"The Annex" was a series of offices and boardrooms that sat next to the wing in the
Imperial Palace that the Emperor called home. There were several members of office staff already tapping away and busying themselves with piles of paper and cups of coffee despite it being just 7:30am. "The Annex" was a long thin building with a single office dominating the connecting end between the building and the Palace. It was home to
Lt. Di Augastino one of several
Advocatus who worked for the Imperial Family. To many she was known as the "Gatekeeper" as beyond one of the doors to her office lay the Emperors private lounge and beyond that his suites. If you wanted a meeting with him you first had to pass through the tall, slender officers domain.
One person who seldom had any difficultly though passing through this checkpoint was
Graziano Lupin. Firstly this was because he was the Emperors cousin and maybe more importantly because he was the Imperial Consul and with Emperor Marco being rather less engaged in government than an Emperor should be it meant his cousin was the real leader of the Empire. He himself had planted Serena Di Augastino in the office she now called home knowing she'd likely be unswayed by the Emperors womanising charms and the fact that she actually frightened him a little bit. The icing on the cake though was that she was his sister-in-law and so he believed he could trust her to be a kind of informer on his cousins stupidity. "Is the Emperor up?" Graziano asked as he swung Serena's office door closed behind him and began helping himself to some of the fresh percolated coffee.
"His Imperial Majesty has company" Serena said disapprovingly.
"When is she leaving?" Graziano sat in the chair utilised by guests to the office and tossed his file folder onto the desk. Instinctively Serena straightened it and stood up, she checked the various motion sensors in the Imperial Suite on the wall next to her.
"Well one has already left" Serena frowned, "Naturally we ensured a Praetorian vehicle took her out the back and got her home in one piece. However it appears young Ginevra from the kitchen is still keeping him company." Graziano sighed, this was a far too common occurence. The young 20 year old girl was an apprentice chef in the kitchen and rather a beautiful young girl. She was though rather naive and anytime Marco felt a bit lonely, or in this case adventurous, he promised her the world and now they were in a situation where the pair where still in the suite with the Queen of Cassiopeia due to arrive.
"Extract the Emperor Liutenant." Graziano chuckled as he savoured the coffee.
"Yes sir" Serena gave a playful half salute, "I pray I don't need to bleach my eyeballs this time." the pair laughed as Serena gave a warning knock, waited a mirco-second and then entered the Emperors suites. She ensured she was loud, "Your Imperial Majesty we have guests in an hour." she yelled as she carefully examined the scene, several drinks glasses and empty wine bottles at various places, a half eaten cheese board and a womans black dress across the floor. She stepped over, wrapped on the bed-room door and braced herself. No sound came and so she cautiously opened the door. The Emperor and the kitchen girl. This was not the first time Serena had seen such a sight and as Ginevra tried to cover herself Marco just swung himself out of bed. "Your Majesty its time to be leaving, you have twenty minutes."
Marco simply chuckled, "My brother dispatched you didn't he?" The Emperor didn't wait for a response but instead simply picked up a towel from off the chair next to the bed before addressing Ginevra, "Serena here sill see you out" he informed her rather callously. Serena waited for the sound of the shower before motioning to Ginevra to be going. The girl nervously got her things together, dressed and headed towards the suites front door that lead to the Palace.
"You should know by now" Ginerva paused as Serena's hand slammed the minutely open door shut. "My office." she jerked her head and Ginerva made her way back to where Graziano was just draining the last of the thick dark coffee he had been sipping. She blushed as he saw her.
"Ginerva?" Graziano wasn't 100% sure of her name but the girl nodded. "Look I don't wish to be horrible. You should not be leaving my cousins bedroom. Do you have family in Abertone?" He asked warmly.
"No Sir" Ginerva looked nervous.
"Good" Graziano stood and turned to address Serena, "Please ensure that Ginerva here is assigned to my private staff, naturally that will require a resettlement grant and I think we can ensure a payraise." Serena wrote in a notebook and threw it in a draw. "Thank you" Graziano knew if it was in "the book" it was as good as done. He then gently took hold of Ginerva's arm, "The Praetorians will take you home and tomorrow help you pack." he watched the girl leave with a smile on her face pleased with her promotion. "Is he ready?" he asked Serena now they were alone.
"Soon" she responded. Fifteen Minutes later Marco appeared dressed in a smart white suit with pink shirt, no tie. It was rather less formal than Graziano approved of but at least he was dressed. The trio headed outside where a black uniformed Praetorian escort awaited. The airport was about a 30 minute drive from the Palace for a regular driver but with outriders and staff watching traffic lights to ensure they were always green the journey took closer to 20. They arrived without much time to spare, just enough for a brief run through of the occasion, a band for national anthems, an honour guard of some 200 Praetorians, a hand picked crowd of journalists and government officials.
As the aircraft was announced as inbound by the airports control tower Marco turned to Serena, "Cassiopeia, thats the one with the young new Queen isn't it?" He asked.
Serena looked down and took a deep breath, "No Your Majesty" she fought the urge to shake her head, "That's Lodja, they recently crowned Queen Natalya. This is Queen Atalanta, she's been Queen for some time now, 2018 I believe. She's...." Serena checked a folder quickly, "42 years of age. Ex-Naval officer" she hoped the Emperor's lack of preparation wouldn't be a problem but a reassuring wink from Graziano left her at least a bit more calm.
"And her husbands name, King....." Marco waited for a response while waving a hand as though it would help conjure up a name.
"Unmarried" Serena replied.
"Really" the Emperor raised an eyebrow. "I could perhaps enjoy this diplomacy" He turned to face the aircraft that was now touching down giving Serena and Graziano time to exchange concerned looks. By now though it was going to be too late as the aircraft was preparing to let the Queen leave. Graziano only tried to reassure himself that the Queen was a similar age to his cousin and he went for younger women usually. As the Queen arrived the Emperor bowed warmly and gave the most delicate of handshakes. "Queen Atalanta, we are grateful for you taking time from your busy schedule to come and pay us a visit. I am delighted to meet you and look forward to getting to know you better. In the short years we've been rulers we have done very little to bring our nations closer together and I've been praying that this opportunity is the first of many for us to meet. "