Alexander
GA Member
- Oct 11, 2023
- 215
While in Rome, and in fact large parts of France, the weather was beautiful, this was not the case in Paris and Versailles that had seen an unusually bad rain for the season the past few days. "Please remind me again why I shouldn't move the Capital to Marseille" Thérèse asked as she zipped up her dress, a blue and red silk strapless pencil dress, to finish getting ready for the day. While many monarchs, and even many nobles under her inside France, liked to have servants dress them, she was not one of those people. Instead, she always insisted on dressing herself and had done so since she was a child.
"Because Paris has been the capital of the French and the home of the French Emperors since the fall of Rome, Your Imperial Majesty" Jeanne said jokingly, as she looked the other way to grant her friend and her charge privacy while she changed.
"Marseille has a lot less rain though" Thérèse replied as she moved to the table and sat down so her servants could do her make-up, one activity she actually didn't mind outsourcing as she never had been good at it.
She noticed that Jeanne didn't reply to her joking retort. "Jeanne?"
When there was still no response, she turned towards the Head of her security and saw the blue-haired woman in a seemingly distressing but hushed conversation. "Jeanne? What is going on?"
At that point Jeanne did turn to her but the worry on her face was obvious. "My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty. I received word from the Ministry of the Armed Forces. The Director of the DGSE is on his way with the Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. There have been explosions inside the Vatican and fighting in Rome. They wish to brief you on the matter"
With the most important parts of her make-up done, Thérèse did not hesitate to dismiss her servants and get up before walking to the door at a fast pace. "We will meet them in my Office"
---
About fifteen minutes the later the three women would step into the Empress' Office. Sophie Dubois, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Duchess Léa Moreau, the Minister of Defense, and finally Aurore Bonaparte, Princess of the Blood and Director of the Directorate-General for External Security.
"Your Imperial Majesty, thank you for meeting with us so swiftly" Léa began before being interrupted by Thérèse. "Yes, yes, let's skip the pleasantries given the circumstances. What is happening in Rome?"
The three women would nod as they sat down at which point Aurore would begin talking. "Very early today gunshots and explosions were reported from inside the Vatican, just as we were on the way to the Palace a massive explosion was reported that seems to have affected both the Vatican City and Rome. We have also since then managed to confirm fights between factions within the Holy See that have spilled into Italian Rome. It appears the Swiss Guard are engaged with the American Guard. There has been no word from His Holiness and we fear he has been either wounded or worse. There were Bells indicating that he died, however the Italians have stated in a press conference they are not convinced if these are authentic so it is too soon for us to consider the death confirmed. While we cannot establish who began fighting and who is responsible for what, it seems clear beyond a doubt that one of these two factions has launched an attack against the other and His Holiness while the other is fighting to protect him"
As Thérèse let the briefing sink in she realized despite the recent excellent ties between France and the Holy See, without a formal relationship with Italy there was very little they could actually do to help the Pope if he somehow survived the attempt on his life. "It seems clear we need more information. Aurore whatever you need, whether it is money, manpower or other resources you'll have them. Sophie, reach out to the Holy See and Italy, offer them our support in any way they may require to restore peace"
"Because Paris has been the capital of the French and the home of the French Emperors since the fall of Rome, Your Imperial Majesty" Jeanne said jokingly, as she looked the other way to grant her friend and her charge privacy while she changed.
"Marseille has a lot less rain though" Thérèse replied as she moved to the table and sat down so her servants could do her make-up, one activity she actually didn't mind outsourcing as she never had been good at it.
She noticed that Jeanne didn't reply to her joking retort. "Jeanne?"
When there was still no response, she turned towards the Head of her security and saw the blue-haired woman in a seemingly distressing but hushed conversation. "Jeanne? What is going on?"
At that point Jeanne did turn to her but the worry on her face was obvious. "My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty. I received word from the Ministry of the Armed Forces. The Director of the DGSE is on his way with the Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. There have been explosions inside the Vatican and fighting in Rome. They wish to brief you on the matter"
With the most important parts of her make-up done, Thérèse did not hesitate to dismiss her servants and get up before walking to the door at a fast pace. "We will meet them in my Office"
---
About fifteen minutes the later the three women would step into the Empress' Office. Sophie Dubois, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Duchess Léa Moreau, the Minister of Defense, and finally Aurore Bonaparte, Princess of the Blood and Director of the Directorate-General for External Security.
"Your Imperial Majesty, thank you for meeting with us so swiftly" Léa began before being interrupted by Thérèse. "Yes, yes, let's skip the pleasantries given the circumstances. What is happening in Rome?"
The three women would nod as they sat down at which point Aurore would begin talking. "Very early today gunshots and explosions were reported from inside the Vatican, just as we were on the way to the Palace a massive explosion was reported that seems to have affected both the Vatican City and Rome. We have also since then managed to confirm fights between factions within the Holy See that have spilled into Italian Rome. It appears the Swiss Guard are engaged with the American Guard. There has been no word from His Holiness and we fear he has been either wounded or worse. There were Bells indicating that he died, however the Italians have stated in a press conference they are not convinced if these are authentic so it is too soon for us to consider the death confirmed. While we cannot establish who began fighting and who is responsible for what, it seems clear beyond a doubt that one of these two factions has launched an attack against the other and His Holiness while the other is fighting to protect him"
As Thérèse let the briefing sink in she realized despite the recent excellent ties between France and the Holy See, without a formal relationship with Italy there was very little they could actually do to help the Pope if he somehow survived the attempt on his life. "It seems clear we need more information. Aurore whatever you need, whether it is money, manpower or other resources you'll have them. Sophie, reach out to the Holy See and Italy, offer them our support in any way they may require to restore peace"
