Post by callmedelta on Sept 24, 2023 1:53:32 GMT -5
It was the nearly the worst scenario imaginable for Franerre. Invaded from two fronts by a superior foe, with no chance of reinforcements ever arriving. Franerre’s previous government had been paralyzed by petty squabbles. That would do no more. In times of crisis like this, there was only one option: martial law. The very existence of Franerre as a state was threatened -- everything and everyone in Franerre must be mobilized to meet this threat. The Kingdom would become an Absolute Monarchy for the duration of the war. The words of Queen Jadwega Kaine Gwiazda Della Rosa were law. Of course, this did not happen easily…
~
“Q-Queen Jadwiga, surely you can not be serious?” Dufour asked.
“I am deathly serious, First Chamberman,” the Queen answered. The ‘deathly’ part was no exaggeration -- Jadwiga felt moments away from shooting the man. She had no idea how Dante had ever put up with him. “It is a simple calculus. I cannot leave Franerre. Morale among the country would plummet. There is a chance that Franerre falls in this battle. If that happens, our entire government cannot fall with them. Right now, First Chamberman Dufour, you are the most important man in that government. And you can still serve Franerre from Ashinara, securing our alliance with the foxes. But you need to physically be there to do so, and you must move fast. I have no doubt Galra is already tying their naval noose. If you don’t leave now, you will never leave Franerre.” The Queen paused, letting the information sink into Dufour. “I already have a boat chartered for my children. It leaves in the hour, with or without you.”
“I suppose I have to pack my bags, then,” Dufour replied. In as much hurry as he could manage while being courteous, Dufour left the conference room, leaving Queen Jadwiga with Verenes.
Despite being invited to the meeting, Verenes had thus far been silent. Part of the blame lay on the sheer speed of Dufour’s blathering, but it wasn’t as if he didn't have the experience necessary to be heard with how often the two got into shouting matches. “I know what you're doing, Your Highness,” Verenes spoke, coldly. “You simply want the two of us out of the way.”
“I do want you out of the way,” the Queen said, “But to claim that is ‘simply’ the reason is incorrect. I-”
“Dufour knows this, too, Your Highness,” Verenes interrupted, “He’s simply a craven coward out for his own skin. But why me?”
“A simple reason, Verenes.” The Queen produced a sealed scroll, handing it to the man. “If I die, I want you to be the First Chamberman of whatever’s left of Franerre. I want you to make sure Dufour can’t do a damn thing while he’s in Ashinara -- push him off the side of a boat if you have to. For you to do that, you need to be in Ashinara.”
“How convenient, then, that I must leave the country as well,” Verenes said.
“It can be politically convenient for my aims and a sensible move, Verenes, now get on that damned boat.”
~
“Are you going to die, Mom?”
The blunt question from the normally quiet Caden stunned Jadwiga. The pair stood on the docks, Caterina and her wetnurse already on the ship. The child just wouldn’t stop crying. Jadwiga was surprised that Caden wasn’t joining his sister in that regard. Jadwiga bent down, pulling Caden in close. “Of course not, sweety, I-”
“Liar.” That one word stung even worse than the question did. When had her child grown such a sharp tongue? “I’m eight years old, Mom. I saw Dad die, Mom.” Jadwiga didn’t know if she could accurately describe the look on Caden’s face, but it was one of deep pain and fear. A face no eight year old boy should be making. A face far, far too many children would be making in the near future.
“I…I might,” Jadwiga answered. That answer broke the floodgates, tears spilling forth from Caden’s eyes. Jadwiga hugged him close, knowing in her heart this may be the last time she saw her child. Oh, what a last memory to have of him. “The boat is leaving soon, but there is one thing you need to promise me, Caden.” Sniffling, the child looked up with tear filled eyes. ”Be a strong older sister to Caterina. Be a strong man. Whatever happens, survive.”
~
“Q-Queen Jadwiga, surely you can not be serious?” Dufour asked.
“I am deathly serious, First Chamberman,” the Queen answered. The ‘deathly’ part was no exaggeration -- Jadwiga felt moments away from shooting the man. She had no idea how Dante had ever put up with him. “It is a simple calculus. I cannot leave Franerre. Morale among the country would plummet. There is a chance that Franerre falls in this battle. If that happens, our entire government cannot fall with them. Right now, First Chamberman Dufour, you are the most important man in that government. And you can still serve Franerre from Ashinara, securing our alliance with the foxes. But you need to physically be there to do so, and you must move fast. I have no doubt Galra is already tying their naval noose. If you don’t leave now, you will never leave Franerre.” The Queen paused, letting the information sink into Dufour. “I already have a boat chartered for my children. It leaves in the hour, with or without you.”
“I suppose I have to pack my bags, then,” Dufour replied. In as much hurry as he could manage while being courteous, Dufour left the conference room, leaving Queen Jadwiga with Verenes.
Despite being invited to the meeting, Verenes had thus far been silent. Part of the blame lay on the sheer speed of Dufour’s blathering, but it wasn’t as if he didn't have the experience necessary to be heard with how often the two got into shouting matches. “I know what you're doing, Your Highness,” Verenes spoke, coldly. “You simply want the two of us out of the way.”
“I do want you out of the way,” the Queen said, “But to claim that is ‘simply’ the reason is incorrect. I-”
“Dufour knows this, too, Your Highness,” Verenes interrupted, “He’s simply a craven coward out for his own skin. But why me?”
“A simple reason, Verenes.” The Queen produced a sealed scroll, handing it to the man. “If I die, I want you to be the First Chamberman of whatever’s left of Franerre. I want you to make sure Dufour can’t do a damn thing while he’s in Ashinara -- push him off the side of a boat if you have to. For you to do that, you need to be in Ashinara.”
“How convenient, then, that I must leave the country as well,” Verenes said.
“It can be politically convenient for my aims and a sensible move, Verenes, now get on that damned boat.”
~
“Are you going to die, Mom?”
The blunt question from the normally quiet Caden stunned Jadwiga. The pair stood on the docks, Caterina and her wetnurse already on the ship. The child just wouldn’t stop crying. Jadwiga was surprised that Caden wasn’t joining his sister in that regard. Jadwiga bent down, pulling Caden in close. “Of course not, sweety, I-”
“Liar.” That one word stung even worse than the question did. When had her child grown such a sharp tongue? “I’m eight years old, Mom. I saw Dad die, Mom.” Jadwiga didn’t know if she could accurately describe the look on Caden’s face, but it was one of deep pain and fear. A face no eight year old boy should be making. A face far, far too many children would be making in the near future.
“I…I might,” Jadwiga answered. That answer broke the floodgates, tears spilling forth from Caden’s eyes. Jadwiga hugged him close, knowing in her heart this may be the last time she saw her child. Oh, what a last memory to have of him. “The boat is leaving soon, but there is one thing you need to promise me, Caden.” Sniffling, the child looked up with tear filled eyes. ”Be a strong older sister to Caterina. Be a strong man. Whatever happens, survive.”