Editing Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 1)

{{Infobox_episode
|title= Interlude – Vernoue (Pt.&nbsp;1)
|published= June 21, 2025
|wordcount= 38,397
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2025/06/21/interlude-vernoue-pt-1/ Interlude – Vernoue (Pt.&nbsp;1)]
|previousChapter= [[Chapter 10.42 T]]
|nextChapter= [[Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 2)]]
}}
'''Interlude – Vernoue (Pt. 1)''' is the 85th chapter of [[Volume 10]].

==tl;dr==
*[[Vernoue du Marquin|Vernoue]] hears about the absurd rumors that's floating all over the capital of [[Calanfer]] about her sister [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]].
*Vernoue with her younger sister [[Ellet du Marquin|Ellet]] confront their mother [[Ielane du Marquin|Ielane]] who reveals that she and [Lady] [[Rouslin]] are the mastermind of all the rumors.
*Vernoue gets sent to [[Pheislant]] under the purview of the [[Order of Seasons]] to lean magic from the Fall's Sentinel, [[Venoriat]], but is having a tough time learning the new magic that was given to them by the [[Eldavin|Archmage of Memories]].
*After a failed attempt to seduce Venoriat, Vernoue has a chat with  [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]] and [[Mrsha du Marquin|Mrsha]], Vernoue with her rude remarks enrages Lyonette enough for her to enact an [[Auras|aura]] clash.
*After the tense atmosphere lightened up, Mrsha shares the notes and advice from her future version wanted to give to herself.
*Returning back to Calanfer, Vernoue attempts to sneakily obtain what's hidden in the Mirror Hallways only to be caught by Dame [[Vensha]] and be taken to Ielane to which she allows Vernoue to take them to their original owner.
*Reading the letter, Vernoue learns that in the past [[Menisi du Marquin|Menisi]] planned to assassinate her mother.
*Vernoue hears from many about the dangers of travelling to [[Nomaudrel]] to meet Menisi, she gets a more clear picture of what they mean with her travels in the Kingdom of Passions.
*Meeting with Menisi, Vernoue witnesses the debauchery her sister engages in out in the open and learns of the cost and reason for her treachery.
*Brought to the secret chambers, Vernoue consumes the half drunken potion of Faye's Eyes and experiences 400 futures of failures after failure.
*Gaining conviction from her time battling the [[Grand Design of Isthekenous|Grand Design]], Vernoue has found what she was looking for and ask Menisi for her help.

==Synopsis==
[[Vernoue du Marquin|Vernoue]] remains unmarried after numerous courtships with her foiling their attempts, today though she receives no orders from her mother after being sent off to several kingdoms that had armies worth having. She wished she had Dame [[Ushar]] by her side for her time in the Kingdom of Incantations, [[Tourvecall]], was a rather poor experience for her as shew wasn't as magically inclined as they were. After breakfast she meets with other [Ladies] gossiping with one bringing up [Lady] [[Rouslin]], the throne's public relations expert and fashion trendsetter, current target being [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]]. Vernoue is confused by the target of choice for the [Bards] with the [Ladies] shrouding what's being said about her sister, she orders one of her [[Thronebearers of Calanfer|Thronebearers]] to find out what being hidden from her.

Vernoue was reading a [[Spellbooks|spellbook]] in her private room when she recieves the report she request from her Thronebearer, reading the report to her it describes of a [Bard] telling that the 'Lyonette' in the throne is a fake and that of Lyonette's exploits in her time in [[Izril]]. Utterly bewildered by what the [Bard] has espoused, Vernoue travels to where [[Ielane du Marquin|Ielane]] is at to tell her to put a stop to it, she finds her younger sister [[Ellet du Marquin|Ellet]] on her way and brings her along. Dropping a one-way speaking stone, the two [Princesses] in the Royal carriage listen in to what the citizen have to say about the rumors surrounding Lyonette. Vernoue felt a bit jealously when digging into the veracity of the rumors since there are some truth to be gleamed at.

After Ielane excuses herself from speaking with those who've lost loved ones from the war with [[Ailendamus]] do the two [Princesses] confront her about the rumors being spread around with the [Queen] sharing that she and Rouslin are co-conspirators pulling the strings. Ielane tells the two that circumstances have change and that it would better suit the situation to enhance Lyonette's reputation, the [Princesses] are agog at what Rouslin tells them is the truth with Ielane requesting Vernoue to share if Lyonette speaks to her. Vernoue becomes more jealous of Lyonette by the outlandish rumors she keeps hearing about her sister, Calanfer becomes riddle with Lyonette-mania which makes her sick of it all. Ielane sends three of her daughters out to the neighboring kingdoms with Vernoue being sent to [[Pheislant]], Vernoue to her joy learns that she'll be meeting with the Fall's Sentinel, Ser [[Venoriat]], from the [[Order of Seasons]].

Vernoue meets with Venoriat and other Order of Season [[Knights]] with such open glee forgetting that the Order is in a state of mourning for the loss of [[Pertheine]] at the battle at sea. With the gift of refined spellcasting given to them by [[Eldavin]] during the war, Venoriat teaches Vernoue this newfound way of magic and shows her the singular page to learn from of the tier five spell [Starfall Comet]. Venoriat can see that Vernoue is having trouble with the material he has provided and redirect her efforts into learning a tier four spell within her two weeks there. While Vernoue does her best in achieving her goal bad habits from her lifestyle causes her to being distracted often and not being educated in the fields that the Order of Seasons focus on hamper much of her progression. She secludes herself after becoming overwhelmed and speaks with her mother, Vernoue feels like her value as a person is being consumed into her worth as a [Princess] to be wed for the kingdom of Calanfer.

During the fifth day in her time at the Order of Seasons Keep, Vernoue is studying the tier four [Invisibility] [[Spells|spell]] with Venoriat there to help her, Venoriat shares some of his exploits during his time as a Summer Knight in the search of magical treasures. As he turns around he is presented with Vernoue's bosom exposed in an attempt to seduce him, he jumps out of the window and makes every future study session afterwards in a public space. Vernoue in her room balances her worth and her future happiness on set of metaphorical scales when she gets a request for a private conversation from Lyonette and [[Mrsha du Marquin|Mrsha]].

Vernoue sees her sister's image appear and is astonished by the many differences she observes, Lyonette prattles on about her escapades and things that should have been said with more forethought such as her current level making Vernoue becomes even more jealous and vexed of her sister. Mrsha is introduces and tells Vernoue of a message from her future self, seeing the shifting loyalties of Ushar makes Vernoue reach her limit and she begins to insult the [[Gnolls|Gnoll]] child and Lyonette. Lyonette gives her sister a chance to recant her words by Vernoue continues her incessant beratement until Lyonette commences with an [[Auras|aura]] clash bearing the full weight of her heart and authority onto Vernoue. After the clash Lyonette is embarrassed by her outburst and [[Nanette Weishart|Nanette]] introduces herself with her gaudy outfit, after things cooled down the two [Princesses] gossip about the many [[mages]] and important people Lyonette has met in her time at [[Izril]]. Mrsha then begins to tell Vernoue about the message her future self wanted her to know about, Venoriat is impressed by Lyonette's aura but all Vernoue can think about it returning back home with advice. 

Putting herself into her older self's mindset, Vernoue discerns that the list of spellcaster names given to here are the quickest avenues for success. Going over the list of names, Vernoue narrows it down to the not scary choices with her sending them a request for their teachings with most of them either declining or she not being able to find them. Back in [[Calanfer]], Vernoue gives her report for her mother to Dame [[Vensha]] with the high-level Thronebearer lambasting her for not mastering the tier four spell under the teaching [[skills]] of the Fall's Sentinel. After Vernoue was finished with her tantrum she storms to the kitchens ordering a gelato to be made from the Head Chef [[Mexte]] and shares her frustrations with the man when [[Shardele du Marquin|Shardele]] barges in grousing about being banned from using dreamleaf.  

After eating her fill of ice-cream, Vernoue makes her way to the Mirror Hallways and sets up a magical ruse to prevent the servants from following her and obtained the hollow brick that contained a dagger, a bottle, and a letter. As she was beginning to read the letter, she is caught by Vensha and brought before Ielane to confiscate the items, specifically the dagger laced with [[Crelers|Creler's]] Bite poison. Vernoue manages to convince Ielane to allow her to bring that letter and dagger to the original owner with no other eyes seeing them, reading the letter again, it's written by [[Menisi du Marquin|Menisi]] to [[Reclis du Marquin|Reclis]] about her feelings on the matter of her plan to assassinate her mother. Full of dread, she writes a letter to her pariah of a sister unsure about which was the more terrifying outcome. 

Vernoue speaks with [[Aielef du Marquin|Aielef]] and Ellet as they travel on a carriage about Menisi and and her maybe taking a trip to [[Nomaudrel]], Aielef begins to recount her childhood memories of Menisi of how much of a terror and competent person she was. She tells of the incident that put the palace into an uproar with the fallout being Menisi being married off the the Grand Duke with her specifically mentioning the look of straight murder Menisi was giving to their mother during the whole wedding. Doing their duties as royal [Princesses] they arrive at Ser [[Lormel|Lormel's]] house to honor his deed in protecting of Lyonette from mortal peril, Lormel laments how much of a coward he is for returning back home still hoping to carry some of the need he saw into whatever he does next. Returning back to the palace, Vernoue finds a return letter sent by Menisi saying that she'll host her and to regret coming if it's one of Ielane's games. 

As Vernoue goes over the scandalous nature of Nomaudrel, Shardele approaches to persuade her not to go visit Menisi because Nomaudrel is a violent, dangerous place to go to with Aielef also coming by to convince her to not go. Vensha debriefs Vernoue on what actions she'll refrain from and how her Thronebearers will act within Nomaudrel and expresses that she is allowed to go on this venture as a means to show trust towards Lyonette. Overwhelmed by it all Vernoue makes her way to the library finding the library fox Cindersnap who leads her to the Head Librarian [[Lorentha]] and notices Ellet hiding from her Thronebearers. Lorentha tells the tale of the first time the [[Veltras Family]] set foot into the Great Swamp [[Oswenia]], Vensha appears to get Ellet back to her studies but Lorentha insists that the young [Princess] has her break to which the Thronebearer obliges. Speaking with the [Librarian], Lorentha reassures Vernoue that Menisi, even with all the stigma surrounding her, cared for her sister and to not care such heavy expectations on her trip. 

On her travels to Nomaudrel, Vernoue hears news of King [[Nuvityn]] and his army's travel through Terandria and their troubles of making easy passage having to cut through Ailendamus's border. Passing through the border of [[Bitorm]] into the Kingdom of Passions she notices the unruly, felonious nature of its people remembering what [[Reclis du Marquin|Reclis]] told her of such a system of plain open corruption. Vernoue speaks with some of Nomaudrel's citizen at the inn she staying at with them telling her to abstain from visiting the Duchess's land because there are some lines that shouldn't be crossed, arrive at the Duchess estate she meets with Menisi telling her that she came at the request of Lyonette's daughter. As they were conversing, the doors are blown open by Duke [[Naodin]] screaming for the man Menisi had an affair with, Menisi mocks and goads him with him grabbing her and taking her to the nearest room to show her a lesson. Vernoue and her entourage are escorted to their rooms running away from the loud moans and grunts they hear of the Duke and Duchess, Vernoue catches the two of them having sex twice throughout the night leaving her sleep deprived. 

Eating food Vernoue has a chat with Menisi about her peculiar relationship with Naodin until they were interrupted by the Duke's need for more sex, when Vernoue found the courage to enter the mansion again she finds her sister and the Duke firing a servant for theft. Making Naodin chase after the fired servant Menisi begins to kiss a female servant to the dislike of Vernoue, Menisi lectures Vernoue about her preconceived notion of sexual partners and then asks for the dagger that was found. Menisi shares the blood skill she gained from her marriage to the Duke, how it changed the both of them and requests how Vernoue came into the possession of the knife. Vernoue quotes what Mrsha told her of taking it to the owner and to prepare for suffering. Menisi expands upon how her blood skill affects her as she gives a tour of her holding to Vernoue showing the numerous [Alchemists] creating concoctions and has a pleasant chat with Naodin about Menisi's endearment towards her siblings. 

Returning back to Menisi's mansion, Vernoue ask about the drink that she was suppose to obtain with Menisi first sharing her passion [[Classes|class]] of [Seer] that she was allowed to have when she was still under Calanfer's thumb. Of how it allowed her to see the future at great cost, of a girl too young to know that she was being preyed upon by [[Rastandius]] and given a potion to see the future in which she saw in so many fates of every child Ielane ever bore living in misery. Entering the secret chambers with Menisi wanting to speak with Mexte and Lorentha to get to know them as people rather than just guardians and then brings out the half drunken bottle of Faye's Eyes. Drinking the potion, Vernoue beings to fall through the broken glass of reality hearing a voice that inspects every fiber of her being saying that it will not be the same mistake again, she sees a piece of the greater being tear off becoming a door that Vernoue enters full of hope and trepidation. 

Awakening from her drunken state, Vernoue finds herself three years older and being attacked by a [[Goblins|Hobgoblin]], knowing that she's higher level with access to a greater assortment of spells she starts to sling spells until she is killed by a shot made by the Hobgoblin. Awaking again, Vernoue finds herself twenty-seven years old being attacked by a trio of Goblins, she recognizes one of the Goblins as [[Rags]] who kills her shortly afterwards. The next  she finds herself in a palace with her all of her family except for Lyonette running from a horde of Crelers with all of them dying. Next she pleads to whomever to stop as she is killed by [[Az’kerash]] with the [[Grand Design of Isthekenous]] granting her wish to see the [[Archmage]]. The Archmage of Dawn faces against [[Goblin Kings|The Goblin King]] after the death of [[Xitegen Terland|Xitegen]] dying to a sword thrust to the chest, she relives this fight several times realizing that the being she's been battling with is not the Goblin King but something more. A future where Terandria commits to a crusade against [[Flos Reimarch]] dying to [[Takhatres]], a future where she becomes the Marchioness of Tourvecall dying to [[Silvenia Ettertree|Silvenia]], other countless fates where she compromised something about herself. Vernoue knows that after countless potential battles against the Goblin King that she wasn't meant to win, even so she continues onwards as for every lost life she gains what she truly desired, conviction. 400 times Vernoue has experience a failed future accepting this to being her limit, she holds onto that feeling of what it's like to be an [Archmage] as the Grand Design commends for her efforts wishing her good luck as it will be watching. 

Vernoue wakes up and tells Menisi that she has found what she's been looking for telling her sister what she experienced, of how in every future she's seen not one was with Menisi present in them. She shares that she found out whether magic was worth all of the pain and suffering to reach that high, Vernoue asks Menisi for her assistance as she doesn't know if she can do it all alone with her sister embracing her waiting for years for one of them to ask. 

==Characters==
( * = First Appearance)
*[[Agenote du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Aielef du Marquin]]
*[[Altestiel]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Amerys Retoiber]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Anole]]*
*[[Aumerth]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ayuse]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Azole]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Az’kerash]] ''"Unknown Simulation"''
*[[Barelle]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Bechaur]]*
*[[Belchaus Meron]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Calescent]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Calirn]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ceria Springwalker]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Cognita]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Cortese Withred]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Dalimont]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ekirra Silverfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Eldavin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ellet du Marquin]]
*[[Erin Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Feor]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Flos Reimarch]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Gaxiela]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Glasiaad]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Goblin Kings|The Goblin King]] ''(Simulated)''
*[[Grand Design of Isthekenous]]
*[[Greysten]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Grimalkin Duveig]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Guinere]]*
*[[Ielane du Marquin]]
*[[Ilm]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ilvriss Gemscale]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Iradoren]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Izikere]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Joseph Ortega]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kadane]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kanmis du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lareina Becerra]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Larracel Delais]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Leireit]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lorentha]]*
*[[Lormel]]
*[[Lothen du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lyonette du Marquin]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mandrel]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Menisi du Marquin]] ''(First Official Appearance)''
*[[Mexte]]*
*[[Montressa du Valeross]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mrsha du Marquin]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Nanette Weishart]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Naodin]]
*[[Nattie]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nicte Allorev]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Novakya]]  ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nuvityn]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Oswenia]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pertheine]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pryde Ulta]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rabbiteater]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ragathsi]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rags]] ''"Unknown Simulation"''
*[[Rastandius]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Reclis du Marquin]] ''(Flashback)''
*[[Ronnel]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rosech]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rouslin]]*
*[[Rylev]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Saliss Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Satar Silverfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Seraphel du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Shardele du Marquin]]
*[[Silvenia Ettertree]] ''"Unknown Simulation"''
*[[Takhatres]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tserre Ettertree]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tyrion Veltras]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ushar]] ''(World's Eye Theatre)''
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Venoriat]]
*[[Vensha]]
*[[Vernoue du Marquin]]
**Archmage of Dawns "Future Goblin King"
*[[Viltach]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Visophecin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Xitegen Terland]] "Future Goblin King" ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Yelroan]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Yvlon Byres]] ''(Mentioned)''
*? - [Duchess] of Nomaudrel ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Calanferian [Servant]*
*? - Calanferian [Shopkeeper]*
*? - Calanferian Citizen*
*? - Former Lightherald of Calanfer ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Lormel's Daughter ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Lormel's Wife ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Lyonette's [Body Double] ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Male Thronebearer*
*? - Menisi's [Maid]*
*? - Nomaudrel [Innkeeper]*
*? - Nomaudrel [Stall Vendor]*
*? - Nomaudrel Woman*
*? - Queen of Morein ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Shardele's Son
*? - Summer Knight*
*? - Vernoue's Thronebearer*

==Groups/Organizations==
*[[Thronebearers of Calanfer]]
*[[Dawn Concordat]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Bloodfeast Raiders]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Order of Seasons]]
*[[Terras|Terras Faction]]
*[[Hundred Families of Terandria]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[House Marquin]]
*The Crowlende Order* ''(Mentioned)''
*Irriven Redbloods* ''(Mentioned)''
*Pregaris ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Veltras Family]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Bloodtear Pirates]] ''(Mentioned)''

==Creatures==
*[[Raskghar]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Crelers]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Draugr]] ''(Mentioned)''
*Daemon of Luck ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Acidfly Queens]] ''(Mentioned)''
**[[Acid Flies]] ''(Mentioned)''
*Cindersnap*
*Swamp Trolls ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Dryads]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Otterdogs]] ''(Mentioned)''

==Locations==
*[[Terandria]]
**[[Calanfer]]
***[[Eternal Throne of Calanfer]]
****Mirror Hallways
****Royal Library
***Lormel's House
**[[Pheislant]]
***[[Order of Seasons]] Keep
**[[Nomaudrel]]
***Cont'dvalle
****Menisi's Mansion
*****Secret Chambers
*System Space

==Items==
*[Starfall Comet] Spellscroll
*[[Cloak of Balshadow]]
*Dagger of Creler's Bite Poison
*Menisi's Letter to Reclis
*Clean Selphid Dust
*Half Drunken Bottle of Faye's Eyes

==Statistics==

===Statistics Revealed===

====[[Rouslin]]====

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**[Lady in Vouge]
*'''Skills:'''
**[Factual Statement]

====[[Vernoue du Marquin]]==== 

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**[Magic-loving Princess] Lv. 24
*'''Skills:'''
**[Perfect Recall: Spells]
**[Radiant Mana Well]
**[Royal Casting]
**[Detect Fame: Magic]
*'''Spells:'''
**'''Unknown Tier:'''
***[Magic Mirror]
***[Speed Read]
**'''Tier 2:'''
***[Hover Curtain]
***[Stiffen Fabric]
***[Magical Pin]
***[Conjure Haze]
***[Foul Scent]
***[Spray Color: Brown]
***[Magical Compass]
**'''Tier 3:'''
***[Conjure Footstool]

====[[Ellet du Marquin]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**[Long Ear]

====[[Venoriat]]====

*'''Spells:'''
**'''Unknown Tier:'''
***[Featherfall]

====[[Lyonette du Marquin]]====

*'''Class/Levels:'''
**[Princess of the Inn] Lv. 39 (+1)

====[[Menisi du Marquin]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**<span style="color:#ff0000;">[Mutual Condition: Depraved Intellect]</span>

====[[Naodin]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**<span style="color:#ff0000;">[Mutual Condition: Barbarous Loyalty]</span>

[[Category:Chapters]] 
[[Category:Volume 10]]
[[Category:Interludes]]
[[Category:Chapters with Colored Text]]