Immediately after the Queen proposed dinner time, Prince Andrew went up to his room in the Palace and took a short nap before preparing himself in the few hours which one had to spare, in order to impress Her Majesty. After enduring a well-needed shower, he put on a fresh attire which consisted of a casual suit and some trousers, not too extravagant nor too simple, the details lied in perfect balance between the symmetry. A spray of cologne finished the job and off he went downstairs once more; it's showtime... the Prince told himself.
"Arpine, don't you look stunning this evening, like a true shining emerald." he kissed her hand, making a catchy remark in terms of the color green, which must be her favorite. Without waiting for a servant, the Prince fulfilled his courtly manners and drew the chair out in order for the Queen to sit, before moving to the other side. "Mmm, this is a different sort of tea unlike last time, I guess this Djerb tea if I'm not mistaken." he said showing some alluring eyes, the cup covering half of his face.
After listening to Arpine's initial questions, he placed the cup down and chuckled a bit. "If one knew my beloved father quite well for over 28 yrs, which I actually do and much more, it's pretty much obvious as to what he's trying to play at. This so called 'experience gathering' is nothing more than an excuse to try to find suitable brides and grooms, oh that silly man. At the same time I suppose I allowed myself to be swept away by his agenda to try to spend time with him, being gone for over a year in hiatus and letting my Uncle act as temporary regent in his name, so on and so forth." he said.
"Even if he didn't kindly 'ask' me to come along, I would have had anyway, to which you may wonder. Well my three greatest passions that I know of share with some of my siblings is to eat and cook, travel to new places I've never ventured there before and having a daily exercise." Andrew said, showing off his thick biceps. "Attican cuisine is among the best I've ever tasted, there are several spots for a great jog overlooking gorgeous scenic landscapes, and then there's you whom I'm trying to get to know more about, whose dynastical legacy is an integral part of this ancient kingdom." he paused as he further listened to Arpine's other set of questions, which seemed more serious.
"Well now you have some answers you can put your good memory for further reference, as to who I am." he began once more, "Hehe, I have to first admit that I only said to give you a good impression, figured you'd like a man to be serious when conducting business with and so forth. Truthfully speaking, all types of politics are naturally constructed to shape different people's views as to how a society should be built up and governed alongside a set of principles or guidelines to follow." as he drank more of that tea, one was to find out about the type of character Andrew was, despite having an friendly outward facade.
"A wise man once said that the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter, and I actually agree with that statement; it's after all the lesser of all other evils, and even then it's so fragile and transluscent that another form of government can blossom, if left unchecked without any hindrance to its growth, oh the irony is strong with this one...Even if I'm ranked one of the lowest in the line of succession, I would do what my previous forbearers always did and what I'm doing now, and that is to ensure the survival of my family and the welfare of my people, no matter the methods used as long as the outcome would be favorable towards one's self.
We Goughs have always prized independence and sovereignty, ever since we instigated a war for Huisslandia's independence in 1590 from Ardia. Also did you know that we were Catholics once upon a time? The early Goughs started off as merchants and bankers and were once favored by the Catholic church as private bankers, who always gave generously to the Holy See with various forms of taxes and tithings. However, the Governor of the Huiss Colony and leader of the Gough Family adopted the teachings of Martin Luther as a means of keeping the state revenue in the hands of the Huiss people, who of course resisted the changes but gradually over time submitted. They reasoned that the Popes never truly cared for the Huiss people's right for independence anyway, as long as they generously filled up the churchly coffers, so why go fund someone who didn't offer a return on investment, especially someone who claims to be God's direct representative on Earth? When the Huiss people prevailed in their struggle for independence, they naturally attributed it to Martin's Luther 'correct' faith to God. Fast forward a few centuries, and the Goughs managed to marry off a princess to Tsar Paul Petrov of the newly formed Tsardom of Krimeon, who managed to unite the various Slavic realms on eastern Ardian under one banner. Paul's son, Tsar Peter I, changed the dynasty name slightly which became the current one you notice today; Gough-Petrov, in order to honor his mother's name and the legacy the Huiss Goughs already had left behind.
As you can see Arpine, my family has always done what's deemed right and acted in accordance to the people's welfare; Krimeonite democracy is a controlled one in fact, the ruling 'United Krimeon Party' basically rules in conjunction with the Tsar, and it shall always be the case for all eternity; you think the people could've achieved all of the successes, wealth and prosperity that Krimeon posesses today without the ultimate guidance under the Goughs?" he laughed a little before continuing; "it's the same with Biseam today and look at how well they're doing; a democracy on the surface, a firm guided hand beneath all of that pretty facade designed to appease the common man. However, we've gone too far with the liberalization of social values, as the Krimeonite society is affected by such degenerate plague coming from Huisslandia; such a shame that the original Goughs have forsaken their Christian values and given way to whoring, homosexual marriage, the murdering of infants, drugs galore flowing the streets and all sorts of other Godforsaken acts that only serves the will of the Devil.
Krimeon, a once proud Orthodox nation of the most Christian values has fallen into the same pit of hell, the politicans going too easy of the simple minded folk to allow such travesty to occur, just to appease the leftist-liberal, global elites and for outwardly reputation. Bah, as if there would still exist a spine? I love my father still, I truly do, but he's getting older by every day and he isn't the same man as he used to be; it all started before he took that year of hiatus, I suspect it must've been due to the pressures from the political establishment. I can't blame him though, keeping our family alive and intact for almost 46 years on the throne, inheriting it from the death of great grandfather at age 21, I mean there are rumors that his father's plane crash was orchestrated by conspiratorial powers...Oh how I wish I could be Tsar for even one day and alter the course our nation's heading, into what it was before...if only..." he stopped and snapped himself from that idealistic dream his brain conducted.
"My dear Arpine, I hope you now understand from where I'm coming from and who I am as a person; I could now ask the same of you...Who is Queen Arpine of House Saroyan and the Kingdom of Attica, tell me everything that is there to know about thyself." he finally asked, knowing fully that he may have talked a bit too long but it was important to get the message out as to whom Prince Andrew was and the environment he grew up in.
