The Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica was vast and populous, with a rich variety of landscapes and climates. It was a country of many peoples and races, with a long history stretching back at least four hundred years.
Recently, however, all the "known" members of the royal family had died, leaving the royal bloodline extinct. This had caused some degree of turmoil in the kingdom, and martial law remained in effect. The Sage Council had temporarily taken over the government, but most of the kingdom's regions were still gradually recovering economically and remained relatively peaceful and stable.
By now, the people of the kingdom had begun to grow accustomed to life without a king or royal family. To them, it seemed little different from before: the nobles and upper classes still monopolized vast resources and exploited them in every way, and the absence of a king had done nothing to improve their lot. If anything, it had made the powerful even more brazen.
So the common people of the kingdom had paid little attention to the recent royal selection.
They had heard that some candidates had delivered speeches at the throne conference about "equality for all" or "smashing privilege," but... they didn't need to think hard to know that the Sage Council, knights, and nobles who currently held power would never allow a new king who openly intended to oppose the privileged classes and vested interests to take the throne.
In the minds of the kingdom's commoners, Lugnica's new king would surely be chosen from among the three women who represented the interests of the old nobility, the new aristocracy, and the wealthy merchants: "Bloodstained Bride" Priscilla Barielle, Crusch Karsten, and Anastasia Hoshin, head of the Great Shang merchant company.
After all, only the old nobles, new nobles, and great merchants