The Menticia dynasty is only on its second generation although they have been very close to the previous dynasty for a lot longer than that.
The current dynast, Yulian, is almost 82 and just a strong breeze from keeling over. He has been sick for a long time and ignorant of the fact for much longer. His sons and daughters have made all the preparations for his departure and his wife, Perinna, is keeping his spirits high till the day he dies as well as trying to get his word to the people, although this is a big task seeing as half of what he says is utter nonsense and the other half has to be pieced together little by little.
Perinna has a strong moral code keeping her from taking control, but she has decided that when her husband is to die, their firstborn, Valardo, is to take his place as king and she will retire and be nothing but royal grandmother to a lot of small princes and princesses.