Michele I
13-08-2007, 23:08
The Summer Palace at Leonardia bustled with activity for the first time in years. For a few years now, the Grand Duchess had been in deep mourning over the untimely death of her husband; she had been inconsolable and had kept to herself, only going into public to greet her people from her balcony during the winter solstice celebration and various national holidays. Even though she had kept her guiding hand on the politics of McIntyre, she knew her people had missed her, and she, them.
Numerous ladies in waiting crowded the private chamber of the duchess, holding various articles of clothing, including the beautiful tiara that proclaimed her rule to all the world.
As she dressed, she quietly noted that this day would mark a new beginning for both herself and her country. She was a widow, but an attractive one, and still marriageable; her country was not rich, but it had resources. The decision to end her country's isolation from the world had not been made lightly, but she knew it was the best path for her people. No longer would McIntyre be an intellectual and political backwater. She intended to fulfill the dream she and her husband had held; namely, to turn McIntyre into a paradise for intellectuals, artists, and merchants, and to give her people the opportunity to be as free as possible under her calm and steady reign.
There was a knock at the door, and a voice exclaimed, 'The Prime Minister, Your Serene Highness!' just as the final jewel had been added to her hair.
Michele I, resplendent in her ceremonial dress and tiara, hushed her ladies in waiting and bade them open the door.
Chancellor Douglas Swigert bustled into the room. He was an officious man, white-haired and bearded, but still most energetic.
'Your Most Serene Highness, all is in readiness. We simply need to go over a few matters before the proclamation.'
The Duchess murmured for her ladies to take their leave, and Minister Swigert opened the ox-blood colored leather satchel that he used to carry court papers.
Chancellor, I think this will be a great day. What do you think?'
'I would agree, Madam. I just received news; our honey production has just topped over 100,000 jars per year that can be used for export. And it seems that production of royal jelly and bee pollen are up too. As soon as we set up trade relations with the nations that have already shown interest, we'll be able to afford to pay for weapons.'
'Chancellor Swigert, you know I hate the talk of war. I don't see why we need---'
'But Madam, we have discussed this. We will need soldiers to guard our embassies as well as our shores! Already one of the Goblin nations has made barbaric and threatening remarks towards our nation. No doubt there will soon be opportunists. We must prepare for them.'
Michele sighed. She knew he was right, but the idea of going to war was against her nature. Ever since her husband had left the people of McIntyre in her care alone, the idea of sending young people to die had disturbed her.
'What other issues have we to discuss today?'
Well, we have received overtures to join several regions. Personally, I think it would make the people happy if you made an announcement on it today. I would suggest that we join---'
'No. there will be no such announcement today. Right now we must concentrate on doing our duty by our people. We will not join any region as a mere pauper with cap in hand. First we will establish ourselves, and then we will make decisions regarding larger alliances. But come; let us greet our people. Are you ready?'
Swigert bowed, and opened the chamber door. Michele glided past him into the hallway, and nodded at the various supernumeraries and guards who followed in her wake. She went down the grand stairway and outside to a podium that faced beautiful Leonardia Park, which was filled with people, all dying to catch a glimpse of the Duchess. Newspaper reporters, camerapeople and radio broadcasters filled the space between the podium and the Duchess's subjects, who were barely held back by laughing guardsfolk.
As soon as she was spotted, a cheer went up through the crowd, and some subjects even threw flowers towards the stage where the podium stood. Numerous souvenir sellers offered small fans for sale to the crowd, each stamped with a picture of a bee, the national symbol, and the phrase, 'Long Live McIntyre!'
A group of children representing the Ducal Home for Orphaned Children who were dressed in the national colors came up to the stage and presented the Duchess with a basket of flowers. She bent down and kissed each of the children on the cheek as radio reporters excitedly described the scene to listeners all over the country. Newsreel-makers filmed every moment; by nightfall, local theatres would be playing the event over and over. Michele Picked up the youngest child, a girl who could not have been any older than three, and held her up in her arms.
'This child and all like her is the hope of all McIntyre!' the Duchess shouted joyously into the assembled microphones. The crowd went insane with excitement. 'We humbly ask our graciious people to forgive us- due to our excessive grief we have too long ignored the love of our people. but we promise that we have never forgotten that our people are our care. Just as this little one deserves the love of a mother or father, so do our people. And we do promise and swear that we shall give that love to all of you, by making it our especial mission to improve the lives of all of our citizens.
'This morning, We received great news. We have been accepted into the ranks of the United Nations. Even more importantly, the production of our most beloved honey has reached new levels. Because of this, we will son be able to afford wider-ranging educational and artistic programs for our people. We have also announced to the greater world that our nation wishes to stand at the forefront of the opposition to slavery and oppression; such barbarity will never be allowed within this nation. We therefore proclaim, with your good and loving support, that this nation, in all ways possible, will support the cause of freedom and free enterprise. We offer to our friends the opportunity to open relations with us in order to increase trade and friendship. We also pronounce a new initiative, in which we will offer free housing to all scholars and artists whose work is deemed to advance the reknown and prestige of our glorious nation.
And let it be known to all that one day, children such as this little girl will live in a realm where they will recall the beginning of an era of enlightenment, enterprise, and happiness for all of the McIntyrian people. Long Live McIntyre!'
Numerous ladies in waiting crowded the private chamber of the duchess, holding various articles of clothing, including the beautiful tiara that proclaimed her rule to all the world.
As she dressed, she quietly noted that this day would mark a new beginning for both herself and her country. She was a widow, but an attractive one, and still marriageable; her country was not rich, but it had resources. The decision to end her country's isolation from the world had not been made lightly, but she knew it was the best path for her people. No longer would McIntyre be an intellectual and political backwater. She intended to fulfill the dream she and her husband had held; namely, to turn McIntyre into a paradise for intellectuals, artists, and merchants, and to give her people the opportunity to be as free as possible under her calm and steady reign.
There was a knock at the door, and a voice exclaimed, 'The Prime Minister, Your Serene Highness!' just as the final jewel had been added to her hair.
Michele I, resplendent in her ceremonial dress and tiara, hushed her ladies in waiting and bade them open the door.
Chancellor Douglas Swigert bustled into the room. He was an officious man, white-haired and bearded, but still most energetic.
'Your Most Serene Highness, all is in readiness. We simply need to go over a few matters before the proclamation.'
The Duchess murmured for her ladies to take their leave, and Minister Swigert opened the ox-blood colored leather satchel that he used to carry court papers.
Chancellor, I think this will be a great day. What do you think?'
'I would agree, Madam. I just received news; our honey production has just topped over 100,000 jars per year that can be used for export. And it seems that production of royal jelly and bee pollen are up too. As soon as we set up trade relations with the nations that have already shown interest, we'll be able to afford to pay for weapons.'
'Chancellor Swigert, you know I hate the talk of war. I don't see why we need---'
'But Madam, we have discussed this. We will need soldiers to guard our embassies as well as our shores! Already one of the Goblin nations has made barbaric and threatening remarks towards our nation. No doubt there will soon be opportunists. We must prepare for them.'
Michele sighed. She knew he was right, but the idea of going to war was against her nature. Ever since her husband had left the people of McIntyre in her care alone, the idea of sending young people to die had disturbed her.
'What other issues have we to discuss today?'
Well, we have received overtures to join several regions. Personally, I think it would make the people happy if you made an announcement on it today. I would suggest that we join---'
'No. there will be no such announcement today. Right now we must concentrate on doing our duty by our people. We will not join any region as a mere pauper with cap in hand. First we will establish ourselves, and then we will make decisions regarding larger alliances. But come; let us greet our people. Are you ready?'
Swigert bowed, and opened the chamber door. Michele glided past him into the hallway, and nodded at the various supernumeraries and guards who followed in her wake. She went down the grand stairway and outside to a podium that faced beautiful Leonardia Park, which was filled with people, all dying to catch a glimpse of the Duchess. Newspaper reporters, camerapeople and radio broadcasters filled the space between the podium and the Duchess's subjects, who were barely held back by laughing guardsfolk.
As soon as she was spotted, a cheer went up through the crowd, and some subjects even threw flowers towards the stage where the podium stood. Numerous souvenir sellers offered small fans for sale to the crowd, each stamped with a picture of a bee, the national symbol, and the phrase, 'Long Live McIntyre!'
A group of children representing the Ducal Home for Orphaned Children who were dressed in the national colors came up to the stage and presented the Duchess with a basket of flowers. She bent down and kissed each of the children on the cheek as radio reporters excitedly described the scene to listeners all over the country. Newsreel-makers filmed every moment; by nightfall, local theatres would be playing the event over and over. Michele Picked up the youngest child, a girl who could not have been any older than three, and held her up in her arms.
'This child and all like her is the hope of all McIntyre!' the Duchess shouted joyously into the assembled microphones. The crowd went insane with excitement. 'We humbly ask our graciious people to forgive us- due to our excessive grief we have too long ignored the love of our people. but we promise that we have never forgotten that our people are our care. Just as this little one deserves the love of a mother or father, so do our people. And we do promise and swear that we shall give that love to all of you, by making it our especial mission to improve the lives of all of our citizens.
'This morning, We received great news. We have been accepted into the ranks of the United Nations. Even more importantly, the production of our most beloved honey has reached new levels. Because of this, we will son be able to afford wider-ranging educational and artistic programs for our people. We have also announced to the greater world that our nation wishes to stand at the forefront of the opposition to slavery and oppression; such barbarity will never be allowed within this nation. We therefore proclaim, with your good and loving support, that this nation, in all ways possible, will support the cause of freedom and free enterprise. We offer to our friends the opportunity to open relations with us in order to increase trade and friendship. We also pronounce a new initiative, in which we will offer free housing to all scholars and artists whose work is deemed to advance the reknown and prestige of our glorious nation.
And let it be known to all that one day, children such as this little girl will live in a realm where they will recall the beginning of an era of enlightenment, enterprise, and happiness for all of the McIntyrian people. Long Live McIntyre!'