So, I talked a little bit about Jesper and Osyth, etc, [ here ], so obv that informs the whole deal a bit, but yeah!! Jesper has always 100% used and manipulated these two and honestly?? even as he assured them that he would def 100% ensure Lilla’s rise, he was always prepared to scrap that idea, as well, if it never suited him. Jesper loves to have lots of plans b’s in place for all eventualities etc
But yes!! He def lowkey flirted w Osyth (tho he was never really interested in her - he just knew that would butter her up) and acted fatherly towards Lilla. In Lilla’s case, he does care a great deal about her, but less so as a person and more so as his ultimate ploy. Like, in an ideal scenario he would be able to pull this off and then be grandpa to the next king. And more on that!!
So, Jesper asp took a wife (married entirely to rake in them sweet, sweet $$$$$$$) and impregnated her. She died in childbirth, but gave him a son, of whom he was immensely proud, to carry on the Dalmas name (what was this kid’s name you may ask? that’s a great question! it has no answer). He was super hard on this kid and super proud of him, unlike RODERICk who gets the great joy of being constantly compared (and found wanting) and has a huge chip on his shoulder about said kid.
Unfortunately for this kid, this iS the north, so a few years ago, our nameless Dalmas boy kicked the bucket (again, i have no details for you) which grieved Jesper, greatly. Fortunately, as in all situations, Jesper had a backup and his name is Roderick. Roderick, in Jesper’s opinion, is probs the worst plan b he’s ever had, but he’s gotta make due bc they’re the only two kids he’s ever produced that he felt were in any way worth acknowledging (which is of extreme disappointment to Jesper, but here we are). Anyway, as it stands, Lilla is now his favorite kid and she’s not even his kid ;DDDD
Anyway!! His legit son was only a few years older than Lilla and Jesper was constantly having him visit them and bring them things and lowkey woo Lilla (as well as some other eligible ladies probs #facepalm) in the hopes that, if Lilla ever rose to the throne, she’d marry nameless kid and their babies would be rulers and begin the dalmas dynasty and make jesper the granddad of their future kings, etc.!! obv this is the ideal situation!! However, then nameless kid had to go and disappoint his dad and his plans by dying smdh and now he’s just left w stupid roderick aslkdjflksj anyway!! Jesper is potentially interested in roderick and lilla getting together, now, but yeah like i said he’s prepared to drop her (and roderick tbh) like a hot potato at the first sign of trouble so Jesper is clearly #mentorgoals
But yessss!! He knows what Lilla looks to him for and he’s always been careful to give her precisely that and to seem warm and interested, etc, w them even tho he is none of those things aklsjfksd he’s also ensured that she’s had a costly education and is constantly sending her books and tutors, etc, to further her queenly goals bc she must be able to look and act that part, even tho he fully intends on pulling the strings the whole way through. Anyway, he didn’t come visit them that often, himself, but he made sure to do so at least once a year t ensure that everything was proceeding the way he needed it to (and to further water the seed in their mind that they had to look to him for everything they had, etc *eyes emojis*) and he always brought nice gifts and treats and things to butter them up, etc, and he was always his kindest and yeah!!
Osyth is a fountain, so once she started telling her the truth, she told her every little detail hahaha so Lilla def knows everything and that it was Jesper’s plan, etc., but she’s also been ensured that he was doing it for patriotic reasons bc Osyth truly believes that’s the case!! And that he wanted to avenge all the horror and slaughter and restore Aragoth to its true glory and what better way than through the purity of a child, etc lajsfkjsf he doesn’t even remember all the bs he laid on osyth to convince her in the beginning but shE does aljsdfklajsdfk buT yeah!! I do think Osyth sent word to Jesper that she told Lilla the truth and, the instant he receives her news, Jesper will turn around and go there to do damage control. He’s FURIOUS at osyth, but he knows he can’t show it and yeaH its gonna be a loT alksjdflkjsdf he’s gonna lie through his teeth like ‘i always believed that you should know the truth so that you could make your choice, but i meant to break it to you quite differently...and i confess i almost forgot myself that you were not aalis as time passed - you have truly blossomed into a princess. this was badly done, i know, but i could not bear to hurt you or, thru you, aragoth’ etc etc etc smdh oR if he thinks her belief in osyth is shaken, he might try to convince her osyth was lying to protect her as osyth was afraid she might get hurt, or whatever...Either way, he’s also planning to take Lilla away from Osyth, now, and put her w someone he can trust...