My first story, it's kinda cringe, hope someone enjoys it
Prologue: The Bards' Secret
This tale was whispered in hushed tones, passed along like a forbidden 'secret' among the most libertine bards and poets. Shared only with select audiences, far from prudish ears and affected ladies (especially plump ones) who might take offense.
As guests gathered around bards near tables laden with devoured delicacies, the story unfolded. In opulent court halls, always after grand feasts; when most were half-drowsy, and the slender maidens from the feast's start now sat sleepy and sated. Without corsets and with belts loosened for their swollen bellies' comfort. Stuffed from food and drink, their full stomachs straining against bespoke silk gowns.
After hours of revelry, etiquette faded, displaced by the pleasure (and bloat) of gluttony. With greasy fingers and smeared lips, ladies listened to this tale, often laughing and whispering behind hands. They compared the witch to some plump friend, or even to acquaintances who grew fat after exhaustion, childbirth, or age.
I - Sing, O Muse the Gluttony of Morgana
Once, in a kingdom on the brink of collapse, where war and famine ravaged once-prosperous lands, young King Alaric inherited a crumbling throne. His father, a great warrior, had fallen in battle, leaving behind an occupied realm and a people desperate from crisis. Alaric, inexperienced and overwhelmed, felt powerless. Though well-intentioned, he lacked governance skills and was easily deceived by corrupt nobles, worsening the nation’s plight. Flaws aside, the young heir possessed charisma and vigor—constantly traveling the realm, meeting allies, battling enemies, and receiving all manner of illustrious or infamous figures who might aid him. His charm made him beloved by the populace, given the circumstances.
Though a fierce warrior, the king lacked military strategy. He won battles through zeal but lost the war from tactical naivety. The enemy conquered fortified cities one by one, cornering the capital. Under siege, the city’s provisions dwindled. Then one day, the witch Morgana appeared at his palace. Though Alaric had wasted time on false prophets and charlatan mages, this being a superstitious era where all feared magic, he received her as he rested on his throne—despite past disappointments.
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