Barbe Lefebre

Name: Barbe Lefebre
Born: 1589
Traits: Dishonest, Foolish, Garrulous, Backbiter
Romantic History: Remont de Valois (Romantic Affair)
Husband: None
Aspiration: Romance
Character Alignment: Neutral
Class: Servant (House of Lorraine)


The Baron's play fellow, Barbe was born and grew up in her Master's house, along with René and even if the boy was a few years older than her, he never really saw her as nothing more than a friend.And this thing never bothered the blond woman, who, as the years passed, undertook the role of the mansion's housekeeper.
But now, with the madam's arrival, Barbe was suddenly under the necessity of admitting and accepting her real place in the house.

Athelina d'Albon de Lorraine

Name: Athelina d'Albon de Lorraine
Born: 1601
Traits: Obedient, Loyal, Cultured, Curious, Discreet
Romantic History: Betrothed to Charles Xavier de Croy at the age of 7, René de Lorraine (deceased husband)
Husband: None
Parents: Guigues Levieux d'Albon and Gotelana d'Albon de Parthenay
Aspiration: Popularity
Character Alignment: Neutral
Rand: Baroness


Even with her dreams shattered right before her, Athelina quietly accepted her father's decision and married René.She knew that this countryside noble was a far better choice than the man her sister was forced to marry.At least by marrying him she could finally leave behind her father's second wife and her manoeuvres.She could finally enjoy a few years of tranquility.
So she married Baron René de Lorraine, who was 18 years older than her and left her father's realms to live in Poitou, relinquishing all her colorful dreams about the Royal Court and the life she could live there.
After 13 years of marriage folowed by her husband's tragic death, Athelina abandoned the quiet life in the back concessions and accepted the invitation to the Royal Court, despite the recent finding that she was pregnant.
At the Royal Court, her elegance and sad, melancholic figure attracted the young Prince's attention.

Children
Jacqueline de Lorraine (1616)
Albert de Lorraine (1618)

René de Lorraine

Name: René de Lorraine
Born: 1583
Died: 1633
Traits: Industrious, Lonely, Meticulous, Amiable, Impulsive
Romantic History: Unknown
Wife: Athelina d'Albon de Lorraine
Aspiration: Family
Character Alignment: Virtuous
Rang: Baron

The moment someone sees René it's simple to realize that he's a noble in name only, just like many other nobles from countryside.His thought stature and callous finger, along with his indurate character show a man used to destitution and hard-work.Born and raised on his family's domains, René never saw Paris or the Royal Court and never had the chance to be well off .Not that he ever complained about those aspect of his existence.
No one really understood his reasons when he decided to marry a noble young woman who's more accustomed to flirt and be admired that to work hard, but no one had the courage to call in question his actions.



Children
Jacqueline de Lorraine (1616)
Albert de Lorraine (1618)

Fall 1616-1620

The autumn always had its special charm at the countryside.The long lonely moments spent in the woods, the cool breeze, the wild perfume of life.

Athelina never thought someday she will come to appreciate those things. but here she was, wandering through the paths, simply enjoying the solitude.After her marriage to René de Lorraine her eventful life simply seemed to dry up.The balls, the dances, the jewellery the courtesy ... everything remained there, at the Royal Court.

And now here she was, at her husband's countryside residence, away from everything that meant her life until now.And she couldn't believe she didn't miss all those beautiful and ephemeral things.

She couldn't say she was happy.But she was content with the life she had now.The Baron respected her, letting his young wife do almost everything she wanted.Well, almost everything, because they couldn't appear at the Court.

In her first year of marriage Athelina dropped the fashionable gowns and adopted simpler dresses, in which she could work around the house along with the servants.

Bu the first snow of that year, the new Baroness de Lorraine was already pregnant with her first child.Now, that the night became longer and days shorter, Athelina loved spending her time playing chess, discussing with her husband or weaving.

In 1618 she gave birth to a healthy baby girl, whom they named Jacqueline and although the young mother was quite nervous about the delivery, the midwife managed to calm her and drive away all her fears when she put the baby in Athelina's arms.Even if it had been a painful experience, the Baroness knew that the midwife's words were a distressing truth: "Don't worry ma'am.It's always the hardest with the first one.By the time you'll give birth to your tenth, you won't feel anything anymore".She still hoped she won't have to bear so many children.

All this time, in the kitchen, escaping notice, Barbe, the Baron's childhood friend, spent her days dividing her existence between cooking, gossiping with the bounders from the nearest village and dreaming of an easygoing life.