Snow X Dwight ~ Three!

The woman playing her lute at the queen’s funeral wove the most entrancing, heart-wrenching music Snow had ever had the misfortune of hearing. Even through her grief, she couldn’t help but shoot glances toward the lutenist. The performer wore a solemn expression, the entirety of her attention on ensuring there wasn’t a dry eye during the parade down from the palace, through the port city, and to the wharves.

Not one shop was open, as every citizen had been given the day off to mourn the loss of the queen. It was an eerie experience for Snow, walking past thousands of people silently stone-faced, staring at the procession. Only the creaking wheels of the caravan, the hooves clattering off cobblestone, and the ever-present music coming from the singular source broke the silence. Somewhat uncomprehendingly, the fourteen-year-old princess watched as the still form of her mother was loaded onto a small, ornate ship. 

Thousands of flowers filled the air, everyone near the water doing their best to coat the ship as it was pushed off and away for the final voyage of their lost monarch.

Many landed on the boat, and a sweet scent filled the air as they flew. Finally, as the wind caught in the small sails, one final flower bloomed, arcing into the air higher than the rest. Only after a long moment did the oddity break through Snow’s stupor, just in time for the flaming arrow to land with Perfect placement on the oil-soaked ship. A wash of fire raced across the entire contraption, consuming the craft down to the water line in mere moments.

Snow barely remembered the ride back up the mountain to the palace, numbly staring at her left arm to read and re-read the class and skill she’d unlocked only months—yet a lifetime—ago. Her rededication to improving her skills and maximizing opportunities had waned greatly as it had become ever-more clear that no cure to the mysterious ailment plaguing her mother would be found in time. Still, the queen had expressed great excitement at her renewed commitment, so Snow had tried as hard as possible, anything to keep her mother smiling one moment longer.

Advanced Class: Influencer

Basic Skill: Influential Aura: Level 3/10.

Influential Aura subtly yet powerfully affects those around you, [Rudimentarily] influencing their thoughts in a positive or negative manner using Influence as a currency. You are able to [Rudimentarily] sway opinions, inspire action, and guide decisions with a variable cost. Influencing people in ways contrary to their desires will cost additional Influence, while moving them in ways aligned with their own goals will give an influence discount of [30%], increasing to a maximum of a 100% discount. Use caution, as leading others toward goals not in their best interests will slowly push you toward darker powers.

Your Influence is gained at a rate of ([3]*total followers/10) per day, with a minimum of 1.

Current number of followers: 14

Influence: 252/825

Requirement to advance to level 4: Collect and maintain a minimum of 825 influence for 24 hours. 0/1.

There were so many aspects of her skill she didn't understand, but Snow's mother had taken many of her waking hours to guide her daughter. So many of the numbers on her arm fluctuated frequently, with the number of followers increasing or fading away with seemingly no rhyme or reason. There had even been a terrifying morning Snow had woken up to see that her total number of followers had dropped to zero, which had instantly removed all of the ‘Influence’ she had been saving.

After careful consideration, they’d decided the loss had occurred because Snow hadn’t gone out and maintained her relationships with those who had begun to listen to her. Holing up in her room and trying to save up for the next level had generated the opposite of her intended effect, leading to a brand-new mantra she and her mother had come up with together.

“It may not be easy, but it is simple.” Snow wiped away a tear as she softly repeated the words her mother had driven deep into her mind over the last few months—bound and determined to put her quiet and less outgoing daughter on the path to success. “Who likes to leave their comfortable areas and seek out the company of others at all times? Pushing myself to do better is not easy… but it is simple.”

At that moment, the carriage jolted to a halt, and she and Rose silently followed their father out, plodding to the doors of the palace. 

The twins nearly ran into the king as he came to a sudden stop, and Snow looked on in confusion as he slowly turned and stared back at the lutenist still softly strumming on her instrument. His tired voice echoed out, the notes fading away as he spoke. “You. Never before have I had such a terrible day, and even so, I was able to recognize your Mastery of your instrument. I don't have much happiness in me right now, and I know I'm not alone. We could all use some music in our lives over the next few days… might I be able to extend an invitation for you to stay a while longer?”

“It would be my honor, my King.” The woman spoke in a soft voice. Even as she bowed low, her fingers never fully stopped, playing chord after chord. “I will happily stay as long as you wish.”

“Good.” As the king turned away, resuming the slow march to resume his duties, Snow blinked in confusion at the small orb clipped onto his belt, which was shimmering with an effervescent light. It was beautiful, yet Snow was almost certain that meant something… bad…

The music increased in volume as the king entered the palace, and Snow glanced back at the stunningly beautiful woman following along, now playing a slightly more jaunty tune. It was still appropriate for the occasion, yet not actively pulling tears from the eyes of those gathered. The princess smiled gratefully at the musician, though the expression passed quickly. “What’s your name?”

“I simply go by Kat, Your Highness,” came the demure answer. “Please don't worry about me; I'll try to remain in the background as you go about your day.”

Snow agreed immediately, bobbing her head in acknowledgment before following through the doors of the palace after her father. The remainder of the day passed in a blur. Before she knew it, the princess was laying in bed, staring at the ceiling without being able to fall into the warm embrace of sleep. Just as she was about to give up on resting through the night, music flowed through her window, swiftly lulling her into slumber.

Upon waking, the young woman was filled with energy, focus, and a reignited drive. She hurried out of her room after dressing for the day, nearly running into her sister. Rose managed to grab her, swinging them around so both would remain on their feet. “Snow! What are you doing?”

“I've got an Epic skill to advance, and sitting in my room all day moping around isn’t going to help me improve.” Snow firmly answered, brushing off her sister's hands and marching down the hallway.

“Advance?” Rose ran after her, sliding into Snow's path and staring her sister down. “What do you mean, ‘moping’? Our mother’s funeral was yesterday, Snow. Taking time to grieve is not only expected, it is necessary. You can't tell me you're ready to just jump back into regular life already… right?”

“It feels…” Snow paused before answering, a small frown quirking her lips downward. Shaking off the strange dichotomy in her mind, she pushed past her sister. “Maybe I just slept well, Rose. Look… I’m not happy right now, but… we all knew this was coming and did our best to make peace with it. I've been in mourning for months. How long should I hide away so you can feel my response is appropriate? I can't imagine our neighboring kingdoms are going to sit back and wait to exploit our resources so we can compose ourselves.”

Leaving her sister behind, Snow went down to the throne room to have a discussion with her father on hiring a tutor. With her mother now gone, she had no one to guide her on increasing her influence. Even if it was a niche skill, the Crown Princess shouldn't have to flail around in the dark hoping to stumble upon an answer. Pushing past the knights standing guard, Snow went still as she watched a bizarre scene play out. 

“Your Highness, all I'm asking for is a small stay for my village on our taxes. I’m not-” 

The king held up his hand, the peasant woman kneeling in front of him biting off her words as she bowed her head. “I fully understand your predicament. The loss of your town's granary to a fire is enough to starve all of you. Adding a tax on top of your losses would be a crushing blow. I'll send you home with…”

“Your Highness,” another voice cut in, a quiet reprimand in her tone. Snow's jaw dropped as the lutenist, Kat, directly interrupted the king as he was issuing a decree. “You are a wise and kind ruler, this is something that’s known throughout your kingdom. If I may, do we have any evidence of this woman's claims? I wouldn't want your gentle nature to be used against you in these trying times.”

“Claims?” The peasant woman’s head jerked up, a thunderous expression on her face as she lifted her small child slightly. Snow's eyes took in slight marring on the youngster’s face, the telltale sign of painful burns sprinkled across his neck. “I lost my husband in the fire, and my son has been burned and needs healing if he's ever going to be able to speak above a whisper. We've lost everything, and what little we have left needs to be put into healing and rebuilding. Otherwise, we’ll surely starve, and our village won’t last the winter.”

“Either no tax this year or no tax ever.” The king nodded solemnly, his eyes flicking over to Snow, who stood silhouetted in the doorway. “Ah, perfect timing. You have been learning the basics of investment theory. Tell me, daughter, how would you handle this situation?”

“It's just as you say, Father.” Snow slowly stepped farther into the room, confused as to why the musician hadn't been harshly reprimanded for her interjection. Such an offense had often led to sleeping in the stocks in the past. The king was just, and he was fair, but he was also not to be trifled with. “If we do not take care of our people when times are hard, we will never be able to thrive due to their efforts when they get back on their feet.”

“Just so.”

“Yet, taxes are not negotiable, are they?” Kat spoke up once more, and Snow's jaw nearly hit the floor as the king turned to look at her, patiently waiting for an answer instead of having her escorted from the room. “If they are, I'm certain everyone from the archduke on down would be rushing here to plead their case to the crown.”

“Hmm.” Snow's father rubbed at his beard. “That is true as well. Yet, a hard-working citizen of my kingdom does not have the same sort of obligations as the nobility. Mercy is always affordable, and you cannot get blood from a stone. If they have nothing to give, pushing them harder would make me a tyrant.”

“If that’s the case, why not solve two issues with one simple act?” Kat volunteered, nervously strumming on her instrument as the knights protecting the king started to become agitated at her frequent interruptions. “I might be able to offer a solution, if it were not… too bold of me.”

“I think we're past that point,” the king wryly stated, breaking some of the tension in the room. His knights calmed down slightly, though their hands remained on the pommel of their swords. “Please, feel free to offer your insight. How do we collect our tax while also helping our citizens?”

“Give them all a better life,” Kat offered easily, nodding at the young child the peasant woman was clutching to her chest. “Without the granary, food for their village will be hard to come by, expensive, or at least extremely laborious to produce. Instead of wasting their money on expensive healing-”

“Wasting?” The mother’s outburst caused Snow to flinch. For some reason, the princess had nearly forgotten the supplicant herself would likely want to weigh in on the situation. “The healers we've already seen tell me he has lung damage. Without medicine and healing, he'll never-”

“Speak above a whisper. Yes, I heard you the first time.” Kat snapped at the interruption, brushing her hand to the side as if shooing away a fly. “Frankly, that sounds like the perfect palace servant. I recommend you let us buy him.”

“Buy him?” The peasant gasped at the thought. “My son is not for sale!”

“Let us buy him?” Snow murmured in confusion. “Who is ‘us’?”

“Ugh, I misspoke. No one’s trying to buy him, I meant raise him. Let the palace buy him a better life, raised to be a servant for the royals themselves.” Kat cocked her head to the side in annoyance. “He will have guaranteed food and shelter. He won't need to suffer through whatever tasks your town would otherwise have him take on. He will receive training and education, landing a career and living a life others are forced to compete for. You no longer need to pay for him, and the king still receives his tax—though in this case, sustaining the lad, not to mention his training, will cost his majesty coin over the long haul.”

The woman's jaw worked silently, clearly wanting to immediately refuse, but her mind forced the words to stay inside as she thought over the offer. She looked down at her son, who looked back at her with pleading eyes, then back to the king. “Your Majesty. If… if this is your will, I’d be honored for my son to live a life I could never give him on my own.”

Things progressed quickly after that point, yet Snow remained unmoving the entire time. The boy was accepted into the service of the king, the town was granted tax clemency for the next few years, and Kat was looked at in a new light…

…especially by the king.