NationStates Jolt Archive

Amber eyes wearily looked in the mirror to examine a young woman, barely eighteen who was badly in need of sleep.

“Good Lord. I look terrible.”

It was the Princess of Ecolle, Mary—or rather, that it what she had been a week ago. Now she was the Queen of Ecolle, a position she was not ready to fill. How quickly it had come and gone, the funeral of her father, James, and the coronation. Yet it was chilling reminder how quickly time flew: as a woman, Mary was not entitled to the throne; it was only thanks to her nearly barren mother that she occupied this position. Touted as a miracle, Mary had been the only child of James Stuart, her father, and Amalie de Châtellerault, her mother.

“It began with a lass and it will end with a lass…”

The words of her father rang chillingly in her heart. The Stuart dynasty had only gained the throne the following the death of Queen Boudicae, who had married the Duke of Aubigny, Robert Stuart. He had brought the dynasty into power into Ecolle—and Mary would be it’s last. Barely an adult, barely a Queen, and already she was pressed on all sides to quickly marry and sire heirs.

There was little Mary could do; although the Estates of Ecolle, the Parliament, were weak, they did hold some prerogative. In union with the Lords of the Article, a message had been sent out to the various nations of the world of Mary’s youth and need to marry, to continue monarchial rule in Ecolle.

The nation was backwards: a political system stuck in the middle ages, while society it’s self was spurned with the problems of modernity. Republicanism, Socialism, and Communism were on the rise: political participation was limited to the French speaking upper-classes, with the Gaelic masses being excluded from all forms of government. The old system, rooted in feudalism was decaying. Mary ruled with an absolute mandate in practice, but was checked by both big business and the religious establishment, from both the Catholic Church (to which the Stuarts and a sizable majority were part) and the Church of Ecolle (which was the national church).

She stood on precarious footing, not because of the Ecollais society, but because of her gender. As a woman, she was not meant to rule. She was meant to live quietly and to produce children. So began the Great Question, which would soon rock the politics of the Kingdom…

“Miserére nostri, Dómine, miserére nostri.
Fiat misericórdia tua,
Dómine, super nos,
quemádmodum sperávimus in te.
In te, Dómine, sperávi:
non confúndar in ætérnum.”

Delivered by the Ecolle Royal Choir (filled with young boys and Castaro, as women were forbidden to sing religious pieces), the last chilling lines of Te Deum filled the air. Mary resigned herself to a deep prayer, in hopes to bless the difficult days that were before her. Although she herself was Catholic, the National Church of Ecolle was Reformist; it was only thanks to compromise that Stuart dynasty was able to hold her faith in private (publically, Catholicism was viewed with disdain and few were willing to be connected to it).

“Áve María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus. Sáncta María, Máter Déi, óra pro nóbis peccatóribus, nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae. Ámen.”

The young queen clutched her crucifix as she did the signs of cross, in honor of the trinity. She rose from her position, to view her surroundings.

Her home, one of the many that her family possessed across the nation, was the Castle of Alba. It was old, a testament to the Gaelic lords which had once ruled Ecolle in a far simpler time. Although it had been modernized under her great-grandfather to include heating, electricity, and running water, it still had an austere air about it. The rock was hard and uninviting: compared to the cosmopolitian palaces of other nations, Ecolle seemed backwards and poor, an entirely different word.

Her gown, while sleek, had that same air about it. Drenched in lace, it was a deep black. Although Mary was only the child of her father, the mourning period of the monarchy was heavily enforced: the Catholic Archbishop of Entremne had declared a mourning period of forty days for James, along with the praise of Te Deum and lowering of all the flags. Mary was thus unable to do very little, aside from

“I tire of this,” Mary whispered slightly to herself, as she felt against the rough surface of the Stuart Temple, where all masses were held. “While it is important I honor my father, we must also realize that there is work to be done! I cannot sit for forty days, deep in thought and prayer. This only weakens my position amongst the Estates. What will the Lords think, if I am here, presumably upset and crying? No. Tomorrow I shall speak with the Earl of Arran and we shall plot a new course.”

Eyes aflame, Mary left the temple to prepare for the next day. She had work to accomplish, and things to do. Sadness would have to wait.

(Should I wait to send him or even post this?)

Prince Alexander was the only sibling of Queen Alice and after years past was now a young, handsome prince who was often compared to the gentlemen of the 19th Century. His interests were all the gentlemanly pursuits from literature to the fine arts. Alexander, after seeing his sister marry, decided to look for a wife himself. When he had heard of the deceased King of Ecolle, followed by the possibility of a single princess being around, he immediately conceived a thought to be a suitor to court her, for he had began to hope she could be his wife, his soulmate. He had been younger than Alice but now was a legal adult and hoped to make a name for himself.

Writing a letter to Mary of Ecolle while sitting at his desk at the mansion his sister gave him to reside and inhabit, he began to think of a life with Mary in his mind and the thoughts that came with the deed seemed to be pleasant but then the fact that other suitors would compete with him for Mary's hand came into his mind but he accepted it calmly. The letter he wrote was as follows:

"Princess Mary, I, a Prince of Myakka, send you my sincerest condolences for the loss of your father, King James of Ecolle. It is saddening when one loses a loved one, it can be heartbreaking to gaze upon the corpse of one's father or mother, in this case your father whom I trust you loved deeply as any daughter would. This is, however, not the only reason I have chosen to write this letter to you, for I have heard of your nation’s search for a suitor for you, and while I may assume you wish to look for one on your own terms, please permit me to present myself to you as a possible choice. I, Prince Alexander of Myakka offer myself as a suitor to you and to tell you more about myself, here is some information about me:

I am of royal blood, born of the King and Queen of Myakka who are now resting peacefully in their crypts. I am twenty two years of age and have an education worthy of royal princes and princesses. Many people have said that I act like a 19th century gentleman and this is quite true in some aspects. My interests include literature, art and music and you should know that I do enjoy a stroll around the home, do expect me to ask for a tour of your royal home should I be permitted to be in thy presence. I am an expert horse rider and raise horses of my own in my beloved nation of Myakka. If there is anything thy Ladyship wishes to know about me, I would not mind opening further correspondence to discuss it with you. I am afraid that I must depart from the pen at the moment, but I do hope to receive a reply from you and hope that a meeting can be arranged. May prosperity be with both you and Ecolle.

Sincerely,
Prince Alexander of Myakka”

Alexander sent the letter and hoped all throughout the day it would safely reach Princess Mary and that she would reply to it and allow him to meet her in the nation of Ecolle.

“You received a letter today.”

Mary was sitting with her grandfather, the Earl of Arran (and Duke of Châtellerault) on the veranda. It was quite an odd meeting, as the Earl played a major part in the Ecollais government, but also because he was Mary’s grandfather and sole remaining paternal influence given the death of her father.

“Really?” The young queen asked. “From who? There’s certainly no one to write me a letter…”

Her grandfather chuckled. “From Prince Alexander of Myakka. He’s the only brother of Queen Alice—if you recall, she had two children some time ago. Perhaps when you wrote of hoping for marriage, she caught the hint and sent young Alexander to write a letter.”

Mary tilted her head as the Earl of Arran slid the letter across the table to her. Grasping it firmly, she unfolded it and began to read. So it was true! A suitor, and from Myakka. It was certainly an interesting proposition: although she did not know the man, he seemed kind enough.

“What do you think, my dear?” The Earl of Arran asked.

“He seems…nice. I can’t say much more…I mean, it’s kind of awkward, deciding on marriage when you barely know them…will the Estates even accept a foreign prince?”

“Better than a native noble. It’s best that we do not involve more in the governing process.”

In all honesty, any man, provided his blood was suitable, would make a good king. Yet Arran was jealous of the power he held from the crown, and was hardly willing to let some other noble enter into the scene to decrease his power. A foreign prince would bind the crown closer to his person, so that he could better advise. A noble would dilute the status-quo and cause problems.

“Then it’s settled…I wish to invite him to Ecolle, so that I may meet him and judge if he’s suitable.”

“In the end, my dear, it is your choice.”

---

Dear Alexander.

I thank you for your letter. Your words of condolence, even if I do not know you, seem genuine enough. I enjoy to read, to walk about the grounds, and to chat with my fellow ladies. There is so much I wish to say, but so little that can be put into a letter. I would like to invite you to come to Ecolle, so that we may truly meet and decide if perhaps this is a most suitable match. One can never write of Ecolle, to describe it’s wonders—they must be experienced.

I await your visit.

Yours truly,
Mary
Reine Ecollais

"A letter, sir."

A butler dressed in his usual clothes brought the letter, a letter so awaited, to Prince Alexander who sat at his desk and carefully opened it and studied it closely, a smile growing on his face as he read. "She has agreed to meet me." he said as he stood up from his seat and proceeded to continue reading as he packed somethings to take with him to Ecolle. As he packed, he remembered the letter's words: "perhaps this is a most suitable match." That is something he hoped would become a fact, he wanted it to be a most suitable match.

Before leaving for Ecolle, he wrote a reply to Mary:

"Dear Mary,

I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to meet you in person and from what I have read you seem like an interesting young lady. Know that my condolences were sincere and genuine and that I hope our meeting is without problems. Know that I shall arrive at Ecolle within the week, I hope to know you better during my visit.

Sincerely,
Prince Alexander"

After sending the letter and having a meeting with Queen Alice, who gave him words of encouragement and support, he got onto a private plane that immediately flew towards the nation of Ecolle, a nation that Alexander wanted to visit ever since he first wrote to Mary. As Alexander sat in his seat, he began to think about how he would address and talk to Mary, hoping he would not breach any rules.

When the plane finally landed (do you have an airport?), Alexander stepped out in clothes that truly showed he was royalty and awaited a welcoming greeting from government officials or others sent to greet him as he placed his feet upon the soil of Ecolle.

Private letter to Queen Mary of Ecolle

Young Queen,

As I write this letter to you I have mixed feelings of how to approach this. First I must express my regrets at the loss of your father, as I understand this can be a hard time for someone so young, especially when thrust into the position of responsability that you have been. But additonally I must express my concern for your nation as a whole, and your status of leadership. While I congragulate you from the deepest recesses of my heart upon your ascencion, and would like to share my joy that once again women of power are showing their just and equal rights, I am concerned at your nation's willingness to accecpt progress towards equality. It is my deepest hope that you will be able to attain all that which you desire for both yourself and your nation as it's new Queen, and although we have long ago removed the monarchical governing system from our nation's ranks, I truely believe that if your nation is to make any headway into the modern world it is to be with you at the helm, as Queen.

Please take my congradulations and expressions of joy at your comming to power as a sign of sisterly bonding accross the great divides which otherwise seperate our two nations.

- Head of State, Dictator of Sumer, Priestess of Inanna,
Ridingir Kisikil Dumumiapuabiak Dumuaninatumak Urukak Leshbarkingdu Kalamak Ninuru

Signed: Kisikil Ninatuma

Your Excellency, Kisikil Ninatuma,

I thank you for your kind words and condolences for my father’s passing. While it is true that it will be a difficult path, given I am both young and a woman, I am certain I can succeed in the governing process of Ecolle. While I am unsure which ‘inequalities’ you speak of, I am firm in my belief that if the political system of the Kingdom has endured centuries of rule and misrule, then it must be doing something right.

While I disagree with you on some points, I am awed by your matronly experience, and thus I would like to invite you to visit Ecolle, as a guest of honor. I shall show you personally the grandeur of my kingdom, of it’s lords and ladies, and of it’s people (OOC: A new topic would be best, if you’d like to start).

SIGNED,
Mary,
Reine Ecollais.

--

The Myakkan prince was met with great joviality at the Ècole Airstation, in the capital city of Semur. Mary was not alone: several Barons, Earls, and Dukes stood before, a great crowd of nobility, whose powers were feudal and all-reaching, a sort of power that most nobility in modern nations had lost ages ago. They waved their fans lazily, and although they dressed in modern fashions and spoke modern tongues, they held an air about them that seemed from an age long gone.

Mary blushed immediately at the site of the prince. Although he had no mentioned it in his letter, he was certainly handsome enough. At her side stood her grandfather, the Earl of Arran. Dressed in his finest military suit, along with an array of medals, he was the first lord to march first, Mary in tow, to greet the foreign prince.

“Your majesty.” He replied with dripping formality. “I welcome you to Ecolle. I am Thomas de Châtellerault, the Earl of Arran and Duke of Châtellerault. I am her majesty’s grandfather.”

“A pleasure,” The queen replied meekly, extending her hand to be kissed.

The Myakkan prince was met with great joviality at the Ècole Airstation, in the capital city of Semur. Mary was not alone: several Barons, Earls, and Dukes stood before, a great crowd of nobility, whose powers were feudal and all-reaching, a sort of power that most nobility in modern nations had lost ages ago. They waved their fans lazily, and although they dressed in modern fashions and spoke modern tongues, they held an air about them that seemed from an age long gone.

Mary blushed immediately at the site of the prince. Although he had no mentioned it in his letter, he was certainly handsome enough. At her side stood her grandfather, the Earl of Arran. Dressed in his finest military suit, along with an array of medals, he was the first lord to march first, Mary in tow, to greet the foreign prince.

“Your majesty.” He replied with dripping formality. “I welcome you to Ecolle. I am Thomas de Châtellerault, the Earl of Arran and Duke of Châtellerault. I am her majesty’s grandfather.”

“A pleasure,” The queen replied meekly, extending her hand to be kissed.

Alexander inspected the crowd of people surrounding the plane, he thought it interesting to see people who looked like modern people but acted as if they had belonged in centuries and ages now read about in books. As he stepped out of the plane, he was greeted by Thomas and his royal grandaughter. Alexander offered his hand in a handshake which came along with some words:

"Your Highness would be more formal, Sir, for I am not a king, but let us loosen ourselves from mere trivialities. It is an honor to meet you."

Alexander's eyes then shifted to Queen Mary, and he was amazed to see her, for he swiftly thought she was beautiful in his mind. He leaned in and kissed her hand before giving a charming smile to her. "It is an honor...and a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty." Alexander said, giving a formal bow to signify his respect.

As they all walked together, Alexander studied Mary for a brief moment and thought to himself, she did look quite pretty and she did seem, in her letter, to have a good character. He hoped she would be the one just for him, but knew he had to work on it.

"Does the young Queen ride a carriage or a limosuine to her palace?" Alexander asked curiously as they walked, for he had an inclination to ask about transportation.

“We shall return to the palace by limousine.” The Earl of Arran replied with a slight nod. “It is some thirty miles from the capital, far from the urban city. The Castle of Alba is nearly six-hundred years old, and has been specifically built far from any city, as to neutralize it’s position amongst the city dwellers. It is at Alba, with it’s rolling hills and green groves, that her majesty lives with her closest friends and relatives live. Few nobles remain at Alba, and prefer their large, regional estates. We are a gentle breed, sire; few aristocrats wish to live in the midst of the industrial cities.”

An honor guard opened the door to the limousine, allowing both the Queen and the Earl to enter first, then allowing the Prince. It was spacious, yet somewhat spartan. It had only the barest luxuries, yet despite this the Earl was intent to give an air of majesty, if not for the prince, but for his young granddaughter too. A prince would gladly marry a woman who could offer luxuries upon luxuries—not a sherpardess.

Removing the cork and several glasses, the Earl poured champagne for the three of them, as he allowed the Prince and the Queen to chat. This chatter lasted nearly a half hour, when they arrived at the castle…

It was large, and spacious. The train of nobility which had flooded the city had seemingly left. A large staff came to serve the prince and the royal company, and the Earl smiled as the large castle came into view.

“How long shall you be staying with us, your highness? I have had the servants prepare for you a series of chambers during your stay, close to those of both myself and her majesty.”

Alexander did not mind being the last to get in the limousine, which after a while sped off towards the Castle of Alba. The castle’s history and the statement of the Earl after he had given a brief history lesson interested Alexander a bit as he sat there in the limousine next to Queen Mary who he chatted with about all sorts of things as the limo went onward towards the Castle. When they finally arrived at the castle, a fact which prevented him from making a statement, he was amazed and impressed by the castle. He helped Queen Mary out of the limousine and then listened to the Earl’s question.

“I will stay for some time, Sir, maybe a couple of weeks. I came here, after all, to know Her Majesty better.”

He smiled at them and then helped the Queen inside her residence as he talked to his royal acquaintance, hoping he would be able in the duration of his visit to Ecolle to know her better. “Your Majesty, I do not suppose we may have a walk together? Also, if it is possible, would you mind giving me a tour of this castle?” Alexander said calmly as he looked at her, she seemed to like this gentlemanly prince standing in front of her.

Private letter to Queen Mary of Ecolle

Young Queen,

While surely I meant to highlight our differences, it was not a matter of mine to brihg about the idea that one governmental system is superior to any others. My people have believed for thousands of years that a government that is supported by it's people is best for those people, regardless of how it is run. If the people believe in the monarchy then that is what they will have and that, we believe, is best for them. My own people, several thousand years ago, dissolved the monarchy system because for us it caused too many peoblems both internally and externally. The kingship was likewise dissolved and the system which we currently have was set up. Although all people in Sumer are now equal, with no class distinctions, there are still many of noble birth about, serving all areas of the nation and in all economic brackets. I myself am descended from a pre-shift royal bloodline.

I hope as well to clarify what inequalities I refer towards. Those namely of your nation's until lately accecptance as women as equal in the workplace and society as men. You yourself, as I understand it, are a trail blazer within your nation for women's rights, and I hope you continue on as such.

As for your offer for a meeting, I believe I may be able to work through such an event. Running my country keeps me quite busy sometimes, but I believe I have the avalibility to expand our relations.

And finally I would like to thank you for your compliment on my experiance. I am the nineteenth member of my family line to hold the Office of Dictator in Sumer, and I take great pride in the fact that my family has managed to serve this nation with such honour.

- Head of State, Dictator of Sumer, Priestess of Inanna,
Ridingir Kisikil Dumumiapuabiak Dumuaninatumak Urukak Leshbarkingdu Kalamak Ninuru

Signed: Kisikil Ninatuma

OOC: Yea I can get one started shortly.

OOC: Sorry. I thought it was your turn.

Mary was stunned, but in a good way. Her grandfather dismissed from her presence, she beamed brightly.

“Of course, your highness.”

Mary extended her arm to the Prince and they began a slight jaunt around the Castle of Alba. An ancient, feudal, castle, it had only been modernized barely a hundred years ago. Before it still clung an air of age and history, which the people of Ecolle seemed to revel in.

“This is the Castle of Alba. It was build some centuries ago, by the Gaelic lords of this kingdom. It really hasn’t changed much…these stones that we walk upon where probably touched by men and women from hundreds of years ago. I suppose it’s a little drafty for a castle, but I adore it.”

OOC: Sorry. I thought it was your turn.

Mary was stunned, but in a good way. Her grandfather dismissed from her presence, she beamed brightly.

“Of course, your highness.”

Mary extended her arm to the Prince and they began a slight jaunt around the Castle of Alba. An ancient, feudal, castle, it had only been modernized barely a hundred years ago. Before it still clung an air of age and history, which the people of Ecolle seemed to revel in.

“This is the Castle of Alba. It was build some centuries ago, by the Gaelic lords of this kingdom. It really hasn’t changed much…these stones that we walk upon where probably touched by men and women from hundreds of years ago. I suppose it’s a little drafty for a castle, but I adore it.”

OOC: It is alright.

Alexander absorbed every bit of information he was given and every sight seen by his two eyes and he enjoyed the tour of the Castle of Alba, but thought to himself it was more enjoyable with Mary at his side. As he listened to what she had to say, he thought to himself about the stones being touched by the treading feet of noblewomen and knights of centuries long past.

"This castle is quite fascinating, Your Highness. I can picture knights and maidens of nobility all treading the paths and walking through the corridors all in my mind." Alexander said as they stopped for a moment.

"Your Highness, may we have a stroll around the Palace?" Alexander said after they exited the Castle, so far he was enjoying her company and thought that she was a pretty young woman.