Writing prompt: Baldwin bringing Miyako to sept tours for the first time to meet his family. I am curious to see how they would react to the heir making his first child.
What a great prompt! Also, I saw a Toby Stephens fancast of Baldwin from this RP blog @balldwin, which definitely would've suited his vibes in this era.
1628
"What if they don't like me?" Miyako asked as the carriage stopped outside of Sept-Tours.
"You're family. They'll love you." Baldwin assured, squeezing her hand.
Philippe and Ysabeau met them outside. Her eyes widened. Sept-Tours was more beautiful than she had imagined. He helped her out and pulled her cloak higher onto her shoulders. She was sensitive to the colder climate of France.
"Father."
"Lucius." He pulled his son in for a hug, "It's been a while." Ysabeau kissed him politely on the cheek.
But both of their eyes were on the young woman slightly behind him. She was in a plain gown, her cloak with the ordinate pattern.
"Miyako, this is your grandfather," Baldwin introduced, "And his wife. This is my daughter, Miyako de Clermont."
"Seiur." She politely curtseyed towards the two of them, as Baldwin had taught, "Madame."
"She's very polite and you've been raising her?" Ysabeau smirked, "Very surprising."
"Well, unlike your offspring, mamon, she didn't need much home training." The two glared at each other as always before the matriarch turned to his daughter with a polite smile.
"Come with me child." Ysabeau ordered, but Miyako looked to her father, who nodded with a small smile before going with Ysabeau.
"I've sent word to everyone." Philippe said once they were in his office. Baldwin was expecting that and rolled his eyes.
"Did you have to?" Baldwin replied, annoyed but he knew that was the proper way. But Miyako, for all her wit and intelligence could be shy and well, his family were not.
"A child is a joyous occasion." Philippe said, "The entire family should celebrate."
"I thought you would be upset. You did forbid me to mate."
"A child won't compromise you. It will broaden your perspective of the world." Philippe said.
Baldwin wisely shut his mouth, holding back a smart comment about them ridding the world of blood-rage yet three of his siblings had it. Miyako was well behaved when he had turned her. He hadn't had to chase her into a local village.
"She's very young." Philippe pointed out. All of his children had been in their 20s and 30s when he created. Miyako was only 18, on the cusp of womanhood for eternity.
"I couldn't let her die." Baldwin said, "Too much potential. She's intelligent, well educated, and picks up things very quickly."
Philippe grinned, "I thought you would've made a son first."
"I wasn't the one ordered to stop making daughters." Baldwin replied, smirking, "And you and I both know women are just as, if not more capable."
"I like having a granddaughter." Philippe said, "How far along have you trained her?"
"She knows how to use a dagger effectively. Her mother left her a katana sword, which she's still learning how to use." Baldwin replied, "She speaks English, Japanese, Portuguese fluently and some French and Latin. She also loves to read, and strategy games."
"She won't be able to appear at court, due to her mixed parentage." She obviously favoured her mother. Only the Portuguese and the Spaniards had met those from that part of Asia ,"You should've told me." Baldwin tilted his head, trying not to get angry with his father.
"Her mother was Japanese, nothing to be ashamed of. She isn't here to be a spy." Baldwin replied, "She's my child. She will learn to defend herself, to lead or whatever she would like to do.”
"And what gives you the right to say so?" Philippe challenged.
"I'm her father." Is all he said. His father smiled proudly.
"Yes, you are."
Miyako on the other hand, was happily bonding with Marthe, who Ysabeau had delegated to caring for the child after showing her to her suite in Baldwin's tower.
It had been decorated for a lady of her status, with reds, pinks and blues. Gold was threaded in every blanket on the bed. He had sent silk from her homeland in advance to make the curtains on her bed.
Marthe was brushing her hair as she sat at a table, reading. She enjoyed her new library, thankful that her father had sent word for many, many books before they arrived.
"It's lovely having another young woman in the family. Too many men in this family." Marthe said and she smiled at the older vampire. She fiddled with a small golden pendant she had refused to take off in the bath.
"That's very pretty." Marthe said, then she looked closer. It was the God Mars imprinted in the round gold plate.
"Papa bought it for me." She said. Baldwin had given it to her when she was ten years old. He had always been the adult who'd play with her, engage with her.
Marthe raised an eyebrow surprised at the endearing term. Baldwin wasn't the affectionate type.
Ysabeau came in, several gowns in her arms, "We'll have to take you to a dress maker soon. Baldwin didn't send us your measurements. Still such a man."
"Thank you, grand-mere." Then her eyes widened. Was she supposed to call her that? Baldwin had said her cousin called her that sometimes, and she was still learning her French.
Ysabeau, however, smiled softly at the term, "You're welcome."
Ysabeau brought her down for dinner, where Baldwin was waiting to the entrance of the dining room. Miyako smiled when she saw him. He hadn't gone anywhere.
"How do I look?" She asked, lifting her arms slightly. She had been put in red and black off-shoulder gown, for wearing at home. Marthe had tied some of her hair back in a simple braid. He was pleased when he saw a gold de Clermont signet ring on her left pointer finger.
She was a de Clermont. The heir to Philippe's heir.
"Beautiful." Baldwin complimented proudly.
A month later, all of the de Clermonts had finally arrived, all eager to meet their new niece. Miyako had spent most of her time educating herself better on parts of European society, and enjoying the vast library. Baldwin had taken her out for a hunt and she found she really liked fox's blood.
"I can't believe Lucius has made a child." Gallowglass commented, sipping on his wine. Even he had come home, once he heard.
"So that's why you've come home?" Godfrey smirked, "Curiosity." He was rather excited to meet his new niece.
The Scotsman shrugged, "It's not everyday I get a new cousin. Last thing I expected was for the gladiator to make one."
Matthew scoffed, "She could be a cruel little thing." Baldwin creating a child was a nightmare.
Godfrey smiled, "I doubt it." He knew Baldwin the longest, and Hugh had always told him that deep under his cruel and hard surface was a kind, protective man. He had experienced it, so had everyone else in the family, whether they knew it or not.
The two finally arrived into the ballroom, Baldwin escorting his daughter proudly. He was smiling gently at her, which startled his siblings. He didn’t smile outside of war.
"Hello, I'm your uncle Godfrey." He kissed both cheeks politely.
"This is your uncle Matthew." Baldwin introduced and his brother nodded politely in her direction. He had mentioned to his daughter that they weren't close, but she smiled kindly at him.
Gallowglass was perhaps the most welcoming, pulling her in for a hug and a kiss, which she accepted happily. Baldwin had told her stories of her uncle Hugh, and she was sad she didn't get to meet him, but at least she had a cousin.
"Call me Gallowglass." Gallowglass smiled, "I have to say, it's nice having a cousin, I'm no longer the youngest."
"Well, I hope we can be both friends and family." Miyako said, and she meant it.
Then came the aunts.
Anastasia was excited and had brought presents and clothes for her niece. She could tell by her brother's protective stance he loved this child as his own, and not a new chess piece for Philippe.
"She's an fragile little thing." Verin smiled sharply. She then pulled out a small dagger and threw it.
Baldwin growled at his sister but Miyako had caught the knife with ease, holding the blade. She flipped it and threw it back, so that it landed in the tapestry behind Verin's head.
"No, I am not." She replied politely. Her aunt looked at her, reluctantly impressed.
"She is Baldwin's child." Freyja smirked.