LLTQ: Bruteforce w/o magic

Week 0

Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: We're almost home. Your room is just the way you left it.
Elodie, Crown Princess: ...
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: I know it's hard to leave your school and all your friends, but I've arranged the best possible tutors for every subject.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You'll have to work hard this year to prepare yourself before your fifteenth birthday, but I know you can do it.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You'll learn quickly and you'll make a wonderful queen. It's what your mother would have wanted.
Elodie, Crown Princess: This is not what Mother would have wanted!
Elodie, Crown Princess: She wouldn't have wanted to die and leave me.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: No. She wouldn't. But sometimes bad things happen. We have to pick up and carry on.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: All of Nova depends on us. On you.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: All of Nova depends on us. On you.
Elodie, Crown Princess: *sigh*
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: I will be here to guide you until your coronation, but the decisions you make are ultimately up to you.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Come. Your maids are waiting.
Welcome to Long Live The Queen! If this is your first time playing, you should read this brief introduction to how the game works.
Menu: [Tell me more] [I've played this before]
Player chose: I've played this before
Week 1

(Studied Divination in the morning.)
(Studied Lore in the afternoon.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: What's all that noise outside? Who's here?
Elodie, Crown Princess: Oh! It's my cousins! And my aunt and uncle.
Lucille, Countess of Nix: Darling. We were so terribly sorry to hear about your mother Fidelia.
Lucille, Countess of Nix: Darling. We were so terribly sorry to hear about your mother Fidelia.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Thank you.
Laurent, Duke of Merva: You look well, niece.
Charlotte, Lady Merva: Hi, 'Lodie!
Elodie, Crown Princess: Hi, Lottie. I haven't seen you in ages! Will you be staying long?
Charlotte, Lady Merva: Yup! Mummy said we'd be here all month.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Maybe we'll have some time to talk later.
You spend the weekend holed up alone in your room with your favorite toys. It's childish, but you feel a bit better.
Week 2

(Studied Lore in the morning.)
(Studied Meditation in the afternoon.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: What's that commotion outside? Father? What's going on?
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: I have come to pay my respects in honor of your mother.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You have no respect or honor. It's because of you and your powers that my wife is dead!
Elodie, Crown Princess: What?!?
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: I am a Lumen, as was she, and like every Lumen I am willing to give my life if necessary to protect our domain.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Your line has been traitors for two hundred years. I won't have you corrupting my daughter.
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: That is for the Crown Princess to decide.
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: Elodie, your mother trusted me, and I have much to teach you.
Menu: [Send her away] [Arrest her] [Let her stay]
Player chose: Arrest her
Elodie, Crown Princess: You are a traitor to the crown and I ought to have you executed.
Elodie, Crown Princess: GUARDS! Arrest her!
Elodie, Crown Princess: Throw her into the castle dungeons and let her rot!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Well. I suppose she won't be a problem anymore.
You venture into the depths of the castle dungeons.
The Duchess of Ursul is there, in her cell, sitting perfectly straight on the bench against the wall and looking your direction as if she'd been expecting you.
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: Caution is wise for one in your position. Hasty judgments can lead to trouble.
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: Are you ready to listen now?
Menu: [Hear her out] [Taunt her]
Player chose: Hear her out
Elodie, Crown Princess: What do you want to say?
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: It is the responsibility of the king or queen of Nova to handle magical energies to protect the domain.
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: That is what a Lumen does - what your mother did, and what I do.
Elodie, Crown Princess: My father said it was your fault she died!
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: What he said was that she died by magic. Being a Lumen is never safe. We pay a high price for our powers.
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: But without a Lumen queen, this entire domain is at risk.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (She's right - the priestesses have taught me that the rulers of Nova are always Lumens.)
Julianna, Duchess of Ursul: Release me, and I will teach you what you need to know to keep your responsibilities.
Menu: [Free her] [Refuse]
Player chose: Refuse
Elodie, Crown Princess: You don't tell me what to do. I'm the Queen!
Elodie, Crown Princess: You can starve in here for all I care.
Week 3

(Studied Internal Affairs in the morning.)
(Studied Foreign Intelligence in the afternoon.)
Charlotte, Lady Merva: He loves me, he loves me not...
Elodie, Crown Princess: Lottie, do you have a boyfriend?
Charlotte, Lady Merva: Not really. I just like to play with the flowers.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Me too.
You gather your skirts and prepare to sit down, when all of a sudden, a hissing noise alerts you to a hidden danger - a snake!
Elodie, Crown Princess: Charlotte, don't move!
You grab for a stick to push the snake away, but you lack the skills to do the job properly, and poking the snake only makes it angry. Too fast to see, it lunges forward and sinks its fangs into your leg!
Elodie, Crown Princess: OW!
The snake slithers away, but it's too late now. A strange tingling sensation begins to spread through your flesh.
Charlotte, Lady Merva: That's a milk viper. They're poisonous!
Elodie, Crown Princess: I don't feel good.
Your leg is going numb. You stumble and fall to the ground.
Charlotte, Lady Merva: Hold on!
Your cousin kneels beside you and presses her hands over the bite mark. The area throbs painfully, then begins to feel warm.
After a minute, you're dizzy, but your leg isn't buzzing anymore, and even the wound has disappeared.
Elodie, Crown Princess: How did you do that?
Charlotte, Lady Merva: I don't know how I do it. I just can.
Charlotte, Lady Merva: I'm not supposed to tell anybody. People think it's freaky. You won't tell, will you?
Elodie, Crown Princess: Of course not. I'm just lucky you were here.
Lucille, Countess of Nix: Girls? What's going on out here? I heard yelling.
Charlotte, Lady Merva: Nothing!
Elodie, Crown Princess: We saw a snake, but it got away.
Lucille, Countess of Nix: A snake! That's it. Charlotte, pack your things. We're going back to Merva. It's not safe here.
Charlotte, Lady Merva: Awww...
You spend the weekend holed up alone in your room with your favorite toys. It's childish, but you feel a bit better.
Week 4

(Studied Court Manners in the morning.)
(Studied Public Speaking in the afternoon.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: The castle seems quieter with Charlotte and Emry and Zahra and their parents gone.
Elodie, Crown Princess: It's certainly not empty, though. It seems like we get more servants every day.
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 5

(Studied Court Manners in the morning.)
(Studied Flattery in the afternoon.)
Maid: My lady, couriers have arrived from the Duke of Sedna.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Sedna, that's in Talasse, the domain to our southeast.)
Maid: They have brought you a letter, and a gift.
Elodie, Crown Princess: 'Condolences on the death of', 'deeply regret', 'best wishes'...
Elodie, Crown Princess: Oh! What a beautiful necklace!
Elodie, Crown Princess: It might not be appropriate for me to wear a man's gift in public, though. People would think it meant something.
Menu: [Wear it] [Don't wear it]
Player chose: Don't wear it
Elodie, Crown Princess: It's important to maintain the proper image.
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 6

(Studied Public Speaking in the morning.)
(Studied Flattery in the afternoon.)
You have unlocked a new outfit!
Elodie, Crown Princess: (That woman, the priestess, keeps staring at me.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: What do you want?
Selene, Priestess of the Second Circle: Your destiny will find you, even if you run from it. You were born to wield the power of a Lumen.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What do you know about that?
Selene, Priestess of the Second Circle: The power was your mother's, and the kings and queens before her. It is your right and your responsibility to defend your domain.
Selene, Priestess of the Second Circle: I have seen signs of the future. Danger is coming. Without that power, this land is defenseless.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Well... What am I supposed to do about it?
Selene, Priestess of the Second Circle: The Duchess of Ursul will teach you, if you set her free.
Elodie, Crown Princess: But -
Selene, Priestess of the Second Circle: She never harmed your mother. They were friends. It is only because she bears the power of a Lumen so openly that your father rejects her.
Menu: [I will free her] [I won't free her]
Player chose: I won't free her
Elodie, Crown Princess: This is all a trick to get the traitor released. I won't listen to you!
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 7

(Studied Public Speaking in the morning.)
(Studied Court Manners in the afternoon.)
As you are walking up the stairs, a maid comes running down holding a towering pile of linen.
Before you can react, she barrels into you, sending you and the sheets flying.
Maid: Oh, miss! I'm so sorry!
Elodie, Crown Princess: (These things happen. It's not a big deal.)
Menu: [Accept her apology] [Apologise] [Punish her]
Player chose: Accept her apology
Elodie, Crown Princess: No real harm done. Please be more careful in the future.
Maid: Yes, miss! Thank you, miss!
You return to your rooms, but you have barely settled when someone knocks on the door.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: A visiting noble wishes to speak with you.
Elodie, Crown Princess: *sigh* Who is it?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The Duke Consort of Mead.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (If I remember right, he's the brother of the Duchess of Ursul.)
You follow your father downstairs to greet your guest.
Ignatius, Duke Consort of Mead: Your Highness. Thank you for meeting with me in this difficult time.
Ignatius, Duke Consort of Mead: Your Highness. Thank you for meeting with me in this difficult time.
Ignatius, Duke Consort of Mead: I come to you on behalf of the people of Ursul, who have been left without a protector.
Ignatius, Duke Consort of Mead: Commoners require governance and leadership, or they fall into chaos.
Elodie, Crown Princess: You want me to free your sister the Duchess?
Ignatius, Duke Consort of Mead: I wish for Ursul to have a leader. If my sister has displeased you, then I stand willing to serve.
Ignatius, Duke Consort of Mead: If you prefer Julianna in that position, then yes, free her. It is, of course, your decision.
Menu: [Free Duchess Julianna] [Give her title to Ignatius]
Player chose: Give her title to Ignatius
Elodie, Crown Princess: Fine, then. You can be Duke of Ursul.
Ignatius, Duke of Ursul: On behalf of our people, I thank you for your wisdom.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Now I can leave Julianna locked up forever and no one will care!)
Elodie, Crown Princess: Dad? What really happened to Mom?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: She was a Lumen, a magic-user. It was meant to be in reserve, to defend our domain, but she insisted on...
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: ... you don't need to hear that.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: She used magic. It drained her strength. She thought it was harmless, and it wasn't. Eventually, her heart just... stopped.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: That's why I don't want you involved with it.
Week 8

(Studied Ciphering in the morning.)
(Studied Internal Affairs in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There is a man here to see you. He wishes Crown funding for a project of his.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Remember, the treasury is not unlimited. If you choose to invest, you will have less money to work with later.
Man: Your Royal Highness, I have a plan to print books using metal letters which can be moved and reused.
Man: I need to borrow 875 lassi to assemble the metal and a factory to mold and cast the type.
Man: With this system, we will be able to create new books in a fraction of the time it takes now, and make copies to send all over the world.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I don't know much about factories or trade. Would that really be worthwhile?)
Elodie, Crown Princess: We are not interested.
You pay your respects to your mother's tomb, and wonder if the same fate is waiting for you.
Week 9

(Studied Foreign Intelligence in the morning.)
(Studied Internal Affairs in the afternoon.)
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: Your Highness, my sympathies for your loss. Even after all these years I sometimes forget that my own mother will never be coming back.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Thank you.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: However, I must call for your aid. The Ixionite occupation of the county of Imbrium has gone on for too long. Now is the time to push back.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I know there's been some problems with Ixion, but I don't know the details. I guess they're occupying southern Maree.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I don't know anything about the military. I don't want to fight.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: There must be a peaceful way to settle this. I will send for diplomats from Ixion and try to come to some arrangement.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: Thank you, Your Highness.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: If I might say so, you are looking particularly lovely this day. I hope you will think fondly of me.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Is he flirting with me? He's almost as old as my father!)
You pay your respects to your mother's tomb, and wonder if the same fate is waiting for you.
Week 10

(Studied Herbs in the morning.)
(Studied Battlefield Medicine in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The representative from Ixion is here. Be careful - no one wants to give up prizes that they have won.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: You have the full support of my sister and myself, Your Highness.
Brin, Duchess of Hellas, Countess of Dysnomia: Hmph. Let's get this over with.
Diplomat from Ixion: Your Royal Highness, thank you for granting me this audience. I am sure we can come to an amicable agreement.
Diplomat from Ixion: Let bygones be bygones, no? We will forget about your unprovoked attacks on us, and you will transfer the rights to this little province.
Diplomat from Ixion: We can be good neighbors again, without any lives being lost.
Menu: [Surrender Province] [Offer him money if Ixion withdraws] [Bluff / Intimidate] [Execute him]
Player chose: Surrender Province
Elodie, Crown Princess: I don't want to fight.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Very well. You can have the province.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: Your Highness!
Elodie, Crown Princess: Please accept our deepest apologies for this whole affair.
Diplomat from Ixion: Of course. I look forward to seeing you again.
A walk in the fresh air helps you forget the burdens on your shoulders.
Week 11

(Studied Herbs in the morning.)
(Studied Battlefield Medicine in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There are reports that a keythong has been sighted leaving the Old Forest.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What's a keythong?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: A beast with the body of an enormous golden cat, a sharp beak, and spikes on its back.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Eek!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Several disappearances in southern Caloris are already thought to be the work of this creature.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What do we do? Should we send hunters?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The traditional policy on stray beasts is to hope that they return to the forest and stay there.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Hunters are no match for such creatures. You would only make it angry and waste more lives.
Elodie, Crown Princess: So... we just let it eat people?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Everyone dies in the end.
Elodie, Crown Princess: ...
A walk in the fresh air helps you forget the burdens on your shoulders.
Week 12

(Studied Flattery in the morning.)
(Studied Battlefield Medicine in the afternoon.)
Your skill in Battlefield Medicine is now 50. You may not increase this skill until your other Medicine skills are 25 or higher.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There is a woman here to see you. She wishes Crown funding for a project.
Woman: Thank you for seeing me, Your Royal Highness. I... I come to you on behalf of the people.
Woman: I wish to build a hospital where any citizen afflicted with disease can be brought for treatment.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Hmm. Centralising resources could help people who don't have doctors of their own.)
Menu: [Invest] [Don't invest]
Player chose: Invest
Elodie, Crown Princess: We would be happy to invest in your venture.
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 13

(Studied Poison in the morning.)
(Studied Poison in the afternoon.)
You have unlocked a new outfit!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You are requested to stand in judgement. A woman has been convicted of attempted murder and requests the mercy of the Crown.
Kevan, Earl of Io: Your Highness! This slattern dares to beg pardon, when she admits that she tried to poison my sister under her own roof!
Elodie, Crown Princess: Which sister?
Kevan, Earl of Io: Corisande, the Duchess of Mead.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Is she all right?
Kevan, Earl of Io: She is unharmed. We caught the culprit in the kitchens before anyone could eat her foul spew.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Well, what do you have to say for yourself?
Condemned Woman: It's justice, it is! Them devils killed me brother, and broke me mam's heart.
Condemned Woman: Lied to her, they did, when she went to see why he'd not come back. Said he'd gone for a soldier, when he never would!
Condemned Woman: He weren't the only one neither. I waited ten years for my chance to get my own back. That's justice!
Kevan, Earl of Io: You see? She's completely unrepentant! Hang her and be done with it.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Hmm. This might have something to do with the last Duke of Mead. He was involved in all sorts of scandals.)
Menu: [Put her to work] [Imprison her] [Execute her] [Ask the Earl of Io about her story]
Player chose: Ask the Earl of Io about her story
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I need to know if she has any justification for her actions.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (However, directly accusing a noble of murder would create an uproar. We must be circumspect.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: Is it possible that a relative of this woman may have met an untimely demise at some point in the past?
Kevan, Earl of Io: That is ... not impossible.
Kevan, Earl of Io: However, if that were the case, it would still have nothing to do with Corisande!
Kevan, Earl of Io: The person who... might have been involved... is already dead and buried, and not much missed.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Well, then. As you see, divine justice has already been carried out.
Elodie, Crown Princess: You blamed an innocent woman, one who might had sympathy for you if you had told her the truth. Not all nobles are the same.
Condemned Woman: I... I never thought.
Elodie, Crown Princess: You will have time to think about your actions in the dungeons.
Kevan, Earl of Io: She should be hanged!
Elodie, Crown Princess: She acted for the love of her sibling. Surely you can understand that? No one else needs to die.
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 14

(Studied Battlefield Medicine in the morning.)
(Studied Poison in the afternoon.)
As you are walking one day in the gardens, you hear a strange sound and look up to see an owl flying overhead. A single dry leaf flutters in its talons.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (That's funny, I thought owls were nocturnal. I guess I was wrong.)
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 15

(Studied Battlefield Medicine in the morning.)
(Studied Herbs in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Remember that the Festival of the Good Lady is approaching.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There will be public celebrations for the commoners, followed by a grand gala for the nobility.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: As Queen, you would be expected to lead the procession and take part in the ceremonial planting, possibly give a speech.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: However, since you are not yet crowned, it is not required, and it may not be safe to expose you to the public.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What do you mean, not safe?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Outside of the castle, you are less well protected. If anyone means you harm... Think on it now, decide later.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There is a letter for you as well.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (It's from Briony! I went to school with her, but she's a couple years older than me. Her mother is the Duchess of Mead.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (She's complaining that her mother still won't let her come home for the holidays.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (She's bored and looking for an adventure. Well, I don't have any to suggest to her!)
You spend the weekend holed up alone in your room with your favorite toys. It's childish, but you feel a bit better.
Week 16

(Studied Composure in the morning.)
(Studied Elegance in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Today is the procession and planting for the Festival of the Good Lady. Will you be leading the parade?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: If you have any concerns about your safety, please, stay here.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The people will recover from disappointment; if we lose you, there is no recovery.
Menu: [I will lead the parade] [I will parade and make a speech] [I would rather not go]
Player chose: I will parade and make a speech
Elodie, Crown Princess: I'm not afraid. I'm going to be the best parade-leader ever!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: My little girl.
You prepare your best gown for the occasion, then walk slowly through the town with your attendants. It would not be appropriate for you to wear a sword, but you do walk with a sturdy golden scepter that's taller than you are.
At the end of the route, you help the priestesses turn over the earth for the new tree to be planted.
After the blessings are read, you hold up your hands and call for silence so that you can speak.
Elodie, Crown Princess: My affectionate greetings to you all, and my thanks. For is it the people that make this domain great.
Elodie, Crown Princess: We are here today to celebrate the gifts of the Good Lady, the promise of fertility and new birth.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Winter always comes, but winter is followed by spring. Each of us faces hardships, but we grow back stronger than ever.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Now is the time for new beginnings, and for my beginning as your Queen.
Your words are met with great applause.
The procession regroups to return to the castle.
All of a sudden, there is a faint rumbling noise from under your feet.
The newly planted tree in front of you quivers, and then, out of nowhere, a spurt of water comes up from the ground, spattering you and the assembled crowd with droplets.
Just as quickly as it began, it vanishes.
The priestesses try to calm the crowds with talk of omens and natural eruptions, but they can't halt the whispers: dark magic. That water tasted of salt.
That night, the guards report that Julianna, the former Duchess of Ursul, has mysteriously vanished from her cell.
Everyone is suspected, but no one seems to know what happened.
You now have an enemy on the loose.
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 17

(Studied Composure in the morning.)
(Studied Composure in the afternoon.)
Your skill in Composure is now 50. You may not increase this skill until your other Royal Demeanor skills are 25 or higher.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Are you ready for the grand ball?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: All the nobles in the domain are here to see you - to see their queen.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (gulp!)
You finish dressing and descend the stairs to make a grand entrance.
All around, the rich and powerful pause in their activities to gaze upon you, the ruler of them all.
You control your fear with a will of iron. You are the Queen.
Your father waits for you at the bottom of the stairs and offers you his arm.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The first dance is for us.
He guides you gently around the dance floor, never rushing you. It's fun to dance with your father, but the look in his eyes is so sad.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: After this, you must choose your own partner. There are a number of men who hope to catch your eye.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The Duke of Kigal alone has brought three eligible sons, all near your age.
You look around the room at all your possible partners - which is to say, everyone. No one may begin dancing until you do. You can pick whomever you want and you will not be denied.
Menu: [Someone about your age] [Someone younger than you] [Someone older than you] [Someone already married] [Someone scandalous]
Player chose: Someone already married
You don't want everyone assuming that whoever you pick first is your intended marriage partner, so what better way to prove that than by choosing someone who's already married?
With that in mind, you approach Erwin, the Earl of Ishtar. He's old enough to be your grandfather, and his wife is right there with him.
He seems startled by your approach at first, then thoughtful, and accepts your hand with a kindly smile.
Dancing with a real partner feels quite different from dancing with your father. You knew him, knew his steps like a part of you. Now every move is a mystery.
Unfortunately, you lose track of which steps you're supposed to do when, and trip over your own feet. Oops!
Between the dances, there is time for the guests to mingle, chat, and sample tiny bites of exquisite food.
You interact comfortably with your peers, leaving a wise word in every ear.
During a lull in the music, Banion, the duke of Maree, taps an elegant fingernail against a wineglass, letting the clear note ring out through the room.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: If I might have your attention?
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: I believe we should offer our compliments to our lovely hostess.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: Her respect for tradition and the rights of the nobility means that we can all sleep safe in our beds.
Banion, Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis: Our boundaries are strong and secure, our lands well-defended. No one would dare to steal from us.
The blatant falseness of his words grates on your ears. He's challenging your honor in front of the entire assembly.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (He wants me angry. He wants me to make a mistake.)
Menu: [Challenge him to a duel] [Ignore the insult] [Order his execution]
Player chose: Ignore the insult
You turn your head away, pretending not to notice the concerned murmurs around you.
Better to look like a coward than to indulge in pointless fighting... right?
As the gala continues, you take the opportunity to observe nobles that you rarely see.
There's Gwenelle, for instance - the Young Lady of Sudbury, only months older than you and due to finally inherit control of her duchy soon.
Or Adele, the youngest daughter of the Duchess of Lillah and a fierce sportswoman. She was a few years ahead of you at school and the absolute terror of the ballfields.
No Briony - she had said her parents were leaving her stuck at school this season.
Her parents are here, but they dance at an awkward arm's length from each other. Something must be wrong there.
Strange that there's no sign of your cousins, though. Shouldn't they be here?
Your aunt and uncle are here, of course. It would be scandalous if they hadn't come, Merva being so close by.
It's nice to be able to enjoy time with friends and family, isn't it?
A walk in the fresh air helps you forget the burdens on your shoulders.
Week 18

(Studied Battlefield Medicine in the morning.)
You have nothing more to learn about Battlefield Medicine.
(Studied Ciphering in the afternoon.)
You have unlocked a new outfit!
You wander downstairs to visit your father and talk about the latest events in the domain.
You're moving with such enthusiasm that you don't realise your father isn't alone until it's too late to avoid him and his... companion.
Sirin, Countess of Miranda and Callisto: You are too kind, Joslyn.
Countess Sirin. Not a member of your circles - she's a bit more than a decade your senior, far too old to have ever been your friend. And yet, not at all old, as noblewomen go.
She has two minor titles, no husband, and your father's arm in her grasp.
How dare she make a move on your father?
Menu: [Shame her with silent scorn] [Insult her with false flattery] [Trip her as she passes]
Player chose: Insult her with false flattery
Elodie, Crown Princess: Good afternoon, Countess.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What a lovely brooch you're wearing. It reminds me a bit of one my mother used to wear.
Elodie, Crown Princess: I suppose you have an eye for valuable prizes, don't you?
Elodie, Crown Princess: Ready to leap in and snatch them the instant they become available, to keep them out of anyone else's hands?
Sirin, Countess of Miranda and Callisto: I... I should go.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Bye!
Once she's gone, you raise an eyebrow at your father.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Don't give me that look, young lady. She's a nice woman, nothing more.
Elodie, Crown Princess: She wants something more!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: And it's not going to happen any time soon.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You should be careful how you deal with people like Sirin. You need the goodwill of your nobles as well as your commoners.
Elodie, Crown Princess: There haven't been any problems so far.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: No one has been able to track the former Duchess of Ursul. There could be plots underway.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: As Queen, you must be aware of everything around you.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Isn't that what I have agents for?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Yes, but you must give them direction. What is your greatest concern?
Menu: [Noble plots] [Commoner uprisings] [Foreign threats] [Assassins]
Player chose: Assassins
Elodie, Crown Princess: I can deal with any problems that come up as long as I'm here to deal with them. It's assassins I'm worried about.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You are your own best defense against assassins. Increasing your skills will help to protect you.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Beyond that, you can train more soldiers into personal bodyguards to watch over you.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Or you can institute harsh penalties for treason and make people too frightened to cross you.
Menu: [More training] [More guards] [More punishment]
Player chose: More guards
Elodie, Crown Princess: I need more guards. I have to be safe.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: As you wish.
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 19

(Studied Reflexes in the morning.)
(Studied Reflexes in the afternoon.)
You may now play Sports on the weekends.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: It is the time of year to decide any necessary adjustments to the royal budget.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The majority of the money we receive is already spoken for, but there is always some room for discretion.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I really don't understand all of these numbers.)
Menu: [Raise taxes] [Keep them the same] [Lower taxes]
Player chose: Keep them the same
Elodie, Crown Princess: I think they're fine as they are.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: As you wish.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 20

(Studied Divination in the morning.)
(Studied Lore in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You are requested to stand in judgement. A man has been convicted of the murder-by-strangling of his wife.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: He does not deny the act, but requests a pardon that he might be set free.
Elodie, Crown Princess: If you admit you killed your wife, why do you think I'm going to set you free?
Condemned man: Save me, Your Majesty! Wasn't my fault. Demons made me do it.
Condemned man: Everyone knows the power of magical beasties! They used me, they twisted my fingers into chains...
Condemned man: My wife found me screaming, she tried to shake me, and the chains wrapped around her...
Condemned man: I need the priestesses to bless me and make me clean again!
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Demons that make you attack people? Is that even possible?)
Menu: [Pardon him] [Imprison him] [Execute him]
Player chose: Execute him
Elodie, Crown Princess: I don't care whether there were demons or not, you're still a murderer and your life is forfeit.
Elodie, Crown Princess: You will be hanged in public as a deterrent to future criminals.
He opens his mouth to argue with you further, but then his shoulders slump.
Condemned man: Yes, Your Majesty.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 21

(Studied Meditation in the morning.)
You have unlocked a new outfit!
(Studied Lore in the afternoon.)
You receive word of an unfortunate incident at the gallows where the man you judged was sent to be executed.
As he was led to the platform, he suddenly lashed out with explosive magical power, killing several guards and spectators before making his escape.
The population is buzzing with rumors of a secret cabal of evil Lumens who sacrifice innocents in their dark rituals.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 22

(Studied Divination in the morning.)
(Studied Lore in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: I regret to inform you that Fabian, the Earl of Titan and Duke-Regent of Elath, has passed away.
This isn't really a surprise; he was pretty old. The problem is the political implications.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: With the control of Elath in doubt, it falls to the crown to make decisions.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Young Lord Adair will not reach his fifteenth birthday for over two years. He requires a regent.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: His stepmother, Arisse, the Duchess of Lillah, has petitioned that the boy be left in her care.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: This would, however, leave her in personal control of two neighboring duchies, which is generally forbidden.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Almost the entire eastern border.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I don't know anything really bad about her, though...)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The boy does have a living grandfather, the Earl of Ishtar. Or you might appoint an unrelated noble to act in his stead.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The Earl of Ishtar has suggested another possibility. You and Adair are both young, not too far apart in age.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: He requests that we accept the boy as your future husband and keep him here at the castle.
Menu: [Leave him with Arisse] [Send him to his grandfather] [Marry him] [Send him to your uncle]
Player chose: Send him to your uncle
Elodie, Crown Princess: What about your brother Armand? He would be a safe pair of hands to watch over Adair.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: As you wish.
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 23

(Studied Divination in the morning.)
(Studied Divination in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There is a woman here to see you. She is a musician and wishes Crown patronage.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Which means money.)
Musician: Your Royal Highness! If you accept me as a member of your court I will immortalise you in word and song.
Musician: I have dabbled in musical styles from many countries, and can entertain your guests and lighten your evenings.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Musicians are often used as secret agents and messengers. They can be useful - and dangerous.)
The musician sings a little ditty to demonstrate her skills with the lute.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (She's actually pretty good.)
Menu: [Accept her as Court Musician] [Reject her]
Player chose: Reject her
Elodie, Crown Princess: Thank you, but we are not interested.
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 24

(Studied Herbs in the morning.)
(Studied Poison in the afternoon.)
You receive a letter from Young Lord Adair.
So far, he's enjoying himself with your uncle Armand in Mazomba. He says the trees look different, and there are a lot more frogs. He looks forward to visiting the lookout fort at Shepherd's Point.
You sneak out of the castle to have a little fun. You enjoy your freedom, but your father won't like it if he finds out.
Week 25

(Studied Internal Affairs in the morning.)
(Studied Internal Affairs in the afternoon.)
Staring up into the sky out your window, you notice a strange flash of light.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (A falling star at that angle... It means war is coming to Nova!)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (At least, it might. Not every sign in the stars is meant for me.)
Still, if there is a war about to happen, this forewarning gives you time to prepare and build your strength.
Menu: [Hire more soldiers] [Do nothing]
Player chose: Hire more soldiers
You make a note to have the recruiters try to get more soldiers ready for the army.
You spend the weekend holed up alone in your room with your favorite toys. It's childish, but you feel a bit better.
Week 26

(Studied Court Manners in the morning.)
(Studied Flattery in the afternoon.)
Maid: My lady, there is a letter for you.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Who sent this? It isn't signed...)
It appears to be a poem, describing you in a manner that is entirely inappropriate for a Queen.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (I *what*? With a *squid*?)
Menu: [That's hilarious!] [That's terrible!]
Player chose: That's terrible!
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Who writes this garbage?!?)
Just then, an incredibly unlucky breeze swirls between the windows of your tower bedroom, tugging the paper out of your hands and off into the sky.
You stick your head out the window to discover the 'poem' caught and fluttering on the roof nearby. You can almost reach it.
Menu: [Climb out and grab it] [Ignore it]
Player chose: Ignore it
What's the worst that can happen? It blows off and someone reads it and laughs at you? That's better than breaking your neck.
Besides, if you're lucky it will rain and wash the words away.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 27

(Studied Strategy in the morning.)
(Studied Naval Strategy in the afternoon.)
Maid: My lady, there are letters for you.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Another letter from Briony. Why does she keep writing me? We were never even friends.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (She says she's bored and lonely and she's looking forward to seeing me at Gwenelle's birthday party.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (That's right! Gwenelle is about to turn fifteen! She'll be Duchess of Sudbury for real now.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (This other letter must be my invitation to her birthday celebration next week.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Gwenelle and I were friends at school, and this will be a big event, but it's also a long way to travel.)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (A lot of things can happen on the road.)
Menu: [Go to Sudbury for Gwenelle's party] [Send your regrets]
Player chose: Go to Sudbury for Gwenelle's party
Elodie, Crown Princess: (It'll be good to see my friends!)
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 28

(Studied Strategy in the morning.)
(Studied Logistics in the afternoon.)
On your journey to Sudbury, your carriage is attacked by bandits!
Luckily, your bodyguards are well-prepared for such an event and manage to drive off the attackers.
You are inconvenienced and annoyed, but not harmed.
Gwenelle's party is lovely - not nearly as glamourous as your own upcoming birthday will be, of course, but it's still a major event on the noble social calendar. Everyone who is anyone is present.
Uncle Laurent and your younger cousins are here, but Charlotte and her mother are not. Apparently Charlotte was ill.
Arisse, the Duchess of Lillah, is present, but she somehow always manages to avoid talking to you when you draw near.
There are refreshments and dancers and musicians and polite conversations... and one or two not-so-polite.
Lieke, Countess of Dis: ... will not be shoved aside.
Gwenelle, Duchess of Sudbury: Mother, it's my domain now. I need space for myself. You have your own lands to manage.
Lieke, Countess of Dis: Just because you're of age doesn't mean you know everything, young lady. You need my advice.
Lieke, Countess of Dis: Just because you're of age doesn't mean you know everything, young lady. You need my advice.
Gwenelle, Duchess of Sudbury: This is my home. It has never been yours.
Before you can back away, their gazes fall on you. They wait expectantly for you as near-queen to settle the dispute.
Feelings could be easily hurt on either side here. It's important that everyone involved save face.
Menu: [Side with Gwenelle] [Side with her mother] [Flatter them both]
Player chose: Flatter them both
Elodie, Crown Princess: I'm sure you have a great deal of wisdom to impart.
Elodie, Crown Princess: But isn't that what you've already done? You have to trust in the strength of your own teachings.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Trust in the strength and the intelligence of your daughter.
Neither of them looks entirely happy, but neither of them looks angry with you either.
A bit later, Briony catches up with you.
Briony, Lady Mead: Hello, Elodie. It's so wonderful that you're going to be Queen now.
Briony, Lady Mead: I mean, I am sorry about your mother...
Elodie, Crown Princess: Thanks.
Briony, Lady Mead: ... but think of the opportunities you're going to have! You're so lucky.
That's an odd way of putting it.
Briony, Lady Mead: Anyway, I was wondering, now that you're almost Queen and everything... have they told you all the secrets?
Briony, Lady Mead: Anyway, I was wondering, now that you're almost Queen and everything... have they told you all the secrets?
Elodie, Crown Princess: What secrets?
Briony, Lady Mead: Like, how to get into the old palace! I've heard it's packed full of treasure.
Elodie, Crown Princess: You mean the Old Capital by Kathre Lake? The abandoned one?
Briony, Lady Mead: Exactly! They had to leave in a hurry, so they left all kinds of treasure behind.
Briony, Lady Mead: And nobody ever goes there because the forest is supposed to be haunted, so the treasure's probably still there!
Elodie, Crown Princess: (The forest isn't just haunted, it's full of monsters like the keythong!)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (But what if she's right and it is full of ancient treasure?)
Menu: [Offer to help] [Try to talk her out of it] [Tattle to her parents]
Player chose: Offer to help
Elodie, Crown Princess: I don't know any secrets about getting into the old palace - yet.
Elodie, Crown Princess: But if you come back to the castle with me, we can check the archives.
Briony, Lady Mead: Great! I knew you could help.
Briony, Lady Mead: I'm supposed to go back to school, but I was already planning to sneak off.
Briony, Lady Mead: I'll ditch my escort, sneak ahead, and meet you at the castle!
Elodie, Crown Princess: (This could be fun.)
At the end, you all share a pleasant meal and prepare to return to your various lands.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 29

(Studied Naval Strategy in the morning.)
(Studied Logistics in the afternoon.)
You have unlocked a new outfit!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Matters have come to a crisis. Arisse, the Duchess of Lillah, has declared civil war.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What?!?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Apparently she feels that you are a weak leader, unfit to be Queen, and has managed to sway several others to her banner.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Who is against me?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: A number of minor earls and countesses. The Duchess of Mead and the Duke of Kigal.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The situation in Hellas and Maree is less clear.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What forces can she muster, and what are we still holding?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: We have five and nine tenths battalions.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The naval side is, of course, useless in this conflict.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: By my estimate, Arisse can field four and three quarters battalions.
Elodie, Crown Princess: That's not good.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: It will come down to a question of strategy.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Wait a minute!
Elodie, Crown Princess: The Duchess of Mead is one of the rebels - but we have her daughter Briony here at the castle!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Why is Briony here?
Elodie, Crown Princess: Long story. She wanted an adventure.
Menu: [Send Briony home as a gesture of goodwill] [Hold Briony hostage]
Player chose: Hold Briony hostage
Elodie, Crown Princess: So I'll write to the rebels and tell them they'd better back down if they value her life.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Would you really execute one of your old school friends?
Elodie, Crown Princess: Does that even matter? They'll give in.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: There are ways to increase the number of soldiers you have available.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You could offer to pardon various imprisoned criminals in exchange for military service.
Menu: [Pardon criminals] [Don't]
Player chose: Pardon criminals
Elodie, Crown Princess: All right, let's do that. Criminals probably already know how to fight.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Very well.
Forces are in motion, but they will take time to reach their peak.
You spend the weekend holed up alone in your room with your favorite toys. It's childish, but you feel a bit better.
Week 30

(Studied Strategy in the morning.)
(Studied Naval Strategy in the afternoon.)
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The negotiator for the rebels has arrived to speak with you.
Diplomat: We require proof that Lady Mead is in your custody and unharmed.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Fine. Briony! Get in here!
Briony, Lady Mead: What do you want now, Elodie?
Briony, Lady Mead: This has been the worst vacation ever! I thought we were supposed to go on an adventure together.
Briony, Lady Mead: I am tired of being cooped up in that tower! I want to go home!
Elodie, Crown Princess: As you can see, she's her usual self.
Diplomat: What are your demands?
Menu: [I only want peace] [A ransom payment] [Exile for the rebels]
Player chose: I only want peace
Elodie, Crown Princess: I want these so-called rebels to go home and behave like proper nobles.
Elodie, Crown Princess: I'm the Queen and you're my subjects. We'll forget this ever happened - but don't cross me again.
Diplomat: Very well. These terms are acceptable.
Briony, Lady Mead: Now can I go home?
Elodie, Crown Princess: Please do.
You attend services in the castle grove, letting the peace of the ritual calm your heart.
Week 31

(Studied Strategy in the morning.)
(Studied Naval Strategy in the afternoon.)
As you are walking through the great hall, a freak gust of wind suddenly blows out all the candles in the room.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (An omen of war and danger...)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (But I avoided the civil war! Didn't I?)
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Will they attack me again? Should I send more soldiers to watch the east just in case?)
Menu: [Dispatch soldiers] [Don't]
Player chose: Dispatch soldiers
Elodie, Crown Princess: (Better safe than sorry.)
Once that's dealt with, you feel much better.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 32

(Studied Naval Strategy in the morning.)
You have nothing more to learn about Naval Strategy.
(Studied Strategy in the afternoon.)
You have nothing more to learn about Strategy.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Things have been so unsettled lately... Everyone's on edge. We need something cheerful.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You could hold a tournament.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What a good idea!
Elodie, Crown Princess: Knights, jousting, musicians... all sorts of competitions. Everyone loves a contest.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: What will you offer as prizes to the winners?
Menu: [Status and praise] [Employment] [Gold]
Player chose: Employment
Elodie, Crown Princess: The winners will have the option of taking up royal appointments.
Elodie, Crown Princess: It's a recruitment drive!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Very well. I will draft the announcements.
You leave him to his work.
As you move through the hall, your eye falls upon a vase of flowers. Pretty, but apparently not getting enough water. The leaves on one blossom have shriveled.
Elodie, Crown Princess: (A leaf killed by a secret weakness... A hidden threat.)
You continue up the stairs to your room, where a maid is waiting for you.
Maid: My lady, a gift has arrived from Kigal.
Elodie, Crown Princess: From the Duke?
Maid: No, my lady. A merchant house, I believe. It was sent with a shipment down the Cavalla River.
You tear open the brightly colored paper, to find:
Elodie, Crown Princess: Chocolates!
There is a little card with the box - 'With Our Compliments, The House of Kraellat'.
Menu: [Eat candy now] [Save it for later]
Player chose: Save it for later
Elodie, Crown Princess: I don't feel like candy right now. Maybe later.
You take to the court for a few games of tennis. Feel the thrill of competition!
Week 33

(Studied Logistics in the morning.)
(Studied Logistics in the afternoon.)
You have nothing more to learn about Logistics.
This is the week of the general tournament. Nobles and commoners alike have turned out to compete against each other.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: The people will be pleased if you participate in their games. However, it would expose you to danger.
What event do you wish to take part in?
Menu: [Mounted Parade] [Jousting] [Fencing] [Archery] [Music] [Falconry] [None]
Player chose: None
Elodie, Crown Princess: I guess I'll just watch from my tower.
The tournament goes on without you.
After the tournament, a minor tragedy is revealed.
One of the stewards apparently had an incredible sweet tooth and dared to steal a piece of your recently-received chocolates. He had a sweet tooth... the chocolates were poisoned.
When you ask questions, it turns out that the merchant house which supposedly sent you this present never existed.
Someone has tried to kill you... but you don't know who.
You spend the weekend holed up alone in your room with your favorite toys. It's childish, but you feel a bit better.
Week 34

(Studied Swimming in the morning.)
(Studied Meditation in the afternoon.)
Maid: My lady, your father wishes to speak with you. He says it's urgent.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Fine, I'm coming.
You find your father standing over a map of the coastline, his face grave.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Ships have been sighted on approach from Shanjia. Not tradeships - this is a warfleet.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What?
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Within a week they will be in Novan waters. Within two they could reach the capital.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Then we will fight to defend ourselves.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You can try to use the treasury funds to hire additional soldiers, but it may be difficult on short notice.
Menu: [Recruit soldiers] [Don't]
Player chose: Recruit soldiers
Elodie, Crown Princess: Fine, we'll do that.
Elodie, Crown Princess: What about Ixion?
Elodie, Crown Princess: After I gave up territory to them, they owe us a favor!
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Send them a message as fast as possible. If they accept your request, they may be able to provide aid.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You will need to draw up a naval strategy for our ships to carry out.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You could choose to act as admiral and lead the fleet in person, but the danger to you would be very great.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Unless you think your personal skills will make the difference, I would strongly advise against it.
Menu: [Direct the fleet] [Stay in the capital]
Player chose: Direct the fleet
Elodie, Crown Princess: The risk is mine to take.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: You have your mother's heart.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Do your best, and Nova will survive.
A walk in the fresh air helps you forget the burdens on your shoulders.
Week 35

(Studied Internal Affairs in the morning.)
You have nothing more to learn about Internal Affairs.
(Studied Herbs in the afternoon.)
Danger on the high seas!
Ships close in on each other, angling into range.
You take your position with a spyglass, watching the enemy movements closely and shouting out any necessary changes in plan.
The Shanjians outnumber you slightly, but it could all come down to strategy.
The eventual outcome...
... is a hard-fought victory.
You have repelled the invasion fleet, driving the survivors back across the sea. You and your sailors are heroes, and Nova is safe once more.
You pay your respects to your mother's tomb, and wonder if the same fate is waiting for you.
Week 36

(Studied Public Speaking in the morning.)
(Studied Public Speaking in the afternoon.)
You have nothing more to learn about Public Speaking.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: We have obtained a number of Shanjian prisoners who survived the naval battle.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: A few are from wealthy families and can be ransomed, but most are common sailors and soldiers.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: What do you intend to do with them?
Menu: [Ransom the rich, conscript the poor] [Ransom the rich, execute the poor] [Execute them all]
Player chose: Ransom the rich, conscript the poor
Elodie, Crown Princess: Ransom back the ones whose families will pay.
Elodie, Crown Princess: Offer the soldiers and such their freedom if they are willing to serve in my army instead.
Joslyn, King Dowager, Duke of Caloris: Very well.
You wander through the parts of the castle where other people rarely visit, but find little except spiderwebs. Yuck.
Week 37

(Studied Meditation in the morning.)
(Studied Lore in the afternoon.)
You have nothing more to learn about Lore.
Now that the issue of the prisoners has been dealt with, an enormous festival is held all over Lampsi island to celebrate your victory over Shanjia.
People are hanging your portrait outside their homes and decorating it with flowers like a shrine.
Everyone loves you.
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 38

(Studied Elegance in the morning.)
(Studied Presence in the afternoon.)
Time has slipped by you so quickly. Only two weeks remain before your birthday celebration, and your official coronation as Queen. Have you done enough to build a stable Nova?
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 39

(Studied Court Manners in the morning.)
You have nothing more to learn about Court Manners.
(Studied Elegance in the afternoon.)
The castle is buzzing with preparations for your upcoming coronation. Ministers press you with details for your favorite colors and flowers and so on.
You really can't see the point of wasting time worrying about decorations when there's so much else to worry about.
Others are more interested in the subject of your marriage.
Whomever you decide to marry will be elevated to the highest ranks of the nobility, which could mean a major shift in the balance of power. Therefore, everyone is talking about the top candidates, even though you're under no obligation to marry so young.
Talarist, the Duke of Sedna, is one option. Certainly he expressed interest in marrying you earlier. Your union would bring stronger ties to the domain of Talasse and improve the situation along the Elath border.
Then there is Banion, the Duke of Maree, a powerful and eligible noble only about ten years older than you.
Considering your previous interactions, that seems highly unlikely.
There is Kevan, the Earl of Io. Although he is only an earl, his family connections could make him politically useful.
There's little Adair, the eventual Duke of Elath, although at twelve he's only a child.
At least he's almost old enough to understand the concept of romance - some people think you ought to marry Gwenelle's half-brother Anciet, who hasn't even turned nine yet!
There are two or three minor earls around the age of twenty who might be passable alternatives, and of course you could decide to ignore noble traditions entirely and marry a commoner... if you were prepared to deal with the uproar.
While you will need to marry eventually, you are still very young. You could put this decision off until later. However, a clear succession contributes to the stability of your domain. Are you leaning towards any option?
Menu: [Talarist] [Banion] [Kevan] [Adair] [Anciet] [No one]
Player chose: No one
You are in no hurry to get married. You have a country to run!
Sitting in on court sessions is not fun at all, but it pleases your father and it may be important for your future.
Week 40

(Studied Flattery in the morning.)
You have nothing more to learn about Flattery.
(Studied Presence in the afternoon.)
You have unlocked a new outfit!
At this time last year, you were celebrating your fourteenth birthday. You were in the school gardens, surrounded by your friends. A teacher brought you tea and cakes, while a wealthy merchant's son wove a crown of flowers for your head.
It didn't matter so much that you were a princess then. Your title was something for the future. Many of your peers would be Duchesses or Earls or the like, someday, but not then. You were children.
Your parents could not attend on the actual day, but they did send wonderful gifts, some for you, and some for you to share. And a week later, they came for a visit, and your mother took you with her through the countryside in a splendid carriage.
It was the last time you would ever see her.
You wonder if, wherever she is, she can see you now.
You are fifteen years old, a legal adult. You have worked and studied and suffered and prepared, and now the time has come.
You kneel before the priestess, barely hearing her words as she recites the blessings.
She calls upon the gods to deliver peace, wisdom, and prosperity to you, and through you, to all of Nova. And then she calls upon you, for your oath of rulership.
Priestess of the First Circle: Will you guide and govern and protect your people to the best of your ability, according to law and custom?
Elodie, Crown Princess: I will.
Priestess of the First Circle: Will you to the best of your power uphold the ideals of love, honor, justice, and mercy?
Elodie, Crown Princess: I will.
Priestess of the First Circle: Lords and Ladies assembled: I present to you your undoubted Queen, who has sworn you her loyalty.
Priestess of the First Circle: You who have come to give homage, will you do the same?
One at a time, the head of each duchy approaches your throne and kneels to swear his or her service to you and your heirs.
Priestess of the First Circle: People of Nova, I give you Elodie, daughter of Fidelia, your true sovereign. What say you all?
People: LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
Elodie, Queen of Nova: (Thank you! I will!)
After the coronation, in a private ceremony with the High Priestess, Elodie was officially offered her mother's Lumen crystal. She refused to accept it. For the first time in centuries, magic would have no hold on the throne of Nova.
Once his daughter was secure on her throne, Joslyn returned to his birthplace to focus on his duties as Duke of Caloris.
He was pursued by many women, but showed little interest in remarrying, directing them instead to his brother, the Duke of Mazomba.
During Elodie's reign, the public opinion of Lumens and magic in general would fall to a new low. Parents taught their children that Lumen power was all tied up with witchcraft and blood sacrifice, and would always lead to sorrow in the end.
In some territories, any village outcast found to be in possession of a shiny bit of rock was likely to fall victim to a lynch mob, and the miscreants were rarely punished. Better safe than sorry when it came to magic, after all. Even healers and priestesses were eyed with some suspicion. Who knows what costs their powers might have?
The young Queen sponsored expeditions of trained knights to venture into the Old Forest and attempt to exterminate the monsters within. Unfortunately, black magic would not give up its grip on Nova so easily. Many lives were lost, and with their blood, the monsters appeared to grow even stronger...
The loss of their fleet was a terrible setback for Shanjia. However, as with a garden weed, if the root is not burned out completely the infestation may return even worse than before. The King of Shanjia had somehow escaped either drowning or capture and returned to his homeland to plot revenge against Nova.
Raising a new army put a strain on the Shanjian royal treasury, which brought internal tensions among the former city-states to the fore. It would be some years before Shanjia could manage to field a conquering horde again.
Elodie eventually married a foreign duke in order to advance alliances and promote Novan strength.
It was not a love match, but the two parties learned to respect and care for each other. They raised two children, a son and a daughter.
The new hospital funded by Queen Elodie offered medical services to the common people, but more importantly, it allowed doctors and herbalists to come together and share information. Trading knowledge increased skill levels and made better care available to all. Even those specialists who catered directly to the elite were benefited by offering their services long enough to learn.
Elodie's interest in military strategy led her to treat country management as something of a game - a game that she intended to win.
That meant building up Nova's strength to the point where no invader could ever threaten its sovereignty again.
And thus Queen Elodie's legacy stretched into the future...