Lol I left the cliffhanger at that because I didn’t have time to finish the choices.
@Ventura Magic can be broken down into different user-types, and those types are determined by one’s soul, so it kinda looks something like this (under cut because it is very long)
Magic
- Immortals (Demigods, Magi, Evokers)
- Enhanced Mortals (Arcanists, Exoricsts, Enchanters, Sorcerors, Wizards)
- Mortals (Spellbinders, Alchemists, Mediums, Diviners)
As to how to determine whether one is a magic-user or not, you can be either born with it, have the soul for it, or be turned into one. Demigods, magi, evokers, enchanters, and exorcists all must be changed. The first three are more of a sacrificial thing, while the last three need to have their abilities ‘unlocked’. Of course, you must have the right soul for it, because your soul is what allows you utilize aether and nether, what makes up magic.
Arcanists are special because they are the only ones who can have their abilities inherited. For magic theory and things like that, it’s almost impossible for a non-magic user, and even for other magic-users to understand magic (except for exorcists and demigods because they come from the same roots). They see and feel the world differently. It would be difficult for say an arcanist to understand the magical theory of an enchanter, and vice-versa.
In the story, there are a few magic-users. There’s a demigod (who is not the child of a god, but rather a person who made a contract with a god to obtain similar powers), and two arcanists (Lothar and one of his colleagues).
@lokidemon007 Dukes are stylized as that, yes, but the title ‘Elector’, in this world, takes precedence over it, thus the style of address changes as well. I adjusted a lot of these styles because it becomes tiresome to always write the same one, and there are some very cool ones used in other monarchies and empires.
@xXOtakuKonekoXx Oh thank you for that! I’ll fix it in the next update, and I’m very flattered that you thought of Black Butler ^^. And yes, I completely forgot about their devotion. It’s a bit morbidly romantic.
About the bad ending
I totally didn’t register the similarities lol. That game was so dark and I’m a bit worried that I enjoyed it so much, and that I liked Strade as much as I did. I think the doll ending with Sano is the only one I haven’t gotten yet since I decided to go in without a guide. Once I’m on winter break I’ll have to get the second game and the marriage one. I’m honesty surprised I enjoyed the game this much though.
@Hazuki I didn’t expect that link to hurt me as much as it did;;
Who’s to say Lothar isn’t both? 
Edmund could be that, or just shameless.
At the moment, I have another scene planned with Constanze before the prologue ends, and I’m currently drawing up another one with Juliana and your younger half-brother. The latter will probably be in the next part though. Burkhard’s issues will be explained in one branch at the moment, and I’m currently trying to find a good way to put it into the others. I’m happy you’ve enjoyed it^^
@cookiemonsta They’re first cousins, but a bit more distant because his father and her mother are half-siblings. IIRC they’re relatedness is like the fourth degree.
@Anathema Lothar has a lot of issues. Maybe he wants to burn the system down? Maybe he genuinely did fall in love with her at first sight (stranger things have happened irl)? Maybe he wants an unimportant wife so he can use her in a ritual to gain more power? Maybe he’s just lonely?
Lol unwanted suitors are a bit of a problem for him, but not bad enough to warrant getting a wife just for that. He might be perfect to everyone else, but there are a lot of people who fear him because he’s a count palatine and would not want their daughters wedded to him, despite his influence and wealth.
The next update will probably be up this weekend. I plan to finish Edmund’s meeting and the rest of the ball, which means I’ll have about one more scene left before the prologue is done. I imagine the final word count for the prologue to be about 15 000 to 19 000 words.