Post by Rosalie de Merteuil on Apr 15, 2008 15:20:04 GMT -5
Name: Rosalie de Merteuil, Comtesse de Merteuil
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Height: 5'5"
Race: D’Angeline (Azzallese/Kusheline)
Home province: Azzalle
Appearance: If there were only one word to describe Rosalie, it would be angelic. Blonde ringlets descend to just above her breasts, and her eyes are like opals. Her pale skin is just barely touched by freckles, and her cheeks are pale pink. She stands 5’5”, and while she is not fat, her body is soft and smooth.
History: Don’t let her angelic appearance fool you, Rosalie is absolutely ruthless. Rosalie’s father, the Comte Bernard de Merteuil of Azzalle, was married first to Philipa Zohariel, a Kushieline lady, and from their union came Rosalie’s half-brother, Harlan. Around Harlan’s third birthday, Bernard decided to hire a governess and tutor, Cecile Marat, a former Bryony adept. From practically the moment she walked in the door, Bernard and Cecile began a heated, passionate affair to which gracious Philipa turned a blind eye. Philipa’s only confidante was Leon, the butler and her childhood friend. Cecile, noticing this, convinced Bernard that Harlan was not his child, but rather, Leon the butler’s. Bernard, desperately in love and looking for a way to end his marriage, divorced Philipa and declared Harlan illegitimate; however Harlan was allowed to remain in his household. Leon was sent away and replaced with a new butler. Bernard married Cecile, and from their union came Rosalie.
Rosalie is every bit as ruthless and conniving as her mother was. From the start, her mother made sure that only Bryony adepts as clever and hardhearted as she were Rosalie’s teachers. She instructed Rosalie to use her angelic looks to her advantage, to fool and to dissemble, and to never forget that it was through her mother’s work that she would eventually become Comtesse. Rosalie was a natural. By the time she was fourteen, she had played pranks on every member of the household. At sixteen, she decided she wanted the prizewinning horse of a neighboring Marquis. On a visit to their home, she led the Marquis’ son into the fields for a tryst, whereupon she screamed and screamed until the Marquis himself came running. She accused the Marquis’ son of trying to violate her, and rather than fan the flames of a scandal, the Marquis compensated her with the horse.
The only person who sees through her is Harlan, her half-brother, and perhaps that is the reason Rosalie loves him so much. Harlan doesn’t blame Rosalie for the loss of his birthright, but he complains bitterly to her about her mother. Rosalie, in an effort to make him keep quiet, made him exchequer of her estate in Azzalle. Harlan is exceedingly loyal to Rosalie, because perhaps he’s learned a thing or two about gathering power.
Now, Rosalie has come to the City of Elua as a courtier, to gather allies and perhaps, make a few enemies. A husband is also on the agenda, but only one as ruthless as she.