Katya first met her husband in the 58th year of the Distant Uprising.
At the time, she was engaged to Bernard Hugosteiyl, a minor member of the Trangestein Hugosteiyl's, a family of some influence in the Inner Imperial Court.
She was attending a ball, celebrating a victory of the Seventh Airborne Hussars, held by Gilda Machieagol, Widow-Duchess of Hentzel-Platz.
She was acting as chaperone to some of her younger girl-cousins, and was growing a little bored with the company when her hostess approached her, tall and elegant in a black silk gown that encased her like armour.
Gilda Machieagol was a striking woman, and an accomplished shot, having killed seven men in various duels, famously, one of them was her own errant husband, who had dallied too obviously with a maid.
She was accompanied by a handsome and well turned out young man, who was introduced to Katya as Konstantin Adromanova.
"This is my dearest nephew." She confided to Katya, "He is visiting me for a spell whilst he attends to some family matters relating to a past tragedy that I will not speak of now." Gilda's Talent for marksmanship was surpassed only for her ability to talk in a torrent of information.
"I must talk to the Arch Duke Verstation in a matter of some urgency concerning his legitimate son's gambling debts. His illegitimate son is a darling child and is always forthcoming with due payment. I would consider it a personal favour if you would attend to Konstantin and see that he dances with some pretty girls to keep his mind occupied whilst he is here."
katya took a moment to look more closly at Konstantin, who surveyed the ball with a faintly amused boredom.
He had neat face with high cheekbones and a pointed chin, that was handsome enough but could be considered boring, if not for his exceeding pretty mouth, that looked at once petulant, cruel, and sweet, depending on how one looked at it.
"I am afraid Balls are not to his taste, he was raised by my cousin Ilyaih, and is far too concerned with boyish pursuits such as fighting and sports. He can dance well enough however, and he will not embarrase us. If you will excuse me." Gilda swept off in a rustle of Silk, leaving Katya alone with a politely smiling Konstantin
She thought for a moment about who could possibly dance with Konstantin. That amused boredom meant he was intelligent, she could not pair him with prattling idiot. and so katya eliminated a third of the girls present from her list of possible partners for Konstantin.
That sometimes cruel looking mouth meant Katya could not suggest an ugly girl, she could readily believe that Konstantin could be very spiteful, if it amused him enough. The eldest Grubovich sister could not dance with him.
As they made idle small talk, heading towards the dance floor, she noticed that Konstantin moved well. Gilda had probably understated his ability as a dancer. Katya ruled out the younger Grubovich sisters.
The Pair made empty comments on the weather and the music played, and Katya caught sight of Anna Hilgospeer-Boyatich. Anna was pretty enough, and smart enough, and danced well enough, but Katya had hated her since childhood, and could not stomach the idea of Anna smiling her smug warm cat smile at Konstantin's pretty mouth.
Katya took a moment to consider the other girls present. None of them really seemed suitable for Konstantin, so she decided that she alone would have to dance with him.
"What brings you to your Aunt's house?" Katya asked as the pair took to the floor. Konstantin smelt of warm almonds and vanilla.
"I'm conducting a feud." Konstantin answered, leading them into the first steps of a waltz. Katya congratulated herself on not pairing him with one of the younger Grubovich sisters.
"Really? How exciting. Against who, may I ask?" Such feuds were rare, but always delighted the papers.
"The family Hugosteiyl." Konstantin answered. Katya almost didn't notice, as she was entranced by the thickness and lustre of Konstantin's hair. Bernard had a thin brown colour hair, the shade of weak tea, and it was begining to recede from his temples.
"What do you intend to do?" Katya asked, realizing as she did so that Konstanin's eyes were the most enchanting shade of violet.
Konstantin looked confused for a moment.
"Well, the usual thing, I suppose. Kill their menfolk and seize their lands and assets." Such things had been written down and formalized in Hunstanton's Encyclopedia of Ettiquitte.
"All of their menfolk?" Katya asked, without appearing too concerned. It was important to be polite at these occasions.
Konstantin thought for a moment, and chewed on his delicious looking lower lip.
"I think so," He answered. "Excluding boys under thirteen and second cousins twice removed, all the menfolk. I think under extenuating circumstance I can get away with just two thirds, but I don't think I can apply any of the relevant clauses."
Katya nodded, her mind elsewhere.
"I have been over it pretty thoroughly a couple of time now." Konstantin added, by way of explanation. "Why, you're not friends with any of them are you?"
They had taken a seat at a table by this point, and Katya shook her head prettily.
"I'm rather afraid I'm engaged to one of them." She answered.
Konstantin looked shocked.
"Oh I am sorry." He said.
"No, it's quite alright." Katya answered quickly, squeezing his hand to reassure him. "You weren't to know."
They both smiled.
"Which one are you engaged to?" Konstantin asked, companionably.
"Bernard," replied Katya. "It seems ever such a shame, he's nice enough in his way. He's very kind to animals."
"Oh yes?"
Katya nodded. "Oh yes, he's absolutely devoted to his horses, feeds them himself, every morning at seven."
Konstantin raised an eyebrow.
"I say, do you mind if I write this down?" He produced a small notebook from his jacket.
"Is that every morning?"
"Oh yes, at seven. He's very punctual. Even on a Sunday morning he'll take the feed down to the stables, that'll be the stables on the east side of the estate, not the south, thats where the farm horses are kept."
Konstantin nodded, brow furrowed. Katya's voice took on a slightly dreamy quality, as if she'd stopped paying attention to what she was saying, and therefore couldn't be held responsible for any particular consequnces that could follow.
"He tends to take the gardener's path down to the stables, the one that cross the brook at the old bridge."
______
Later that month, on a quiet sunday morning, Katya rose early to walk to Hugosteiyl manor. She carried a large loaf of dark rich fruit cake, which was intended for the Dowager Duchess Hugosteiyl.
The Duchess' house was in mourning, first for her husband, Isalbard Hugosteiyl, 56th Duke of Killanensteverin, who had been knifed to death two weeks previously during the intermission of "The Scarlet Grouse". It had been considered especially cruel that he had not been allowed to see the second act.
Earlier that week, her nephews Ezrobert and Remus had also been killed in a particulary large explosion that had flattened their summer residence on the Gesipid coast.
It had not been spoken out loud, but it was generally acknowledged that Bernard and Katya's wedding would have to be delayed until his mother had undergone a suitable period of morning.
The general opinion of the populace was that Katya was taking the news very well, but then, she always was a very well brought up girl.
As she set off on her journey Katya was aware that a fruit cake was not adequate recompense for the loss of two young nephews and a husband, but it was important that some expression of sympathy was made, and rich baked goods seemed to do the job so well.
It was a little after seven in the morning as Katya made her way across the Hugosteiyl grounds towards the grand old house when she heard three shots ring out from the East stables.
Shocked by the noise, she looked over to see Konstantin leisurely walking up the gardener's path, carrying a gently smoking revolver in his hand.
He waved to her as he approached. "Hello!" He called, waving absently with the heavy black revolver. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Katya smiled as Konstantin drew close. He looked clean and fit in the cool morning air, with the air of someone just back from brisk exercise. She raised the covered fruit cake by way of explanation.
"I was just taking this to the Duchess Hugosteiyl," she said, as Konstantin nodded his approval.
"It might be an idea to take flowers." Konstantin added delicately.
Katya nodded.
"Lilies are traditional in these cases aren't they?"
Konstantin agreed that they were. An awkward silence arose between the two of them for a while. After a while, Katya asked if Konstantin would still be staying with his aunt for the rest of the season.
Konstantin shook his head. "I'm afraid there is to be a hellish amount of paperwork to oversee. It would be so galling to have gone to all this trouble only to have it fouled up by some incorrectly completed forms. I'm due to leave this afternoon for Gevastapol to liase with my lawyers."
Katya nodded sadly. She wondered aloud what Konstantin's plans were once all his affairs had been settled.
Konstantin looked a little lost for a second or two. He hadn't really given the matter much thought. His aunt Gilda seemed awfully keen for him to be married though. Katya allowed herself a little smile.
At the time, she was engaged to Bernard Hugosteiyl, a minor member of the Trangestein Hugosteiyl's, a family of some influence in the Inner Imperial Court.
She was attending a ball, celebrating a victory of the Seventh Airborne Hussars, held by Gilda Machieagol, Widow-Duchess of Hentzel-Platz.
She was acting as chaperone to some of her younger girl-cousins, and was growing a little bored with the company when her hostess approached her, tall and elegant in a black silk gown that encased her like armour.
Gilda Machieagol was a striking woman, and an accomplished shot, having killed seven men in various duels, famously, one of them was her own errant husband, who had dallied too obviously with a maid.
She was accompanied by a handsome and well turned out young man, who was introduced to Katya as Konstantin Adromanova.
"This is my dearest nephew." She confided to Katya, "He is visiting me for a spell whilst he attends to some family matters relating to a past tragedy that I will not speak of now." Gilda's Talent for marksmanship was surpassed only for her ability to talk in a torrent of information.
"I must talk to the Arch Duke Verstation in a matter of some urgency concerning his legitimate son's gambling debts. His illegitimate son is a darling child and is always forthcoming with due payment. I would consider it a personal favour if you would attend to Konstantin and see that he dances with some pretty girls to keep his mind occupied whilst he is here."
katya took a moment to look more closly at Konstantin, who surveyed the ball with a faintly amused boredom.
He had neat face with high cheekbones and a pointed chin, that was handsome enough but could be considered boring, if not for his exceeding pretty mouth, that looked at once petulant, cruel, and sweet, depending on how one looked at it.
"I am afraid Balls are not to his taste, he was raised by my cousin Ilyaih, and is far too concerned with boyish pursuits such as fighting and sports. He can dance well enough however, and he will not embarrase us. If you will excuse me." Gilda swept off in a rustle of Silk, leaving Katya alone with a politely smiling Konstantin
She thought for a moment about who could possibly dance with Konstantin. That amused boredom meant he was intelligent, she could not pair him with prattling idiot. and so katya eliminated a third of the girls present from her list of possible partners for Konstantin.
That sometimes cruel looking mouth meant Katya could not suggest an ugly girl, she could readily believe that Konstantin could be very spiteful, if it amused him enough. The eldest Grubovich sister could not dance with him.
As they made idle small talk, heading towards the dance floor, she noticed that Konstantin moved well. Gilda had probably understated his ability as a dancer. Katya ruled out the younger Grubovich sisters.
The Pair made empty comments on the weather and the music played, and Katya caught sight of Anna Hilgospeer-Boyatich. Anna was pretty enough, and smart enough, and danced well enough, but Katya had hated her since childhood, and could not stomach the idea of Anna smiling her smug warm cat smile at Konstantin's pretty mouth.
Katya took a moment to consider the other girls present. None of them really seemed suitable for Konstantin, so she decided that she alone would have to dance with him.
"What brings you to your Aunt's house?" Katya asked as the pair took to the floor. Konstantin smelt of warm almonds and vanilla.
"I'm conducting a feud." Konstantin answered, leading them into the first steps of a waltz. Katya congratulated herself on not pairing him with one of the younger Grubovich sisters.
"Really? How exciting. Against who, may I ask?" Such feuds were rare, but always delighted the papers.
"The family Hugosteiyl." Konstantin answered. Katya almost didn't notice, as she was entranced by the thickness and lustre of Konstantin's hair. Bernard had a thin brown colour hair, the shade of weak tea, and it was begining to recede from his temples.
"What do you intend to do?" Katya asked, realizing as she did so that Konstanin's eyes were the most enchanting shade of violet.
Konstantin looked confused for a moment.
"Well, the usual thing, I suppose. Kill their menfolk and seize their lands and assets." Such things had been written down and formalized in Hunstanton's Encyclopedia of Ettiquitte.
"All of their menfolk?" Katya asked, without appearing too concerned. It was important to be polite at these occasions.
Konstantin thought for a moment, and chewed on his delicious looking lower lip.
"I think so," He answered. "Excluding boys under thirteen and second cousins twice removed, all the menfolk. I think under extenuating circumstance I can get away with just two thirds, but I don't think I can apply any of the relevant clauses."
Katya nodded, her mind elsewhere.
"I have been over it pretty thoroughly a couple of time now." Konstantin added, by way of explanation. "Why, you're not friends with any of them are you?"
They had taken a seat at a table by this point, and Katya shook her head prettily.
"I'm rather afraid I'm engaged to one of them." She answered.
Konstantin looked shocked.
"Oh I am sorry." He said.
"No, it's quite alright." Katya answered quickly, squeezing his hand to reassure him. "You weren't to know."
They both smiled.
"Which one are you engaged to?" Konstantin asked, companionably.
"Bernard," replied Katya. "It seems ever such a shame, he's nice enough in his way. He's very kind to animals."
"Oh yes?"
Katya nodded. "Oh yes, he's absolutely devoted to his horses, feeds them himself, every morning at seven."
Konstantin raised an eyebrow.
"I say, do you mind if I write this down?" He produced a small notebook from his jacket.
"Is that every morning?"
"Oh yes, at seven. He's very punctual. Even on a Sunday morning he'll take the feed down to the stables, that'll be the stables on the east side of the estate, not the south, thats where the farm horses are kept."
Konstantin nodded, brow furrowed. Katya's voice took on a slightly dreamy quality, as if she'd stopped paying attention to what she was saying, and therefore couldn't be held responsible for any particular consequnces that could follow.
"He tends to take the gardener's path down to the stables, the one that cross the brook at the old bridge."
______
Later that month, on a quiet sunday morning, Katya rose early to walk to Hugosteiyl manor. She carried a large loaf of dark rich fruit cake, which was intended for the Dowager Duchess Hugosteiyl.
The Duchess' house was in mourning, first for her husband, Isalbard Hugosteiyl, 56th Duke of Killanensteverin, who had been knifed to death two weeks previously during the intermission of "The Scarlet Grouse". It had been considered especially cruel that he had not been allowed to see the second act.
Earlier that week, her nephews Ezrobert and Remus had also been killed in a particulary large explosion that had flattened their summer residence on the Gesipid coast.
It had not been spoken out loud, but it was generally acknowledged that Bernard and Katya's wedding would have to be delayed until his mother had undergone a suitable period of morning.
The general opinion of the populace was that Katya was taking the news very well, but then, she always was a very well brought up girl.
As she set off on her journey Katya was aware that a fruit cake was not adequate recompense for the loss of two young nephews and a husband, but it was important that some expression of sympathy was made, and rich baked goods seemed to do the job so well.
It was a little after seven in the morning as Katya made her way across the Hugosteiyl grounds towards the grand old house when she heard three shots ring out from the East stables.
Shocked by the noise, she looked over to see Konstantin leisurely walking up the gardener's path, carrying a gently smoking revolver in his hand.
He waved to her as he approached. "Hello!" He called, waving absently with the heavy black revolver. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Katya smiled as Konstantin drew close. He looked clean and fit in the cool morning air, with the air of someone just back from brisk exercise. She raised the covered fruit cake by way of explanation.
"I was just taking this to the Duchess Hugosteiyl," she said, as Konstantin nodded his approval.
"It might be an idea to take flowers." Konstantin added delicately.
Katya nodded.
"Lilies are traditional in these cases aren't they?"
Konstantin agreed that they were. An awkward silence arose between the two of them for a while. After a while, Katya asked if Konstantin would still be staying with his aunt for the rest of the season.
Konstantin shook his head. "I'm afraid there is to be a hellish amount of paperwork to oversee. It would be so galling to have gone to all this trouble only to have it fouled up by some incorrectly completed forms. I'm due to leave this afternoon for Gevastapol to liase with my lawyers."
Katya nodded sadly. She wondered aloud what Konstantin's plans were once all his affairs had been settled.
Konstantin looked a little lost for a second or two. He hadn't really given the matter much thought. His aunt Gilda seemed awfully keen for him to be married though. Katya allowed herself a little smile.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
i think team stupid is really now a front for his hate police