“Madam President. Mister Secretary General. World leaders, ambassadors and distinguished delegates. I stand before you today in this Grand Hall, both moved and greatly honoured by the opportunity to speak before you. I have travelled a long way, as many of you have also, and I have spent every last second of my journey here today revising, changing, modifying and finalising my speech. Only to repeat the entire process a hundred more times. Many of you will have heard of me by now, and to you I say…. Well only do not give me away just yet….”
Cue some gentle sounds of laughter.
“But for those of you who haven’t, well allow me to introduce myself. I am Felix Balduin. My family was once amongst the most prominent in Europe, and was once among its greatest leaders. Of course that all changed many, many years ago now but still, what once was shall be again. And here I am, the new and freely elected King of the Island of Syrnat. That in itself is quite a story, one full of Communist Dictators and an island badly scarred by economic and civil woe. But one with a happy ending. That happy ending being….” Felix shrugged nonchalantly, “Well, being me.”
Far from the dais, I was not exactly given a place of great importance, so I could only look upon Felix from a distance. However I knew him well enough by then to see that his flight over to Geneva may have been a higher one than I would have even imagined.
“Now free the island must, and will be transformed into one that the World can recognise and respect. Syrnat had been an outcast, a State in limbo for too long. I wish to change that here today. As most have predicted and many more expected, it is thought that this is here my time to beseech you, the U.N. In all your great glory to allow me and my new land membership into your Great organisation. To formally request membership, and to join the world’s largest international organisation. The peacekeepers, the first line of defence for all innocents.”
Felix paused. I saw the look on Karina’s face as she stared at her Brother. To her credit, she seemed to sense what was and was about to happen almost immediately.
“But I won’t. Let me explain why. Oh yes and before I begin just know that we on Syrnat, we don’t have any oil. I am sure that will be enough for many of you to zone out. Feel free to do so.” Felix had to raise his voice quite considerably at this point to speak over the growing furore. “You will have many questions for me no doubt. I’ll tell you now I won’t answer them, nor will I answer to you. Not when you twist and shape all narratives to suit the ends of a privileged few. No.” Felix slammed his fist down on the podium as behind him grew an increasingly large group of security. “I will not be requesting access to the U.N primarily because I have no interest in making myself or my Kingdom subject to the whims of the old colonial powers. Those who have coerced, convinced and forced those beneath them into following their path, their objectives. All under the guise of some lofty designs on peace and harmony. I won’t have it. And after all, how could it be any other way when the P5+1 rule and control all. Not Syrnat. I will not have that happen to Syrnat. Which is why I will be joining the Non Aligned Movement, free from the clutches of the Empirical and immoral rulers you call the UN.”
Felix had to fight to stay talking as it was finally decided that it was time for security to intervene.
“The People of the world are waking up. They are seeing you for what you truly…..are…..soon…soon you will be……finished.”
It was a struggle but the security finally took him away.
A sort of subdued silence met his dismissal.
Karina looked more shocked than anyone. Hurriedly, and with as much dignity as she could muster she made her exit. Recovering herself she strode out proudly and without a trace of shame, to onlookers it might have even looked as if she had been in on the entire speech the whole time.
Renal followed on behind her, though as inscrutable as ever if anyone knew what Felix had planned it was him. He was likely part of the reason the King had so indulged on the plane if my suspicions were right. Put Felix with either of the twins for any length of time and trouble was sure to follow. Both had flown separately to Karina and the rest of their entourage, no one had been there to monitor or watch over them. Who knew what they had managed to conjure up in the air for the long distance flight.
The following hour after Felix’s impromptu outburst were made up of several speakers, all of which condemned and attempted to ridicule the content of it.
They failed. The next morning there was not a single media outlet that did not have as its dominant story the young King Felix calling out the UN states.
Most it’s true, were focusing on the entertainment side of things. After his rather extreme speech Felix was forcibly removed from the building. He’d remained in the city however and caused an impressive scene, practically taking over entire bars and nightclubs to fulfil his own partying needs. Karina, Renal and a whole troupe of models and more had chased around after him. Felix at his charismatic best granting interviews to any who asked, and there were many. His seemingly outlandish, passionate outpourings soon going viral, the handsome young King entirely taking over social media.
Karina and Renal were not far behind, they had been spotted getting close and were already being reported as the royal couple. Whatever Karina had done or taken after the UN assembly seemed to have made her forget her worries entirely. She had partied just as hard as anyone. Felix though, he might have acted as if he was rather inebriated, on alcohol and more besides, but I know him. That night he was well aware of all he did. Moreso even than he had been in the UN assembly. I felt then, as I still do now, that he was already busy trying to make sure that his earlier actions bore the most fruit. That is, an unbelievable level of exposure and fame, and almost instant relevance to the public at large. On social media girls had a new idol to declare love to, and boys had a new man to aspire to. Felix was the quintessential King. Powerful, young, rich and surrounded by a wealth of women and luxury.
But it was not only there he became a sensation, his speech had created a dialogue in every new column, TV show and radio in the Western World and beyond. For the West, he was just another greedy dictator, unwilling to accept the UN because it went against his designs on an island of poor and vulnerable inhabitants. He was an opportunistic Tyrant, one that would bring great suffering to the native population.
For China and Russia the young man was an anomaly, but one who did bring up some interesting points, and perhaps even highlighted growing bias and hypocrisy with the UN itself. They were able to use his speech as a way of reinforcing their own ideas.
For the developing World however Felix was on the whole, a revelation. His decision to publicly declare preference for the Non-Aligned Movement had brought them coverage not seen since the Cold War. Already several had eagerly cried out for official Syrnat membership, and had lauded the young King for his ability to stand aside from the intrinsic corruption and manipulation present in the cavernous bureaucracy of the UN.
Felix cared about none of this. They only remained in Geneva for that one night. They had departed on the Balduin jet by noon the following morning, with a whole host of people desiring to hear him speak once more he was gone.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Whatever plans that the Family had made before the UN assembly were now all but ruined, that approach dead and buried forever. Felix had made his public declaration, the only way forward now was to stand by and deliver on it. It would then be expected to have been one of his most stressful periods since attaining power. It wasn’t. He slept the entire flight home.
Back at the palace and fresh off the plane Felix had seemed as rejuvenated as ever as he sat down to preside over another Family Meeting. A meeting supposed to be dedicated to discussing the success of his UN speech and the odds of Syrnat being permitted membership. All of which were completely irrelevant now.
“Madam President. Mister Secretary General. World leaders, ambassadors and distinguished delegates.” Felix slapped himself on the side of the Head, “Ah no wait that was for the other one.”
Both Renal and Arisan stifled grins but neither Avelina or Karina showed any signs of amusement. Karina had recovered from her merriment the following night in Geneva and seemed as angry if not more angry than ever.
Felix raised his hands in mediation. “Look I am sorry okay. I should have given you some warning of what was to come.”
“WHY? Why do you always do this? Can you not be normal for a moment? I thought we were going to assimilate. Now what?” Avelina struggled to hide the despair in her voice, she made no effort to hide her disappointment, refusing even to speak to Felix before the meeting.
“Now? Now we do our own thing. The UN is finished, an entity without power. It means little these days, has not done for quite some time.”
“Then why….” Karina had not stopped glaring at her brother the entire time. “Didn’t you mention any of this before Felix? Do you not trust us enough by now? Must you keep secrets even from us?”
“She is right, Felix. We could have discussed this, made plans. Organised and prepared ourselves for what was to come. You have left us exposed through your actions.”
“Because I didn’t know before. I made the decision….” Felix casually placed two fingers to his forehead, “as I have explained, when I was in the air. “
“YOU decided? An avalanche of cocaine decided Felix. You just threw away all of our plans for what? A childish outburst.”
He stared hard at Avelina at that, “Our plans. Since when? When did you conceive any of this? These are all my plans. All of this is the result of my plans. Do not ever call me childish again. Never.”
Felix seemed to realise his growing anger and stopped to close his eyes and take a deep breath.
“How many times must I tell you, sometimes I can’t control what I see. But know this, I had a vision, bright and clear. Just as I have had many times before. I cannot go against them.” The King bowed his head, almost solemnly. “This is the way.”
“Don’t you dare quote the Mandalorian at us Brother. This is not a joke Felix. None of this a joke. Whatever the Concilium might or might not have thought about us before now they will be out for blood. We have to meet with them in two weeks for God’s sake.”
“I told you, let me worry about the Concilium.” Felix raised a hand before either Avelina or Karina could speak further.
“Look, we would have drawn the attention of the world to us regardless of what happened. Now at least we have managed to speed things up a little. Arisan, what was it you said? How much has it gone up?”
“Two hundred percent. Since Geneva there has been a 200% increase in airline tickets to the island.”
“There, and think of all those reporters, journalists and TV shows desperate to meet with us. The Balduin Family are at this moment the most talked about Family in the world.”
“You say that as if it is a good thing. We have the eyes of the world on us Felix. How long before they question our methods?”
Felix smiled at Avelina this time. “Let them question. The island’s economy is booming, the people have work, food and peace under Balduin rule. Investment is everywhere, our capital city is fast becoming a haven for tourism. We have turned the island around, whatever they ask we will answer.”
“And what if they do more than ask cousin?”
Felix raised a brow at Renal’s input. Evidently however it was not one aimed at questioning him, but one of genuine curiosity.
“They can’t. World opinion may not count for a lot, but unless our own people start to complain to the World then it will be on our side. We keep the people content, content I repeat, they don’t have to be happy. We do that then they won’t do anything more than condemn us, perhaps an embargo or two. Invading or attacking us for what I said would only serve to weaken their own position. As it is, many think the UN is right about me. They’ll try to keep it that way.”
“I hope you are correct Felix.” Avelina shook her head, “For I do not know anymore.”
“Well then I will just have to know for you my dear. Besides, it is time, as always, that will tell what is right or wrong.” Felix rose to his feet. “Well, that is enough worrying for the moment. Come cousins, I believe there has been another layer added to the safari Arisan yes? I would very much like to see it right about now.”
“A safari? Must you end every meeting the same? For what else is needed right now but to go watch animals doing nothing. Fine, leave then Felix. Me and Karina will run your Kingdom for you.”
Felix took a moment but finally broke into a smile. “If you wouldn’t mind. That would indeed be wonderful.”
He had one final look as he came to the door. “Both of you will have to adapt more, it is easy to get lost in plans and arrangements. As Queen and Princess you must lear-”
Felix ducked back behind the door as Karina’s glass crashed against it. He opened it back up slowly. Lips pressed tight together he pointed a finger at Karina and stared at her with a mouth opened wide. She merely stared back defiantly, dismissively even.
Felix didn’t say anything, clutching his hand into a fist he pointed at her one last time before making his exit. Only Karina could have gotten away with doing something like that to him. I am not sure even Avelina would have escaped punishment for such an act. Whatever they said, and however many times they fought and quarrelled, both placed each other above almost all else.
To this day I don’t know if Felix actually had planned to make such an outrageous statement of not. It was hard to know with him. Once again his grasp on decision making and reality showed signs of blurring in the moment. His own impulses it seemed trumping all else. Again his talk of visions and images reinforced the idea that his dependencies were playing a far more significant role in his decision making than he liked to admit or acknowledge.
Had he gone down the route of UN membership as planned, and paid even a little more adherence to the already established system I think he would have lasted a great deal longer than he did. If he could have bent just a little it might have changed everything. Alas that was not Felix, it was never his way. He’d made his decision, and now his focus was only on getting the most out of it. That was his way. Always looking forward, never looking back. A healthy philosophical viewpoint perhaps, though a perilous one in a field such as his.
With the Concilium meeting growing in importance there was an anxious wait ahead. A little over two weeks after the UN incident Felix was to join the other Heads of the Blueblood Families. It would be his first time meeting them and the first time in nineteen years that the Balduin Family had a new Head leading them. Even without Syrnat, the UN drama, the deaths of Eustace, Alexander and Elizabeth it would have been a major occasion for him. By now it had become colossal. And a defining moment for his entire life and indeed the Family’s. Had it not been so close to his UN outburst I believe he would have been called in to explain himself regardless. Though then again, what was another week to the Concilium. The cabal itself was almost two thousand years old and the last member to be granted access had occurred over 164 years ago. The thirteen Bloodlines which made up its members were not keen on change. Still Felix had already created enough chaos in his rule as Head to warrant intervention. The question now was just how much.