prince with whatever she could– including the stuttering in his youth and writing to his betrothed, the Kaedreni princess, Arianne Helvets.

Maya continued to hold relevance in Haense and the new city with her events and assistance to the Queen. However, there were darker times yet to come. The youth, upon a bandit attack in the city, was brought to an unconscious state alongside Milena Carrion and almost dragged away in an attempted kidnapping. The two would escape, though Maya would reveal upon their entering of the palace of a terrible pain in her side– a stab wound that would stay scarred on her skin for many coming years. Soon following, her relationship with her father became strained and her mother would soon depart for Aeldin without saying goodbye. It is rumored that the relationship between Maya and her father fell apart after he nearly drowned her with the traditional Haeseni drink, Carrion Black.

Troubles stirred between the Duchy of Morsgrad and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. With the declaration of war from Morsgrad coming quickly, Maya’s family was split between the two sides of the war. Tensions became strained from the differing sides of the family. Maya was strong-willed with her patriotism and love of Haense while some relatives were aligned with Rubern. Whilst, her hatred for Morsgrad only grew after being held captive and nearly beheaded within the Haeseni palace courtyard by Norland-aligned bandits who had snuck past the gates. To her luck, she was rescued by her cousin, Godfric Alimar, before they could lower the sword down upon her neck.

Adolescence

Maya, upon invitation to a tea party, was quick to make friendships with different allies and vassals of the empire. She became companions with the imperial crown princess, Anne Helane, and the Curonian princess Elizabeth Devereux. With wary, she travelled the roads to visit the two frequently in their respective cities.

The Rubern War continued to wage on and Maya’s tenure as a ward and apprentice under Milena Ekaterina came to a sudden end with the Queen’s assassination in 1742. With the death of the Queen and the absence of the king, Andrik came to Maya to ask for assistance in raising the royal children– and so she did, seeking out Princess Alexandria and her younger brother to take care of them like her own siblings.

With her father’s abdication of the Haeseni vassal of Muldav, the leading of such was given over Prince Otto Sigmar. He was soon to decree the disinheritance of Vladrick and his eldest son, Marius Alimar, on accounts of treason to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. The family was, in law and officiality, divided by the war.

Soon following the decree splitting the family in half, Maya was awakened in the middle of the night by harsh knocks at the Alimar manor door. Two guards were hoisting up a bloodied corpse in which they believed to be of the House Alimar. She identified the body as her father’s in sudden turmoil and shock. The following day, she received a letter speaking of her mother’s death as well, in which she was allegedly murdered before she could reach Aeldin. Her skeleton was found at the bottom of Lake Milena. On the eve of such news, another parchment came to Maya in the midst of her mourning. The contents of the paper were words written by her cousin, Anabel, in her moments before drowning herself. Maya locked herself in the confines of the Ekaterinburg palace and refused to leave it for weeks.

As she began to recover, Maya spent more time attempting to raise the twins Alexandria and Otto Rupert, despite her own young age. Her plans to ensure Milena’s views were taught to the children was cut short when Alexandria was captured and executed by stabbing in 1744 at the age of nine. Maya’s festering anger brought her out of the palace and fueled her determination and patriotism towards her kingdom. She continued with the duties the late Queen-Consort had tasked her with before and continuously held events alongside such until she was offered the position of Grand Lady of the Haeseni Royal Court when fourteen years of age. She accepted, and began her work.

With her newfound position as Grand Lady, she hosted numerous events and kept up the Haeseni court from falling apart when there was no Queen to manage it, and the king had hardly been seen in the public eye for years. During this time, she looked to the old Haeseni customs and traditions in hopes of reinstating them among the court. The constant work of bringing the court back to its full strength kept her composed through the overwhelming grief she faced, as well as her close friendship with Prince Andrik.

In 1745, the princess Arianne Renee, was declared as missing and presumed dead. With the betrothal between the crown prince and the Kaedrini princess no longer in existence and the prince nearing his time to ascend the throne, Maya was betrothed to the future King of Hanseti-Ruska. The arrangement occurred within a fortnight, and the wedding was set to occur on her sixteenth birthday.

At the end of her term as Grand Lady, Maya took on her cousin the Ruberni princess, Aleksandra Mariya Alimar, as an apprentice to the role as Grand Lady. Maya stepped down as the Grand Lady upon her marriage to the crown prince, Andrik IV, and later ascension to Queen-Consort of Hanseti-Ruska.

Marriage

Upon the year of Maya’s sixteenth nameday, 1746, celebrations and cheers of good health were held in the name of the pair soon to be wed as the ceremonial day drew near. She was assisted by her confidant and handmaiden, Maela Thorfinn. The ceremony was held within the Bascilia Cathedral and officiated by Pontian III. Maya was walked down the aisle by her great uncle, Otto Sigmar Alimar. Flanking her close behind was the Maer and Chamberlain, Lady Kamilla Stafyr, and her eldest sister, Princess Katerina Alimar.

Maya wore the dress of her predecessor and mentor, Queen Milena - a headdress made of chiffon, a long gown of velvet white, and a furred golden robe embellished with designs of roses in various colors. Her hair was styled to be a replica of Princess Mariya Barbanov’s in her wedding to Adrian de Sarkozy, and ornamented with varying flowers alongside her crowned veil. Similarly to the late Queen, the young princess was prided for her costly outfit during the revelries following the royal ceremony.

Titles, Styles, and Honors

Titles and Styles

• 1730-Present: Her Highness, Princess Maya of Muldav
• 1744-Present: Her Highness, the Baroness of Antioch

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage