03-28-2024, 08:58 PM
Below the Royal Palace, Lumiere, Auria
March 13th, 2024
Despite its dark and dull appearance, the Crypt of the Crown was one of the most recognizable and sacred sights in all of Auria. Consisting of multiple octagonal towers full of carvings and tombs, the crypt sat below the Royal Palace, with strict visitation hours for tourists and even stricter security. Alas, those hours did not apply to certain visitors.
Prince Mathēu nodded at the guard posted at the start of the hall to the crypt, wrinkling his nose slightly at the ever-present smell of stone dust. Despite his bigger dress shoes, he took extra care to walk slowly on the stone favors, his footsteps barely making a sound. The dim entry hall had the names of hundreds of nobles, knights, magistrates, and parliamentarians who had been deemed worthy enough to have their name in the hall after their deaths.
The entry hall opened into a small antechamber, complete with banners of the House of Laurent on the walls and a statue of King Čarles I in the center. Instead of going to the right or left (to the graves of deceased princes, princesses, and consorts), the Prince continued on, darting around the statue. The hall gradually got larger, until Mathēu arrived at a huge room full of ornate tombs and effigies. The Prince’s pace slowed, until he stood before a pair of newer tombs placed side by side.
King Nićolas III the Beloved
1972-2023
A kind soul, Beloved by all, Taken too soon.
Queen Regent Sophie(Sofē) I the Brave
1973-2023
Walked through fire for her country, Paid the price for our freedom.
While the final resting places for most royal consorts were in the Chamber of Consorts, given both Queen Sophie’s status as a Queen Regent and the legacy that she left for the Aurian people, there had been no question that she deserved to rest with all of the other reigning monarchs in Aurian history. The 20 year old Prince bit his lip and lowered his head, choking back tears at the sight of the dedications on the bronze plaques. Very fitting dedications. They would’ve hated them, though. Mom would’ve called it “too dramatic,” and Dad would’ve quipped that they should’ve included something about his dashing looks. He cracked a small, sad smile to himself. Still, the designer did well.
The echoes of footsteps from the hall drew the Prince from his thoughts. However, no one came into view, causing Mathēu to sigh. “Come out, Tōmas. You are never stealthy, I’m sorry to say.”
Prince Tōmas of Lei Ternakōr, Mathēu’s older brother, crept out from the hall, looking a bit sheepish. “Sorry. Didn’t want to disturb you.”
Mathēu shook his head. “You don’t have to worry about that, Tōm. Besides, you have just as much right to be down here as I do. Perhaps even more so, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen you go down here.”
The elder prince looked at the floor. “It’s… difficult. This place never sat well with me, even when we were kids. And now, it…” His eyes darted about, as if searching for the missing words in the crypt. “It feels wrong.” He looked to Mathēu, who was still staring at the tombs of their parents. “Do you understand?”
“More than anyone, Tōm. Except for maybe Katherina, given the circumstances.” He fished a pair of small blue flowers from his pocket, placed one on each tomb, and then slowly walked towards the hall. He gave Tōmas a small pat on the shoulder as he went. “Spend all the time you need down here, okay? It helps.”
“Wait! I actually wanted to talk to you.”
Prince Mathēu turned back, raising an eyebrow. “Down here? Can’t we chat in some place more welcoming?”
“I want to talk down here. It’s much more private. No more cameras, nosy aides, or curious guards to listen to us.”
Mathēu tilted his head. “Okay. What do you want to talk about that requires secrecy?”
Tōmas glanced away, pacing his way towards the middle of the room. “It's about Katherina, Mat. She isn't herself. And she's taking the country with her.”
The younger brother pursed his lips. “I’m trying to help ease the load she carries. Really, I am. If you'd like to help out more, please feel free to do so. There are a few hundred construction projects to raise money for.” His brow furrowed as he thought back on his brother's statement. “‘Taking the country with her?’ What does that mean?”
“She's pissed with Arquette. She wanted Juraceda to burn, regardless if the UAC surrendered. She also reportedly sent conflicting orders to the front line, even after the deal was made. Plus, given your, uh… relationship with the palace guards, you should know of the rumors on what goes on in the basement. She's practically giving those conventions a reason to remove the monarchy.”
Mathēu’s gaze turned icy. “I don't like what you're implying about our sister or about my relationships. Stay out of my business, if you please.” He looked downwards. “And so what if I've heard something? What exactly are you saying, Tōmas?”
“I'm saying that we can't just stand by while Kat does this kind of shit. We have a responsibility to the Aurian people to reveal what we know and let the people decide what they think about it.” Tōmas took a step towards his brother. “Come on, Mat. You know it's true. We have to speak up, before it's too late.”
The younger Prince’s face turned into a sneer. “Don't pretend like you give a shit about everyday Aurians, Tōm. You just want the throne to yourself, and you see an opportunity to seize it while the conventions are going on. Well, I want no part of it.” He stormed towards the exit hall, before turning back one last time. “How dare you try to ask me to betray my sister here, of all places! You're sick, Tōmas. I may not agree with what Katherina is doing, but there is no way that I'm helping you betray her either. Leave me out of this.”
Mathēu stormed off, leaving Tōmas alone in the crypt.
Delēn Convention Center, Lumiere
An older, wiry gentleman stood behind a lectern on the stage of one of Auria’s biggest meeting halls, looking around as the assembled crowd took their seats. The grand hall was filled with some of the most influential Aurians from all walks of life (who hadn’t been indicted for treasonous activity): professors, business owners, politicians, journalists, lawyers, military officers. Nothing got done in Auria without the approval of at least one person in the hall. As such, it was only fitting that all of them get invited for one of the most important conventions in Aurian history.
The gentleman on stage cleared his throat into the mic. “Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for coming. We gather here today to discuss the very future of our nation, now that we have our nation back. Though the past two years put us through an indescribable struggle, we still persevere. Now, we are left painfully aware of the flaws and cracks in our historic institutions that we must repair if we ever dream of peace.”
“We come together from different walks of life, different political beliefs, different perspectives. But no matter who you are or where you are from, today, you are strictly an Aurian who needs to pick up the fragments of your embattled nation.” He paused for a moment, letting the rhetoric sink in. “Well, shall we get started?”
March 13th, 2024
Despite its dark and dull appearance, the Crypt of the Crown was one of the most recognizable and sacred sights in all of Auria. Consisting of multiple octagonal towers full of carvings and tombs, the crypt sat below the Royal Palace, with strict visitation hours for tourists and even stricter security. Alas, those hours did not apply to certain visitors.
Prince Mathēu nodded at the guard posted at the start of the hall to the crypt, wrinkling his nose slightly at the ever-present smell of stone dust. Despite his bigger dress shoes, he took extra care to walk slowly on the stone favors, his footsteps barely making a sound. The dim entry hall had the names of hundreds of nobles, knights, magistrates, and parliamentarians who had been deemed worthy enough to have their name in the hall after their deaths.
The entry hall opened into a small antechamber, complete with banners of the House of Laurent on the walls and a statue of King Čarles I in the center. Instead of going to the right or left (to the graves of deceased princes, princesses, and consorts), the Prince continued on, darting around the statue. The hall gradually got larger, until Mathēu arrived at a huge room full of ornate tombs and effigies. The Prince’s pace slowed, until he stood before a pair of newer tombs placed side by side.
King Nićolas III the Beloved
1972-2023
A kind soul, Beloved by all, Taken too soon.
Queen Regent Sophie(Sofē) I the Brave
1973-2023
Walked through fire for her country, Paid the price for our freedom.
While the final resting places for most royal consorts were in the Chamber of Consorts, given both Queen Sophie’s status as a Queen Regent and the legacy that she left for the Aurian people, there had been no question that she deserved to rest with all of the other reigning monarchs in Aurian history. The 20 year old Prince bit his lip and lowered his head, choking back tears at the sight of the dedications on the bronze plaques. Very fitting dedications. They would’ve hated them, though. Mom would’ve called it “too dramatic,” and Dad would’ve quipped that they should’ve included something about his dashing looks. He cracked a small, sad smile to himself. Still, the designer did well.
The echoes of footsteps from the hall drew the Prince from his thoughts. However, no one came into view, causing Mathēu to sigh. “Come out, Tōmas. You are never stealthy, I’m sorry to say.”
Prince Tōmas of Lei Ternakōr, Mathēu’s older brother, crept out from the hall, looking a bit sheepish. “Sorry. Didn’t want to disturb you.”
Mathēu shook his head. “You don’t have to worry about that, Tōm. Besides, you have just as much right to be down here as I do. Perhaps even more so, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen you go down here.”
The elder prince looked at the floor. “It’s… difficult. This place never sat well with me, even when we were kids. And now, it…” His eyes darted about, as if searching for the missing words in the crypt. “It feels wrong.” He looked to Mathēu, who was still staring at the tombs of their parents. “Do you understand?”
“More than anyone, Tōm. Except for maybe Katherina, given the circumstances.” He fished a pair of small blue flowers from his pocket, placed one on each tomb, and then slowly walked towards the hall. He gave Tōmas a small pat on the shoulder as he went. “Spend all the time you need down here, okay? It helps.”
“Wait! I actually wanted to talk to you.”
Prince Mathēu turned back, raising an eyebrow. “Down here? Can’t we chat in some place more welcoming?”
“I want to talk down here. It’s much more private. No more cameras, nosy aides, or curious guards to listen to us.”
Mathēu tilted his head. “Okay. What do you want to talk about that requires secrecy?”
Tōmas glanced away, pacing his way towards the middle of the room. “It's about Katherina, Mat. She isn't herself. And she's taking the country with her.”
The younger brother pursed his lips. “I’m trying to help ease the load she carries. Really, I am. If you'd like to help out more, please feel free to do so. There are a few hundred construction projects to raise money for.” His brow furrowed as he thought back on his brother's statement. “‘Taking the country with her?’ What does that mean?”
“She's pissed with Arquette. She wanted Juraceda to burn, regardless if the UAC surrendered. She also reportedly sent conflicting orders to the front line, even after the deal was made. Plus, given your, uh… relationship with the palace guards, you should know of the rumors on what goes on in the basement. She's practically giving those conventions a reason to remove the monarchy.”
Mathēu’s gaze turned icy. “I don't like what you're implying about our sister or about my relationships. Stay out of my business, if you please.” He looked downwards. “And so what if I've heard something? What exactly are you saying, Tōmas?”
“I'm saying that we can't just stand by while Kat does this kind of shit. We have a responsibility to the Aurian people to reveal what we know and let the people decide what they think about it.” Tōmas took a step towards his brother. “Come on, Mat. You know it's true. We have to speak up, before it's too late.”
The younger Prince’s face turned into a sneer. “Don't pretend like you give a shit about everyday Aurians, Tōm. You just want the throne to yourself, and you see an opportunity to seize it while the conventions are going on. Well, I want no part of it.” He stormed towards the exit hall, before turning back one last time. “How dare you try to ask me to betray my sister here, of all places! You're sick, Tōmas. I may not agree with what Katherina is doing, but there is no way that I'm helping you betray her either. Leave me out of this.”
Mathēu stormed off, leaving Tōmas alone in the crypt.
Delēn Convention Center, Lumiere
An older, wiry gentleman stood behind a lectern on the stage of one of Auria’s biggest meeting halls, looking around as the assembled crowd took their seats. The grand hall was filled with some of the most influential Aurians from all walks of life (who hadn’t been indicted for treasonous activity): professors, business owners, politicians, journalists, lawyers, military officers. Nothing got done in Auria without the approval of at least one person in the hall. As such, it was only fitting that all of them get invited for one of the most important conventions in Aurian history.
The gentleman on stage cleared his throat into the mic. “Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for coming. We gather here today to discuss the very future of our nation, now that we have our nation back. Though the past two years put us through an indescribable struggle, we still persevere. Now, we are left painfully aware of the flaws and cracks in our historic institutions that we must repair if we ever dream of peace.”
“We come together from different walks of life, different political beliefs, different perspectives. But no matter who you are or where you are from, today, you are strictly an Aurian who needs to pick up the fragments of your embattled nation.” He paused for a moment, letting the rhetoric sink in. “Well, shall we get started?”
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