Queen by accident

Seventh part: Duke Prascani

  -Let me deal with Consul Hulwich. Is it alright to have the consul and his wife joining our lunch, Tillie?

  -Of course! They are a pleasant company.

  -Great! Vasyli, I can't stand the Fonarian ambassador...

  -I stopped by at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is summoned to appear before me this afternoon for a formal briefing. Tides have turned yet again for the Fonarian Empire. A merchant – friend of mine – told me two days ago that last week an entire imperial army – one hundred twenty thousand strong – was completely routed near the town of Pasca.

  -But that's within the imperial border! Are they on the defensive that bad?

  -They've recently lost control of what used to be until twenty years ago the Kingdom of Henia. All imperial forces are in full retreat. The ambassador is in no position to ask for anything significant.

  -Would you like to join us at breakfast, Minister Mavrenkov? Mrs. Matilda asks.

  -Unfortunately, I have to pass this generous offer. A friend of mine asked for an audience for one of her friends – a trader – for today. Now that the princess decided to give me some free time, I'd like to see what this person wants before meeting with the ambassador. That being said, I think it's time for me to leave.

  -Just a moment, Vasyli. What about the orcs?

  -They are a proud people. The best scenario for our relations with them would be an audience with the princess. I can't see her agreeing with what we could ask. We need someone younger... a bit different...

  Both men stand there, looking around and thinking, their looks cross and they both shout at the same time:

  -Prascani!

  -I'll visit Prascani on my way to the ministry. He won't refuse us.

  We could stick around a little longer to listen to what madame Bruchnof has to say about the High Priest or to attend the lunch with them and the consul or to follow Minister Mavrenkov in his usual routine of granting audience to merchants looking for opportunities, attending ministerial duties and meeting members of the high society. But I prefer to move back to the royal residence. In order not to confuse the reader, it almost lunch time now, around twelve o'clock. A carriage arrives at the stairs of the building and a twenty-four years old Minister Luciano Valerio Prascani greets the guards with his usual good mood. The guards answer his salute with a military one. Tall, well built, with his dark playful eyes and small forehead, he is a view worth seeing. He enters the saloon, greets the servant there and informs him about his intention of visiting the princess. The servant delivers the message and asks the minister to wait in there for an answer. To Prascani's surprise, Minister Mavrenkov's visit was not among the most productive ones. The princess soon walks down the round stair of the saloon:

  -Good day, Your Majesty! Please excuse my unexpected visit!

  -I've been told you're Minister Prascani... Aren't you little young to hold a ministerial position?

  -I assure Your Majesty that my knowledge in the realm of finances is more than enough to supplement for my lack of experience.

  The princess's eyes search his face while his soft voice is providing the answer to her question. Her face remains unchanged, yet she decides not to send him away:

  -Please follow me into my study. It would be considered uncivilized to have a conversation in the hallway. Follow me, please!

  -Thank you, Your Majesty!