Liwayway
Princess of the Tagápulo Empire
Princess Liwayway is the eldest daughter of Emperor Matatag of the Tagápulo Empire, and one of the contenders for the throne should her father pass away. She is considered the most elegant and civilized of Matatag's children, and many think she is the most intelligent member of the family. The main criticism levied against her is manipulativeness, a trait which some think is unbecoming. Her supporters consider this to be evidence of her diplomatic skills, and count it as an asset in her favor. They think that she will restore integrity and decorum to the throne, as opposed to her father's raucous and indulgent reign.
Her most significant supporter is Pinuno ng Pananalapi, the Grand Bursar of the Empire. He is responsible for managing the imperial finances, and has long pursued a romantic relationship with the princess. She has managed to forestall his amorous intentions, while still holding his loyalty and support in her campaign to become Empress. In private circles, he has often expressed admiration of her skills at evading him - he seems to think it is a grand game that they are playing, and he delights in her ability to outmaneuver him.
Her main adversary is her elder brother, the Crown Prince Haribon. He is the official heir, but he is not popular or beloved. However, many support him as the most legitimate claimant - he was declared the heir at his birth, and their father has never expressed any changes to that arrangement. Liwayway is careful to never directly oppose Haribon in public, but she is skilled at highlighting his failures and excesses in a subtle fashion, and has spent the last decade undermining his position with the nobility of the Empire.
The most significant challenge she faces is not knowing where the Grand General Malaking stands. Many who study politics consider him to be the true ruler of the empire, quietly pulling the strings of the court and Emperor to achieve his own policies. He has always kept his own preferences for the succession secret, but may prefer a more easily manipulated monarch than Liwayway. However, he is currently occupied by the empire's war with the Kingdom of Lahat, which keeps him out of the capital much of the time. There are some speculation that Liwayway somehow instigated the war to distract Malaking. While there is no evidence of such a claim, those who support this theory claim the lack of evidence is evidence of her skill at manipulating the political environment. Opinions among them are split as to whether this makes her the best or worst candidate to rule.
Either way, many believe that she is the most likely candidate to actually take the throne when Matatag dies. Exactly how she will displace Haribon is unknown, but few doubt that she has the support and skills to move him out of her way.
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
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