In the year of Our Lord 1419, the young Duke of Simona met and fell in love
with the daughter of a wealthy landowner. Three months later they were
married. In the year of Our Lord 1421, she gave him a small daughter, whom
they named Mariella. In the Year of Our Lord 1426, the Duke lost his wife
to the plague. Three years later the Duke married again. This time, the
lady was a wealthy French widow, who brought him an extensive dowry and
three daughters of her own. The Lady Geneviéve and her daughters Elaine,
Sariné, and Gertrude were kind in every way to the Duke's still young
daughter, there was not a hint of what was to come. Finally, it was in the
Year of our Lord 1431, that the plague hit Italy again. This time it swept
the Duke with it and left Mariella an orphan. In his will, the Duke left
his new wife the entire duchy, trusting that she would be kind to his
beloved daughter. Needless to say, this was not to be, or else I would not
be telling this story. At first, things seemed to go on as usual. The
Duchess treated Mariella with some kindness, but there was a marked
difference between her and Geneviéve's daughters, but it was not large. It
was not until a third plague hit Italy in the year of Our Lord 1432, that
the real trouble began. Both Mariella and Sariné became sick. Secretly, the
Duchess hoped that Mariella, who had always been small and sickly, would be
taken of her hands. The utmost care was taken with Sariné while Mariella
was given a corner of the sickroom and hardly a thought was given to her.
But Providence had something in store for her and she somehow survived.
Sariné was not so lucky. She died three weeks after contracting the
disease. The Duchess blamed Mariella for the death of her second eldest
daughter. She banished her to the servant's wing of the manor, and
announced to her girls that Mariella was to be treated like all the other
servants. At eleven, she was still small and weak and could not protest to
her stepmother's unfair treatment. She accepted it without objections. Our
story begins nine years later; Mariella has grown tall and strong, and
probably rather beautiful as well, but it is impossible to tell because of
the various dirt and ash smudges. She is no longer Mariella, she's simply
Ella now. Geneviéve has changed little, except for perhaps a few more
wrinkles around the eyes. Her daughters certainly have changed, though.
Elaine, the elder sister, is as homely as a stump and her sister, Gertrude,
though tall and slender, has a snobbish and snotty appearance, which makes
her young face ugly. It is at this time that both Elaine and Gertrude are
to be presented at court.
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