Embassy of the United Kingdom, Rome, 6:21 AM, Two days ago
The plight of the Italians would be considered as luck and paradise to those who were in Italy for vacation. After all, they had a roof over their heads, family and friends to lean on, and maybe even a job.
Maybe soon that wouldn't be the case for Joshua Higgins. Being ambassador to Italy and San Marino, the gruff middle aged man has been in this position for 5 years now. While it was very different to his old positions as British diplomat to Iraq and Afghanistan, the man truly did not mind this position. After all, living in a beautiful country who is considered a peaceful neighbour was a nice change of pace.
And yet somehow, he would rather be back in Baghdad the moment the transfer happened. When news of Italy's departure from Earth spread through the nation, the unlucky Brits who were caught while on vacation scrambled to the British embassy for help. The chaos was nothing like Joshua had seen before, and he would rather drink his whiskey away than deal with the people if he wasn't kind to them.
So now Joshua looked out the window. Much like practically every other diplomat, the man looked disheveled as he eyed the courtyard of the embassy compound. Tents were set up, food stations were prepared, and hoards of paperwork were being filled out for those unlucky to not be back in Britain.
He saw distressed businessmen, worried women, and crying children who all yearned to be back home. Joshua sighed at the sight. With the Italian government too preoccupied with their own problems, this will have to do.
Joshua scratched his scruffy beard before he practically fell onto his swivelled seat. With him being the highest authority of the United Kingdom as of now, his life of relaxation turned into chaos. And once again he dreaded to hear another knock from the door. "Come on in!"
One of his aides then quickly entered. "Mister Higgins!" A young black woman entered in a haste, her face filled with worry. As she has been for hours much like everyone.
"Yes, Lisa? What is it this time?" Joshua said with a grumble as he turned the seat to face her."
".... The Princess of Kent has arrived."
Joshua went wide eyed and immediately sat up. "You mean...?"
Lisa simply nodded.
Joshua stood there for a moment. His gears in his head turned quickly before he eyed his office. "Please send her in quickly. I'll fix things up here." He said with a frown as he slipped on his coat.
"Right away, sir." Lisa said as she rushed out of the office.
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Princess Emily of Kent, 23 years old, barely out of Oxford University was in Italy to visit the nation when the transfer occurred. At first she believed it was a practical joke, but as more news came in, it was clear that they were brought along and left the United Kingdom behind on Earth.
She didn't know what to do. Her home, family, all of them were now gone. Emily simply sat in her room despairing for two days as she didn't want to deal with this situation but alas reality had to be faced head on.
With that, Emily asked her aides to have her be driven to the embassy. That was the closest thing to a Britain they had right now, and she simply needed advice from the embassy on what to do. As she waited in the lobby of the building, Emily looked around as her fellow Brits had a looks from skepticism to curiosity as a member of the Royal Family had been brought along.
Soon enough, Lisa from earlier arrived and smiled gently. "The ambassador is ready to receive you, your royal highness." She said as she directed her hand to the elevator.
"Thank you..." Emily stood up as she started to follow Lisa. It was a funny thing. Almost everyone in the room was older than her and yet they treat her as higher than themselves. Emily gripped her purse as she was guided to the lift as her eyes watched the numbers go up.
As the elevator doors dinged, they opened up as Lisa walked out while Emily followed.
As they reached the door, Emily huffed as Lisa smiled reassuringly to her. Despite the hierarchy of their titles, Lisa almost felt motherly to her. She then knocked before she opened the door.
"Ambassador Higgins, the Princess of Kent." Lisa introduced as she stepped aside to reveal the young woman.
Joshua looked to Emily before he approached her and did a small bow. "Your majesty, welcome to the British embassy." He greeted before he looked to Lisa. He simply directed his eyes to the seat and Lisa knew what to do as she guided the young princess to the armchair.
"Thank you, ambassador...." Emily said, almost meek as she was sat down once Lisa helped her. Joshua then closed the door for the both of them as the man spoke.
"Ma'am, let me first say that I am deeply sorry for what has happened... With our nation in limbo, this must be a lot to process..." Joshua said with a sympathetic look as he sat across her.
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"Thank you again, truly.... It's... just so terrible... I didn't think a thing like this could happen..." The princess said as she looked to the older man. "I've seen the people outside... how many have arrived?"
"A few hundred.... At least a few hundred thousands more out there. We even had to start turning away people due to how filled we are." Joshua said with a sigh as he looked out the window.
"Awful... I feel awful. The people don't deserve such a fate. Whatever deity or freak science phenomena did this is... rather cruel." Emily said in sadness as she eyed the floor.
"I agree, ma'am... We need to think straight and quickly to aid the people outside. They yearn for their nation." Joshua said as he clasped her hands while Lisa stood beside, as she looked to the princess in sympathy.
"Whatever do we do, ambassador? What can we do?" Emily asked in anticipation as she looked to Joshua.
"Well....." Joshua looked to Lisa. Both of them knew what was to happen next. "Uh.... Well with the United Kingdom no longer around... you are the closest to a government we have right now..."
Emily's heart sank.
"With your family not being here nor is anyone from Westminster, I... believe that you heed the call, Queen Emily..."
"NO! No... please, ambassador I... I simply cannot." Emily said shakily as she held her necklace. The thought of quickly being the queen, it terrified her. "I cannot handle such a title. I... I don't think I deserve it."
Joshua kept silent at that. Compared to him being 37 years old, Emily was practically a child. He looked to Lisa before he sighed and closed his eyes. "Your majesty... the lands of the United Kingdom has been reduced to this one plot of land... The people barely reach a few hundred thousand and many of them are lost, afraid, and in search of answers. You are the closest we have to a national government..." The man said as he stood up and kneeled in front of Emily as he carefully grabbed her hands and spoke to her. The young woman looked to him.
"The people need someone to lead them. As far as I'm concerned, as long as the crown and the people still breathe, the United Kingdom still breathes. And our country is now going through its toughest challenge yet. That's why I ask you, your majesty... With our help, to please lead us back to the light."
Emily sat there, quiet for a while. Her brain comprehending the fact that she will now be queen is... mind melting. But as she took in Joshua's words, she understood. If she doesn't do something, her people will despair worse than she did. She gripped Joshua's hands and looked to him.
"Alright... I shall."
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Embassy of Japan
The Kobayashi family consisted of a father and his two children. Iwao Kobayashi paced in place in his tent as the teen of the two boys, Tsuyoshi, eyed him both in worry and yet annoyance. "Dad, you gotta relax. You'll die walking around like that."
Iwao in his usual grumpiness snapped. "Well what else do you want me to do, son? Just sit down and relax? Don't you understand how serious this situation is? We can't get back home!" He said as he huffed and continued to walk.
Taiyo peeked over his blanket and eyed his father. Much like every other embassy, they were given a tent to temporarily stay in as those in the embassy tried to deal with the mess. Tsuyoshi rolled his eyes and laid back down on the camping cot before the younger boy frowned. He left the blanket and ran up to his father as he looked to him. "Do you need your medicine, papa?" He asked in worry.
Iwao looked to Taiyo. He blinked before he shook his head as he ruffled the boy's hair. "No no, I'm alright... Thank you, kiddo." He said with a smile. The man then eyed his teen son before he sighed. His way of handling stressful situations by simply not caring about them was unhealthy. He looked back to the boy and spoke. "You can lie back down, Taiyo. I'll be okay."
Taiyo nodded before he rushed back to the camping cot and slipped inside the blanket. Iwao sighed. Their situation was bad. They were mid way through their vacation when the transfer happened so their funds were lacklustre, enough to only last them a couple days for just food. He sighed before he heard the doors open.
Iwao rushed along with the others to see the diplomats of Japan with somewhat hopeful looks. Immediately the crowd clamoured but the diplomat yelled.
"Everyone! Keep calm! Do not worry, we have hopeful news!" Ambassador Masahiro Takayama was a younger than usual diplomat, as he just turned 30 last year. The man's young looks gave a certain calming charm to the people as he spoke. "We received word from the Italian government that they will be providing asylum to us all, and eventually citizenship! They will provide you all with housing and rest assured, the embassy of Japan will assist you all in this endeavour!"
The people clamoured at the news. Some were relieved, some were angered that they cannot get back home, but right now Iwao was one of those thankful that their situation wouldn't be so bad.
Masahiro then spoke out. "As of now that's all the updates we got! If you have any questions or concerns, let our embassy staff assist you!"
The noise of the crowd then bursted as everyone talked about what they could do. But Iwao went through the crowd as he huffed. "Mister Takayama, sir!"
Masahiro was about to head inside but he stopped as he looked back. He then had a friendly smile as he bowed. "What can I do for you, mister?"
"Yes hi umm— About the whole asylum and citizenship thing. When does that start?" He asked in concern as a few crowded around the two as they had the same question.
"Well we don't have an exact date yet because the government themselves is still in a bit of a pickle on what to do. All I know is that once it does happen, they will send over a team to our embassy to assist in the process." Masahiro said with a smile.
"Right okay umm... And this asylum thing. Will we be given adequate housing? I have two kids you see and well, even just a small apartment could do..."
"I'll have to ask more details on that. I do hope we are given proper homes but with a lot of foreigners in the country, it may be a complicated process." The diplomat then said with an unsure frown.
The people around them murmured before Iwao sighed and nodded. "Okay, thank you, ambassador." He said as he bowed.
Masahiro did so in return before Iwao walked away and so did the diplomat who entered back inside. A coworker walked alongside him as he spoke. "Sheesh, you sure handled that well, eh?"
Suddenly Masahiro sagged over in exhaustion as his eyes looked tired. "Barely... Didn't want them to worry even more, y'know? I just hope the government is able to help us properly..." He said with a sigh. "And to think I got such an easy job... I knew I should've traded places with Asada! Lucky bastard is back home in Japan."
"Well what's done is done. I say you did good." His coworker said as he patted his back somewhat playfully before Masahiro smiled a bit.
"Heh. Thanks. Ugh I need coffee..."
"I gotcha." His coworker said before he rushed off while Masahiro staggered back upstairs to his office.
It was a very difficult moment for every non-Italian, he thought to himself.