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Affiliation: Bonaparte
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Titles: Queen Consort of King Yanuhito I; Queen Widow of Bonaparte
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Status: Retired; presumed deceased per Bonapartan tradition
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Birthplace: New Tokyo, Bonaparte
- House: Yamato
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Background: Former homicide detective
Overview
Reiko is the former Queen Consort of Bonaparte, widow of King Yanuhito, and great-aunt to Lady Mitsuko Yamato. Before ascending to the highest ceremonial role on Bonaparte, she served as a homicide detective in New Tokyo, one of the Yamato-controlled arcologies. Her sharp intellect, calm presence, and investigative instincts earned her widespread respect, both before and during her time at court.
Life Before the Throne
While working in law enforcement in New Tokyo, Reiko met the future King Yanuhito (then called “Prince Yoshi” or “Lt. Yamato”) during the course of an investigation. The two formed a deep connection, and Reiko eventually joined him in public life. Though an unconventional choice for a queen consort, she quickly adapted to court life without losing the pragmatic edge of her detective past. Her experience grounded the monarchy and endeared her to both political allies and the general public.
Secrets of Succession
After King Yanuhito’s death during the events of Checkmate, Reiko revealed one of Bonaparte’s most tightly held secrets: Bonapartan monarchs do not truly die in office. Instead, in accordance with an Orag custom, they undergo superficial aging, stage their deaths, and assume new identities off-world. This allows them to live out their remaining years in anonymity and peace. Yanuhito’s public death thus marked the final ceremonial act of his reign, while his quiet departure symbolized a hidden tradition of royal continuity.
Succession of Edward Windsor
Reiko travels to the Queen Maria Sophia alongside Lady Elizabeth Windsor, initially to oversee the formal notification of Edward Windsor’s accession to the throne. She personally informs Mitsuko Yamato that her great-uncle is dead and that Edward is now king. When Elizabeth later attempts to assassinate Edward using an incendiary nanite weapon on an Amargosan maglev, Reiko intervenes directly, incapacitating everyone in the rail car with a stun grenade—a move that harkens back to her years in law enforcement.
Legacy
Though now officially retired and presumed “deceased” according to royal protocol, Reiko’s final public act—kneeling before Edward and declaring, “Long live the King”—cements her legacy as a stabilizing force in one of Bonaparte’s most precarious transitions of power. A symbol of resilience, precision, and pragmatic compassion, Queen Widow Reiko remains revered by the people of Bonaparte and feared by anyone foolish enough to cross her family.
Appearances: Checkmate