Griselda

Griselda is Giovinetta's chamber maid. She formerly served Duchess Gustave as the wet nurse of her children.

Appearance

She has brown hair, light skin, and deep green eyes. She typically wears a white tied coif, green dress on top of a white linen undershirt, and a simple dark brown leather corset as a maid.

Personality

Grisleda is charming, caring, and quiet.^[1] However, she can be quite ruthless, demonstrated by how she went as far as killing the Duchess Valdemar's newborn son to get back at her for causing the death of her husband and thus, indirectly, her unborn baby.^[2]

Biography

Griselda worked at Gustave castle prior to Lady Ducommun's arrival. Griselda fell in love with Abel, a soldier, and became pregnant with his child. They subsequently married, although her first pregnancy was a miscarriage. Despite Griselda promising to never reveal Johannes's true nature, she mistakenly referred to the Devil during Albel's trial in a plea for mercy. Incensed by this, the Duchess vehemently demanded that Albel be burned. After Abel was burned to death, Griselda despaired after having another miscarriage while imprisoned for her husband's treasonous act. Upon Griselda's release, the Duchess apprised her that she should be exiled from the castle as customary; however, the Duchess concluded that Griselda would remain at the castle as she had no family and had demonstrated unwavering loyalty to her previously.

Relationships

Albel

Albel, a soldier and Duchess Gustave's half-brother, became enamored with Griselda at Gustave castle. The became married after Griselda discovered she was pregnant; shortly after, they miscarried the child. Albel remained supportive of Griselda until he began experiencing nightmares of a giant devilish bat that would torment him with visions of Griselda killing their child. Although he was perturbed by Griselda's news that she was pregnant again, he remained deeply loyal to protecting her at the cost of his own life.

Winfried Valdemar

"I love you, Lord Winfried. You are the reason I live. The one joy of my life and sole object of my affections. You... are the son Jaclynde bore for me. The son I dug out of the earth. I love you as my son." - Griselda after telling him the truth about his birth

Griselda was relieved after the Duchess gave birth to Winfried, her "first 'normal' son".

Johannes Valdemar

Griselda was aware of Johannes' s fusion with the Devil as she witnessed his true form after his birth. Consequently, Griselda was distant and disturbed by Johannes realizing that he "only looks like a baby" as Johannes quickly ceased normal infant behaviors i.e. crying and would mimic behaviors from watching Giovinetta, like sucking his thumb.

Giovinetta Valdemar

Knowing Johannes's true nature, Griselda was unrestrainedly affectionate towards Giovinetta by comparison. After her miscarriage, Griselda particularly adored caring for the twins.

Duchess Gustave

"A wife does not have the right to speak, my lord. Will you continue listening to nonsense from a mouth which cannot speak?" - Duchess Gustave hissing at Griselda during Albel's trial

Griselda served as the Duchess's maid since her arrival at Gustave castle. After the Duchess killed the former wet nurse for shrieking at the sight of Johannes's form as the Devil, Griselda became the wet nurse for her children. Although the Duchess vengefully ordered for Albel's death after Griselda discussed Johannes's secret publicly, the Duchess still noted Griselda's past devotion to her and for their shared secret surrounding the Devil, which may have also protected her from being burned along with her husband.

Quotes

"It was the Duchess's turn now. I told myself it wasn't my fault. That the ignorant duchess had brought it upon herself. That the cursed house of Ducommun was to blame." - Griselda after killing and substituting the Duchess's child with Jaclynde's son

Trivia

Gallery

First time meeting the duchess

Albel proposes

References