Completion of Medieval Romance
This is an ending for the short story medieval romance by mark twain. In that story there are two brothers, both dukes of their respective lands. One duke, by the name of Ulrich, has no sons or heirs to the throne. His brother, Duke klugenstein, hatches a plot to take the throne and rule both lands. He sends his son Conrad to become the heir to his brother’s duchy, but there is a secret. Conrad is actually a woman, with no claim to the throne. She hides her gender, only for it to become endangered when she is accused of impregnating the duke’s daughter. This story picks up right as Conrad fainted from the accusation.
The room ruptured in a blaze of sounds, from the yelling of people to pounding of their feet as they rush to the duke and his son. To Conrad it was just a blur, light and sound all smashed together into one. The last thing he saw before it all went black was His father on the hitting his head on the ground and going unconscious instantly.
Conrad awoke in a dimly lit room, the windows dark and barred with only a candle as a light. He was alone, and he heard no one else in the area. He realized he was in a cell, somewhere in the castle. Getting up he could feel his head pounding from what he assumed was his injury from his collapse. He walked towards the door, slowly pushing to open it, but it did not budge. Again, he tried, this time pushing harder but still it would not move. He sat against the door, frustrated and annoyed. “How will I get out of this?” he thought. “she said I am the father, and if they try and find out if that is true, they will find out who I really am, and my family will be in ruins.”
“GUARDS, GUARDS!!” he yelled, “ANYONE!” The guards opened the door, “what they hell is your problem? You don’t have to yell so loud!” “How long am I locked in here for?” Conrad asks. “It’s been a few hours since court, and currently the duke is deciding your sentence.” “Do I not get to defend myself? I have been ruling in his stead for months, surely that is worth something?!?” “Hey, we just guard you, that’s not our call to make.” “Then please at least tell him for me, I can’t say anything otherwise.”
Two days had passed until the duke granted Conrad an audience. “You ask to speak with me? After rejecting my daughters’ love, then impregnating her? Do you have any idea of your crimes?” She is an unmarried woman, an heir to a throne. You cannot take her love for granted!” “I don’t take her love for granted, but I am not the father of her child!” Conrad proclaims. “then why did she name you the father? Are you saying that my daughter is lying?” Conrad had to choose his next words carefully, otherwise all he had gained up to this moment would come crashing down. “I am sorry to say this but yes, I am. You know that I have served this dukedom faithfully for months, only helping it grow and thrive into what it is now. Do you really think I would risk losing it all by lying to you?” the duke pondered on this “No, I don’t think you would. If my daughter really did lie, how would you prove it?” “I still hold much favor with the people in this castle. I can surely find someone who knows the father.”
A week had passed since Conrad talked with the duke, and finally everything was in place, the court was once again full with Constance back on the stand, but this time she was not alone. “Today we gather once again, to carry out justice and solve this once and for all. Accused shall present their defense or you shall both be executed on the spot” Conrad was the first to rise. “Sir Conrad, please present your defense.”
“I have some very important information that I would like to share with this court. I am not the father of the princess’s child and, I have found the father.” The room erupted in chaos, people arguing and yelling at this statement, for it meant that the princess had a grave fate if it was true. “The man you seek is called Count Detzin. He is a womanizer and a scoundrel. He came here to impregnate the princess, with the end goal to be her death.” Once again the court loudened, before being hushed by the duke. “If what you say is true, why would he do this, what reason would have my daughter killed?” “He was sent here so that once your daughter was killed, your throne could be stolen by my father.” “My Brother?!? Why would my brother try to steal the throne if you already were guaranteed it?” “He is greedy, a few days ago, he confided in me about this plan, explaining that as long as I went along with it, I would be able to have whatever I desire, I had just had to listen to him.” Conrad explained further. “Unbelievable, my own brother? My daughter, is this true? Is this Count Detzin really the father of your child?” “I- uh, yes father.” Constance said with a heavy tone. “He is the father, not sir Conrad.” “Then why my dear did you say it was him?” “I felt cheated. First count Detzin left me then Sir Conrad would not reciprocate my feelings, and with nothing left I decided I would try and take Conrad down, so that I may feel something again.” “Well then, considering you being manipulated, I will wave the death sentence to house arrest for one year, to both raise your child and think on your actions. Now sir Conrad, please rise.” Conrad rises, ready to hear his sentence. “You have served this duchy well, ruling in my stead. Today you have proved that you are the rightful heir to this throne, and I now name it so. I will be forever in your debt.” The duke bows his head in thanks. “FOR THE DUKE, SIR CONRAD!! HUZAH HUZAH HUZAH!!!” The court was happy, and the duchy was safe for many years to come, will a wise and powerful ruler at its head.