Friendly Advice

Posted on Sun Mar 10th, 2024 @ 3:07am by Princess Royal Giana Orsini & CJ Zajak

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: The Pyramid
Timeline: Date 2371-09-10 at 1700
6423 words - 12.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON


“I think that concludes our business for today.” Came the calm, professional voice of Camilla Zajak, her eyes scanning the faces of the members of the Imperial Secretariat. “Thank you All for your contributions today. This is a difficult time for the Empire considering the Emperor’s state and the ongoing war with the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance, but It’s our unwavering patriotism and dedication that will ensure the future will be brighter. With that says, let’s ensure the policies discussed today are implemented swiftly and efficiently, and let’s all remember to stay on message.”

She offered a smile that was well-formed, but ultimately cold as the Secretaries around her stood, thanked her, and left the room along with the aids and interns they’d brought with them.

“Well said, Madam Chancellor.” Came the syrupy voice of Evelyn Carter, the Imperial Secretary for Economic Development.

Within moments, CJ was left alone in the Secretariat Room, turning her eyes back to the tablet in front of her and cuing up a new file.

It was a few minutes later when the door to the room opened once more and the steady tap of heels crossing the floor filled the room. Eventually, a voice broke CJ’s peace.

“CJ.” Giana called the woman, her voice still tired and worn. She had taken the time to put herself together in a dark red sheath dress belted at her thin waist by a gold belt, her blonde hair was brushed back and done up in a neat bun. The meeting with the other regents had been pushed off due to Richard needing to handle something more immediately pressing, so she had decided to seek out CJ as she had planned.

Having people cycle into the room was relatively normal, which would typically mean CJ wouldn’t hurry to take a look. When she heard the voice, however, she immediately recognized it. Looking up, she offered a perfect white smile, her short swept blonde hair serving as an angular frame for her face. She wore a modest powder blue skirt and blazer with a matching blouse underneath, tying the look together with a black belt and a pair of white heels which made her as tall as most of the men.

“Your Highness.” She said with a grin, standing up tall and meeting Giana’s eyes. She stood in one fluid motion, moving from her chair positioned directly next to the taller chair belonging to the absent Emperor. “I believe congratulations are in order.”

“For you, yes.” Giana chuckled softly as she rounded the table and finished closing the distance to CJ. “Congratulations, Chancellor Zajak.”

“Acting Chancellor.” CJ corrected modestly, seeming to dismiss the idea with a polite smile, “until this crisis is over. And then I suspect I’ll be giving it back up to Richard.”

She looked at Giana and frowned, though the sadness didn’t reach her eyes totally.

“I'm sorry to hear about your father. He’s a great leader, and I’m still holding out for his full recovery.”

“As are we all.” Giana nodded slightly, not correcting herself nor commenting on the correction given. “I would like to speak to you somewhere privately if you have the time.”

“We can go to my office, if you’d like.” CJ said, her face turning to the setting Sun beyond the city street through the giant glass window.

“Let’s.” Giana agreed and began to walk. “I trust that my mother and Richard have… brought you up to speed on the events of the past few days?”

“Yes, ma’am. There was an internal memo for the Secretariat which I marked ‘top secret’. I believe I’m fairly well aware.” CJ answered as the two of them emerged from the wooden hall and into a nearby hallway. The walk was short to the elevator they’d taken the last time they’d gone to her office.

“I was going to meet with the regents, but Ramsay had something very pressing come up that couldn’t be put off, so I decided I would come see you in the meantime.” Giana explained, standing calmly waiting on the lift. “You’ve always seemed to have my interests in mind.”

Of course, Giana wasn’t a fool. She knew that CJ’s interest wasn’t selfless - probably not even a little bit - but CJ had been very helpful to her over the last months and had demonstrated a level of care and consideration that Giana felt she got from very few people in her life.

“I’m pleased you paid me a visit. After reading about your adventures at the Battle of Axanar, I was interested to see how you might look as a war hero.” CJ responded, a genuine smile crossing her face, but waisted as her back was mostly to Giana as they stepped into the elevator. “DGF, Main.” She said, and the lift started to move.

“Well, I suppose that’s part of what I’d like to talk to you about, really.” The princess admitted and folded her hands in front of her. “I have done this… thing… and now I have to admit I don’t know where I go from here.”

“I think I understand what you mean. It must be a very confusing time for you, all things considered.” CJ responded as the door to the lift opened and they walked out past a Pyramid guard and onto a sparsely staffed floor. It was after normal working hours, and most had gone home. CJ started in the same course toward her office.

“Yes… I suppose I am.” Giana spoke almost shyly and then cleared her throat. “I guess I really haven’t had time to process any of it. I don’t know that I will have that time either, so I just have to make the best of it how I can.”

CJ turned the knob and walked through the door to her office. The tv screens on the wall were all turned to the same reality show rather than the news stations that would ordinarily play on them. Sitting in a couch with her legs up was a brown haired teenage girl who bore a striking resemblance to CJ.

“Hi, Mom. How was-“ she started, turning her eyes to the door and pausing as she saw Giana entering. She immediately started climbing to her feet, her fuzzy shoes moving from the couch to the floor. “Oh, my Gods!”

CJ pursed her lips, eying the girl and then turning to Giana and giving her typical inscrutable smile.

“Your Highness, this is my daughter, Morgan. Saying she is a fan…isn’t saying enough.”

While Giana was aware that CJ had a daughter, she had never seen the girl before with her own eyes to her knowledge. Her eyes had immediately gone to CJ more in question than wanting to see the older woman’s reaction, but she had seen it all the same and couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps CJ didn’t particularly like that Morgan was a fan of her.

Something to think about later, because right now she wasn’t sure she could shoulder anything else.

“Morgan. Very nice to meet you finally.” She smiled pleasantly and walked toward the girl, extending her hand out in greeting.

“I can’t believe this is happening.” Morgan said, sweet and genuinely excited, only allowing herself to jump up and down a few times before she put a stop to it. “You’re my hero. I know it doesn’t look like it, but I’m really into fashion.”

After they had shaken hands, Giana returned her arms to her side in as easy of a stance as she could manage, then chuckled politely and shook her head. “Nonsense. When I’m home or somewhere familiar, I like to be comfortable too, not fashionable. Or at least not just fashionable.”

“Well, I’ve always heard you say a woman can do both.” Morgan said with a pretty smile, pointing to the small label on her pink hoodie with a twinkle of excited pride in her eyes. It was a piece of casual clothing from Bella Gia’s Chique Royal 2371 series. “If I would have known I was going to meet you, I would have worn some nice pants and shoes too.”

“Even casual clothing Can strain the bank account.” CJ said with a grin. “Morgan, I need to speak with the Princess. Have you eaten dinner?”

“Yeah, dad ordered Chinese.” Morgan answered with an immediate look of disappointment, more about being dismissed than the contents of her stomach.

Giana gave another polite chuckle but then went quiet to let the two interact. She instead just watched, and when Morgan mentioned her father, Giana’s eyes immediately shifted to CJ. She had been aware from previous talks that the relationship CJ was in was an unhappy one not because CJ had said it outright, but there had been heavy alluding to that fact. At the very least, CJ had the benefit of being a peasant woman and retained her own agency in life, but it still had to… suck.

“Good. I’ll be home soon, but you need to go.” CJ said. Her tone was gentle and amiable; quite a bit like how she spoke to everyone, really. Still, rather cold.

“It was an amazing experience to meet you, Your Highness. I would love a tour of the company or, if you have time, maybe we can have lunch and get to know each other.” Morgan said, looking at Giana, her eyes glowing.

“I’m sure we can figure out something, of course. It was nice to meet you as well, Morgan.” Giana of course kept it polite and wore a smile while exuding the energy she was expecting the teen to leave. She wasn’t being dismissive of the idea - she would have been happy to do something like that for CJ if nothing else - but given recent events, Giana truly had no idea what the next days would bring.

Morgan moved in and hugged CJ, clearly overjoyed at the possibility she might get to spend time with Giana. CJ kissed her daughter on the forehead and gave a fairly engaged and intimate one-arm hug. Morgan then tried her hand at a curtsy, which was a bit sloppy and unpracticed, and left the room.

“That girl is more like me than she’ll ever admit.” CJ said, once the door was closed.

“She seems nice.” Giana said genuinely and moved into the office more. “Also, CJ, you know if you want clothes for her you only have to take them from the store rooms. You’re not going to take a ton, I know, and consider it a perk of the job. She’ll be happy and that can’t be a bad thing for you.”

“Tell that to the Compliance Authority, ma’am.” CJ said with a grin. “Kickbacks and corporate perks in the modern Empire are risky for a Civil Servant. They always get Director Hansen’s attention, and dealing with her isn’t worth a few stylish garments for me.”

CJ grabbed two tall glasses from a nearby cabinet and then opened a cooler to remove a decanter of sky-blue liquid.

“But, it would additionally complicate things.” She continued, ”After all, the Emperor and his regents want to know that the people who work for them do so for a paycheck and the glory of the Empire and not whatever I can gouge them for. You’ll find people who are perfectly willing to accept gifts like that, but not me, ma’am.”

She poured slowly, before sitting the decanter down and handing the glass to Giana.

“Romulan Ale, ma’am. A gift from your father during the Romulan Conference earlier this year.”

Giana took the glass, but was quietly frowning. She had just been trying to do something nice for CJ in some small way, but she supposed the woman had a point. She took a tiny sip of the ale and then immediately cleared her throat. “Do you have questions about what happened that are relevant for you to do your own job as well as offer advice?”

“Only the final decisions of the Regents on parades and executions. The military may be carrying these things out, but as always, it's us who have to pay for it and sell it to the people.” CJ answered, gesturing to the couch. “Please, ma’am.”

The young woman had been distracted looking out of the window and almost missed CJ’s invitation to sit down. She turned and moved to do just that, crossing her legs elegantly at her ankles and tilting her legs into a poised diagonal line with her feet on the floor.

“There is to be a day of military parades culminating in a sacrifice outside of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus of the senior officers and civil service of Giuseppe’s fleet. The rest of his forces will have Lex Sanguinis imposed on them, but their lives will be spared as long as they give oaths of loyalty and stick to them.”

“Regent Ramsay told me that might be coming down. Rest assured, we will respond promptly to the decisions once they’re finalized.” CJ acknowledged, spooning her own drink. “But that’s not what you’re here to discuss.”

“No, I suppose it isn’t.” Giana sighed and reached up to touch her forehead. She felt a headache coming on. “Being a war hero isn’t exactly… in line with my current image. I’m completely out of my depth here, CJ; I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t know if I should embrace it, try to sweep it under the rug, or what.”

CJ watched Giana’s movements carefully, observing signs of her stress and confusion. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen the younger woman lost, but it had never been quite like this. She adopted an expression sympathetic concern nodding slightly.

“When it comes to questions of image, it isn’t an exact science. People can accept anything that makes sense to them, so it can’t be the first consideration.” She said, the blue liquid in her glass staying remarkably still, “I believe the first consideration should always be the object. What do you want, ma’am? How do you want people to see you?”

Giana frowned even more deeply at that question. She felt herself at some sort of twisted crossroad - and frankly all of the choices felt wrong. “I… want them to see me as capable and confident of doing what needs to be done for the good and protection of the Empire - for my people. But I still want to be their Princess Gigi… I think my family needs that more than anything. My mother hosts beautiful Imperial parties and takes care of the nobility, but I’ve always been the face of my family to the common people - I’ve been the only one who could handle it. Giuseppe was Giuseppe and Paolo… is as awkward as our father. Elana is the royal who wants to enjoy all the perks of being one while simultaneously saying how unlike us she is and does her own thing.”

CJ seemed to think for several seconds, her own legs folded, which was the style of formal non-nobility.

“Who is Princess Gigi to you, ma’am? I’m curious to hear your answer. We do often hear everyone else’s.”

Giana shook her head slightly. “It doesn’t much matter what that is to me, CJ. Gigi is the peoples’ princess; who she is is who they see her as, so it is everyone else that you should be hearing from anyways. Not me.”

“Well then, how do you think the people see you? Who is Princess Gigi to the people?” CJ asked patiently where others might have been frustrated by Giana not answering the question.

Immediately, Giana gave a sigh. This felt like some sort of trap or something to make her appear foolish, but she decided to play along. “Someone to be admired, just relatable enough that people feel that if they work hard enough and are good enough, that I might take personal notice of them. She sets trends in fashion and life in general; anything she puts aside is also put aside by the populace as a whole. Anyone she snubs will also be snubbed; anyone she celebrates will also be celebrated.”

“Ma’am, that’s a list of powers and statuses. It’s not a person. It can’t be loved..” CJ said, pointing out a problem without trying to solve it. It was a touchy subject, and saying to much might cause problems which need not be caused. “People love Princess Gigi, ma’am.”

Others despised her, but CJ kept that fact to herself. One never did anything without splitting the vote.

“And hate her.” Giana pointed out with a soft, humorless chuckle giving voice to CJ’s thoughts of her own volition. Giana was not stupid - she knew that the number of people who would have been happy to see her dead or ruined was not a non zero number simply for the fact they found her “annoying”.

“When the list has a face, it can be loved. I just provide the face.”

CJ seemed almost pleased as the corners of her lips turned up ever so slightly. She understood that a child could be trained to do what she used to do; to appear in tabloids on RZI and snub noble women at parties.

“The first time we really spoke, we laid the groundwork for Bella Gia.” CJ said. “When we started Princess Gigi was the young woman who owned the front covers of magazines and tabloids. She decided on good and bad fashion. Now she makes it, and is the President and Chief Creative Officer of the most successful break-out corporation this year. How do you suppose running a company changed who she was?”

“Well, it certainly made some people more annoyed.” Giana paused and took a sip of her drink then breathed out slowly as the strong alcohol tingled on her tongue. “Perhaps she became a bit more of a role model - maybe even for some of the nobility too.”

“That’s what the polls show.” CJ said with a nod. “Parents' approval of their daughter’s obsessions with Princess Ggi increased too. Why do you think that is?”

“Do you?” Giana asked, her brows raising and a tired smile still on her face, but then she waved off her own question so that CJ didn’t need to answer. “She has more substance now.”

CJ’s cool calm faltered a bit at the question, but seemed to think, even after Giana moved on.

“I do, ma’am. Princess Gigi shows little girls what they should care about.” She said, turning her head and sipping her own drink. Feeling the familiar tingle and the famously delicious taste. Licking her lips, she asked her next question. “Who will Princess Gigi be in a decade, ma’am. To be honest, her role is one for a young woman. Who will she be in twenty years?”

“Are you calling me old, CJ?” Giana asked, this time with a bit more humor in her voice and expression.

CJ smiled, shaking her head.

“Of course not, ma’am. But, if the Gods are good to you, one day you will be. I just want to know where you see things going.”

“In a decade, I’ll still be as I am though likely a wife and mother as well. The women and girls I appeal to will still look to me for guidance and perhaps they always will given our next Empress Consort will likely be a young woman. If she herself doesn’t take my place, it will be one of Paolo’s daughters if he has any, one of mine if not.” Giana rolled her shoulders slightly.

“Don’t worry, CJ, I know my star is fading fast now. I’ll do my best to keep Bella Gia always relevant though.”

“Is it fading fast, ma’am?” CJ asked, quirking an eyebrow. “You have just won a civil war and killed an enemy of the Senate and People of the Terran Empire. You are a heartbeat away from being heir to the throne and, if the reports are correct…the Crown Prince was nearly strangled to death by Giuseppe. You are the Lady of the Northern Dominion, and Amalie Cochrane is sweet and beautiful, ma’am, and don't get me wrong, but she has no fire. Princess Gigi has fire. She’s fierce.”

The princess’ sharp blue eyes shifted over to CJ. It wasn’t often her status as a peasant was noticeable, but just here it was. Of course Amalie didn’t have fire, she wasn’t raised to have fire. “I did do all of those things, yes, but who wants to hear about it?”

“I think you’d be surprised, ma’am.” CJ said, not deterred by the question. “It’s all a matter of messaging in the end. War is nothing but the continuation of politics, some say. You are a Princess, ma’am, and not an actress. Your fame doesn’t just come from your dresses or your social commentary or your charitable work, it comes from proximity to the Imperial Throne. Princess Gigi is the daughter of the Emperor. Exercising authority, in that light, is as natural as…well, my daughter trying to have lunch with a princess.”

“People aren’t used to seeing Princess Gigi do that, though. In truth I think a lot of the time they forget that she has any power in that capacity at all.” Giana pointed out, frowning slightly. “Princess Giana does, but Princess Giana doesn’t make many appearances.”

CJ was understanding of this bifurcation if the person. It tended to happen when a person had to behave in a way that was, in some way, contrary to how they wished to behave or identify. She was also careful, because she knew the separation was only rhetorical; the kind of thing Giana told herself to do what needed to be done.

“You are in a special situation. The people could see you rising to the occasion, and no one would blame you for doing a good job.”

“Do you really think so?” Giana asked, looking at CJ curiously. “Frankly, it seems like my own family even has doubts… except somehow my father. Which I really don’t understand that either.”

“It can sometimes be harder to gain the confidence of those closest to us than complete strangers.” CJ said, nodding in an understanding way. “Your family sees your hard times, and judges with the eyes of a peer. The rest of the Empire looks up to you.”

There was a dubious expression on the young woman’s face, but she gave a slight nod of acceptance to what CJ had said. “That makes sense, I suppose. So… what do you think I should do?”

“I…would have you take credit for the entire thing, controversy and all. And then you would make a public statement behind the seal of the regency.” CJ said with an honest grin. “But it would be hard to get the other regents to agree with that, I imagine, for the very same reason I like the idea.”

“Why exactly do you like the idea?” Giana asked, quirking a brow.

“Because it’s terribly messy.” She said honestly. “It makes you look like the kind of woman who gets results even when everyone around you hesitates. It makes you look good and rebellious while, somehow, strangely lawful and just. It shows you avenging yourself on your wicked brother…it makes your fiancé an action hero overnight. In other words, it’s great television.”

CJ leaned back ever so slightly.

“But Royals and government officials hate great television.” She said, eyeing the Princess. “Which is why they offload relatability on you.”

Giana leaned back, unconsciously mirroring CJ in doing so. It could have worked, maybe, but she would need to speak with Sacha first. “It is possible, however,” she looked at the other woman closely, “what do you think my father would say and do once he wakes up?”

“He’d be angry, call you reckless, and accuse you of overshadowing the Crown Prince.” CJ said with a thoughtful nod. “But I believe something like that can be mitigated. Some could say Prince Paolo behaved heroically as well. If it seemed as if you were carrying out your Father’s wishes and Paolo willingly escaped to try and solve the problem head on as well, we could show a royal family that cooperates to handle its problems. You could look strong. And, if I know your father well, he might be annoyed, but he will see reason.”

CJ looked at Giana then, a rare moment of uncertainty in her gaze. She seemed to be debating her next words.

“We assume His Imperial Majesty will wake up and be fully restored to his previous mental strength, but of course anything is possible. Perhaps he will decide to..ascend. And, if that is the case, I wonder what you hope your future will look like?”

Ascend.

The terminology had always made Giana want to roll her eyes. She knew why it was that way and its necessity, but truthfully it just seemed so ridiculous. She wondered how many of their people thought the same but would never give voice to that thought. Or the foolishness of the thought that somehow her father had a say on if he would die or not. She took one more sip and then placed what was left of her drink down on the side table on top of the coaster there.

“Perhaps if in interviews or what have you, I can play up my brother’s contributions as well because yes - regardless of the truth of the matter - my father would be angry for a daughter to eclipse a son.” She looked away and paused a moment, then continued without looking at CJ. “The other regents might be amenable to the idea simply for the fact if I am pushed forward, my father’s condition will be eclipsed as well.”

“The lid on that has been completely shut. And the journalists, who are just as cynical as politicians, are getting very upset. A distraction would be very nice.” CJ said with a nod. “An heir must always look strong, so I imagine you’re quite right about the dangers of Paolo being eclipsed.”

CJ gave very little on that. She was friendly and gated, keeping whatever personal views she may have to herself. It wasn’t wise to speak too freely, and they both knew that.

Giana did look back at CJ then, her blue eyes falling on the slightly less vibrant blue gaze of her companion. She held the contact meaningfully for a moment and then sighed. “I don’t want to be eclipsed either, though.”

CJ leaned forward then and placed her glass on the table next to Giana’s. She looked at the younger woman for several silent seconds, thinking.

“You don’t have to be, ma’am.” She said, quietly. “One of the worst things about the camera is that you can’t take back things which are said, even if they weren’t politic. And there’s a delay, so overt things can be clipped out. But oftentimes the more subtle statements..those are the ones that are so hard to catch until it is too late.”

Her eyes were full of meaning, even as she paused in her speech.

“Despite what you may have had to tell yourself to stomach being…someone you’re not, I have found you to be intelligent, politically astute, and a natural royal. Whatever you decide you want to do next, ma’am, I believe it can be. But, of course, not for nothing.”

“Not for nothing, no, but it wouldn’t be wise to risk everything either.” Giana noted. Now she was looking at CJ more closely, studying the woman’s face and trying to figure out where exactly CJ was trying to guide her toward and, most importantly, for what purpose. She knew CJ was flattering her; no one really thought those things or had that kind of faith in her.

“It may be, if you knew what you wanted.” CJ said, sitting up straight again. “You must decide what you want, ma’am.”

“What exactly are you getting at, CJ? We are in the privacy of your office and it is just you and I. If there was ever a time to speak plainly in your life, now is that time.” Giana said, rapidly becoming obviously annoyed by the cryptic game.

“Decide what you want, ma’am. It can be no more plain than that.” CJ said, resolutely. In the end, if Giana went with the wind, there was no point in risking herself to speak frankly to her. All depended on the princess and what she wanted.

The scowl appeared immediately as the non-answer came again. She shifted her legs so her feet were flat on the floor and gave the energy of someone preparing to leave. “You’re Chancellor now and we have always looked to you for what is the best course of action in the media and propaganda sector. If you think this tour of mine is what is needed and would be helpful, it is on you to present it to the regents. If it comes from me they will only see it as me trying to be a glory hound.”

CJ was a practiced courtier, so the frustration she felt with Giana wasn’t shown. She simply looked at the woman neutrally for several silent seconds.

“I didn’t become Chancellor throwing myself on political swords, ma’am. My blood doesn’t protect me, and I have way more to lose than do you.” She said, It was honest. Very honest. “But I might even be willing to do it if I knew you had a political vision, or a plan for the future. Without a solid ambition from you, I might be ruining my career for no reason at all.”

CJ frowned, regretting it had come to all of this.

“A good political ally is hard to find, but if I lose my position, you would simply express regret and go on with your life and all it has in it. It is simply not reasonable for you to ask me to take risks if you won’t even tell me what you’re after.”

The scowl disappeared and was replaced instead by a frown - hurt and saddened. “You really think I’d do that to you?”

“On purpose, no.” CJ said with a measured glance at the Princess. “But I don’t have any reason to think you would protect my job, my name, and a reputation I’ve worked to build for years, nor any proof that you could, ma’am. To be very frank, you have never had to do anything for me.”

The sadness on Giana’s face deepened, but at the same time her frown lifted upward into a small smile. She had thought she had some sort of connection and understanding with CJ. She knew of course the woman had her own agenda and desires, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be working together toward them. She cleared her throat and took a breath. “No, of course you wouldn’t have reason to think that. What does Princess Gigi ever do for anyone else?”

The question wasn’t sarcastic. CJ was right; she had no reason to believe Giana would do anything to help. “But, yes, CJ, I would have fought for you if necessary. You’re right though, I probably wouldn’t win, but I would have tried my best. You’ve given a lot to me and it’s the least I could do for you. I’ll bring the suggestion to the regents so you aren’t put in that position.”

She stood elegantly then and clasped her hands in front of her. “I want what is best for the Empire and its people. I want to be seen as a competent, capable Princess who, as you said, may very well become heir to the Empire sooner rather than later. I want to be a role model for women and girls - maybe even the nobility to give some of that fire back. I want the people to believe that I would be at least a decent Empress if - gods willing, no - I was to ever be put in that position.”

CJ listened with obvious patience, not dismayed or angry. When Giana stood, she stood up to, and remained next to her as she answered the question CJ had put to her several times. When she was finished, CJ lowered her eyes in a moment of consideration. When she spoke again it was quieter, and in a different and less formal tone than ever before.

“My father was the First Minister of Illonois and, eventually, had the honor of serving in the Council of Ministers for the Northern Dominion. But when I was a little girl, he was just an Alderman from Chicago with big dreams. My sister and I were put in pretty pink dresses and swept to different events as he tried to win the favor of the nobility. I remember feeling so…exposed, yet so unwelcome to be who I felt I truly was.”

She reached for the rest of her ale and took a huge swig, perhaps looking for some extra courage.

“I loved my father very much, but he never really had time for me. He was always busy pursuing his career. My uncle filled in the gaps. But…I didn’t like him very much.” CJ looked at Giana, an indication there was more to what she had said than might meet the eye, “but I stayed strong and I made a plan. That’s what I do. So, I know what I’m talking about when I tell you that no dream can come true unless one knows what the dream is. If all you want is to prove yourself, then we can make that work.”

Giana listened intently to CJ and showed she had the Princess’ undivided attention through a steady gaze. She picked up on the discomfort surrounding the topic of the uncle, but she didn’t bring attention to it other than a slight softening of her eyes. “I don’t want to be just Princess Gigi anymore, CJ. I want to be Princess Giana Orsini, but I need to prove that I can be before I can even consider what comes after. Hells, I need to prove it to myself. I know maybe it isn’t what you want to hear or it might not be a good enough answer and if it isn’t, I understand. For what little it’s worth to you, I wouldn’t hold it against you.”

“To avoid any assumptions ma’am,” CJ said, looking Giana in the eyes with her typical cool understanding, though the increased intimacy of the moment was obvious and rare with her. “Who is Princess Giana, in your mind?”

“I don’t really know, CJ. In fact, I don’t really think anyone does. I was never allowed to be Giana, just Gigi.” She frowned slightly then. “But I’d like for Princess Giana to be all those things that I listed without losing all of Gigi in the process. She’s important too… even if nobody else really thinks so.”

“You are an excellent actress, ma’am. But you’re talking about being real. No one is real in front of an Empire.” CJ said, like she was communicating something uncontroversial. “The media, the famous. We all pretend and accentuate. We wear make up. But, I think you are perfectly capable of changing the role you play, and to be honest with you…I think it’s a very good idea. Princess Gigi must grow up. She must marry, take authority, and have children. You can do it, and I’m happy to help, as always.”

This time, Giana didn’t react immediately and took a beat to consider CJ a bit more carefully now. She was putting a lot of hope and trust into the older woman - too much, probably, but who else had really extended this kind of hand out to her?

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t rush too hard into those first and last parts… especially that last part.”

CJ gave a shallow and understanding nod. Her smile was knowing.

“I understand, ma’am. But one step at a time. Everything like this is easier one step at a time.” CJ said, and then seemed to think for a long while. “Let me know when the regents meet, and I will be there. And, if the plan is agreeable for them, we can make a plan.”

Giana glanced over to the time piece on CJ’s desk. “The meeting is scheduled in half an hour, is that enough time for you to prepare?”

CJ nodded. Her typical gated demeanor returned and any vulnerability she had shown in their interaction slowly ebbed away.

“I’ll be prepared, ma’am.”

“I’ll leave you to it then. Thank you, CJ.” She paused, then her brows lifted slightly. “Do you even like to be called CJ? I’ve never asked.”

CJ thought about it for a brief moment before giving a short response.

“I don’t get too wrapped up in what people call me, ma’am. Only that they do.” She said with a smile. “I’ll see you soon.”

Giana certainly wasn't going to beg for an answer to her question if CJ didn't want to give a clear answer, so she simply nodded.

"See you then." Without anything more, she turned around and left CJ to her preparations.

END