Marco tossed the letter casually back onto his desk having read it. "If this is who they wish to send then thats who they send" he shrugged. "First contact and they are sending Spock, so I shall send Ryker."
Graziano looked puzzled as he placed the Rokkenjiman letter back in his envelope. "Who is Ryker?" He asked as he slid the envelope into a ziplock bag ear-marked for the national archive.
Marco spun casually on his chair. "Its a Star Trek reference" He educated his cousin as his chair spun to a standstill almost facing the Consul head on, he scooted it back a bit and then leaned forward his elbows on his desk. "I thought you liked that kind of thing, we used to watch as children." The Emperor seemed almost upset, he wasn't the biggest fan of the show but he had enjoyed the odd episode, especially the ones with that "8 of 10" character or whatever she had been called.
"That was my sister Natalina" Graziano had stood. "So I assume you want someone else to handle this matter?"
"It is as though you are a Betazoid" Marco spun himself another lap of his chairs revolutions and then noted that Graziano looked puzzled. "It means yes" he shook his head disapprovingly as he watched Graziano give his usual to the point bow before leaving into the Annex that sat next to the Emperors private suite and office.
The door lead into Serena's office. "He been drinking?" Graziano asked the Emperor's Advocatus. The tall military officer simply leaned down to her desks bottom draw and withdrew a bottle of red wine. Graziano pulled up his suit sleeve and looked at his watch. "Its only 10am"
"Wine o'clock" Serena replied, "I switched him to one of my own vintage." It had become a regular ploy over the past few months, if the Emperor began drinking early in the day Serena simply swapped the red wine for non-alcoholic after a few glasses and the Emperor often never noticed or simply complained the wine had turned bad and gave up, either way the result was often the same that for at least a while the Emperor did something worthwhile.
"Good" Graziano handed her the letter to be filed ready for collection by the Archivist at the end of the year. "Make arrangements for Princess Kyoko to meet me please."
"Yes sir" Serena picked up the phone and began her relentless series of phone calls.
If the Princess was not meeting the Emperor the least Graziano could do was ensure she didn't have a long trip and so the town of
Trofino it sat just an half hour drive from the border of the two nations and was rather famed for its unique houses, a series of old
Trullo buildings, small dry stone conical shaped houses which had white plastered walls on the outside. Many had symbols whitewashed onto their roofs, some the symbol of a cross, a heart, a longbow or in the case of the building where they would meet a flower. It was the abode of the Mayor of Trullo, a tiny man in his 70's who behind a pair of milkbottle bottom glasses resembled a tiny mole. The house adjoined the town hall.
Interested town folk gathered outside and some of the smaller children had even perched themselves on the sloping roof tops to get better views. Graziano was keen to get things underway and was relieved when he saw the Carbinieri outrider come round the corner quickly followed by three more and then a fleet of vehicles containing the Rokkenjiman Princess and her entourage. Both Graziano and the molesque mayor reached for the door handle of the car at the same time and Graziano stepped back allowing the mayor to be the first to greet the Princess, this was after all his town. "Your Imperial Highness" the man bowed with a rather deceptive depth and elegance. "The people of Trullo are proud to be able to welcome you to our town. Please come meet our Consul, His Imperial Majesty Prince Graziano."
"Just Graziano" he was technically a Prince but didn't think as Consul his job was to be a royal, his job was to run the country for the people and so he generally shunned his title, even that of Duke of Manzi. "On behalf of his Imperial Majesty Emperor Marco I'd like to welcome you to the Empire of Abertone." There was a slight commotion behind them as a robust looking woman dressed in black with a white apron on pushed her way towards Graziano, it was clear she was no threat by the way the Carbinieri literally jumped out of her way. It was the mayors wife and she thrust a tray of Sfogliatelle at Graziano who took a few steps back as she harranged him about not giving her time for things to cool. "I'm sorry" Graziano chuckled as he picked one of the plate being thrust at him. "Princess please share this with me in friendship" he broke the orange cream filled pastry in half and passed it to the Princess. The old woman hadn't waited around and was merrily handing out the still cooling pastry to the rest of the Rokkenjiman entourage whether they wanted one or not.