Post by callmedelta on Feb 18, 2023 3:32:48 GMT -5
The woman sat in the house’s study, pouring over the papers on the desk. The study was fine, clear evidence of the woman’s wealth. A baby sat in a crib along the wall of the room, napping. The woman loathed to be without her daughter, even if she knew it would have to be done soon. Her son was reading in the other room. She knew her son was lonely, given her family’s station, but the situation of the world meant that he would simply have to bear it at least a little longer. His father was one of the most important men in the world, and that left terrible little time for the family. Heavy was the head that wore the crown, after all. The woman had wished to talk with her husband regarding their family’s state of affairs for some time, but the world had other plans.
The woman herself was short and pale, dark black hair and deep blue eyes. She was the perfect image of a Lusatian woman, and a Lusatian citizen as well, even though it was not the country of her birth. She still considered herself Lusatian, however, and until recently she had been proud to call herself that. Now, she was reconsidering that position. Two of the papers on her desk were newspapers, copies of the Kazimierzgrad Daily Times, issues from a week apart. Inside the first was a copy of her husband’s letter. Inside the second, details of the protests that had gripped the country in response. Calling for some response from the silent government.
The rest of the papers on the study’s desk was the woman’s response to it all. Information about protest locations, drafts and revisions of speeches, even little details like her outfit. Everything she needed to make her entrance at the protests. She was a devout woman, and she knew deep in her heart that God must have put her here for a reason. Dante was managing the war back home to the best of his ability, and it was her job to give him every advantage she could while in Lusatia.
Her name was Queen Jadwega Kaine Gwiazda Della Rosa of Franerre, and it was time she fought for her country.
~
Jadwega softly shut the door to the study, slipping out as to not wake little Catarina, and nearly collided with Anne-Marie, her sister-in-law. She’d evidently been about to knock on the door, and despite her smile it didn’t look like she was simply here for pleasantries. “You never did tell me what you commandeered my study for, Jadwega. Thought I’d take a look for myself, but since you’re here…” she trailed off. Blunt and straight to the point as ever, Anne-Marie was.
“I was planning a little trip into Kazimierzgrad to join the protests,” Jadwega replied, “You should join me. I’d imagine two women of our caliber are better than one.”
Anne-Marie shifted her weight and the smile dropped from her face, causing the floorboards beneath her in the old Lusatian mansion to creek. “I think I’ll have to pass,” Anne-Marie said, “I’m sorry about what’s happening to Franerre -- I really am -- but this isn’t Lusatia’s fight.” Jadwega was flabbergasted, and evidently she wore it on her face, Anne-Marie answering Jadwega’s unspoken question. “Lusatia’s my home, as far as I’m concerned. Here I can vote, have my voice heard, be respected. Things I never had, never was in Franerre. The difference in material conditions doesn’t help your case, either.” She gestured to the lights on the wall. What was a luxury in Franerre was commonplace here in Lusatia. “I would have renounced my citizenship years ago if it wouldn’t have caused a scandal.”
Despite herself, Jadwega chuckled. She may have been born in Franerre, but Jadwega was Lusatian by blood, and here she was defending Franerre against a woman who had more of a claim to the place than she did. “So you’ll be able to watch Caden and Catarina while I’m out?”
“As long as you need.. If you ever need anything, just ask.” A hint of a real smile crept onto the woman’s face. Kind and dependable as ever, Anne-Marie was.
~
Queen Jadwega took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, megaphone in hand. She wore a plain suit. Men’s clothing, something Jadwega thought she’d never be caught dead in back in Franerre, but she felt her words carried more weight than if she wore a dress. The queen almost wished it was a military dress uniform, like the one Dante had, but that wasn’t exactly something Anne-Marie had in her closet, and there was no time to custom tailor an outfit. She would have also liked a crown, or something to signify her royalty, but such were the constraints of her situation. The only sign of her status was the large sapphire necklace she wore over the suit.
The car had stopped as close as it could to the Sejm building, but with the crowds that wasn’t saying much. It was odd, going somewhere without the usual entourage of Royal Guards. It was only a singular man, one Sebastian de Leaux, and he only carried a concealed pistol in his uniform jacket rather than a rifle, unless one counted the crate he carried under one arm. It was also odd not having the crowds part at the sight of her. Some protestors looked at her with confusion before returning to whatever they were doing. Others took note, and whether or not they recognized who Jadwega was, began to whisper about who this important woman was.
Sebastian muscled the pair’s way through the crowd when it got thick closer to their target, until they had reached the front of the parliament building. It seemed like part of her preparations were unneeded; the protestors had already set up a makeshift stage and had a megaphone handy. The red decor on the stage immediately placed the man as a Socialist. Not exactly Jadwega’s first choice, but the Lord worked in mysterious ways.
“...the innocent workers of Franerre, forced to leave their peaceful ways behind to stave off the ravages of unchecked Kumosenkan capitalism and imperialism…”
Sebastian walked up to one of the man’s aides at the edge of the stage, who promptly ran up to the man himself. A few hushed words were said, before the man cleared his throat.
“I-I have just been informed that, joining us here today to state her case, is the Queen of Franerre herself.”
The dull chatter of the crowd quieted as Jadwega stepped up to the stage. Part of her felt ridiculous, but an even larger part of her felt determined. This was something she could do to help, not be powerless, stuck here in Lusatia. She cleared her throat.
“People of Lusatia, my name is Queen Jadwega Kaine Gwiazda Della Rosa of Franerre. I was born in Franerre to two Lusatian parents. I am a Lusatian citizen, and Lusatian is the first language I ever learned to speak. When my husband first heard that war with Kumosenkan was coming, he sent myself and our two children to Lusatia for our own safety because of the trust and fellowship between our two nations. I am proud to call both Lusatia and Franerre my home, or at least I had been, until I read of the inaction of Komorowski’s government. Lusatia has the power to come to Franerre’s aid, to spare her people suffering and hardship, and to create a friendship between our two nations that will last eternally. And yet, they choose not to act.
And yet, I am still proud to call myself a Lusatian. Why, you may ask? It is because of each and every person in this crowd, and each and every person who continues to protest for Franerre. In all of you is a spine sorely needed in Komorowski’s government. You are the reason I am still proud to call myself a Lusatian. And that is why I stand here today in front of you, and will continue to be here with you, until Komorowski’s government provides the assistance Franerre needs, until someone else does, or until Franerre, bloodied and battered, wins this war by strength of her arms alone.”
The woman herself was short and pale, dark black hair and deep blue eyes. She was the perfect image of a Lusatian woman, and a Lusatian citizen as well, even though it was not the country of her birth. She still considered herself Lusatian, however, and until recently she had been proud to call herself that. Now, she was reconsidering that position. Two of the papers on her desk were newspapers, copies of the Kazimierzgrad Daily Times, issues from a week apart. Inside the first was a copy of her husband’s letter. Inside the second, details of the protests that had gripped the country in response. Calling for some response from the silent government.
The rest of the papers on the study’s desk was the woman’s response to it all. Information about protest locations, drafts and revisions of speeches, even little details like her outfit. Everything she needed to make her entrance at the protests. She was a devout woman, and she knew deep in her heart that God must have put her here for a reason. Dante was managing the war back home to the best of his ability, and it was her job to give him every advantage she could while in Lusatia.
Her name was Queen Jadwega Kaine Gwiazda Della Rosa of Franerre, and it was time she fought for her country.
~
Jadwega softly shut the door to the study, slipping out as to not wake little Catarina, and nearly collided with Anne-Marie, her sister-in-law. She’d evidently been about to knock on the door, and despite her smile it didn’t look like she was simply here for pleasantries. “You never did tell me what you commandeered my study for, Jadwega. Thought I’d take a look for myself, but since you’re here…” she trailed off. Blunt and straight to the point as ever, Anne-Marie was.
“I was planning a little trip into Kazimierzgrad to join the protests,” Jadwega replied, “You should join me. I’d imagine two women of our caliber are better than one.”
Anne-Marie shifted her weight and the smile dropped from her face, causing the floorboards beneath her in the old Lusatian mansion to creek. “I think I’ll have to pass,” Anne-Marie said, “I’m sorry about what’s happening to Franerre -- I really am -- but this isn’t Lusatia’s fight.” Jadwega was flabbergasted, and evidently she wore it on her face, Anne-Marie answering Jadwega’s unspoken question. “Lusatia’s my home, as far as I’m concerned. Here I can vote, have my voice heard, be respected. Things I never had, never was in Franerre. The difference in material conditions doesn’t help your case, either.” She gestured to the lights on the wall. What was a luxury in Franerre was commonplace here in Lusatia. “I would have renounced my citizenship years ago if it wouldn’t have caused a scandal.”
Despite herself, Jadwega chuckled. She may have been born in Franerre, but Jadwega was Lusatian by blood, and here she was defending Franerre against a woman who had more of a claim to the place than she did. “So you’ll be able to watch Caden and Catarina while I’m out?”
“As long as you need.. If you ever need anything, just ask.” A hint of a real smile crept onto the woman’s face. Kind and dependable as ever, Anne-Marie was.
~
Queen Jadwega took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, megaphone in hand. She wore a plain suit. Men’s clothing, something Jadwega thought she’d never be caught dead in back in Franerre, but she felt her words carried more weight than if she wore a dress. The queen almost wished it was a military dress uniform, like the one Dante had, but that wasn’t exactly something Anne-Marie had in her closet, and there was no time to custom tailor an outfit. She would have also liked a crown, or something to signify her royalty, but such were the constraints of her situation. The only sign of her status was the large sapphire necklace she wore over the suit.
The car had stopped as close as it could to the Sejm building, but with the crowds that wasn’t saying much. It was odd, going somewhere without the usual entourage of Royal Guards. It was only a singular man, one Sebastian de Leaux, and he only carried a concealed pistol in his uniform jacket rather than a rifle, unless one counted the crate he carried under one arm. It was also odd not having the crowds part at the sight of her. Some protestors looked at her with confusion before returning to whatever they were doing. Others took note, and whether or not they recognized who Jadwega was, began to whisper about who this important woman was.
Sebastian muscled the pair’s way through the crowd when it got thick closer to their target, until they had reached the front of the parliament building. It seemed like part of her preparations were unneeded; the protestors had already set up a makeshift stage and had a megaphone handy. The red decor on the stage immediately placed the man as a Socialist. Not exactly Jadwega’s first choice, but the Lord worked in mysterious ways.
“...the innocent workers of Franerre, forced to leave their peaceful ways behind to stave off the ravages of unchecked Kumosenkan capitalism and imperialism…”
Sebastian walked up to one of the man’s aides at the edge of the stage, who promptly ran up to the man himself. A few hushed words were said, before the man cleared his throat.
“I-I have just been informed that, joining us here today to state her case, is the Queen of Franerre herself.”
The dull chatter of the crowd quieted as Jadwega stepped up to the stage. Part of her felt ridiculous, but an even larger part of her felt determined. This was something she could do to help, not be powerless, stuck here in Lusatia. She cleared her throat.
“People of Lusatia, my name is Queen Jadwega Kaine Gwiazda Della Rosa of Franerre. I was born in Franerre to two Lusatian parents. I am a Lusatian citizen, and Lusatian is the first language I ever learned to speak. When my husband first heard that war with Kumosenkan was coming, he sent myself and our two children to Lusatia for our own safety because of the trust and fellowship between our two nations. I am proud to call both Lusatia and Franerre my home, or at least I had been, until I read of the inaction of Komorowski’s government. Lusatia has the power to come to Franerre’s aid, to spare her people suffering and hardship, and to create a friendship between our two nations that will last eternally. And yet, they choose not to act.
And yet, I am still proud to call myself a Lusatian. Why, you may ask? It is because of each and every person in this crowd, and each and every person who continues to protest for Franerre. In all of you is a spine sorely needed in Komorowski’s government. You are the reason I am still proud to call myself a Lusatian. And that is why I stand here today in front of you, and will continue to be here with you, until Komorowski’s government provides the assistance Franerre needs, until someone else does, or until Franerre, bloodied and battered, wins this war by strength of her arms alone.”