Aegis sat cross-legged on her bed, surrounded by notebooks, loose papers, and a half-eaten sandwich she'd forgotten about an hour ago.
Maps of Rosevale covered her sheets. Notes in her cramped handwriting filled every available surface. Her brain felt like it was running at full capacity, processing years of game knowledge and trying to translate it into actionable plans.
[Alright. Let's break this down like a proper speedrunner.]
She grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and started writing.
GOAL: Marry Talia (requires royal approval)
↓
OBSTACLE: Duchess Evangeline's opposition
↓
ROOT CAUSE: House Starcaller is "unworthy"
She tapped her pen against her lips, thinking.
[Okay. So what makes a house "worthy" in Duchess Evangeline's eyes?]
She wrote again.
DEFINITION OF WORTHY:
- Wealth (100K+ gold minimum—gotta have coin)
- Reputation (Great House backing—people gotta respect me)
- Power (military + magical strength—can't be bullied)
