Hope and Dreams, Goodness and Truth

Posted on Thu Jul 13th, 2023 @ 11:21pm by Duchess Aurelia Orsini & Crown Prince Paolo Orsini

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: Palácio da Alvorada, Lord of Brazil's Residence
Timeline: Date 2371-08-08 at 1400
7023 words - 14 OF Standard Post Measure

The Feast of Heroes had been a first for Paolo Orsini in many ways. The first, and perhaps, most significant, was that his engagement to Amalie had been made public. The thought of being with her was exhilarating to him at the very least. The thought of one day being able to marry her was more exciting than he could put into words, and had taken almost all of his imagination from his government boxes. The astute boy, who was usually floating between one paper and the next, now sat still over an open box with nothing but thoughts of a girl on his mind. The second exciting first was his meeting with Aurelia, his cousin.

Aurelia had demonstrated her considerable knowledge of the lives of the common people in the empire, a knowledge that was stymied for him by tutors, who were instructed to inform him of the finer things and of high Society. He had an interest in learning about the people he would be leading, and he meant to learn without anyone stopping him. He had it in his mind to pay her a visit and that was what he was going to do.

Now the crown prince, the heir to the Terran Empire couldn’t exactly make a visit unannounced. When he was Emperor, he would be able to do it, but currently his watchers in the Imperial Guard had more say in his schedule and security than they would when he had power. Ultimately, they answered his father and his father demanded security sweeps before he went anywhere.

The squad that guarded him had arrived at the estate of the Lord of Brazil, an hour before he had so, when the doors were open for him, and he walked inside, he could be assured that everything was perfectly safe. There was no doubt in his mind it would have been anyway, but the emperor's orders were the emperor's orders. He only hoped they hadn’t been too intrusive.

He was dressed in a subdued, dark blue button up shirt, and a pair of brown slacks. Appearing in sweats or a t-shirt and sweats were out of the question, says his mother.

Paolo and his guards were escorted through the halls of the Palácio da Alvorada which had been hastily renovated to remove all signs of the disgraced Ivers family and the return of the proper Lord of Brazil, Raoul Lucius Orsini Hale. The young lord had good taste, not gaudy or overly lavish, but dark woods and rich colors gave the sense of wealth and power. He was taken to the main office which little known to Paolo, Raoul had set up as a near identical replica of his late father Renato’s office. He was standing reading a PADD and looking out the window, but when the door opened he turned with a ready and pleasant smile.

“Ah, your Highness. A pleasure to see you again.” Raoul was dressed in a light lavender button up shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows and the top few buttons undone exposing some of his toned chest. It was complimented by a pair of dark grey slacks and perfectly polished shoes. A dressed down look, but still enough in his own home.

“I know you’re here to see my mother, but I figured I’d take the opportunity to welcome you myself. If there’s anything you need while you’re here just let me know. Or, well, I guess one of the attendants. They’ll tell me.” He chuckled and shook his head.

Paolo approached and extended a hand to Raoul. By the royal code, he needed to initiate physical contact first, and he had learned from a young age to offer handshakes more often than not.

“Thank you, cousin. I’m glad you were willing to take the time to see me. I think it would have been impolite of me to visit a man’s home and not greet him.” Paolo said, a bit smoother than he would have a month before. He was learning to speak confidently in social situations and had, in a short while, lost a small amount of his boyishness.

“This palace is over 300 years old, I believe. Built for the President of Brazil by design of the same man who sketched out much of the planned Brazillia. It was one of the most well-known planned cities, built from nearly the first stone by the vision of one artist.”

The Crown Prince turned and began to move about the glass-heavy room, taking in not only the aesthetic but lifting busts, and turning sculptures, and looking at pictures. His mind seemed to be picking up every detail he could, looking for clues that would speak some volume to him. After a few moments, he turned to Raoul again.

Raoul had moved to sit on the edge of the heavy wooden desk and just watched Paolo start to touch and move everything he could get his hands on. It was incredibly rude, of course, Crown Prince or not; the title gave him the authority to do it. For his part though, Raoul didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact he seemed to enjoy the interest Paolo was taking. “Do you recognize these pieces, or do you want me to tell you about them?”

“The Flowered Dress painted in 1891.” Paolo said, pointing to a painting in the far wall before his hand settled on a portrait in the corner. “Your father, I believe.”

His eyes moved around a bit more, looking for more familiar work, but he had reached the end of his knowledge.

“The rest I don’t know.” He said simply, without embarrassment. “Please inform me. Terran art is a gift that never stops giving. At least that’s what my father says.”

Raoul nodded and stood, setting the PADD aside and looking to the portrait of his father. Renato had the same striking green eyes and curly hair as his son, but Raoul’s overall features took more after his mother except for his nose. “That was painted by Ismael Carvalho - his family had done the portraits for the lords of Brazil for quite a few generations.”

He then stepped over to one of the finely preserved marble carved busts. “This is of President Márcio Edu Nunes who was widely considered to be the best president Brazil ever had when there were presidents. He served beginning in the 2030s and brought stability to Brazil despite being in the middle of the world war. I’m not sure if you know the distinct history of this country, but Brazil was plagued with corrupt, greedy governments for decades until Nunes came to power. It was because of his success as a president that the government as a whole suspended their usual rule that a president could not run past two consecutive terms. That decision helped place Brazil in a prime position for the birth of our Empire.”

“Control of the Western Alliance. I never learned much about Nunes, but he sounds very impressive. I know he was followed by his protege, Julian Lucian Sousa, the man who elevated our ancient father Antonio Silva to the role of Vice President. The man who would become Antonius I once used this as his office before the building of the Rio de Janeiro Palace…” Paolo touched the desk now, seeming genuinely awestruck by the history. Besides politics, it was his favorite subject in his studies. There was so much to learn; an endless amount.

Raoul rubbed his chin and then turned to the bookshelves filled completely with fine looking volumes. His father had loved finely crafted books and had passed that love along to both of his children. After just a brief few seconds of scanning, he stepped forward and pulled one large, thick book bound up in reds and golds, then moved to another shelf to pull off a simpler black leather book that had a more flexible cover. Stacking them, he moved back to Paolo and extended them toward the Crown Prince.

“You might enjoy reading these, then. The larger one is a biography of Nunes with a few autobiographical pieces in it, this though,” he lifted the smaller black book. “This is a collection of letters sent between Nunes and Sousa.”

Paolo resisted the urge to snatch the books out of his hands, so excited was he. Instead, he reached forward in a slow and patient display and looked at the book’s covers. His eyes lit up as he worked over every detail of the covers with his own eyes.

“Thank you. I’d love to borrow these, Count Raoul.” Paolo said with a smile before shuffling the books off to his nearby aid so it can be safely transported back to the palace with him. “And now that I know you are an appreciator of history, I can keep that in mind in the future.”

“Like your father, mine instilled a love of history in both myself and my sister Lyra. He especially wanted the both of us to know the history of where we came from here in Brazil so that we would know the land one of us, gods willing, would eventually lord over one day.” Raoul indicated to the shelves. “If you ever have want of knowledge of Brazil you need only come here. This office holds the finest collection, but we also have a library that expands out and of course covers many other topics.”

Paolo wasn’t sure if he’d be curious enough about Brazil to come back and take out more books, but he certainly appreciated the offer and didn’t want to close the door on it, just in case. His hand made its way into his pocket and fished a little before he pulled out a golden oval with an ivory setting on the front and a simple shield of red and white diagonal stripes with a rose at the top.

“I brought you a small gift, my Lord.” Paolo said, extending the jewel encrusted ring to Raoul. “The Orsini family descends from the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Ancient Rome and has a storied history of war and rule. As Popes of the Catholic Church, we ruled Rome and, by extension, we’re the fathers of all Christian princes. Five Popes; 34 Cardinals, and many more military Condottieri. From there, we have been Despots of Epirus, Counts of Cephalonia and Zakynthos, Counts of Pitigliano, and Dukes of Gravina, Amalfi, and Bracciano. Our motto, always: ‘Without Reproach’.”

Paolo stood taller as he delivered the history of their family in brief terms, more comfortable with people listening to him and waiting on him than ever before. But still not very comfortable.

“After the fall of the Kingdom of Italy to…democratic spirits, the Orsini fell into obscurity and had no notable member until my illustrious great great grandfather, Admiral Joseph Orsini; Iosephus, who fought to preserve a remnant of our once great Empire after Spock destroyed it…with Democratic spirits. I’m starting to detect a theme.”

Paolo smiled broadly and chuckled, shifting his weight from one leg to the other and then sniffling slightly.

Raoul had taken the ring gratefully and while Paolo had spoken of the Orsini family history, he listened intently while also inspecting the fine craft of the ring. Before his father had been murdered and his family had gone into hiding, Raoul had reached the age where he had at least started to understand the power of the name Orsini carried even for someone like him. His mother had done her best to continue to nurture that in the quiet moments, telling him he would be a mighty lord someday and, gods willing, perhaps the great grandfather of an Emperor proper. The concept had always seemed strange to him and even now in his twenties, it still seemed so.

“Thank you, Highness.” Raoul smiled warmly once Paolo was finished, easily resting his green eyes on the boy who he seemed to not see as a boy but as a young man - a cousin. “I’ll treasure this.”

“There are few things more important than family.” Paolo said with a pleasant nod. “And few things more under threat.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Raoul smiled. “Well, my mother is waiting and I wouldn’t want to be accused of trying to monopolize your time. Thank you for coming to speak with me, cousin, and thank you for the gift.” He used the familial term for Paolo only because the Prince had used it himself before.

“A pleasure.” Paolo said, giving a grin and avoiding the awkward goodbye he was prone to with advice given to him by Giana. He turned and proceeded smartly toward the door. When he stepped out into the hallway, an aide from the house showed him to his next location.

Paolo was guided through the hallways and turns of the magnificent home until finally they came to a door. The aide knocked, and another inside opened the door to welcome their prince inside. Paolo found himself entering a large sunroom filled with tall straight paned windows bordered at the top and bottom with smaller divided panes. It would have threatened to be too bright, but the wood was painted a dark mahogany color to cut down on the sun and the room temperature was kept pleasant by the specialized windows. There were a few couches, a number of chairs, all of which were cream colored cushions nested in beautifully carved dark wood; red pillows and throws gave pops of color as did the carefully tended plants that dotted the room in a pleasing way.

The view was impressive, overlooking the massive lake outside of the estate; the sky was a vibrant blue and large fluffy white clouds floated lazily through the air. Truly, it was beautiful. Served on the carved wooden coffee table was tea and a few small treats, and sitting one one of the couches reading a book sat Aurelia Orsini in a simple black shift dress wearing a few modest pieces of gold jewelry. When the door opened, she looked up and smiled as she stood immediately.

“Imperial Highness, I’m happy to see you.” She greeted with a curtsy.

Paolo would certainly look around later, but started the exchange with a polite smile to Aurelia. He entered the room all the way and went directly to where she stood.

“Duchess Aurelia, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” Paolo said, closing the distance to her and stopping before her. She was taller than him at this point, but he knew that soon he would stand above her physically and in power. “I wanted to continue our conversation from the grand ball on the Imperator.”

“Of course, I would be more than happy to. Please, sit. Would you like some tea?” Aurelia offered, motioning to the other side of the comfortable looking couch. Though she looked down at him, the older woman obviously wasn’t looking down on him. She met Paolo with respect, and he would get the sense that the respect she was showing wasn’t because of his station.

Paolo did just as she had asked and took a seat on a comfortable couch near the floor to ceiling glass window. Crossing one ankle over the other, he sat in an elegant and princely fashion that showed the quality of his education more than his character. Now that he was in front of her, he hardly knew how to start.

“It's rare that a tutor walks with an emperor and keeps the common touch.” He started, casting his eyes down for an instant as he thought and then directing them back up into her radiant brown eyes. “So often I’m concerned that I’m not really learning much about humanity for all the Terran history I’m taught.”

Aurelia listened to Paolo speak, her eyes resting on him and her hands lightly placed in her lap. She was surprised at his concern but at the same time it warmed her to know that even at his age, he seemed to at least be aware of one of the common shortcomings of those in the highest positions of power. “I would say rightfully so, through no fault of your own. It has simply been the way of things for so long. Children of royalty are taught to stand above and separate; as the future of the Empire, you are being groomed to fill the shoes of a god.”

“If there’s one thing a god must do, it is understand.” He said. “They don’t seem to understand. My father does, but he’s too busy to help me in this.”

Paolo hadn’t noticed the question about tea, so focused was he on the questions in his mind. Often aloof, they boy was prone to noticing things no one else would and leaving other more obvious things unnoticed.

Truthfully, Aurelia had been out of court long enough that she wasn’t sure if Antonius did understand, but she did know he was very good at inspiring the people and that was what was important for an Emperor in the end. Even if he didn’t understand the common problems or the hearts of the commoners, if he could wield himself in such a way to make them forget a while, he really didn’t need to understand.

“Well, I am more than happy to offer you what I have learned and observed over the past decade I have lived with the common people. Do you have any questions you have prepared that you wanted to ask?”

“Nothing so formal.” Paolo said, even though his mind flirted over a number of questions right way. “But I suppose I’d like to ask you what the biggest difference is between us and them. Between nobility and commons.”

Aurelia considered the question and crossed her ankles together, her knees resting against each other and her legs held at a slant. “That is a question with a multifaceted answer depending on what aspect of life you are considering. However, in my opinion, it can be boiled down to a simple one: grand ambition.”

“As in…they have none?” he asked, turning his head as he looked at her.

Aurelia lifted a hand slightly. “The commoners have ambition, but it is shallow. Tell me, when you become Emperor, what will your ambition be?”

“To remain Emperor.” He said without thinking. It was the answer his father had taught him, though he wondered if it were wise for him to give that answer in mixed company. He had no doubt she would understand. “Without that, no other ambition is achievable.”

“And how will you achieve that?” She prompted him, giving no indication she was asking for any untoward reason.

Paolo paused a bit then, his mind searching for the full answer rather than the one that came immediately to mind.

“By maintaining the support of those who have the power to challenge my being Emperor. The Lords, the Senate, the military, the security apparatus.”

“How?” She prompted again, her eyes on him and waiting to see something that wasn’t simply regurgitated from what he had been taught. He was young though, so perhaps he wasn’t quite there.

Paolo hesitated, putting his head down in the first show of being quite human. He rubbed his head for a moment, and then lifted it again, resuming his training. No one really asked questions like this, but simply poured into him. What he would do was exactly what they told him to do, in his mind. He’d made up his mind to strike out on his own one day in theory, but the details had no formation.

“Money, power, positions, intrigue. I would play them off of each other.” he said, and then hesitated again for a beat. “Fear..but what does any of this have to do with the common people?”

“May I speak frankly with you, Highness?” Aurelia asked, a sure precursor to likely saying something Paolo wouldn’t necessarily want to hear. She wanted to be able to speak to him as an equal without fear.

“Of course, please do.” he said, nodding as if the question stood between him and his goal. “What is it?”

“Remaining emperor is not an ambition, it is a necessity.” Aurelia offered up frankly. “It is certainly not a grand ambition that is so common to nobility that sets us apart from the rest. A commoner looks at things from a narrow perspective, small steps and hardly ever in a grand scheme of their entire lives or legacy. A noble looks how to best position their house for generations to come - though some set their goals much too high and that gets them into trouble.”

“Common people do not have as much to worry about, but that is due to their lack of grand ambition; they focus on the next promotion, shaking hands with their bosses, getting money to buy a bigger house. Ambitions, yes, but so small and narrow. Some even have the ambition to hold their positions at the top in their little companies or shops, but never look higher and eventually are nearly always swept away.”

“Think of some of the commoners that do have grand ambitions though, often, they rise. How many families of even our nobility now were once common? Many, and they achieved that not just solely on the benevolence of your father, but because they worked to position themselves for it.”

“So, Paolo, what is your grand ambition as Emperor?”

Paolo set his mind upon the question, but after sitting with it for several quiet moments, nothing came to him in particular. He hadn’t sat with the idea of being Emperor for very long, and he had resonated to be the brother of the Emperor until Giuseppe’s death, then the uncle of an Emperor. He was unprepared to answer that question.

“I…I don’t know. Maybe finish what my father started and reclaim the territory and glory we lost to the Alliance.

Aurelia reached out and placed her hand on the couch near him, but didn’t touch him directly. He would get the sense that it would have been maternal in a fashion. “It’s alright that you don’t have that answer right now, Paolo, but it is important you don’t confuse a necessity with ambition. Do you understand the difference between the plebeian ambition and the grand ambition of the nobility?”

He reflected again silently, really thinking about it and searching his mind, lest he found the answer. He was a kid who so often could find the answer, but not this time. In the end he simply shook his head “no” and waited expectantly.

“What is ambition? What does the word mean? If you have something it means to you beyond the general definition, tell me your version too.” Aurelia prompted and motioned one of her servants forward to pour tea for her.

“Tea?” She offered again.

Paolo came here to learn from Aurelia, but it seemed she was learning more about him. He shifted with slight discomfort.

“Yes, tea it would be fine. Thank you.” He said with a shallow nod. “An ambition is something one wants for oneself. I am unambitious in that I know my life has already been linked to the Imperial Throne. What more could I hope to achieve than to become a god?”

Aurelia did seem to notice the discomfort Paolo was displaying and quirked an eyebrow. Perhaps he wasn’t used to this kind of discourse; it wouldn’t have surprised her. “A legacy of your own that will last.” She replied simply, “Not simply a continuation of your father’s efforts where history will remember you only as your father’s son.”

“Just look at the example of your beloved father. He is a god among us, and yet he still has ambition, he still strives for achievement and to bring glory and power to the Empire and its people. Ambition is not only a goal one sets, but it is also the drive with which one pursues that goal. When one lacks ambition they become complacent and stagnant. Such a thing is acceptable to the peasantry. They revel in it, they enjoy peace in being small and insignificant; they shrug their shoulders and ask what more could they achieve. Nobility, especially the Emperor, must see more than that narrow view of self. Those who cannot eventually fall.”

Paolo furrowed his brow at the advice she was giving. It wasn’t so much that he disagreed with it, but that he found it difficult to accept it as an absolute truth.

“I have wanted to learn since I was a little boy; to fill my mind with knowledge. Perhaps I could be like Marcus Aurelius. A philosopher emperor. I’ve always wanted to be efficient as well. Perhaps I can clean up politics.” Paolo said, and then he shook his head to both. “If I’m honest, I want to be different from my father in one thing; I don’t want to lose myself to the viciousness and violence of the role. But…I know I will have to. What if my ambition is….to be good?”

The servants handed both of them their prepared tea and Aurelia sat back, taking a sip of her own and then placing the cup delicately in the saucer.

“A good man never dies--
In worthy deed and prayer
And helpful hands, and honest eyes,
If smiles or tears be there:
Who lives for you and me--
Lives for the world he tries
To help--he lives eternally.
A good man never dies.

Who lives to bravely take
His share of toil and stress,
And, for his weaker fellows' sake,
Makes every burden less,--
He may, at last, seem worn--
Lie fallen--hands and eyes
Folded--yet, though we mourn and mourn,
A good man never dies.”

She spoke the words from memory, her voice easy but convicted. When the last left her mouth, she gave Paolo a smile. “One does not have to have the will for conquering, for fire and blood and death… to have ambition.”

Paolo thought of the meaning of the poem she presented, letting some of the remembered words continue to ring in his ears as he listened to the rest of her point.

“I have received the education of a second son up until a few months ago. I don’t have the benefit of years behind me considering what I might do with an Empire.” He said, a hint of irritation in his voice. He didn’t like feeling like he needed to do something great. As a person who tended to hold himself to an impossibly high standard, Paolo the prospect of embarking upon an assignment like the he’d been given made him quite upset. He kept it hidden for the most part, but this conversation was definitely bringing it out. “What 14 year old knows what they want to do for the rest of their lives? I don’t know what galaxy-spanning ambition I should have and I’m still trying to figure out what is worth doing at all. It’s a lot of pressure, and no one else understands it except my father, who is pressuring me to prepare to replace him, and my brother, who's rotting in prison.”

He felt a flash of anger at both of the men; their failures with each other had led to this change in his life; a change he had never wanted. His tea went untouched as he expressed his consternation. He shook his head, looking wistfully out the window at a group of common tourists walking about the outer-grounds of the small peninsula they mansion sat on.

“I wish I was one of them.” He said quietly. “I want to be a teacher or a business owner. I want to walk through the crowd and be anonymous. I want to live my life for myself, and my family, and I want the freedom to decide what I want to try. The thing most people don’t understand is that the throne is a prison. The Emperor is a slave. ‘To gain everything and lose everything in the space of a moment. That is the fate of all princes destined for the throne.’”

“Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.” Aurelia countered with gentleness in her voice and sympathy in her dark eyes. If he had only been raised as a second son and nothing more, that was a grave failing on the part of Antonius himself - not that she would ever say such a thing. He had become complacent in the relative stability that had come with the Orsini reign, and his children would bear the consequences - it was playing out right now before her.

“Perhaps we should tell that to Giuseppe Angelo, and the other Emperors who went to their graves unfinished, cut down by their brothers and sons.” Paolo said with a somewhat sarcastic tone. “Some murdered by Japanese women, and others by the plans of Orion slave girls. How did nature fair for them, Duchess? If it is as you say, that the common people lack grand ambition, than I would say that they are our betters. Perhaps they understand the truth…that we are mortals, and that we must die, and none of us…none of us knows what we’ll find when we slip from this world.”

“It is those who forget that truth in the end who fall. Memento mori.” Aurelia replied, unphased by Paolo’s sarcasm or frustration and seemed to be content in allowing him to let it out without telling him he needed to bottle it in like so many others might have. “Is there room to consider that perhaps their fate - and by extension what they were intended to bear - was always death in the end despite their crowns and laurels?”

“That depends on one’s belief in fate.” The 14 year old responded with a lift of his brow. “A man can make his own destiny, I’ve been told. And I’m sure that, whatever that might be for me, it will involve giving people what they need. Are you familiar with the political wishes of the common people and their needs?”

A man could perhaps, but could a boy such as he really be a man so soon? Aurelia sincerely did not want to see Paolo put in such a position and from within fervently prayed that he would never be in one. She let his question sit there a beat as if she were simply allowing the atmosphere to change to accommodate the different topic.

“Do you remember what we discussed at the Feast?” She asked, her brows lifting slightly. She didn’t particularly care if he didn’t remember- time had passed and it had been quite the busy occasion after all, but she also didn’t want to waste his time or her own by touching on subjects that they already had.

“Not specifically, no.” He answered with a knitted brow. “With my intended present and…the arrest of the Grand Admiral, it was an eventful occasion. The details of conversations escape my memory.”

Aurelia gave a slight knowing smile as she remembered how Paolo had been during the feast when he had come to join them at their table. He had listened as best he could have at the time, but Aurelia was a mother of boys and she knew the effect infatuation could have on them. She was happy for Paolo and hoped that the puppy love would bloom into something real and true for him and Amalie both. “That’s quite alright.”

“We had touched on the divide between generations on the perception the common people have regarding the Orsini’s political changes and the recent reforms your father has proposed. There is a divide between older and newer generations where the older balk against the common people being so ruthlessly cut out of politics where younger generations simply see it as status quo. Further there are some groups who look to press for an elected head of government under the Emperor to have a better perceiving balance for the common interests. They yearn for democratic reforms that we have not seen since Spock as they feel they have no real say in their lives, and there is also a rather strong distaste for how bloated the aristocracy has become with all of the lordly levels. In fact that one even extends into the aristocracy itself, I imagine.” Aurelia gave him the quick summary of what they had discussed and then paused to see where he might like to go.

“Right, of course.” Paolo said, blinking as he recalled their conversation and the myriad tree-covered roads in his mind which he started upon in pursuit of the ideas she had introduced to him. “Such elected councils exist in cities around the Empire so that people may voice their concerns to their Lords Mayor at the local level. And, as for the Empire, the Imperial Senate is an elected body. Are these not good enough, or is this a sign of the encroaching wave of borderless democracy I’ve been warned against in my government lessons?”

“They exist, but the effectiveness of those councils varies wildly either due to the common people on them or the lord that rules them.” Aurelia reminded him lightly. “As for the Senate, the people rejoice at the thought of it, but there is skepticism of whether it will have any real ability to influence any meaningful change.” She simply offered facts to Paolo with no indication on how she personally felt at this point. “The desire for ‘borderless democracy’ will, unfortunately, always be present in our people I believe given we have so much history with it.”

“What…what kind of meaningful change?” he asked, looking at her with a furrowed brow. “What exactly do they want, besides power? Is not our system designed to enrich Terrans?”

“More power.” Aurelia pointed out. “You’ve heard the old saying give an inch, they take a mile, no?”

“I’m familiar with the phrase.” He said nodding, pondering the meaning of it once again. “Do you suppose that, outside of the desire for power, there are any real needs that Terrans suffer with?”

“Of course there are, though what exactly those are depends on who you were to ask.” She began and watched Paolo as he considered and pondered. “As a start, there are still many poor Terrans in cities; many are of mixed race, but sometimes it is due to mismanagement by the lords of those cities… and of course there are some who have simply never made it out of poverty for generations or have made choices that have put them there.”

“Those of mixed race would obviously like to see our blood classes to be less stringent with what they are allowed to do and not do as far as positions of power, there are others who would like to see it abolished entirely after noting half-bloods.However, in putting those of alien blood in positions of power one could open the door for the next Emperor Spock, so that must always be a consideration.” She seemed to have more to continue on, but paused to not overload on information.

Paolo made a face of active disgust, and that was the only indication of his thoughts on all of that. He cleared his throat.

“Well, that gives one much to think about.” He said, and raised his brow. “What are your thoughts on the topic, Duchess?”

“On the blood classes?” She asked, wanting to make sure she was answering the question he wanted.

“On all of these..proposals you mention. Do you suppose our system is wise, or that the common people deserve more say?” He asked, his eyes drifting toward the glassy false pond below where a servant swept the ground with a sonic broom. “Would you keep things as they are, or do you suppose some change is truly needed?”

Aurelia tapped two fingers thoughtfully on her knee and considered the question. Obviously it was a loaded one, though she got the impression that Paolo was earnestly seeking an answer instead of looking to gauge her loyalty. “I believe there is room to improve in almost any situation, truly, and when we close ourselves off to that possibility problems can arise. Now, not every change has to be a grand sweeping change like restoring the Imperial Senate, mind you.” She chuckled softly and shook her head. “Do I believe the common people deserve more say? Perhaps not. Do I think they may in the near future need more say - depending on the reception of the Senate - to keep our peace? Potentially.”

“Specifically the blood classes I would not change though, no. We have seen many times in our history what allowing those with alien blood to climb too high into power does to our Empire and people.”

“Right. It is called the Terran Empire because it is the Empire of the Terrans.” He said, perhaps out of conviction or maybe out of learning instead. “A Vulcan; a Trill, an Bolian can not love or understand it as we do.”

“Even if they could, do you think they would truly want to? There are many years of animus between us and for good reason.” She pointed out, though it was gentle. “When we gave them the opportunity, it nearly destroyed us. Our numbers still suffer from the near annihilation of our people. Why would we trust again?”

“In the name of some equality that no Terran understands.” He added, his face scrunching in the furrowing of his brow. “They would have no Emperor; they would have no Empire. But a republic where Terrans are equal with them, sharing power with the masses and quickly losing who we are in the exchange.”

“Truthfully I believe any Emperor - hells, even anyone close to the Emperor - who might attempt to raise the station of non-Terrans would find themselves paying the ferryman quite quickly. The wounds of our near destruction run deep and will continue to do so for generations to come. They may never heal. There are many who are rather disgruntled by the alliance that has been forged with the Romulans. They see it as the first step toward Emperor Spock II.” Aurelia sighed and poured herself a bit more hot tea.

“Oh please…it’s not as if we’re intermarrying with them.” Paolo said. “The alliance is purely military in nature. That’s what the defense and foreign affairs documents say.”

“I know.” Aurelia chuckled softly at his reaction. “But you were curious as to what the common people say.”

“I have less confidence in the value of their opinions than I once did, I think.” He said, scoffing slightly. Ignorance of policy and criticism of things they didn’t understand were black marks to the erudite boy who always reads his government boxes. “They would have us be without friends in the galaxy, the entire political board set against us? Do they know nothing?”

“Well, truthfully, not much. There is a certain lack of transparency behind the decisions made by the government when it comes to the common people. Now, do they need or deserve to know everything? No, of course not, but they can’t know better without some education and openness. There is also a prevailing fear of even asking questions for fear of appearing treasonous, and then big mean men come to their house at night and they are never heard from again.” She sipped her tea, perhaps mildly amused by the picture.

“Well…that’s a shame, but they sound a bit dangerous. Father says that keeping the powerful loyal is more costly when the masses hate you.” He said, seeming genuinely disappointed. “I hoped I would be able to help them, but they sound like a bottomless pit of troubles as I was told. Yet, still, more valuable than the nobility know.”

“People are trouble.” Aurelia pointed out. “As we have all seen the past weeks, it is not simply the peasants. Usually when one is popular with one group, they are less popular with the other. It is a delicate balance that I do not envy the one who has to keep it.”

Paolo fell silent, listening to her words and pondering them in his own heart, considering what it might mean for him and for his future. He sighed then and stood.

“Thank you, Aurelia. This conversation has been very enlightening for me. But I don’t wish to take up any more of your time.”

“You are always welcome to my time, cousin.” Aurelia offered up with a genuine, warm smile. “I hope if you have any more questions or perhaps need some guidance you will feel comfortable to come to me in time. I know you do not know my family nor myself well yet, but I hope to change that.”

Paolo nodded innocently.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He said, his voice still boyish and gentle. “Until next time, Your Grace.”

Aurelia stood and curtsied to him. “Thank you, Highness. Until next time.”

With that, she gestured to the attendant to come forward so she and the Imperial Guards could lead Paolo out and away. This had been an enlightening meeting, but it did leave Aurelia concerned for the boy. She simply had to hope he would find his way and use the guidance of his elders to do so. Time would tell.

END