Marie Beatrice
| Marie Beatrice | |
 | |
| Physical information | |
|---|---|
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Make |
| Hair color and style | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Skin color | Olive |
| Biographical information | |
| Date of birth | 1696 AN |
| Place of birth | Aqaba, Constancia |
| Date of death | N/A |
| Place of death | N/A |
| Residence(s) | Palace of Botha, Chryse |
| Nationality | |
Marie Beatrice – a Humanist and socialite in the Chryse of the early eighteenth century after Norton.
Biography
Marie Beatrice, born in 1696 AN, was a foundling of joint New Alexandrian and Constancian nationality. Her early years were spent in the custody of the Saraymardana, a prestigious boarding school located in the distinctive and singular environment of Raspur. Despite her humble beginnings, her exceptional intelligence and potential were recognised by the Humanist National Sector Party of Constancia, who sponsored her education under the N&H Future Leadership Programme.
Early life
As she grew older, Marie Beatrice became deeply involved in the political sphere, being enrolled from infancy in the Young Humanists League in Constancia. Her talents and ambition were further honed at the prestigious Bothan Institute in the Free City of Chryse, where she was enrolled in the Junior Cohort's Eight to Nine Age-Class in 1705 AN. During the course of her time there she would later selected for the elite Vanguard Group of the Nationalist and Humanist Party in Chryse.
Education at the Bothan Institute
The Bothan Institute was renowned for its rigorous curriculum and strict discipline, which instilled in Marie Beatrice a strong sense of self-discipline and self-motivation, as well as a deep knowledge and expertise in the core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as a proficiency in etiquette, cold reading, and emotional intelligence. Her tutors admired her intelligence, confidence, and grace, and she graduated with a certain degree of proven aptitude in 1712 AN.
Marie Beatrice's time at the Bothan Institute was also marked by strict restrictions and regulations. She was never allowed to leave the island without a chaperone guard from the school, and her visits to Chryse were always shrouded in secrecy. She was required to wear the full-length blue cloak of a religious penitent, with the hood pulled up to cover her face. Despite this, she could always feel the eyes of strangers upon her, even as a child. This experience of being hidden away, yet constantly watched, would shape her understanding of power and influence in the years to come.
One of the most memorable moments of her childhood was her secondary duty of feeding the rabbits in the hutches outside the kitchens. She used to pet them and they were a source of joy to her that was largely absent in the strictly regimented life of the institute. However, after a few months, she realised the purpose of the cooks keeping rabbits, and ever afterwards could not abide the smell of cooking stew without feeling revulsion. This small experience would shape her perspective and understanding of the cruelty of the world around her. Despite the kindness she showed to the rabbits, she was forced to accept that they were raised for a utilitarian purpose. From then on, she became more self-contained and calculating, knowing that the world is not always kind and that one must be aware of the hidden agendas and purposes of others. This realisation also helped her understand the importance of being in control of her own fate, not being a passive victim of circumstance. She learned to be more assertive and strategic in her decisions, always keeping her end goal in mind and not allowing emotions to cloud her judgement.
Life in Chryse
Marie Beatrice's introduction to Chrysean society took place at the 1714 Chrysean Debutantes Ball, where she was presented to the elite of the Benacian Union as a highly accomplished and well-rounded individual. Her talents extended beyond the academic and political spheres, as she was also highly skilled in practical matters, having become adept at cooking, sewing, and other domestic tasks.
However, despite her many accomplishments, Marie Beatrice was not without her flaws. Her tutors noted her highly competitive nature and her tendency to be driven to succeed, to the point where she sometimes demonstrated an unwillingness to acknowledge or consider the perspectives or needs of others. This trait was further amplified by her uncertain past and her desire to uncover the truth about her identity and her unknown parents.
It was during this time of introspection and self-discovery that, on 1.XI.1716 AN, Marie Beatrice's life would take another dramatic turn when she was introduced to Daniel Lors Simrani-Kalirion, the grandson of Daniyal ibn Daniyal, the Szodan of Benacia. The introduction was arranged by the N&H Future Leadership Programme's matching scheme, which was overseen by Ayesha al-Osman and a cohort of chaperones from the Bothan Institute. The two were permitted to stroll in the gardens of the Palace of Botha while their suitability and mutual compatibility were evaluated, with the intention of potentially becoming the progenitors of future leaders of the Benacian Union. The meeting was a defining moment in Marie Beatrice's life as it would set her future path.
After her introduction to Daniel Lors Simrani-Kalirion, Marie Beatrice's life took an unexpected turn. It was clear from the start that the two had a strong connection and shared a deep understanding of each other's experiences and aspirations. They were both from privileged backgrounds and had been groomed for leadership roles from a young age, but they also shared a sense of isolation and a longing for something more meaningful in life.
As they spent more time together, Marie Beatrice and Daniel Lors began to develop a deeper bond, and it soon became clear that they were meant to be together. However, their relationship was not without its challenges. Marie Beatrice's background as a foundling, and her association with the N&H Future Leadership Programme, made her a controversial figure in Chrysean society, and there were many who opposed their union as being a further entrenchment of the principle of dynastic rule - which had slowly crept back into the public life of Benacia in the four decades since the Kalirion Fracture.
Despite this, Marie Beatrice and Daniel Lors persevered, and they were eventually able to secure the support of the High Commissioner, Ayesha al-Osman, who saw the value in their union and was pleased to find herself being lobbied to enable the outcome that she had sought to engineer.
