But after awhile of Mircalla's sad existence with only a few lovers here and there to act as outlets to her otherwise callous and hateful deeds, something genuinely good finally happened to the girl.
"We've got message from a Baron Vordenberg that his son would like to court you," Ferenc announced one morning. Mircalla looked stunned and flattered. A suitor at last! Her past few lovers had simply been fools from court which she had various flings with. This was one of the first men to call on her first and this fellow wasn't some man she dragged up from the sewage. This was an actual noble from out of the kingdom of Karnstein.
"Will you accept?" she asked hopefully. Ferenc nodded back with determined eyes.
"The Baron should be here within the next few days," he said and Mircalla gave a shy little grin that was so unlike her. Maybe her hardened heart wasn't as hard as she thought…Ferenc only rolled his eyes, his own mood good enough that his daughter's foolish reactions didn't bother him.
Three days later, a charming young man with a round and stubby father entered the Karnstein castle.
"Ah! Barons Hans and Cornelius!" Ferenc greeted the Vordenbergs.
"Count Ferenc!" they responded happily. The older baron clapped Ferenc in a hug while the younger bowed politely.
"Fine lad!" Ferenc nodded approvingly as he looked at the boy. "You have come to court my daughter?"
"Yes, sir," Cornelius replied softly. He was only a bit older than Mircalla.
"She is waiting in the main hall," Ferenc responded, then he led the Vordenbergs inside.
Mircalla and Cornelius became very close very fast. She found him charming and he found her enticing. For the first time in almost a year, Mircalla was truly happy.
"You enjoy reading?" Cornelius asked, watching the beautiful young countess study her manuscript closely.
"Yes," Mircalla responded. "It's the only thing that keeps me from going mad sometimes."
"Mad?" Cornelius looked concerned and Mircalla chuckled affectionately.
"It is only my Papa. He can be a little overbearing and unconcerned with the world. Sometimes, these books are my only friends," she said.
"Oh. I know the feeling well," Cornelius looked at Mircalla sadly.
"Do you?" she asked in surprise, looking away from her book.
"Yes," Cornelius said. "I have four brothers, two older and one younger. They all have married off and made names for themselves. I still live at home with my father," he explained. He didn't need to say more for Mircalla to understand. Doubtless, he felt that books were better company than anything or anyone else because his brothers would bully him for being such a baby while his father, as well-meant as he was, was a little… daft. He seemed blind to his third son's suffering.
"Do not worry," Mircalla said. "I have six older sisters, all of whom have left Karnstein. I am the only one left and I fear it shall always be so."
"Well perhaps I will stay," Cornelius replied smoothly and Mircalla knew she was in love.
Love. What a strange thing. After a bit over a year being the countess of Karnstein, Mircalla had almost forgotten what that was. She certainly never received any from her father or the lowly servants of the castle and no visitor ever made any attempt to stay or return after their first trip. Mircalla didn't count her various lovers either because that was purely physical. She only slept with them for the thrill and the physical satisfaction, not because she actually felt anything for them. Oh, perhaps some of them were genuine flames, but the feelings were never reciprocated. With Cornelius, however, she felt a true affection. Mircalla genuinely liked this Vordenberg boy and she decided that meeting him was one of the best things to happen to her in quite awhile. Cornelius felt the same, having been a moderate and plain boy his whole life, but Mircalla was amazing and gorgeous and she made him feel special. It was something new and exciting and he was glad he got to share it with her.
"Perhaps you can be my baroness!" the boy joked.
"Baroness Karnstein," Mircalla grinned dryly. "Perhaps you can be my count. I quite liked my old title."
"You're right," Cornelius grinned. "Countess Karnstein sounds better."
"But perhaps for you, I could be a baroness," Mircalla answered next and Cornelius began to blush hotly.
So for a few happy months, Mircalla and Cornelius grew ever closer until it seemed official. Ferenc and Hans had pretty much already married them off, having made wedding plans and house arrangements that Cornelius would move in with Mircalla and both would continue the Karnstein line, but now the lovers in question were starting to consider it too.
"Excellent!" Ferenc clapped darkly as the dowry was finished. "My daughter will be a married and proper countess before her 18th birthday!"
"Excellent indeed!" Hans replied, though his joy was a bit more genuine. He was truly glad that his son was getting married and rising through the ranks. Besides, Mircalla was a beautiful, friendly, clever girl. What more could any man ask for in a daughter in law? So the deal was set. All that remained was for Cornelius to actually propose. Cornelius, however, insisted that they wait just a bit longer.
For the fathers, the wait was terrible. Ferenc wanted Mircalla off producing heirs at once and even Hans was keen on seeing his youngest being married off. But the lovers would not be rushed. By why not? Well, it was because of love. Love was strange and nobody understood it. Cornelius didn't even know why he was waiting. He just knew that it felt right. He didn't want to rush things with Mircalla. Instead, he wanted to take it slow, perhaps to show her that he could be patient and she, herself, was in no rush either.
"Usually, Papa says I'm impatient, indulgent, impulsive and impotent," she confessed. "But with you, I feel calm. Serene, even!"
"Perhaps, love, it is because your Papa is a doddering old sot," Cornelius suggested with a smirk.
"Don't!" Mircalla swatted his arm, but was laughing, showing off a side of her nobody else had seen since her early days.
"Be glad I am not going to wait too very long to ask," Cornelius replied with a wink.
"Don't worry, love, the way I see it, you already have," Mircalla grinned seductively and Cornelius' boyish eyes lit up at the implications. It was not their first time, but it was no less enjoyable now than any other time before.
So time passed and the two royal children grew ever closer and Mircalla's ability to love slowly returned to her. She suddenly became blind and deaf to her fathers, intent only upon keeping Cornelius close. As far as she was concerned, he belonged to her. She never thought of her sisters anymore. She was happy with this Vordenberg boy, whether she'd be his baroness or countess.
