Leaked: Princess rebukes inbreeding within Bedonite dynasty
Basram ThuakimA letter has been leaked of the Duchess of Khashar, the Junior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office for Imperial Affairs, rebuking the practice of inbreeding in the family. She claims that this is causing congenital birth defects and threatens the health and life of the family. Here's a snippet of the text:
"I write to you because of a scourge that weighs heavily on my heart - a scourge of whose extent and nature I was woefully ignorant.
I recall attending the blessing of Princess Adaranya and Prince Khitahan’s child Prince Ixahion. I was confused as to why the child’s arm was facing away from its normal position. I inquired as to whether the child was comfortable. Princess Adaranya assured me that the child was fine and that this is how they were born. I looked more closely at the child; its eyes were uncharacteristically far from each other, and it seemed to yelp more like an animal than a Feline child.
During the conversation, Princess Adaranya’s father, Prince Imdohan, said he was glad for the match as Princess Adaranya married someone he trusted: his brother’s son.
I had to place a handkerchief on my mouth and seize the urge to expel my lunch from the incorrect end.
Unphased by my change in colour, he said that it was a common practice in the family to ensure that princesses kept their titles.
Horrified, I conducted an investigation and this is what I found: there are tens of marriages within this family between first cousins and a dozen between siblings.
This disturbing custom cannot be allowed to continue. I do not know what negligence or ignorance existed before my tenure as the Minister of Imperial Affairs, but I recommend the following:
The Sultan should not allow princesses and princes to keep their titles if they wish to marry a member of this dynasty. A long-term solution is to strip them of their titles so that they no longer have the incentive to marry relatives. I await your feedback my liege."
This letter is dated before the Sultan stripped princes of their titles (see here for more The Crescent - News from Packilvania (Open to Syndication) - #38 by The_Oan_Isles)