"When I reviewed the Galtan Constitution, what struck me was the lack of social distinctions. Every person a citizen. Simple, obvious, and wrong. We must acknowledge the special status of wizards and those touched by the gods, even if they do not serve the state. Most importantly, I worry that few in this convention have had to balance the books for anything larger than a household, and do not understand how this country is set up and organized beyond their personal experience, and few even deeply understand that. Abolishing slavery without compensation has already ruined many a landholder; if serfdom is abolished without a compensating tax levied on all freemen, it will ruin almost all of the nobility." More than a few would raise their banners in that case, and she cannot predict whether the Queen would veto that provision, or simply win the resulting civil war on her own, or let Cheliax turn into a Western River Kingdoms. She'd rather not find out.

"On the other side, I am suspicious of replacing nobility bonded to their realms with transient administrators. One need only witness the depravity of the Lord Protector of Molthune to see what a man might do when it is not his son and grandson who will have to pick up the pieces. Neither of us think we should reinstate the Infernal Privileges, but I would rather we settle on something more like the Cheliax of your time"--or Taldor--"than Andoran."

Well, noble and religious privileges are compatible with Alexeara's interest in limiting the Queen. Serfdom...probably less so. Iomedae wanted a country of freeholders and only partly because she'd noticed the nobles were the main force pulling against the centralized state. But maybe pulling against the centralized state is more important to Alexeara - she should talk to him about that, actually -

"The Cheliax of my time destroyed itself. But I would not see us chart Andoran's course, certainly. Alexeara's mind on many of these matters I do not know. I do not think he is by temperament a radical in any respect."

"Beyond that is mostly matters for the government and the people, not the Constitution. One of the things we've realized at the convention is how much better we have it in Fraga than the rest of Cheliax, and Felip has turned his thoughts to who we could part with for the royal administration." Including the Duke. "I understand the Convention should not be appointing people directly, but perhaps we should try to place as many of those appointments in the hands of local nobility or the dukes, rather than have as many royal appointments as the Thrunes did."

She starts on a second honey dumpling; they're quite good, actually.

"For the people, our top priorities are re-establishing all the good churches and the institution of the family. If the constitution can help, it should, but I imagine this mostly to be a matter of recruitment, education, support, and leading by example." She smiles again.

"On that note, both of us are happy to help ensure your marriage is a success. Do you know the Duchess de Lestdemarc? I imagine the three of us might have much to discuss, on how to make high marriages go well."

"Not well, and I'd be very grateful for a better introduction. I will confess I have rarely embarked on something this important feeling quite so unprepared. I was ready to marry, but - a long time ago. I am not sure how much of my mother's advice still applies."

"I'll put something together. Have you set a date?" Spring and early summer are best, of course, but there's not much of early summer left, this year.

“We are waiting until the convention is over, so not yet.”

"All the more reason to work quickly, then. Thank you so much for inviting me, lunch was delicious." And the conversation rather informative.