Bradshaw & Isabella Achilles

Bradshaw and Isabella, characters from the The Royal Heir series, are the King and Queen of Auvernal, a country neighboring Cordonia. Although they are first mentioned in The Royal Heir, Book 1, Chapter 2, they make their first appearance in Chapter 4.

Appearances
Bradshaw has brown eyes, short brown hair, and tan skin. He wears a royal blue suit with white dress shirt, dark blue jacquard woven ascot, and darker blue handkerchief with white polka-dots.

Isabella has brown eyes, dark brown hair which she wears pinned up in a high bun, and tan skin. She wears a lavender off-the-shoulder scallop-neckline dress with a silver floral pattern and darker lavender woven center. She wears silver dangling earrings with pearl and floral accents.

Personalities
Bradshaw appears direct and to the point. As his wife says, he is a blunt instrument that would rather strong-arm everyone they meet than use a delicate approach. It is due to his military campaigns that their country is known for their military might. He has the tendency to be "all hammer" more often than not. His main interests include himself, golf, and military tanks. He knows he is never kind, but believes that he is honest.

Isabella says she cannot stand indecisiveness. She believes it means the person is afraid to be honest or the person knows nothing. She also hates to be predictable. Olivia says that behind Isabella's display of pride, it is a display of force to show you what her allies will enjoy and what her enemies will face. The Auvernese are a warlike people like Lythikos. Isabella also has a penchant for lavishing in attention.

Book 1

 * Chapter 2: Last Night in Paradise (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 3: Your Kingdom Awaits (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 4: Courting Crowns
 * Chapter 9: Ladies' Night (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 13: Spreading the Word (Determinant)
 * Chapter 16: Great Expectations
 * Chapter 18: The Last Apple Ball
 * Chapter 19: Truth and Lies

Book 2

 * Chapter 1: Labor of Love
 * Chapter 2: First Days
 * Chapter 5: Her Royal Highness
 * Chapter 6: To Catch a Traitor
 * Chapter 7: Thanks (But No Thanks)
 * Chapter 8: Exit Strategy
 * Chapter 9: Quiet Before the Storm
 * Chapter 10: Last Day in Lythikos (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 12: The Show Must Go On (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 13: How Do You Like Them Apples?
 * Chapter 14: Battle Lines
 * Chapter 15: All is Fair
 * Chapter 16: In Love and War
 * Chapter 17: A Spurned Ally
 * Chapter 18: The Beginning of the End
 * Chapter 19: To Betroth, or Not To Betroth
 * Chapter 20: Freeze This Moment (Mentioned)

Book 3

 * Chapter 3: Forever Hold Your Peace (Mentioned, determinant)
 * Chapter 15: The Enemy of My Enemy
 * Chapter 16: Devil in the Details

Book 1

 * Chapter 2: Last Night in Paradise (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 3: Your Kingdom Awaits (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 4: Courting Crowns
 * Chapter 8: Ride Like the Wind (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 9: Ladies' Night
 * Chapter 10: The Beaumont Bachelor Bash (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 13: Spreading the Word (Determinant)
 * Chapter 16: Great Expectations
 * Chapter 18: The Last Apple Ball
 * Chapter 19: Truth and Lies

Book 2

 * Chapter 1: Labor of Love
 * Chapter 2: First Days
 * Chapter 5: Her Royal Highness
 * Chapter 6: To Catch a Traitor
 * Chapter 7: Thanks (But No Thanks)
 * Chapter 8: Exit Strategy
 * Chapter 9: Quiet Before the Storm
 * Chapter 10: Last Day in Lythikos (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 12: The Show Must Go On (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 13: How Do You Like Them Apples?
 * Chapter 14: Battle Lines
 * Chapter 15: All is Fair
 * Chapter 16: In Love and War
 * Chapter 17: A Spurned Ally
 * Chapter 18: The Beginning of the End
 * Chapter 19: To Betroth, or Not To Betroth
 * Chapter 20: Freeze This Moment (Mentioned)

Book 3

 * Chapter 3: Forever Hold Your Peace (Mentioned, Determinant)
 * Chapter 15: The Enemy of My Enemy
 * Chapter 16: Devil in the Details

With Each Other
Bradshaw and Isabella married each other for political reasons. It was no secret that it was also to Isabella's financial advantage. They have been married for a long time. Isabella met Bradshaw when he came to court as a teenager. According to her, he was a brute that only wanted the glory of war. He wanted to be a war hero, and not even a general. That was the reason she did not marry him until a decade later. Eventually his ambitions grew to match hers. It took a while for Isabella to conceive, as she never wanted children for herself but felt it was her royal obligation to produce heirs. She admits that power often requires sacrifices of those who would claim it.

Bradshaw has been stationed in combat zones in half a dozen countries, but has never seen combat first-hand. He ordered troops around and strategized but never fought, even though he is a decorated officer.

In Book 2, Chapter 15, during an argument, Isabella says that Bradshaw's jets are the closest things he has to friends at the ball. In Chapter 16, you, Hana, and Olivia discover their marriage is not a happy one. They are at the passive aggressive "talking via notes to the servants" stage, where Isabella dislikes Bradshaw smoking cigars and he dislikes her drinking wine all the time. When it's revealed that their twin children are actually the result of Bradshaw's affair with an unnamed woman, you have the choice to confront them privately. They then start arguing, with Isabella saying that she liked this arrangement since it prevented her from having to get closer to him.

Your Character
In Chapter 4, you meet King Bradshaw and Queen Isabella for the first time during the ball you throw when they visits your duchy. You can impress him, depending on your choices. He will like you if you cut right to the chase and tell him that showing up uninvited shows a lack of manners. He will say that it was a test to see how you react. While he appreciates bluntness, she does not and finds you rude if you say they lack manners. Depending on your choices, she will be either impressed or you will be snubbed by her. They had twins recently, a boy and a girl. They suggest an alliance between Auvernal and Cordonia once you have an heir.

In Chapter 8, you receive a letter from Queen Isabella, inviting you to fly to Auvernal the very same day. In Chapter 9, because her letter states "just us girls", Hana volunteers to come along and you have the premium option of having King Liam invite Olivia as well. When you arrive in Auvernal, Isabella tells you that she hopes she can show you that there is more to their country than her husband's blustering. She brings you to a boutique, almost daring you to prove Cordonia's wealth by premium purchasing the designer gown. Later, she puts you on the spot to speak in front of the Auvernese elite military Honor Guard, where you can choose to appeal to their strength or decide not to win them over. Afterwards, she invites you to their traditional steam rooms, to gauge your strength, fortitude, and composure under duress. If you cannot take the heat, you catch a hint of a smug smile on her face. Her attitude changes though if you voice your uncertainty about parenthood, and she seems sincere about relating to the doubts, fears, and second thoughts you may be facing.

In Book 2, Chapter 15, if you decide to dance the Auvernese tango with your spouse, you both upstage Isabella and Bradshaw, making Isabella infuriated as she likes to display her skills in front of crowds. Later, you, Hana, and Olivia try to find information about the twins hidden in Bradshaw's private offices. You three overhear Isabella and Bradshaw arguing, Isabella admonishing Bradshaw for not listening to her particularly when it comes to you. While Isabella is suspicious of you, Bradshaw is not.

In Chapter 19, if you decide to improvise a pre-signing ceremony to stall the official signing, you can have Bradshaw and Isabella praise you, Cordonia, or King "Liam". If you choose yourself, Bradshaw says that you're kind, charming, have stunning fashion sense and look great to Isabella's ire. If you have them compliment King "Liam", Isabella says that he is wise, strong, and a consummate gentleman. When you find out that Isabella is not the biological mother and that the children are therefore not royal and not eligible as heirs, you have the choice between either exposing the information publicly to take them down or confronting them privately in order to have leverage. It is stated that this choice has long-term effects.

In Book 3, you discover that even if you kept their secrets, their country is in turmoil. Some of their citizens believe they are hiding a secret, especially after the failed betrothal to Cordonia. Even the press ask them to address the allegations that the birthday party they are throwing their twins is a public relations stunt to get back into the good graces of the nobility. When they catch you and your friends in the palace, you can threaten them that you will expose the secret of their twins, or that Barthelemy Beaumont will be worse for Auvernal and their military will not be able to protect them. Either option will force them to step aside and allow you to take Godfrey back with you.

Hana Lee
Although they don't appear to talk much during the ball at your duchy, Isabella is surprised to see Hana accompany you to Auvernal. Isabella tells her that she has heard of Hana's penchant for horseriding, her dissolved engagement (to Peter, the Englishman), and her failed courtship. It is your choice to add to Hana's accomplishments or insult Isabella's manners.

Olivia Nevrakis
If you decide to bring Olivia with you to Auvernal, Isabella tells you that they know of Olivia and the powerhouse of Cordonia, as might recognizes might. Olivia retorts that she does not know of Auvernal's might. Olivia gives you insight to Isabella's thinking. If there is one thing she knows, it is the art of extracting information from peers under the guise of friendship.

In Chapter 13's premium scene, should you choose to play as Olivia, she finds out the couple is far from happy by just appearances, finds another country rejected a marriage proposal/alliance from Bradshaw, and finds "Operation Swan" in their plans. In Book 2, Chapter 16, you find a dossier about the Nevrakis coup in Bradshaw's office titled "Operation Snowspear". It shows that Auvernal was aware of the coup.

European Guy
In The Royal Heir, Book 2 Chapter 8, Leo recounts a run-in with them in Athens that made him realize that "Liam" would make a better king than him. Before Leo abdicated the throne, they were on a trip to Athens for a diplomatic summit, where they ran into Bradshaw and Isabella. Like Leo, Bradshaw and Isabella wanted to sip ouzo and champagne and party. "Liam" did not want to shirk his responsibilities, so Bradshaw mocked him and insulted him to the point that Leo wanted to punch the other man. However, "Liam" calmly told them that Cordonia's strength is in their integrity and they respect their neighbors, even those that don't deserve it. "Liam" told them that to answer the summit's call isn't acting like a coward but acting like a king, and effectively embarrassed Bradshaw and Isabella in front of other royals.

King "Liam", Drake Walker, Maxwell Beaumont
In Book 2, Chapter 1, while you are in labor, Bradshaw and Isabella force King "Liam" into signing a treaty to allow their military to operate on Cordonian soil and break down the security walls that Godfrey had placed in lockdown.

In Chapter 8, if you encourage Liam to duel Bradshaw, Liam wins the duel to Bradshaw's humiliation. Liam notices that Bradshaw's footwork is clumsy and he is not a skilled fighter.

In Chapter 15, during Auvernal's Fleet Week, the men go on Bradshaw's private tour of his most prized military crafts. When they keep Bradshaw distracted, they keep him distracted to the point that Bradshaw wants to share cigars with them - although he won't waste his Montecristos on their palates.

Queen Amalas
In Book 2, Chapter 17, Queen Amalas doesn't trust the couple since the first day. She had sent agents to keep a dossier about everyone she makes allies with including the couple. She describes Bradshaw a "blowhard" and he faked his military service to make himself look more powerful. Like what Olivia found out, his marriage with Isabella is far from happy by just appearances. His threat level being dangerous as proven in Chapter 7 and 8 that he was willing to use Queen Amalas' technological resources to seek power and accumulate Auvernal's military might. When Your Character and her spouse tell her what she had uncovered, Amalas expresses glee and happiness of seeing what Bradshaw is hiding.

Queen Reena
In Book 2, Chapter 5, after you daughter's anointment ceremony, Bradshaw and Isabella boast about welcoming the kingdom of Rivala under their rule a few weeks ago. They claim that because Rivala was so satisfied with their alliance that they permanently joined their kingdoms. However, in Chapter 12, the former queen of Rivala speaks to you and your friends in Los Angeles. She tells you that Bradshaw and Isabella came to her country two years ago, proposing a betrothal between her daughter and their son to forge an alliance. She accepted, and as a part of the proceedings, she had her doctor conduct a routine medical exam on the twins. Before she could see the results, Bradshaw and Isabella seized them and so she refused the alliance and they enacted "Operation Swan". Their troops occupied Rivala and she had no choice to accept the alliance to avoid war.

Trivia

 * Bradshaw's character model resembles Garret Redmond from Big Sky Country, Book 1.
 * Isabella's character model resembles Fatima from the America's Most Eligible series.
 * Isabella shares the same first name as Isabella and Isabella DeLune.
 * Kingdom of Auvernal information:
 * Auvernal has volcanic activity.
 * They believe Auvernal is a leader in fashion and art, and of course military might.
 * In saunas, the more layers - the more heat - the better.
 * Auvernese laws and customs:
 * There is an Auvernese ceremony called "the Joining of the Thrones" when forging marriage alliances.
 * If The Heir is not King "Liam" 's biological child, Isabella mentions appointing a child outside of the royal bloodline would not happen in Auvernal because they hold the bloodline in high regard.
 * Liam confirms this and states that if the truth came out about the twins's bloodline, they would never be allowed to rule Auvernal.
 * Book 1, Chapter 9's premium scene reveals that Isabella was born into the royal family and that Bradshaw won his medals sitting behind a desk. Therefore, her "lie" is that she has never been to the Caribbean.
 * Book 2, Chapter 8's premium scene reveals that Bradshaw and Isabella were married and King and Queen of Auvernal before the events of the Rules of Engagement series as Leo was still Crown Prince, Constantine Rys was alive and King of Cordonia, and Eirik was prince of his country and had not become king.
 * Bradshaw is lactose intolerant but insists on eating dairy as a power move.
 * His computer password is "M26Pershing".
 * The best man at his wedding was his friend Marcello.