The Inaugural Address

PART II - ENTRY I

THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF HRH, EMPRESS ALEXANDRIA SCORPIUS

DIVINE RULER OF THE ASTROLOGICAL COMMONWEALTH

November 21st, 2400

My dearest citizens,

I write this inaugural address with a quivering yet impatient heart. However, before I delve into the intent of releasing such a historically large address, I feel the need to disclose that I am writing this announcement in the comfort of a beautiful, satin covered chair with legs made of the rarest and most expensive wood available at the time of its construction. Hesitantly, I sit in this chair in the center of an expensively lavish, extravagant, and imperial office. An office that takes up only a small space in the Imperial Mansion here in New Wellington. A mansion, that, I regret to say, was constructed under a budget higher than the total annual government aid to three of our twelve territories, combined. Not only that, but it was built by the hands of people who were not paid appropriately for their hard labor.

As previously stated, I sit with a quivering hesitance in this daunting office. Surrounding me are pristine paintings of the past Scorpius emperors, painted with the realities of each of their reigns hidden behind an artistic, glorious façade. As the first reigning female ruler, I feel reporting what has happened to me may cause political unrest within our government, as women are still seen by many as weak and foolish. To this I reply that although this report may be foolish, it is far from weak. What is more foolish than this address is the fact that the government of our beautiful nation, a government in which I was destined to inherit one day, has been lying to me my entire life, along with the rest of the nation. With this collection of the following letters, I hope to not only end the lies, but also inspire the nation to hold its government accountable from this day forward. I love and hold the people of this nation too close to my heart to allow the continuance of the lies and abuses conducted by the former administrations.

Let me begin: my name is Alexandria Scorpius. I was born on the centennial anniversary of our founding, November 21st, 2375, at 11:59 PM. I was the last child born this day under the ancient astrological sign of Scorpio, and therefore was destined to be the leader of this Commonwealth at the age of 25. I am named after the founder of our nation, Alexander Scorpius. With his fantastic legacy in mind, it pains me to report that I was wronged to a rather severe degree once I was taken under the wing of the House of Scorpius to prepare for this office. As the ruler of the nation that wronged me, I refuse to allow what was done to happen again. While reading this address, I warn you to remember that it is intended NOT to destroy the Commonwealth, but rather critique and better it for the future.

After taking my first breath, I was taken into the care of The Ruling House of Scorpius, and from an early age, the House taught me that I was born with a Divine Duty to serve the people. I studied ancient empires, political sociology, and government theory. The intent of my life before this inauguration was to prepare for this throne, and now I must serve the commonwealth for the good of the people. With countless, invaluable lessons of this Divine Duty and supreme leadership drilled into me, I find the difficult intent of this address to be my first true test as your Empress. I am quite aware many will disagree that this address is a smart move as my first announcement to the public, and I ask for those with this concern to be patient and practice understanding. One of the first lessons in my teachings was to always do what was in my power to benefit the Commonwealth, no matter how inconvenient or unpopular I may view such a task. To those concerned by this address and it's message, understand that I am anything but a rebel. I plan to rebuild the Commonwealth from the ruins made out of it by my predecessors, not further destroy it. Such reconstruction is a perfect example of how I plan to serve the people with my Divine Duty.

As previously stated, I was born on November 21st, along with each of the emperors before me. However, unlike my predecessors, I have discovered that I was not born an only child. (Although today it is highly illegal for the parents of any Divine Ruler to parent another child, it was not illegal at the time I was born.) This startling news came to me exactly a year before this address was to be written, on my 24th birthday, behind the backs of my overseeing staff in the Imperial Mansion. I discovered, through the help of a few disclosed accomplices, a large collection of letters addressed to me from a man that went by the name of Philip Sangra. I soon discovered through reading his letters that this man was my younger biological twin, born promptly at 12:02 AM on November 22nd, 2375. (Just three minutes after my birth.) I was separated from this sibling after we were born, unaware of his existence. Unfortunately, Philip passed before we could meet to address his concerns regarding the health of the Commonwealth, listed in his own words, of which were so graciously and bravely calculated in his letters addressed to me. Perhaps more unfortunately, however, is the fact that his service to the Commonwealth will be recognized only after his death.