Note: this post contains character spoilers for Royal Affairs. For a less in-depth introduction to Estell Trevelyan, check out their introduction post.

Buy Royal Affairs: Steam | Apple Store | Google Play Store | Browser | Amazon

At the beginning of the outline process, I knew I wanted a rebellious, firebrand sort of character who could serve as a foil to the PC. I was keen to distinguish this character from Max from Crème de la Crème, who is rebellious but not an activist in the same way, so I gave them a cause that they’re passionate about. Initially, that cause was purely anti-monarchy. They are mostly estranged from their mother, who lives abroad, but she is very pro-monarchy, and it was she who named them Estell. I suspect Trevelyan will change their first name in the future.

But as I continued planning, I realised I wanted the PC to be able to materially help Trevelyan with their cause if they wanted. They wouldn’t really be able to do that if it was solely anti-monarchy other than stepping down, and that wouldn’t make a difference to the system. I also wanted the PC to be able to stamp out Trevelyan’s goals if they wanted: as monarchy is so entrenched, it wouldn’t be very satisfying as it would be so easy.

So I thought about parliaments, as I’d established that there was a Prime Minister in Crème de la Crème, and how Westerlind aristocracy holds all the power and all the strings, and I thought about how early democratic societies worked, and how a lot of them work now to uphold an unjust status quo… So I settled on suffrage as an issue for Trevelyan to be passionate about.

(I greatly enjoyed that I had feedback that some players felt the game pushed them too hard to be anti-suffrage and there was no reason to speak in favour of the vote; others felt the game pushed them too hard to be pro-suffrage and there was no reason to speak against it.)

From there, some of the political plotlines fell into place, and I was able to maneuver the Zaledoan politics in to muddy the waters as well. Although the Queen is conflicted about whether she wants the PC to be directly involved with political matters or to remain sheltered, ultimately the PC will end up hearing about these current events. Some of that comes from adults like Clemence or Fabien; some of it comes through Trevelyan.

Trevelyan was always someone whom I wanted to take action that might go against the PC’s wishes, or inspire others to do so. A PC may staunchly support them, be wary, or outright despise them, and Trevelyan – and the plot – will respond to that. For me Trevelyan is someone with their own agenda and demands – perhaps the most of any of the major befriendable and romanceable characters.

At the same time, they’re very young and under a lot of pressure, both self-imposed and from the media. They’ve ended up becoming a public figure very quickly and although that’s very exciting, and they see that as a boon for their cause, it’s a lot to put on someone still in school. I like to think under some circumstances, Trevelyan will come to understand the PC as a fellow person living as a symbol, and they’ll have a shared perspective. But unlike other characters, Trevelyan is more inclined to entirely reject the PC and everything they stand for.