Royace Ingred of Prokovea

You decide what you want is Quality over Quantity, and so select Royace Ingred of Prokovea. Sure, you could have had three heroines instead of "one-and-a-quarter", (so to speak,) but the advantages of each pale in comparison to the combination of disadvantages they bring...

Royace Ingred's only real disadvantage is she is already married and cannot be bargained away to seal an alliance: but why would you ever do that? She brings you money, instead of taking it, and can serve as a marriage broker for other women of court, so her one disadvantage is largely negated. Sure her hire price is triple normal, so be it, with the increase to your income you'll be able to afford to hire MORE heroines after a little bit, and build your forces with an eye toward defense and eventual conquest. The Barbarian Hordes of Malagor will surely come again, and you will see to it they fail, then are decapitated by Junonia's Riposte...

Now you must pick one of four lesser heroines which Royace Ingred of Prokovea brings with her, each is either significantly weaker than a normal heroine, or has some major disadvantages.

Jharl Cheryl of Groliav:

Jharl Cheryl is one of the weakest of your secondary heroine options, mentally and physically, but her advantage is much the same as her mistress, a lack of drawbacks. She brings in money, can be negotiated away in an alliance match, (with her guardians' aproval...) and alienates no one. However, as was said she is physically and mentally weak: because she is a dwarven girl of only 25 years, the equivalent of a 5 year old child.

Aelan Vicolania Gussari:

This Elven woman severely damages your reputation among other elves and humans, but is the most competent of your four choices. She could fill the important "Bodyguard" role as a heroine. While she is not suitable for a "court magician" role heroine she does know a bit of magic. She may be negotiated away in an alliance match, but most wouldn't be interested as she is plane and rough-spoken. Her other major drawback is a high upkeep cost. (Though not so much that she negates the income gain from the Royace.)

Dame Shinxis Kusari:

This human woman hurts your reputation with most everyone in the areas of purity and loyalt, because she is a known user of necromancy. Her abilities are not very advanced, but she does allow you access to several interesting enchanting options for your troops hear and comes with a unit of Skeletons at no extra cost. She is suitable for the "court magician" heroine role. She may be negotiated away in an alliance match; if anyone is willing to have her. (Most wouldn't be willing to marry a Necromancer.) All that said, unlike the other secondary heroines, she has an upkeep cost high enough to mostly eliminate your gains from the Royace...

Sister Heidi Serpent-Helm:

This dwarven Woman is your only option of the four for the role of "Confessor". She restricts your options in terms of accepted behavior, but has divination ability and primitive psychological analysis training. However, she is unsuitable for adventures, and may not be negotiated away in an alliance match.