A Long Awaited Visit [Closed]

[Lux Pulchrae]

Hallway
"Careful, boys are hell but teenage girls are the devil. All you want is for them do grow up responsibly, and not end up a...magdalena, you know? At the very least. It is hard, especially in this world today. And also, forgive my thoughts but, that brother might be using your daughter to...como se dice? To 'cover up'" she proceeded to mock a limp wrist "But enough of this, it is not my place and I apologize Prince. You probably want to go into your room already, I will leave you alone now. See you at dinner." She lightly bowed her head and went off her way to her own room on the opposite wing of the palace.

A guard stood by the door and nodded as the Queen Mother passed and entered. Finding her husband resting on the bed with his hands crossed at his stomach and eyes closed. Sitting down on the side of the bed, she sighed and spoke "Can you believe it? They actually tried to go after our girls! Who knows what would happen if the guards were not prepared or armed like they were! They could've been hurt or worse!" the matriarch's voice quivered faintly as she took her heels and mantilla, and laid down.

"It could have been worse. But thanks be to God that nothing happened." the abdicated king commented "If I am as savvy as I think I am, this was never meant to hurt any of the girls and those would-be kidnappers were sent to their deaths. It was a humiliation attempt. A towel pulling. You tell me no one has tried to kidnap anyone of my kids until a foreign royal showed up? The news will reach their homeland, and their king will see us as weak."

"Their queen." she corrected

"Their WHAT?"

War Room
--An hour later-- minutes later
As time passed, the two brothers moved from the office to the "War Room". What was a room for planning and discussion has been vacated and now a glorified meeting room. They had papers sprawled over the table as they looked over the scene, thinking of who the hell could've done this. They had possible names written down, crossed out, circled, etc.

"You know, we never bothered to ask the full story from the girls." Marcello pointed out

"We got the guards' statements. Both from Alberto Park and the lakeside walk." Cleone countered

"Yes but they can tell us something the guards haven't"

"Fine, go get them." he sighed as a servant was sent to collect the girls.

Isabella still sat in the lobby's lounge. As she was informed of her summoning, she went up to the guest rooms. Lourdes and her mother took up the first and second left side rooms respectively. Knocking on her door, Isabella told her cousin and went to Aurelia's room. "Princess?" she knocked "My brother wants to see us, all three of us. If you can, we'll all go right now."

[Kyrenaia]

Hallway
"Careful, boys are hell but teenage girls are the devil. All you want is for them do grow up responsibly, and not end up a...magdalena, you know? At the very least. It is hard, especially in this world today. And also, forgive my thoughts but, that brother might be using your daughter to...como se dice? To 'cover up'" she proceeded to mock a limp wrist "But enough of this, it is not my place and I apologize Prince. You probably want to go into your room already, I will leave you alone now. See you at dinner." She lightly bowed her head and went off her way to her own room on the opposite wing of the palace.

A guard stood by the door and nodded as the Queen Mother passed and entered. Finding her husband resting on the bed with his hands crossed at his stomach and eyes closed. Sitting down on the side of the bed, she sighed and spoke "Can you believe it? They actually tried to go after our girls! Who knows what would happen if the guards were not prepared or armed like they were! They could've been hurt or worse!" the matriarch's voice quivered faintly as she took her heels and mantilla, and laid down.

"It could have been worse. But thanks be to God that nothing happened." the abdicated king commented "If I am as savvy as I think I am, this was never meant to hurt any of the girls and those would-be kidnappers were sent to their deaths. It was a humiliation attempt. A towel pulling. You tell me no one has tried to kidnap anyone of my kids until a foreign royal showed up? The news will reach their homeland, and their king will see us as weak."

"Their queen." she corrected

"Their WHAT?"

War Room
--An hour later-- minutes later
As time passed, the two brothers moved from the office to the "War Room". What was a room for planning and discussion has been vacated and now a glorified meeting room. They had papers sprawled over the table as they looked over the scene, thinking of who the hell could've done this. They had possible names written down, crossed out, circled, etc.

"You know, we never bothered to ask the full story from the girls." Marcello pointed out

"We got the guards' statements. Both from Alberto Park and the lakeside walk." Cleone countered

"Yes but they can tell us something the guards haven't"

"Fine, go get them." he sighed as a servant was sent to collect the girls.

Isabella still sat in the lobby's lounge. As she was informed of her summoning, she went up to the guest rooms. Lourdes and her mother took up the first and second left side rooms respectively. Knocking on her door, Isabella told her cousin and went to Aurelia's room. "Princess?" she knocked "My brother wants to see us, all three of us. If you can, we'll all go right now."

Hallway.
Damir grinned. He was starting to like that woman, she had a certain sense of humour and a good brain.
As for Ilia, he always liked to say, that he was waiting for the right one and certainly had no deficits in the manliness department, but yes, he was covering anything there might be with Aurelia's willing help.
And she returned the favour by shipping him to every woman she saw fit.
"Indeed.", he said, "See you."
After a bow of his own head, he turned and went into his room. He... had a few calls to make, he noted as he rummaged through his bag.
The first one was a number in Utica.
"Hi, Mom.", he spoke as soon as the other end was taken. This one would be fun, he knew it...

Aurelia's room.
She did not know, how much time had passed - hours, minutes, days, centuries, she did not care.
Rolled up on the bed, the picture hugged close to her chest, the knock startled her out of her sleep with an audible gasp.
She took a moment, then called back: "Give me a minute, Isabella! If you want, you can come in!"
Considering, that she was still in underwear, placing the frame on the nightstand, Aurelia had to smile. Marcella looked so beautiful...
Sighing, the Kyrenaian Princess got up, thinking for a moment... her dress from earlier this morning laid in a crumpled heap on the ground. So, new stuff.
She went to her bags.

[Lux Pulchrae]

Hallway
"It's alright Princess. I wouldn't want to get between you or your privacy. Take as long as you need, no too long. My brother isn't the most patient man in the world, even when he tries to be." Isabella said through the door as she leaned on the wall while Lourdes fake marched, kicking her legs up high humming a tune.

[Kyrenaia]

Hallway
"It's alright Princess. I wouldn't want to get between you or your privacy. Take as long as you need, no too long. My brother isn't the most patient man in the world, even when he tries to be." Isabella said through the door as she leaned on the wall while Lourdes fake marched, kicking her legs up high humming a tune.

"Okay...", Aurelia mumbled to herself and came up with something, which she thought was... daring in this context, but why the bloody fuck not?
And with that, she exited her room five minutes later, dressed in a blue, knee-length skirt, a sailor top with a deep blue collar, the neckerchief being deep red - Haram Girls' Academy Uniform, a patch on the short sleeve on the left arm saying, that she belonged to the Horseman Squadron.
The red neckerchief meant, that she had begun her studies there in 2014.
She smiled at Isabella. "Alright... off we go!"

[Lux Pulchrae]

Hallway
Isabella smirked as Aurelia walked out in her uniform "My, I was not aware there was a parade near by. What organization representing?" the princess and the baroness but quickly ended it "That neck thing, makes you look like a cute sailor, Princess. We're only jesting Princess, don't want to give you a bitch impression. And besides, you're much too young for me to be taking shots at."

"Okay, okay. Let's move on. Want to make it to dinner by the time we're done." Lourdes insisted. So moving on, they walked to the west side of the palace, a turn or two and they were infront of two wooden doors. The guards opened the doors, and the girls walked in. The brothers sat at the other end of the table when Cleone turned his head "Ah, girls, welcome. You may all have a seat here." he said as he moved from his seat to across the table next to Marcello. "If you can sit across from us it's be easier."

"Can we sit all the way over here? At the end of the table?" Isabella asked teasingly

"Ehh, I'd prefer if you sat across from us over here." the king asked again, having little patience for his sister's antics.

"Fine." she complied sitting down across from them, Lourdes sitting next to her and Aurelia next to her.

"Now," Cleone began, clearing his throat "to be clear, for me, you are all fine. Nothing hit you, no one hurt you, you made it back safe and now you are here. It happened and now it is in the past so there is no need for worry. Then again, that is the collectivist in me speaking, the king. Right now I am an individual, your brother, cousin and host. How are you all feeling? Physically or otherwise?"

"I'm as fine as I can be." Isabella answered "The guards did their job and that was that. For me there's nothing more to dwell on, as you said, we're all back in one piece."

"Well, I'm alright. I have never been that close to gunfire. Even less used on another person. But it's not what happened, it's what would have happened. What if they failed? We could have been kidnapped or even killed. I've been kidnapped and it is not good. I know that I'm okay but it is still not easy to think about."

"Very well said and we thank you both for your honesty." Cleone said, hand together on the table, and Marcello wrote down on a pad, Cleone continued "And Lourdes, you weren't kidnapped you were sent away. Princess Aurelia!" his attention turned to her "How are you feeling about all this?"

[Kyrenaia]

Hallway
Isabella smirked as Aurelia walked out in her uniform "My, I was not aware there was a parade near by. What organization representing?" the princess and the baroness but quickly ended it "That neck thing, makes you look like a cute sailor, Princess. We're only jesting Princess, don't want to give you a bitch impression. And besides, you're much too young for me to be taking shots at."

"Okay, okay. Let's move on. Want to make it to dinner by the time we're done." Lourdes insisted. So moving on, they walked to the west side of the palace, a turn or two and they were infront of two wooden doors. The guards opened the doors, and the girls walked in. The brothers sat at the other end of the table when Cleone turned his head "Ah, girls, welcome. You may all have a seat here." he said as he moved from his seat to across the table next to Marcello. "If you can sit across from us it's be easier."

"Can we sit all the way over here? At the end of the table?" Isabella asked teasingly

"Ehh, I'd prefer if you sat across from us over here." the king asked again, having little patience for his sister's antics.

"Fine." she complied sitting down across from them, Lourdes sitting next to her and Aurelia next to her.

"Now," Cleone began, clearing his throat "to be clear, for me, you are all fine. Nothing hit you, no one hurt you, you made it back safe and now you are here. It happened and now it is in the past so there is no need for worry. Then again, that is the collectivist in me speaking, the king. Right now I am an individual, your brother, cousin and host. How are you all feeling? Physically or otherwise?"

"I'm as fine as I can be." Isabella answered "The guards did their job and that was that. For me there's nothing more to dwell on, as you said, we're all back in one piece."

"Well, I'm alright. I have never been that close to gunfire. Even less used on another person. But it's not what happened, it's what would have happened. What if they failed? We could have been kidnapped or even killed. I've been kidnapped and it is not good. I know that I'm okay but it is still not easy to think about."

"Very well said and we thank you both for your honesty." Cleone said, hand together on the table, and Marcello wrote down on a pad, Cleone continued "And Lourdes, you weren't kidnapped you were sent away. Princess Aurelia!" his attention turned to her "How are you feeling about all this?"

Conference Room.
They had been off too fast for Aurelia to point out, that it was her school uniform, of the Haram Girls' Academy, but when they were arriving in the conference room (she had no idea, that it was called the War Room), she saw it in Cleone's eyes, that he was worried.
As a person, who's sister and cousin and guest had almost been harmed, but also as King of Lux Pulchrae.
She had seen that look a few times before, on the face of her Grandmother. It usually preceded the Iron Fist coming down on the evildoers.
She listened to what was spoken and when he turned to her, she was silent for a moment.
"Troubled.", she said after that long moment, "Of course, we trained for such eventualities, it is a reality of our world, including gunfire and, in my case, how to use one as well. However... the Sultanate, ever since my Grandmother's ascension to the throne, has always put trust and faith into the ability of the hosts of our diplomatic missions to safeguard said diplomatic missions without us making things more complicated by detaching brigades of bodyguards. Hence why Father and I are here without any escort, not even a Tabardariyya-Handmaiden." She let a beat pass. "Our safety and security was safeguarded, so much is without question, otherwise I would not be sitting here, but... it leaves many questions open, especially regarding future state visits, like for example to the Empire of the Scarlet Eagle in March." She sighed. "Ultimately, I also feel grateful, to Mister Dino and his colleague, for safeguarding my and my friends' lives."
She was silent for a few more moments.
"And, to be honest, I want revenge.", she said, "Those people slighted the Sultanate by attacking not only relatives, but also delegates of the Sultana. They must pay for that, ideally on the chop." She shrugged. "Might be my youthful hotheadedness talking, but you asked for what I feel."

[Lux Pulchrae]

[War Room
“You’re correct, I did ask for your feelings. Don’t worry, they will pay dearly for what they have done. And yes, you are hotheaded at the moment. You don’t want anything but your own safety. You are too young for these matters. I should’ve thought about summoning your father here as well shouldn’t I?” Cleone whistled and in came a guard. He ordered the guard to get Damir from his room, assuming he was there, the guard nodded and proceeded to follow the order. He held a pen, he kept clicking it against the table but at a slow pace

“Stop that please.” Marcello demanded as he wrote on the pad

“So...the ‘Scarler Eagle Empire’? That merry band of...pagliacci.” He said with an ever growing smirk “I remember them from the coronation, you were there. They were a rather peculiar bunch if my memory serves me. Anyway, while I would advise that Her Majesty the Sultana do change her security policy, first that whole MTO sham in Danceria blew to shit and now here in my own home, you people cannot catch a break, this is not cause for future concerns for Her Majesty however. What transpired here today would’ve happened with any foreigner, we’re assuming. It was a humiliation tactic by the perpetrator, to send a message to the world that I am weak and unable to care for my guests in my own country. But I would assure you, by the next time we see each other, they will be a distant and vague memory.”

At the moment, a servant wheeled a tray in, a glass for every one. Setting them down at each person, he pulled a pitcher of water from under and poured it for the three girls, and placing it back under. He then pulled out a bottle of whiskey, pouring a bit into the brothers’ glasses, leaving it between the two.

[Kyrenaia]

[War Room
“You’re correct, I did ask for your feelings. Don’t worry, they will pay dearly for what they have done. And yes, you are hotheaded at the moment. You don’t want anything but your own safety. You are too young for these matters. I should’ve thought about summoning your father here as well shouldn’t I?” Cleone whistled and in came a guard. He ordered the guard to get Damir from his room, assuming he was there, the guard nodded and proceeded to follow the order. He held a pen, he kept clicking it against the table but at a slow pace

“Stop that please.” Marcello demanded as he wrote on the pad

“So...the ‘Scarler Eagle Empire’? That merry band of...pagliacci.” He said with an ever growing smirk “I remember them from the coronation, you were there. They were a rather peculiar bunch if my memory serves me. Anyway, while I would advise that Her Majesty the Sultana do change her security policy, first that whole MTO sham in Danceria blew to shit and now here in my own home, you people cannot catch a break, this is not cause for future concerns for Her Majesty however. What transpired here today would’ve happened with any foreigner, we’re assuming. It was a humiliation tactic by the perpetrator, to send a message to the world that I am weak and unable to care for my guests in my own country. But I would assure you, by the next time we see each other, they will be a distant and vague memory.”

At the moment, a servant wheeled a tray in, a glass for every one. Setting them down at each person, he pulled a pitcher of water from under and poured it for the three girls, and placing it back under. He then pulled out a bottle of whiskey, pouring a bit into the brothers’ glasses, leaving it between the two.

War Room.
Unbeknowst to them right now, Aurelia's father was back in his room, finishing up his phone call.
His daughter, however, shrugged lightly as the water was poured out.
"From my personal standpoint, I did get along with the Imperials during their visit last summer, but from a political standpoint..." She shrugged, leaving that to an uncertainty, which was very clear to her. "In any case, there will, most likely, be changes very quickly, maybe quicker then we would all like."
She let a beat pass.
"If someone tried to humiliate you, I would say, that he did not really succeed.", she added, a slight smile on her lips, "I doubt, that we would be called home due to this incident, so from our standpoint, you're fine. And your people, I guess, will see, that the guards of the three of us reacted with all necessary force to protect us. And they will see your justice descent upon them."

[Lux Pulchrae]

War Room

“Anyways, we’re still trying to narrow things down. We called you all here to give more or less fill the gaps. So, Princess, from Alberto Park you came here and a carriage was called and took you ladies to Lake Arias. From there you stepped out and walked until you ate lunch at the restaurant. In that walk, what happened? Was there anything out of the ordinary in your opinion? Anyone besides this ‘Robespierre’?”

Well, no one is exactly going to have ‘terrorist’ written on their forehead are they?” Isabella asked

“Quiet! I’m speaking to the Princess.”

[Kyrenaia]

War Room

“Anyways, we’re still trying to narrow things down. We called you all here to give more or less fill the gaps. So, Princess, from Alberto Park you came here and a carriage was called and took you ladies to Lake Arias. From there you stepped out and walked until you ate lunch at the restaurant. In that walk, what happened? Was there anything out of the ordinary in your opinion? Anyone besides this ‘Robespierre’?”

Well, no one is exactly going to have ‘terrorist’ written on their forehead are they?” Isabella asked

“Quiet! I’m speaking to the Princess.”

War Room.
Aurelia giggled.
"You would be surprised...", she told Isabella before turning back to Cleone, "I'll just retell, what happened before, so that I have a chronicle, okay?" She let a beat pass. "Well, we took a carriage to Lake Arias and took a small stroll. We talked a bit and then we met a Jose Aldo de Tajade y Canstenza or something like that. Sorry, I didn't completely catch his name." She cleared her throat. "He... let's say, that he tried to flirt with Lourdes, but she shot him down at first. Quite heavily. She retreated into the carriage, Aldo soon following and we waited for a few moments, until Lourdes giggled and Aldo took his leave. Mister Dino basically threw him out. Lourdes rejoined us."
She then was silent for a moment.
"We then continued to talk, about duty and family and then Lourdes suggested having a refreshment... well, a beer." She gave a small smile. Legally, in Kyrenaia, she was allowed to drink alcohol. "We went to this row of restaurants, picked one nice looking and sat down. To be honest, it is a bit weird for me to have people almost begging me to eat at their establishment. I have my usual haunts and that is it..."
She shook her head.
"Anyway, we got our beers and some salami pie thing and talked some more amongst ourselves.", she continued, slowing a bit, "We talked a bit and then a couple of children tried to board our carriage, Mister Dino warding them off, they stayed nearby. The horses nearly flipped. I managed to calm them down."
She was silent.
"Then we were joined by a man, I don't think, that he was a Pulchraen, at least not a native one.", she continued, "Short black hair, small scar on the left side of his face. Black leather glove on his left hand. He claimed, that he worked on a show, which Lourdes said she liked, Ma Vie En... something-with-A. He talked producing a follow-up of some sorts, then turned to me. He seemed to know very well, who I was, who my father and grandmother were and he tried to insult all of us. I got the creeps from him, so my hand was itching closer to one of my daggers..."
She smiled a bit sheepish.
"As he threatened to break my arm, apparently counting Mister Dino and his colleague on his side, Isabella basically threw him out. Dino checked his ID and he left a business card, with the provision of only reading it after he was out of sight." She let a beat pass. "The card read Robespierre, like the French Politician. He smiled as he walked away and got into a car, don't ask me the model or license plate, it was white, I think."
She let a beat pass.
"Then, shit hit the fan, as they say.", she finished.

[Lux Pulchrae]

War Room
Lourdes gave Aurelia a side look "He doesn't have to know every blade of grass, Princess." she mumbled.

The two listened on to the girls' day told by Aurelia, Marcello seemingly writing the details down. "And can you confirm this all happened and is true to your fullest memory?" Cleone asked. The girls nodded "And Jose Aldo de Tejada y Constanza?"

"He is actually in the palace, might be in his room." Isabella added

Marcello looked up from the pad "Let me back up for a second, did you say you have daggers on you? Princess I hope you understand that such things are not allowable, not just to you but anyone. If we let you in here with those, we'd let in every Tom and Jerry in a state visit carry a gun. So with this, I strongly advise you to part with them for the remainder of your stay, or we'd have to search you every time you walk out the door. But, that is a conversation for when your father is present."

"Putting a pin on that," Cleone said, moving on "I would say I regret bringing this next question up: seeing as he is the only one to stand out in this testimony, would any of you consider Jose to have any implication in this terrible matter?"

"Are you suggesting he'd ever do such a thing like that?" Isabella questioned "He would never do such a thing! He may be the biggest stronzo on the Spanish Coast, but-but the last thing he would ever do is hurt us."

"I agree, I don't believe he could be part of this." they both answered with a hint of worry, for Cleone essentially asked them if the aforementioned noble should be taken in and beaten for questioning or worse.

"And you Princess? I know you know very little, but would you ever see a man like himself involved in this?"

"She has not been here a day! She has no say-" Isabella protested

"Quiet!" the king ordered "Princess?"

[Kyrenaia]

War Room
Lourdes gave Aurelia a side look "He doesn't have to know every blade of grass, Princess." she mumbled.

The two listened on to the girls' day told by Aurelia, Marcello seemingly writing the details down. "And can you confirm this all happened and is true to your fullest memory?" Cleone asked. The girls nodded "And Jose Aldo de Tejada y Constanza?"

"He is actually in the palace, might be in his room." Isabella added

Marcello looked up from the pad "Let me back up for a second, did you say you have daggers on you? Princess I hope you understand that such things are not allowable, not just to you but anyone. If we let you in here with those, we'd let in every Tom and Jerry in a state visit carry a gun. So with this, I strongly advise you to part with them for the remainder of your stay, or we'd have to search you every time you walk out the door. But, that is a conversation for when your father is present."

"Putting a pin on that," Cleone said, moving on "I would say I regret bringing this next question up: seeing as he is the only one to stand out in this testimony, would any of you consider Jose to have any implication in this terrible matter?"

"Are you suggesting he'd ever do such a thing like that?" Isabella questioned "He would never do such a thing! He may be the biggest stronzo on the Spanish Coast, but-but the last thing he would ever do is hurt us."

"I agree, I don't believe he could be part of this." they both answered with a hint of worry, for Cleone essentially asked them if the aforementioned noble should be taken in and beaten for questioning or worse.

"And you Princess? I know you know very little, but would you ever see a man like himself involved in this?"

"She has not been here a day! She has no say-" Isabella protested

"Quiet!" the king ordered "Princess?"

When she heard about the ban of daggers on her person here, Aurelia smiled a bit sheepish. Wearing them was like a second nature to her Selkie-Half, without them, she felt naked...
If they asked, though, she would obey. She was the guest, after all.
She would apologize about that... as soon as she had them safely in her room, that was.
The question, whether or not Jose had any part in this, though. She thought.
"No, I don't think so.", she answered, honesty in her heart and her eyes, "He is a slimeball, to put it bluntly, that much is true, but there was at least one member of our group, who he was interested in... and who I do not think he would want to see hurt, or worse."
She threw a meaningful glance into Lourde's direction, then looked back to the King.

[Lux Pulchrae]

The two brothers laughed, "A 'slimeball' eh? Have not heard that one. It's best to bring him in anyways, he has a rather questionable past. Better dafe than sorry, vero?" Cleone smiled whistling outside to a guard, coming in he asked the purpose of his presence.

"<You summoned me Your Highness?>"

"<Jose Aldo, after dinner.>" He simply said, the guard nodded and left, the girls gave each other a side glance with Isabella rolling her eyes. As he left, another guard came in ushering in Prince Damir.

"Prince Damir! Welcome to the lovely little meeting of ours."

[Kyrenaia]

The two brothers laughed, "A 'slimeball' eh? Have not heard that one. It's best to bring him in anyways, he has a rather questionable past. Better dafe than sorry, vero?" Cleone smiled whistling outside to a guard, coming in he asked the purpose of his presence.

"<You summoned me Your Highness?>"

"<Jose Aldo, after dinner.>" He simply said, the guard nodded and left, the girls gave each other a side glance with Isabella rolling her eyes. As he left, another guard came in ushering in Prince Damir.

"Prince Damir! Welcome to the lovely little meeting of ours."

Damir bowed his head lightly. "Thank you, Cleone-Malik. If you would allow me a moment..."
He turned to his daughter, gave her a quick hug and a kiss onto her forehead, which she took with joy. The two of them exchanged a few quick words in Kyrenaian, which made Damir exhale with a small smile. He then nodded to her.
"So...", Damir said, turning to the meeting and especially Cleone, "Do you want to begin with the unpleasant part or shall I? Don't worry, in my case, it's not unpleasant in the sense of people telling me to yell at you, but unpleasant in the sense of things which will happen very soon."

[Lux Pulchrae]

Cleone held his silence for a moment, clicking the pen a couple times before sighing, "Lay it on me Prince, I'm going to have to hear it eventually." He turned to Lourdes and Isabella "Girls, you are excused. Your presence is no longer needed, and I thank you." he nodded, the two stood up and bowed, leaving the room. "

"So you were saying Prince?" Marcello continued.

In the halls, the girls walked almost aimlessly. "I know what you're thinking, don't do it." Isabella warned, looking straight ahead.

"If I don't-"

Isabella grabbed her cousin by the shoulders, bringing their faces close "If you do, he'll run off and they'd spend days, weeks maybe even months looking for him. Or he might even leave the country, so drop it! If he's not involved it will pass and he will live."

[Kyrenaia]

Cleone held his silence for a moment, clicking the pen a couple times before sighing, "Lay it on me Prince, I'm going to have to hear it eventually." He turned to Lourdes and Isabella "Girls, you are excused. Your presence is no longer needed, and I thank you." he nodded, the two stood up and bowed, leaving the room. "

"So you were saying Prince?" Marcello continued.

In the halls, the girls walked almost aimlessly. "I know what you're thinking, don't do it." Isabella warned, looking straight ahead.

"If I don't-"

Isabella grabbed her cousin by the shoulders, bringing their faces close "If you do, he'll run off and they'd spend days, weeks maybe even months looking for him. Or he might even leave the country, so drop it! If he's not involved it will pass and he will live."

Damir exhaled.
"Very well.", he said and placed his lower arms on the backrest of the chair next to Aurelia's, not sitting down on purpose. "I had a lovely telephone conversation with the Sultana and She sends her best regards and gratitude for protecting both one of Her envoys and her granddaughter. She does not like, what She has to do, but She hopes, that you see it as a necessity."
He let a beat pass.
"In a few minutes, your Ministry of Foreign Affairs will receive two letters.", he said, "One is highly official and an offer to aid Lux Pulchrae in finding the people behind this attack on the Sultanate's envoy. You will reply, that Lux Pulchrae appreciates the offer and that Lux Pulchrae will refer to that offer, if it needs that. The Sultana is aware, that you will most likely not do so and that is fine by Her. It's about the signal anyway. That Kyrenaia and Lux Pulchrae, maybe despite, maybe because of this near-tragedy stand close by each other.
The other..." He exhaled. "...is less official. It is a request of the Sultanate to deploy a security complement with us from now on, for the duration of our stay. Said complement will be four Handmaidens and eight soldiers of the Tabardariyya in total. They will cooperate with your own security apparatus, namely the palace's guards and police forces maybe involved in this visit's security." He let a beat pass. "You will accept that. That is not negotiable."
He exhaled a long moment.
"Any questions or remarks?", he asked.

[Lux Pulchrae]

The two looked at each other for a moment and then back at the Prince and Princess. "Well?" Cleone spoke, "What can I say except, ok! I wouldn't have it any other way, in regards to your entourage. I know if I was involved in a scare like this one in some other country or even here, I'd have the Elite Guard with me at all times. Not to be confused with the regular Royal Guards. They where blue the Elite wear black. Actually, I think the ones outside are Elite, so you've seen them. They are sparse, they are more of a grave situation kind of group." he poured some more liquor into his glass, Marcello did the same. Their glasses weren't empty, they just wanted more. Cleone whistled a specific tune, a servant came in with another glass, placing it infront of the Prince, bowing and leaving.

Cleone gestured his hand to the seat, inviting the Prince to sit "No need for such dramatics Prince, sit down and have a talk. So we'll accept your security detail, that goes without saying. But on the investigation aid, it is appreciated, welcomed even, but unnecessary. Every law enforcer's top priority is to find these men. I already have some good leads. No offense but your people will only get in the way, with all that sharing of information, teaching, learning the land. It would be too much of a time-stealer. Ooh, that reminds me, now I have to find room arrangements for them."

"We will accept your people, but they will be vetted and cleared by our security at the airport, and if you'd like we'll have them coptered over here into the court as well." Marcello added, "And speaking of vetting and clearing, it was not made aware to us that your daughter here carried daggers on her person. Out of our respect and trust, we would have never thought to do so. However, this unfortunately, is going to have to amend that trust. We would like for your daughter to be relieved of her weapons, on her own time of course. Say she dropped them? Someone picks it up and commits a murder. Or she gets bested, her dagger taken from her and plunged into her neck. Or even less unlikely, she uses them herself, accidentally injuring herself or maybe even one of the girls. Impossible as these situations may seem, one must look at all possibilities, especially in regards to the safety of others and guest such as yourselves. I get this 'badass princess' facade, it is cute, but it stays at the door."

"Well said Maria." Cleone teased his brother's middle name, turning to the Kyrenaians "Any other matter to discuss?"

[Kyrenaia]

The two looked at each other for a moment and then back at the Prince and Princess. "Well?" Cleone spoke, "What can I say except, ok! I wouldn't have it any other way, in regards to your entourage. I know if I was involved in a scare like this one in some other country or even here, I'd have the Elite Guard with me at all times. Not to be confused with the regular Royal Guards. They where blue the Elite wear black. Actually, I think the ones outside are Elite, so you've seen them. They are sparse, they are more of a grave situation kind of group." he poured some more liquor into his glass, Marcello did the same. Their glasses weren't empty, they just wanted more. Cleone whistled a specific tune, a servant came in with another glass, placing it infront of the Prince, bowing and leaving.

Cleone gestured his hand to the seat, inviting the Prince to sit "No need for such dramatics Prince, sit down and have a talk. So we'll accept your security detail, that goes without saying. But on the investigation aid, it is appreciated, welcomed even, but unnecessary. Every law enforcer's top priority is to find these men. I already have some good leads. No offense but your people will only get in the way, with all that sharing of information, teaching, learning the land. It would be too much of a time-stealer. Ooh, that reminds me, now I have to find room arrangements for them."

"We will accept your people, but they will be vetted and cleared by our security at the airport, and if you'd like we'll have them coptered over here into the court as well." Marcello added, "And speaking of vetting and clearing, it was not made aware to us that your daughter here carried daggers on her person. Out of our respect and trust, we would have never thought to do so. However, this unfortunately, is going to have to amend that trust. We would like for your daughter to be relieved of her weapons, on her own time of course. Say she dropped them? Someone picks it up and commits a murder. Or she gets bested, her dagger taken from her and plunged into her neck. Or even less unlikely, she uses them herself, accidentally injuring herself or maybe even one of the girls. Impossible as these situations may seem, one must look at all possibilities, especially in regards to the safety of others and guest such as yourselves. I get this 'badass princess' facade, it is cute, but it stays at the door."

"Well said Maria." Cleone teased his brother's middle name, turning to the Kyrenaians "Any other matter to discuss?"

Damir nodded in gratitude as the glass was brought out, but he did not sit down for now. He had been seated for a while, he did need this to get his blood vessels open again.
"When I say, that the newly arrived escorts will cooperate with your security apparatus, then that means, that they will not be opposed to such a check.", he said with a firm nod, before he had to smile softly. "As for the offer of aid in this matter, just write back, that you appreciate it. As said, it's fine by the Sultana, if you don't take us up on the offer. That's not the point. The point is to show, that we are still close." He shrugged. "The mere fact, that we are still having this conversation should be proof enough for some, but apparently, Mother wants to make extra sure."
He then looked to Aurelia.
"As for you, little daggerbug...", he said with a grin, "He spoke of the daggers, not of the throwing knifes." Aurelia burst out giggling, Damir grinning before he raised a hand. "Don't worry, I was joking. Aurelia will rid herself of her blades. All of them."
The last was added for her, who bowed her head to Cleone. "My apologies, again.", she said and one saw, that she meant it.
None of them wanted, nor needed to mention, that of all the people one could entrust a dagger to, Aurelia was most likely amongst the safest. And one of the best dagger-fighters in Kyrenaia, too.
"So... you said, that you have some leads, already?", Damir asked.

[Lux Pulchrae]

"Eh-" Cleone lingered

"More suspicions than leads." Marcello answered "We know very well who did this but the problem is, they've never been easy to flush out. No formal base of operations, no organization, no anything. All we know is who was behind this, a man named Robespierre, or so that is what he is called. He is a French separatist. But the even bigger issue is that here in this country, everyone of the French ethnicity is in some form a separatist, but when it is brought up, everyone shuts their mouths. So what are we to do? Knock on every house in the French Quarter and hope we find them?"

"The other half of the problem is the leak. We've been throwing names around. None of them reach a logical tie with Robespier-" Cleone stopped and stood up "Marcello."

"What is it?"

"Lord Bourbon, he was here this morning, speaking to father. He was here while they ate with us."

"Are you saying-"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Excuse me." Cleone walked out of the room. The guards outside followed him as he began hurriedly walking to Lord Bourbon's guest room. Not in the hall where the other's were, but a different guest area. Soon, four more guards joined, sounding like a miniature march. No time was wasted as the guards stood in front of the door, one of them kicked it down, all entering with batons ready to beat the head of the Bourbon Family in Lux Pulchrae. The room was tossed, but he was nowhere to be found. The had soon found out from the herald that Bourbon had left around noon, hours before the attack.

Meanwhile back in the room, Marcello kept his cool infront of the Kyrenaians "So...about that letter, we technically don't have a Foreign Affairs so it will come from my brother's desk, once he's collected himself that is. It is a really complicated issue, has the Sultanate ever had this kind of problem?"

[Kyrenaia]

"Eh-" Cleone lingered

"More suspicions than leads." Marcello answered "We know very well who did this but the problem is, they've never been easy to flush out. No formal base of operations, no organization, no anything. All we know is who was behind this, a man named Robespierre, or so that is what he is called. He is a French separatist. But the even bigger issue is that here in this country, everyone of the French ethnicity is in some form a separatist, but when it is brought up, everyone shuts their mouths. So what are we to do? Knock on every house in the French Quarter and hope we find them?"

"The other half of the problem is the leak. We've been throwing names around. None of them reach a logical tie with Robespier-" Cleone stopped and stood up "Marcello."

"What is it?"

"Lord Bourbon, he was here this morning, speaking to father. He was here while they ate with us."

"Are you saying-"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Excuse me." Cleone walked out of the room. The guards outside followed him as he began hurriedly walking to Lord Bourbon's guest room. Not in the hall where the other's were, but a different guest area. Soon, four more guards joined, sounding like a miniature march. No time was wasted as the guards stood in front of the door, one of them kicked it down, all entering with batons ready to beat the head of the Bourbon Family in Lux Pulchrae. The room was tossed, but he was nowhere to be found. The had soon found out from the herald that Bourbon had left around noon, hours before the attack.

Meanwhile back in the room, Marcello kept his cool infront of the Kyrenaians "So...about that letter, we technically don't have a Foreign Affairs so it will come from my brother's desk, once he's collected himself that is. It is a really complicated issue, has the Sultanate ever had this kind of problem?"

"Attempts on our lives or attempts on the lives of guests of state?", Damir asked for clarification, a small smile on his lips. "Because, quite honestly, the answer to both is yes. And the success rate is rather slim..."
Aurelia nodded. "That was the second attempt on my life in any form, which almost succeeded. To be honest, I don't want to know how many they prevent without anyone noticing.", she explained, "How many amongst the men behind that are of our own Royalty..." She shrugged. "I honestly have no idea."
"And it's better that way.", Damir told her with a small smile, "Rebellions, though... are mostly a thing of the past. Have you ever heard of the Decolonization Wars?"

[Lux Pulchrae]

"No I have not Prince, but I love a good historic tale. You know the past is sometimes even more unbelievable than fiction, that is why history books tell the best stories. Oh, and I should've made it clearer, sorry. I meant the problem of separatists. Sadly not everyone can be expected to conform societal norm." Marcello answered, giving a quick glance to Aurelia, then back to Damir.

[Kyrenaia]

"No I have not Prince, but I love a good historic tale. You know the past is sometimes even more unbelievable than fiction, that is why history books tell the best stories. Oh, and I should've made it clearer, sorry. I meant the problem of separatists. Sadly not everyone can be expected to conform societal norm." Marcello answered, giving a quick glance to Aurelia, then back to Damir.

Aurelia recognized the jab at her when she heard it, but she let it be.
"Separatists are... rare, these days.", Damir said with a small smile, "There are a few small groups, which petition for the independence of this or that small territory, but even in their territory, they are rare. No, the major wave of separatist movements occurred during the Decolonization Wars." He looked to his daughter. "Aurelia, quick rundown - you already had that in history classes, right?"
"We had.", the young woman said, "Kyrenaia, starting around the middle of the 15th century, Kyrenaia began to establish a colonial Empire - not really organized, one should add, but around a century later, that changed with the establishment of the Sultan's Navy as the only legitimate Navy under Kyrenaian Flag. With the establishment of a Navy, the Sultan had complete control over all colonization efforts and the assignment of Khans and Beys to the different territories.
By 1632, after the Third Civil War, the Sultanate had its own Colonial Empire, the expansion slowing as it rubbed shoulders with other Empires. A few wars were fought, inconclusive, mostly, but life went on easily, Kyrenaia sucking the ressources out of those territories. In 1921, a foreign power tried to conquer the Territory of Jawiyun, aiding local separatists in their quest for their freedom, the first of the Decolonization Wars. From there, a total of fifteen wars and conflicts were fought, where separatists fought the Kyrenaian Government and Armed Forces. With varying success, one should add.
One example for Kyrenaian Success would be the Muetad-Uprising from 1923 to 1927. Markaz the ideal example for the opposite."
She let a beat pass.
"Any questions? We'll answer to the best of our abilities!", she said.

[Lux Pulchrae]

"Well, maybe a couple. I thought I didn't but thinking about it I actually do. First, where did Kyrenaia come from? I mean, it didn't just exist in the instant, there was something before the Sultanate I'd imagine. The second would be that, as I understand, you people are not Arabs per se, correct? But you speak Arabic, your leader is a Sultan, or Sultana in this case, you fly the moon of Islam as your emblem on the flag, if I am wrong on that I apologize. And with the exception of Princess Aurelia, all the names I've heard would make me think I'm talking to anyone from Lebanon to Afghanistan." he paused, taking a sip from his glass "For example, similarly to you, Lux Pulchrae can be seen as something extra. It is outside of what it is made of. The dominant culture, language and ethnicity is Italian, and here Italian is considered more an ethnicity than a nationality. It's a view held in time immemorial, since the Romans I believe. Italy is a baby country, younger than America, but Italians have been around forever. Sure we have the same blood as those beyond the mountains but it has been so long we are our own."

[Kyrenaia]

"Well, maybe a couple. I thought I didn't but thinking about it I actually do. First, where did Kyrenaia come from? I mean, it didn't just exist in the instant, there was something before the Sultanate I'd imagine. The second would be that, as I understand, you people are not Arabs per se, correct? But you speak Arabic, your leader is a Sultan, or Sultana in this case, you fly the moon of Islam as your emblem on the flag, if I am wrong on that I apologize. And with the exception of Princess Aurelia, all the names I've heard would make me think I'm talking to anyone from Lebanon to Afghanistan." he paused, taking a sip from his glass "For example, similarly to you, Lux Pulchrae can be seen as something extra. It is outside of what it is made of. The dominant culture, language and ethnicity is Italian, and here Italian is considered more an ethnicity than a nationality. It's a view held in time immemorial, since the Romans I believe. Italy is a baby country, younger than America, but Italians have been around forever. Sure we have the same blood as those beyond the mountains but it has been so long we are our own."

"Oh, Kyrenaia has been around quite a while, too.", Damir said with a smile, "The oldest human remains, which we dug up are... twenty-five thousand years old. Something in that ballpark, C14-dated, of course. Where our ancestors came from is lost in the dark of history."
"Where our alleged Arabic Influence comes from is clearer.", Aurelia added to her father's words, "During the 1st to 4th centuries, ports in what would be Kyrenaia today received a huge number of traders from Arabic-speaking countries and they brought with them Old Arabic. That soon became the language of merchants and mixed with Old Kyrenaian to create Early Middle Kyrenaian, which is the foundation for Modern Kyrenaian, the language, in the 4th and 5th centuries. With the rise of Islam, though, the trade abruptly ended. The title of Sultan stems from that time, too. The Sultan, the one with Authority, Strength, Rulership."
"Actually, Modern Kyrenaian and Modern Arabic are distantly related.", Damir said, "You can ask a Kyrenaian in Arabic for the way to the toilet and he'll be able to answer you in a way you understand, but a meaningful discussion is not possible." He let a beat pass. "My name, by the way, is only Damir in the old Tuairisc Transcript. In your Latin Letters, I would be, according to the Aistinsakh Transscript, which is in academic use today, named Damnhyr. And that does not go into differences in the alphabet. Kyrenaian uses a Semi-syllabary."

[Lux Pulchrae]

"Well then Prince, Princess, consider me a learned man, you could have fooled me. Probably still could. Now, I wouldn't call myself a linguist or an anthropologist, but I have always enjoyed the exploration of cultures. I like to know things, etymologies, history, things like that. Our's would make you head hurt, it was a constant volley of control between the French and the Piedemontese, for like one-hundred years. This Kingdom here would be the...fourth iteration of the Kingdom of Lux Pulchrae. So I suppose its full title would be the Fourth Kingdom of Lux Pulchrae and Amaglione. Though it's just simply Lux Pulchrae. Anything you people would like to learn? I'm no teacher but I can try my best."

Elsewhere, Cleone was in his office making calls to law enforcement "-Listen here, I don't want local police on this, I want National on this! If he's not there I want that estate surrounded! It won't be his for long once I find his old ass guilty! Anyone that knows where he is is to be questioned, resistance is met with arrest!" The order was made, and the National Police stationed in the Nord Oveste province was on their way to the Bourbon estate. The National Police was largely staffed with Italians, especially in the French Quarter, the French weren't allowed to join, due to the historically anti-national sentiment many carried.