Barbara Blomberg — Volume 10

The narrative follows a woman who bears an imperial child and endures secrecy, social gossip, and a marriage strained by concealed pasts. She balances maternal devotion with household duties while trying to secure her sons' prospects and fearing that the elder may be destined for a monastery. Public events, political shifts, and a sovereign's death inflame her hopes and anxieties about the boy's future, and elaborate civic pageantry and courtly maneuvering frame her private sorrow. The account traces her inner life of mourning, proud resentment, and practical resolve as she navigates honor, rumor, and the uncertain influence of powerful men.