The Return of the Sun

Posted on Fri Jul 3rd, 2026 @ 7:43am by Princess Royal Giana Orsini & Emperor Antonius VI & Empress Cosima Orsini & Crown Prince Paolo Orsini & Princess Elana Orsini

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: Imperial Palace
Timeline: Date 2372-04-14 at 1230
9420 words - 18.8 OF Standard Post Measure

It had taken a day for her to arrange travel off of Mars, and Elana was sure her aunt had something to do with the delay. It was almost strange to be back on Terra proper - she hadn’t been since Paolo’s birthday, and before that it had been for the funeral of the fallen soldiers. She was also in a dress again which was something she preferred to avoid whenever possible now; still, she wore it well, a dark rose colored sheath dress that fit her slim figure but wasn’t overly showy and a dark brown heel to match it. She was going to meet with Giana and her mother, quite confident they would see things her way and bring Claudia back to heel. She didn’t know how that bitch had escaped her enclosure, but she was certainly going to have things put right.

Giana had agreed to this meeting in Cosima’s office where she sat on one of the chairs sipping a cup of tea. She of course, was quite aware of what was coming; CJ had sent her a message. She wasn’t entirely sure of the wisdom CJ was demonstrating by involving Claudia, but the truth was Giana just didn’t care at this point and wanted Elana’s thorn removed from the side of the royal family one way or another. If they had to take everything away from her to accomplish that, so be it.

Cosima sat behind her desk, her eyes buried in the government papers she had always found incredibly dull. She had been a good advisor to Antonius because she understood the nature of Court life, but politics itself had always eluded her and had never been even moderately interesting. She looked up toward her eldest daughter, taking a moment to try and read her expression.

“You should have seen Claudia, my dear. The woman was beside herself. She said Elana physically attacked her and then threatened her livelihood in a framing. I can’t believe it.”

“I know. Shocking.” Giana spoke over the brim of her cup and took another sip. She had finished with the papers in her box some time ago, and it didn’t escape her notice her mother was lagging behind again. “And poor Claudia was just trying to help. You’ll have to talk some sense into her, mama.”

“I’ve been trying to talk to the girl for years, Giana. I’m not sure why she would listen this time. Perhaps she’s desperate enough or lonely enough.” Cosima shook her head. “Parenthood is a trap set by a devil.”

“Is it?” Giana asked, brows raising as she finally looked over at Cosima. “Well, I suppose that is a trap I should thoroughly avoid.”

Cosima frowned at that. She may have panicked at an earlier stage, but the months had weighed on her and sighed.

“Well, dear, you’re doing a very good job of it so far.”

“Thank you, mama. I strive for excellence.”

The door opened and a guard stepped in. “Princess Elana here to see you both.”

“Show her in.” Cosima ordered, closing the box with a sigh. She did her best to shake the stress and exhaustion from her face and she was only partially successful.

Elana walked in immediately, looked at her sister then mother. “I need to speak to you both about Aunt Claudia.”

“Claudia has already spoken to us.” Giana said, her tone almost bored.

Elana’s jaw set. “I thought she might have. What did she tell you?”

“Have a seat, Elana.” Cosima said clearly, gesturing to a seat near Giana. “She told us everything. Just sit down, and let’s have a chat.”

“I doubt that very much.” Elana crossed her arms and moved to a chair away from her sister instead of the closer one Cosima had indicated. “Did she tell you she came to the palace and threatened me?”

“She told us she came to the palace with a lovely match for you. A wonderful man she thought you’d love and, Elana, I agree. How could you say no to Lord Danvers? He’s charming, eligible…politically problematic..I would have thought you would be overjoyed but..” Cosima’s hand slammed on the desk, a clear sign of an unusual amount of frustration on her part. “And she said that, for the crime of trying to get you to rejoin the family, you attacked her. A defenseless old woman, Elana.”

Elana just stared at her mother, her mouth slightly open in shock. She recovered quickly, shaking her head and scowling. “You… you actually believe that I attacked her? Me?!”

“Why would she lie about that, Elana? It doesn’t make any sense.” Cosima asked. “The part that makes me so upset is that you would rather attack your own auntie than do your duty to our family and to the Empire.”

“You believe a hateful bitch over your own daughter?” Elana asked, her anger slowly giving way to sadness as she looked at her mother. “What reason would I have to attack her for just offering a marriage, mama? Hm? What sense does that make? When have I ever shown to be someone who would do something like that ever? Claudia was the one who attacked me. I told her I wasn’t interested in her match, that my papa promised I would marry who I wanted to and right now I didn’t want that at all. She threatened me, called me a selfish little bitch, and then attacked me.”

“Why would she do that, Elana? Why would she attack you?” Cosima asked, her eyes cutting to Giana to see if she was ever going to say anything. “None of it makes any sense to me.”

“Because she thinks I’m weak and useless!” Elana practically yelled.

Giana sat absolutely silently, sipping her tea and watching her sister’s breakdown with acute interest.

“She told me I have to not only meet this man, but marry him immediately and if I don’t, she threatened to get you to sign a document that would take everything away from me! I told her you would never do that to me, and she attacked me.”

Cosima shook her head again, a deep smile on her face. She reached into one of her drawers and pulled out a tablet. Placing it onto the desk, she looked back up at Elana.

“She showed it to me. I thought it was extreme…Elana…why don't you at least meet Lord Danvers? What could it hurt?”

“If it had been insistence to just meet him, I would have done it to appease her, but she said meet so he could propose to me. That was it.” Elana took a deep breath, trying to restore some calm. “It is extreme. I knew you’d never sign it.”

“I would.” Giana finally spoke, her tone even and frank. “And so would Richard.”

Cosima looked at Giana, surprised not that she had spoken, but what she said.

“What do you mean?” Cosima asked Giana.

“I mean exactly that. I will sign Claudia’s proposal and so will Richard.” Giana repeated, finishing her tea and putting the cup to the side. “Though I would allow you to meet the man first - if he’s terribly boring I’m sure someone else can be found for you.”

“What are you talking about?” Elana spat, glaring at Giana.

“I’m the acting head of household, Giana. You can’t sign it.” Cosima said defensively. “But your agreement is…noted. As for a Richard…what makes you think he would sign?”

“Because Richard wants to do what is good for the Empire.” Giana finally looked at Cosima. “The Emperor’s will can overrule a head of a household - or in this case the word of the regents. We are the mothers and fathers of all, after all, though we don’t do it often.”

Cosima’s eyes narrowed at the suggestion.

“Are you suggesting you and Richard have plans to usurp my authority? To strip your own sister of her rights and titles just because she’s being a…” Cosima looked at Elana, “very difficult young woman?”

“Heavens no, mother, I’d like to think you would see sense.” Giana sighed and shook her head. “I’m simply pointing out that the other regents think it would be a good idea.”

“Why the fuck are you talking, Giana? You’re older than me and still aren’t married!” Elana stood, stamping her foot as she yelled at her sister.

“I came much closer than you did.” Giana pointed out, her brows lifting.

Elana scoffed. “With that French pig? Good riddance to him, he was so annoying and mother and father hated him.”

“Elana!” Cosima scoffed in shock, so taken aback by the pure cruelty of the comment that she barely recalled she had just been threatened. “What an absolutely evil thing to say!”

“Don’t act like it isn’t true.” Elana spat at Cosima. “You told me as much.”

Very calmly, Giana rose from her seat with the grace of an Empress, took four steps over to her sister, and then the sound of a sharp slap tore through the room. Elana crumpled to the chair immediately, holding her cheek and letting out a cry of shock.

“I’m tired of you, Elana.” Giana’s voice was cold. “You have done nothing for this family. Your entire life you have lived with my shadow concealing you all while you spat venom at my back for simply doing what was expected of me. You have lived the most privileged life of any of us, including Paolo. You have been given everything you have ever asked for and thousands over thousands of excuses have been given for your behavior. You turn your nose up at the responsibilities of royalty and look down on us all while enjoying the benefits of your position. That is over. It is time to make your choice, little sister - when push comes to shove, are you willing to abide by the politics you hold dear and give up everything? Or will you finally do something fucking useful with your pathetic little life?”

“Giana, sit down!” Cosima bellowed, waving her hand downward at her older daughter. Notably she hadn’t come around the desk, but she was clearly quite agitated and, obviously, embarrassed. “Elana, the support for you remaining on Mars in Lord Khalon’s shadow has completely dried up. It’s all over the tabloids and the entire net is talking about this terrible love triangle non-stop. It’s obvious to me and too many at court that Giana is the better candidate for Lord Price. You will have to withdraw from Mars immediately and return here. I will arrange for you to meet Lord Danvers in the next few days when you’ve had time to calm down and become presentable again.”

Giana remained right where she was, towering over her cowering sister. When Cosima brought up Khalon, Elana’s expression shifted again and she glared angrily up at her sister. “You bitch. He was mine and you fucking took him from me.”

Giana leaned down quickly, placing her hands on the back of the chair and effectively trapping Elana there. “That’s right. I did. It couldn’t possibly be he always wanted me more than you, but he was going to settle for the second princess since I was occupied. See? You should be sad that Sacha died, little sister, you could have actually been mildly relevant if he was still alive.”

“Girl’s stop this bickering!” Cosima said, standing up at long last and shifting to round the desk but not doing so. She had always been distant, and despite her desire to be involved now, she couldn’t quite bring herself to do so.

“Papa would never make me do any of this!” Elana protested.

“Papa. Isn’t. Here.” Giana reached down, grabbing Elana by her jaw. “And he most definitely would, at this point. Now, make your choice, little sister. Are you going to meet the nice lord Auntie found for you, or are you going to give up everything? Those are the only options.”

Elana shook herself out of Giana’s grip and looked over to her mother. “Mama, please.”

Cosima stood, her eyes wide with silent horror. If Elana agreed, she would have to force her into a marriage she seemed desperately not to want. If she refused, she would either have to strip her of her titles and benefits or risk having her other daughter publically undermine and humiliate her by doing so anyway.

“Elana, you must choose. I have made excuses for you as long as I can.” She said finally, her voice shaking as much as her hands.

“But mama, you and papa promised.” Elana protested, sounding like she was about to cry.

Giana straightened, but remained standing very close to Elana in the chair and invading her space. “They promised a lot of things, Elana, but promises don’t mean anything.”

“I can’t keep the promise anymore.” Cosima said, and the dam finally broke, not just of the day but of the months of strain, grief and anxiety. Her hands went up to her face and the woman, once composed and regal, burst into tears. “I can't do ANY of it anymore!”

She rounded the desk then, and moved to the exit as if it weren’t her own office. With tears down her face, she looked at Giana.

“The two of you do whatever you wish. I clearly can’t stop you.” She said, and then she was gone with the slamming of the door.

The two bickering girls remained right where they were, completely stunned by what they had seen; so much so that they automatically looked at each other after a few silent seconds had passed. Never in their lives had they seen Cosima react like that, and Giana frowned deeply. Obviously, everyone had underestimated the amount of pressure that Cosima had been under - the weight of the crown was too heavy for some, but Giana suspected it had more to do with the state of her husband than anything else.

She looked down at Elana in the chair once more, then left immediately to go after Cosima. She didn’t run, but she trotted as quickly as she properly could.

“Mama, wait.”

By the time Giana got into the hallway, her mother was opening the door that led to the guest bedroom in the apartment where Antonius had been relocated from the Pyramid. She went in and the door closed quickly behind her.

“Mama.” Giana called again but to no effect, she continued to follow Cosima, but stopped outside of the door. She shifted her weight and licked her lips, then slowly opened the door to step in.

“Mama…” She called softly, frowning. Though they often butted heads, Cosima was still her mother and Giana did love her even if it was complicated. “Mama, please…”

When she opened the door, Giana saw Cosima having all but thrown herself onto the comatose Emperor, her arms covering him, her dress askew in a display of ultimate indignity. She was sobbing to the point of hyperventilation.

“Come back, Tonio, come back!” She wailed over and over again, beyond all reason and awareness. Her hands searched his face desperately, yet, of course, he didn’t move a muscle.

“Oh…” Giana frowned, her pretty face lined with genuine sympathy and pain for her mother. While she hadn’t been married to Sacha nor had they been together for as long as her parents had, Giana did have a unique understanding of the grief her mother was experiencing, even if it was just a shadow of it.

She walked over to her mother, and put a hand on Cosima’s back. “Mama…”

Cosima didn’t respond right away, but she continued with her hysterics for the space of several more moments. It genuinely seemed to take her a while before she actually noticed that Giana was in the room. When she did, she looked over her shoulder at her eldest daughter. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy and she had a desperate, almost crazy look in her eyes.

“I can’t do it anymore, Giana. Ever since I was 18 years old, your father was all I knew. All of his age, his strength, his experience, and his love… people talk, but I know he loves me.” She said, tears pouring down her face. “When you and your sister were fighting or when Giuseppe was being simply wicked, and I didn’t know what to do, he would always just handle it. And now he’s gone and…I don’t know what to do. I can’t read another government paper. I can’t go to another ceremony. I can’t do it without him.”

“Shh… shh…” Giana tried to soothe her mother, surprisingly gentle hands moving to help adjust the woman’s dress and wipe her tears away. She listened, and knew this was the exact reason it was so terrible for girls to marry that young. They never knew how to function without a man, and when they lost that man their lives immediately crumbled into nothing. “What can I do, mama? Tell me.”


“I..I..” Cosima started, but then her head jerked backward her husband, her face contorted as if she saw a ghost. “He..he just moved, Giana. His arm…he just moved. Antonius? Are you awake?”

Despite what Cosima had said, there was no sign of additional movement from Antonius, assuming they’re ever had been in the first place.

Giana looked at her father, staring at him for a long moment, then turned her attention back to her mother when there was no movement. “Mama… how can I help you?” She asked again, trying to refocus her mother.

Cosima had no interest in answering the question, and she didn’t even try. Her eyes were locked on her husband‘s hands. The next time, when his fingers moved, it was seen by both of them.

“There! Did you see it?” Cosima asked, reaching for his hand. His jaw started moving followed by a slow, tired cheek of his head.

Giana blinked, not even trusting herself when his fingers moved, but when he started to move his face, her own eyes went wide.

“Papa…?” She called to him, her own voice shaking slightly as she reached for his hand. “Papa?!”

More and more of his body seemed to stir like the old man was fighting his way out of a dream or sleep paralysis. When his eyes opened finally, pools of cool, sharp blue, he lifted his head in an attempt to sit up. His body was too weak to actually perform the action, but the effort was there.

“Good gods, Antonius. You’re awake!” Cosima declared her hands fussing with his clothing.

Antonius looked at the two of them with eyes that seemed to immediately recognize who they were. He didn’t speak, but a barely perceptible smile came to his lips.

Tears were in Giana’s eyes - perfect reflections of her father’s - and she watched him move around. She was unable to speak, but she could acutely feel the wave of relief washing over her. He was alive, he was-

She came to her senses and licked her lips. On the console above the bed that was monitoring him, she pressed one of the buttons and spoke in a still shaking voice to the doctors waiting for a call. “Come here at once, the Emperor is awake.”

Cosima knew that the call would change everything. She smiled, tears still rolling down her cheeks, and caressed Antonius’ face. His smile grew quite lively and genuine, but he still didn’t speak.

“Where’s Elana? Where’s Paolo?” Cosima asked.

“Mama, we should wait to call them until the doctors get here.” Giana advised gently. She had pulled back from both Cosima and Antonius and simply stood by the bed. She was of course happy, but the sobriety that had urged her to call the doctors also reminded her she had a very complicated relationship with her father, and she suddenly didn’t know what to do.

Antonius looked at Giana, his smile deepened, and his blue eyes welled up with tears. His fingers opened and his hand moved very slowly toward her, a clear attempt to make contact with her.

Commotion in the hallway could be heard, and it was clear that the medical response team was mere seconds from bursting through the door.

Giana noticed his hand and the look in his eyes, and she immediately started to cry. She reached out and took his hand, giving him a smile. He had no idea what she had done. “Hi, Papa.”

His lips parted for the first time, and as a sound began to form and issue from his mouth, the doors burst open and a full medical team surged into the room. Cosima and Giana were both being respectfully, but very urgently asked to step out of the room.

“Stop.” Giana commanded with an authority her father wouldn’t have heard from her before. “I will get out of your way, but my mother is staying here. You’re smart people, work around her.” She gave a little squeeze to her father’s hand and then moved away as she said. She didn’t leave the room, and watched everything happening very carefully.

Over the next hour, they checked Antonius and did several tests. During the process, he had started to utter words in a low, unused voice. Eventually the lead doctor turned to them and smiled.

“His Imperial Majesty is doing well. He’s passed his cognitive tests. We are still working on the physical ones however. He’ll have to strengthen his legs before he can walk again…but his brain scans are clear and I believe he will make a full recovery.”

When things had started to wind down, Giana had moved back over to be by her mother’s side. When the doctor delivered the news, she smiled, and she hugged Cosima tightly. After pulling back, she looked at her father. “Do you want me to send for Paolo and Elana, Papa?”

“In a moment, Giana Bella.” Antonius said with a grin, his voice high and raspy but functional. “I’m being required to rest quite a bit, so I’m still not ready to return to government. I’ve been asleep for an incredibly long time. I see the regency has held, assuming the two of you haven’t done away with Richard Ramsay.”

Antonius chuckled weakly at that, his body shaking with each spasm of laughter.

“Tell me what I missed. Obviously I’ll be getting briefings, but I’d love to hear it from you.”

Giana hesitated just slightly at her father’s request. She felt there was very little “good” to tell him; they’d been successful in rooting out many problems, but she wasn’t so sure it wouldn’t break his heart to hear - especially about Giuseppe. It had been the most necessary thing of all, but he was still a son who had once been cherished. She sat down by Antonius’ bedside and looked at him.

“No, no. The old goat is still kicking.” She smiled slightly, joking, “though I’d be lying if I said he and I both hadn’t considered it a few times. What would you like to know about first, Papa?”

The emperor looked at his eldest daughter with a smile.

“Tell me about the wedding.” He said, finally. Tell me about your beautiful dress and the way you and Sacha danced. Ah, who walked you down the aisle?”

Giana frowned, looking across Antonius to her mother, then finally back down to her father. “There… there was no wedding, Papa. Sacha was killed.”

The curious smile fell away from Antonius’ face as he looked at his daughter. He seemed to search her pretty features for some sign she was telling a joke or that he was missing some elaborate turn of phrase.

“What do you mean?” he asked, and after a few seconds for more processing, his hands moved to her forearm, faster than before. “How? Who did it? Giuseppe?”

“No… no.” Giana put her other hand on top of her father’s. “We were betrayed. He was out on a training exercise when the Klingons ambushed them. It was supposed to be a joint exercise between our men and our Romulan allies, but they never showed up. We lost… many good men and women.”

“The Romulans…betrayed us?” Antonius asked. He had worked hard on that deal and had invested in many friendships on Romulus with the majority party. The idea they would betray them seemed to him to be ludicrous. “Why…why would they do that? Are they fighting on the side of the Klingons now?”

“We’re trying to find those answers, but it seems likely. Admiral Farraday has been arrested as a traitor to the Empire and been given to Imperial Intelligence so that they might discern the depths of his betrayal.” Giana looked at her mother again, but gave up on her adding anything to any conversation. “We’re going to try to salvage our alliance if it is possible.”

“We should crush them like the worms they are.” Antonius said, scowling, his free hand clenching into a weak fist. “Can there be a greater crime than betrayal of the Terran Empire? But we need them. We can’t fight three wars at once. The Alliance and Giuseppe are simply enough.”

He cleared his throat, looking to Cosima. He could see all the stress and worry on her face, even though so much had already evaporated.

“How have you divided things, my Love? You look tired.”

“I am…very tired..” Cosima admitted, then smiled a bit, perhaps for the first time in months. “At first, Giana took the military..” Her eyes cut to her daughter, a silent signal that her father had to be told and her mother believed Giana was the one to do it, at least in part. Something in her eyes communicated she was there for it, though. “But after the conclusion of the Battle of Axanar, she has been running the legislative process from the Council of Lords. I have worked with the executive, and Ramsay has kept his focus on military affairs and the war.”

“The Battle of Axanar?” Antonius asked immediately, not having missed the hidden gem in the slightest. “I assume we won?”

“We did.” Cosima said, then she leaned back a bit and fell silent.

Giana looked at her mother, scowling for just a moment, but then it went away. If Cosima didn’t want to deliver the news from her own lips, then Giana would take ownership of what she had done and do it gladly.

“Giuseppe is dead, father.” She said, unable to give the statement any weight simply for the fact she felt it undeserved. “Jessica and his children are still alive and living comfortably under our care and eye.”

Antonius’ expression turned from confusion to greater confusion and dismay. He looked away from Giana and Cosima and out toward the painting on the other side of the room. He blinked for the space of about ten seconds in silence, licked his lips, and issued a shaky, almost emotional cough. Then he said a dry, raspy “good.”

Cosima frowned. It hadn’t been what she had expected. She had begged for mercy for Giuseppe Angelo for years, and he had obliged her over and over again. And now that it was over and their son was dead, all he had to say was “good”?

“Antonius, how can you say that? He was our son?” She asked, her eyes growing narrow with offense.

“Enough has been said about what he was. None of us are stupid, Cosima.” Antonius said, his tone tired. “I tried to help him and save him and what did it get me? Betrayal, hatred, and a knife in the belly. He had to die and my only regret is that I didn’t…” he paused, shuttering at his own thought, “...that I wasn’t strong enough to do it at the first sign.”

Giana was just as surprised as her mother, but hers was a positive experience. She had expected her father to be terribly enraged by Giuseppe’s death and to turn on her, when that didn’t happen she hardly knew what to say and simply watched the exchange between her parents. “No one had that strength, papa… so I did it.”

Antonius looked at her then, his mouth slightly open. What she was saying made no sense to him. She had killed Giuseppe? Had him put to death? Poisoned him.

“You?” he asked, a hint of shock in his voice.

“I took the fleet to Axanar.” She explained calmly. “Sacha was the one who actually killed Giuseppe.” As she said the words, Antonius might have been able to detect the slight note of bitterness that was still there. She had wanted very badly to kill her brother - or at the very least watch him die.

“You commanded the Fleet?” Antonius asked, but it was less out of surprise than a clear sense of being impressed. A small smile formed on his lips. “I can’t wait to read the reports.”

“Giana has been most impressive as Princess-Regent.” Cosima said. “Far better than me, I’m afraid. I don’t have a head for government.”

“To be honest, I wouldn’t expect Giana to have a head for government either.” Antonius said, before looking back at his daughter, the smile was still there. “But the military isn't the government, it’s rule. It’s power. I thought the only one of our children who truly understood power was Giuseppe…and I used that as justification for decades. Power isn’t all that’s required…but it is the first thing, and without it, there can be no governing.”

“After Giuseppe it was decided that I should step down from the military. Since then, as mama said, I’ve been handling legislative matters.” She still questioned if it was the correct shift, considering what had occurred, but it had offered other opportunities. “Power and wisdom as you have always said, papa. I’ve tried to do what I thought you would do.”

For the most part.

Andonius nodded at Giana, noticing that her desire to emulate him seemed quite genuine and not manufactured to win his favor. In fact, considering the state he had been in, only an insane person would have been truly considering the implications of impressing him over either governing well or governing selfishly. It said quite a lot about his daughter.

“And Richard.” He said next, looking between them. “How has he performed?”

“Richard has been as reliable as always.” Cosima said with a slight smile. “A great support to me…” suddenly, she remembered the threat Giana had made against her regarding Elana’s marriage and her smile faded. “He has the interests of the Empire at heart.”

Her last praise was dry and flat. She leaned back and cast her eyes down, parsing through the contradictory feelings about the day’s events.

“As always.” Antonius said, then turned to Giana, seeming to wait for her own answer. Based on his expression, it truly seemed to matter to him what she might say.

“Richard and I butted heads in the beginning.” Giana began honestly, “he had trouble seeing me as anything other than a spoiled princess, and I didn’t appreciate his overly cautious methods. After some time, we’ve found equal footing, and we keep our screaming matches out of the public eye.” The last part was of course a joke and her tone indicated it along with a gentle squeeze to his arm. “He’s a valuable council.”

“Ah, a council.” Antonius responded, taking the hidden gem once again. He grinned broadly at it, a tired chuckle even taking over a bit. “Royal blood indeed. It’s unnatural for a commoner to wield such extraordinary power. Now that he’s had it, good man though he truly is, it’s time for him to retire. I assume he is no longer the Imperial Chancellor, having vacated for the military?”

Giana nodded the affirmative. “CJ has taken his place, and we could not have asked for a better person to step into his shoes.”

“Camilla Joyce as Imperial Chancellor, what has the world come to.” Antonius said, seeming to be joking more than anything else. He had always had a certain unspoken fondness for CJ, and he seemed perfectly happy to accept it now. “Let’s keep it that way then. I’ll talk to Ramsay. I’ll name him Richard Ramsay Magnus, induct him into the Order of the Starry Crown, and even name him a Father of the Fatherland, if it makes him smile. And then away with him to some lordship or, if not that, inevitably a fruitful career in the Senate. So flows the sands of time, hmm?”

He didn’t wait for a response to his odd, characteristic, rambling rhetorical question.

“I am strong of mind, but my body is still weak. I must govern from my bed…and then remain confined until I have the strength of a man again. Until then, Giana, I would have you as my proxy. Run my meetings, carry out my will, and read your boxes. I would have your advice on all matters.”

Cosima seemed personally relieved at that, but she did eye Giana. She had the instinct to protect Elana from her older sister and her aunt, no matter what she had done. She hoped her husband agreed.

Giana blinked once, then sat up a bit straighter. “Of course, father. It would be my honor and pleasure.”

She leaned over and kissed his hand. “I’m sure you’ll be well enough soon.”

“I’m sure.” he said, gripping her hand in his and holding it firmly. “Now, my heir…and my baby…summon her from Mars if you must.”

“Actually, Antonius, Elana’s here in the palace.” Cosima interjected.

“Really? What a genuine surprise.” he said.

“I’ll send for them.” Giana said and stood to do just that from one of the consoles in the room, but not without glancing at her mother. There was no challenge in it, but it was very clear by the look in her eyes she completely intended on standing by her decision on Elana.

It was only a few moments before the door opened and Elana’s face appeared. Cosima grabbed Antonius’ hand gently, hoping he would make the right decision and be measured with her.

Giana left room by the bedside for her siblings so Cosima could remain where she was. As Elana passed her, the two women looked at each other, Elana with fiery defiance and Giana with resolute ice. Elana closed the rest of the distance and put on a smile for her father, though she seemed more sober than either Giana or Cosima had been.

“Papa… I’m so glad you’re awake.”

“Elana Bella. Come to me.” Antonius said, extending a shaky hand for his youngest daughter to take hold of. She had been the middle child of middle children, but he still loved her. “The gods have been good to me..your brother nearly killed me, but I’m back.”

Elana moved to his side and sat down like a dutiful daughter, taking his hand. “Things have been so miserable without you, papa.”

Giana rolled her eyes behind her sister and immediately crossed her arms over her chest.

“Has it been?” He asked, looking at her. It wasn’t typical for Elana to give him any real attention at all, that is, unless she wanted something. “In what way?”

“Everything is just so poorly run, and you’ve been asleep so long people think they are entitled to go back on promises you’ve made.” She cast a glance over her shoulder back at Giana.

Giana had taken her eyes off of Elana and was now just staring a warning at their mother. She needed to stop this or Giana would.

Cosima got the message, but she really hadn’t needed it. She frowned at their youngest daughter.

“Elana, your father called you out of love, not to hear about your petty concerns moments after waking up.” She said. She could be astoundingly self-involved.

Elana ignored her mother and simply continued to look at her father, stroking his hand and wearing a half pouting, half dismayed look on her pretty face.

He sighed, understanding enough about the dynamics of his family to understand generally the kind of conflict that was happening.

“What promise is that, Elana?”

“That I could choose who I want to marry, and that I can keep pursuing my education and philanthropic interests as long as I want to.” Elana supplied, glancing over to Giana again with just a shadow of smugness on her face that disappeared when she looked at her father again. “They are trying to make me marry someone I’ve never even met.”

“Whom?” He asked simply, looking at her curiously. He hadn’t committed anything or indicated what he might feel.

“Does it matter?” Elana frowned. “I didn’t pick him.”

“Lord Michael Danvers.” Giana inserted for her father, ignoring her petulant little sister when Elana turned to glare at her again.

“Danvers? The Lord of..Kent!” The Emperor said, recalling the man. “He wrote that poetic autobiography about his travels…A Painter and a Dreamer., That's it. It was beautiful, truly.”

He looked at Elana and frowned.

“And you don’t like this man, Elana? He’s really not that old; just thirty or forty something. Not bad looking. Focused on living life rather than court politics…yes, it’s a good match. Who’s idea was he?”

“Aunt Claudia’s with my approval.” Giana admitted, and this time Elana fully turned to stare at Giana.

“What?” Elana asked, her face contorting with anger as it had in the office, and Cosima would see it was probably about to become another screaming match.

“Girls, don’t you dare do this.” Cosima said, standing and putting her hands on both of their shoulders. “Your father had just woken up and we will not stress him with this drama. Keep your peace.”

“I am not looking to disrupt the peace.” Giana looked at Cosima, not even remotely rising to Elana’s anger. “I just answered a question.”

“You…” Elana sneered at Giana.

Cosima had heard that Giana was involved. Truly, it made her feel manipulated, but she tried her best to keep those feelings private considering the tension of the moment.

The doors opened again and, perhaps with the worst timing he could, Paolo entered in a dark suit, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Papa, you’re awake.” He said, and beelined right past the women to his father.

Giana pulled back from Cosima and Elana, leaving her mother to deal with her sister who was barely keeping it together. Instead, she joined Paolo and Antonius, and lightly squeezed her brother’s shoulder.

“The gods have blessed us.”

“Well, I would have liked it a bit earlier.” Paolo said, smiling at his older sister. It was only then that he noticed Elana’s presence; he hadn't seen or thought of her in a long time, so it was a surprise. He would have responded, but was much more concerned with his father. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m well, Paolo. A bit tired, but well.” Antonius said. “Trying to figure out the meaning of all of this squabbling.”

Giana offered no explanation for it, instead happily letting Paolo engage with their father and trying to simply ignore Elana being a brat. She touched Paolo’s shoulder and indicated the chair next to Antonius’ bedside for him to sit in so he didn’t have to strain to look at Paolo and could rest.

“Gods, you’ve gotten big, Paolo. Have you been working out?” Antonius asked, squeezing his son’s arm with a furrowed brow.

“Yes, I have actually. Quite a lot. I’ve been motivated recently.” He looked at Giana, really know knowing what their father had been told.

As she stood next to Paolo, she subtly reached out and lightly grabbed her brother’s arm. Her fingers exerted pressure, not trying to hurt or silence him, but trying very hard to communicate a warning to him to not overwhelm Antonius with the truth behind the why - there would of course be time for that, but right now when he had just come back to consciousness, it seemed like it would be too much.

“Well, I hope you’ve been exercising your mind as well?” Antonius asked.

“Of course, Father. You know my love of learning would never change.” He said with a grin. “I’ve learned a bit more about our system and about the art of governance from watching the regents.”

He looked to Giana with a tight but kind smile.

“Yes, I’m sure there was plenty of opportunity.” Antonius said, his eyes falling to Elana again. Perhaps it was only half of his children who had been a horrible disappointment. “Elana, what is it you want me to do, hmm?”

“I just want you to keep your promise, papa.” Elana replied, looking around her siblings at her father.

“And I need Elana to move onto another man so I can marry the man I want to marry without causing some sort of scandal.” Giana spoke up. “All I asked is that she at least meets with Lord Danvers. Publicly.”

“Man? What man is that?” The Emperor asked, looking between the two of them. “Are the two of you courting the same man now?”

“No, but the tabloids are under the impression we are, and we don’t need such an idiotic scandal right now.” Giana said and looked at her father once more.

“He was mine until Sacha went and got himself blown up.” Elana protested.

Giana’s jaw set, and she turned her head very slowly to look toward her sister and Cosima.

“The entire purpose of Khalon Price entering the Council of Lords and Our good graces was to keep Elana under control.” Antonius said, a flicker of irritation in his face. “And now I’m hearing the tabloids think he’s with both of you and you both desire him? This is a ridiculous scandal.”

“It has been quite colorful. Two Princesses, One Lord.” Paolo said with a slight grin, repeating one of the many headlines that had been allowed to run.

“I want the authors who wrote those articles fired until they issue apology letters to the Crown for their lies.” Antonius said. He didn’t seem very upset, but it was clear that he was starting to sweat. “Why hasn’t that happened already?”

“Uhhhhmm…that was my area.” Cosima confessed, “I reasoned that trying to artificially shut down a scandal like that would only embolden those who are laughing at us.”

“The only reason they’re laughing at us is because they’ve been told to by a media which is supposed to be loyal to us.” Paolo said, raising his eyebrows. He wasn’t hesitant to undercut his mother in this after what she had done.

“It is something that needs rectified.” Giana said, her tone indicating she hadn’t been pleased by the whole thing. She wasn’t a stranger to the tabloids though, so she was less bothered by it than the others were - being the face of the royal family also meant being gossiped about. For Giana, it was annoying at most but this time it was something that actually needed to be addressed, it wouldn’t do for her to be seen as some sort of pseudo homewrecker.

Antonius sighed as if he was unwillingly entering the role of ridiculous. “Do we…do we know whom the High Lord prefers?”

“Yes.” Giana stated plainly, looking back at her father. “But I’m hardly an unbiased party. If no one else has any input, we can have Lord Price settle the matter himself.” She looked to both Paolo and her mother - neither of them were stupid nor blind, but she knew Cosima was still trying to protect Elana for whatever reason.

“How about that, Elana?” Antonius asked. “ We will simply have Lord Price pick between you and your sister, and whoever he picks to marry him.”

“What did you mean by ‘keep me under control’?” Elana asked, her voice quiet.

There was a round of intensely awkward silence as each member of the family widened their eyes and looked at the father.

“What?” Antonius asked after the pause. “Oh, Elana, I misspoke. I’m confused. After all, I did just wake up from a coma.”

Paolo grinned but said nothing while Cosima’s hand went to her mouth in dismay.

“You aren’t confused. You haven’t been confused about anything.” Elana pointed out, sounding hurt.

Giana just shook her head, obviously having to fight to control her tongue at this point.

“Elana.” Antonius said, looking at his youngest daughter with eyes that were flirting with excessive kindness. “When you took to Lord Price, I saw an opportunity for marriage. My hope was that you would agree to him as a husband. Apparently things have changed drastically.”

He turned his gaze to Giana.

“I thought you were aware of this plan.”

“I was aware of it, but I also cannot and would not try to control Lord Price’s feelings.” Giana looked down to her father. “The choice was his, and he would be the first to tell you I was resistant to his advances because of Elana. He’s not a toy to be claimed or given away.”

“Of course he is.” Antonius said with a scoff. “His is a subject of the Emperor. He will do what he is told. Giana seems certain Lord Price’s heart is with her. Do you disagree? Shall I call him in right now?”

Whereas in the past Giana might have immediately argued with her father in that girlish way, she simply looked at him with a hard expression. If Antonius really looked at his eldest daughter, he would see not only was his son much changed, but she was too.

“If that’s the case then, father, I say he’s mine, and Elana must meet Lord Danvers.” It was calm, but bold; not a challenge but a statement. Until Antonius officially reclaimed his power, she was still a regent, she commanded the toys - including her sister. She looked at her father with her brows slightly raised, looking for his approval.

Antonius studied her. A flicker in his eyes signaled much less the exhaustion she typically caused him, but more a certain amusement. He looked from her to Elana.

“Elana. Speak.”

Elana was furious, hot tears burning in her brown eyes as she looked at her father and sister. Her eyes lingered on Giana, and when she saw her sister’s brows raise again, she immediately understood the implied threat that she would keep talking and tell Antonius about Claudia’s threat. She licked her lips again, and then finally spoke.

“There's something I want in return.”

Paolo made a curious noise, looking at his sister with interest. Elana had always been the nicest of his siblings, and he felt closer to her and more indebted than all the others for many years. But the change of relationship with Giana I come along with a simultaneous cooling off of Elana being moderately pleasant, available, or reasonable. He did love her, but he had come to believe that what was best for her was not for her to be allowed to make all of her own decisions.

“And what might that be?” He asked, not waiting for his father.

“I want you all to leave me alone. I don’t want to see you anymore, I don’t want to be around you. Give me one palace and I will keep my allowance. I’ll show up at the most official functions just so there’s no rumors, but otherwise we can just stop pretending.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Let me just live my life. I’m not bothering anyone.”

“You bother the Imperial Treasury.” Paolo said, his face neutral and his words genuinely honest. “With love, Elana..your Lord Husband will have a palace. What do you need with one of ours?”

Antonius looked at his son as he asked the question, seeming perfectly content to simply let his children work things out on their own.

“Because I’m still a princess and I’m entitled to a palace of my own.” Elana replied, narrowing her eyes at her brother.

“You’re entitled to nothing.” Giana stated, ice in her voice. “Especially you, but I’d be inclined just to say yes so you will go away and stop being a nuisance.”

“I agree.” Paolo said, surprisingly not equivocating for their harsh tone. The bandaid needed to be ripped off. “I think keeping your title and having occasional access to the minor houses is far more than enough. I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble leaving us alone, Elana, though..it’s a terrible thing to say to your family.”

“Yes, well, this family does terrible things to each other, don’t we?” The question was rhetorical and stated with bitterness.

“Good, then that is settled with your blessing, father.” Giana said and looked at Antonius.

“Fine.” Antonius said, clearly not seeing happy but giving no resistance. “But Giana will have to get married first, she is older..and her issue will be a part of this family, since you don’t seem to appreciate what you’ve been given.”

“What does that mean?” Elana asked, frowning.

“You are a princess because you’re my daughter..and yet you have no interest in being my daughter.” He answered. “I am tempted to give you what you want..a life apart, truly. But you have no idea how miserable that would be for you.”

Elana began to say something, but thought better of it, paused, and then simply said. “Whatever pleases you, Emperor.”

“I do wish you actually did care what might please me.” Antonius said, a flicker of anger in his eyes. “Marry him then, and be done with us.”

Elana simply bowed, and turned to leave the room without another word, leaving her family behind as she so often did.

Giana watched her sister go, and then looked back down to her father with a frown. “I’m sorry that wasn’t handled earlier, papa, I was working on it.”

“Indeed you were.” Cosima said, frowning at Giana but not explaining herself.

“Mmm.” Antonius said, putting his head down into his hand. “Now, I need to rest. Giana..Paolo..it’s time to go. I’ll take a few hours and then I’ll speak to Richard.”

“Of course.” Giana stepped back to his side and leaned down to kiss her father’s cheek gently. “Goodbye, papa.”

“Goodbye.” Paolo said as well, his hand lingering on his father’s arm. Once both of them were in the hallway again, his hand found Giana’s arm. His eyes were curious. “What did he say before I arrived?”

“CJ is going to remain chancellor and he is ushering Richard into retirement with as many honors as the man deserves given his long career.” Giana supplied, not looking at Paolo immediately but then finally did look at him, no longer looking down, but directly at him since he had grown so much. “I am going to be his proxy for the time being, assuming mother and Richard don’t poison the well.”

“Do you think they would?” He asked, not commenting on her being proxy or seeming offended in the slightest. “Richard won’t want to leave..this is his life, after all. His daughter’s on Romulus..an Assistant Ambassador. His son’s a bachelor. Mother would support you, would she not? She certainly doesn’t want the role.”

“Yes, I do think they would.” Giana nodded. “Unfortunately, I was in the middle of a very delicate conversation with mother and Elana when mother had an… outburst and ran to father’s room, so I’m afraid she thinks rather poorly of me right now. Perhaps father will see what I was doing, perhaps he won’t.”

“Mother could be a proxy, considering Father is awake again. But I doubt she would want to. Instead, perhaps she can salvage this shambles of a season..ten girls, really.” Paolo reported. He didn’t seem particularly worried either way. It wouldn’t be him, but if it was her, he would have an edge. Of course, he went to all the meetings anyway.

“Mother can’t handle it, Paolo. She had a complete breakdown not two hours ago.” Giana shook her head slightly. “Father may want your opinion as his heir.”

“Well…I don’t know..” Paolo said, looking at her quite seriously. But after a few seconds, he grinned, a clear indication he was joking. “So, is your Chancellor plant going to be able to keep her job?”

Giana wasn’t expecting her brother’s support; but she also wasn’t going to beg for it either. In her mind she had done what she could to the best of her ability, and if that amounted to nothing… she didn’t know what she would do, exactly, but she had tried to do well. “He seemed very happy about CJ being chancellor, yes. He didn’t even hesitate to say he would be giving poor old Richard the boot.”

“I find that surprising.” He said frankly. “They’ve always been close. Putting him to pasture seems..sudden.”

“I thought that as well. I’m not entirely sure why, but his mind seems sound. I don’t… think he would lie to me for any reason. He doesn’t know of anything else I have done except lead the fleet to kill Giuseppe.” She glanced at him again. “Which, by the way, I didn’t tell him how exactly that happened. I don’t think he has the strength to hear the story in its entirety right now, and I thought you should be present at the very least if not the one to tell him.”

“I can tell him. I was trying to be cautious in there because I wasn’t sure what he already knew.” Paolo said, looking at her straight on. “It’ll be good to show the people that the Emperor lives.”

“It will be. When he’s ready.” Giana agreed. “I would wait to tell him until he has more of his strength back, though, unless he more directly asks.”

“He will be pouring over the reports tonight.” Paolo said. “He should be told before he can read it.”

“Whenever you like, brother. Do you want me to be there when you do? Giana asked, not seeming bothered either way.

“He already knows your part. I would tell him mine.” Paolo said, seeming quite certain. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Alright.” Giana agreed, wondering if she was ever going to get a chance to explain any of her actions for herself, or if her father was simply going to hear from everyone but her. She licked her lips and took a breath. “Well I have a proposal to go ask for, I suppose.”

Paolo grinned, pursing his lips together. “Are you really going to be the one to ask?”

“No.” Giana chuckled. “But I have to tell him if he was to do it, I would say yes.”

“Good.” He said with a chuckle. “The alternative, sister, is too horrible to imagine.”

END