-- Lore Dump --

Even though she has not had a moment to change out of her sleeping gown, the morning duties have started for the lady of these chambers. Two of her maids brief her on the parties and political machinations that took place last night, while the third readies a bath. She is a princess aspirant, a distant matrilineal cousin of the newly coronated empress and, therefore, a candidate to become heir to the Empire of Sinead.

After a coronation, all matrilineal kin of sound mind and body can declare themselves as aspiring for the title. Contentious successions produce elaborate pageantry as many royals, lords, and distant cousins descend on the palace in the capital. This aspirant is from a distant, provincial branch of the family - she must quickly get up to speed if she hopes to make allies and win the favour of the empress and her imperial advisors. It is rare for distant and untitled relations to be designated heir, but not impossible. If this aspirant proves clever and charming, she could claim the throne

Meanwhile, last night's lover lingers in the princess' chambers, perhaps hoping to ingratiate themselves to the potential future empress, or maybe just hoping to overhear something of value.