charles catchall

[ravenry]

the way my search only returns your art

Comments

[riverbeans]

[bluntly,]

I don't think I like how your home's court runs.

[ravenry]

[ noooo

that surprises her enough that she almost cracks a smile. ]

If you dislike it now, you'll dislike it even more if you knew the full history of how it works.

[riverbeans]

[he crosses his arms.]

Dare I ask...?

[ravenry]

[ she looks away and debates leaking state secrets that serve no one. she thinks she is about to die, and charles can't do anything about it anyway....

she is too tired to care and be as angry about it as she usually would. ]

My country originally had two kings. It now only has one in name, so war can't erupt between the two.

[riverbeans]

[hm.]

Conflict does tend to spark with multiple people competing for power...

[but.]

I take it that the "in name" part is important here.

[ravenry]

[ she nods to both the things he said. ]

There were centuries of war.

[riverbeans]

... And then something major happened to put an end to that, I assume.

[said with some understanding.]

[ravenry]

[ she sighs. ]

The Summer King is the emperor everyone recognizes. The Winter King is the one no one no longer knows about. Centuries ago, a summer king killed a winter king and threw the country into chaos. No dynasty lasted without both kings until one day a man came to claim the throne with someone else with him.

You see, the Winter King is chosen by a goddess, and that man was led to her by an arrow. He knew he could not rule without her, but he also knew his power would not be stable if he didn't hide her.

[riverbeans]

[...

well, based off what she's said before about being secluded—]

... And so the Winter King became the Raven Consort.

[ravenry]

That is how it is.

[riverbeans]

... Saying that's pretty unfair feels like an understatement.