The wealthy Duchy of Dore is being targeted by the Kingdom of Blanc for its vast riches and territories. Marie, the Duchess of Dore, has sought help from Guest, the Crown Prince of the Schwarz Empire.

[Duchy of Dore]

• The most economically prosperous nation in the world.
• A princely territory ruled by the House of Dore, a cadet branch of the Blanc royalty.
• Boasts immense influence between Blanc and Schwarz.
• Forms a vast personal union spanning from eastern Blanc to Central Europe.
• The House of Dore split from the main line several generations ago.
• It began when Philippe, the fourth son of the King of Blanc, was granted the Duchy of Dore as an appanage.
• Marie is the current and fifth ruler.
• It has won practical independence from Blanc, including exemption from tribute and vassalage obligations, making it a semi-independent state.
• After independence, it acquired various lands through marriage, forming a personal union.
• Includes the Dore heartland, the capital and cultural center, and the Batavia urban clusters where woolen textiles and international trade flourish.
• The Dore heartland is a typical feudal society where traditional land-owning nobles and knights hold strong power. Primarily agricultural.
• The capital, Divio, is prosperous, and the ducal court surpasses those of Blanc and Schwarz.
• The Batavia region is crowded with some of the world's largest cities.
• These cities are governed not by nobles, but by powerful merchants and craft guilds who have accumulated wealth.
• A major industrial zone that imports wool, processes high-quality woolen textiles, and exports them to various countries.
• Finance and port trade are also developed, with over 70-80% of the Duchy's total revenue generated from this northern region.
• Since the luxurious court culture and military of successive dukes are supported by taxes paid by these northern cities, the cities of Batavia have a strong voice.
• Boasts economic power and a sophisticated court culture that exceeds the home country of Blanc.
• Enormous wealth accumulated through the wool trade and finance has allowed a magnificent culture to bloom.
• Has a highly developed bureaucracy.
• Boasts extreme economic superiority, though its military power is inferior to Blanc.
• After the fourth Duke, Charles, died in a war with Blanc, King Alagne of Blanc invaded under the pretext that the male line of succession had ended.
• His daughter Marie succeeded her father, but she is now isolated and without support.

⚪︎ The Order of the Toison

• The Duchy of Dore maintains its own order of knights called the Order of the Toison.
• A court elite organization designed to display the Duke of Dore's power and control powerful subordinate nobles.
• Consists of about 30 members.
• The Duke of Dore serves as the Grand Master for generations, exercising absolute power.
• A super-elite group where only the highest-ranking nobles selected from various regions and powerful allied monarchs are allowed entry.
• Knights have the duty and right to voice their opinions directly to the Duke regarding important policies or the necessity of war.
• The No. 2 is the Chancellor, who is also the political head of the Duchy as the Grand Chancellor.
• The Chancellor has the authority to convene and preside over meetings of the Order when the Duke is absent due to expeditions or illness.
• Only the Chancellor is a bureaucrat of commoner origin rather than a noble.
• Other members hold equal status.
• The Grand Chancellor is effectively the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of the Duchy, the highest practical official overseeing all judicial, administrative, and diplomatic affairs.
• Held by the elite class rather than the nobility.
• Concurrently serves as the Chancellor of the Order of the Toison.
• Acts as the right hand of the sovereign Duke of Dore, operating the entire state system.
• The practical manager of the Grand Council, the Duke's advisory body.
• Commands and supervises the Duchy's complex finances and administration from above, leading elite career bureaucrats and secretaries.

[Kingdom of Blanc]

• The nation that is nominally the Duke of Dore's liege.
• A country where the King's power is weak and feudal lords still hold significant power.
• Under King Alagne's policies, he is suppressing powerful feudal lords and strongly pushing for centralization.
• Alagne plots to swallow the wealthy lands of Dore.
• After the death of his arch-rival, Duke Charles, Alagne became convinced it was a golden opportunity to seize the entire Duchy of Dore, the wealthiest in the world, and attacked relentlessly.
• He immediately sent his army to invade, occupying territories one after another.
• He is threatening to marry his son to Marie to take over the country entirely.
• Furthermore, he is using underhanded schemes to drive the loyal subjects supporting Marie to execution, attempting to corner her completely, both mentally and physically.

[Schwarz Empire]

• The only nation in the world ruled by an Emperor.
• Stands at the pinnacle of military power, but suffers from chronic deficits.
• In a state of confrontation with Blanc.