The Company of Neighbours
Part of a series on Embassy Exchange Programme of Yohannes
Elisabeth still could not find the meeting room.[1] She’d come to dislike the confusing halls of Parliament House, the sound of politicians laughing and lying, the distraction when some lone petitioners and news reporters would try to catch her attention—followed, usually, by their camera crew. Elisabeth had no problems walking along the halls of Parliament House at night, when almost everyone was gone; but by day, when she had to be shielded by her minders everywhere she went, she would find the halls of Parliament suffocating. Instead of smiling back at someone who would smile at her—she knew who they were and what they wanted, anyway—she would absentmindedly tell her minders to brush them aside and make way for her, or pretend not to see their questioning faces, or directly tell them to leave her alone.
She needed to be alone. She had so many problems to worry about today, and too many things to do. Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn had tasked her with talking to the ambassadors of Lucedeia and the Soviet Republics. They had opened their countries to the outside world once more, she told Elisabeth. Lucedeia and the Soviet Republics were Yohannes’ closest neighbours. They were large countries, with one hundred million people or so living inside their borders. But they had closed out the world beyond their borders, to halt the flow of information from the outside world and to rule their country and manage their economy freely. They held no trade with us or any of our trading partners, Elisabeth knew. However, with the creation of the school visa waiver programme with the Embassy of the Soviet Republics yesterday, that had changed; although nothing would probably come out of this small talk, Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn had told her to treat both ambassadors with great care and kindness.[2]
When she walked past the entrance to the other end of the hall and turned left for the third time, Elisabeth could finally see the door to the room.
She needed to be alone. She had so many problems to worry about today, and too many things to do. Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn had tasked her with talking to the ambassadors of Lucedeia and the Soviet Republics. They had opened their countries to the outside world once more, she told Elisabeth. Lucedeia and the Soviet Republics were Yohannes’ closest neighbours. They were large countries, with one hundred million people or so living inside their borders. But they had closed out the world beyond their borders, to halt the flow of information from the outside world and to rule their country and manage their economy freely. They held no trade with us or any of our trading partners, Elisabeth knew. However, with the creation of the school visa waiver programme with the Embassy of the Soviet Republics yesterday, that had changed; although nothing would probably come out of this small talk, Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn had told her to treat both ambassadors with great care and kindness.[2]
When she walked past the entrance to the other end of the hall and turned left for the third time, Elisabeth could finally see the door to the room.
In-Character (IC) information
1. Princess Elisabeth is a Yohannesian ambassador-at-large. She is the heir apparent to Yohannes' largest constituent state. See viewtopic.php?p=36660945#p36660945
2. Queen Louise College has a secondary school visa waiver partnership with the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Republics. See viewtopic.php?p=36678329#p36678329
1. Princess Elisabeth is a Yohannesian ambassador-at-large. She is the heir apparent to Yohannes' largest constituent state. See viewtopic.php?p=36660945#p36660945
2. Queen Louise College has a secondary school visa waiver partnership with the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Republics. See viewtopic.php?p=36678329#p36678329
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