[Amelia] Chapter 9: The First Week as a Hero

[Throndir]

Having Conrad teach you was a godsend, even though the court mage seemed to be cold, he was a surprisingly good teacher, and was patient throughout the entire ordeal. For 8 hours, the two of you sat together as you tried to learn how to get your to sense mana. You felt like you were making progress, but it was hard to truly tell.

Conrad said not to worry, as heroes are supposed to catch on quickly.

Training
Sense Mana: 3/6

"Ah yes... The Darmona Kingdom... Full of beasts and monsterkin. Quite a collection of a coherent society with social order and laws. It's actually a very unique thing. The demons make use of monsters though, even though those have their own villages, there never has been a group quite like the Darmona Kingdom. Apparently back in their own world they had a large thriving society and country. Unfortunately, their matriarch wasn't included during their Shifting."

"They still don't have a solid form of government though. Chieftains from various monsterkin tribes instead are trying to gain supporters to lead the rest of the nation. Normally it would have boiled down to an all out feud between the races if these were regular monsterkin. But, they seem to know well-enough that a divided people will do them no good here. Frankly, it's why the Felencorp United Alliance has had such an easy time dealing with them. As for me... I went out on a trip to visit their chieftains with the most power, they have loyalty among their own, but this matriarch that they had in their previous world must have been something to garner the loyalty of all those races."

"I almost wonder if that kingdom would have become soldiers for the demon armies if they found themselves neighbors with them instead of us... But yes. Before our kingdom, it was the Darmona Kingdom, and before them was this country to the west called Refedoria."

"From what I know though, the Darmona Kingdom is still paying in reparations. Lately, they've been drafted into the armies of the Felencorp. I suspect it wouldn't be long until the Felencorp ask the same thing from us. That said, you can imagine that most of the people don't look favorably upon them. Spider-people... Nightwalkers... creatures with heads of animals... Lizardmen..."

"Our government is on friendly terms with them, well, as much as we can. With the fact that the Felencorp have been threatening them and draining them for the past two years though, they don't look too favorably upon humans or demihumans. So maybe it's better to say that they tolerate us. With our arrival at least, we've lessened the pressure on their government. Needless to say, most of our infrastructure around our capital made it in-tact. The Darmona Kingdom wasn't so lucky."

"We don't have any particular missions involving them though. But we do have a sort of embassy over there with one of our diplomats. He sends weekly reports."

[Mysticsage]

"I was reading that they had a matriarch in the previous world." Amelia said sitting down taking out the notes she had taken from the previous world, "What are the major clans in power? Do you think one of them would be willing to back my claim for the position if I was willing to take on their debt as well?"

"If we can get a handful of clans behind us we might just be able to sell unity between the two smaller nations as a means of strengthening us both. If they had a human leader they might be able to avoid further losses of the population to slavery."

"if you could I would like a report from our diplomats on the possibilities and who to best approach about possibly throwing my hat in the ring there as well. If they cannot find a ruler to our like we will end up getting hit from all sides, and when Felencorp finally decides to be angry about not getting me as payment as I am sure a man in your position is aware, things will not go well for us without a means to appease them or defend ourselves."

"How long do you think it would take to quietly begin asking questions and get those answers back. Moving while there is no clear challenger is better than waiting to deal with whoever takes power first."

[Throndir]

"Taking their debt as well, you say? My, my, aren't you the generous one Your Majesty... Have you talked to the king's financial advisor yet? Surely I do not need to tell you about our country's debt..."

"The Darmona Kingdom too have their own debt... And from what I heard, their own economy and infrastructure isn't as setup as ours. Most of their industrious cities were not including the Shifting. If we are to take their debt, that means, taking their payments as well... But, yes, the Darmona Kingdom would be more than willing to co-operate with our country, I imagine. Most of the clan leaders would be willing to form any agreement for that to happen I would guess."

"As for how our people will take it... Well, I suppose we'll see."

Fulbert began nodding.

"I'll get our diplomat in the Darmona Kingdom up to speed, along with getting the latest news from him... Unfortunately... Messages from here to that country take awhile. One of our couriers can only go so fast, even if we have him change horses between each checkpoint and town..."

"I'll get our diplomat in the Darmona Kingdom up to speed, along with getting the latest news from him... Unfortunately... Messages from here to that country take awhile. One of our couriers can only go so fast... Normally it would take a week for a letter to arrive. However, even if we have the courier change horses between each checkpoint and town... It would still take at least 4 days, but probably 5."

"Two weeks to get all that information."

[Mysticsage]

"From the air of this country, the people will not abide slavery of other people so close by, and neither will I," Amelia said with a smile.

"That being said, I want the chieftains to realize I'm not making this offer to make them a vassal state, I want full assimilation. I will give them protection, a means for dealing with the other nations on equal footing, and in return, we all become one big family. Make sure that point is clear while the diplomats begin putting together their reports. I want everyone to come to the table with their eyes wide open about what excepting the offer means."

"As for how to pay the cost off, I have plans that I am currently putting together that should help with that.  For instance, I brought some things from my world that should provide a bit of an economic boost. That with my idea for infrastructure improvement should help. So the additional time to put every plan in motion will be useful regardless."

"If anything comes up in the meantime please keep me informed."

"Oh, before I forget. In the meantime can I have you poot together any documentation and resources together to help me negotiate with the churches in a few days. I'm going to need all the help I can get in that department if I want this to work. In fact, if you could be there with Akari, Ragnar and I to help facilitate that would be ideal. A victory with the churches would be a big boost to morale in general."

Will explain my plan to try and open up connections across the world churches, in particular, the Sovereignty and even talk about beginning a church of water.

I keep forgetting but Amelia would not assume over the last few days she has tried to add Conrad, Akari, Takeru, Ragnar, and now Fulbert to the friends list when in close proximity to them

[Throndir]

"Slavery... is a sensitive subject. King Richmond had attempted to abolish it, but there was too much backlash from the nobles and the rich barons in our country... Instead however, at least here in the capital, slavery is kept on a low-profile. Which perhaps will explain why you haven't run into them yet. Have you been to the docks? A couple of the workers there are slaves, though our admiral treats them fairly. Likewise, the nobles here in the city keep their slaves at their estates, unless they send them out on shopping trips. At the very least, our city of Mendernich doesn't have slums, we try to ensure that there are no homeless after all."

"However... it's a different story for Gladenstadt, the largest city in what remains of our country. Theirs had only grown so large due to the power of rich barons, along with slavery for cheap and profitable labor. It is a double-edged sword... For one, it is an economic boon, but on the other side, it brings poverty, and sometimes cruelness from owners."

"Slavery is tolerated within the walls of Mendernich, though, as long as there's no cruelty openly shown."

Fulbert seemed to be deep in thought with your idea of full assimilation.

"That will likely indeed win the hearts of the Darmona people... But I suspect there will be those in our country, specifically the nobles, who will not like it one bit. But, the hero is an existence equivalent to our king... and you yourself will be the next hero-queen of our country. Perhaps if you were to lead this effort, that may be all it takes."

"Documentation you need to help negotiations with the churches? Do you mean our Church of the Light? Or perhaps you mean the assembly of church heads from various countries that Ragnar is trying to put together? What sort of documentation are you looking for? As a diplomat, I, and the people under me, mainly work with our countries..."

"We are on friendly terms with the Isikawa Sovereignty. At least, more so than with the Darmona Kingdom, or the Felencorp United Alliance. As for the idea of a Church of the Goddess of Water... Have you talked to Ragnar about this? That is his domain... There are other smaller churches for our other 4 goddesses apart from the Goddess of Light, and though Ragnar is the head of the Goddess of Light's church, he is also in the position as the High Priest of our country. That role used to go to a different cardinal... But, him, along with our religious city never made it with us. At the very least I know of Father Barnabas to be... a rather strange but... amiable sort of character. He at least doesn't share the same prejudices as his predecessor."

Assume you can add them all, also do me a favor and create a new tab in your Character Sheet that acts as your Friends List, so we can keep track of this properly.

[Mysticsage]

https://www.youtube.com/v/mIWxIP2s_cA&index=22&list=PLOho_S0_Tjyg-veAlBqEdXC0WYL-x53Q-

Amelia's jaw hardens the longer the conversation about slavery continued. "Let me make this abundantly clear, there will be no slavery in this country by the time I am fully in control of this country. I WILL NOT allow such treatment of living things to continue under my watch and be party to a repeat of the history of my own world. I don't care if I have to forcibly conscript every slave or every one of the nobles for that matter into military service in order to get them a living wage and proper rights. This will not be allowed to continue new world new rules." She says allowing her true anger flood forth as she spoke.

"Please pass this sentiment on, along with my intense anger, to all those working in your employ so that they know how to handle foreign relations regarding this matter going forward."

"I will figure out a means of dealing with any parties stupid enough to think I will budge on this issue at a later date." She said the last part to herself with an air of finality.

"As for the meeting I am talking about the assembly of foreign churches that Ragnar is putting together. While he can provide information on the churches and their philosophies, I believe their larger political leanings, means to influence them, and any political leverage they might be angling for in the process is more your wheelhouse. I just don't want to make a deal with a state arm that is cloaked in the clothes of religion if you get my meaning without realizing it. So any kind of information on those kinds of foreign affairs for each nation coming would be helpful."

"You have three days to put together what you can."

"Thank you for your time today you've given me a lot to think about"

After any responses, I'm fine with moving today 8

[Throndir]

"Of course Your Majesty... I will ensure that the rest of the diplomats know that our Kingdom will not tolerate slavery in any form..." He bowed at that.

"But... as one of your advisors, this will no sit well with the nobles in Gladenstadt... Our own armies are already being used by the Felencorp United Alliance, fending off armies to the south... We do have a military encampment to our north, for when the Isikawa Soverignty request aid... But apart from the royal guards themselves, we do not have much of a military presence if the nobles to the east choose to rebel."

"I will get the information you seek. Expect me to be there with the meeting with the other head priests."

Feel free to state what you want to do on Day 8

[Mysticsage]

Amelia spends the evening both realizing that this new home may not be as ideal as she hoped, and plotting in a rage how to carefully thread a needle right into the eyes of the noble classes that perpetuated such an immoral system like slavery without giving them room to fight back at least in the short term.

Only Nyx was allowed in the room that night as a dark aura hung in the air and Nyx could almost hear the rock music as she battled the dragon that was her own indignation.


Day 8 morning
When Amelia woke up it was with a calm steady purpose she had come up with a stopgap for the larger problem that would, she hoped, gave the nobles no room to argue. First, however, she had to get through the preparation with Ragna in regards to the gathering of the foreign churches in a couple days. She focuses a majority of studies on the various churches doctrines surrounding the topics of religion.

15 training dc
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+4 : 5 + 4, total 9

15 training dc 2
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+4 : 13 + 4, total 17

15 training dc 3
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+4 : 9 + 4, total 13

[Mysticsage]

last regular roll dc 15

Rolled 1d20+4 : 8 + 4, total 12

[Mysticsage]

Day 8 Afternoon
Office of Economic Advisor

"Good Afternoon, My name is Amelia Reinhart the new hero. I made an appointment to discuss some matters in terms of the kingdom's income." She took a deep breath before entering through the doorway she had brought her notebook and her laptop if she needed it. While her plan to fix the slave issue was important she also had to make sure no one was stealing from the nation and that she could begin planning for the economic projects she had in mind.

She would just have to take this meeting slow and try not to strangle the poor economic advisor in the process. After all, they held the largest amount of answers that she needed and they would be getting VERY familiar with one another or she would be getting someone else who would.


Day 8 Evening Royal Chamber

"King Richmond I was wondering if you had a moment alone?" She said coming into his office and making sure no one else was around. Her goal for this entire meeting was to maintain her composure, and just flying off the handle from the start would only hurt both of them in the long run. Just don't bite his head off Amelia.

[Throndir]

That morning, you were greeted with a notification.

You leveled up!
You are now level 12.

Location: Ragnar's Study in the Church of the Light Cathedral
Date: Day 8 - 6 AM to 2 PM


Together with Ragnar, the two of you began going through religious topics. You had spent 8 hours with him, and you started to get a better grasp of how the religion of his world worked, along with the religions of this new world.

Training
Knowledge (religion): 4/8

Location: Financial Advisor's Office
Date: Day 8 - 2 PM

"Ah. You must be Her Majesty Queen Amelia that I've been hearing about. I'm your financial advisor, the country's Treasurer, Liudger Ebner. At your service." He bowed.


Location: King's Study
Date: Day 8 - 6 PM

"Dear me, you had almost given me a fright!" The king laughed warmly. "I've heard you've been meeting with your future staff and advisors... Splendid indeed! How many I help?"

[Mysticsage]

Location: Ragnar's Study in the Church of the Light Cathedral
Date: Day 8 - 6 AM to 2 PM

"Hey, Ragnar," Amelia said finally after putting down her pencil after what felt like days of work. She had decided to only use the priest's first name. "Is it possible that the church of light and the other churches in the capital would be willing to give me their blessings before the meeting in a couple of days?"

"Being in line for the throne and all I don't want to show any kind of favoritism but based off of how all this studying has gone I feel like I could use the time to experience them first hand and maybe get a bit of good luck in the process. I know not every church is open to letting some pray in several houses but I would at least like to spend some time with all of them."





Location: Financial Advisor's Office
Date: Day 8 - 2 PM

"You may regret this choice of profession for the time being because you are going to be spending a great deal of time together," Amelia said with a smile as her hands were filled with her notebook pencils and her laptop as she set everything down on the desk.

She let out a small sigh as she pulled up a chair to his desk. "Let's start with the easy questions, shall we? I went through the basic finances with the king but I want to go through the details with you. Make sure no nobles are skimming off the top while the rest of us try to recover from the transition to the new world.

"Once that is done I want to break down the numbers further. It has been brought to my attention that slaves are a current cornerstone of our economic city in particular in our sister city. I want whatever numbers you have on the living number of slaves, who is doing the largest purchases and, who is selling the most."

"I also have a number of buildings I would like to cost out with you."

Looking to cost out a windmill, designing new boats, and a greenhouse for testing, and a new church building.

Location: King's Study
Date: Day 8 - 6 PM

Amelia walked in and closed the door behind her slowly eyes down. This was not an easy topic to talk about she felt like she had to ask her father how sex worked."I'm sorry king Richmond, this is not an easy topic. I wanted to talk about slavery. I understand you attempted to abolish it once before, I wanted to know why it failed last time, and who stood against you." She did her best to maintain her composure, keep her rage in check, after all he had at least tried to fix the issue.

"My own people have had there own sorted history with slavery. She said taking a chair then looking the king in the eye. "But we came down to one answer no matter the short term benefit the cost of slavery on the culture and its soul is too high. I realize that abolishing it out right may not work if I want to keep the peace. But I need a solution, I cannot and will not abide slavery in my country. It will eat us from the inside out. I have plans but I need to know why right out abolishing slavery failed first."

Amelia will also tell him about the report she asked for about the Darmona.

[Throndir]

Location: Ragnar's Study in the Church of the Light Cathedral
Date: Day 8 - 6 AM to 2 PM

Ragnar took a deep breathe in from the cigar he had lit.

"Hey, you know I'm the so-called High Priest of our country right? Head Priest of the Church of Light? Yeah? You totally got my blessing my queen."

"But if you want to meet with the other head priests of the other churches... Well, it won't be so easy. You see, most of the other head priests of their respective churches lived in Bremenburg. You catch my drift? That city of churches never made it with us. Sure, there are small pockets of the Church of Earth, Church of Air, and Church of Fire, but not in the organization you're probably thinking of. As for the Church of Darkness, that church was never really big, nor were they really organized either. I can talk to the churches here in the city though. They all acknowledge I'm the High Priest, and we church-folk are pretty loyal to the crown. You planning to meet with them?"

"As long as I'm free to pursue those vices of course." He winked.

"They should accept you with open arms. Our Five Goddesses are said to be divine sisters, and in that sense, all of our churches are united."


Location: Financial Advisor's Office
Date: Day 8 - 2 PM

"Numbers are fascinating, yes? But as for the nobles skimming off the top as you put it... All we have are the records that the various other cities put out. What you went over with the king is correct, but figuring out which records are falsified... That requires a deeper investigation."

"For example... On a weekly basis we grant money to other cities for public works, payment of guards, and other functions. Perhaps then that the town hall of one city hires more guards... With a certain amount of pay. If the town hall only pays half of what we, the castle, are actually sending, then indeed we have money simply sitting about with no owner. Not to say that this is a common occurrence, but I hope can show how funds may be misappropriated."

"I worry not about the records Mendernich keeps, but it is Gladenstadt and Schleitz specifically that the worry for embezzlement is more of a potentiality."

"I can indeed look into those exact numbers... I admit I don't know them at the top of my head. But I do know that a large size of Galdenstadt's population are strictly slaves, as well as Schleitz. The mines and fields they have there are run by slave-owning barons, rather than family-owned operations like the ones we have here in Mendernich. But... it's due to their efforts that we're able to continue our payments to the Felencorp United Alliance."

"We could potentially send an investigator into it... And I do have contacts in both of those cities."

Liudger will pull out the records he has on the four largest cities of the remains of the Kingdom of Bürsteig.

Gladenstadt
Total Population: 35,000
Slave Population: 19,250

Mendernich
Total PopulatIon: 20,000
Slave Population: 1,000

Schleitz
Total Population: 10,000
Slave Population: 3,000

Biersen
Total Population: 6,000
Slave Population: 600

Projected Costs
Mill: 24,000 GP or 6 BP
Barge: 4,000 GP or 1 BP
Galley (Any Type): 12,000 GP or 3 BP
Sailing Ship (Any Type): 12,000 GP or 3 BP
Warship (Any Type):  28,000 GP or 7 BP
Greenhouse: Negligible
Shrine: 32,000 GP or 8 BP

Location: King's Study
Date: Day 8 - 6 PM

"The nobles, rich barons, and merchants were those that gave most of the pressure. This was back in our world of Erdesin though... There was enough conflict about the potential abolishment of slavery that it would have split our country apart. My advisors then proceeded to suggest imposing restrictions on slavery here in Mendernich instead. Though, it's not even truly removed here in the royal city."

"There were threats from certain cities that they would consider themselves free cities, unaligned with our kingdom if I so proceeded to continue with the abolishment. It was true I could have mobilized our army, but that would have put our own people against each other."

"Here in the New World I have not yet tried to even push such an agenda, given that we're still recovering from most of our country disappearing overnight. But I suspect both Gladenstadt and Schleitz would have the most to disagree about with it."

[Mysticsage]

Location: Ragnar's Study in the Church of the Light Cathedral
Date: Day 8 - 6 AM to 2 PM

"I don't mean that I want their political blessing, though it would be nice. I want to take part in the ritual of it all, say I communed with the spirits of the goddesses. Especially since I'm hoping to add a new church to the mix I know there will be some amount of pushback. Spending a day going through the motions might help lessen people's fears of the changes I have planned."

"And I would be lying if I said I was not somewhat curious about the various services of the churches, in particular, the churches of Light and Darkness. I want to try and center myself and at least hold out a sign of understanding before trying to represent this nation and creating another church. I also have been reading about how the gods speak to people. If ever there was a place where I could experience it first hand it would be here."

"Could I set up some services I could attend tomorrow. I would like to send some extra time with you and the church of light considering the church's position, but I would like to get a sense of the others as well."

Location: Financial Advisor's Office
Date: Day 8 - 2 PM

"Do me a favor Liuder, or do you prefer Ebner in this scenario? I'd prefer you be comfortable since I'm going to be spending a lot of time in your office. She said finishing copying down the numbers that the financial advisor had provided. If its possible get me the name of the largest slave selling organization. If people ask questions tell them that I have a curious nature, and wanted to know about their rarest "shipments: for the sake of my coronation." She spat the words shipments as if it was poison but for people like that money would drive them to do almost anything.

"The goal is to get as much economic information out of them as possible so stringing them along with my name and future position should be enough to get them running," Amelia said with a half-cocked smile she would be able to nail those bastards once she got a name and the Darmona might be willing to help her with that.

"Oh before I forget also find me a representative of the largest trading house or merchant guild in the country. I imagine that one exists in Galdenstadt if not the capital. I would like to meet with them in the coming weeks but there is no rush. When they ask why to tell them the hero brought with her possible goods worth selling. To that end, I'll need our nations best inventor/engineer brought to the capital as well for similar discussions. Is your office equipped for such tasks or do I need to speak with another office I imagine that given your nature you can at least provide names on who to talk to for those three topics?"

Amelia will also add her economic advisor to her friend's list before the meeting is done.

Location: King's Study
Date: Day 8 - 6 PM


Amelia thought for a moment before shaking her head, "Well, we are not going to make any headway by just wringing our hands and hoping the problem goes away on its own. I assume you know most if not all of the remaining noble families in both Gladenstadt and Schelitz? I wonder if you could send an invitation to send a representative of one family from each city to stay with us before and during the coronation. They need to come out here anyway so coming early should only buy us some favor. "

"But I want the invitations sent out to families who if they don't agree with us on this issue and get their takes on the city.

And if there is no one who agrees with us at least the families who may be persuaded to see things our way. There must be some eccentric families in power who are looking to curry favor before the new ruler takes their seat. We can use that to our advantage. "

Pick the two families that you think will be most useful to us, in the long run, I trust your judgment. Oh, and if it helps you can suggest sending people around my age or a little older or younger that should get them excited and not thinking about the consequences."

[Throndir]

Location: Ragnar's Study in the Church of the Light Cathedral
Date: Day 8 - 6 AM to 2 PM

"Hmm... you mean making a show of your devotion for the people's benefits? That may work..." Ragnar said trying to be tactful.

"As for speaking with the goddesses... Is it not from the way they show a path to you, that they speak, yeah? For example... I enjoy the good drink and smoke, but yet our gracious goddess have given me a position as the High Priest. Isn't this a way for Her to be saying 'Ragnar Barnabas, you are doing a good job'. They speak in subtle ways..."

"Though... I have heard of a country which brings forth messages from the goddesses themselves, or at least they claim. The Xalaster Orthodoxy. A representative of their Church of the Light, that they call the Church of the Goddess, will be at the meeting. But they're a bit... how should I put it..."

"Like the other old cardinals of my country before the Shifting?"


Location: Financial Advisor's Office
Date: Day 8 - 2 PM

"Liudger or Ebner, is fine with me, Your Majesty. Whichever you yourself find better."

"It's actually the city itself that handles most of the trades. How it works is that there are slave traders who can sell to the markets themselves, through slave rings. If any individual has 'goods' they want to sell, they simply register how many they are selling, what prices that want, and appear with them on the site. The city itself practices in it, selling by auction rather than set prices. Unfortunately most sellers are slave traders, though a large percentage are foreigners."

"As for the largest one group in our economy... That would probably be the Guild that manages both adventurers, and many aspects of trade. But for individual businesses... If you give me some time I can probably get that list."

"We have engineers... though I admit, our royal city housed our king and nobles, Gladenstadt and Schleitz were known for their mining and farming output. Biersen was never economically productive, though they did do farming." He sighed. "We lost a lot during the Shifting. Our city of scholars for one. Bright minds alike vanished when they disappeared."

"There are bright minds in the rest of our country I'm sure, though, perhaps that work as slaves, or farmers, or simply put... their potential not being used to their best potential. I will talk with our city engineers though... But what sort of skill set are you looking for?"

Liudger begins to go through the records, taking the next 30 minutes doing so while he answers any of your questions.

Sellers
Individual Slavers: 45%
City Auction: 35%
Other Groups: 7%
Gladen's Emporium: 6%
Herr Bieber's Slave Trade: 4%
Garver's: 3%

Buyers
City Auction: 25%
Mining Companies: 21%
-Fuhrmann Miners
-Bayer Corp
-Bohn Foundries
-Brune Armaments
Plantation Companies: 16%
-Dreher Farm Hands
-Dirksen Fields
-Gerig Wines
-Gerst
Textile Industry: 14%
-Grober Lobers
-Haas Clothes
-Herschel's Textile
-Holst
Sex Industry 13%
-Gladenstadt Pleasure District
-Alize's Entertainment
-Marielle's
Adventurers/Guild: 6%
Individuals Slavers: 3%
Other Groups: 2%

Location: King's Study
Date: Day 8 - 6 PM

The king nods.

"Most of the nobles do their best to get on my side." He said smiling. "That, or to propose a union with either my son or daughter. Which... They have all but kept rejecting. None of the noble sons or daughters suite their tastes I suppose... Either way, I'm no longer as worried about it, as you yourself will become the new Queen."

"Many of the nobles are already here in the city in fact... Even them from Gladenstadt and Schleitz. Your summoning was never a secret. Though... they are all assuming you are still bed-ridden, and not fit to hold an audience. It's been over a week though, and many of them have started to complain. Likewise, the representatives from the Felencorp United Alliance are put on the same wait... Though, they have been demanding that we relinquish you whether or not you are bed-ridden. They claim to have the best doctors and healers, and given their position in the war against the demons, they very well might..."

"They all seek an audience with the new queen. Perhaps to curry favor with you."

"There are at least two families that I trust with my life... Both the Esser and Holland families have been life-long friends with the royal line... Are there specific families you are looking for? And I believe you've met the Esser family's son, Conrad."