The Crown (Private|Invite Only)

[Northe Scotland]

Queen Adelaide felt her shoulders drop. Maria Theresa was right, this wasn’t Scotland, this wasn’t her kingdom. But nor was it her mother-in-law’s. She stepped forward and placed a hand on Adrian’s soldier.

“I’m so sorry Adrian. I assure you that I will do whatever I can to change her mind. I’ll will go find André. This isn’t your fault.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

André and Alexandre walked out of the fainting room that they’d taken their Grandmother too, leaving her in the hands of her ducal ladies-in-waiting to attend to her. She was alright, merely a fainting spell. As the two brothers stepped out into the hall, André reached up and his brother across the back of the head.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Ow!”

Alexandre pouted. Who knew that his delicate older brother could hit so hard?

“You nearly killed our grandmother!”

“I didn’t know she was going to collapse.”

“That’s not just the problem Alexandre. Surely you understand that I love you, and I love Adrian, but the two of you... you can’t get married. It is an impossible prospect.”

“Listen, if it’s about Adrian bring a guy, I am not some sort of expert on the LGB— whatever letters they want to adopt. There is nothing saying I can’t marry someone of the same sex. The Duchess of Laufin married a woman after all.”

“The Duchess of Laufin isn’t the grandson of the King-Emperor!”

[Northe Scotland]

Sofia and Adela walked over to either side of Adrian, trying to comfort him.

“Adelaide is right, it’s not your fault Adrikins.”

“Queen Maria Theresa is usually so... well controlled.”

---

Meanwhile the Queen of Scots stormed down the halls of Fontainebleau until she caught sight of her husband and his brother arguing with one another. It appeared that no one was quite pleased today. Adelaide projected her voice, taking up a strong regal tone as she spoke. She was clearly up set and she needed André to understand that.

“André. Your mother just ordered that Adrian be banished. And when I tried to stop her, she declared that it was not my place to intervene as this was not Scotland.”

[Dutch-Empire]

Adrian smiled at Sofia and Adela, liking between the two princesses. He let out a soft sigh. He wanted to believe them, but part of him started to wonder if it was his fault. Had he corrupted Alexandre? Hmm: he thought about it. Probably not. If anything he had always been the responsible one, the one to hold back Alexandre from rushing head first into a situation without regarding others. Except for when he shot that Asakurese asshole in the eye.

“I know. But perhaps I should leave. I’ll stay with my auntie Katherine, maybe allow time for the Queen to cool off.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Andre and Alexandre looked at Adelaide and then at each other confused. Alexandre frowned.

“She is crossing the line.”

“She is still our Mother Alexandre.”

“And she’s lost her mind. I won’t let let her do this.”

Alexandre stormed off to go find his mother, once again assuming his ever so masterful March of a solider. Andre shook his head and sighed. He didn’t want Adrian to be banished, he hated the idea, but he wasn’t sure Alexandre understood the situation he presented to them. He looked to Adelaide with another sigh.

“I wish he wasn’t so headstrong.”

---

Meanwhile several of the many many attendants of the palace were making their way down into the grand foyer, carrying out the belongings of Prince Adrian. Count Prudhomme, Head of the Household stepped into the grand foyer. The Queen of Naples had been quick to order him to get the Dutch-Atmoran out of the palace.

“Prince Adrian, I have called for a car to come and receive you. You’ll have some time to gather yourself before you depart.”

[Dutch-Empire]

Adrian stepped back from Count Prudhomme in surprise. He was serious. Queen Maria Theresa was going to really kick him out of the country. He looked to Princess Sofia and patted her head gently.

“I’ll talk to you later.”

Adrian looked to Prudhomme and walked down the hall, looking to call his aunt, to prepare to leave and arrive in Alexandria.

[Northe Scotland]

Adelaide raised an eyebrow at her husband.

“I think that it is perfectly well for him to be head strong. Your mother has no right. I would think that she more than anyone would understand the importance of being with someone that you love. Regardless of Adrian’s sex or ancestry, he is our friend, our family. It sickens me to know that she can so quickly turn on those she said to love.”

Adelaide walked away. André better find a way to calm his mother.

[Royal Genes]

Queen Maria Theresa was in the fainting room with her mother. The Duchess of Parma was fanning herself while one of her ladies in waiting opened up the window a bit, allowing the cool air of the winter weather to follow inside.

“I can’t believe that child. An Atmoran. A Dutch-Atmoran at that.”

“I know Mother. I don’t... I don’t know what has gotten into him.”

“Well you better find out Thérèsa. You can not allow Alexandre to marry that prince. He needs a good stable, calming wife. He is so much like his father, he knows not what he loves or needs. It is up to you to help him find that.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Alexandre stormed into the room containing his mother and grandmother. Alexandre was furious and the air around almost seem to boil as his fury overflowed. Several of the ladies jumped with a bit of shock as the prince stepped in. He was the Prince Régent’s son and the warrior prince, his face having been plastered all across the Celestial Empire as of late and they had heard rumors of his bold and blunt nature.

“Mother!”

Alexandre growled as he cane to a stop in front of Queen Maria Theresa and the Duchess of Parma. He had heard the tail end of their conversation as he had bursted into the room and he was not happy. It only further infuriated him. The royal guards raised a few eyebrows as the prince proceeded to snap at his mother.

“How dare you! You have no right to send Adrian away! You should be ashamed of yourself!”

[Royal Genes]

The Duchess of Parma gasped at her grandson, horrified by his disobedience and outspokenness. So beautiful on the outside, and yet she was showing nothing but ugliness on the inside. The Duchess of Parma snapped her fan shut and narrowed her eyes at her grandson.

“Oh, my bello nipote, you should watch your mouth. You should nevet talk to your mother in such a fashion.”

Maria Theresa nodded to her mother as she stood up from her seat and stared up into her son’s eyes, a sad look in her face. The Queen of Naples was an affectionate person, never known to be quite assertive, much unlike the Duchess of Parma, but she was sure that Now was the time for her to tough.

“I sweet child, surely you know that it can never be between you two. It is best to erase false hope from the start then to leave you heartbroken.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Alexandre rolled his eyes but looked to his mother, his grandmother was right. Partly. He didn’t wish to be rude to his dear mother.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you mère, but only for that. You are wrong. I don’t care that Adrian is Dutch, or Atmoran or a guy. If he were a Spanish princess I’d still feel the same. He’d hasn’t corrupted me and it’s not wrong. Any excuse you might find is, plainly, stupid. I will not stand for it!”

[Royal Genes]

Queen Maria Theresa sighed and turned her back and sat back down. How could her son be so foolish and so headstrong? And to demand that she resend her banishment? No, she would not do it. Adrian was fine as a guest, he was welcome to return to dating that lovely Scottish girl, and Alexandre, why he could fall in love with a boy all he wanted. But she would not have the Prince of Wied for a son-in-law.

“No. Adrian shall leave Fontainebleau, he shall leave the Celestial Empire. And you? You are to be confined to your apartments until your father returns home. We will discuss the issue more then.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

At this, the royal guards stepped forward. Alexandre may have been young, and he may have a broken arm, but he was still the same Prince who had ripped apart Seidang, and they didn’t trust him to go quietly.

Alexandre didn’t notice the guards at first though, more shocked at his own mother.

“What? You are grounding me?”

[Royal Genes]

The Queen of Naples waved her hand dismissively.

“I prefer the term... using constructive behavioral management. You are not to leave your apartments save for meals with the family, any royal duties that may require your attendance. I shall send your tutors to you. As I said, once your father has returned, we may discuss the matter more. That is all.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Now it was time for Alexandre’s jaw to drop. He’d never been grounded before. Not when he’d ruined his courtship with Archduchess Amalia, not when he’d borrowed the royal yacht, or when he’d orchestrated a plan that resulting in Lord Akio’s eye being shot out. The Prince did something in a mix of a pout and a scowl.

“This is so unfair.”

The guards stepped forward and escorted the Prince out of the room, guarding him as they took him to his apartments in the palace.

---

Meanwhile on the front steps of the palace, as snow fell, Count Prudhomme over saw the packing of the prince of Wied’s things into the car. As the attendants finished, the count ordered them inside and looked to Adrian.

“It is a pity you have to leave. You... fit so well with His Royal Highness. I hope you may one day return.”

With that the count walked up the steps and back into the palace, the doors closing behind him.

[Aeisonia]

Sorry to interrupt, but is this like a story?
Again, really sorry.

[Dutch-Empire]

Adrian sighed as Count Prudhomme stepped inside of the Palace of Fontainebleau and the doors closed behind him. Adrian looked up into the sky as snow fell. It had been snowing when Adrian had first arrived in Fontainebleau when he had been just a small child, little more than a toddler really at the time. He had been mesmerized by the snow. Having ground up in the hot and humid climate of the Dutch East Indies an the moderate climate of Mizuho and Atmora, he had yet to experience snow until he’d arrived in Fontainebleau. Snow had greeted and charmed him as he had been brought into that glittering world. Now it escorted him out coldly and unforgivingly, perhaps for the last time.

Adrian walked down the steps and stepped into the car. The driver pulled off and went around the circle of the driveway as the snow swirled around them. He was heading to the airport, going to see his aunt and his sister in Atmora. As the car passed through the gold and obsidian gates of Fontainebleau, Adrian looked back and thought of Count Prudhomme’s words. He whispered to himself and to the snow as he as the distance grew between him and Fontainebleau, between him and Alexandre, between him and...

“I hope so too.”

And with that, the glittering world of Fontainebleau, for Adrian, disappeared into the snow.

[Les Etats Connuriste]

January 21

Alice of Connuriste had lived a quiet life back in Switzerland since the death of her second husband back in 2074. She had not been bothered about anything that was remotely in the public eye, she had just wished to spend whatever time she had left close to her family. Even as recently as two decades ago, it had just been her and her only son. It was a challenge in the past few years to keep up with just how many grandchildren she had, but a challenge she had been more than willing to take on. Since approximately Christmas time, however, she had not been in the best of health, and as always she played it down. But shortly after the turn of the new year, Alice had taken a turn for the worse and passed on peacefully in her sleep. Today marked her funeral.

Emperor Connor II paced back and forth, aided in his contemplation by a cigarette. He rarely touched the things, the taste or the smell was hardly regal, but he still enjoyed them. To him, a cigarette meant the occasional five minute break from everything, a little time to spend outside, de-stress and think over things. And it was his own mother who had given him the tip about smoking. Naturally, you didn't do it in the public eye, but in his line of work stress was always a worry, to varying degrees. He often found that removing himself from a situation temporarily was a helpful way of coming up with a better and more useful perspective. He sighed as he stubbed it out, heading back inside from the gardens. Often in his household it was his wife who called the shots, but today it fell on him to be in charge. After all, they were all gathering for his mother.

He was a little surprised that he felt mostly alright. Had the past two decades mostly desensitised him? Perhaps, or perhaps not. Now this wasn't easy, and there was no such thing as a simple goodbye, but it was a good deal less complicated and less painful than his own son, Julian, and he was even handling this much better than that time where practically the whole world thought Empress Charlotte was dead. Or at least he was doing okay right at this very moment. Connor half expected for a lot of feelings to hit him like a truck at some point later. He was confident that as long as it wasn't on camera, being broadcast to the whole nation, or directly in front of all the other world leaders and royal families, it would be okay. Today was a big day, he had a lot to do, and from experience he knew that having things on your plate in these times was always a welcome distraction.

Many parents struggled to make sure their two or three children were ready enough to go to school in the morning, yet Connor and Charlotte had children in the double digits, and it had to be made sure that they were perfect. He was undecided as to whether some of the younger ones should have gone, namely Valentin, Andrae, Mary, Sofia and Gioele, and admittedly he fared better with his older children, especially his eldest. Crown Princess Emily hardly needed supervision all the time but her father would be a liar if he said he had no favourites. She quite literally acted as an older sister towards her siblings, in the sense that a few of them looked up to her. Princess Alexia meanwhile was only a year younger but had a rebellious nature which made her difficult to be a mentor to, whereas the older lads, George and Frederick, did not present such challenges. Regardless, he felt the state funeral earlier had gone as well as it possibly could have. If anything, the event had just given him clarity about what he wanted to do with the rest of his own life. Sometimes you need a shock to the system to realise what you should truly appreciate.

The reception was to meet at Lausanne Manor, which typically functioned as a family home, but was more than equipped for a function such as this. A palace it may not have been, but it remained the most treasured property Connor and Charlotte owned and it was large and beautiful. The gardens and even the lakeside as parts of the property would be good places to mill about even if you weren't inside. Emperor Connor II, solemn, stoic and dignified, wore one of his best black suits ; in Connuriste like most places it was considered the color of death. The Crown Princess, even in funeral attire, seemed to dazzle and look stunning in a black dress. Her father could not help but notice how she was so similar to how his own mother once had been at a young age, dark-haired, mild-mannered and brilliantly clever. It was fitting that Alice were one of her middle names, fitting that she were named for the two women his own father loved.

[Great Hyruke]

Charlotte pressed her lips to the glass of wine, a find homegrown Merlot. Her husband had his own vices for dealing with stress and Charlotte had her own. She was glad that she wasn’t pregnant at a time like this, or otherwise she wouldn’t have known how to deal with Alice’s death and funeral.

The Empress of Connuriste has always admired Alice, even if their relationship hadn’t been as close as she might have liked. Charlotte had always feared that Alice hadn’t liked her, after all what was Charlotte but the woman who replaced her as empress, married and hurt her only son all those years ago? Charlotte had a sneaking suspicion that Alice had been... disappointed in her.

And perhaps she had been right to be so.

Charlotte set down her glass. The reception was going to start soon and Charlotte would have to once again place the part of empress. So many people for years had always looked at Charlotte and just assumed that she was strong one, she was the leader, she was the one in command. And for years Charlotte had run from that. For years later, she had relented and decided to play the part that so many thought that she was made for, acting as a leader in her household and outside of it. But not today.

Today was not about her. Today was her mother-in-law’s funeral, the loss of the only family that Connor had had before their children. Today was about his mother. And Charlotte had no right and no wish to steal that from him. Today Charlotte would take on a role that for so many years has challenged her, the role of the quiet supportive wife. As she wished for to stand by Connor’s side and let him know that she loved him and that she was there to support him in this time of sorrow.

Charlotte told another sip of her wine. She’d have to stop soon. But just a moment longer. She let out a mournful sigh. The funeral had been quiet lovely at least. She’d wish they hadn’t had to bring all the children, her youngest, Gioele was only a month away from his first birthday. But that was the way of royalty. They had a duty to be there and stand tall. She should know, she came from a country we’re a stiff upper lip was the default expression.

But even so Charlotte had made an executive decision to keep the younger children away from the reception. They should allowed to mourn their grandmother quietly and Charlotte was afraid of having to control them all. She’d ordered the nannies, a team of them that Charlotte directed with the iron fist of any world leader or mother, to permit only the eldest seven to attend, the crown princess of course, Alexia, George, the twins Frederick and Adela, William and Charlotte. Princess Charlotte was the youngest one her mother would allow at 15.

Birthing and raising nearly twenty children had take its toll on the Empress. She worked hard to connect with them, some would say she even smothered them, but she had been so descent with her elder children, she had promised not to make the same mistake. On her body too rolls had been taken. Famed for her beauty, Charlotte had become somewhat obsessed on the issue and when she wasn’t pregnant she forced herself into extreme health regiments to keep her famous slim figure and beauty.

Charlotte sighed and set down the glass and stood up. Charlotte wore an out of character black dress, she was famous for almost constantly wearing white, and Charlotte had even pondered wearing white, for in many nations it was the color of death instead of black, but had decided against it. It was right around her slim waist and it ended half way between her ankles and her knees. As Charlotte turned away from the unfinished glass she was startled as she came faced to face with another black clad woman.

Charlotte: “Oi!”

Charlotte gasped, grasping at her heart as she stumbled back from the figure. Charlotte scowled at the unexpected guest, Auguste of Serbia.

Charlotte: “Mother!”

Auguste: “Charlotte my darling daughter.”

Charlotte: “What on earth are you doing her?”

Auguste: “Contrary to popular belief, I am not a heartless bitch.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath. Yes, her mother did certainly have a heart. One that simply refused to stop beating, despite all the husband’s she’d gone through. Charlotte loved her mother, but she, like any daughter, also kind of hated her. Auguste raised an eyebrow at the wine and picked up the glass, inspecting it.

Auguste: “Besides. Alice and I were friends you know. She was so bold and blunt, an absolutely delightful wing woman if I do say so myself. Not to mention hilarious. And the stories that she could tell—”

Charlotte: “Mother.”

Auguste: “I thought you hated drinking.”

Charlotte: “Mother, why are you here?”

Auguste frowned and let out a soft sigh. She set down the glass down on the table and wiped her eye. She looked to her daughter and walked past her.

Auguste: “I came here to mourn a friend and make sure that my son-in-law and grandchildren are okay. Not everything is about you Charlotte.”

With that Auguste walked out of the room, her floor length black dress, as elaborate as ever with shades of black on black, a long black veil on her head. As she stepped out she found her favorite granddaughter, Alexia standing there waiting for her mother. Alexia, unlike her elder sister was not the classic model princess. She had dark black hair like her grandmothers and her father’s eyes. Instead of a regal gown like her sister she wore a black coatdress, blood red lipstick and dark black mascara with black boots with silver spikes.

Auguste gave her a grin.

Auguste: “Alexia.”

Alexia: “Dowager.”

Auguste smirked and walked by as Alexia called for her mother to come out. The Empress of Connuriste stepped out of her room and gave her daughter a weak smile. The three went to go to the reception.

[Beliany]

King Leopold of Beliany and his second wife Queen Antoinette had arrived in Lausanne for the reception of former Empress Alice of Connuriste’s funeral. King Leopold, the older brother of Empress Charlotte, was there to pay his respects to the late empress and make sure that her family received his condolences. He had found the state funeral for the late Empress had been lovely and quite respectful to the legacy and position of Alice. The King of Beliany had done a black uniform for the occasion and walked arm in arm with his wife as they exited their limousine and walked up to the Imperial manor.

[Les Etats Connuriste]

Connor II was always glad to see Leopold, in fact, like with a lot of his royal friends and allies, he wished he saw a little more of them. Then again, Leopold since taking the throne of Beliany was a busier man than he used to be. The Emperor of Connuriste had always liked him - not only because he was basically Charlotte's favourite brother or because he was a fantastic pianist, but also for the six months or so he had been left in charge of Connuriste a decade ago back in 2070. Leopold had always been well liked in the country and more so after that.

Connor knew comparatively little about Queen Antoinette, but what he had heard was all very positive, such as the work she did with her own people and charities. He had liked and respected the late Queen Cécile, and he trusted that Leopold had fallen for another lovely woman.

"Your Majesties, it is good to the see the both of you here. I only wish it were under better circumstances."

[Polonge]

Queen Antoinette of Beliany offered Emperor Connor a small smile. The Queen consort of Beliany had heard all good things about the emperor from her husband, though she’d never meet him. She did wish that her meeting him had been under better circumstances. She loathed funerals and death. Ironic coming from a woman who’d married Leopold, once known as the Widower King. The death of Queen Cécile has been especially hard on her husband, and her predecessors shadow still at times seem to loom over her.

And as such she could only imagine what the emperor felt having his mother, his only parent, die. Her own father had been murdered, and the death had been incredibly hard on her, so she could partially understand the feeling. But to lose a mother, that was a truly great loss. The smoothed her black dress and spoke softly from her husband’s side.

“My condolences Your Majesty.”

[Beliany]

King Leopold nodded in agreement with his wife.

“Alice was such a good woman, an excellent monarch and a terrific mother. It works will be a dimmer place without her. But I am sure that she shall go on to a better place than this one in heaven. Her time her was well used and while shortly than what we might have wished, wears all children at the whim of God’s plans and in his hands.”

[Les Etats Connuriste]

Connor II managed a weak, sad smile at the King's and Queen's words as he showed them inside, keeping himself together. Connor was a man that normally in his day to day life did little to manage his emotions. In fact he had let himself be ruled by them too much and for too long, but his mother would have wanted him to be strong, especially in front of guests. He poured himself a small drink, a strong and expensive whiskey. He preferred it on the rocks rather than neat, it diluted it ever so slightly but with just a little ice it improved the taste, and of course no-one really wants a warm drink. Whiskey made him tired if he strung a couple of them together in a short while, but one of the beauties of whiskey was that you could occupy yourself with just the one for a long while. A glass of it typically lasted you longer than with other alcohol, and the strength made even the smallest sip satisfying. For now, he was just about coping. He had lived with the trauma of the Archeon bombing and what the Mad King had done to his son. He had lived with the absence of the woman he loved for months and months without knowing anything of her wellbeing. By comparison a peaceful death in one's sleep seemed kinder. But he was already thinking of the past, of all the times he had with his mother. And even the best memories were going to get corrupted with sadness, looking into the past meant he had to confront other things too.

He took the first sip of his drink, savouring the way it warmed his insides, looking up to see that Alexia, Charlotte and her mother were there. Whilst Alexia wore black maybe even more often than not, it was uncharacteristic of his wife to not be wearing white. Not that it was a bad thing. Regardless, to see them did cheer him up the slightest bit, even Auguste. Connor had always found her intriguing, for lack of a better word, he was never too entirely sure what to think of her. He had always liked and respected her without really knowing properly why exactly or whether he really should. She had never done wrong by him personally though, and she was family, even if not by blood. On a day like today, he was simply thankful for everyone who came to pay their respects, and especially those who had actually known his mother better than others.

[Great Hyruke]

Alexia gave her father a small smile. Alexia wasn’t usually all for Family togetherness, when you had enough siblings to have a sports game, one started to grow annoyed with constantly being around them. But even Alexia, despite what people might think, wasn’t a self absorbed party girl— at least not all the time, she had a heart. She may not be perfect like her older sister Emily, but she was sweet deep, deep down. She knew how important Gran was to her dad. Alexia had been shocked by her grandmother’s death. She’d always assumed Gran would outlive Dowager, what Alexia affectionately and jokingly called Auguste.

Alexia walked over to her dad and gave him a small smile. She gave a small nod to the King of Beliany, her uncle Leopold.

Alexia: “Hi dad, how’re you doing?”

The Empress of Connuriste stood next to her husband and place a hand on his arm. So he was drinking too. And smoking apparently. She could smell it faintly on him. She loathed when he smoked, it wasn’t healthy. Unluckily he didn’t do it often, but it did concern her that he was so shaken that he returning to it. Charlotte smiled at her brother, Leopold had always been her favorite brother, they were the closest in age and were often mistaken for twins. She looked at her husband. He seemed to have a cloud over him, though she wasn’t all that surprise considering what today was. She squeezed his arm slightly, supportively.