The question of Charles’ worthiness is an interesting thing. It really comes down to leadership styles. Some rulers put the happiness of their subjects above their stability and sometimes safety. If Charles were like that, he wouldn’t have killed Francis. A perfect example of a leader like that is Richard; for him, as long as the people are happy, even if it’s a false sense of happiness, he views it as a job well done. The bonus is that people will love him, this isn’t a bad leadership style persay, but its not the best.
Atheris is the complete inverse; she puts security and stability above all else. It doesn’t matter if her people aren’t happy as long as they’re safe, and she will cross any lines to see that happen. As seen when she tells us to kill Richard and to poison the commoners. With the former, she sees it as protecting her younger brother/sister, and by extension, the realm. With the latter, she is doing the same thing by showing that Richard isn’t trustworthy. Again, this isn’t a bad leadership style, especially when you’re at war or under the threat of invasion.
Now I believe that an MC who gets chosen has to manage to strike a balance between these two styles. What I am saying is I don’t think Charles was unworthy, I don’t think the sword is a villain, it might be cursed, I am willing to give you that. But I believe it makes the best choice with what it’s given, depending on what state the kingdom is in at the time. Keep in mind, we only have second-hand information on Charles’ brothers, and from what we gather, the kingdom was generally peaceful under his leadership, outside of the rebellion that his brothers started. Terrible father, but he might have been the best choice for the kingdom at the time.
This, this is definitely something for the author to answer, but if nobody is worthy, then I believe the sword works with what it has. It just picks the best of a bad bunch; if it doesn’t, then the kingdom is going to be plunged into civil war. We already know the citizen will gladly ignore the sword’s rulings if it picks a ruler they don’t like, if it picks no one at all, they’re probably gonna go full French revolution on the royal family.
And what happens if nobody is “Worthy” by the Swords unknowable methods and parameters of determining such a thing? Does a council take over, is there a backup plan or does the entire country fall apart all because the Nobles rely on a magic sword to determine leaders so called worthiness? (Legit curious lol not bashing the IF at all.)
I think the sword is just a bad way to choose an heir. Historically rulers made it very clear who their heir was so their keys to power knew who would be in charge but also so it would be more obvious if people where congregating around a different claimant that they aimed for civil war. The sword means nobody knows who’s going to rule until the old king is dead which leads to instability as different people might know they would have more power if a different claimant was on the throne.
I don’t think there is a famine. I think it’s just that winters are hard on any person in medieval times and they are very happy to get more, if it means they can survive to the next harvest.
I would agree if not for the fact that Richard is sending them freshly picked fruit from the palace gardens, which to me looks like it is harvest season.
She was poisoning it herself for the love of the game
Besides, if she used a proxy then it largely would point towards her, which servants would even do such task to begin with? it doesn’t seem Atheris had many allies to begin with
Given the fact that the last time people picked sides between members of the royal family was during the civil war, if I were a servant and Atheris asked me to poison the food, then I’m afraid I’ve suddenly gone blind and deaf because I am not getting in the middle of that crossfire
They can persuaded with money, future favours or a threat to them or their family if they don’t agree
And they don’t have to do this work themselves either. Tell Aetheris’s mentor to find someone who will persuade servant so both will too far in link to be caught
