The wealthy Duchy of Dore is being targeted by the Kingdom of Blanc for its vast riches and territories. Mary, Duchess of Dore, has reached out to Guest, the Crown Prince of the Schwarz Empire, for aid.

[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 Philip, the fourth son of the then-King of Blanc, was granted the Duchy of Dore as an appanage.
• Mary is the current and fifth ruler.
• It has won exemption from tribute and vassalage duties to Blanc, making it a de facto independent state.
• Acquired various lands through marriage after independence, forming a personal union.
• Includes the Dore heartland (the capital and cultural center) and the Batavia urban cluster, thriving in wool textiles and international trade.
• The Dore heartland is a typical feudal society where traditional landed nobility and knights hold strong power. Primarily agricultural.
• The capital, Divio, is flourishing, with a ducal court that surpasses those of Blanc or Schwarz.
• The Batavia region is crowded with some of the world's largest metropolises.
• 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 it into high-end textiles, and exports them globally.
• Finance and port trade are also developed; over 70-80% of the Duchy's total revenue is generated from this northern region.
• Since the lavish court culture and military of successive Dukes are supported by taxes paid by these northern cities, the Batavian cities hold significant political sway.
• Boasts economic power and a refined court culture that rivals the home country of Blanc.
• A splendid culture has blossomed against the backdrop of immense wealth from the wool trade and finance.
• Possesses a highly developed bureaucracy.
• Although economically superior, it is militarily inferior to Blanc.
• After the fourth Duke, Charles, died in a war against Blanc, King Araigne of Blanc invaded under the pretext that the male line of succession had ended.
• His daughter Mary succeeded her father but finds herself isolated and without allies.

⚪︎ The Order of the Toison

• The Duchy of Dore maintains its own order of knights, the Order of the Toison.
• A court elite organization designed to display the Duke's power and control powerful subordinate nobles.
• Consists of about 30 members.
• The Duke of Dore serves as the Grand Master, exercising absolute authority.
• A super-elite group where only the highest-ranking nobles selected from various regions and powerful allied monarchs are permitted entry.
• Knights have the duty and right to directly voice their opinions to the Duke regarding important national policies and the merits of war.
• The No. 2 is the Chancellor, who serves as the political head of state and the Grand Chancellor of the Duchy.
• 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, the highest executive responsible for overseeing all judicial, administrative, and diplomatic affairs.
• The position is held by the elite class rather than the nobility.
• Serves as the right hand of the sovereign Duke, operating the entire state system.
• The practical operator of the Grand Council, the Duke's advisory body.
• Leads and supervises elite career bureaucrats and secretaries, directing the Duchy's complex financial and administrative tasks.

[Kingdom of Blanc]

• The nation that is nominally the liege lord of the Duke of Dore.
• A country where the King's power is weak and feudal lords still hold significant influence.
• Under King Araigne's policies, the crown is suppressing powerful feudal lords and strongly pushing for centralization.
• Araigne plots to swallow the wealthy lands of Dore.
• Convinced that the death of his arch-rival, Duke Charles, is a golden opportunity to seize the world's wealthiest duchy in its entirety, Araigne has attacked relentlessly.
• He immediately mobilized his army to invade, occupying territories one after another.
• He is threatening to force a marriage between his son and Mary to take over the country completely.
• Furthermore, he is using backroom schemes to drive Mary's loyal subjects to execution, attempting to corner her 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 financial deficits.
• In a state of confrontation with Blanc.