You’re playing as Henry. You’re a blacksmith’s son with dirt under your fingernails and a chip on your shoulder. Honestly, the last thing on your mind when fleeing a burning Skalitz is a date. But Warhorse Studios built a world that’s way too immersive to leave you single. Kingdom Come romance options aren’t your typical BioWare-style "gift five trinkets and get a cutscene" mechanics. They’re messy. They’re grounded in 15th-century Bohemian social structures. Sometimes, they just end in a very awkward morning after.
If you’re expecting a harem or a complex web of lovers, you're going to be disappointed. This isn't The Witcher 3. Henry’s options are limited, which makes sense given he's basically a refugee trying not to get executed for most of the early game. There are two primary "long-term" interests and a handful of... let’s call them "distractions."
Theresa: The Real MVP of Skalitz
Theresa is the one. You know it, I know it, and the game heavily leans into it. She’s the girl who literally saves your life when you’re bleeding out in the dirt. Most players stumble into the "Courtship" questline naturally because, well, how could you not want to thank the person who dragged your unconscious body to safety?
Unlike other RPGs, you can’t just spam her with dialogue. You have to wait. You visit her at the mill outside Rattay. You take her for walks by the river. You go for a drink. It feels remarkably human. You’ll find yourself actually caring if Henry says something stupid because Theresa has a personality that isn’t just "Female Love Interest #1." She’s tough. She’s seen the same horrors you have.
The "Courtship" quest is the meat of this relationship. It involves three specific dates. First, a stroll where you can engage in some lighthearted racing—don't be a jerk, let her win or at least make it close. Second, a trip to the tavern that inevitably ends in a brawl. It’s classic Henry. Third, a rainy afternoon at the mill.
One thing people get wrong? They think the romance ends after the "climax" of the quest. If you have the A Woman's Lot DLC, Theresa’s character depth explodes. You actually get to play as her. It recontextualizes the whole romance. You realize she isn't just waiting around for Henry; she’s a survivor in her own right. Without the DLC, she kind of fades into the background once the quest is done, which is a bit of a bummer. She stays at the mill, you can feed her dog, you can bring her gifts, but the narrative momentum stalls.
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Lady Stephanie: It’s Complicated (And Dangerous)
Then there’s Lady Stephanie of Talmberg. This is the one that makes players sweat. She’s noble. You are... not. In the 1400s, this wasn't just a "taboo" crush; it was potentially a "get executed in the courtyard" level of drama.
Her quest, "At Your Service, My Lady," starts innocently enough. She asks you to gather items for a wedding—a crown, a horse, some wine. It feels like a standard fetch quest. But the subtext is thick. She’s trapped in a loveless marriage to Sir Divish, a man much older than her who is clearly struggling with his own legacy.
The nuance here is incredible. Stephanie isn’t necessarily a "femme fatale." She’s lonely. When you finally deliver the items, she gives you her father’s old shirt. If you choose to put it on right then and there... well, things happen.
But here is the kicker: it’s a one-time thing.
There is no long-term relationship with Stephanie. You don’t become the secret Lord of Talmberg. It’s a fleeting, bittersweet moment that highlights the class divide of the era. If you’re playing Henry as a man of honor, you might even feel bad about it. Sir Divish is a good man, after all. He gave you a roof when you had nothing. It’s one of those Kingdom Come romance options that leaves a weird taste in your mouth, which is exactly why it’s great writing.
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The "Other" Encounters: Bathhouses and Alehouses
Let's be real. Henry is a young guy in a high-stress environment. The game doesn't shy away from the more "transactional" side of medieval life. The bathhouses in Rattay, Sasau, and Talmberg aren't just for getting your clothes laundered and your wounds healed.
You can pay for "services." It’s handled with a fade-to-black and a buff called "Alpha Male," which increases your Charisma for a while. Is it romantic? No. Is it a part of the world’s social fabric? Absolutely.
Then there’s the infamous night with Father Godwin in Uzhitz. This is widely considered one of the best quests in the game ("Mysterious Ways"). Without spoiling too much, if you fail to persuade Godwin to give up information, you end up on a legendary bender with him. There’s drinking, there’s fighting, there’s livestock, and yes, there are some "wenches" involved. It’s not a romance, but it’s a pivotal moment in Henry’s social life. It shows that in Bohemia, even the clergy were... flexible.
Why These Options Actually Matter for Your Stats
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a "numbers" game disguised as a simulator. Your romantic (or non-romantic) choices affect your gameplay.
- Charisma Boosts: Engaging with Theresa or Lady Stephanie often rewards you with gear or buffs that make persuasion easier.
- The Alpha Male Buff: As mentioned, visiting a bathhouse gives you a +2 to Charisma. This is huge when you’re trying to talk your way out of a jail sentence or negotiate a better price for that shiny new St. George's Sword.
- The "Virgin" Achievement: For the completionists out there, there is a legitimate trophy/achievement for finishing the entire game without "laying with a woman." This means skipping the end of Theresa’s quest, rejecting Lady Stephanie, and avoiding the bathhouses. It’s a surprisingly hard run because you lose out on so many Charisma-based advantages.
The Misconception of Choice
A lot of people complain that you can't "choose" between different village girls or marry a merchant's daughter. You have to remember: Henry is a man on a mission. He’s driven by vengeance and a very specific set of plot points.
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The developers didn't want a dating sim. They wanted to show how love and lust functioned in a world where you could die of an infection from a rusty spoon the next day. The romance with Theresa feels meaningful because it’s a anchor to Henry's past life. The dalliance with Stephanie feels significant because it’s a glimpse into a world Henry will never truly belong to.
How to Maximize Your Romance Game
If you want the "best" experience with Kingdom Come romance options, you need to approach it with patience. Don't rush Theresa's dates. Don't just click through the dialogue with Stephanie.
- Gifts are your friend. Buy jewelry or fine clothes. Don't just give Theresa a bunch of weeds you picked by the road (though she might appreciate the gesture, she has standards).
- Timing matters. You can't start these quests whenever you feel like it. Some are gated by main story progress. If you ignore Theresa for too long, the mill just becomes a place to sleep.
- The DLC is mandatory. If you actually care about the narrative depth of Henry’s relationships, A Woman's Lot is not optional. It turns Theresa from a side character into a co-protagonist.
The Reality of Medieval Love
Kingdom Come doesn't give you a "Happily Ever After" screen. Even if you finish Theresa’s questline, the world is still at war. Sigismund’s army is still out there. Henry is still a man of low birth caught in a high-stakes political game.
The romance in this game is about the quiet moments between the chaos. It’s about a dance in a tavern or a shared secret in a solar. It’s grounded, it’s often frustratingly limited, and it’s perfectly in line with the game’s "hardcore" philosophy. You aren't a hero who gets the princess; you're a survivor who finds a little bit of warmth where he can.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough:
To fully experience the romantic arcs in Kingdom Come, start by prioritizing the "Courtship" quest as soon as you are mobile in Rattay. Do not wait until the end of the game, as the narrative weight hits harder when Henry is still struggling. If you plan on pursuing Lady Stephanie, ensure you have at least 1,000 Groschen saved up—buying the wine and the crown for her quest can be pricey if you don't feel like stealing them. Finally, if you are going for the "Virgin" achievement, be extremely careful during the Father Godwin questline; one wrong dialogue choice and you'll find yourself waking up in a hayloft with a trophy-breaking regret.
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