Nemorosis

The Bell Tolls for Me 70: Struggle Against the Torment of Reality

Archduke Felix was still reeling after the revelations that Princess Regent Isabella had delivered. He sat on the side of his bed in his tent, removed from reality.

The things she’d said to him ran through his head, not fully processed. Th...

The Bell Tolls for Me 69: Bird of Passage

They departed the capital without ceremony. Isabella had no interest in fanfare there—her presence was well-known in the city, and further displays of grandeur would only invite derision from the downtrodden. The first days passed in motion: lon...

The Bell Tolls for Me 68: Royal Progress

“Do you have any idea what she’s attempting to do?” Prince Amaury asked his council.

There was silence for a long while until someone managed to speak up, beginning, “I—”

“That was rhetorical,” the prince interrupted. �...

The Bell Tolls for Me 67: Behind Every Great Man

Isabella was alone with Archduke Felix, save the presence of Randolph and some highly trusted holy paladins. “From what I could tell, your c

Isabella was alone with Archduke Felix, save the presence of Randolph and some highly trusted holy...

The Bell Tolls for Me 66: Noblesse Oblige

As of 7/12, I've edited chapters 62-65, mostly structurally and for continuity. If you want to recontextualize stuff, they're up.

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Isabella, Arthur, and Valerio stood in private chambers in the royal palace, monitored by none, not e...

The Bell Tolls for Me 65: Dominant and Dignified

The hall was quiet as Albert entered, flanked not by his knights but by two of Isabella’s paladins. The throne room was packed with nobles, clergymen, and a handful of guild representatives. More simply, it contained all who knew the duke. The t...

The Bell Tolls for Me 64: Drink With the Devil

Isabella walked through the halls of Duke Albert’s estate, the architecture all around likely older than she was. It was all classical marble, its clean white given life by the opulent art and glimmering precious metals on display. All of it exu...

The Bell Tolls for Me 63: Jaws of the Beast

“On this day, we commit the body of Camilla of Dovhain to the earth,” the archbishop said solemnly, presiding over the ceremony with all the dignity that his station demanded.

Isabella looked upon the casket that housed the long-degraded...

The Bell Tolls for Me 62: Truth of Death

“Just how is anyone meant to contest such a fearsome ability? Even beginning to consider it is beyond me.” Isabella shook her head as she sat across from the monkey, Sosen, on a fallen tree.

The monkey-mage had appeared rather fearsome a...

The Bell Tolls for Me 61: Mounting Stresses

Isabella wished that there was even a single moment to relax, but even the time at the end of the day that she normally might have spent with Valerio had been occupied by the decidedly paramount objective of preserving her life.

“I’ve be...

The Bell Tolls for Me 60: An Old Friend

As Isabella walked through the gardens of the Royal Palace alongside Bernadetta, the memories of old naturally bubbled to the surface. They had walked every route through this place. There was no section that Isabella could go to avoid memories bo...

The Bell Tolls for Me 59: One Step Behind

Isabella sat across from Arthur, back in the relative safety of the Royal Palace.

“It’s become abundantly obvious to me that I can no longer afford to ignore the matter of the wasting illness, or indeed the wasting poison, that I suffere...

The Bell Tolls for Me 58: The House of Balat

Isabella sat in an undecorated carriage, Randolph sitting just across her as he peeked out the window.

“So? What do you think?” Isabella asked.

“I think it’s an arresting display of architectural indulgence," he said, his eyes ...

The Bell Tolls for Me 57: Princess Regent

The days following Isabella and Valerio’s successful suppression of Cesare’s mercenaries could be described as incredibly successful. Isabella was indisputably cemented as the rightful Regent of the kingdom, both by law and by political necess...

The Bell Tolls for Me 56: Velvet Glove, Iron Hand

Cesare cut his way through the royal palace with as much skill as he’d ever mustered. The combatants that he was facing weren’t skilled. They were clearly just bodies meant to fill the armor of the holy paladins to accommodate this deceit. Wit...

The Bell Tolls for Me 55: When the Cat’s Away, the Mice Will Play

“Let us begin the first of many interregnum councils to decide who will take the throne after the departure of King Claude I,” Isabella said, her voice firm and clear. “As the king decreed before his departure, I will be presiding over this ...

The Bell Tolls for Me 54: Confidence in Confidants

After a long and exhausting day tending to the affairs of the Royal Palace and preparing for the impositions of Cesare’s mercenary band, Isabella had one final meeting to attend to. She wasn’t quite certain what to expect of this one, consider...

The Bell Tolls for Me 53: The Cudgel

Isabella watched Cesare with a modicum of respect. She didn’t admire him, but she could most certainly respect his ability. If she didn’t respect him, she would lose. He had faced numerous roadblocks on his path, yet he had navigated them with...

The Bell Tolls for Me 52: A Kingdom's Ransom

Long before Isabella could exert any influence as the new Regent, she received a disturbing missive from Archduke Felix himself. He walked up the stairs leading to the throne and spoke to her directly.

“I’ve just received word from some ...

The Bell Tolls for Me 51: Good Man, Bad King

“You ignored reports that Duke Richard was invading the lands of Count Fulcross, preferring to ‘wait for a more complete testimony,’ even despite Valerio’s advice that you should act immediately,” Isabella outlined clearly. “By the tim...

The Bell Tolls for Me 50: Royal Intervention

Isabella was typically disinclined toward aggressive political attacks, especially towards someone that she didn’t view as a bad person. Nevertheless, despite her support, Claude had disappointed her at every turn. Perhaps it was excessive on he...

The Bell Tolls for Me 49: Resign Thy Kingdom

Isabella walked through the royal palace with her head held high, largely unconcerned about the people surrounding her. In months past, this would have been unthinkable. Now, she even had Randolph accompanying her. He’d been granted a special ex...

The Bell Tolls for Me 48: Personality of Politics

There were many sad realities of politics. Foremost among those sad realities was when the pragmatic came in the way of the personal. All too often agendas would clash against one another, sundering friendships or ending business relationships. Is...

The Bell Tolls for Me 47: Epilogue

The Archwizard took certain steps down the dark spiral staircase as if he knew the route by heart. It looked as though he was walking into a dungeon. Only the faint glow of the magic lamp in his hand illuminated the path. At the bottom of this sta...

The Bell Tolls for Me 46: In Good Hands

Valerio worried that he had overstepped by suggesting that he and Isabella have their portrait drawn. It meant taking steps to further officiate their engagement, and he worried that Isabella might have been averse to that idea. He was relieved wh...

The Bell Tolls for Me 45: Truth Will Set You Free

“I’d like to give all the praise to this this successful event to Her Highness, Princess Isabella.” Archduke Felix raised his glass of wine up high in the air. “Without her fine eye for art and her expertise management, this auction house ...

The Bell Tolls for Me 44: Weeks Where Decades Happen

Duke Brett, the Stone Arbiter, straightened the papers that he held and looked at the accused solemnly. "Archbishop Pius. By the authority vested in me by His Majesty for this Royal Diet, and after careful deliberation, I deliver judgment."

...

The Bell Tolls for Me 43: A Plague Upon the Realm

Isabella began her mornings as she often did. She soared the sky through the body of her familiar, viewing the capital city as she’d always wished to as a young girl. Every day, this was a heartening experience that calmed her heart and made her...

The Bell Tolls for Me 42: Breaking the Cycle

“…given all of the information brought to light, and the testimony that indicates that Archbishop Pius may have substantial funds secreted away for an escape, I believe that the request to allow some holy paladins to accompany him to ensure th...

The Bell Tolls for Me 41: Like Father, Like Son

“Knight-Commander Gaspar. Approach for questioning,” Duke Brett said.

At that, Gaspar walked forth among the assembly of countless nobles from across the realm. The assembly chamber of the royal diet was a hall of sober dignity. Each nob...