Guenièvre

Guenièvre Héloïse Isabeau Joséphine de l'Azurval is the second to hold her ducal title as vassal to Aurille, for her father has recently and suddenly perished. Her house is somewhat distantly related to the royalty and are princes du sang, having descended from a previous Arlesian emperor. Despite her own foresight allowing her to learn for the duties that were to come; Guenièvre is still woefully unprepared. Like most Arlesian elves, Guenièvre is black-haired, usually left long and braided, with drooping gray eyes and beautifully smooth fair-skin. She's tall and gracile, standing a head above most men at least. Though not necessarily well-endowed, her assets aren't necessarily modest either; which only further accentuates her svelte form. If anything, they look a little big on her lanky body. Whatever her age is, she's unwilling to say; only clarifying that she's "young for an elf, middle-age for a human." This may be a lie, considering she can easily take offense to anything even remotely implying she's old. Guenièvre frequently interjects French into her dialogue, and speaks with a smooth, wispy French accent; I.e, replacing voiceless "th" with "s", voiced "th" with "z", resulting in "sinking" instead of thinking, "zough" instead of "though," dropping the h, "'ow are you," instead of "how are you." Typical Franglais; made more confusing by her common code-switching. Guenièvre dresses accordingly to the latest aristocratic fashion trends. Being the duchess of a rather illustrious line and of an important territory allows her to clothe herself with much splendor, and the woman certainly doesn't stop herself from enjoying fine jewelry and other decorations. Guenièvre's even developed a bit of a fascination with the foreign fashion of foreign lands; but she finds a great deal of them distasteful, no matter how pretty they look. She supposes there's no harm in allowing herself some small indulgence in the few foreign items that are both appropriate and resplendent, though. Guenièvre is ladylike, but exhausted. Unprepared for the reality of ruling a duchy, she's become overworked and stressed. This has made her almost depressive as a result, especially due to its combination with her father's recent, sudden death. She tries to take it in stride by masking her sullenness with a charade of cheerful optimism, and in some ways has become dreadfully good at compartmentalizing all of her issues. Should anything threaten the defenses she's built up, Guenièvre becomes surly and inconsolable, drifting through mood-swings of abyssal despair and incandescent rage. She has some mild apprehension with most outsiders, further colored by the often-imperialistic and zealous worldview of Aurille; most Palyssians do not share their grandeur or religion, and as such are practically kin to Ithrixian barbarians. She particularly spends a lot of time in her boudoir as of late, having picked up several hobbies to unwind with, often unsuccessfully, and to hopefully learn something to further assist her rulership. She's a devout Elusite and when not in her boudoir, going about the façade she considers a daily life, or asleep, she's in her château's shrine. Guenièvre's developed a bit of a drinking habit, though never enough to become drunk due to her religious devotion, but she has become quite the sommelière, her favorite drinks though are liqueurs, but wine is definitely a close second in her mind. Guenièvre is rather well liked by gentry and peasantry alike; being a rather good duchess despite her flaws, which she doesn't quite understand. Under effect of an impostor complex, she believes that the slightest mistake will make them 'find out' her 'true self,' which has only made her work herself to the bone harder and faster. She doesn't realize her mother's support and love; and she attempts to suppress anything even remotely negative, furthering them off into the recesses of her mind. Guenièvre desperately wants a regent, someone, anyone who can help her take charge; but she doesn't know who to trust, because if she admits that she needs assistance, then they'll 'know' she's 'failed' and they'll 'uncover her as the failure she really is inside; a mere whelp of a girl unfit for rulership and only deserving of a bimaristan.'