14-04-2019, 12:25 PM
Susan emerged from one of the columns flanking the fireplace in Contessa Helena de San Finzione's bedroom. Despite being semi-dark, lit only by moonlight coming through from the balcony, the room didn't quite seem familiar to her, as much as it felt like she'd been there before. Troy and Julie's story about their visit to the castle hadn't involved much description of Helen's bedroom, so how did she have a sense of how big and comfortable the bed she still hadn't touched was?
Susan admired the décor in the dimness for a while, not wanting to turn on a light. She noticed a blue envelope sitting on one of the pillows at the head of the bed, but thought nothing of it as she moved toward the balcony. And how had she known that Helen would have a private balcony outside the room, or that she would be too curious about the view to resist stepping outside?
She felt her hair blow in the breeze as she stepped through the uncurtained glass doors, musing that movies got that part about walking out onto a castle balcony correct. The breeze shifted, causing Susan's hair to shift direction as well, and making her muse that she now understood why Helen kept her hair short. The breeze ended, and Susan saw the view.
The lights of the city below rose up before her. A central area seemed arrayed in a neat pattern, like the time she'd gone to the Space Needle at night and looked out over Seattle. The night-time lights spreading out from that area bent and twisted in ways that likely made more sense when the roads had been paved around farms and hamlets from centuries ago. She looked toward where she'd thought the hospital was and hoped she'd be able to see the candles that were being held by those outside, but the castle was too far away to make them out.
"Wow," she thought. "Helen looks at this view every day and thinks 'All of this belongs to me.' Explains a lot, really."
Susan checked the railing to make sure it was safe before leaning on it to look closer at the lights below. She noticed a lot of activity and flashing lights surrounding a building in another part of the city.
Suddenly, the building that the lights were headed toward was replaced by a bright ball of flame. She was too far away for the sound of the explosion to reach her, but that was quite clearly what had happened.
Susan backed away from the railing, looking under it a moment for fear that Helen had some concealed "Blow Something Up" button that she'd accidentally pressed. She stared at the fire for a few seconds before running back into the bedroom and looking for the button to get back to the study.
* * *
Cameras and lights were focused on the desk in La Contessa's office, in the Administrative Wing of the castle. Maria waited off camera in an emerald-green Armani pantsuit. A rope cordon kept the reporters who would be allowed to ask questions after her address out of view. The lights on the cameras lit up.
Every television and radio broadcast in San Finzione started playing the national anthem and an announcer stated that programming was being interrupted for a live address by La Contessa de San Finzione. The Castle, the Government, and her public Facebook pages also announced a live video.
The 21-year-old woman walked into the camera's view, sat at what was now her desk, and looked into the center camera.
"People of San Finzione," Maria said to the camera in English. As
interpreters translated into the country's other three official languages, she was suddenly aware of how young and girlish her voice was.
"I am Contessa Maria Louisa Francesca de San Finzione." It was the first time she'd said the words out loud. "I am pleased to report that my great grandmother, Contessa Helena, is now out of surgery; however, no updates have been given on her condition."
She looked down, then back up to the camera.
"Until she is able to resume her duties, I shall be serving you and our nation as Contessa-In-Reggenza. Stock trading will resume at normal business hours in the morning, as will normal air traffic."
Maria hadn't brought notes with her, and she silently cursed herself for giving that part of her speech earlier than she'd intended. The only flight that had'd been diverted to a neighboring country since the attack had been the one containing Troy, Julie, and Susan.
"At this time, many of you are uncertain of what the future will bring for you. Some may even be afraid."
Maria looked over as an Ultimado entered the room and ran up to her. She turned as he whispered something into her ear, then turned back to the camera and stood up.
"My people, I have just been informed of an incident which requires your Contessa's immediate attention. I am needed to perform my duty now, and do not have the luxury of assuaging your fears. There will be no questions. Thank you."
Maria followed him quickly out the door. The cameras remained on the empty desk for ten seconds before programming resumed.
* * *
Susan admired the décor in the dimness for a while, not wanting to turn on a light. She noticed a blue envelope sitting on one of the pillows at the head of the bed, but thought nothing of it as she moved toward the balcony. And how had she known that Helen would have a private balcony outside the room, or that she would be too curious about the view to resist stepping outside?
She felt her hair blow in the breeze as she stepped through the uncurtained glass doors, musing that movies got that part about walking out onto a castle balcony correct. The breeze shifted, causing Susan's hair to shift direction as well, and making her muse that she now understood why Helen kept her hair short. The breeze ended, and Susan saw the view.
The lights of the city below rose up before her. A central area seemed arrayed in a neat pattern, like the time she'd gone to the Space Needle at night and looked out over Seattle. The night-time lights spreading out from that area bent and twisted in ways that likely made more sense when the roads had been paved around farms and hamlets from centuries ago. She looked toward where she'd thought the hospital was and hoped she'd be able to see the candles that were being held by those outside, but the castle was too far away to make them out.
"Wow," she thought. "Helen looks at this view every day and thinks 'All of this belongs to me.' Explains a lot, really."
Susan checked the railing to make sure it was safe before leaning on it to look closer at the lights below. She noticed a lot of activity and flashing lights surrounding a building in another part of the city.
Suddenly, the building that the lights were headed toward was replaced by a bright ball of flame. She was too far away for the sound of the explosion to reach her, but that was quite clearly what had happened.
Susan backed away from the railing, looking under it a moment for fear that Helen had some concealed "Blow Something Up" button that she'd accidentally pressed. She stared at the fire for a few seconds before running back into the bedroom and looking for the button to get back to the study.
* * *
Cameras and lights were focused on the desk in La Contessa's office, in the Administrative Wing of the castle. Maria waited off camera in an emerald-green Armani pantsuit. A rope cordon kept the reporters who would be allowed to ask questions after her address out of view. The lights on the cameras lit up.
Every television and radio broadcast in San Finzione started playing the national anthem and an announcer stated that programming was being interrupted for a live address by La Contessa de San Finzione. The Castle, the Government, and her public Facebook pages also announced a live video.
The 21-year-old woman walked into the camera's view, sat at what was now her desk, and looked into the center camera.
"People of San Finzione," Maria said to the camera in English. As
interpreters translated into the country's other three official languages, she was suddenly aware of how young and girlish her voice was.
"I am Contessa Maria Louisa Francesca de San Finzione." It was the first time she'd said the words out loud. "I am pleased to report that my great grandmother, Contessa Helena, is now out of surgery; however, no updates have been given on her condition."
She looked down, then back up to the camera.
"Until she is able to resume her duties, I shall be serving you and our nation as Contessa-In-Reggenza. Stock trading will resume at normal business hours in the morning, as will normal air traffic."
Maria hadn't brought notes with her, and she silently cursed herself for giving that part of her speech earlier than she'd intended. The only flight that had'd been diverted to a neighboring country since the attack had been the one containing Troy, Julie, and Susan.
"At this time, many of you are uncertain of what the future will bring for you. Some may even be afraid."
Maria looked over as an Ultimado entered the room and ran up to her. She turned as he whispered something into her ear, then turned back to the camera and stood up.
"My people, I have just been informed of an incident which requires your Contessa's immediate attention. I am needed to perform my duty now, and do not have the luxury of assuaging your fears. There will be no questions. Thank you."
Maria followed him quickly out the door. The cameras remained on the empty desk for ten seconds before programming resumed.
* * *
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