[ Oh, this guy's surprisingly pleasant compared to some of the rowdier folks. It's nice to find good company at this time of night, though he waves off the compliment. ]
My name is Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. [ It's a mouthful, but he rattles it off in a perfunctory way. ] And yourself?
Ahh, that would explain it. [Very casually, in an almost comedic contrast with how easily he slips into a formal bow of his head.] It's a pleasure, Your Highness.
Guy Cecil. I work under the reign of His Majesty Emperor Peony the Ninth, ruler of the Malkuth Empire.
[ He gets a medley of reactions to his name and title, but it's actually pretty rare that someone recognizes the noblesse oblige at all. He shakes his head quickly, used to this. ]
Ah, please—just Dimitri is fine. I am no prince to you. It's nice to be acquainted, Guy.
[ They aren't even from the same world, probably. Also, titles are lame. He does turn on his polite business mode, though. ]
I don't believe I'm familiar with the Malkuth Empire. Are you a retainer to your emperor? A knight, perhaps?
Mm... In a way. My exact role in the workings of the palace is a little complicated, but I'm definitely not one of His Majesty's personal guard. Really, I'm just an over-glorified errand boy most days. His Majesty does his best, but even he needs a helping hand. I'm sure you know that better than most. [He would not wish that kind of position on anyone, let's be perfectly real here.]
I'm well acquainted with Her Highness the princess of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, so he likes to take me along sometimes for summits or treaty talks with her or her father, King Ingobert the Sixth. His Majesty always claims it's to keep tensions smooth, but I think he's just pulling my leg most of the time.
[ He can tell Guy is truly a member of someone's court from the way he speaks—how could anyone understand the ridiculous humor behind it all without being a part of it? Dimitri scoffs softly, amused. ]
Ah yes... even if we're from different worlds, that all sounds very familiar.
[ He's going to reach for a small water pitcher; he'd be up all night anyway, but that's especially true if they're going to get started on Royal Life. ]
You seem very well connected, to be trusted by so many high-born nobles.
[ Not just an Emperor, but a princess, a king... That's quite a menagerie or high ranking names. ]
Hahah - I guess so. It's just the cards that have been dealt to me, in a way. Long before I swore fealty to His Majesty, I was employed at the manor of one of the Dukes under King Ingobert. His son was the tertiary heir and poised to enter a political marriage with Her Highness when they came of age, so I was exposed to a lot of the upper monarchy by association.
[He just shrugs. Politics, man.]
Sometimes life just leads you elsewhere, and mine led me to the Empire. There hasn't been much bad blood for the decision. I think when the switch first happened, there was some talk of covert work on both sides. But it's been long enough now that I'd like to think we can try to move past it, you know?
I'm not about to fuel another pointless war over my choices in fealty.
People do tend to assume the worst with such things... But we have taken in plenty of refugees and the like without any incident. I'm glad to hear it resolved peacefully for you.
[ It'd probably have been a little more difficult to understand the tight weave of the political tapestry that Guy's rattling off, but he's used to this.
The detail that stands the most, though... ]
Pardon me for asking, but were you recently at war?
There's been repeated histories of skirmishes between Malkuth and Kimlasca for nearly a thousand years - normally it's over issues like access to natural resources, border disputes, or even religious differences. Sometimes they can resolve it without intervention, other times religious neutrals like the Order of Lorelei had to step in to help negotiations.
The Hod War happened when I was young, and the last large-scale war only ended about a year and a half ago, so tensions are still pretty high. But the situation was complicated, just like war is complicated.
I see... You have all been through a great deal of turmoil.
[ No matter how complicated war is, it's not really excusable. War is so much suffering that he can scarcely imagine it, nor does he want to. ]
I apologize. I feel I must ask if I am to learn how to avoid war in my own lands. Though it always seems to be for the same reasons: pride, or a parcel of land, or a mouthful of food. A clash at a border. A tyrant's will... [ ... ] In any case, I do not mean to dredge up any unpleasant memories for you, either.
[He'll give an easy wave of his hand.] Don't worry about it. It is what it is, pleasant or not. Most people in my time have been affected by it in some way, so it's not like it's something we don't discuss now and again, especially among the House of Lords. We all know how much war makes the people suffer, even those that choose to turn a blind eye to it.
It's a difficult question to address. Even the ruler with the most peaceful of ideas can't prevent all skirmishes, and the variety and will of the people will mean that they won't always agree, especially when it comes to differences in culture and personal need. I think what's more important is how you as a leader choose to address your people and your country, should those difficult times arise. Even those determined for a violent solution still need someone they believe will take the country in a firm direction.
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no subject
[He both wishes and DOES NOT WISH AT ALL that he was still twenty-one. But that's neither here nor there.]
You hold yourself really well for someone that hasn't come of age yet. I'm very surprised.
Mind if I ask your name?
no subject
[ Oh, this guy's surprisingly pleasant compared to some of the rowdier folks. It's nice to find good company at this time of night, though he waves off the compliment. ]
My name is Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. [ It's a mouthful, but he rattles it off in a perfunctory way. ] And yourself?
no subject
Guy Cecil. I work under the reign of His Majesty Emperor Peony the Ninth, ruler of the Malkuth Empire.
no subject
Ah, please—just Dimitri is fine. I am no prince to you. It's nice to be acquainted, Guy.
[ They aren't even from the same world, probably. Also, titles are lame. He does turn on his polite business mode, though. ]
I don't believe I'm familiar with the Malkuth Empire. Are you a retainer to your emperor? A knight, perhaps?
no subject
Mm... In a way. My exact role in the workings of the palace is a little complicated, but I'm definitely not one of His Majesty's personal guard. Really, I'm just an over-glorified errand boy most days. His Majesty does his best, but even he needs a helping hand. I'm sure you know that better than most. [He would not wish that kind of position on anyone, let's be perfectly real here.]
I'm well acquainted with Her Highness the princess of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, so he likes to take me along sometimes for summits or treaty talks with her or her father, King Ingobert the Sixth. His Majesty always claims it's to keep tensions smooth, but I think he's just pulling my leg most of the time.
no subject
Ah yes... even if we're from different worlds, that all sounds very familiar.
[ He's going to reach for a small water pitcher; he'd be up all night anyway, but that's especially true if they're going to get started on Royal Life. ]
You seem very well connected, to be trusted by so many high-born nobles.
[ Not just an Emperor, but a princess, a king... That's quite a menagerie or high ranking names. ]
no subject
[He just shrugs. Politics, man.]
Sometimes life just leads you elsewhere, and mine led me to the Empire. There hasn't been much bad blood for the decision. I think when the switch first happened, there was some talk of covert work on both sides. But it's been long enough now that I'd like to think we can try to move past it, you know?
I'm not about to fuel another pointless war over my choices in fealty.
no subject
[ It'd probably have been a little more difficult to understand the tight weave of the political tapestry that Guy's rattling off, but he's used to this.
The detail that stands the most, though... ]
Pardon me for asking, but were you recently at war?
no subject
Yeah. It's not the first time.
There's been repeated histories of skirmishes between Malkuth and Kimlasca for nearly a thousand years - normally it's over issues like access to natural resources, border disputes, or even religious differences. Sometimes they can resolve it without intervention, other times religious neutrals like the Order of Lorelei had to step in to help negotiations.
The Hod War happened when I was young, and the last large-scale war only ended about a year and a half ago, so tensions are still pretty high. But the situation was complicated, just like war is complicated.
no subject
[ No matter how complicated war is, it's not really excusable. War is so much suffering that he can scarcely imagine it, nor does he want to. ]
I apologize. I feel I must ask if I am to learn how to avoid war in my own lands. Though it always seems to be for the same reasons: pride, or a parcel of land, or a mouthful of food. A clash at a border. A tyrant's will... [ ... ] In any case, I do not mean to dredge up any unpleasant memories for you, either.
no subject
It's a difficult question to address. Even the ruler with the most peaceful of ideas can't prevent all skirmishes, and the variety and will of the people will mean that they won't always agree, especially when it comes to differences in culture and personal need. I think what's more important is how you as a leader choose to address your people and your country, should those difficult times arise. Even those determined for a violent solution still need someone they believe will take the country in a firm direction.