Princess of Hu

The Princess of Hu (given name Katya) is the first child of King Seb of Hu and the Late Queen. She is 21 years old in the year FD 5. Although she is the King's oldest child her brother the Crown Prince is the presumed heir due to male-preference succession.

Like her mother, the Princess is tall and slender. She has long blonde hair and very pale skin.

Personality and allegiances

The princess and her brother the crown prince agreed that the kingdom should not pay the ransom demanded by Eft for the release of their father the king. They are also united against the Queen as they do not want a younger sibling with whom they must share their patrimony.

The alliance between the crown prince and princess only extends so far however as both are ultimately vying for control of the kingdom.

The princess is three years older than her brother and more mature. Whereas the crown prince is self-important and over eager for power and victory, the princess's ambitions are more subdued. Ultimately, the princess is fond of her brother and there are moral lines she is reluctant to cross in her pursuit of power.

Katya's major character flaws are a tendency to become impatient with those of lower station and to dismiss subjects which do not interest her. Occasionally the princess feigns to be less knowledgeable or serious for strategic reasons.

In FD 5, when the crown prince and princess were both plotting to gain power over the kingdom, the princess had the idea of enlisting Granny Eumaea and through her the other old women who are often "invisible" witnesses to events at court as her allies and "eyes everywhere."

History and Public Image

In the year FD 1 when the princess turned sixteen, King Seb minted coins depicting the princess on the obverse as a female personification of the kingdom. The princess is the subject of many works of art and iconography: often she is depicted petting a tamed tiger or even riding on the back of a tiger.

There is a mystique surrounding the princess and her "cold" beauty which exists among the common people of Hu and even as far off as the kingdom of Long where several royal princes seek her hand in marriage (the political motives for this likely outweigh the admiration of her beauty and character).

Personal Development

The Princess feels slighted by her brother excluding her from government. However, her belief that the kingdom would be better off with her as a ruler is not unjustified. Her brother is immature, impetuous, indecisive, and easily swayed by his ministers and advisors (this is somewhat understandable given his age).

Meanwhile the princess is more mature and observant and has began taking steps to educate and better herself in preparation for a possible future opportunity to rule.