#kani deeplore kani deeplore kani deeplore

[atypicalacademic]

Prince Erik Pentaghast, grand-nephew to King Markus of Nevarra, was nominated as successor to the throne in 9:28, Dragon. Despite the aging King's affections, the nomination came to the surprise (and in some cases, dismay) of both Erik and the Pentaghast clan, as Erik had never really been a monarchist.

He almost rejected the nomination, and would have, if it weren't for his the plea of his well-wishers regarding both his popularity in the country, as well as the chaos that would destabilize a succession that was already mired in it.

During her time at the Nevarran Court, Lady Aurelia Cousland, despite not being of royalty, was proposed as a match to him. Not only would a strengthened alliance with Ferelden protect them so Orlais wouldn't take advantage of the instability that would ensue after Markus' death, but a strong, personable, illustrious Queen Consort would go a long way in mitigating said instability and strengthen Erik's throne and Nevarra itself.

Aurelia herself wasn't at all opposed to such a strong political marraige, despite her initial misgivings about their differences in culture. Erik worried that she'd be put off by the near twenty year age gap between them, but she assured that she was not. But Highever fell before their match could be solidified into a betrothal, and the events of the Fifth Blight took them in different directions.

I imagine him to be a good King, even if it drew the ire of his family that he was committed to the controversial project of decentralizing power away from the nobility. Like I said, the man wasn't ever really a monarchist.

I also imagine, had they married, him and Aurelia would've been an aggressively and openly poly royal power couple. He's by no means a possessive man, nor does he have any interest in using her heart as leverage. It'd have been...fun, to say the least, especially considering the Nevarran Court had been far more glamorous and appreciative of her service than that of Ferelden's, and she's never one to turn down an opportunity to shine.

(Despite their history, Erik kept regular correspondence with his distant cousin Cassandra Pentaghast during her time at the Inqusition. He never liked her uncle, either.)