Where Should My Royal Family Live?

Even if they are liked by their population/the townspeople, they are still royal and need to maintain that image/lifestyle (if what I've read about your royal family is correct). What you've outlined seems like a good fit for what you want but it also sounds like you are torn between this and another idea (as to where they should live). Do you have something else in mind?

 

That makes sense I think it would work. You have the back story and history for it and you seem like you are excited about writing it this way. Go for it.

 

Basically, as long as it makes a certain amount of sense -- and yours does -- the reader should buy it.

 

I find this to be somewhat unbelievable. The truth of the matter is that everything royalty does affects its constituency somehow. Perhaps nothing negative happens to the population as a result of their spending, but I cannot imagine that most of the serfs appreciate royalty that flaunts their wealth. Even if treated well, a poor person is not going to be happy about a rich person showing off.

I would think then, that the royalty would live somewhere extremely secure. Even the royalty of prosperous nations are rightfully paranoid. A lot of guards and fortifications would be very ostentatious, so the palace compound would be a good choice.

Just my thoughts.

 

The architectural aesthetics matter not as much methinks. However, I do think you should place the royal family's house strategically. Their palace/mansion/shack/whatnot should be the safest from invasions, floods, droughts, unwinnable sieges and at the same time allows them to exercise their power over the land (say the highest point overlooking everyone or at the center of the plains). You can also place it where they can easily be viewed and reached by the populace if you want to emphasize their down-to-earth style of ruling.

As for the aesthetics, just think of the nation they are ruling. I have a nation whose land is rich in red turms, a mineral that, like quartz to vibration, stores mana without hardly any loss. Thus, it would make sense for my royal family's residence to store a hell lot of mana and mainly red in color. Have fun with writing. Imagine you are that ruler and ponder on where to live and what to live basing on how you rule and what nation you rule xD