Prince Marti sipped at his wine as he watched Princess Clara storm out of the ball. Teenagers could be a moody lot. He made his way to the king, who was surrounded by slobbering courtiers trying to gain his favour. His face was red with indignation, or perhaps that was from the slap he'd received. Marti pushed one courtier aside and asked, "Are you all right, Your Majesty?"
"I'm fine, Uncle," King Ferran IV said. "Just a little family dispute."
"You cannot control her," Marti said. "She is young and free-spirited. She will not like the idea of settling down, nor of being shipped off to some far-off land."
"Well what else can I do?" Ferran IV dabbed at his cheek with a moist cloth, generously provided by a servant.
"Have you perhaps considered a marriage that won't take your daughter away from court?" Marti kept his expression passive as he let that idea slip in.
"You mean a local marriage? I have considered it, but I would need to a find a candidate suitable for marrying royalty."
"I still have a son that is of yet unmarried who could be an ideal match for young Clara," Marti said with the barest hint of a smile.
"Your daughter is already married to Prince Pere," Ferran said with a huff. "Now you want my daughter too?"
"We are family, after all. Such a union will only serve to keep us that much closer."
Ferran hummed in thought before he said, "You may have a point about a local marriage though. I shall consider it."
Marti gave a slight bow and left the king, content that the seed had at least been planted. Now he had other things to consider. The newly created Caribbean Trading Company was seeking a monopoly and as chancellor he had a say in the matter. Competition between the major trading companies in the New World could improve trade, but perhaps this could be used as leverage with the TATC. Marti had struck a deal with August de Saint-Pierre before to help grant the TATC a monopoly before. Henri was more of an unknown and he was unsure that he'd be able to work with him. Marti might have to seek out the head of these two trading companies himself and weigh his options.
Marti had already heard that Prince Pere had expressed his support for this new trading company. That wasn't exactly a surprise. Pere was quite close with his mother's lady-in-waiting, Marina Sastre, and as a key figure in this new trading company she could count on his support. Marti suspected their friendship was more than just that, but he had seen no evidence of it. The man was too innocent for such things anyway. He probably didn't even consider the implications of such a monopoly. No, Marti was not like Pere in that regards. He would wait for them to come to him and win his support. These trading companies needed him if they wanted things to go their way.
((As before, I have given both Marti and Pere 3VP each to represent the equivalent of nobles on the council. If it isn't clear enough, Pere has voted
yes to the monopoly, while Marti is undecided as of yet. Members of the TATC or CTC may want to buy his support here.
))