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Diplomacy and Events / Re: Civil Unrest [OPEN]
« on: September 18, 2017, 01:44:17 AM »Royal Palace, Zewa, Aurora
“It’s all finally coming together for us.”
William’s mother, Queen Annalise of Aurora, eighteenth of her name, stood at the head of the table. She wore a simple dress of silken purple, and wore her blonde hair loose letting it fall to her shoulders. She’d forgone the armoured appearance she played up when he was younger, instead assuming the image of a radiant and experienced Queen rather than a conquering hero. In Between her and him sat his older sister, Princess Serina, and sitting on his other side was, much to everyone’s surprise,his long lost uncle James. James had forfeited his place in succession years ago in favour of Annalise due to his distaste for politics, and it seemed to still be there as he was clearly uncomfortable being part of the Queen’s council. On her other side sat non-family members of importance, including the former ambassador to Wahland, Alina Bazenhov, as well as the New Takorran viceroy, Vinzenz Visscher.
The Queen took a deep breath and then went on. “When Aurora annexed New Takorra, I knew that I’d made an enemy of Wahland for life. Suddenly their grip on the Radiant Sea was fleeting, slipping, their careful house of cards facing an western wind. But to go to war when they were prospering would be foolish, it’d risk everything I’ve worked for if Aurora couldn’t win. So under Vinzenz’s advice-” with that she gestured toward the suited man on her right, who was all too pleased to get recognition for his advice “-we instead focused on taking their market, selling cheap oil for little profit.”
Mrs. Bazenhov seemed to have realization dawn over her, taking the Queen’s pause as an opportunity to speak. “Your Grace, before I was recalled from Wahland, my Wahlsh contacts had been mystified about how you were selling oil so cheap. They’d assumed you’d found a cheaper way to drill it or refine it, but they could never manage to price it lower than Aurora’s.”
Annalise smirked, gesturing back towards the table in front of them, covered in strewn about maps and books. “In the end, the Wahlsh depend too much on their oil industry to try to sell at a loss. For us, the only profit we get is used for upkeep, since unlike a corporation I’ve had goals other than money. Now that Wahland is crumbling, shearing itself apart, I think it’s time to force an end to their control over the straits.”
War?! His Mother was willing to go to war now, as the region had finally began to settle into peace! He couldn't let it all fall apart, with the Wahlsh willing to talk about the issue for the first time in four centuries. William had to speak up, to do something. He stood up and spoke. “Then why are you ignoring their attempts at diplomacy? Attempts to resolve this without violence?!” He realized as he said it that he’d made a mistake, and William saw his Mother turn look towards him with a frown and an icy look. Glancing toward the rest of the table, when she spoke her tone had gone from being pleased to being aggravated. “I consider this meeting dismissed. You’re all free to leave except for William, for I need to have some words with my son alone.” Alina and Vinzenz stood and left, satisfied with their contributions for today. His uncle James left quickly, eager to leave the politics of the palace behind. Along with him he took his sister Serina, who shot him an apologetic look before meekly following her uncle.
When the two of them were alone, Annalise looked towards him again, crossing her arms over her chest before speaking. “Yes, I have ignored their requests for a ‘treaty’ or ‘deal’. Countries don’t bend to your will with kind words or a smile. When you take action, you must be decisive. When that foolish noble Jakob questioned your father’s noble birth, did I shake his hand? Did I come to an agreement? No, he found himself without a head that day, and the nobility was reminded of their status. Heimar wouldn’t tell us the weather in Zwitelgiest before I was Queen, but after the Mad King lost his invasion, no one stood to stop us when Auroran troops marched down the Free Cities’s streets. This is why I take action instead of talking, and this is why the High Seas fleet must sail towards the straits.”
When he was a child, William would’ve dismissively looked toward his feet, muttering apologies to his Mother for speaking out of turn or for questioning the Sovereign of Aurora. But he was now a man of 17 and a future King and he didn’t plan to let his Queenly Mother lead the Kingdom, no, the Entire Region, to war. “Mother, I understand that Wahland is weak right now, but that is no reason to plunge the nation into a costly war. The Wahlsh public would just be united by an attack, and their navy is still easily equal to ours. But everything you’ve done has been taking deals from other nations while they were distracted with squabbles; Zwitelgiest, New Takorra, or Korlun. All of them went by without a war, and I think it’s ill-advised, nay, it’s stupid to try to force a war when we hold all the cards at the negotiating table.”
William felt like he was digging his grave deeper, a sense of guilt rising in his throat as he waited for a harsh order of dismissal. But much to his surprise he saw the corners of her mouth curl upwards, smiling at him as the queenly facade melted away. Her anger seemed to have vanished, and when she spoke to him it almost sounded as if she had a touch of admiration for him. “William, you’ve always had your father’s heart, but I never would’ve thought you inherited my willfulness. And like your father, I know you only question my plans when you feel it's absolutely necessary.” Turning back towards the maps, Annalise gestured towards the mark-covered map of Wahland. “You’ll be King soon, and soon our Kingdom will be yours to guide. So I’ll make you an offer; You can try to negotiate a deal with those greedy Wahlsh fools, try to find some way to open Aurora to the world without ruining everything I’ve worked for. But in return, you’ll have to plan for your future on the throne. I expect you to find a noble wife soon, rather than gallivanting around the world like my brother or falling for a commoner like my older sister. But know that if you fail in your meeting, if you risk everything I’ve planned, then I will not hesitate to order the High seas Fleet to force the Wahlsh to comply. Do we have a deal?” With this she turned back toward him, a curious look in her gaze as she waited for him to decide. But he’d already decided by the time she finished speaking.
“Of course Mother. I will convince the Wahlsh to open the gates.”
