Margarita Blankenheim

"Sleep with this Gift of mine."

- Margarita Blankenheim

Margarita Blankenheim, formerly Margarita Felix and codenamed Third Sleep Princess, was the Marchioness of Toragay in Elphegort and the wife of Caspar. Happily entering an arranged engagement, Margarita soon became depressed by her loveless marriage. After befriending Mayrana, she joined Père Noël. Once she acquired the formula for Gift, Margarita experimented with the poison before enacting a genocide of her hometown with her creation. She was one of Eve Moonlit's transmigrations.

Early Life
Following the death of the infant Margarita Felix in EC 593, the Clockworker's Doll was activated and the demon assumed the baby's identity, "growing up" in the Felix household under the delusion that she was a normal human girl. Due to her true nature, Margarita was cursed with the Sleepless condition and was unable to sleep; during her infancy, the baby was examined thoroughly by her father and no cause was determined for her condition. Perplexed by her condition, Margarita would occasionally lie in bed and vainly attempt to sleep, always remaining conscious.

Later on in the girl's youth, as part of a planned political alliance between the Felix and Blankenheim families, Margarita was repeatedly brought to the Blankenheim mansion to stay and meet with Caspar Blankenheim. Whenever she visited, the two played together, Margarita learning how to capture insects and birds, climb trees, and play by the water. At some point, Margarita was presented with a carved wooden ring from Caspar and the boy promised to marry her. As the two got older they became more intimate, holding hands and kissing, and Margarita fell in love with Caspar. While she grew up, Margarita worked for her father as the local doctor.

Marriage
Years later, as part of a political alliance between the Felix and Blankenheim families, Margarita became engaged to Caspar; in June of EC 608, the two were married at the local Levin church with the entire town and King Soil Elphen celebrating the occasion and providing them many gifts. During their subsequent honeymoon, Caspar bought Margarita a bed for her new room in the Blankenheim manor.

After moving into the manor, Margarita was made to occupy a separate room from Caspar after he discovered her sleepless condition and watched as her husband began taking on mistresses, forbidding her from entering his room whenever they visited. On one occasion, she heard his mistress Kriemhilde call her a "poor child" in front of her. During this time Margarita began to visit the local orphanage at the Charity Institute to help feed the orphans there. At some point, she also asked Caspar about their childhood promise and learned that he had forgotten all about it. As time progressed, Margarita also consented to Caspar selling off her personal possessions as their finances dwindled.

In EC 609, Margarita was introduced to Caspar's new business partner, a woman named Elluka Clockworker. Taking a liking to the woman at once, Margarita confided in Elluka all her troubles and was consoled by her. Spending time often with the woman when she visited, Margarita was told that she was a mage although never saw her perform any magic; she was also told that, in the world, there were three people who looked alike. At some point, she joined her criminal organization, Père Noël, designated the codename Third Princess of Sleep. On one occasion, she also brought Elluka to the Charity Institute to help her while she cooked meals for the children.

First Killings
Some time after meeting her friend, Margarita was tasked by her to create a curative medicine using sap from the New Millennium Tree. Given the task, Margarita converted the third room of the mansion's basement into a personal laboratory and refined the sap into an energy tonic.

In late August, she accompanied her husband to Aceid for King Soil Elphen's birthday celebration. The next day, Margarita witnessed Elluka visiting Caspar and overheard their quarrel over Père Noël and the black market. Meeting the woman after she exited, Margarita received instructions to create and refine the Gift into an airborne pathogen. To start her task, and went with Elluka to the La Bula Pharmacy to purchase supplies

As Caspar began to grow sleepless from stress, Margarita decided to poison her husband as a means of helping him sleep. After refining the Gift to be even more powerful, Margarita mixed it into a batch of trauben jam; on August 30th, she served the poisoned jam and toast to Caspar and his mistress Eleanor for a birthday present, poisoning them both. She then waited until her father arrived; feigning concern, she went with him to Caspar's room and allowed him to discover the corpses, summoning the World Police to the crime scene.

After being questioned by the police, Margarita stayed in the mansion all night with a guard posted for security. She then feigned shock at the entire incident and refused to be seen by visitors when the reporter Hanne Lorre attempted to get an interview. Some time later, she refined the Gift formula again. On September 18, Margarita had dinner with her father and was warned by him to stop associating with First Santa Claus. Deciding to use Dr. Felix as a guinea pig for her new poison, Margarita mixed the new concoction into the trauben jam and gave it to him on toast, sending him into a critical condition.

On September 30th, Margarita attended her husband's funeral as the chief mourner and wore a black hat and veil. Slowly standing before the coffin, she removed her veil and witnessed Hanne begin to laugh hysterically before being removed from the service.

Interview with the Reporter
Two weeks later, Margarita was visited again by Hanne Lorre; hearing the reporter exclaim her face was doll-like, the girl glowed at the statement and smiled. Although having forgotten the incident at the funeral, she welcomed the reporter inside, agreeing to an interview for an article in remembrance of Caspar.

Leading the reporter to her bedroom, Margarita heard Hanne remark it seemed like a lonely room and gave her a pained smile; she explained how she had originally had other possessions before they were all sold, adding that she had liked them but they were only cosmetics. When Hanne asked her if she was angry for her husband's antics, Margarita questioned why she would say that. When Hanne began to explain, Margarita cut her off, saying that she wouldn't be angry because it had made Caspar happy and so she was fine.

As Hanne moved on to ask about the Blankenheim's financial troubles, Margarita smiled and said that, while they had been on hard times, that didn't seem to be the case lately. She then clarified that Caspar had started a new business; when Hanne asked for details, Margarita stated she didn't know, not wanting to pry too much into Caspar's work. When asked if she knew anyone involved in Caspar's work, she suggested she ask Elluka, his business partner; in response to Hanne pointing out that the name "Elluka Clockworker" has appeared everywhere in history, Margarita asked if that was so and apologized, claiming she didn't know her famous identity.

Margarita then elaborated that the only thing she heard from Elluka was that she was a mage; asked if she wasn't on good terms with her, Margarita countered that, rather, Elluka was her most precious friend. Asked how she didn't know the identity of her closest friend, Margarita stated it was because they were such close friends. Seeing Hanne taken aback, the girl asked if she wasn't interested in that and questioned if the reporter could tell her about Elluka.

She then listened as she was taught about Elluka Clockworker's role in the Venomania Event, Disappearance of Banica Conchita, and her role as one of the Three Heroes. Excitedly remarking how even she knew of the Three Heroes, Margarita recited their history before noting she hadn't known Elluka was in it. Puzzled, the girl then mused on this, stating it was odd when the Three Heroes were active over a century ago but Elluka herself was not very old.

When Hanne suggested the possibility that the name "Elluka" was passed down through different powerful mages, Margarita expressed her amazement that her own Elluka was a mage worthy of the name and chuckled. Seeing the reporter's serious face, she stated it was nothing, asking if Hanne was alright. After a length silence, Margarita was asked where Elluka was now and Margarita realized aloud that she hadn't seen her recently, not even at the funeral. She then dismissed it, relating that Elluka always had something to do and came at random.

Asked if the mage didn't live in town, Margarita confirmed that she likely lived somewhere far away, noting that Caspar always thanked her for coming all the way to the mansion, but that she didn't know where Elluka was from. Asked when last she came, she said it was August 25. Afterwards, Hanne asked Margarita if she could look around a little to help with her article and Margarita consented, suggesting the dining room.

Entering the dining room, Margarita suddenly asked Hanne about her own cooking and the reporter asked about hers in turn. In response, the girl described how she made all the meals since there were no servants in the house, stating she had loved to cook since before being married. She then asked if Hanne was good at cooking, remarking she felt like she was. When Hanne asked her why she thought this she tilted her head back, thinking; she finally replied that she wasn't sure, but that she felt this somehow wasn't the first time they'd met.

As Hanne asked if she'd maybe seen anyone who resembles her, Margarita conceded that could be the case, citing what Elluka had told her about three people looking alike in the world. She then wondered what they should do and suggested cooking a meal for the both of them, only for Hanne to reply she wasn't hungry at the moment. Although disappointed, Margarita remembered the Charity Institute and related the location to Hanne, suggesting she go there to eat and adding she sometimes went by to make meals for the children. When Hanne expressed doubt, she reassured her it would be fine with just one more person, since they paid for the children if the costs went up.

Margarita then heard Hanne remark how Dr. Felix had eaten with her in the dining room on September 18; lowering her tone, the girl admitted how it had been a day before his collapse. As Hanne also added that this had been the same for her husband, Margarita admitted to that as well; when Hanne asked if her father had said anything to her, the girl's smile fell and she noted the reporter was starting to sound like the police. After Hanne apologized, Margarita brushed it off, saying it was her job as a reporter, and answered that she and her father had discussed the article in the paper about Caspar's death.

She listened as Hanne gave her sympathies for her father and asked if she would go anywhere after this, with Margarita responding that she had no plans but may go up to Aceid soon, with Caspar's funeral concluded. As Hanne bid her father to get well soon, Margarita brushed it off and suggested they move on to the next room. She then led the reporter into Caspar's room.

Asked by Hanne if she didn't sleep, Margarita admitted she couldn't and asked if anything was wrong. When the reporter pointed out she had a bed in her room, the girl related how Caspar had bought it for her before their marriage. Questioned how long she'd had this condition, Margarita replied she had been sleepless since birth, also adding when asked that she had no other relatives with this condition. Asked if she ever got tired, Margarita clarified she never felt that either.

Sitting on the bed, the marchioness asked if she could ask a question in turn; when Hanne agreed, she asked if there was really no one unable to sleep like her, even historical figures. She listened as Hanne claimed there were tales of short-sleepers, such as Juno Beelzenia, but that she had never heard of anyone who didn't sleep at all. She listened as the reporter clarified no normal human could do this, but that those contracted to demons like the figures of her earlier tales were noted to have unique abilities.

Margarita questioned if this statement was supposed to relate to her condition and Hanne suggested that, if she had made a contract with a demon, this would have made it possible for her to never sleep. In response, the marchioness laughed and stated she said interesting things. Stating that it wasn't impossible, she nonetheless pointed out she wouldn't remember, and that as a fetus at the time it would have been hard to sign a contract with a demon. When Hanne admitted she was right, saying it was just a story, Margarita remarked that she thought a reporter should be a realist and that there was no way such things were true.

Hanne asked her directly if she didn't believe them and she claimed she didn't, clarifying that although she had a mage friend, she'd never seen her use magic. Margarita then offered to guide Hanne to the hall. Afterwards, the two toured much of the house's first and second floor before moving into the basement. Once inside, Hanne asked if there was nothing in the space and Margarita related how it used to be used as Caspar's warehouse and was usually locked, so she didn't know what was inside.

When Hanne noted it was open now, Margarita explained that this was due to the World Police. She led the reporter through the different rooms in the basement before coming to her makeshift laboratory. When Hanne indicated all the equipment, Margarita replied with some embarrassment that the room was a storage area she was using as a mixing room for her medicine. When questioned, she explained how she had worked with her father before she was married and set up this mixing room when Caspar's condition got bad, relying on her father when the disease went all out.

When Hanne asked about the content of the boxes in the room, Margarita explained they were materials she bought from the La Bula Pharmacy; Hanne questioned if the World Police had seen this room and the marchioness related that Dr. Rogzé had checked the contents without finding anything suspicious. When asked why she kept her mixing room in such a dark location, she replied that it was easier than moving everything upstairs. Eventually, the two of them returned to the first floor and Margarita listened as Hanne promised the newspaper would be out in the week after next. Chuckling, the girl replied she was looking forward to it and saw her out.

Mysterious Epidemic
On October 14, Margarita visited King Soil Elphen and discussed the matters of succession for the Blankenheims. After returning home, the marchioness refined another version of the gift, perfecting the airborne pathogen, and traveled to the Charity Institute; she released the poison to infect the children and staff working there, giving them her "gift" of repose. She then left to Aceid to visit her father as the children and staff succumbed to the pathogen on October 17.

After leaving Aceid, and suffering from Eve's resurging memories, Margarita began to return to Toragay, only to see it quarantined by the World Police as the result of the Gift pathogen spreading through the town. On instinct, the girl moved north instead to Calgaround and arrived at Mayor Julia Abelard's mansion. Meeting with her and recognizing her friend "Elluka," Margarita related how she had refined the Gifts and killed Caspar and her father as well as all of Toragay. She then received permission to use the mansion's room upstairs to formulate a seventh Gift, wishing to use it fully bring back her memories.

Margarita continued to finish her concoction when she was interrupted by the true Elluka and Gumillia, having shed their disguises as Hanne and Heidemarie Lorre. As Elluka demanded she create an antidote for the Gift and stop making everyone "every unhappy" Margarita refused, claiming she was the Sleep Princess who would let everyone enjoy their dreams in return for her own loss of hope.

Looking upon the mage, as her memories returned Margarita recognized "Hanne Lorre" as the true Elluka Clockworker and recognized her body as that of Lukana Octo. Noting she must be tired from her long life, she offered her gift for Elluka to drink as well, completing the formula before their eyes. She continues that she wishes to become human, and humans slept. Ignoring Elluka's protests, she then proceeded to drink her own poison.

As the sorceress attempted to save her, hitting her back as the girl collapsed, Margarita remarked on how it was a powerful medicine and that she might sleep forever. Although Elluka exclaimed it was pointless to say such things, Margarita's eyes lost focus and she said she would finally get to sleep. Regaining all her memories, the reawakening Eve then told the mage that she would meet her in the forest, before finally dying.

Legacy
The genocide enacted on Toragay was followed closely by the Shuburke Newspaper and the World Police, with with Julia Abelard and Père Noël's involvement heavily suspected. The Elphegort government later entrusted the Freesis Foundation with the matter and its investigation team arrived to find Toragay already in ruins; after the initial investigation, several survivors of the epidemic were discovered in the cellar of the Blankenheim mansion and a cure was eventually derived by Dr. Puerick Rogzé.

Officially, Margarita was labeled a psychopath who took pleasure in killing others, leaving Toragay a ghost town. It was questioned whether it was due to her own circumstances or because of Julia's influence but, due to Margarita's suicide, the matter was believed forever unknown. After her death, Eve inside the Clockworker's Doll continued to use hypnosis to wear her old persona's appearance when she met with Elluka Clockworker, only dropping the hypnosis after the mage had determined the truth.

Centuries after her death, Ma and Gammon Octo created a screenplay regarding the incident and it was subsequently reviewed by the Master of the Court. While organizing the "motion", Gammon hypothesized that Margarita had intentionally brought an incarnation of a demon into being, referring to the Judicial Doll being the awakened vessel of Sloth.

Personality and Traits
Outwardly, Margarita acted content with her life. Since childhood, she had a strong affection for Caspar and regarded the promise they shared as proof of their close relationship. Although married due to political circumstances, Margarita was in love with him and was overjoyed to be with the Marquis. After discovering Caspar openly philandered with other women, married her for her father's money, and had forgotten their childhood promise, she remained tolerant of it and his apparent apathy towards her so long as she was able to be with him. She also acted concerned about his and the city's well being, claiming she wanted to relieve them of all their worries and troubles that caused stress in their everyday lives.

In reality, Margarita's concerns about others had been a reflection of herself and her own dissatisfaction with her life. Having believed in a child-like fantasy, she became burdened by the reality of her false relationship and failing marriage. Margarita slipped into a depression as a result and grew embittered by how her and her situation was ignored by her husband and the town, feeling hopelessly trapped and used as if she was a decorative doll. Because she bottled up her emotions, she acted as if her husband's indifference didn't bother her when she was actually greatly hurt by Caspar. As her life became increasingly troubled, Margarita sought comfort in "Elluka" and considered her a dear friend, enough to even be part of her criminal organization, Père Noël.

Influenced by Eve in her subconscious, Margarita snapped under the weight and became psychopathically obsessed with destroying all her problems. Although having decimated Toragay and "freeing" herself of their control, she remained unsatisfied. After witnessing how peaceful and "happy" everyone she poisoned appeared, Margarita chose to share in their "sleep" and become "Sleeping Beauty," a princess awaiting her happy ending.

Skills and Abilities
As a doctor's daughter, Margarita was skilled in creating the poison "Elluka" taught her and created enough of it for her eradication of Toragay, turning it into an airborne pathogen. As a member of Père Noël, she is assumed to have had a role in the illegal activities that occurred within the criminal organization. Margarita also suffered from the medical condition, Sleepless, since she was born.

Character Connections
Caspar Blankenheim: Margarita's childhood friend and husband. Margarita loved Caspar from when they were young, and this love continued even after he showed he didn't reciprocate her feelings. Convincing herself that being close to him was enough to make her happy, Margarita endeavored to secure Caspar's happiness and affected a disinterest in his philanderous ways and abuse of her finances. Over time, however, the loveless marriage warped Margarita's love into despair and eventually she snapped, murdering him.

Mayrana: Margarita's friend. Knowing her as "Elluka Clockworker," Margarita formed a deep and instant connection to the sorceress and looked upon her as a source of comfort and a mother figure, having felt as though she'd known her for her whole life. She later joined her criminal organization, Père Noël, and loyally followed her friend's goals while not understanding what they were.

Eve Moonlit: Margarita's true self. Hypnotizing herself to believe she was the real Margarita Felix, the fake persona had no awareness of the slumbering Eve within her. Although only retaining the witch's full memories upon being poisoned, these memories began to resurge shortly before her death.

Mikulia Calgaround: One of Eve's past transmigrations. The memories of Mikulia Calgaround began to resurge in Margarita as well as those of Eve.

Platonic: One of Eve's past transmigrations. The memories of Platonic began to resurge in Margarita as well as those of Eve.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Margarita is inspired by Marie-Madeleine-Marguerite d'Aubray: both used poison to accomplish their goals, with Margarita killing her husband to end her failing marriage and Marie killing her father and brothers to earn their estates.
 * Her surname, Blankenheim, is the name of two German municipalities; Elphegort, Margarita's native country, is inspired by Germany.
 * Her maiden name, Felix, is Latin for "happy", referencing her constant desire to achieve happiness in her life; ironically, the sin of Sloth is often associated with feelings of depression,
 * In numerology, the name Blankenheim is associated with being emotional, sentimental, inquisitive, independent, and ruled by love, needing encouragement or affection when unloved and feeling unhappy when there is a lack of harmony.
 * Margarita's name is partially inspired by her representative Vocaloid, Miku, sharing the same first letter.

Curiosities

 * Margarita uses her "gift" as a "depressant" to relieve insomnia, a wordplay on "depression" and the sin of Sloth.
 * Margarita delivering a deadly gift to the town's inhabitants ties with the characteristic twisted "Christmas" motif that surrounds Père Nöel.
 * Margaret, a minor character in Story of Evil, seems to reference Margarita; both have the same name derivative, committed suicide via poison, and bear a strong resemblance to Eve Moonlit.
 * In the Fifth Pierrot PV, Third Sleep Princess is labeled as the "first green" and that she had retired, referencing her suicide the year before.
 * After working on the illustrations for the light novel featuring her, Ichika expressed her belief that Margarita was the most terrifying character in the Seven Deadly Sins for her at that point.
 * Margarita mentions that her husband sold her spoons, glasses, and mirrors; this possibly alludes to the four vessels that made their debut in Miniature Garden Girl.

Gallery
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