A High Class Arrangement II -Sovereignty- Chapter Fourteen

Just want to appologize now for how long this took to get out, how short it is, and I'd like to appologize in advance for my lack of updating over the next month. Luckily this show's got a short rehearsal period, and will be over March 2nd, I believe. I don't want to have to hiatus this story, because some updates are better than none, but they're going to be short, few, and far between. Please don't kill me.
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Oh, and one more thing. I am sick to death of arguing with people over the fact that Drucilla is not queen anymore. She has NO ties to the throne through blood, and since everyone thinks Lucus is dead INCLUDING Drucilla, she has no ties through marriage, either, therefore she isn't queen anymore. When someone marries into royalty and his or her spouse dies, that person has no right to remain on the throne. From what I've researched, that's what most royalty adheres to. Not only that, but we're talking about MY MADE UP COUNTRY here, and what I say goes. Unless someone can slap me with some irreputable, historical evidence that a widow or widower has stayed on the ARSANTIAN throne after the death of his or her spouse if he or she married into the royal family, then I'll change it. But until that day comes (and it never will because Arsantia is NOT a real place) it's staying the way it is now because I'm the author and I say so.
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"So I recommend that we continue to lie low until they strike. It would be completely useless to try and stand against them."
"Don't be stupid. You can't possibly think of just standing aside and letting Pseaudal's forces have their way with our country."
"Standing aside would sign our death warrant."
"We can't possibly win back every single province that we've lost to Pseaudal. It's an impossible task."
"Wouldn't it be more prudent to send troops to Naville?" I interrupted the arguing men. "Pseaudal's got a rather simple military pattern. They take what's close, and Naville's the closest province to Castel. Not to mention that if Naville falls, it will be too unsafe to stay in Greening and we'd have to uproot again and go to Beviel."
They went on arguing amongst themselves as if I hadn't even spoken.
"Sending troops to Castel would be suicide "
"Not sending troops to Castel would be suicide." Greene pointed out.
"I don't even know why this is an issue. There's nothing left for us in Castel." Amherst said.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I hate to interrupt, but again, would it not be better to send troops to Naville?"
"Excuse me Madame, you haven't a say in the matter at all. Everyone in this room out classes you. You're the Royal Widow, nothing more than that. You no longer may have an opinion on this subject. The only thing you are good for anymore is the running of the household and theservants. Arsantian law dictates---" Amherst began.
"To hell with Arsantian law. We're in the middle of a war, are we not?"
"I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Your stupid comments are clogging the air." Amherst said.
My eyes flashed dangerously. "Fine. But if you ever talk to me like that again, I promise you that you will not like the consequences." I hissed, and with all the pride I could muster, drew myself up tall and walked proudly out of the room.
"You can't talk to her like that, Amherst." I heard Greene growl as I shut the door. At least I had one person on my side.

"That's it " I raged, slamming the door to the small, dusty library closed. The cramped room was the only place that I felt really and truly safe. Old, tattered, moth eaten books lined the shelves that lined the walls, creating a sort of closed in environment. There wasn't even a window. There was one small dilapidated armchair crammed messily into a corner, partially hidden behind a bookshelf. my favorite chair in the entire castle.
"That's the last straw " I cried. "I'm sick of being treated like dirt every time I open my mouth. I might as well just go back to the States. I'm sure my mother wouldn't be too terribly upset to have me there. Let these idiots fight their own battle." I was afraid to let the rage ebb away, lest the tears come again. I kept pushing all thoughts from my mind that had to do with Lucus, but it was proving more and more difficult. Lucus would have murdered anyone who talked to me like that.
"Then where would I go?"
I jumped and spun around. Michael was sitting in the arm chair with a book in his lap.
"You're the only reason they're letting me stay here, you know."
I scoffed. If they wanted you gone that badly there'd be nothing stopping them from turning you out."
"No. I've seen the way those councillors act around you. Most of them are scared half to death of you. You can be very...er... intimidating when you want to be."
"Is that so?" I asked, intrigued.
"Very much so."
I was thoughtful for a moment. Maybe it's worth while to stay. After all, this is still my country, no matter what they say."


A week dragged by. I spent a majority of that time testing out the theory that a majority of the councillors were afraid of me. It seemed that they were indeed afraid. I didn't know whether to be insulted or flattered. I decided on neither, and opted to use every manipulative cell in my body to turn things. I was sick of being treated like a stupid woman, and I wanted it to stop.
I sat in on the next council meeting. I did my best to be as intimidating as possible, and it must have worked since I hadn't been thrown out. Alas, that was only half of the battle since my advice still went unheeded. I continued to push my plan of guarding Naville on the councillors, but no one would listen. The only thing they seemed able to accomplish was an argument.
Michael was a constant comfort to me. He was easy to get along with. Serious when he needed to be, funny when he wanted to be. There were times, though, when I could scarce stand his presence, for he reminded me so much of Lucus. He seemed to understand that, and withdrew when my mood suddenly turned. That, also, was a comfort.
By the end of that week I was at the end of my leash. If they weren't going to listen to me the least they could do was get something done.
When an emergency council meeting was called, I was hopeful that someone had had some sort of marvelous idea, or at least that some sort of progress would be made. I was wrong. Naville had fallen. Naville, the largest of all of Arsantia's provinces. If only those idiots would have listened to me.
A few of those idiots, though, began to turn their attention to me somewhat during that meeting. For once, someone actually asked my opinion. We were trying to decide if it was safe enough to remain in Kaston. The council was tied half and half between going and staying. I voted that we go. After all, the council was really the only form of government that was left in Arsantia. If something were to happen to it... the consequences were unfathomable. I wasn't looking forward to moving house again. Moving Deimos was enough trouble as it was, but necessity was necessity. But of course, we stayed.
Days dragged on, and my fury built and built. No doubt sometime soon some sort of explosion would take place concerning me and several of the councilors. I think Belle knew it, because she tried to keep me away from council meetings at all cost. Michael even seemed to know it, because at some point he joined forces with Belle to keep me away. Try as they might, I wouldn't stay away. I continuously forced my opinion furiously upon the council, and they hated it. After several confrontations (mostly with Amherst) it became apparent that I would no longer submit to being thrown out, they hated it even more. It seemed that there were only six councillors on the whole team of fifteen that weren't completely against me. That, at least, I had going for me.
Amherst I came to hate. He was ten times worse than Banks, and banks was intolerable enough as it was. Amherst was self-righteous, sexist, and worst of all completely stupid. Something, I decided, must be done to bring him down.
Nothing in the results today.
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