King Ferdinand's Will
In the Gold and Silver Eras, humans and Harlequin Gremlins had a close and interesting relationship with each other. It was common for Earth kings of those eras to adopt Harlequin Gremlins to serve as royal jesters in their courts. Given how common succession crises were, it was no surprise that one clever king found a most effective, if controversial, solution.
Historical Details
History
In the distant past, human kingdoms often faced succession crises. It was not uncommon for heirs to the throne to perish before they could inherit the throne. At the same time, many of these kingdoms had friendly relations with Harlequin Gremlins, going so far as to adopt them into their royal courts as jesters.
One of these royal jesters was The Great Strombolio's distant ancestor, August Lunacitia. He served on the court of a lesser-known ruler known as King Ferdinand II.
When King Ferdinand came into old age, he was faced with a problem; his one remaining son was weak and sickly, and it seemed as though the dynasty would soon collapse. But remembering how his royal jester had outlasted any of his other advisors, he hatched a plan.
When King Ferdinand died, his estate passed into August's hands. The king's heir would still rule the kingdom, but his property was securely in the care of a semi-immortal being who could last for generations without sickening or dying. This ensured his kingdom was secure long-term, even if his son didn't make it.
Public Reaction
The public at large did not care much about this decree; it did not change much about the peasants' lives. However, the royal court definitely disapproved. They did not like the idea of the court jester technically being their ruler, even if it was just to manage the estate.
Perhaps this is what caused the court to support the eventual revolution that put an end to Ferdinand's bloodline. It is known that August escaped, moving back to Grimberg. There he ran into The Circus of Shadows, which he began traveling with.
Legacy
While controversial, this decree set a standard for how rulers all over Europe would secure their estates. Putting it in the hands of a magical being with a lifespan eclipsing that of a human turned out to be a reliable strategy, at least until revolution happened.
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