vizier chat

2025-03-16 // 500 words
<chessmaster12> Okay, this is maybe more of an interpersonal question
<chessmaster12> But this chat is full of clever people, and I'd really love any advice anyone's got
<spare_throne> Not sure I'll be much help, but go for it.
<_cantarella> whats up chess?
<keikaku> give us the drama :3
<chessmaster12> So, I've been trying to set the princess up with suitors
<chessmaster12> Young noblemen who I've already got leverage on, or who are otherwise going to be easy to manipulate
<_cantarella> *nods* playing the long game
<chessmaster12> Exactly
<chessmaster12> I'm doing my best to pick ones who I expect the king to approve of, and who I think should be to the princess's tastes
<chessmaster12> But none of them have been working out at all
<spare_throne> Does the princess already have someone else in mind, maybe?
<chessmaster12> She almost certainly doesn't
<chessmaster12> I've had my people keeping careful track of her social engagements
<chessmaster12> And in any case, I do know what the actual issue is
<spare_throne> Ah, sorry. I'll let you finish.
<chessmaster12> My daughter's been close with the princess since they were both little
<chessmaster12> She's worked her way into the princess's confidence better than I'd ever be able to
<chessmaster12> A while ago, I tried to find out if the princess was sharing anything interesting with her, but she just gave me this look
<chessmaster12> But anyway, I finally realized that my daughter's been sabotaging all of the princess's suitors
<keikaku> :O
<chessmaster12> She's been doing a really impressive job, actually
<chessmaster12> She keeps her strategy varied, and she's covering her tracks quite well for a girl her age
<chessmaster12> The duke's son's "accidental" fall down the stairs was a bit too risky of a maneuver
<chessmaster12> And I'm not thrilled about her breaking into my poison cabinet, even if she only took one of my milder ones to set up the marquis's attack of indigestion
<_cantarella> yeah you _really_ gotta keep those secured
<_cantarella> remind me to send you lock recs later
<chessmaster12> Thanks, I appreciate it
<chessmaster12> I mean, as frustrated as I am, sabotaging the princess's marriage prospects really is impressively vindictive of her
<chessmaster12> I honestly wouldn't have expected it at all
<chessmaster12> She always seemed like she genuinely cared about the princess, but now I'm wondering if she was playing a long game herself, all this time
<chessmaster12> Or maybe it's just an adolescent thing?
<chessmaster12> I really wish her mother were still around at times like this
<chessmaster12> Anyway, I'm proud that she's finally taking after her old man a little, and I want to be supportive, but also she's ruining my schemes
<chessmaster12> Anyone have any suggestions for how to bring it up with her?
<keikaku> ok, who's gonna tell him ;)
<spare_throne> Keikaku, please don't start this again.
<_cantarella> throne normally id be with you here but i think kei might be right this time
<chessmaster12> What?
/fiction
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