Rumors

Posted on Wed May 7th, 2025 @ 6:23am by Princess Royal Giana Orsini & Crown Prince Paolo Orsini & Contessa Pennington

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: The Pyramid
Timeline: Date 2372-01-30 at 1200
1712 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

The halls were wide on most of the Pyramid’s floors and the surface beneath Paolo was dark marble. The feel was sleek and modern, but wood-faced walls and decorations brought on the feel of a rustic imitation. He wore a crisp blue suit with a white shirt and pinkish-purple tie and was accompanied by the Imperial Treasurer.

Contessa Pennington used to stand four inches taller than him, but after his recent growth spurt, they were now head to head. The always stylish woman wore a leather skirt, a white blouse which was not quite buttoned high enough, and a double-breasted suit coat.

“Are you going to tell me what the information is for?” She asked, eyeing the Crown Prince.

“No, I’m afraid I won’t be.” He said, grinning in her direction. The growth spurt had come with an interest in Contessa which was much more manly than it had been before. Still, he kept his eyes and his mind straight.

“You’re such a tease, sir. Making a girl go crawling through the dark budget just to find a few measly line items. Then you won’t even tell me what you’re after.” She said, pouting.

He looked at her lips for an instant and shook his head, his grin growing.

“A man has to keep some things strictly to himself.” He said with a glimpse of confidence. “I can’t just spill my secret to every pretty face I see, can I?”

“No, just this one.” She responded, her arm brushing his as they walked, seemingly by accident. “I’m only joking. You know I understand the importance of discretion. I know when to keep my mouth shut.”

The two of them rounded a corner and proceeded down it together. At the other end, Paolo spotted a familiar face. His sister, Giana, was standing with a pair of senators. Paolo and Contessa approached without missing a beat.

“Sister. Senators Collins and Adeyemi. Good afternoon.” He said, showing perfect white teeth in a smile.

“Paolo.” Giana greeted with a nod while the senators turned to bow diligently. Her blue eyes found Contessa and she nodded. “Contessa.”

It had not been long ago that Contessa seemed to enjoy needling Giana at any given opportunity, but since she had become regent, that activity had come to an astonishingly quick halt. The woman was obviously less confident in her safe standing without the Emperor to hide behind, and Giana was enjoying the reprieve. Contessa’s state of dress did not surprise her in the slightest - the woman flung her tits around as much as she did with money, but it was effective, even Giana couldn’t deny that. One of the perks of being a peasant, she supposed.

“Your Highness.” Contessa said, smiling at Giana and offering a courtesy. She had been wealthy her entire life, and brushing arms with the powerful was a constant. As the government’s Chief Financial Officer, she was no stranger to working with royals. For now, she needed to be a bit more respectful.

“Senators, I assume you’ve heard the news about the death of the Romulan Ambassador? Reports suggest the bomb placed in his villa was designed and constructed on Cardassia.” Paolo looked at the senators with an open expression. “I’m curious to hear your thoughts.”

“It was surprising to say the least.” Collins replied, crossing his arms over his chest. To think the Cardassians would have the audacity to do such a thing… though I’m more concerned with what it tells us about how far they can reach.”

“The fact that they conducted this attack here on Terra is a shock.” Contessa added, eyeing Paolo and then the senators.

“What about you?” Paolo asked, addressing Adeyemi.

“With the rumors I’ve been hearing, I wouldn’t be shocked if his own people did it to him, honestly.” Adeyemi shrugged.

“What rumors are those?” Paolo asked, raising his brows in interest. He hadn’t heard any rumors and wondered what was going around. “The Ambassador was popular on Romulus, I thought.”

Before he could answer, there was a pleasant chime that echoed through the hall calling the senators back to their seats. Adeyemi frowned and bowed his head toward Paolo. “If you’ll excuse us, Highness.”

Paolo’s jaw tightened. He wondered if the Crown Prince should come before a senate chime.

“I’m sure your colleagues would understand your delay.” He said, turning to Adeyemi again. “Tell me.”

Adeyemi glanced over at Giana who didn’t seem inclined to hurry him along either, so he looked back to Paolo and nodded. “I’ve been hearing rumors the ambassador was under investigation by imperial intelligence for some sort of involvement in the recent loss of our troops.”

“That’s some rumor.” Paolo said, not having heard the theory before. He searched Contessa’s face, but when he saw no recognition there, he turned to study Giana’s. “Where did you hear that, Senator?”

Giana stood quietly and simply watched the exchange. Unlike in the past, her face betrayed nothing of her inner thoughts. It was a feat she had found much easier to accomplish after Sacha’s demise and her total disconnect from the world. She glanced at Paolo when he saw his questing eyes, but returned to the man as he spoke.

“One of my aides heard it somewhere. It seemed rather ludicrous so I didn’t pursue the matter further.” Adeyemi admitted. “At least… it seemed so at the time.”

“But no longer?” Paolo asked the elder statesman. “What’s changed?”

“Well, the man is dead, and it does seem quite suspicious.” The chime rang again, and his expression tightened.

“Hm.” Paolo said with little more than a nod before stepping back and gesturing to the chambers. The Senate was meeting in the Pyramid while the Senate Building was undergoing a full renovation. “That will be all, gentlemen. You may attend your meeting.”

The two senators made hasty bows to both Paolo and Giana before leaving without another word, leaving the two royals and Contessa behind quickly. Giana watched them go, and then turned to walk away herself.

“Giana, wait.” Paolo said, taking another step toward her.

When Paolo called her, Giana stopped and turned halfway back to face him. “Yes?”

“Is it true?” He asked, wanting to know what was going on.

“I’m not sure, but I’m planning to find out.” Giana replied, then tilted her head just slightly. “What are the two of you up to anyways?”

“His Imperial Highness is brushing up on monetary policy. I am his economics teacher, after all.” Contessa said, her eyes moving to Paolo slowly and confidently. “The Imperial Central Bank has requested that interest rates be lowered to speed up the economy. That will mean more money in people’s pockets.”

“More they might spend on clothing and perfume, which is good for you.” Paolo added with a smirk. “I’m trying to convince Contessa she should approve the change, but she’s playing the shy one.”

“There is such a thing as an economy that’s too fast, Highness.” She said, smiling and looking at him with near flirtatious challenge to his teasing statement. Her blue eyes drifted back to Giana then, and the smile faded slightly. “The Crown Prince is insightful and has a curious mind, even for the finer points of economic management. He’s truly an excellent student and I feel honored to teach him.”

Where he might have blushed or seemed uncomfortable months before, Paolo stood slightly taller after the compliment and smiled at Giana.

Giana smiled, though the expression didn’t reach her eyes. It wasn’t an unusual expression for her now to those that knew her, but these two likely did not. “Yes, it is a great honor to teach the future emperor.”

Her eyes moved over Contessa then, taking her in once more, then they moved over to Paolo. The smile faded naturally as she took the pair in, and eventually she looked at her little brother. “Was there anything else you needed, brother?”

“I suppose not, just..” he paused, a rare hesitation for him lately. They had both changed so much in such a short time. In a way, he felt more connected with her than anyone else he could think of. “Good to see you. You should visit the palace some time.”

“Perhaps when I have time.” Giana nodded. The truth was she never did, she would have to make time to visit, but the truth was she simply had no desire to do so. “Mother is quite happy you’ve returned to the palace more regularly. I’m sure your intended is as well, Amalie missed you.”

As she spoke of Amalie, her eyes shifted to Contessa and rested there coolly.

Contessa smiled, almost as if she didn’t get the implication. She did, of course. Paolo didn’t see it, however. The ways of women were still a mystery to him.

“They are.” He said. Well, Mother used to be. At this point, I'm not certain.”

Giana could see that Contessa got the message - neither of them were stupid. On hearing Paolo’s words though, her brows lifted slightly. She wasn’t about to go digging through the inner workings of their family - especially not in front of someone like Contessa - but she did pick up on Paolo’s tone and the look on his face.

“You should visit me for lunch in Rio sometime, brother. Perhaps once I have figured out what is going on with this Romulan matter.”

“Let’s do that then.” He answered, allowing only the slightest impression of a smile. He was growing up fast. “Until next time.”

Giana nodded simply and then turned to walk away, even going Contessa the favor of not lingering and waiting for the woman to bow in farewell as was custom. A moment later, she rounded a corner and was gone from sight.

The pair watched Giana go with interest, but when she was gone, Contessa turned to Paolo again.

“Now, Highness…why don’t you tell me about quantitative easing. Let’s see how much you really understand.”

END