The highborn ladies of the Court were appalled (and jealous) when the bachelor King broke tradition and married a commoner rather than a woman of noble birth. Soon after the wedding, they nicknamed her "the Peasant Queen" (when talking behind her back, of course), even though the King's bride was no peasant. Amanda was a commoner, but her father was a wealthy craftsman and merchant, and thanks to the best tutoring money could buy, she was just as educated, and as skilled in the art of courtly manners, as any noblewoman. Equally at ease with commoners and nobility alike, Amanda found that the people of the realm fell in love with her for her sincerity, generosity, and lack of pretension or conceit. But Amanda was also clever enough to use her wit, charm, and diplomacy to ingratiate herself with the King's closest advisors, giving her the ability to effectively advocate the interests of the people when the opportunity arose. And in return, the Council relied on Amanda's natural touch with the commoners to ease tensions and avoid unrest during difficult times. So, after the King was struck down on the field of battle without an heir, the people of the realm were relieved that the King's Council proclaimed Amanda to be their choice to succeed her husband. Of course, the council had its own agenda: they believed they could more easily sway the young commoner than any potential highborn claimaint. However, the King's cousins, both ladies of the Court, were less than pleased with the decision. They encouraged other disgruntled nobles and foreign emissaries to use their once secret nickname for Amanda, and refer to her publicly as the Peasant Queen. They believed if the Council was convinced that neither their allies nor their enemies would respect Amanda, they would change their minds about her ascension. But this gambit backfired. Rather than allow herself to be humiliated, Amanda embraced the epithet. She strengthened her connection with the commoners and peasantry, renounced the luxurious trappings of her position, donned a simple self-made canvas dress for all public appearances, and encouraged commoners to openly petition her Court without fear of reprisal. When a rumor spread that the people's beloved Queen was going to be deposed, hundreds of commoners and peasants took up whatever arms they could muster and surrounded the palace, chanting "All Hail the Peasant Queen!" The Council, fearing unrest and rebellion, convinced Amanda of their loyalty to her as their rightful sovereign. Her power consolidated, the Queen rode out to meet her people, and assuaged their fears. The reign of Her Royal Majesty Amanda I, the Peasant Queen and Defender of the People, was long, prosperous, and just. Daz Studio > Iray > Photoshop