Janine

The Queen of Yhilin. She is the target of a failed coup by the Kingsmen faction. Steadfast and pragmatic, she allies with Simon in order to keep her kingdom stable, and eventually becomes a member of Simon's harem.

Story
The leader of the Kingdom of Yhilin, AKA the Widow Queen. She seems to be a divisive figure among Yhilini, hated by some and beloved by others. As she reveals to Simon, she was married into the royal family as a political alliance. When her husband died of apparently natural causes, that alliance was broken and Yhilin spiraled into the chaos and corruption seen today.

Janine is a competent ruler, if somewhat overwhelmed by circumstances. She is very calm and level-headed, so it's no surprise that she immediately hits it off with Simon. After the party saves her during the plot, she is a major participant in the Doomed King plan and provides support in a variety of ways, particularly in the political arena.

From a psychological point of view, her conversation with Riala and Sarai shows very neatly her very level-headed mind. The conversation about her deceased husband, on the other hand, beautifully describer her infinite loneliness.

During the stay of Aka's group in Ari-Yhilina, she shows both the steel fist and the velvet glove.

Her opponents portray her as an irresolute and an ineffectual ruler; a misconception Janine exploits during the early stages of the Doomed King's invasion. When factions launch a second coup attempt in the chaos, however, she demonstrates her stalwartness by organizing an alacritous response.

After capitulating to the forces of the rechristened Doom King, Janine remains a polarizing figure within Yhilin, with some viewing her as a martyr, others as a whore. After working with Simon for months, from forming the Doomed King plan to implementing it to reform Yhilin from within, they finally acknowledge their growing feelings for each other and become betrothed. Ever selfless in the service of her people, her engagement only earns Janine a few minutes respite from the duties of state.

A future member of the harem, her definitive incorporation will be a slow burn. It's a safe bet that one of the Leaders spots will be hers.

Relationship points
Maximum affection is 100, at which you can have a conversation with the harem girl that will lock her affection there. Note that it's possible to maximize Janine's affection prior to her joining the harem, but she doesn't at that point have a conversation which locks her affection.

Janine wants to open up to Simon, but doesn't want to be pressed, so you should ask her about her husband but then wait to talk about it until she brings it up herself. Otherwise, investments in her country make her happy.

Base value: 50
 * being especially thorough in the investigation prior to talking to Trin in the Outskirts.
 * funding Yhilin anti-corruption campaign, funding Rebel's Pass bridge repair (pre-reunion).
 * funding Yhilin beautification. (Chapter 1 or post-reunion).
 * if you have not talked about her husband by the start of Chapter 2.
 * talking about her husband (in Chapter 1 or 2, but Chapter 2 is recommended).
 * Up to from efforts to help the underclass during Aka's plot branch.
 * conversation on 2F of Janine's retreat.
 * funding Rebel's Pass bridge repair (post-reunion).
 * funding further Yhilin beautification IF you funded it in Chapter 1 (post-reunion).
 * Unmissable from chapter 3 start.
 * if after the Battle of Yhilin Janine says: "victory was crushing", OR "decent victory", OR  "we struggled".
 * if after the Battle of Yhilin Janine says about the chaos: "remarkably contained", OR "ugly, but the situation isn't unworkable.", OR  Merchant Quarter shutdown and "ugly, but the situation isn't unworkable.", OR  Merchant Quarter shutdown and "It will take time for every layer of society to recover.", OR  Merchant Quarter shutdown and "It will take a great deal of time for every layer of society to recover.".
 * if after the Battle of Yhilin Janine says about collateral damage: "I hesitate to say I rejoice", OR "though many were spared", OR  "all these bodies weigh on my conscience", OR  "I fear many civilians were killed", OR  "I shudder to think of all the lives".
 * if feelings about overall results of Battle of Yhilin are "Honestly, relieved."
 * if you have the conversation in throne room about her legacy.
 * if you have the conversation in palace main room about religion.
 * if you have the conversation in palace tunnels about societal change.

Maximum legit value: 100 ( leeway).

Affection titles
(not revealed)

Scenes
(none yet)