A Generation’s Burden

Posted on Sun Dec 29th, 2024 @ 12:24am by Princess Royal Giana Orsini & Crown Prince Paolo Orsini

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: The Pyramid
Timeline: Date 2372-01-08 at 1600
6811 words - 13.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Paolo’s arrival at the Imperial Palace had been a surprise as he had planned. His mother and Amalie had learned very soon and had found him in his apartments after his arrival. They spent the morning with him, dropping their previously scheduled meetings and occasions to be with him. He noticed their interest and their eagerness; there was a strange lack of testosterone in the Palace among the royals.

At one point, he had managed to convince them to resume their schedules and not uproot their entire day for him, and he settled in his own space again. After reading through his boxes, however, he started to feel like he should really be connecting with the other present members of his family.

Giana was in her office at the Pyramid, having returned to her public role as a Regent weeks before. He walked into the outer office rather unceremoniously, causing her staff to hop in for surprised formality rather suddenly.

“Is the Princess Regent in?” He asked, polite as always, but stronger and deeper than before.

“Yes.” The man behind the desk responded, his voice high and strained. He paused, then added slowly. “Do… do you want me to retrieve her? Do you want to go and see her?”

“No, there’s no need to bring her out. I’ll just go on in as soon as she’s ready.” Paolo said in a polite tone, though not quite as gentle as it would have been months ago, nor as squeaky. Since becoming Crown Prince, he’d been esteemed over his sisters at Court. He never thought twice about it or gave it much thought.

“Alright.” The man sat down stiffly again as if he weren’t quite sure it was proper. “One moment, Highness.”

He turned his attention to his console, and after a few minutes one of Giana’s other assistants walked out with an older woman. The two exchanged a few words and then the woman continued on, though paused to curtsy to Paolo on her way by. The assistant curtsied as well and offered a slightly nervous smile to Paolo.

“This way, Highness.”

She walked with Paolo down the hallways, the offices and conference rooms busy with various people from all of Giana’s pursuits. It seemed perhaps the notion that his sister wasn’t doing much was false. The assistant opened the door where Giana was inside standing by the window sipping tea from a cup while holding a PADD in the other hand. She was wearing a fashionable deep burgundy pencil skirt with a matching blazer over a ruffled cream colored blouse. Her hair had once again been returned to its pristine solid blonde and was pulled back into an elegant bun. She still looked a bit too thin, but other than that she looked like herself.

As Paolo stepped in, Giana lowered the PADD and eyed her little brother. She hadn’t seen him since his birthday right after the funeral, and he had steadily kept growing into a man it seemed.

“Paolo.” She greeted in a neutral voice.

“Giana.” He returned, his voice deeper than the last time they spoke. He strode toward her, unlike most everyone else who visited her and waited for some permission. He came to a rest on the other side of her desk. “I came to Court and wanted to drop by to say hello.”

“Yes, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to greet you. I’ve already received an earful from mother, but I was busy.” She walked back over to her desk to set down the tea and the PADD.

“I didn’t expect you to be.” He said simply, looking her up and down in an appraising manner, his increased confidence obvious, though not overbearing. “I can join you in your work if that’s where your mind is. What are you working on?”

Giana eyed him slightly, skeptical. “I thought you just came to drop by and say hello.”

Paolo grinned then, a grin more mature and handsome than before. His perfect white teeth showed.

“I did, but you’re the most interesting person in the family and I’d really like to probe you for subtle clues.” He said, again, very honestly. Paolo was still a young man without guile, for better or for worse “Call it concern or entertainment. It’s both, really.”

“Here I thought you were complimenting me for a moment. Silly of me.” Giana sighed and reached up to rub her forehead. “I’m very busy, Paolo, and I’m in no mood to be your amusement for the day. That’s what you have Amalie and mother for.”

“Oh.” Paolo said, his tone flatter than before. He didn’t deflate like a little boy or whine, but he did seem a bit annoyed. He took note of the fact she wasn’t wearing mourning clothes anymore, which made him look at her fingers. “Fine. I suppose I’ll leave you to it then.”

There was something in his tone that was final and obviously not approving. She was going through a hard time, however, so he’d promised himself he wouldn’t push her. He turned smartly in his heel and made for the exit.

Giana sighed again, this time lowering her hand. “Wait, Paolo.”

Paolo very nearly left anyway; she’d made herself quite clear already and he didn’t feel he needed his feelings coddled. He paused by the door and turned to face her, his dark suit a pleasant compliment to his dark hair.

“Yes?”

She hesitated for a brief second, and then gestured to the chair on the other side of her desk. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day already. Come and sit down.”

“I don’t mean to disturb you, Giana. I thought a visit would be welcome. If it isn’t, I can simply go about my business.” He said, not advancing toward her in any way, but standing strong at the door.

“If you’d like to, go ahead, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you; we should catch up.” Giana offered again - the second time going to be the last. “You are welcome, Paolo, I’m just… tired.”

Paolo nodded, not considering for another second before coming back and finding the seat she’d offered.

“I’ve been seeing your signatures in my box again, so I knew you were back to work.” He commented, looking up at his big sister.

Giana took a seat and considered what to say. If he was only here now, it seemed perhaps Paolo hadn’t been keeping up on his boxes with as much devotion as he once had; it didn’t bother her and she wasn’t going to point it out. “Yes. The paperwork is endless, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“It is a constant battle, yes.” Paolo said with a grin. “But you’ve proven yourself more than capable of handling the workload. Of course, I’m not sure how heavily you use your staff.”

“More than I used to, but I’ve found that’s for the best right now.” She admitted. “Do you want something to drink?”

“That sounds lovely. Perhaps some tea.” Paolo said politely, not pretending he wasn’t interested in something to settle them down together. “If you’d do it yourself, you’d have to give up all of your life. No time for family, friends, or the other important things.”

“Well, I didn’t have much time for that anyways and somehow I still don’t.” Giana shrugged and then gestured for one of the servants standing by to fetch the tea. “How have you been faring in your seclusion?”

“Painfull, difficult and violent.” Paolo said with a chuckle. “So, exactly what I asked for really. I can feel it changing me slowly. Into what, I don’t know..”

“Hopefully not into anything too vulgar. There is such a thing as too much muscle, you know.” Giana eyed him with her beautiful blue gaze in an appraising way.

“I hardly think I’m there.” Paolo said with a smirk. “But it feels good to be able to defend myself. I’ve felt what it was like to be overpowered and to be helpless. I’m not interested in repeating the experience.”

“No… I could imagine not.” Giana replied, her mind drifting to Giuseppe and their childhood briefly. She’d asked their father to learn to fight once; he’d laughed at her. “I think you’re doing the right thing by you, Paolo. I know mother is worried, but she doesn’t understand.”

“Why would she?” Paolo asked rhetorically, leaning back in his chair. “She’s never had an experience like that.”

“No, she hasn’t. I would hope she never does.” Giana shrugged and watched the fresh tea be placed down in front of each of them. “So what have you read in your boxes lately?”

“I’ll admit I’d grown a bit lax over the past weeks, but recently I’ve taken a fresh interest. I start with the Intelligence, military, and security reports and then work my way through to domestic policy. There certainly has been a lot of mysterious illusions in intelligence, defense, and foreign affairs. I asked for clarifications from the departments and they told me to talk to the regents.”

“Of course they did.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head, though obviously she wasn’t frustrated with him. “Well, then, I’m sure you still have those questions?”

Paolo gave a nod. It wasn't why he was here, but getting it out of Giana was sure to be a heck of a lot easier than getting it from his mother. And Ramsay would likely be helpful, but he also doubled as Paolo’s government tutor, so he wasn’t sure if he would get the information straight or as a learning opportunity.

“Well you don’t have to raise your hand and wait to be called on.” Giana prompted him with the smallest hint of impatience. “What do you want to know?”

“The intelligence suggests the Klingons knew exactly where our training op with the Romulans was to take place and when. An investigation was authorized by the regents under the authority of the Imperial Chancellor. After that, my updates haven’t been forthcoming. I suspect someone in Imperial Intelligence has been keeping the reports out of my box.”

“To be fair, that isn’t really going into anyone’s box but mine.” Giana waved a hand slightly. “I’ve been working with the Chancellor and Director Nazar on that particular… project.”

Licking her lips, she took a sip of tea and willed it to become wine with little avail.

“And the other regents have agreed to let you manage the situation alone?” Paolo asked, fearing he already knew the answer. His tone was neutral and curious.

“I have a certain amount of leverage in this situation, Paolo, and I found that I wasn’t above using it for my purposes.” Giana replied, giving him his answer though not completely directly.

“What leverage?” He asked boldly, leaning in a bit more. He was shameless when he was seeking information. “What do you have?”

“Mother and Ramsay removed me from military matters after Axanar as you know, in doing so the Romulans became their problem, and all of the reports that indicated that something might have been wrong were either pushed to the side or simply fell there. Their negligence in this matter resulted in the deaths of nearly five thousand of our people - Sacha included.” Giana looked away, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly but she didn’t appear to be ready to burst into tears.

That was quite a lot to unpack for all of them. Sacha had saved his life, giving him a new respect for the man. He had even participated in his training a few times before he shipped out to the Romulan border. He thought of Giana’s pain for a moment, but decided to spare her the conversation.

“Has the investigation confirmed there was some sort of collusion between the Romulans and the Alliance?” Paolo asked.

“Yes, but right now Nolan and CJ are trying to figure out exactly the best way to deal with that.” Giana lifted a finger and opened her desk, shifting through a few folders before she pulled one out and gave it to Paolo.

“I know you haven’t been getting these, but I figured you would show up eventually.”

Paolo looked down at the papers, skimming the first page and then leading through the subsequent ones. It wasn’t lost on him she had thought of him.

“Thanks.” Paolo said, looking up at her.

“I’m not going to antagonize intelligence to provide these to you, but when you want to read them just come by my office and I will have them given to you.” She placed her left hand absently on her desk, and there he could very clearly see Sacha’s ring was gone.

“Does someone in Intel have a problem with? Why don’t they want me to have access to this?” He asked, his eyes lingering on her hand. “I always received reports when Father was in charge.“

“I don’t believe so, Paolo, this is just something that is being kept very close to the chest. Mother and Ramsay don’t receive these papers either, they are given their information through briefings. You have no real position right now according to… morons… but I don’t particularly care to play by the rules anymore.” Giana gave a shrug.

“Great.” He said, moving quickly. “I’d love to receive the reports as you do. Or at least a briefing.”

“Well, as I said, you can come by here and I’ll give you the reports. I can see about getting you into the briefings given to the regents, but mother and Ramsay will likely be hesitant to allow it. I can’t tell what is driving them - shame or fear.” She finished her tea and lowered the cup down.

“Them not allowing it is..increasingly unacceptable to me, if I’m to be honest.” He said. His tone was mild, but he clearly meant it. “It’s difficult for me not to be a problem. It’s for the best they allow it, I think.”

“I agree and I’ve said as much, but I’m one and they are two. I am certain it isn’t malicious and they simply think they are protecting you, but I don’t know if I believe that’s possible for any of us anymore.” Giana shook her head. “I find myself wishing Elana hadn’t stepped down, truth be told.”

“I could inherit at any moment, and they’re trying to protect me from the truth?” Paolo asked, his voice strained. “When will people learn to stop being so stupid?”

“Love does that, it seems, and blinds people.” Giana shook her head. “Though I’d like to hope you don’t wish for the demise of your mother, older sister, and trusted teacher so soon, little brother.”

“I don’t. All I ask is to know what’s going on. It’s reasonable, and I’ve kept myself out of the affairs of the state for weeks. It just seems they're rewarding my measured approach with less influence and information.” He said, furrowing his brow in frustration. His fists balled, indicating it did indeed make him angry.

Giana noticed his fists balling and the way his body language was changing and frowned. “I’m not arguing that, Paolo. They tried to do that to me too.”

Paolo leaned back then, his jaw set and his expression resolute. He looked at her evenly.

“Well I'm not going to let them do it to me. I’m returning to court and I’ll continue my training here.” He said, his mind clearly made up.

“I think that’s a good idea.” She said simply and reached up to brush a few strands of hair back behind her ear. “Did you have any other questions?”

Paolo said nothing for a few seconds as his mood slowly returned to normal. Once he was close again and his tunnel vision on the issue at hand had mostly gone away, he looked at her soberly.

“I noticed you don’t have your ring. How are you holding up?”

Giana automatically pulled her hand back and placed it in her lap under the desk. Her expression waned, and for just a moment Paolo could see under that carefully put together outward appearance, his older sister was still tired and sad. “It’s been months now, it was time to take it off. I put it away with some… other things. I don’t know that I’ll ever look at them again, but the thought of throwing them away… I couldn’t.”

She finally frowned then, and focused on taking slow breaths to try and keep tears at bay.

“Of course not. Those things are special. Just because they don’t fit into your life in the same way anymore doesn’t mean you should get rid of them.” Paolo said, his face scrunched into a sad frown. He imagined it was a sad thing to have one’s beloved frozen in time, and to be doomed to grow older and to change without them. Giana would grow, mature, marry, and have children with some other man; Sacha would stay the same. It was no small thing, but an unspeakably huge one.

“Unfortunately, this kind of tragedy almost seems to run in the family.” Paolo said vaguely.

“It does.” Giana confirmed and then finally looked over at Paolo. “Perhaps something you should keep in mind during your courtship of Amalie.”

Not only did Paolo scowl at that warning, but a short sound of protest escaped from his lips to go along with it. It had clearly made him angry, and the fact he didn’t respond right away made that quite obvious. He wanted to chastise her for saying such a thing. Then he decided it wasn’t necessary the worst advice.

“Right..” he said with a huff, leaning back even farther in his chair. He sat there for several silent moments, his kind racing between what she’d said and thoughts related. Eventually, his warm brown eyes moved back up to her. “Did father ever tell you of your namesake? In detail, I mean.”

“Only after I asked him.” Giana frowned and shook her head. “Ever since I’ve never really known how to feel about it.”

“There were times when I’d go into his study with questions about my studies…he always loved to answer those. But while he was often hard at work, other times I found him standing at the window and watching the little people go about their lives or staring darkly into the fire.” Paolo said, remembering with a frown. “He wouldn’t want to talk then, and I could swear he’d been crying, though I was too afraid to ask.”

Paolo leaned up again, sitting in a more respectable way.

“Once, when I was sitting with him in silence, he told me something I don’t think I can forget. He said the most important things of life sometimes never seem to be so until they are taken away. Then he said…that his best years were so far behind him he could barely remember them anymore. He was looking at a picture, and I was wondering if it was her.”

“Perhaps it was.” Giana gave a slight shrug. “It is rather sad for our mother though. She wasn’t wanted, she was the replacement, and she is reminded of that every time she says my name.” She mused then, folding her hands across her middle. “I wonder if he even loves her, if he ever did.”

“They didn’t marry until 16 years after Pia’s death. I’ve heard rumors Grandfather forced him to take another bride for the sake of the family.” Paolo said shaking his head. “But I’ve never seen them angry with each other and he does seem to love her…just..maybe not as much.”

“I’m sure he cares for her, but that’s certainly different than love. I think mother loves him deeply, but it is quite one sided.” Giana sighed, shaking her head. “How terrible.”

“Is it quite different?” Paolo asked, looking at her skeptically. “He married her, treats her well, listens to her, and gave her children. Before the attack, they spent quite a lot of time together and I think they’re close. I’m not sure what more he could do.”

His tone was defensive rather than neutral. He was closer to their father than their mother, for sure, but he was also a growing young man with a different way of thinking; one more traditional than that of his sister.

“Perhaps it isn’t, for a man, I certainly wouldn’t know. It is for a woman.” Giana shrugged. “He could have not named his daughter after his dead first wife as a constant reminder that she was not the one he truly loved, he could not get weepy eyed over a picture of the woman so many years later.”

She leaned forward on the desk then toward Paolo. “Would I seem like I loved my husband if I insisted on naming my son with him after Sacha?”

Paolo’s frown deepened. The way she was thinking was unintelligible to him. How could she think this way?

“It’s not his fault he loves and misses his wife, Giana. And maybe Mother is okay with it. Maybe it was her idea.” Paolo said with another shake of his head, like he had a bad taste in his mouth. “If you love someone, you can’t just stop because they’re gone.”

“It wasn’t her idea. Just watch her face one time at any event where my full name is announced. She is certainly not okay with it, but what choice did she have, really?” Giana shrugged slightly. “The problem is though, Paolo, if you don’t try to stop, or at least do it less, there’s no room for anyone else.”

She looked away and out of the window again. “There’s room for other kinds of love of course - children, family, but spouse? No. I’m sure my own husband will have to deal with that. Do you think that’s fair?”

“Of course it is. Your next husband will know what happened to you and will accept that about you when he decides to marry you.” Paolo said, realizing the connection that fueled their discussion. He imagined the guilt she might be feeling on the subject. “And that thing that happened to you..that terrible thing..it’s not your fault, and you shouldn’t be blamed by anyone. Even if it’s inconvenient for them.”

“It was my fault, in a way, and truthfully I don’t think I would do it again knowing what I do now… and that is love.” Giana shook her head. “At least we seem to agree as a family now that love doesn’t matter, though. I’m afraid Amalie will be disappointed at her age; she’ll get over it though with babies and a crown.”

“How dare you?” Paolo asked, his tone unusually hot. He was on his feet in a second, amazed at his sister’s words. “I love Amalie. Don’t mistake your hang ups for mine, Giana. That’s not fair.”

Giana blinked, actually seeming confused at her brothers reaction. “We literally just sat here and agreed that it doesn’t matter, Paolo, I don’t understand why you’re getting upset?”

“Those were your words, not mine. I don’t think love is all about feelings, and having more feelings for someone than anyone else, and if I did, that’s certainly what I have for Amalie.” Paolo said, still upset. “So to suggest she’ll be unhappy with me is so inappropriate. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you thinking of us like that.”

“I didn’t say she would be unhappy with you, Paolo, I just said she would be disappointed you wouldn’t love her in the way little girls like her dream of being loved.” Giana replied simply, still confused by his reaction to it all. “You don’t need to make it a worry, I’m sure her tutors are taking care of it.”

She said this of course like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Yes they are, like they took care of you. I hate it.” Paolo said, exhaling through his nostrils. “I wish I could fire the lot of them and hire someone with a brain to teach her, instead of filling her with these asinine teachings about how she should never voice her concerns or ask when she needs help. I hate it!”

Paolo turned then and kicked the chair he’d once been sitting in with his polished black dress shoe. It collapsed to the floor, making a loud clanging sound.

The door opened immediately and one of the attendants entered with clear concern only to be waved away by Giana. There was hesitation but the woman did withdraw. Giana then looked to her little brother, her brows raised. “I don’t understand why you’re so surprised that is what women are taught, Paolo. That’s how every good noblewoman is raised. Myself, Elana, mother, Amalie… every girl you’ve ever known with a title.”

“It shows.” He said, his tone low, turning back around to her. “It shows.”

“Then why are you upset about tradition? You who are so in love with them, why is this a problem?” She asked, seemingly genuinely curious as to his answer.

“Because, Giana, the tradition is clearly stupid.” Paolo said. “I’m all for traditional structures, but they’re lying to girls about what their husbands and fathers want and need. And I’m going to change it. I’m going to start by talking to Mother about Amalie’s tutors.”

“You might want to wait until you’re a bit older, Paolo, and you might decide you like that tradition. You want a girl who thinks like a peasant, but we aren’t peasants. It won’t work.” Giana shook her head, doing her best to be patient with her brother’s ridiculous notions.

“I never said they should. We just don’t need them to be brainless liars who keep every thought they have bottled up until they become resentful, spiteful, and jaded. We can do better than that.” Paolo said resolutely. “The purpose of that training was to make a good Terran, wife, and mother, not a zombie. It’s disgusting, and I’ll not be waiting. I’m tired of waiting.”

Giana rolled her eyes. “Of course you would think they are brainless; that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The fact is, Paolo, is that that is a good Terran woman, wife, and mother. Never a burden, never a bother, she follows the head of the house without question because that is what tradition demands, is it not? If she is resentful or unhappy, that is her problem to fix and deal with or her husband will simply move on to the next woman - one who is far less troublesome. Men have enough burdens, they don’t need women's trifles on top of it, there is nothing in our lives worth a man’s attention unless it pertains to his children or his home. He provides, and because of that his preferences should always be catered to and women should just be grateful for what he does give because what else would we have? We can go be a burden to our father or closest male relative and be ridiculed by society.”

Paolo leaned in, his eyes narrowing at her.

“Says the Princess Regent. You can’t possibly believe that, Giana. It’s impossible.”

“Don’t bother arguing with a man is another thing.” Giana said dryly as she looked at him. “I could tell you every bit of my experience Paolo, and you will sit there and stare at me and tell me I’m brainless, foolish, didn’t understand, took it out of context, or any one of a thousand things to try and invalidate it, so why would I or any other woman bother? And you know what, maybe your right about it all - so again, why would anyone bother? This is the way noble society is set up, women are beholden to the mercy of the men in their lives, I’m beholden to father, and when he passes, I’ll be beholden to you if I remain unmarried. Why would we say anything that would risk our peace and protection?”

“Then we agree.” Paolo said, raising an eyebrow. “You can’t even listen anymore after they got in your head. I’m saying they teach women to be brainless, not that they are. Also, not everyone is like that. You're a princess and you probably got it worse than just about everyone else, but that doesn’t make it right. “

He licked his lips.

“Our society has a head, and he can change the tradition and the teaching if he wills it.” He said, standing up taller. “And one day, he will.”

“Father will never change it, Paolo, and frankly we don’t know how long he is going to be here.” Giana shook her head. “And you’re several years off from being head of anything, legally, no offense intended.”

“Offense taken.” He said, his previous anxiety about bothering people seemed to have evaporated. “I’d like your help to right the system that, frankly, ruined your life. But if I can’t have your help, I’ll find a way to do it without you.”

When he took offense, Giana just simply looked away. There was no winning here. He wanted tradition, then he didn’t want tradition, the wanted to follow the law, then took offense to the law. He was growing into a fine Terran man indeed. She hadn’t checked out completely, however, and half listened to the rest of what he had said.

“Are you asking for my help, or are you already assuming I won’t help you? I can’t tell.”

“I think you’ve made yourself perfectly clear you think I’m naive and incapable of making change.” Paolo said, the veins in his forehead popping a bit. “Why would I waste my breath and your time asking you for that?”

“I think you’re naive because you’re fifteen, and all fifteen year olds are naive to many things in life and think they aren’t. I think you are incapable of making change because the law says you can’t - and it’s right, you can’t. Not alone.” She looked at him then, raising her brows slightly.

“Which Regent is the one who has made sure you have been included as much as you have been again?” She asked and reached out to tap the stack of papers in front of him. “Made sure to think of you? To not think you’re weak and helpless and in need of coddling because your older brother tried to kill you?”

“What is your point here, exactly?” He asked, frustrated by her insistence on being as difficult and contrary as possible with him. “Do you not feel I’m grateful enough for your taste, as you berate me for wanting to fix something you’ve been complaining about for years?”

“I feel like you’re being blind that I am on your side and I have been since we started down this path, Paolo.” Giana said and stood, she looked over his face with all of his veins popping out in anger, considered his kicking of the chair. He reminded her of Giuseppe, but at this point she was out of brothers. “Whatever dim view you take of me as a person, fine, but you can’t deny that fact.”

“Damnit, Giana. I Don’t take a dim view of you. I was talking about a problem I see in the Empire and talking about how I think it should change, and all you’ve given me is criticism and correction. I don’t think you even notice we’re saying the same thing.” He said, running his hands through his hair. “I’m telling you that I’m going to try to have it changed. If you’ll help me, that would be wonderful, but if not, I’m still going to try. You don’t have to and I don’t expect you to. Though if you don’t, I’ll admit to being a bit confused about what the hell you want to see in the world.”

Giana wondered why it was that her explaining to him about how the world worked for women was somehow criticism and correction, but from anyone else he likely would have viewed it as education. “I’ll help you, but it isn’t going to be easy, Paolo. Ramsay and mother are going to resist it.” She paused then, and lifted her brows. “And you’re going to need to figure out exactly what you want to change here.”

“I already have.” He said, calming a bit. “I for the answer out of Ramsay during my last government lesson. Ever since Amalie visited me in China, I’ve been pouring over old decrees on the education of noble children. We’ll need an entirely new law. We won’t get it from the Regents directly, but the Senate could make it happen. All Mother and Ramsay would have to do is vote yes or abstain to assent in the Council of Regents.”

“And if they don’t?” Giana asked, tilting her head.

“We’ll cross that Bridge when we come to it.” He said, almost dismissive. “We’ll get them to.”

“You should plan for that bridge needing to be crossed.” Giana said simply, but there was a resigned tone to it as if she already knew her advice would be dismissed.

“So what exactly are you going to change then? You brought up the decrees, but what about them?”

“The bIggest problem, as I see it, are the teachings on communication. We shouldn’t be telling our girls not to bother the men in their lives with their experiences. It’s ludicrous.” Paolo answered.

As she sat there, Giana wondered how her little brother was going to deal with this plan spectacularly burning to the ground. He thought himself a man, but he wasn’t man enough to understand that men didn’t want to deal with women’s problems and simply thought women were being crazy or hysterical.

“Go on.” She prompted him nonetheless. “Or is that all?”

“That’s all, as far as I’m concerned.” He said, seeming to feel like that change enough.

Giana started to say something and then stopped, looking at him. “Would you like to know what I think?”

“Sure.” Paolo said, not seeming concerned whether she was in agreement or not at this point, but perfectly open to hearing her.

“Men aren’t going to back this.” She lifted her hand when she saw even an inkling of potential protest coming from him. “Terran men aren’t taught to be thoughtful, Paolo. You are, and that’s wonderful, and I am happy for your future bride because of that, but that isn’t the reality.”

“Okay.” He said, looking at Giana as if he didn’t really believe it. “Well, maybe. But what does it hurt to try?”

“You’ll make yourself look weak.” She replied simply.

“Oh well.” He answered, seeming unbothered by the pronouncement. “They’ll say you talked me into it. You and mother. Not that that’s what I want, but that’s what I expect. I Can always fix something like that later. But the important things need to be held as important.”

“Do you think I’m a good person, Paolo? Be honest; I’m not going to take offense.” Giana asked, folding her hands.

“I’m not sure what that means.” Paolo said quite honestly, seeming as unbothered by the question as the ones before it. “Good how?”

“Selfless, I suppose.” She supplied, wondering if her brother actually saw her as “good” in any light.

Paolo seemed to think about the question then for several seconds, giving it the time and consideration it deserved, before he looked at her.

“Yes. I think your motivations are generally related to the people you care about and your place in our lives.” He answered. “Why do you ask?”

Giana blinked and actually seemed taken aback. Clearly, that was not even remotely the answer she had been expecting to receive on that topic. She had always been accused of being selfish, even by the ones she loved the most. “I think our parents would disagree with you there.”

“Well…they aren’t perfect.” Paolo said with an unsurprised nod. “I used to think you were. But recently, I think you care about others more than you get credit for. Sometimes you don’t act selflessly, but that’s not so unusual. You always come back around.”

“Well that’s… kind of you, Paolo.” Giana replied, and even though her voice was slightly strained she did seem to mean it.

She thought for a moment, then looked across the desk. “You’re not going to be able to fix the girls unless you fix the boys too, Paolo. Even if this could pass by some oddity, it wouldn’t work in practice. Women would try to speak, their husbands are just going to become exasperated and likely act out because of it, and then the women will go back to being silent.”

“But their daughters will stop learning those dreadful lessons if the tutors are commanded to stop teaching them.” Paolo said. “And if they continue to teach them, we can cut out their tongues. Simple enough.”

He grinned, clearly joking.

At that morbid bit of humor, Giana actually laughed, though of course covered her mouth in a ladylike way. “Paolo, that’s terrible.”

But she didn’t say it wouldn’t be necessary.

“It’s the old way. Some say it worked.” He said with a shrug. “Still, not the Orsini way. Not the Terran way any longer. So they keep their tongues for now. Ruling it out for certain, however, might be a bit premature.”

Giana pursed her lips, considering for a moment if she should tell her brother the reality of what had happened, but he didn’t need to know everything at once. “A reminder of the possibilities should they not fall in line would not be remiss.”

She glanced at the clock and then looked at Paolo. “I have another meeting coming up soon, little brother.”

“I’ve got to get back to the Palace.” Paolo responded. “Know your time is valuable, and I appreciate you taking the time to see me, Sister.”

Giana nodded and then hesitated for a moment, looking across to him and his rapidly maturing face. “Be careful, Paolo, with what you’re learning. It is a good thing you’re doing, but don’t lose who you are. Giuseppe liked to kick things too when he was angry.”

Paolo thought about that for a moment, finding it an amazing comparison. Giuseppe had been an abuser from the start. Still, he found the message still had its value.

“I’ll remember that.” He said with a nod.

“Take care. I’m sure I’ll see you again very soon.” Giana nodded her farewell, but didn’t rush him out the door.

Paolo took the hint very gently and departed with a smile. He moved quickly and confidently, feeling no need for any grandeur or attention as he made his way back out into the outer office. He passed Lord Price on his way to the exit and offered the man a nod to his greeting. There was an interesting meeting, but he supposed they world closely together on the Council of Lords. He decided to mind his business for now, and made his way out.

END