DIPLOMATIC EFFECTS / CH. 20:DATES
RESTORATION, THURSDAY 11TH APRIL, 2278
Sarah sat down after a tiring day of running a multi-national corporation while looking after a seven month old who'd discovered the joys of self-propulsion. Little Maggie was a joy who was intent on becoming a handful, but Sarah was also very glad she had discovered that the world had interesting things apart from her mother's thoughts to investigate.
Sarah turned on the news for the first time that day. Ten seconds later, during a piece about a visiting royal, she called “John! Come and listen!”
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ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, THURSDAY 11TH APRIL
“I don't think you're going to Monaco this weekend,” Olga told Svetlana.
“No, Krista and I are going to Switzerland by commercial jet, remember?”
“Monaco, Switzerland, whatever. It's still probably cancelled. Your parents' choice, of course.”
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RESTORATION, THURSDAY 11TH APRIL, 2278
“He's got a nerve, hasn't he?” Sarah asked her husband, “do you think he was drunk?”
“Well, he is a prince, and she's a princess.”
“So? There is something seriously wrong about publicly declaring that his up-coming state visit means he's going to be the first prince to go on a date with her.”
“Especially since it's not true,” John said.
“I don't know what he thinks he's playing at, but I'm pretty sure that it's going to be dangerous. And since he is just down the road, I'm going to find out.”
“Sarah! You can't just invade his privacy!”
“I firmly believe he's doing something dangerous, John. So for his safety, I'm going to check.”
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THE PALACE, ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, THURSDAY 11TH APRIL
“There is no way that I can agree to this, mother, father. He's a slimy little creep, I'm not interested in him at all, we're almost at war with them, and anyway, he's not even a Christian.”
“I know, daughter,” the Tsarina said, “unfortunately, your love-life remains a necessary secret, so you can't just tell him you're not single. He knows you're a Christian, I guess he doesn't care, and if you diplomatically call him a slimy little creep, then it might not be taken very well.”
“So I have to accept the attempted wooing of this... self-invited and unwelcome visitor?”
“This peace-offering from our large southern neighbour, yes.” the Tsar said.
“In what way is this offer a peace offering? His father hopes that by this... so-called dynastic date... they gain a lever over the imperial throne of Russia. One way or the other.”
“It's a high stakes gamble, certainly,” her father said.
“A high stakes gamble?”
“He's betting that either you insult him somehow, or you do actually fall in love, but just think what happens if he insults you. We have another justification for any action we take.”
“The Emperor has just insulted me. He assumes that just because I'm of age, his slimy creep of a son can publicly declare his intentions to woo me and I have to play along.”
“Stop calling the prince that, Svetlana,” the Tsarina chided, “you can't judge by reputation.”
“I've met him, mother. And I can't believe you're going along with this! He's a self-professed atheist.”
“You will give him the opportunity to talk matters of state with you, daughter,” the Tsar said, “since that's what he's asked for, and what we agreed to, no matter what he's telling the press.”
“But, given his publicly stated intentions it is, of course, only proper that you be accompanied by a chaperone as well as a body guard,” her mother said.
“Hmm. Do I get to choose my chaperone? If so, I'd like Pania.”
“Your newly discovered Mer cousin?” the Tsar asked.
“Yes. I think a thought-hearing Mer warrior woman makes quite a good chaperone, don't you, father? And she is my cousin. Oh, and since none of this affects Claire du Basse-Monaco, I assume she can still catch her flight?”
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NEWS REPORT, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, FRIDAY 12TH APRIL, 2278
Last night's surprise declaration by Prince Han, the heir to the throne of China that he was planning on going out for a date with the Russian heir, Tsarevna (Princess) Svetlana caught the world leaders by total surprise. Undoubtedly if China and Russia were united politically then there would be a major shift in world politics, however analysts have described such an event unlikely, even if the two young people do marry.
The tone of news reports from Russia suggest that nothing has been said on the matter by the royal house of Russia, but the recent tensions between the two countries, and the total cessation of trade means our Russian contacts say it is rather unlikely that his plan has met with the Tsar's approval. The universal wall of silence over the reason for these tensions seems entirely unbroken, except for some rumours from Mars concerning the resignation of the Chinese ambassador.
Our Mars correspondent points out that during the Tsarevna's massively successful recent visit to Mars, she made frequent mentions of her Christian faith, a fact that does not bode well for any romantic entanglement with atheist prince Han. Unkind commentators have suggested that the prince might be doing no more than making a cynical attempt to deflect the international media attention from the legal issue currently before the United Nations, of whether there is a statute of limitations on illegal extraterritorial assassinations.
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THE PALACE, ST PETERSBURG, 9AM, FRIDAY 12TH APRIL>
“Could you say that again, Imperial Highness?” the Mer ambassador asked.
“I would like to formally ask her Imperial Majesty to lend me my distant cousin, Pania Renata Tulag, as a chaperone for the visit of a slimy self-professed atheist who's publicly stated that he wouldn't mind wooing me and thus uniting the Empires of Russia and China. I think Pania has all the right qualities; she's good at being discreet, she's my relative and as a Mer she's got well-known opinions about dangerous sharks and how to deal with them. Her presence ought to ensure that he doesn't even dare to think about trying to woo me.”
“And if she does deal with this dangerous shark, you can blame us for the diplomatic crisis?”
“No, I wouldn't do that. Oh, I didn't say, did I? I intend to meet him with all due ceremony blah blah blah on my parents' oversized yacht.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because it's just the thing to demonstrate that we don't need or want a union with China.”
“I'm afraid I don't understand, Tsarevna.”
“It's a fusion powered naval vessel and a floating palace. China have nothing like it. I'll nominally be granting him a favour only rarely offered to heads of state, but if he's got any sense, he'll realise that I'm also re0minding him about traditional Russian power-diplomacy. In other words I'll be denting his pride. Plus of course if he should try anything then there'll be enough burly sailors to flatten his honour guard. And we'll be in the deeps that China have just formally recognised as your territory if Pania decides some Mer law needs to be applied. I wouldn't want her to feel at all constrained not to do her duty as a warrior.”
“If you want him dead that much, Tsarevna, then you have your own assassins.”
“Of course I don't want him dead. That would cause a war, not peace. But if he decides to insult my faith in God, I might not be very diplomatic in my reply, and that might not help peace, either. I want him thinking seriously about avoiding the whole subject.”
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ARRIVALS AREA, BONN AIRPORT, FRIDAY 12TH APRIL.
“Bonjour, Claire,” Rudolph greeted Svetlana with a kiss to the cheek and bunch of flowers, “I worried you might not come.”
“I told you I can be persuasive,”
“What did you do, give your father an ultimatum?”
“Of course not. Come on, we're blocking the way.”
“How was the flight?” Rudolph asked as they moved through the airport.
“A bit cramped for Krista,” Svetlana said.
“A booking error by the airline,” Krista explained, “the lady beside me
knew she didn't really fit in one seat, so she'd booked two, but some genius put her two seats on opposite sides of the central aisle.”
“And no one else would swap seats with her so she could use her two seats?”
“Not without kicking someone else off the plane.” Svetlana said, “The issue was flagged up when she'd checked in, but by the time we'd boarded, the computer had counted passports and decided there were two empty seats, and let a newly-wed couple on-board who'd been on standby. Apparently they'd missed their flight this morning.”
“Overslept?” Rudolph asked.
“No. They'd been advised to book using her old name because her I.D. wouldn't have been updated, but by the end of their honeymoon it had been, and the dunce at the security gate decided that she was trying to travel with false paperwork.”
“But you didn't have any problems?” Rudolph asked.
Krista laughed, “nothing a call to the dunce's superiors didn't solve.”
“What happened?” Rudolph asked.
“The dunce discovered that some people with diplomatic passports don't like being bullied.”
“He tried to bully you?”
“Oui, I think he actually wanted to be offered a bribe, or failing that to make a young woman cry. I was not interested in playing such games.”
“Am I going to learn what happened actually?” Rudolph asked, still in the middle of the terminal building.
“He claimed there was a problem with my I.D., because it did not give my full details, and that I would have to be detained until it was sorted out. I asked him if he had read the bit that said diplomatic passport. He said he couldn't trust a suspect document. I pointed out that no senior diplomat had their full address on their I.D., let alone a royal.”
“And then when he tried to march her highness to the interview room,” a young woman added, stopping to butt in, “And it got really interesting.”
The woman had just followed Svetlana and Krista out of the arrivals area, and was positively clinging to the man beside her.
“I just called for security, and demanded to speak to his superior.” Svetlana said, dismissively, “Bonjour, Adelle, Yves. Rudolph, the newly-wed couple I mentioned.”
“Your highness,” Yves bowed to Rudolph.
“Bonjour! Which news channel are you with? I can't remember.” Rudolph asked.
“Switzerland Today,” Adelle replied, then added to Svetlana, “And I am sorry for not making it clear that we're reporters earlier, your highness.”
“It would be much better if you made no mention of her highness's relatives when you write up your experiences,” Krista said, quietly, “Assassination and kidnapping risks, you know?”
Svetlana gave an apologetic smile, and added “Plus associated questions from the imperial secret service about why you think putting me at risk is a good idea.”
Yves tried to think through what that would do to the article they'd drafted. It would need a lot of rewriting; they'd been planning to suggest a headline for the story with something like 'Incompetent I.D. check reveals powerful connections of Prince Rudolph's girlfriend.' He and Adelle had been kept near the security area, waiting for notification that they could board the plane. They'd heard the whole dispute.
“Perhaps we should talk about what can be safely published about you, Claire?” Rudolph suggested. “Somewhere more secure?”
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NEWS ARTICLE, SWITZERLAND TODAY, SATURDAY 13TH APRIL
Don't try to bully Royalty in Russia
After what we thought a rather unpleasant end to our honeymoon, involving changes of name on I.D.s, petty bureaucrats, detention areas and missed flights, we found ourselves glad it had all happened. The same petty bureaucrat who seemed determined to ruin our flight from St. Petersburg home met his match in the shape of a young woman not yet out of her teens. The bureaucrat decided it was intensely suspicious that the name on my I.D. had been changed by our efficient civil service while we were still on our honeymoon, and held us for questioning despite us having our marriage certificate with us. Our plane had left by the time he was satisfied, and we were left to wait in an area near the departure check area, until the airline had decided what to do with us.
The casually dressed young woman we saw from the detention area at St Petersburg airport presented her diplomatic passport, and expressed surprise when he demanded her I.D. as well. He insisted, and she handed it over. He then requested that she provide an iris scan. She pointed out that she was a protected person under a certain law, had a diplomatic passport, and was wearing anti-scan contact lenses. She politely suggested that he contact his superior if he was not used to dealing with diplomatic passports.
We had a growing suspicion that her face was familiar, although she clearly was not dressed to attract attention. He decided she wasn't familiar at all.
“Right,” he said in the 'you're in trouble now' tone he'd used on me, “I find your documentation suspicious and you're going to wait in the detention cell until I have time to interview you.”
“No, I am not.” she replied, calmly. “Instead, assuming you enjoy your job, you are going to return my diplomatic passport and I.D. and call for your superior if you are not able to process me yourself, then I would recommend you seek remedial training, in case you're called up for a disciplinary hearing.” For good measure, she then repeated herself in fluent, if accented Russian.
By this point, I must say that an awed hush had fallen on the passport control area, and everyone heard her call for security when he twisted her arm behind her back to manhandle her towards the interview room. Her words, shouted in Russian, were, I'm informed, “Security! Under imperial law you must prevent this violation of a royal person's rights or face imprisonment or execution.”
It is indeed the law that any royal has the right to call for that protection, but we've been unable to find out when the law was last invoked. But then, the manhandling of a protected royal person is not exactly a common event, either.
Needless to say, the security forces stopped enjoying the show and snapped to action. Guns were drawn and the bureaucrat found himself handcuffed for the violation of her noble person. Whose royal person? Princess Claire du Basse-Monaco.
Unlike us normal people, Princes Claire is not afraid of what a bureaucrat might do to her, instead her fear is what a bureaucrat, overstepping his authority, might do to himself, as this one did. She finds it frustrating when they don't heed her warnings and realise the danger they're in, but as certain car-owners have learned, she is not afraid of asserting her rights. But she doesn't like to. Some commentators have, we know, expressed puzzlement about where the princess lives when not visiting Monaco or Switzerland. We can give you a partial answer: Russia. What, you want more details? The fact is, information about any royal person is considered dangerous in that country. Curiosity is not considered a justification for invading her privacy and putting her at risk of assassination or kidnapping. There have been cases in the past, less than a decade ago, where a person known to have links to the Tsar was killed in a botched kidnapping attempt. Does the princess have links to the Tsar? It is a matter of record that the previous princess of Basse-Monaco married the duke of Moscow. The laws of Monaco state that the title princess of Basse-Monaco is to be passed down to an unmarried female relative, and that she will be heir to the throne of Monaco after any direct descendants of the king. It's also a matter of record that the duke and duchess of Monaco had three daughters, one of whom married the then-Tsesarevich, i.e. his Imperial Majesty the Tsar. So, yes, there is certainly a link to the Tsar. She is a relative of the previous princess — whether by descent or being a distant cousin we do not know, but there is certainly a strong enough link for it to be dangerous to publish more, and sufficient that the Princess sought advice before making all of this clear to us. Her advice is not to get too curious; knowing too much about her family without a need to know can get you in trouble, and the Russian secret service have a protective attitude towards their Tsar and all those, such as the Princess, who can claim a family tie to him. The princess is who she is: outgoing, charming, honest, very sure of herself, and entirely capable of blending with the crowd as long as there are no misguided probes into her identity. We can see what our prince sees in her and we wish them every happiness together. We did ask — what reporter wouldn't — if there might be a royal wedding in the future. Their answer was simultaneous — “God willing, but we're too young. Certainly not before graduation.”
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IMPERIAL YACHT, SEA OF NIPPON, NEAR VLADIVOSTOK, TUESDAY 16TH APRIL
For reasons best known to himself, rather than the expected helicopter, the heir to imperial China had chosen to approach the imperial yacht on what was ostensibly a bamboo sailing ship, with space for perhaps twenty crew on board. Pania pointed out to Svetlana the tell-tale ripple-pattern that showed that under water it boasted a hydrofoil. However, right now it was travelling by wind power, or rather it wasn't: the wind had dropped from a gentle breeze to dead-calm, and the Chinese vessel was wallowing about five hundred meters away, slowing with every wave that it crested.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Is waiting for him to get here supposed to be romantic?” Pania asked.
“I don't know,” Svetlana said. “Perhaps it's supposed to say that sanctions are hurting and he can't afford the fuel.”
“You don't want to go and meet him?”
“You're the one who pointed out he's got engines.”
“Unless they've been taken out to make room for extra torpedos,” Pania said, shrugging. “But I doubt they'd do that.”
“Torpedos?”
“It's one of their disguised naval ships, I thought you knew.”
“I must have missed that briefing.” Svetlana admitted.
“So, you've got a fusion powered demonstration of power and opulence, complete with a forcefield dome and rail guns; he's got a fast-attack torpedo boat subtly disguised as a piece of tourist frivolity.”
“Hmm. That's probably a metaphor isn't it?”
“Probably. You're both displaying your cultural preferences, perhaps? You're happy to make brute power comfortable, he prefers to hide it?”
“What about you?” Svetlana, asked, indicating Pania's clothing.
“Oh, I'm just wearing my barbarian warrior-woman stuff to help you make your point that you're not planning to violate your faith, distant cousin. I'd much prefer a dress. Especially in this weather.”
“Oh! Thank you for the thought, Pania. If you're more comfortable in something else, by all means change. We don't need to shout Mer warrior at them, after all.”
“I'll go and change then, if that's OK, it looks like I've got plenty of time.”
“Of course. Just don't leave your pipe in your room.”
Pania smiled, “Of course not, cousin. And I'll bring my knife too. Just... a bit more concealed.”
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ST PETERSBURG, 16TH APRIL
“Olga, you look beautiful,” Xavier said, “and I've missed you.”
“You like this dress?” she asked, pleased at his reaction.
“And your hair and your eyes and everything about you, and most of all that we can spend some time together again.”
“Back in Atlantis... I thought...”
“I am not good at expressing myself, am I? I'm sorry for not understanding and not expressing myself. This time I want to be clear. Very clear.”
“How clear is very clear?”
“I like you a lot and I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, so that ...urm...” He drew a deep breath, “One day — knowing me probably in a couple of years — once we know each other enough I can ask you to be my wife, and I'll hope that you will say yes. Is that clear enough?”
“That's a pretty clear statement of intent, yes. And it sounds like quite a good plan to me. You're really planning to move here? Just because of me?”
“Do you think I shouldn't?” Xavier asked, nervous that he'd misunderstood her again.
“I'm.... flattered, Xavier. I'm amazed, and I'm not sure what you see in me. But thank you, I'm very glad you're not making me choose between you and working for Svetlana.” She smiled at him, and added “It'd be hard for her if I had to.”
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IMPERIAL YACHT, SEA OF NIPPON, NEAR VLADIVOSTOK, TUESDAY 16TH APRIL
The formal statements of position by the prince's aides were long, ornate and deadly boring to Pania. It boiled down to Russia's trade restrictions were hurting everyone, so could Svetlana please urge her father to end them.
Pania could have said that in less than a minute even with some ornamentation. So far it seemed like they'd droned on for quarter of an hour.
[Pania, I have the gift, and a reason to call you.]
[Hello?] Pania didn't recognise the mental voice.
[The Tsarevna has chosen you as her chaperone?] Sarah thought.
[Yes.]
[I've met her, she's a good person,] Sarah thought, [Now, pay attention, there's some things coming you should hear, but I'll call later.] The same aid was still talking about the benefits of trade, but then he went on to 'explain' that how now that China had signed the treaty with the Mer, they had a powerful ally they could call on to trim Russia's claws, in case the present tensions increased.
“I find that a fascinating observation, don't you Pania?” Svetlana observed, interrupting.
“I'm sure my queen will find it a most interesting interpretation of our treaty with the Empire of China.”
“Karella still resists the title of Empress, then?” Svetlana asked. “I'm sure she'll come round one day,” she addressed the prince, who was looking stunned that Pania, introduced as Svetlana's distant relative, might be Mer.
“Your imperial highness, does this underling speak your words, or are they his own? You'll remember, I hope, that I've sworn an oath to work for peace, and I find this lecture a little needless. I expect that my sixth cousin, on the other hand, finds his use of her peace-loving people as a veiled threat to be something verging on the offensive.”
“He has deviated from the text which I agreed to, your imperial highness,”
Prince Han said, failing to admit his own responsibility for the passage in question.
“How... disappointing that our discussions should be soured in such a way,” Svetlana said.
“Please accept my apologies for my aide's poorly phrased speech, highness,” Han said.
“I accept them, but I think you'll find that you need to do better than that when you apologise to the Mer. Am I correct, Pania?”
“I think his highness and his aides would be well served by re-reading what the treaty does and does not promise, and what it is contingent on. But from what I witnessed on Mars, your Imperial Father is honouring your vow to seek peace and as you requested he is being patient in response to China's aggression, Tsarevna.”
“Oh, I agree,” Svetlana said, “So you see, your highness, I don't think we need to waste our time on any of this. Why don't you just tell me who sent the message to Mars, and hand them over for questioning? Along with who ever told them to send it, of course. Oh, and come clean about Mars. Then we can let all the soldiers have a well-earned rest.”
“You are overly blunt and this is not a topic to be discussed in front of aides, Tsarevna,” prince Han said.
“Oh? They don't know about the official message that made the honourable ambassador decide she needed to denounce her nation and seek asylum in order to preserve her honour? Perhaps you should tell them so they don't waste everyone's time on useless speeches.”
In response, prince Han growled “the message was not official,” and then dismissed his staff from the room.
“So hand over the criminal to the United Nations court,” Svetlana repeated as they left the room. His body-guard stayed.
“Tsarevna, I wish to speak with you on this topic and other matters of great importance.”
“Oh, by all means, speak, highness.” Svetlana said, in a carefully contrived bored tone.
“Alone,” he added, angrily motioning his body guard towards the door.
“Guards, station yourselves outside the room, ensure no one listens,” Svetlana commanded.
“And your distant cousin?” the prince asked.
“The point of having a chaperone is she does not leave me alone,” Svetlana pointed out reasonably.
“The point of a chaperone is to limit the passions of youth so you don't embarrass your parents,” he corrected her.
“I hope you're feeling limited, then.” Svetlana said.
He looked at her for a while, taking in the set of her jaw and the rigidity of her posture, and shook his head. He lounged back in his seat and said “I am not your enemy, Tsarevna of Russia.”
“Feel free not to expand on that thought,” Svetlana said.
“But I hope you will not take it the wrong way if I add that nor have I ever wanted to be your lover.”
“What might be the wrong way?” Svetlana asked, relaxing noticeably. “Kissing you out of relief? Don't worry, I have more self-control and sense of decorum than that.”
“So, can we talk?” Prince Han asked, ignoring the insult.
“Please, talk!” Svetlana agreed.
“Alone.”
“Imperial highness,” Pania asked the prince, “will you accept my presence if I first give my vow of silence over what you say?”
“You have a queen who is attributed to have the ability to lift it from your mind. Any vow you take would be meaningless.”
“Your lack of faith in my queen saddens me. She would not do such a thing!”
“I envy you your naïvety.” He tried another track: “You claim to be a peace-loving woman of the Mer, do you want peace between Russia and China? I do; my lover expects my child, but my father despises her. Without his permission, I cannot marry her. I am not even be sure my lover will not be executed for daring to conceive and telling me she had done so. Believe me that I cannot talk to the Tsarevna where what I say will be overheard. If what I wish to say is spread about, then there will be assassinations and war. If I cannot talk to the Tsarevna, I am sure Russia will continue to insist on what it sees as its rights, and there will be no peace. I do not believe in much, but I believe the Tsarevna is the only person who can solve this.”
“Your imperial highness,” Pania started, about to say it was her duty to stay.
[The prince has no desire to date her, marry her, harm or dishonour her, I've checked.] Sarah interrupted [You don't need to stay from that point of view. The talk of taking her on a date was no more than a clumsy attempt to arrange a private talk with her. He does need to talk to her.]
[You know what's on his mind?]
[He's hiding it quite well,] Sarah thought, [you probably won't catch anything of it even if you shook hands with him. But Svetlana does need to hear it. Feel free to tell them I'm butting in.]
“Urm, highnesses, ” Pania said, “one with the gift has just told me I don't need to be here, and his highness's desired conversation must happen.”
“Must is a strong word,” Svetlana said.
Prince Han looked at Pania in horror, “You're a thought-hearer?”
“I am a warrior, imperial highness, not a gossip. I have not heard your secret. I have the clear impression the gifted one knew exactly what you wanted to talk about, but she didn't tell me.”
[Of course not,] Sarah thought to her [I'm a truthsayer who has signed the full ethics statement.]
“She says she's a truthsayer who has signed the ethics agreement,” Pania relayed. “With her highness's permission I could withdraw for a minute, or two? Or perhaps I could stand on the other side of the room with my fingers in my ears, singing? Would something like that be acceptable?”
“If prince Han will agree to getting a slap in the face, I will allow you to withdraw, if I must listen to what he has to say.”
“A slap in the face?” Prince Han was confused.
“You don't want your guards to speculate about what you're really talking to me about, I presume? So, say your piece and then I will indignantly slap you in the face for making an unwelcome suggestion under the pretense of a matter of state and storm out of the room as though highly insulted, and saying something of the sort.”
“Ah. I suppose I can cope with that, in the interests of peace and secrecy.” he agreed.
“And I'll try and leave you with all your teeth, in the interests of peace.” Svetlana said.
“Very droll,” the prince said.
“And there's nothing else you can talk about?”
“Now that is agreed... I would like to add my personal appeal to you to intervene with your father to prevent war, Tsarevna. And as a token of my desire for peace and improved relationships, I offer you this humiliating crystal of documents. Treated with a level of privacy similar to what people on Mars might expect, they represent, I believe, a peaceful and less public resolution to the Mars assassination issue than the continued degradation of my country in court. I thus trust my nation's world standing to you in this matter also, Tsarevna Svetlana. Of course if you publish it, we would probably claim your secret services created them to dishonour us.”
Svetlana accepted the crystal, “you wish the court case to just end?”
“Yes.”
“And you expect the Mars Council to agree to this?”
“I believe it is called an out of court settlement. I trust that you can persuade them, Tsarevna, and that you will, as you have vowed to work for peace.”
“I see. So, you think you can use my vow to get me to do your bidding?”
“The court case dishonors my country and thus my father. And we both want peace. If your chaperone will leave us now, I will tell you of the message to Mars.”
“OK, Pania,” Svetlana agreed, “Give his highness two minutes, no more.”
“I will leave, and ensure no one listens.”
“Thank you cousin.”
“I will speak quickly,” Prince Han said quietly, as the door closed. “I learned my lover was pregnant almost two months ago, and having failed to persuade my father to relax his disapproval of her, I went to my grandmother, the queen-mother, thinking that perhaps she could convince my father to let us marry. You were on Mars, making waves. Not the best timing, I admit. Grandmother said she would speak to her alone. My father was distressed at the plans you were breaking, but my grandmother was more so, and saw an opportunity. My lover works at the communications office, you see. I think you can guess the rest.”
“Your grandmother ordered your nameless lover to send the message,” Svetlana guessed.
“She told her she would approve of our marriage if she did it, and ensure she did not live to give birth if she did not. And she held a knife to her throat while she sent the message. Grandmother is old, but still strong.”
“So, the noble queen-mother of China wishes me dead.” Svetlana said.
“I think she does not now. My father was extremely angry about the message.”
“And you wish to save last month's lover.”
“My heir and my future queen, who would be my wife if it were up to me,” he corrected. “Who was under extreme pressure. If you assassinate her, my father will be glad but I will be your implacable enemy. I hope you see the real guilt lies with my grandmother. But if Russia assassinates grandma, there will be immediate war; there must be war.”
“And of course some guilt lies with you, for presenting your grandmother with the perfect opportunity. You are in an impossible situation, ultimately caused by your your falling out with your father, and taking her to your bed against his wishes or good moral sense.”
“Yes.” he admitted.
“Renounce your title,” Svetlana said.
“What?” he was shocked.
“Take your lover to Atlantis, marry her, and tell your father you'll renounce your claim to the throne if he doesn't accept her, and claim asylum in Atlantis.”
“I'm the only heir to the throne. I cannot do that, I have my duty.”
“You have three duties. To the woman you've lured to your bed, to the child you've fathered and to your country. Let your father deal with the constitutional crisis he's caused. Your sister is a good woman, and if you had not been born she would be heir, would she not?”
“Well, yes, but...”
“So, take a trip to Atlantis, abdicate in favour of your sister, I'll convince my father that she had nothing at all to do with the assassination attempt and while there might be some tensions while your father continues to rule, peace will certainly reign as soon as your father vacates the throne. Otherwise, turn your lover over to me.”
“What?” he asked, even more shocked.
“She did send the message, after all. I can't fully guarantee her safety, but I fully can't guarantee mine either. She'd be an honoured guest, but your father need not know that, and it would certainly imply to your father that we knew who was responsible, wouldn't it? And I'm sure it would de-escalate things on the border while you persuade your father to offer us something more than words in exchange for his mother's safety. You could of course visit her whenever you like, if that's what's worrying you. Or your sister and some of her staff could have the apartment next door and ensure she's treated properly? I would welcome the idea of getting to know both ladies better. Think about it, prince.”
“Why not just lure my sister into being your hostage? I'd much rather it was her than Yin Li.”
It was not only a demonstration of his self-centred attitude, but also a perfect opportunity to end the conversation, so Svetlana grasped it. “How dare you!” She said loudly, slapping him in the face. Storming out of the room she shouted over her shoulder “You claim you want peace, and a discussion of state matters and then suggest that? You disgust me! Guards, the prince is leaving.”
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ROYAL SUITE, IMPERIAL YACHT.
“So,” Pania asked, “Any summary from that conversation I can take back to my queen?”
“Urm, at heart, he's a selfish toad, but he does seem genuinely concerned for his lover, but maybe not enough to abdicate and seek asylum in Atlantis. That was one of the options I suggested.”
“He sent the message?” Pania asked in surprise.
“No.”
“Then it was her? Is that what you're telling me?”
“I'm not saying anything,” Svetlana said primly.
There was a polite knock on Svetlana's door.
“Yes?”
It was the captain of the guards; “Sorry your Imperial Highness, but a member of the prince's party is refusing to leave with him. As soon as you left she started screaming abuse at him and tried to scratch his eyes out. After she was restrained she collapsed in tears. So, it looks like a domestic argument, but we're not sure what to do with her.”
“The prince has left?”
“His body guard bundled him down the gang way, away from her claws, but his ship is making no signs of moving off.”
“Hmm. Pania, would you accompany the captain and find out if her name is Yin Li? Oh, that might have been a deliberate misdirection, of course. Anyway, if she is the prince's lover, then I'll be happy to talk to her. Captain, on your way please pass a message to the steward instructing him to prepare a guest room fit for the future Empress of China, in case she does choose to stay.”
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ST PETERSBURG, 17TH APRIL 2278
“Daughter, you brought back a clearly Chinese woman, without any documentation. Your mother and I ask that you please tell us who she is?”
“Our guest is called Yin Li, imperial Father, mother. According to His imperial highness, prince Han, she is his future wife. Apparently, according to his father, she's a dangerous person who has beguiled his son, and my reading of things is that he'd be very happy if she had an accident. Oh, she's also carrying the prince's child.”
“What game are you playing now?” Svetlana's mother asked.
“Politics, mother. Peace-making and politics. She was rather upset with prince Han, as he was leaving, and so once she'd stopped trying to claw his eyes out and I'd convinced her that he was still very much hers, we got chatting.”
“And the result of the chat?”
“I told her that I wasn't going to hold her responsible for the message she was forced to send, and she decided to accept my offer of secure housing away from Chinese assassins.”
“The message. She sent the message?”
“She had a literal sword at her throat, father. I have been told who held it there, and I hope there will be no direct reprisals. Yin Li's welcome here sends a message to the Emperor of China that we are not barbarians out to start another nuclear war, but that there will be serious repercussions.”
“Such as?”
“I leave that to you, father. A non-governing member of the imperial family decided I was being too insulting, and over-reacted.”
“The only reply is an assassin, daughter.”
“Father, if there must be an assassin, then let him or her deliver a letter, not death, a demand the emperor can answer, and preserve honour. I had thought of Hong-Kong or Shanghai, but perhaps that'd be too much.”
“It was not his his wife then,” the Tsar said, stroking his beard.
“I will keep you uncertain and not tell you more, father. It was a member of the royal family whose assassination would without doubt spark war. Mongolia's not interesting to me. What would you think of accepting the titular rule of Taiwan?”
“Pardon?” the Tsar asked.
“Interesting idea, dear,” the Tsarina said. “Explain.”
“You know how independent they are. The mainland has only actually ruled there about a decade in the last two centuries, and that was only because of that disastrous marriage. And of course, we've lent the Thai government support in the past to keep things that way. I wouldn't mind adding that flag to the imperial crown, I don't think they'd be much trouble.”
“Before you suggest it to China,” the Tsarina said, “see what the Taiwanese think of the idea, daughter. They might not like the idea of being a bargaining chip.”
“They are a bargaining chip, and a thorn in China's side,” the Tsar replied. “They have been for centuries. In some ways this would cause a de-escalation of tension.”
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TAIWANESE EMBASSY, ST PETERSBURG.
“Thank you for seeing me so quickly, Mr Ambassador,” Svetlana said.
“I admit being at a loss to explain your request for a meeting, noble Tsarevna.”
“Partly, Mr ambassador, I'm working for peace, and making some introductions. I present to you my guest Yin Li, who has found herself thrust into the cutting edge of international relations of late. I believe she is technically absent without leave from her work in the diplomatic communications department, but I expect prince Han will be able to deflect any problems there, eventually.”
“I greet the probable future Queen of mainland China,” the ambassador bowed low. “And I apologise for not recognising you, noble lady.”
Svetlana smiled. The Taiwanese were always well informed; they had to be. “As you're aware, Mr ambassador, there have been some tensions between us and mainland China.”
“Tensions with mainland China are a normal state of affairs, Tsarevna, from our point of view.”
“Yes, that annoying claim they make to your island. Well, tensions from here are a little more... acute, shall we say? Now, we don't want to hold Yin Li responsible for a message that was none of her creation,” Svetlana said, “But I don't believe any of us would appreciate the consequences of assassinating the author. And, since the attempt to persuade honourable people on Mars to take stupidly rash actions failed quite so spectacularly, we can't really claim half of the country as an alternative to the thermonuclear option. But Father would appreciate some kind of apology that doesn't float away on the tide of time. I wonder what you and your government would think of a formal transfer of your island to my family? That's to say, mainland China permanently gives up all formal claim in our favour, there's an appropriate adjustment in territorial waters and fishing rights, you agree to fly the imperial flag alongside yours and we agree you are a fully autonomous vassal state within the empire.”
“You're serious?”
“As you discuss it with your government, please point out that it would mean that mainland China would then be invading the Russian empire if they chose to cross the straits, which we would of course react most strongly to. And while I imagine that we'd need to work out some kind of defense contribution, I'm quite sure it would be small compared to your current military spending. There'd be no objection to you maintaining your own local defense force, coast-guard and so on, of course. I assure you I've no desire to have to respond to accusations of being an occupying force.”
“And matters of foreign policy?”
“Might need some adjusting. Internal policy would remain a matter for your government, within certain reasonable limits.”
“Those limits being?”
“The normal ones; torture, rape, detention without fair trial are unacceptable, as are corruption and abuse of power. Declaring yourself an independent republic is unacceptable. Constitutional amendments would need approval.”
“From the Russian parliament, you mean?”
“No, direct from the Tsar or ruling Tsarina.”
“And imperial secret services would function in Taiwan, just like here.”
“Lurking in bars and drinking cheap vodka?” Svetlana suggested, with a laugh. “Probably not. It'd make them rather obvious, wouldn't it? I've quoted my grandfather saying that the innocent have nothing to fear from rapid justice, Mr Ambassador. But allow me to correct my earlier statement. No detention /or punishment/ without fair trial, except of course that law-enforcement are allowed to use appropriate levels of force to protect the populace. Oh, and let's add freedom to convert to any non-abusive religion. Sorry for making this up on the spot. I really doubt there'd be any need to move any more of our secret service there.”
“So you offer an end to fear of mainland invasion, and consequent reduced military expenditure, a continuation of government, but for this to happen you ask our king step aside.”
“Not at all! I ask that he acknowledge my father as his emperor, and father signs a treaty that guarantees his right to reign.”
“Then I don't see what you gain.”
Yin Li bowed, “Mr ambassador, she punishes the arrogant actions of one otherwise above the law, and sends a message that others will not ignore — that Russia will not lose face. She demonstrates to the people affected that Russia's empire is no monster, and so she gains prestige and honour, and her people love her. What more should she want? And since Taiwan has been in moral debt to Russia since the idiot in the Federal Kingdom changed policy on you, let this suggestion be presented to the people of mainland China as an idea from yourselves, as a noble sacrifice for the peace of both Chinas. Then the Emperor of China is merely acknowledging what a fiction the claim to your island is, and he can pretend he is not actually conceding land to gain peace.”
“I thank you, noble lady, for these wise words,” the ambassador said. Perhaps everyone did win, in public at least.