You're the Queen - Now What? [CK2ish Character-Focused Quest]

Winning plan's math will be applied tomorrow, as it is getting late here.

It was once more time to meet a suitor. Thankfully, at least, it would be the last time.

King Gaius Rodela had taken longer than any of her other suitors (public or private) to arrive, but he did have the excuse of actively fighting a war and being a major frontline officer in said war. According to the diplomatic correspondence, he had had to put off his departure until he had managed to secure a stable frontline.

According to Rienne, the 'excuse' held water as a legitimate reason – the frontlines in Zarsim, according to the current information, had stabilized in the last month after several key southern victories that had captured critical fortified positions in the old Capital City[1]. And Rienne did have a great deal of respect for Gaius's generalship, both in terms of his ability to command men and get them to follow him into battle, and his tactical and strategic mind.

She'd asked Rienne if she thought she could beat him in a battle, and Rienne had honestly said that if they both had equal forces and an even playing field, she'd rate her odds of success 50-50. Though she'd also pointed out that both her and Gaius were not stupid enough to fight a battle of equal forces on an even playing field against a general of her or Gaius's caliber.

According to Arandel and Vallefor, Gaius was getting more and more annoyed with his Morvakian backers – Vallefor had unconfirmed intelligence that Morvak was deliberately scaling back their aid because they wanted to prolong the war as a way to waste Selissan resources, preventing Zarsim from actually winning. He had stressed it was unconfirmed, and from a source he could not say was at all fully trustworthy.

At the end of the day, South Zarsim could only offer so much. Gaius himself, as a capable leader and general, could count for something, but he would still have to govern his own kingdom – it would be a distant marriage, moreso than even a prospective marriage to Regara.

Which might still have it's advantages, but on the other hand, it meant that South Zarsim might not try to play hardball like every other suitor had. The miserable results from Arandel's negotiations – not really his fault, Vanessa told herself repeatedly – were not a great starting point.

All the court had been drawn out, though there were a number of attendants not in arrival. The North Zarsim ambassador was not present, having sent a stern letter of protest that we were even entertaining the marriage suit of a 'rebel noble with no right to the title and dignity of King'. As for the rest, Vanessa had to assume they were just tired of all the pomp.

As for what Halrun could realistically want from South Zarsim, that the other Kingdom could give:

• Mutual defense, of course, just as a matter of principle. If it came to war with Morvak, South Zarsim's position would be a good springboard to launch attacks on the southern Kingdom. Of course, that would have to wait until South Zarsim wasn't reliant on Morvak's military and financial aid.
• Related to the above, access to South Zarsim's shipyards to create a small riverine navy for Halrun to use in the event of War with Morvak (or, in theory, Selissa, as unlikely as that was). Thornferd just lacked the necessary capacity and water depth for warships of any size, even by riverine naval scale, to be built or deployed there. It was all small boats, rafts and the like.
• Dowry. South Zarsim wasn't rich, but the principle remained at stake.
• Assurances that South Zarsim wouldn't enter into Morvak's orbit once the war was over, long-term. There was no value in Halrun to help South Zarsim secure their independence and then have it become a de facto vassal or at least subordinate ally of Morvak without Halrun having any influence.

The prospect of Halrun and South Zarsim being united under one ruler, two thrones – that the heir to Halrun would also inherit South Zarsim – had been floated, but Vanessa wasn't sure about that, though the fact that she'd have to have two kids if they didn't do that was a consideration. But in practical reality, governing both kingdoms with one ruler would be… tricky. On the other hand, separating the inheritance would also create issues. South Zarsim was, while much more densely populated than Halrun, still far less powerful and less (potentially) wealthy than Halrun.

It seemed a recipe for sibling resentment, if handled poorly.

A marriage to Regara risked the same thing, but at least Morvak and Halrun were closer in overall wealth and 'value', in that sense.

None of her other marriage prospects risked that, thankfully – Essinya was not likely to inherit her father's throne in Vanessa's lifetime, assuming the Archnecromancer continued to exist as skillfully as he had this long.

Vanessa pushed thoughts thoughts out of her way as the doors to the throne room opened.

A procession entered, led by the South Zarsim Ambassador, a stern-faced, elderly man, wizened and bearded, wearing simple, but expertly tailored clothing, the colors a simple brown, but marked with the colors of the House of Rodela – Purple and Gold in the form of a sash he wore.

Behind him, of course, came the expected number of guards, wearing breastplate and mail, swords and axes at their sides, all wearing the purple and gold livery. And behind them, Gaius himself.



He was a handsome man, unsurprising, but he strode with a commanding purpose, drawing eyes. He walked not so much like he owned the space – he didn't exude that much arrogance – but with a confidence that suggested there was no one who could question his right to be here, his right to hold the title of King.

He did indeed wear a crown – not an elaborate one, but a day to day crown, a band of gold studded with amethysts, and it looked to have some sort of designs carved into it, but she couldn't tell from here. Behind him came a handful of attendants, less than she'd expect a king to travel with.

She looked back to Gaius – he was bearded, but the beard was short, well-maintained and framed his face appealingly – it was style aped by his guards, and Vanessa wondered if it was people copying the King, or if he was copying the style of beard favored by his soldiers as a way to connect with them, to seem as one of them.

He did lead from the front, after all.

Surprisingly, he was not wearing armor, despite being most known as a warrior king, and instead a close-fitting black clothing, with purple and gold accents along the shoulders, arms and thighs. He was a well-built man – looked like like he could snap Lothar and even Loran like a twig, frankly, but he was not freakishly muscular in a way that would invite comparisons to an orc or ogre.

He did have a sword at his belt, however, and another, even longer one, a two-hander, across his back. It was odd, to see a man so well-armed and yet unarmored, and his clothing was surprisingly simple – though as he came closer, she could see that there were amythest gemstones seemingly sewn into the fabric of his shirt.

That rang a bell in her mind, something about South Zarsim's cultural preferences for how displays of wealth were allowed to work, but she couldn't recall what she'd been told on the subject, despite her best efforts. She continued looking him over.

He wore a few rings on his fingers, gold, without gemstones though they looked to have various designs carved into them, she couldn't see the details at this distance, again. The swords were completely unadorned, practical weapons of war, nothing more.

"May I present to you, Your Majesty, King Gaius VI Rodela, Sixth of his Name[2], King of South Zarsim and Shield of It's Peoples," the Ambassador proclaimed.

"You may," Vanessa nodded.

Gaius nodded, and carefully removed his two-handed sword, handing it to one of his soldiers, thanking the man in a quiet tone, and then came closer. He didn't bow to her – Reigning Kings and Queens didn't bow to anyone – but he did incline his head in respect for a moment.

As he spoke, Vanessa had to admit she was drawn in by not just the words, and the fervor behind them – not that of a fanatic, but a definite true believer – but the way he spoke. He drew you in, and Vanessa found it hard to resist nodding along with him just on the strength of the way he spoke. Charisma – the man had it in spades. He could likely command his soldiers to follow him into Hell itself.

"It is rare indeed that a monarch is chosen by their own people to rule them," Gaius began. "Nearly every King and Queen, every nobleborn ruler of realm by 'right of blood' can trace themselves back to someone who took power ultimately with the consent of their people, implicit or explicit, but distance of time makes too many forget it. But you, Your Majesty, understand the responsibility your people have entrusted you with – as do I. The House of Rodela is a storied family, once Kings of Great Zar in distant times, it is my blood that made my people consider me as King, and yet, it was their will, their choice, their consent that made me their King."

"You, I think of all the monarchs reigning in this day and age, truly understand, as I do, that any monarch rules only by the consent of the governed. Syrokis found that out to his cost, and King Tollren Vorel found that out to the point of losing half his Kingdom."

"There is much both I and my Kingdom can offer you, and much you and your Kingdom can offer me. I will make no pretense that this is not a political act here – we are both only here to serve our realms. But if I am to marry for reasons of state, a marriage to someone who, as I do, understands truly how strong a monarch can be when their people truly support them, and how weak they are when their people don't -"

His lips twitched in a near smile, likely deliberately, but it had the intended effect as he went on. "Well, why would there be anyone else I would want to consider? And so, Your Majesty, I come to you, to lay suit for your hand, to propose a marriage, to tie our Kingdom's destinies together."

Now it was Vanessa's turn to stand, and as she considered the words – well practiced – she was expected to say, she found it… hardly suited to the occasion. Gaius hadn't exactly followed the expected script, even if he'd hardly said anything that crossed any lines, and Vanessa didn't feel like ceding the initiative to him like that.

"It is true, Your Majesty, that it is a rare monarch that is chosen by their people. Twice in the same generation even more so. Though I would say there is much behind our circumstances that differs – your House is a storied one, with blood bluer than most Kings and Queens that reign today, and I am a bastard daughter of a blacksmith," There was a small murmur as she said that – everyone knew it, but Vanessa wasn't supposed to draw attention to it.

"And yet – we are both fully aware of how easily our rule can change, the foundations our regimes can collapse. Both of us were blessed by a God when we took the throne, and yet, if we are to be felled, no god will smite our assassins. We are rulers by the stint of law, but law will not serve as a shield to a blade. Our armies protect us and enforce our rule, but then… if soldiers don't follow you, it doesn't matter. And if the people don't support us, all the armies in the world will not matter. Syrokis learned, as you say Tollren is learning – you cannot govern those who refuse to be governed by you. Not if they are willing to die for what they believe in."

"I am unpledged and unmarried, and your position, fighting for your people's right to exist and chart their own destinies, is one I can sympathize with. In the short lifespan of your Kingdom, there has never been reason for conflict with Halrun, and in my short reign as Queen, I have never given you reason for offense. There is much that could be gained in such a proposed union – and as you say, as Queen and King, we have much in common, in the understandings we have of the nature of rule."

She came down to the lowest step on the dais. "There is much that shall need to be discussed, but perhaps you would join me in the palace gardens, for a moment of quiet reflection."

"I would be honored," Gaius replied, and as Vanessa was quite familiar with, they made their way, joined by partial guard detachments, into the Gardens. The guards then took up a carefully chosen distance away as Vanessa walked with Gaius. The man made several intelligent, if shallow comments on the flowers and plants – he was hardly Janera, with a fascination for the subject – and then, as they passed under an arch artfully overgrown with flowering vines, Gaius turned to her.

"I meant every word I said, Your Majesty," Gaius noted. "Our circumstances of rule are similar, and everything I have observed of your reign thus far has shown to me that you understand and respect the power of your people far more than most. You personally went down to speak with those miners, returning barely ahead of my own arrival. Few monarchs would have gone themselves. Few among reigning monarchs, you have my respect, not just as a ruler, but as a person underneath that crown."

"I sense a 'but' coming," Vanessa noted cooly, though she had to force the detachment – the earnestness of the man was compelling, rather than painful. The words could have been so easily an affectation, but she was quite certain he meant every one of them.

It sounds as those Gaius is a progressive noble then, far more than even Balmain, in some ways. Though she doubted that particular political divide was really relevant in South Zarsim, these days.

"As far as people I might have to marry to shore up my reign, protect my people, you are easily at the top of my list, well above anyone else. You are, if you will forgive my forwardness, beautiful, you are smart and most importantly, you're wise. And you understand what it means to have the support of your people. As you say though – but. A marriage is what I came here to secure, and I intend to pursue such a pact, but ultimately, my Kingdom can only offer you so much, though I think what we, and I offer is quite worth it, but you can only marry one suitor."

Vanessa chuckled, "Life would be easier if I could marry more than one, but very true."

"Given that, I will admit, perhaps dangerously so, that most of what you could get from a marriage, in terms of what South Zarsim has to offer, you can get simply by helping us secure our independence, without binding our houses together."

"...you're proposing a simple treaty of support then?"

"I am laying it down as an option." Gaius nodded. "Put bluntly, I cannot stay away from my Kingdom forever, the front lines are secure now, but..." he trailed off, and Vanessa nodded. "If there is a reasonable chance that you will accept my suit, I will continue here and, if I can, convince you that I am the best choice for you, as much for Halrun. But… if you would rather, I am content to offer you much of what a marriage would have offered, merely for Halrun's military and financial support."

"Merely." Vanessa said, blandly, and Gaius chuckled.

"Perhaps a poor choice of words, but you take my meaning. So… should I prepare my ambassador for marriage negotiations, or a more conventional treaty?"

[ ] Keep Gaius Rodela as a potential suitor
[ ] Take the offer of a treaty that gives most of what Halrun could want without a marriage

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[1] After all the fighting in the city, Zar the City is basically as close as you can get to Stalingrad in terms of how wrecked it is, with the technology and magic available to both sides. The city was (and is) full of heavily fortified structures and miniature castles due to a history of urban riots and revolts that would sometimes see the city (outside of said fortified positions) entirely fall out of the hands of the Monarchy for weeks at a time. The structures hadn't been used in anger in about 200 years by the time of the Zar Civil War, but they were at least partially maintained and used as supply depots or even tenement buildings in some cases.

Both sides do fight outside of the capital, but actually fully claiming the capital is seen as necessary for South Zarism to force North Zarism to give up and accept independence, and North Zarsim can't win control of the South without having the capital. It is absolutely more than a bit of a sunk cost fallacy on both sides however.

[2] In an effort to appeal to historical legitimacy, Gaius is Gaius 'VI' because there were 5 previous Zarsite kings named Gaius, despite the fact that they were 'Kings of Zarsim' or 'Great Zar', not 'South Zarsim'.