At first glance, Danae appears to be little more than a quiet, demure girl with a thirst for learning that no library can seem to quench. Never one to show a temper or draw attention to herself in other demeaning ways; she appears to be the ideal debutante of the Athenian court and daughter of the House of Stravos. Unassuming. Agreeable. Virtuous. A picture perfect example of how the child the richest man in the kingdom, and the niece of a king, should behave.



This is the image that Danae of Stravos presents to the world because this is who she thinks that they need to see. Otherwise, how else would she make the other side of her, the true side of her, utterly unbelievable? After all, you'd have to be insane to believe that this depiction of Danae is hiding a girl with ambitions to put her own bloodline on the throne and is concerning herself with the business of economics, traditionally a man's concern, in order to get herself there?



Though truth be told, Danae does a little bit more than just merely concern herself with it, though. Instead, she's knee-deep in the thick of it, running her own little financial empire in the city. She's spent years learning how to do so from her father, who showed her everything she needed to know in all the business meetings he lets her attend. Now she specializes in gambling by using court gossip to her advantage, charging high interests on small loans, investing in smaller businesses that only locals seem to notice, and charging for her family's favor, which is her personal favorite. All of this is done by proxy of course and no one, but her immediate family knows how successful she is.



Even then, they don't really know how influential this seemingly innocent little girl is becoming.



However, just beneath the surface, there is another side to Danae that she refuses to let anyone see, even herself. Beneath the power and prestige, she's truly just an insecure girl. She's aware of what's happening around her and how it can affect her. Danae has noticed that her sister, who is known for her beauty as well as their father's wealth, is nearly 10 years her senior and yet, is unmarried with no betrothal in sight. What does that mean for her younger sister with political ambitions that depend on her eventually getting a good match? And the gods only knew how many of her father's business partners would suggest that she had no place in their meetings? What if they were right?



Every day she worries that someone will discover what she's doing and expose that she's breaking the social order by doing something typically reserved for men. She could be disgraced and all her dreams of making her family, her father, proud of her would go up in smoke. Danae cannot let that happen. She'll do anything to protect her secret business and who knows, maybe one day her connections could get her just a step closer to her ultimate goal; the crown of Athenia.