Let's visit Eliza

You decide that Eliza is the best option to pursue at the moment. Besides any charms you might find her to have, she would bring a lot with her into the marriage. Dietrich is right about there being plenty of competition; talk of Eliza's future match is a regular topic of court gossip and has been for some time. You assemble your diplomatic retinue and set off with haste for the southernmost part of Confederation territory.

The ride is somewhat long, taking almost two weeks. If you do marry Eliza your heir's lands would be fairly far-flung. Difficult to manage, but not undoable, nor even all that uncommon for your milieu. You breathe a sigh of relief as you enter the Duchy of Toscana. Warm sun and fresh air revitalize you after weeks in your buggy, which smells thoroughly of sweat and horse by now. Despite your patriotic feelings, you must admit that the area lives up to its reputation. It is a land of rolling hills and fertile valleys. You look out of your carriage to see peasants scurrying around, attending to all manner of crops. Fields of grain, pastures, orchards, and wineries are spread all over the landscape. A tie to these lands through matrimony would be an excellent addition to your child's patrimony.

Eventually you arrive at Eliza's castle. It is more sumptuous and luxurious than your own, which is a functional but none too pretty feat of military engineering. As you pull up, you notice many carriages as extravagant as your own parked by the stables. You have no idea how long these suitors have been here, nor how many will arrive yet. This is going to be a challenge.