ID: 217

Outcome: Narrow Victory

Open After Story: Yes

Manual Prompt: Yes

Text:

After casting down the previous Sultan, you came to Sadani with a proposal.



You proposed that you could place the child in her womb upon the throne as the next Sultan.She had a child of pure blood, whose very existence would be the foundation of the new regime. And you would serve as Regent, ruling in the child's name until they came of age.



Sadani lowered her beautiful eyes, considering carefully. Then she raised them, studying you.



"But what if others do not believe?" she asked. "The timing of the Sultan's visits and the conception may not align... If we are exposed, you and I will both die."



You conceded she spoke true, but you also pointed out that this was the only path left to you both. You needed a claim to rule, and she needed to bear this child. The realm needed a Sultan. The Golden Throne had to have a master to sit on.



She bit her lip and agreed.



In the days that followed, you scoured the court for noblewomen willing to bear false witness to the timing of Sadanis conception. The royal physicians were men, and Sadani could refuse their examination by claiming modesty before strangers. But still, you had to find witnesses. A noblewoman of high birth, one who had borne children herself, had to pretend to have examined Sadani and publicly swear that "the timing was beyond doubt."



Yet, to your dismay, you failed to sway most of the traditionalist nobles to your cause. They still saw you as a usurper and regarded Sardarni with suspicion. If you chose your own followers as witnesses, the nobles would cry fraud. And if you sought those with no ties to you... none would perjure themselves for your sake.



The farce of testimony was held regardless. Sadani, flanked by her handmaidens, took her seat upon the Golden Throne. With all the dignity and solemnity she could muster, she declared that the child in her womb was the Sultan's trueborn heir. And thus, she claimed the right to swear fealty in its name.



The courtiers laughed. They saw through the ruse but welcomed it, for they believed you and Sadani would be pliable rulers, and the unborn Sultan a chain to bind you both to the court.



This moment marked the beginning of your reign... and the shape of every single day to come...



Every. Single. Day.

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