On Matters Of Virtue And Propriety

[Halsi]

FROM THE DESKS OF THE MASTER AND MISTRESS OF THE HALLS
HER GRACE, FABIENNE DU PONCAIRE, DUCHESS OF MARAIS
HER LADYSHIP, ROWENA BANCROFT, COUNTESS OF KAARTE
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As part of the Imperial Court, it is our sovereign duty to the Crown to ensure that the nobility behaves with the utmost propriety befitting to the will of His Imperial Holiness. With the grace and mercy He so benevolently extends to us all in the form of power, it would otherwise be a proper slap in the face to so selfishly turn a blind eye towards these important hallmarks of noble society. We are the upper class, dear reader, and we are expected to behave in a way that sets us apart from the common crowd. Hence why, with the recent revelations within our very own peerage, we found ourselves compelled to hold this esteemed individual accountable for severely breaching court protocol.

The Mistresses of the Halls would like to publicly condemn the Duke-Elector Howland von Schwarzkrau for humoring and perhaps even encouraging feelings of affection towards his House physician, doctor Petra van der Kleij, and for ultimately infringing upon the otherwise apparent Master-Subject relation between servants and nobles.

We would like to remind the peerage, first and foremost, to read His Imperial Holiness' codex for court protocol thoroughly once more, as the Duke-Elector is most certainly not the only individual to violate conduces. To criticize his Grace would be a hypocritical endeavor for a majority of the nobility, as their ignorance over the conduces is blatantly obvious from even the simplest of interactions within the Empire's greatest halls of power. However, we would also like to make it apparent that his Grace's infringement upon the conduces is most severe, as this is clearly stated in our codex for court protocol:

Fraternization towards Servants or Commoners is strictly forbidden. Flirting, Fornication, Debauching and other interactions normally reserved with close relations are strictly forbidden towards Servants, as they interfere with the Master-Servant relation.
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To further emphasize the error in his Grace's actions, one must only look as far as his own Lifeguard Publications, wherein the Duke-Elector comments and reminds the peerage of the ruling above. His Grace goes so far as to state the following. ".. should be treated with dignity and respect; and provided for, guided and nourished under the service of noble houses; that certain lines of familiarity between house guards and their employees should not be crossed." While the benefit of the doubt might have been extended prior, on account of his upbringing, it is obvious the Duke-Elector is well aware as to the severity of his transgressions.

Several accounts most distinguished have attested and confirmed the Duke-Elector's intimate relationship with the doctor van der Kleij, which heavily disturbs the Master-Servant relation that is expected from nobles and their employ. The fault is not so much in the fact that the doctor van der Kleij is of a lower class, dear reader. After all, should such an endeavor be prohibited, then we would never have revered individuals like the Duke Peirgarten or the Jarl and Jarless Sorenvik in our peerage. The Duke-Elector's mistake moreso lies in the fraternization with his own employ, as this would inherently break the Master-Servant relation that is always expected from House staff and the people they serve.

To ameliorate his standing within the peerage and repair the virtuous image he once held before, the Mistresses of the Halls advise the Duke-Elector to undertake one of the following actions at his earliest convenience:

• Dismiss the doctor Petra van der Kleij from his House's employ and seek a new physician to tend to House von Schwarzkrau's medical needs.
• Wed the doctor Petra van der Kleij immediately to preserve her honor and virtue, and ennoble her through matrimony.
• Immediately cease any form of relationship with the doctor Petra van der Kleij, in order to put the peerage's collective mind at ease. A chaperone or third pair of eyes is encouraged to ensure there is no unjust conduct behind closed doors.
• Find an eligible bachelor or bachelorette within the peerage to satisfy the matters of the heart, and the matters of an heir.

We sincerely hope the Duke-Elector finds reason in this publication, and that he will take the right accountability for violating what he so adamantly preached before. Should he fail to correct the error in his ways and the violation of His Imperial Holiness' words, the Mistresses of the Halls deem it inappropriate for his Grace to frequent the Imperial Palace and will prohibit him from access until further notice.

Signed and officiated by their seal,

Duchess of Marais
Mistress of the Halls
Foreign Consul of the West


Countess of Kaarte
Mistress of the Halls
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TLDR; The Mistresses of the Halls give Howland von Schwarkzrau a slap on the wrist for being intimate with his House physician. Scandalous!
@Hemingway7 ​

 

[HeyItzAPotato]

Gabrielle comes across the notice, eyes widening as she scurries up the stairs to shove the paper in her cousin's face.

"TANJA! LOOK."

(@JinxNotJinxed)

 

[bwmwags3]

The Lord pauses and sighs, "Dammit your grace by Almar this is why you just date the person regularly. Do not mix master and servant...best he speak truth and be compliant to his code. As a Viridian."

 

[Kakaio]

Yngvarr read over the paper before sliding it across the table to his fiancé.
"Good for them."
He commented, resuming his Gallovian Whiskey breakfast and a newspaper.

[ @Femma ]

 

[DahStalker]

Lhoris Naaol shook her head with an unimpressed look. "I always knew that von Schwarzkrau was trouble." The elfess proclaimed, reading the very important missive.

 

[Hemingway7]

Duke-Elector Howland von Schwarzkrau zu Moritzburg
Fold von Schwarzkrau
Viridian Knight

May 6, 310 AC
von Schwarzkrau Estate
Imperial District
Regalian Crown Isle

In dutiful response to the Mistresses of Halls, Duchess Fabienne du Poncaire and Countess Rowena Bancroft,

One may find the irony in such an outspoken critic of the lax practice of conduces on the part of the nobility finding himself at the sword-end of an accusation of misconduct. However, with respect to the Mistresses of Halls, it seems statements made in their denunciation are presented most uncharitably to the accurate truth.

Let us be frank. No dishonorable intimate nor physical contact has ever transpired between the honorable Doctor Petra van der Kleij and I. There has been no flirtation, nor fornication, nor indulgence in that reserved for kin and close friends. The Doctor has always worn gloves when treating wounds, and I have only bridged physical contact once to move the doctor to Greygate after she was wounded by a Cahal, as commanded by my honor, as witnessed by Count Jocelyn von Duerr.

The substance of the Mistresses' accusation refers to two meetings earlier this week, when the Doctor and I frankly acknowledged errant affection by word Saturday evening. Contrary to accusations of "humoring and perhaps even encouraging feelings of affection," I decisively discouraged the situation by affirming the Emperor's expectations, and set forth that straying beyond the master-servant dynamic would be unacceptable.

Sunday afternoon, I further granted the doctor a choice: to remain employed with my house under stricter enforcement of received conduces to ensure diligence in her role, or to be released in good-faith with advanced pay and my recommendation. She acknowledged the terms of the first, and the matter has not been raised again. Until now.

It is unreasonable to interpret these actions as anything but adherence to noble protocol. One may not always choose their fleeting emotions; but they may choose their honesty about them, and how they are acted or not acted upon.

It seems these facts of enforcement and resolution were either omitted when reported to the Mistresses of Halls, or were willfully ignored by them. And rather than confront the matter in good fairness to Fold von Schwarzkrau, the Mistresses have publicized their own conclusions that fall short of the complete truth.

I have already satisfied the conditions for the third advisement offered by the Mistresses. But why stop there? It is with the Mistresses' first advisement that the Doctor Petra van der Kleij is no longer an employee of House von Schwarzkrau, to eliminate any remaining doubt of the aforementioned enforcement of the master-servant relation.

Instead, I shall accelerate plans to appoint the doctor as the Baroness of Magde within the von Schwarzkrau Fold on account of her trade competency, good character and loyalty, as I had offered before this situation arose in the first place.

Fold von Schwarzkrau has adequately addressed this matter of factual inaccuracy, and considers it suitably resolved.

May the God-Emperors and God-Empresses guide us all to piety.

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@Halsi @Bunemma​