Zoe Verrucosa

Zoe Verrucosa
Zoe Verrucosa
Crown Princess of Keld
Born	Appia Verrucosa Zoe Damiane Silvia Selene; 11 March 1973 (age 51); Utica, Latium
Spouse	Peter, Crown Prince of Keld (m. 1992)
Issue	Princess Josephina of Keld; Prince Paul of Keld; TBD;
House	Verrucosa (by birth); Keld (by marriage)
Father	Duke Josephus Verrucosus
Mother	Damiane Vitruvia
Religion	Reformed Church

Zoe Verrucosa, Queen of Keld (Appia Verrucosa Zoe Damiane Silvia Selene; b. 11 March 1972) is the Crown Princess of Keld by virtue of her marriage of Peter, Crown Prince of Keld. Zoe became engaged to Peter of Keld in 1992, and the two married in 1993. Together, the couple has six children. Should her husband ascend to the throne of Keld, Zoe will become Queen consort.

Zoe is the youngest child of businessman and former Praeses Senatus, Duke Josephus Verrucosus, and Lady Damiane Vitruvia. Zoe was educated at Pescia Academy, in Adrianople. Zoe served as a lady in waiting to Princess Eirene until 1993, and later as a Lady of the Chamber to Empress Stephania.

Zoe graduated from Galata College, Haenna with a degree in business and economics. She held a seat on the Verrucosa Tenura Board of Directors, of which her family owns a controlling ownership interest, from 2009 until 2017. She is also president or chair for a number of charities, including a seat on the board of regents of the University of Haenna, and the University of Ascanium. Though she officially resides in Keld, Zoe and her family routinely travel and maintain residences in Ghish and throughout Latium.

Early Life and education

Zoe was born on 11 March 1973 to the Duke Josephus Verrucosus, former Consul of Latium, and his wife Damiane Vitruvia at Villa d'Iulia Concordia, in Utica, Latium. She has three older brothers John and Florentine, and three older sisters Adula, Adriana, and Flora. Zoe was baptized into the Reformed Communion on 2 June 1972 at Sancta Sapientia in Castellum ab Alba. Her godparents were Diana I Augusta (a friend of her mother); Leo X Claudius (Diana’s husband); Constantia of Ravenna (a friend of her mother); and Alexander Vitruvius (her mother's brother).

Education

Zoe's early education was primarily handled by private tutors and lessons from the provost of Empress Alexandra College, Castellum. She was eventually enrolled at Sanctus Gabrielius, a private primary school in Castellum. Zoe began her secondary education at St Gabriel's in Castellum, though attended Pescia Academy boarding school in Adrianople, where she finished her education. Following her graduation, she was admitted to St. Anna's College at the University of Haenna. After her gap year, she began taking entry classes at St. Anna, though she took a leave of absence in her studies due to the announcement of her marriage and subsequent pregnancy. In 1997, Zoe re-enrolled at Galata College, graduating with a degree in business and economics.

Marriage

Engagement and wedding

Zoe became engaged to then Prince Peter of Keld on 7 June 1992. An official announcement from then senators Duke Peter of Keld and Josephus Verrucosus followed a week later. Prior to their engagement, there was no announcement of their courtship. Zoe enrolled in university as planned, but did not begin taking classes until 1997. By November 1992, Zoe was pregnant with the couple’s first child, which resulted in the families expediting the wedding. Zoe was 6 months pregnant when she married Peter on 29 April 1993. The ceremony was held at Sancta Sapientia, and to this date is the only non-Catholic marriage to take place at the famed imperial basilica. The wedding and reception was attended by over 200 individuals including monarchs and guests from all throughout the world.

Following the marriage, Zoe was granted the rank of "princess" by Duke Peter and became a Princess of Keld.

Children and family

Zoe and Peter primarily resided in Castellum during the earliest days of their marriage. It was there that their first child, Princess Josephina was born in 1993. This was followed by the birth of their first son, Prince Paul, in 1994.

Zoe gave birth to their third child [NAME], in , whom was the last of their children to be born in Latium. Zoe and Peter’s remaining children, [NAME], [NAME], and [NAME], became the first members of the House of Keld to be born in Ghant since TBD.

In 1994, Duke Peter resigned from his position as Praeses Senatus and the Senate to join the [Rebellion]] with a volunteer force. Peter later died in the war and was granted a number of honors, including the restoration of the family as rulers of Keld. These honors saw Zoe’s father-in-law, Duke John of Keld became the first King of Keld since the family’s removal in the early 20th century. As a result, Zoe was granted the title of Crown Princess of Keld due to her marriage to Peter, who became Crown Prince.

As Crown Princess

Official portrait of Zoe as Crown Princess, 1998.

Zoe was officially recognized as Crown Princess in 1995. However, she and her husband would remain in Castellum for the following year due to her pregnancy with their third child. Her service as a Lady of the Chamber to Empress Stephania ceased at this time.

Zoe delayed her planned move to Keld 1996, and according to courtiers attempted to remain in Castellum or Ghish. In June 1996, Zoe purchased a home in Ghish. This, along with a clash of personalities has resulted in a tense relationship between Zoe and her mother-in-law Cyrenna Lianu. The most public instance took place when Cyrenna and John IX accompanied Peter and Zoe with their children for a visit to the [Keld Zoo] in 1999. Zoe was photographed arguing with Cyrenna, and preventing her children Josephina and Paul from being photographed with Cyrenna. Zoe denied the allegations and sought legal action to suppress the photographs and stories from being reported in Ghantish media.

During her tenure as Crown Princess, Zoe has served as the chief patron to over a hundred charities throughout Ghant and Latium. These charities include: Keld Youth Sports Association, Ascanium Youth Symphony, Utica National Opera and Orchestra, National Cancer Association, Keld Royal Orchestra, Foundation for the Blind, Keld Royal Society, among others. Zoe also served as the president or honorary chair of a number of non-profits including the Women's Rights Organization, among others.

University re-enrollment

Following the annulment, Zoe re-enrolled in university, and began attending classes at St. Anna's College at the University of Haenna. While at St. Anna, Zoe focused her studies on business and entered into the business program during her second year. Zoe was notorious for skipping classes to spend time with her children, which was regularly documented by the press, causing her grades to slip. She avoided falling into academic issues or probation, and eventually graduated in 2003 with honors. Between her first and second years, and again between her second and third years, Zoe became more involved with her family's business, and had secured a position immediately following her graduation from St Anna's.