[WIP] Of Royal Birth and Forlorn Fate [Hiatus~]

[TheZod]

@SpokesWriter

@TheZod

Of Royal Birth & Forlorn Fate

You’re a genius.

@SpokesWriter

Thank you! Great feedback. It does seem like these options aren’t really set up to help the MC thrive. By design, perhaps? Or just an unlucky coincidence? We’ll see, I promise–but if it’s a slog to get there, I’m perfectly happy to tweak what’s there so far.

Once @idonotlikeusernames pointed it out, I realised that this is likely the outcome that the Queen wished to achieve: push the MC to a forgotten corner somewhere with minimal presence in the limelight.

I do think the way she’s going about it is incredibly shortsighted and if the goal she has in mind is to keep the MC as far away from the Capital and the throne as possible then there are more constructive ways to do so.

Like I said in a previous post - being of Royal blood is a most invaluable tool as a Diplomat and by its very nature, the MC would spend a lot of the time away from the court.

Working as Spymaster would also keep the MC busy with a lot of internal affairs which are often not related to the royal family. Does it pertain the crown? Yes, but it wouldn’t leave room to nag the family and it’s a trade that, by its own nature, would require the MC to stay out of the limelight.

These avenues simply make more sense. Unless if the Queen is absolutely adamant that the MC is to hold no meaningful amount of power whatsoever. Alas if that’s the case and having the MC pick up a trade is the only option then sending the MC off to another country in order to do so makes far more sense than keeping the MC around in the capital. Surely there are famous artisans and craftsmen overseas that would take a Royal (especially alongside a hefty sum of money) as an apprentice.

Not to mention that once news breaks out that the third child of the Monarchy is doing menial jobs in a run-of-the-mill workshop the absolute mockery that would ensue is likely to be vicious. No one would take the noble family seriously whatsoever. Not their vassals nor any neighbouring nations. It would be a disaster politically.

@SpokesWriter

This is great feedback. “MC gets a boring job” should be boring for the MC, not for the reader.

I’ve no doubt you’ll manage to make things entertaining and I, for one, enjoy the idea of the MC getting into a job so boring that it compels them to work hard and become a more diligent person. Perhaps it’s through this that the MC goes back to their family and request a more hands-on approach, even being the one to suggest a different avenue to serve the Kingdom? Convincing them somehow that it would be a sound idea?

That would show gumption on the MC’s part, let us basically “stick it up” to the MC’s parents in every way save for outright saying it and show the MC won’t take things lightly/sitting down and is capable to orchestrate things in their favour.

[Mei_Hiroshi]

I don’t know if someone asked this question: is there a chance that our MC will get the throne and rule the kingdom?

P.S. Florian is so annoying!

[geldar]

Wait… Am I just completely off-base thinking that my parent’s explanation that they just want me to be a functional member of society is not a lie?

Perhaps the entirety of my confusion is a result of the fact that I am autistic and terrible at detecting lies…

@SpokesWriter

“MC gets a boring job” should be boring for the MC

I didn’t realize it was supposed to be boring for the MC, either… My MC kinda just would prefer to be a blacksmith rather than lounge around in a castle doing absolutely nothing.

[idonotlikeusernames]

Some other possibilities that have been used historically, being made duke, ruler, satrap governor or whatever of a recently conquered or restive territory, which will keep the mc both busy and if the goal is to discredit them if the situation there does blow up the mc will be to blame.
Two more old Chinese ones, being made some sort of traveling magistrate “inspector general” is probably the closest modern equivalent which means the mc would have exciting job of stamping out bureaucratic troubles all over the realm and/or auditing any bureaucrat the government deems suspicious…except at court or being made the commander of a border fort on the silk road frontier, important for trade, certainly, also very, very far away from the capital and all the juicy action.

The more common ones, clergy, diplomat/spy or scholar have also been suggested already.

Personally, assuming the church is both powerful and not too anti-gay my mc might prefer the clergy or the bureaucracy or even becoming a scholar at the university if those are options too in the setting.

What my mc would absolutely not want to do is live and especially dress like a commoner unless it is the absolute last resort but that would have to come from being both disinherited and banished in that case.

@TheZod

then sending the MC off to another country in order to do so makes far more sense than keeping the MC around in the capital

Yep, that is essentially disinheriting and banishing them.

@TheZod

It would be a disaster politically.

Yep, unless mc is very explicitly disinherited and banished…but then they’d still have to ply their new trade in another country anyway.

@Zadit

If the queen did want to punish the MC what about sending him to be a page and learn under a rival lord or one who is cruel and opposing the royal family, he could face disrespect and still involve himself with politics whilst still learning and being somewhat useful to his family even if held hostage.

Being made into the a diplomat/ambassador at the court of a country that is either an overlord to the mc’s or the local hegemon would be more likely, as the mc is still a prince, not a country noble. But, yeah, that is essentially surrendering them to be a hostage of a foreign emperor or king, at their court. Would still allow plenty of opportunities for politics, intrigue and romance and would still allow the mc to live somewhat like what is expected for their station.
It would require the foreign power to be a nominal overlord of the mc’s realm or at the very least the local Hegemon and therefore, at least on paper, far more large and powerful than the realm the mc’s parents govern.

Alternatively if the mc’s realm is the local big bad hegemon they could be made its ambassador at the court of one of the vassal states and if the family really wants to humiliate the mc a bit it could even be one of the least important of the vassal states.

@TheZod

If the Monarch knowingly and willingly send the MC to a rival or hostile lord

Well, not openly hostile, but it could be the other power is the overlord of the mc’s kingdom, either nominally or more tangibly, like the Chinese empire used to be for its neighbours for most of its history, even if its power to actually go and enforce its will on them tended to fluctuate a bit.

@Zadit

Blacksmiths in realistic medieval society weren’t much better off than peasants, apart from a few exceptions. Then again this doesn’t have to be accurate.

The average blacksmith, certainly, the master armour or weaponsmith not so much but even they were still commoners if rather valuable ones. Anyway fantasy settings tend to use blacksmith for all things smithing. But, yeah, if it is meant to be a your bog standard village blacksmith who basically lives like a serf that would be even more humiliating and literally royalty dressed in rags.

[Zadit]

Blacksmiths in realistic medieval society weren’t much better off than peasants, apart from a few exceptions. Then again this doesn’t have to be accurate.

[geldar]

The MC is already 18. Childhood is over. I got to adulthood being far, far better off than the average person. I think I can handle not being pampered anymore.

[Zadit]

If the queen did want to punish the MC what about sending him to be a page and learn under a rival lord or one who is cruel and opposing the royal family, he could face disrespect and still involve himself with politics whilst still learning and being somewhat useful to his family even if held hostage.

[TheZod]

@idonotlikeusernames

Some other possibilities that have been used historically, being made duke, ruler, satrap governor or whatever of a recently conquered or restive territory, which will keep the mc both busy and if the goal is to discredit them if the situation there does blow up the mc will be to blame.
Two more old Chinese ones, being made some sort of traveling magistrate “inspector general” is probably the closest modern equivalent which means the mc would have exciting job of stamping out bureaucratic troubles all over the realm and/or auditing any bureaucrat the government deems suspicious

Those are all excellent suggestions.

I had thought that maybe being turned into a Justiciar would be cool, considering you’d technically have the highest level of authority to bring down the law as a Royal. However, we don’t know how that works in this universe.

A Steward or “Inspector General” as you put it is also another excellent way to deal with it, especially if the MC is required to have a rather hands-on approach and physically travel to the lands he’s supposed to audit. Have us apprentice under a well-known Seneschal to learn how to manage an estate or if the Queen really wanted to do us dirty, send us off to the Merchant’s Guild where our status is almost entirely meaningless.

@Zadit

If the queen did want to punish the MC what about sending him to be a page and learn under a rival lord or one who is cruel and opposing the royal family, he could face disrespect and still involve himself with politics whilst still learning and being somewhat useful to his family even if held hostage.

I see where you’re coming from but that makes little to no sense. If the Monarch knowingly and willingly send the MC to a rival or hostile lord then it’s more likely he immediately will use the MC as a hostage or a bargaining chip to acquire more power.

The Crown would have no choice but to either comply with the demands or declare the lord a traitor and go to war to rescue the MC. Both cases are a disaster and would cause irreparable damage to the crown politically.

A better way to do this would be to turn us into an attaché to the realm’s Diplomat or send us to a foreign court to learn how to navigate politically scheming the hard way.

@idonotlikeusernames

Being made into the a diplomat ambassador of a frequently hostile country would be more likely, as the mc is still a prince, not a country noble. But, yeah, that is essentially surrendering them to be a hostage of a foreign emperor or king, at their court. Would still allow plenty of opportunities for politics, intrigue and romance and would still allow the mc to live somewhat like what is expected for their station.

Completely agree. Another great suggestion. At this point we should team up and write a politically-focused story. We’d give Game of Thrones a run for its money.

@idonotlikeusernames

Well, not openly hostile, but it could be the other power is the overlord of the mc’s kingdom, either nominally or more tangibly, like the Chinese empire used to be for its neighbours for most of its history, even if its power to actually go and enforce its will on them tended to fluctuate a bit.

Are you talking about using the MC as a deterrent in an appeasement policy? That could certainly work. I just feel like that would invite too much dissent and sway the pendulum too far into the nobility’s side. All it would take is for said Lord to contact two other Dukes with promises to share power and just like that you have treason and a rebellion.

The Monarchy would not abide by that.

@Kion-kun

Several things off the top of my head:

@idonotlikeusernames

[geldar]

I legitimately want to know precisely where anyone got the idea that the queen wants to punish the MC. I want to know whether I missed it, misinterpreted it, just had a different interpretation, or it was behind a choice I didn’t make.

[Kion-kun]

Just finished the demo. It’s very short, but I’m intrigued by the story.

Several things off the top of my head:

1. I find it highly unusual that the King and Queen would offer their third heir a commoner’s job- blacksmithing and apothecary- for an apprenticeship. There are much suitable work befitting a prince/princess, such as a stewardship to help out with the Kingdom’s taxes and income. Apprenticing for the Marshal to learn warfare and combat. It would also boost the troops moral to have someone like a Prince/Princess helping out. And perhaps become a junior spy for the Spymaster to hone the MC’s political prowess and backstabbing skills (In any event that I suddenly want a ruthless genocide run just cause). Unless if there are reasons for this that I have yet to encounter…

2. Florian is a bitch.

3. Our parents are bitches.

4. The Queen was told to be smart by Crispin, but if her goal is to push away the MC by giving them menial jobs, mistreating them (giving away their room to their uncle, having favorites, neglect, forcing them into a role they do not want), then she’s not being very cash money about it.

5. I read Fantasy in the description… Does that mean there’s magic? I mean, I guess a curse would be supernatural in nature. But that’s saying little about the world.

6. It’s too early for me to judge the story as a whole. I’m into it though. ( ꈍᴗꈍ)

@TheZod

[jay-walker]

This made me realize my impression that Crispin was just reassuring MC for Queen-mother’s benefit was 100% on point Sadly, he’s the only friendly face so far.

I enjoy your writing style, the dialogue was very snappy. I definitely agree that a royal being forced into an artisan job is a little unusual but I assumed it would be expanded upon in the following chapters It flew past my radar but it’s true that the quickest way to get some mileage out of those noble brats was marriage (and the fun thing about heirs and arranged marriage is: equality!) and positions they couldn’t screw up unless they tried really hard.

Speaking of, I would like to. I would like to try. Scandalize the entire kingdom with affairs and parties, if MC is already considered a waster might as well earn it in style

[geldar]

Well, from what I’ve gathered from what others, including the author, have said, the story’s hook unfortunately just isn’t going to grab me, because I’m supposed to be playing an MC that doesn’t want to do what their parents have told them to do. Unless maybe there’s an option added to go “Hah, my parents think they’re punishing me, but really they just gave me exactly what I wanted.”

[TheGhost]

@Kion-kun

The Queen was told to be smart by Crispin, but if her goal is to push away the MC by giving them menial jobs, mistreating them (giving away their room to their uncle, having favorites, neglect, forcing them into a role they do not want), then she’s not being very cash money about it.

Yeah, you’re running a high risk of creating the type of resentment that leads to a violent coup.

[charger]

i like this so far! many of my thoughts have been already said here so far so i won’t repeat them, so i’ll just add that i like the way the parents were written haha the whole ‘i love you (but not as much as i do your brother!)’ hit very close to home lol.

@geldar

Seems too old for that.

people throw tantrums all the time regardless of age though…? and an 18 year old really isn’t an example of maturity and emotional control

[Sakura_Higanbana28]

@geldar

18 year old to throw a tantrum

Wait they’re a teen? I thought they’re only 14 or something maybe have an argument then but i would still throw a tantrum just for the heck of it.

[Sakura_Higanbana28]

I just realized that MC goes from wonder child to a unfavoured unwanted waste basically the opposite of KAE MC.

[geldar]

The MC mentions their own age in the game, it says they’re eighteen.

[thedarkkiller]

No the game said that the mc had no “apparent” talent that could probably mean that the parent gave the mc like 1 or 2 lesson then said that he had no talent for it (aka learning slower than the twins) or juste that the mc had no motivation
seeing as mc parents didn’t give mc the time of day

[Valixon]

Something that amuses me right now about the whole tantrum conversation is that the MCs older brother by five years who is the heir to the throne essentially does that after pushing us aside to get into the room with our parents. Then proceeds to throw one when he doesn’t get his way immediately :: Snickers ::

[geldar]

Huh, apparently he does. You don’t get that text with every choice, but I found that code-diving…