The Meeting of Imperials (Meillur Only)

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani’s mind raced as she searched to the best course of action. Her biggest issue was her absence from the Celestial Empire and what her limited influence, particularly from far away, would have on her son’s position on the throne. Andeja, her first born, was good and sweet, if naïve. There were times she’d wondered if she and her late husband had kept him too removed from the authorities of the throne. It had seemed so far away, there had been two generations between her son and the emperor when he’d been born. The swift deaths of Andeja II and Andeja III had come two quickly.

The Duke of Alencon was not a bad man, at least not in Marijani’s opinion, but he was all ideals with his only practical skills being use of force. He would try to liberalize the empire, something Marijani actually agreed with, but the Duke would end up doing with the empire at gun point. A recipe for disaster. Andeja IV needed advisors. Marijani had been satisfied in his circle of friends, all modern thinking members of the aristocracy, but her chief favorite and the one who’s been by far the most intelligent and would have helped guide her son was in Patuania.

Marijani had read the reports of her son’s antics, and reading between the lines she could clearly see the influence of Keoni Rohan. A good young man, but not the best advisor for an Emperor. Cecile Dupuy for some reason unknown to Marijani seemed to not have taken charge as she would have expected. The Duke of Alencon seemed to have thought he could fix this with his doomed engagement of Alexandrine Hollande to Marijani’s son. No. Her son didn’t need a teacher or lecturer. He needed a peer who could help him from behind the throne. Or perhaps beside it.

The Mother Empress needed a voice in her son’s ear. The Celestial Empire would need a distraction from her exit and what better way than the arrival of a new Empress? If Marijani timed it right, if she selected the right candidate, she could enthrall her son and the Empire so that most might not notice her remarriage till it was already done. And in the process she would keep some power however soft and informal to steer the nation on the right path.

Her mind then turned to Ziyanda. Her daughter, second born and even in the 22nd century, was by some looked over because she was a girl. The teen would likely be more temperamental than her brother at her mother’s departure. How mad was she likely now already? Marijani had promised Ziyanda to be back in a matter of two weeks when she’d last saw her. What might she have thought up in the intervening months? And Marijani could not remedy that. Until Andeja IV had a child of his own, girl or not, Ziyanda was his heir. She’d have to remain in the Celestial Empire.

[Nemidia]

Minixus set his book Dow for the moment, having decided that he had read enough, and instead grabbed his fountain pen from its ink well, and grabbed a book, a journal, and turned to the last page he had written on, which already had several lines of written words on it.

He started writing down the events, and his thoughts that had gone through his head for the day, it was a way to catalogue and manage his emotions and thoughts. He became completely focused on his writing, and lost track of time, paying meticulous attention to every line and curve that he wrote, creating absolutely gorgeous calligraphy as he wrote, one would forgiven for thinking that it had been made using a printer, and it was something that Minixus genuinely enjoyed doing.

[Kingdom of Derita]

As time passed, the framework of Marijani’s plan, her latest campaign, this one while at the moment held in the confines of her mind stretched from Nemidia to Great Hyruke. She rose from her seat and smoothed her white dress and stepped out of the guest room that she’d laid claim to and called for a servant. She had thought it through and she had a plan, and now she had need of discussing it with Minixus.

[Nemidia]

A servant approached the empress, and said "The emperor is in his study, follow me please."

The servant wore a simple suit and tie, with the exception of a simple pin over the suit pocket, in the shape of the Imperial Emblem made out of platinum. The man lead the empress down the halls, and up a flight of stairs a single floor, before taking a right. The man then made his way down the hallway to a door, made of solid oak, but with nothing to really tell it apart as being a door to particularly special room. The servant knocked, and the emperors voice echoed from inside.

"Come in."

The servant turned the door knob, and pushed the door open, the reveal Minixus, who was still sitting there, writing, although he was no longer writing in his journal, instead he was simply writing poetry, with no particular topic in mind except what came to his mind at that particular moment.

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani followed the servant, studying the hallway and quietly memorizing the path that they had taken. The Mother Empress swept into the study, noting that the emperor was writing something, his handwriting producing magnificent arcs and curves with each stroke, but she said nothing about it. Instead she stood in front of him, as if she were at a podium before a crowd at some imperial function, a feeling that she was very used to despite having worn her crown for only a thousand and two days.

“In the history of the Celestial Empire, twelve women have married Emperors, myself included. Of those twelve, three never became empress, dying before their husbands ascended the throne. Of the nine who did, four died before their husbands- two after their abdications and two while they still sat on the throne. Thus there have been one Empress Dowager and four Mother Empresses. None have ever remarried. In accepting your engage I will be creating a new category, breaking centuries of tradition.”

Marijani took a breath.

“Luckily I am not bound by tradition. I believe in looking to the future, not the past. But I understand that the Celestial Empire is one built on traditions that go back millennium. I want understand your reasoning for your proposal and While I admit it was not what I expect, after much consideration I reaffirm that I agree with it. But as it shall greatly effect how I live my life and my relations in the nation I have called home for the last thirty years, I have conditions.”

[Nemidia]

Minixus listened to the Empress carefully, gently returning his pen to its ink fountain as he did so, not much of what she said was particularly surprising, especially her statement that she would have conditions, he had expected as much. However, once she was finished, he spoke with honesty, feeling no need to hide his intentions.

“I figured that you would have conditions, and I am willing to hear them. As for my reasonings It is quite simple, many of the duchesses and princesses in this world simply are not well suited to the role of Empress, many of them would be incompetent in the task of assisting in the running of the Emoire, making them little better of a choice than a common shopgirl, and at least then I could be confident that a shopgirl would have an understanding of managing money and how things on the street were, which could be potentially vital information, and those that are competent will have more strings attached to them than the mast of a clipper, be they from their own family, their home country, or their own desires and ambitions for personal wealth, simply put, it could take me another decade or so to find one properly, or at least adequately suited, and that may very well be time that I do not have in the world that we live in.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani raised an eyebrow as Minixus made comments on the difficulty finding a proper woman to be an empress. She herself had only begun making considerations for her son’s behalf before departing. The choice of Princess Oruk, though not particularly liked by herself, had been made from slim selections. Selections which had grown only slimmer since then.

“I was a princess before I became empress,” Marijani said matter of factly. “My daughter is a princess. Do you think me less than competent than a shopgirl?” The look in her eyes made it clear that that was a rhetorical question.

“It seems to me then that we are most fortunately aligned. My conditions are largely simple. I wish for perpetual friendship between Nemidia and the Celestial Empire. I will not oppose my children, nor have them fight amongst one another. I have already informed you of the time line of events that best serve me. On a personal level I believe we should treat each other with respect. In marriage, even in ones of state, affection is preferred. But if after trial is found wanting, I pragmatically believe in faithfulness till an heir and freedom after a spare should such a case arise.”

[Nemidia]

Minixus simply nodded as she listed off her requests, one of which he had already planned on, at least in part, as it was a necessary part of ensuring security of the Empire, by ensuring a friendly relationship, or at least amicable relationship, with its two neighbors across the water.

He let her finish, listening carefully, before he decided to speak.

“The condition of relations with the Celestial Empire is a redundant point, it was already on my list of priorities. But we are in agreement on all other conditions. I have no intentions to treat a wife of mine with anything but respect, and as far as an heir, there is no need to be in such a rush for one, if I absolutely need to, I have the authority to appoint and adopt an heir if it becomes necessary, but if that is what you wish, then I will agree to it.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani took her turn, nodding her head in agreement save till his last point. That was something she hadn’t expected. Marijani while in the guest room had thought over her potential to have more children. She still had her courses and though she was older, she new that women in her family, like her cousin Alice and her grandmother had had children at even older ages than she was now. She was confident that she could have another child. Perhaps. But having one would, for both her sake and that of said child would do better to happen sooner than later.

“I admit even I am not that liberal minded. Hereditary monarchy is something that is quite literally in my blood. While appointment or adoption of an heir is a reasonable thing, and I respect it, I only ask that any children we have take priority over all other potential candidates to succession.”

[Nemidia]

The emperor listened to her intently, before he gave her response.

“Well of course, I think that any Imperial or Royal would prefer their children rise to the throne, but if that is what you wish then I shall respect your decision.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani smiled. In all honesty she found that when dealing rational people it was almost surprisingly easy to get to a suitable agreement for both parties. It seemed most conflict in the world came from those who were simply too narrow sighted to tear their attention from simply inflicting pain upon others or just as often didn’t have the skill to get what they wanted efficiently. Such a pity.

“Good. Then let’s get that in writing,” said Marijani, clasping her hands together. It was her experience that even when making secret treaties or marriage contracts, it was imperative to have documentation, just in case.

[Nemidia]

Minixus simply nodded, and opened a drawer of his desk, and pulled out a piece of paper, which he then laid out on the desk, before writing up the terms exactly as they had discussed and agreed upon, just as carefully as he had wrote his poems and his journal notes. When he was finished with that, he wrote his own signature near the bottom, with painstaking care and attention to detail, as if he were painting a work of art.

He then offered the fountain pen to her, and turned the paper to her for her to read and then sign.

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani took the pen and then studied the paper, reviewing all the terms and conditions once more— her mother had been a politician and her grandmother a lawyer and her father was a businessman and thus inspecting contracts was something Marijani and her sister had been taught from the moment they could read. Confident in it, and admiring Minixus’ handwriting, Marijani signed her name in graceful cursive.

[Nemidia]

Minixus watched her sign her name on the paper and simply nodded in satisfaction, before grabbing a simple wooden stamp, and an ink stamp tray, and pressing the stamp into the tray before taking it and pressing it down on an empty section of the signed document then, leaving a purple impression of the Imperial Emblem on it, before speaking

“So it is done, is there anything else that you would like to discuss and add before I file the agreement?”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani did not hesitate as she responded.

“In terms of the conditions and agreements I don’t believe there is any matter I find rather pressing in need of discussion on my part. You are more than welcome to introduce any new topics if you wish.”

[Nemidia]

Minixus nodded, thinking carefully over the topics that he had planned to cover, and checked each one off. He was, for the moment, satisfied, it had gone better than he had expected, so he counted it as a success, at least for now, as only time would tell how good of a decision he had actually made.

“I believe that is all.”

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani smiled, spinning a small circle as she took in the study around her, her mourning shawl twisting in the movement as it dragged behind her. This was a risky move she had made. But what was life without risk? She hadn’t become empress in the first place without risk. Satisfied in her inspection of the room she turned back to Minixus.

“Shall we eat then? Nemidia’ said emperor has offered me a husband and crown, I’m curious what your cooks have to offer.”

[Nemidia]

Minixus smiled, admiring her for a moment as she spun, and took the reading glasses off of his face, and folded them carefully before returning them to their leather case, and back to the drawer where it belonged. He then took the signed paper, and opened another drawer, filled to the brim with folders, both marked and unmarked, and placed it in one of the marked one.

He then stood up, and grabbed his cane before saying "Of course, I think that you shall be pleasantly surprised, I could make claims about fresh grown produce, but I think I would rather let the food speak for itself."

He opened walked to the door, and opened it and motioned for her to exit the room first.

[Kingdom of Derita]

“I certainly hope so,” Marijani, keeping her hands clasped as she walked confidently out of the room, each step as graceful as if she were dancing on moonlight.

“After one spends months on military campaign you’d think you’d grow use to the food. And while not wholly terrible, I admit that it is not preferable even after all this time. I miss proper chefs and kitchens. I’m told the Genoise royals supply their kitchens with all their food stocks on their grounds. I imagine that is not quite the same here lest there is a farm hidden away somewhere between her and the waterfall?”

[Nemidia]

The emperor watched the way she walked, and took note of her body language, she seemed almost cheerful, although that was based on her actions and mannerisms at the moment, compared to what they were a few minutes ago.

He followed her, closing the door behind him, and locking i, before turning back towards her, and speaking.

“No, but that isn’t needed when most of the country is farmland, and I do get most of the fresh fish for the palace from fisherman in the city docks.”

He lead her down the hall, notably was that the theme of the art in the hallway was different from that elsewhere, instead being composed of paintings of majestic sailing ships, and even a few models of them, crafted to exquisite detail, as if they were a miniature version of the very ships they were based on, most notably was a large three foot long model of a particular windjammer, a pride of the Nemidian Maritime Trade Fleet, with five masts, but it also was a graceful vessel, with a hull designed to cut through the water like a knife, making it clear that, despite its size, it was not a slow ship, and the words ‘Empress of the Isle’ were stenciled onto the frontal side.

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani listened. In all honesty she had never considered where the food at the Celestial Court came from. The highlands were covered in rural farm areas and thus one could expect it to come from nearby in Gaosa, but Aukusa City was a metropolis used to importing things from the countryside.

Her attention shifted to that of the hall of ships, each with sails like floating clouds. She looked over the models. She was reminded of her sister telling her that her brother-in-law simply adored making and operating model train sets. Marijani’s late emperor had not been very much of a hobbies man, unless one called smoking cigars and scaring people with his tigers a hobby.

“A title that will belong to me no?” Marijani said with a small laugh as she looked from the large model to Minixus. “Did you make these yourself?”

[Nemidia]

Minixus smirked at her joke about the ships name.

"Not all of them" Minixus admitted, he had personally made a few, however, he did not have the same level of craftsmanship of some of the artisans that had made the better made ones. He stopped, and approached the model of the windjammer and said "II enjoy art in all of its forms, and I do what I can to encourage the growth of those aspiring artists whom show talent, regardless of where they come from, and why shouldn't someone be rewarded for a work of passion and love?"

He then said "My father taught me that you can learn much by observing art, it shows much about those that create it, their history, their beliefs, and even parts of their culture."

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani clasped her her hands behind her back, like a sergeant inspecting her recruits as she studied the art with Minixus’ words in mind.

“My grandfather is an artist. He used to run the Celestial Academy of Art. He had… a difficult life when it came to relationships. He would paint the faces of all those he loved… and eventually lost. They were always so beautiful. Visceral and filled with emotion, live, anger, pain, joy. Now he spends his days in his garden painting the landscapes and flowers. But I always wondered why he stop his portraits. He says that some paintings are oceans of emotion, knowledge and meaning, a soul captured, tortured and frame.”

Marijani titled her head observing the model of the windjammer, curious to think of what it meant, if it was a way to look into the history and beliefs of the Nemidians. “And,” she continued, “some are just lovely things, and both are miracles of the mind, particularly when you don’t know which is which.”

[Nemidia]

Minixus nodded and said "Indeed they are, there is much in this world that is more than it seems, but some are simply what they are, it is what makes this world such a wonderful place, there is always something new to discover."

Minixus took on a look of deep thought as he considered what Marijani had said, and found that he was enjoying their conversation, it was not often he got to have such a deep, and philosophical discussion with someone. She was proving to be full of surprises.

[Kingdom of Derita]

Marijani tilted her head in thought. “There is not much I think the older generations would say was good about the great collapse, I know you and I were but children when it happened, but perhaps it in a way served to turn back the clock, and save humanity from ourselves. And give us a chance to rediscover this new world that we have inherited.”

Marijani straightened turned away from the model of the ship towards Minixus. “There is not much me and the Duke of Alencon agree on, but the need for people, all people to work together is one of them. We may differ in our methods, but I can see a path towards unity through a simpler life for most. To be able to look at the world with more of a sense of beauty. From what I have gathered Nemidia is a prime location of a phenomenon I believe sparked by the collapse. Your turn towards tradition over attempts at industrialization are interesting. It raised a question of it an environmental or cultural factor. Have you conducted studies on this matter?”