A/N: Hello, I am a lurker, and I have indeed been lurking for a good deal of time now. The last time I seriously lurked was when the Digimon section was bigger than Harry Potter. It's likely been equally as long since I delved into the world of writing fan fiction, but I intend to make this a full fledged side project.

In any case, those of you familiar with some of the more unique lore of Dishonored, may already know of the Corvo/Jessamine theories and such. Following that, this story takes place about twelve years before the events of Dishonored. We get tantalizing tid bits here and there that suggest Jessamine was in fact the most interesting character - that dies within the first fifteen minutes of gameplay. I had hoped during my first playthrough that there would be some unravelling about her character, and then... nothing. Sort of just, pulled the rug out from under that one immediately.

Thank goodness I'm here to rectify that situation.

xx Mayday

(cover art by Deelane over at DA)

Heir Apparent

Chapter One - Antebellum

In Dunwall Tower of the isle of Gristol, the heart of the Empire, a woman is standing overlooking the ocean. The only daughter of Emperor Euhorn, she is Jessamine Kaldwin, and today is her eighteenth birthday.

She was born in the high summer in the Month of Harvest, and while she relished in the ample sunlight present for her birthday, she couldn't stand the heat. Presently, Jessamine stood on her balcony, shaded from the direct glare of the light. She observed enormous plumes of cotton wool clouds on the eastern most horizons towards Kingsparrow Island, stark white and muddled with grey on an otherwise cloudless sky. Perhaps it would rain today.

There was hardly a breath of wind, and her dark raven hair didn't so much as stir a strand, which meant it was awfully humid and stuffy in her room. It was the type of humidity that caused all manner of hair and clothes to cling to her body like glue. Her Lord Protector, Galen Pirro, an aged man with hints of white whiskers and a hardened visage silently watched her from the other end of the room.

Jessamine's room was more of a disorderly study than anything else. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with essential and hobby reading material for the young heir apparent. Her rapier sat on a large comfortable chair beside an ornately carved desk piled high with official correspondence. If today had not been her birthday, Jessamine would have taken leave to The Hounds Pit pub, and taken turns between rounds of strong ale and noisy sparring.

No guard, or even her Lord Protector no matter how loyal, would dare tell her otherwise. Just like the Royal Guard, as a young woman Jessamine learned the finer points of operating whale oil machinery and repair, gambling, fist fighting, excessive drinking, and avenging her honor. As well as having would-be suitors running scared at the prospect of the pointy end of a rapier run through their small intestines.

It had been her father, Emperor Euhorn's idea to teach her how to handle a blade, and he approved of everything except what she did with it in her own time. Jessamine was far more wayward than he had hoped, and in time, he could only pray she accepted her responsibilities a bit more gracefully.

"Milady," Galen broke from the other end of the room. Jessamine turned around, and slumped her back and elbows against the stone rail of her balcony. "Your father requests your presence in the ballroom."

She frowned, parting her lips enough for a sigh to escape. It would undoubtedly regard preparations for her own coming of age party tonight. She nodded to her Lord Protector in acknowledgement, sauntering over to her dressing table. In front of the mirror, Jessamine observed the thick unruly waves of raven hair that hung below her breast. She brushed through her locks with noticeable effort, gathering it up and tying it against her head in a neat bun.

She stood up and was out of her room in only a few quick strides, Galen close behind. She moved around the hall in what a casual observer might call an absent-minded manner. In her left palm she held her gold Empress pin, rolling it between her fingers, eventually pinning it to her front. She turned to him once he had caught up, "I hadn't thought about it before," Jessamine started, "but this will be the last of my parties you shall attend as my Lord Protector." She said to the greying man. They descended down a flight of white marble steps, the small wooden heels of her boots echoed against the walls.

"Ah, Milady I am glad to resign. I have spent many years as your, and Emperor Euhorn's Lord Protector." He said, his face hardly shifting, although his tone hinted at relief. Her mouth twitched into a generous smile.

"Perhaps you shall move into a beach home on Serkonos," Jessamine suggested, continuing the small conversation as they made their way through the main hall. Galen motioned with his hand to veer right, towards the ballroom, she followed.

"Indeed," he said bleakly, although she caught the small hint of sentiment in his voice. When they reached the heavy doors of the ballroom, Jessamine pushed them open with relative ease. Indeed, the eve of her birthday dinner was upon them. All manner of decorations and preparations adored the ballroom in Dunwall Tower. The glass ceilings scattered the sunlight around like shards, against the pastel and stone walls, white marble floors and porcelain dishes in the hands of the maids.

She spotted her father in mid conversation with the Captain of the Watch, discussing safety precautions for the event. She paused to survey the room, clearly displeased. Her left heel beginning to turn away when Galen stopped her, fully aware of her wishes to abscond; and Jessamine realized that one hundred and eighty pounds of plate metal moves where it wills.

"Ah, yes Jessamine dear, I must speak with you about tonight." He shut his favorite book of poetry to look her in her steel coloured eyes, his glare as sharp as a blade, "and no, I'm not asking for your opinion of the party."

She looked back at him, her brows knitting in the middle, "I'll hold my tongue," she said, and her disdain was audible. Emperor Euhorn murmured a 'thank you' to the Captain, who shot a confounded look at Jessamine before he bid the Emperor and herself adieu.

Emperor Euhorn led his daughter out of the ballroom, accompanied only by Galen. They stood outside the heavy doors, away from earshot between the maids and the Watch. Euhorn's mien was quite placid, he was happy for Jessamine. He knew despite her youthful boisterousness, she would make a fine Empress in his place when the time came. He sighed to himself, with another passing birthday that time was certainly approaching faster than he cared to admit.

"The party tonight will be shared with a celebration of Galen's retirement from his post," he began. Jessamine folded her arms across her chest, she was quizzical, but allowed him to continue. Even the Lord Protector's attention was piqued, although neither of them noticed beyond his usual demeanour of stoicism. "We've received an offer from the Serkonian ambassador for a suitable Lord Protector to fill the post. As a demonstration of our continuing bond between our empires, it is a monumental display of diversity."

"Well, then we'd be foolish not to accept." Jessamine glanced at Galen from the corner of her eye.

Euhorn's lips curled upwards in a smile, the creases along his eyes and mouth becoming suddenly more visible. "You'll make a fine Empress yet," he put a hand on his daughters shoulder, and his other hand dove into the pockets of his black slacks. He fished out a small wrapped box and handed it to Jessamine, "happy birthday dear." Jessamine found that she was beaming from ear to ear, and fell into Euhorn's burly embrace.

She spent much of her childhood between caretakers, yet despite the fact, their bond had remained strong and she did truly love her father. It was hard for a man such as Euhorn to adjust to both parental roles. Even if she was indeed born out of wedlock, he braved the early taunts and rumours of illegitimacy with fiery grace. Shortly after, not a single maid dared raise their tongue to Jessamine's birth right. She was his daughter, and the heir apparent to Gristol.

Jessamine had turned to leave when her father called to her, "before you go, you'll be meeting with them tonight, so be sure to dress and act accordingly."

"I'll do my best," Jessamine replied whole heartedly before taking her leave.