Hammernacht

The security of your kingdom's trade, not to mention the approval of an elector, are top priorities. You make your way to the old man to get an explanation.

"Ah king," he bellows, fat belling rumbling, "I'm glad that you've come to see me. I meant to speak with you specifically." "What brings you here, your grace?" You ask. "Well, it's a bit of a private matter, I can't discuss it here. Would you be so kind as to follow me?" He gets up before you can respond and starts walking away.

Annoyed, you follow him. With your knowledge of the castle, you realize he's taking you to the spacious quarters reserved for important guests, not exactly shocking. Once inside, you notice a young girl about your age in the corner. She is around average height, her brown hair tied into a bun Geldfurt style, in an extravagantly ornate dress. Her face is very cute and girly, looking like a storybook princess. Her big green eyes are rather sad, which makes her seem even cuter for some reason. Her already large eyes widen when she sees you, but she quickly averts her gaze and pretends to have been looking out the window the whole time. Having finished ogling her, you come to the conclusion that this must be his wife Alexa. The match was a bit controversial at the time given the age difference, and a pang of pity shoots through your heart that this pretty young girl must be stuck in a marriage with a trumped-up old merchant.

"Now, your majesty, I suppose you must be wondering why I have brought you here. A fair question. Alexa, dear!" he calls out, motioning for her to come over. "I married this sweet girl to finalize a deal with her father. I have been a bachelor all my life, and as Burgermeister of Geldfurt is an elected role, siring a dynasty has never felt important to me. Thus, I lived a bachelor's life until recently." The normally proud magistrate's head falls, and words begin to fail him. "I realized on the day of our wedding, as I looked into the sad eyes that have become her everyday wear, what I've done to the life of this poor girl. I have selfishly locked her into life with a fat old miser. Throughout my life I have been branded with many unflattering terms. Tight-fisted, miserly, grasping, uncompromising... you get the idea. Despite these labels from my bitter rivals and bitterer partners, I have never, however, been called cruel or beastly. That is, nonetheless, how I feel now." He stops here a moment, giving you a chance to ponder where the hell he is going with this.

"That is why I would like to ask you a favor, on behalf of both me and Alexa. I want you to bed her." You open your mouth in shock at his words, prompting him to hold up and hand to stop and protest. "Please hear me out. Alexa has never had a chance to enjoy her youth. Her elder sister married a handsome young noble, whereas I crushed her romantic, girlish dreams. It has been weighing heavily on my soul." He pauses, and you glance at Alexa, who has been silent this whole time. She is bright red from embarrassment and has locked her eyes to the floor. "She is the kindest, sweetest girl I have ever met. She deserves the best. She deserves a king."