>>1366090
>>"I think I can straighten him out."
but
>"The Crown Prince needs a trusted advisor."

>>1366090
>"The Crown Prince needs a trusted advisor."

>>1366108
This. He needs someone to help him with pragmatic moves.

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>>1366090
"The Crown Prince needs a trusted advisor," you say. "Someone who can manage the small details for him so he doesn't botch the larger problems."

You have Myrddin and your father has your mother. The Crown Prince has…

…
…
…

Does he have any close friends who could handle this?

"That's a tall order," Myrddin says. "The Crown Prince surrounds himself with like-minded individuals - well-meaning, but not especially competent - and it's unlikely he would implicitly trust anyone we introduce him to out of the blue."

"What about his wife? She can't be a complete idiot."

Myrddin wobbles his hand ambiguously. "She's fairly sharp, or else she wouldn't have been able to attract the Crown Prince's attention. However, she was born and raised a commoner, so there's much she doesn't know."

"That's something we can work with, at least. Any other ideas?"

"A retired noble, perhaps?" Myrddin suggests. "Someone who follows the Crown Prince's general beliefs, but who has the experience to make them work?"

You can't name anyone like that off the top of your head, but there has to be someone.

>"Let's help my brother's wife."
>"Let's find my brother an older mentor."
>"Screw it, we can deal with this later."

>>1366189

>"Let's help my brother's wife."

>>1366189
>"Let's help my brother's wife."

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>>1366189
"Let's help my brother's wife," you decide. "He'll trust her and they'll be together for a long time; this is more reliable than digging some old man out of his retirement."

"I wouldn't be surprised if the Queen had similar ideas," Myrddin says. "We can start by inviting her to the party. It'll be a good chance for her to get acclimated to new responsibilities and to better understand her position."

You rather hope that Mair, your brother's wife, has a firm understanding of her position by now, but Myrddin's idea is still correct. For now, you should decide who you want to bring to the party as your escort. Reagan was born a Princess and knows how to navigate a court, while Eleri knows what it's like for a commoner to enter the circles of royalty. Either woman would be able to advise Mair and help her support the Crown Prince in his duties.

>Ask Reagan for help.
>Ask Eleri for help.

>>1366290

>Ask Eleri for help.
To start and wwhen she gets better ask the wife to help her with the draker side

>>1366290
>Ask Eleri for help.

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>>1366290
"This is a task better suited for Eleri," you say. "Reagan might be a little bit too intimidating."

"I'll find you another party you can bring your wife to to make up for it," Myrddin says. "We wouldn't want rumours she's falling out of your favour to spread around. Unless you want to know who's trying to undermine you?"

"Maybe next year," you say. "We have too many matters to deal with at the moment to waste time on petty issues."

With that settled, you straighten your jacket out and march straight into Prince Haul's private office in a nearby wing of the castle.

Crown Prince Haul sighs like he's being asked to carry the burden of the world on his shoulders, although his expression relaxes when he realizes you're his visitor.

"Little brother, you've come at a good time. All this petty paperwork was driving me mad."

You look at his desk. The work piled up is impressive by the standards of a mid-level bureaucrat somewhere out in the country, but it pales in comparison to your busy days in Degfford.

Not that you're bitter about that or anything.

>[Dilettante/1d12] "I was just about to invite you and Princess Mair to a celebration so you could rest a bit."
>[Sovereign/1d12] "Why don't I give you a hand then? We can talk while we work."

>>1366395
>>[Sovereign/1d12] "Why don't I give you a hand then? We can talk while we work."
>I mean this is light compared to Degfford's daily paperwork we should finish quickly!

>>1366395
>[Sovereign/1d12] "Why don't I give you a hand then? We can talk while we work."

>>1366395


>[Dilettante/1d12] "I was just about to invite you and Princess Mair to a celebration so you could rest a bit."

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>>1366395
"Why don't I give you a hand then? We can talk while we work?"

Before your brother can turn you down, you pick up a sheet of paper and get to work.

>Roll 1d12, best of three.

Rolled 2 (1d12)

>>1366459

Rolled 6 (1d12)

>>1366459

Rolled 5 (1d12)

>>1366459

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>>1366459
You quickly divide the documents between things you can handle on your own immediately and requests or problems that will have to be double-checked or handed off to someone with more authority. Once that's done, burning through the rest of the work is a simple matter and you soon have to go back to Prince Haul's desk to fish out more paperwork.

"That is quite impressive, little brother," Prince Haul says. "I seen you've been quite diligent in Degfford."

"I'm certain you've heard a few rumours about what happened while I was away from the capital. My time in Degfford hasn't been completely peaceful."

"True, but there's only so much one can learn from rumours," Haul says. "Speaking of which, did you need anything? I doubt you came here just to assist me."

"I was, but not with this drudgery." You sign another piece of paper and add it to the "Done" pile. "I'm going to a celebration tonight and I was hoping you and your wife could accompany me."

"I'm afraid I don't have time to indulge nobles and their narrow-minded desires."

"There won't be any nobles, actually," you say. "At least, not me. I wanted to know more about the current state of the populace, so I invited commoners."

Prince Haul perks up. "That is an excellent idea," he says. "Come to think of it, we should do more to celebrate the commonfolk's contributions to our great kingdom."

Not quite what you were going for, but you'll take it.

You finish your work and escort Prince Haul to his room to make sure he's getting ready. You don't have much time left to prepare, but you do have a bit of it.

>Talk to Eleri about your plans for Mair.
>Ask your mother about her opinion of Mair.

>>1366534
>Talk to Eleri about your plans for Mair.
>Ask your mother about her opinion of Mair.

>>1366534
>>Talk to Eleri about your plans for Mair.

>>1366534
>>Talk to Eleri about your plans for Mair.

>>1366534

>Talk to Eleri about your plans for Mair.

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>>1366534
"I assure you, this is a coincidence."

"And I don't believe that for a moment, your highness. But what can I help you with this time?"

You didn't intend to walk in on Eleri while she was trying on a new dress, but given the current state of your relationship, it'd be rude not to stare. Besides, it's not like she's stopping.

"I need your help with my brother's wife." You step in behind Eleri and help her with her dress' strings. "I think the Crown Prince could use some additional competence in his life and she's the best candidate. Do you think you can help her learn how to manage the kingdom?"

"Princess Reagan would be better suited for such a thing, but I suppose I'm more relatable in this case. I'll talk to her and see what she thinks of things."

"Thank you." You wrap your arms around Eleri and kiss her neck. "Shame we can't stain the dress though."

"Maybe later," Eleri says. "It's been a while since Princess Reagan gave birth. Perhaps she'd like to join us again. Or maybe she'd like to watch."

"I'll be sure to ask her."

You change into a slightly more elaborate version of your standard uniform and escort Eleri to the carriage around nightfall. The Crown Prince arrives soon after you, and you stand up to bow per the standard protocol. Mair hides shyly behind him.

"Thank you for agreeing to accompany us, your highness," you say. "I know you've been harried for the last few days, so I hope this can help you rest for an evening."

"Th-there's no need for such politeness, Prince Meirion!" Mair stammers out a nervous meeting. She's dressed in an elegant black and dark blue dress - your mother's doing, most likely, to match her hair - but she's tense and nervous.

"On the contrary, your highness." Eleri pinches her skirt and curtseys, her voice neither warm or cold and her posture neither relaxed nor tense. It's as if she simply belongs. "You honour us greatly with your presence."

"No, your - uh, you -"

And Mair doesn't know the proper term of address for a prince's concubine.

It's actually a trick question: there isn't one.

You cough to break the conversation and smoothly bring Eleri down with you as you sink back into her seat.

"The season is getting cold, so it's best if we leave quickly," you say. "We shouldn't be late either."

Haul and his wife sit down and the carriage rolls away.

You can trust Eleri to deal with Mair somehow, but you still need to figure out how you're going to use this party to help Haul become a better Prince and King. The party will be slow, and many of the guests are wealthy merchants, so you'll certainly have the opportunity.

>[Merchant/1d12] Haul should become aware of how his decisions affect various markets.
>[Sovereign/1d12] Haul should understand how merchants support the kingdom.
>[Dilettante/1d12] Just help Haul socialize with commoners who can support his rule.

>>1366708
>>[Sovereign/1d12] Haul should understand how merchants support the kingdom.

>>1366708
>>[Sovereign/1d12] Haul should understand how merchants support the kingdom.

>>1366717
This

>>1366708
>>[Sovereign/1d12] Haul should understand how merchants support the kingdom.

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>>1366708
Haul steps out of the carriage first, as befits his status. You follow behind and hold out your hand to Eleri to help her down.

The party's location is an old manor with a large main hall. There isn't actually much living space, so it's mostly used for situations like this one. You're not even sure who owns it, but you suspect it's Myrddin.

Eleri walks to your left so she can chat with Mair, who's walk to Prince Haul's right. The former maid seems to relax bit by bit, although she doesn't seem quite comfortable with the outing.

There is, of course, much applause and cheering when you and your brother make your entrance. You recognize some of the merchants here from your affairs in Degfford, although many of them are unknown to you. The contacts you do have should be enough to provide the necessary introductions, however.

You decide you'll start by introducing Haul to the merchants and gently prod them to explain how they provide goods to parts of the kingdom that wouldn't normally have access to them. The Crown Prince also has issues with the general concept of taxes, but that's not entirely relevant at the moment. You want to start by helping him realize that merchants provide a necessary service.

>Roll 1d12 best of three.

Rolled 11 (1d12)

>>1366858

Rolled 5 (1d12)

>>1366858

Rolled 1 (1d12)

>>1366858

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>>1366858
You deftly drag Prince Haul away from Eleri and Mair so they can have their girl talk and look for one of your acquaintances.

It's like a dam breaks. Amidst the praise and complements, you're introduced to one merchant after another. They only need to remember you as "that Prince whose concubine is Mister Coleran's daughter" to sort out how they know you, but you need to remember their names and their preferred market. You pull it off thanks to copious amounts of practice matching faces and names, but the room is absolutely packed, so it's quite a bit more difficult than the usual one-to-one appointments.

Prince Haul receives an equally flattering greeting, although the merchants keep their distance from him. They obviously can't afford to offend him, but they don't know what he wants, so they don't know how to deal with him. In comparison, your needs - moving goods in or out of Degfford - are much, much simpler to fulfill.

You can tell your brother isn't sure of what he's doing either. You know he's familiar with the various plights of peasants, but this is something else entirely. You keep one eye on him to make sure he's paying attention and take over the flow of the conversation.

Who provides food for border forts that aren't near arable land.

Who supplied affordable alchemical medicines to stop the epidemic last spring.

Who makes weapons for the soldiers.

Who runs inns for weary travellers.

By praising the correct responses, you suss out lengthy explanation of how utterly necessary merchants are to Gwyrddarfordir's continued survival. Sure, several of the merchants in attendance are just greedy bastards, but they have friends who invest in various civic projects, so it's not difficult for them to get introductions and recommendations from their peers in exchange for the implied promise of future payment.

Haul remains mostly silent, though he makes a few signs of acknowledgement every now and then. You politely excuse yourself and pull him away from the crowd. He's practically teetering on his feet, dazed by the sheer onslaught of words that were dumped on the two of you, so you put a hand of his shoulder to steady him.

"I'm afraid that wasn't as restful as I thought it would be, brother." You chuckle and motion for a servant to bring some wine over. "The drinks are quite weak, so feel free to indulge a little."

"Thank you." Prince Haul picks up a glass and gulps it down. "That was very… refreshing."

>"As rulers, we need to be aware of the merchants' problems."
>"Still, I'm glad those merchants were able to help us when we needed them."
>"It puts things into perspective, doesn't it? There's much about Gwyrddarfordir we wouldn't know unless we went out and looked for it."

>>1366984
>>"Still, I'm glad those merchants were able to help us when we needed them."

>>1366984
>>"It puts things into perspective, doesn't it? There's much about Gwyrddarfordir we wouldn't know unless we went out and looked for it."
>Taxes, laws, prayers, strategies, all of them have a reason behind them, sometimes good sometimes bad. But assumptions break the foothold of victory.

>>1366984
>>"It puts things into perspective, doesn't it? There's much about Gwyrddarfordir we wouldn't know unless we went out and looked for it."

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>>1366984
"It puts things into perspective, doesn't it? There's much Gwyrddarfordir we wouldn't know unless we went out and looked for it."

"It does make me wonder if I've been too closed off from the affairs of the kingdom," Prince Haul admits. "Perhaps I should wander the kingdom in disguise to learn more about the people's problems…"

You keep your expression fixed. While that's not the worst idea ever, it's a far cry from what you're hoping to accomplish here.

"That seems like a bit much," you say. "Father needs you and I doubt your wife would like to be separated from you for so long." So long as he doesn't point out you left half your lovers back in Degfford, that argument should hold. "Start small for now. Be a little more conscientious when you read reports. Meet with petitioners you'd normally leave to mother. Expand your view a little bit by bit."

"You truly have grown more mature, Meirion," Prince Haul says. "That is sound advice; I'll put it in practice starting tomorrow."

That's as good a sign as you could have hoped for. You doubt Prince Haul will cast off all his bad habits overnight, but this is an excellent start.

You return to Eleri and Mair, who are now chatting amicably. Eleri's demeanour is demure, but Mair is a little more confident and puffed up. The four of you head towards the dance floor, although you lag behind Prince Haul so the focus stays on him.

"How did things go with Mair?"

"She's nervous," Eleri says, "but I think she'll shape up a bit once she realizes that she's more than the Crown Prince's bedwarmer. I gave her a little encouragement and told her about my own projects in Degfford to let her know it's all right for her to ask for more responsibilities and power."

"Excellent work." You smile and squeeze Eleri's hand. "Now, let's have a bit of fun at last."

Rolled 1, 1, 1 = 3 (3d6)

>>1367136
And now, for the bonus round!

Rolled 5, 3, 4 = 12 (3d8)

>>1367142
That was... something.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1367149
And that's all for today. As always Beleaguered Prince Quest will return on Friday April 21st at 7PM EDT. You can follow me on twitter @BeleagueredQM for updates.

Goodnight and thanks for playing.

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>>1367150
cheers, boss

>>1367150
Thanks, QM!

>>1367142
>1,1,1
QM? Did you forgot to sacrifice a goat today?

Thanks for running!