(Joint post with Cowlass)
4th March, 2025
Chantilly, District de la République-Capitale, Federation of Lapérouse
Alexandra gave a respectful nod towards the guards that stood outside her estate, guarding the entrance to it. She was dressed in an royal ceremonial uniform though one that had some minor monarcho-socialist imagery as was expected of her role as High Jarlynja of one largest socialist nations on Urth. As much as the combination had been a matter of confusion for others, including some within her own family. Alongside the uniform was the ‘ceremonial’ saber sheathed on her hip, though the original supposed ceremonial nature of the sword have been put into question lately. Her father had warned her that dueling was still done in the Federation. But not about their frequency. It was only when she finally entered her estate that she could let her shoulders relax and a heavy sigh leave her as she could let the mask slip. Placing a hand on her shoulder to rub it.
“Gods one day I’m gonna kill that bi-” She stopped in the middle of her sentence as her eyes landed on her husband, who was holding their two daughters in his arms. Though they were just one year old, she still felt bad almost cursing in front of them. Clearing her throat as she smiled warmly walking up to them. “Just a stressful day at work.” She quickly reassured her husband as her neko tail began gently swaying, leaning in to give a peck on his lips and then reaching up to scratch her daughters small little heads, scratching between their ears.
“Well it wouldn’t be work if it was all play now.” Thierry gave a warm smile in return. Keeping a firm hold on the twins as they eagerly tried to escape the confines of his arms. “It is another beautiful day at least, I took the girls out to the museum of traveling entertainment and I think Judith really liked the history of the clown noses section.” He raised up Judith who gave a weak clap and reached out towards her mom.
“Gods she better not become a fan of clowns now.” Alexandra said with a small chuckle as she grabbed hold of Judith, the little girl immediately snuggling its small head against her chest. With Judith’s small brown tail swaying as she held into her. “Hopefully I’ll have some more time to spend with the three of you, duty is important but so is family after all.” She leaned down to give her daughter another peck on the forehead. Though as she was about to speak she could hear her phone ring in her pocket. She didn’t even need to tell her husband as he picked up Judith again, though she did give him an apologetic look.
He took back the future clown fan in his arm. Unfortunately causing the other gremlin, Magrete to start crying for no other reason than she could. “It is quite alright honey, go save the Federation. I’m going to lay these two down for their nap.” He gave a kind look towards his wife. “Then I’m going to see if I can find a nice big statue of a clown to put into our bedroom.” He gave a small laugh as he turned around and stepped away from his wife before she could respond.
“If you do that I will ensure you’re not sleeping tonight!” Alexandra called up after him as he began walking away.
“Maybe we have twin boys this time!” He taunted right back, walking into the estate’s main building. One of the guards opened the door for him, suppressing their snicker.
“Not with the genes I got, now go and be a good traditional husband!” She spoke back to him, crossing her arms as she rolled her eyes as the door closed behind him. Her eyes landed on the guard who was struggling to suppress their snickering. Though eventually did so. She let out a sigh as she reached into her pocket and took out her phone. When looking at it she noticed instead of a normal phone call, it was a video call from Pierre. Specifically a group one, which she does not remember she had any planned meetings today.
Though not questioning it she immediately answered it, holding the phone up enough to capture her face straight forward. Alongside the always angry looking Jeanne Pierre, was also the mildly annoyed face of her father whose eyebrows were a bit narrowed. Almost causing her to be concerned. “Madam Pierre. Father. Is everything alright?” She asked in a professional tone though her face was softer than typical. Which caused Olav to let out a sigh, as his own face softened.
“Everything is alright, there was just a minor favor that I needed to ask your opinion on. Which seemingly required Mrs. Pierre to be here as well.” Her father’s face might have been one that had a polite smile and professional demeanor, but she could hear by his tone that he was a bit… miffed to say the least.
“It is not seemingly, and this could have been completed through an email, rather than a video call.” Mrs. Pierre gave an equally professional demeanor though her expression and tone was still locked into a state of anger due to her medical condition.
The king kept his professional smile even if slightly tensing up. “It could, but I’m certain my daughter would be happy hearing about this directly rather than one email among a hundr-”
“Oh! Is that Alexandra!” Alexandra heard her mom’s footsteps before seeing her pop her head out behind Olav. Wilhelmina giving a bright smile. “Hello Pierre, how is Charlotte doing?”
“The child is performing adequately, but to circle back to the point of this. An email would mean we could have signed the paperwork for this digitally rather than occupy all of our busy schedules with an unprompted meeting.” Mrs. Pierre responded as the queen of Norgsveldet waved hello.
“Oh that’s… Very nice?” Wilhelmina gave a look towards her husband Olav before looking back at the camera. “Can you tell Thierry thank you for the recipes he sent over? Oh! And send me more pictures of my grand-babies.” She gave a bright smile in a video call where no one else was genuinely smiling.
Alexandra was the first other person to actually genuinely smile rather than faking it like her father was as she couldn’t help but let out a warm chuckle, having to slightly cover her mouth to muffle the laughter. “I will, he took the kids to a museum today so I am certain you will get new ones soon. Though they may or may not include clowns.” She said in a warm tone.
“Clown bad. No.” Majority of the time, and throughout her life. Wilhelmina held a perfect Osfjordian accent with her Norgsveltian. Rarely ever cracking it or showing her native accent or language of Southern-Borean Nys’tat’en. Though in times of great stress, emotional disturbance and related bursts. It shined through her Norgsveltian heavily, as she spoke with her extremely heavy native accent. “Clowns steal laughter. Not good.”
Madame Pierre’s eyes shifted slightly as she looked into the camera, looking more towards Olav and Wilhelmina than just broadly at the group chat. Almost about to question why clowns and why did that cause her to speak so weirdly. Though she held back her tongue this time at least.
“Soup bad.” Alexandra muttered out quietly as she perfectly replicated the heavy accent of her mother’s as she tried her best to hold back a smile.
“Alexandra…” Olav let out a small sigh at that, shaking his head as his fake smile dropped for a moment.
“Sorry.” Alexandra cleared her throat as she gave a professional look once more, as she looked towards the camera. “So what was the matter at hand again?”
“Well, there is a Royal Wedding held in the country of Shimajiro between Crown Prince Hikari and Sumire Moriyama. In which we have been invited too.” As much as her father tried to be respectful, she could hear him struggling to pronounce the latter’s name.
Alexandra gave a small nod at that though she subtly had to search up the country’s name while keeping herself in the video. “Oh right, Shimajiro. Quite a bit away, but it’s not like you haven’t traveled further distances for similar events.” She said with a smile.
Olav gave a weaker smile at that. “Me and your mother cannot travel there, it’s held in April.” She saw her father reach up to grab her mother’s much smaller hand gently rubbing it with his.
“I have my annual checkup in the Federation for KGID.” Wilhelmina’s voice went soft. This moment was ruined by Madame Pierre.
“As such they can’t go, so his majesty wants to send you and your husband instead. Though his majesty wanted to… Skip certain procedures with the formal request to the High Jarlynja. Which of course is not possible, rules and protocol exist for a reason.” Mrs. Pierre being quick to try to get this back on point and not waste her time. “There will be some paperwork in your inbox soon enough that you need to fill out.”
“Then I will have the paperwork filled out as soon as possible.” Alexandra gave a determined nod at that, being stoic in her tone even though internally she was screaming. Her father seemingly had noticed it as she saw him give her a sympathetic look. Though soon it was replaced with a professional one.
“It is important to state as well that you will be going there not just as High Jarlynja of the Federation, but as Crown Princess of the Crown Realm representing them all. Though I trust that you’ve already read through the protocols and rules connected to that.” His tone was clear and strong as he said that.
“Yes father, me and Thierry will do our best when representing the Crown Realm in this.” She spoke in a similar tone, though there was noticeable hint of exhaustion in it.
“Oh! We can babysit my grandbabies after my checkup!” Wilhelmina gave a small cheer, squeezing her husband’s hand tightly.
“I believe that is everything.” It wasn’t clear if Pierre was asking a question or if she was simply giving a statement.
“Well I certainly wouldn’t be saying no to getting to spend more time alone with Thierry, so if you two could babysit them it would be great.” Alexandra spoke in a bit warmer tone.
“The only other thing is likely security but that topic is better discussed in detail with the actual governments. At very least Shimajiro’s government needs to be notified that we are expecting high security for Alexandra.” The Crown Princess couldn’t help but let out a small sigh at hearing her father say that.
“Father, from what I’ve heard, they are quite a safe and peaceful country. I think I’ll be quite safe with the general security they provide.” She gave her father a tired look.
“Better safe than sorry.” Olav gave a more serious look towards her as he said that.
“Oh we could ask the boy is willing to have Yuri go with her as a bodyguard.” Wilhelmina gave a poke to Olav’s cheek.
The king rolled his eyes at that but let out a chuckle nonetheless. “If Jørgen is willing to lend him out, than yes I think that sounds great.”
“Well, as you said father it is up to the governments to consider what level of security is expected and needed for this.” Alexandra said in shaking his head slightly at how protective her father could be at times.
“Olav, Olav’s Beard is holding another snake again.” Wilhelmina gave a tired voice, looking away from the camera. Small window tapping sounds are heard.
“We can send a small deployment of marines along with the High Jarlnyja and her husband. The other option being a few squads from the self defense forces from Chantilly division.” Pierre suggested, taking a sip from her coffee.
“Damn it.” Olav grumbled for a moment as he got out of his seat, giving his phone to Wilhelmina as he walked off camera. Alexandra only able hear his voice in the distance cursing their fox. “I told you to stop trying to bring them inside!” She heard his voice going further away in the distance.
The Crown Princess couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle hearing that before she looked towards the camera to focus on Pierre. “As long Shimajiro would be fine with it. Now anything else?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.
“O.B. to stop bringing dead snakes to the house. I told your father to stop rewarding him when he brings them indoors and only do it outside but nooo, the greenhouse is basically outdoors he said.” Wilhelmina gave a rather sassy tone.
“I will have the request drafted up. I must go now. Goodbye.” Pierre was quick to leave the video call soon after.
Alexandra let out a small chuckle at her mother’s sassy tone. “I should likely get going as well, have to make sure Thierry hasn’t added any clown statues in our bedroom.”
Wilhelmina gave a small scowl at the comment. “He is getting too bold now, just the other day. He actually spoke to me without having you there.” Her scowl turned into a soft teasing smirk.
“Don’t worry I told him I will make sure he doesn’t sleep tonight if decides to do that.” Alexandra rolled her eyes at that as she let out another chuckle. “Speak to you another time, mom. Love you! Tell dad I love him as well!”
“Love you too Sweet. It would be good to see my grand-babies without Thierry being all worried about them getting spoiled. Oh, and try to even out the gender ratio with Thie-” Before her mother even got a chance to say anything further, O.B. that dastardly flashy fox jumped into frame and onto Wilhelmina’s waiting arms. Not having a snake in his jaws, but looking back behind him towards the stomping footsteps.
“O.B I swea-”
Alexandra ended the call there, placing a hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter as she shook her head in amusement. Laughing even a bit further until calming down enough, putting her phone back into her pocket. Well, it seems like she is going for a long trip at least.
To the Imperial Family of Shimajiro
I must state with high gratitude of being invited to your wedding, one which will certainly be remembered by the gods. Though it is one in which me and my loving wife cannot attend ourselves. Which I will humbly apologise for.
In our stead, my daughter, Crown Princess and High Jarlynja Alexandra, and her husband Prince Thierry, will be attending instead. Going there as representatives for the entirety of the Crown Realm. As such our governments will be in contact about the security arrangement to discuss the details of such.
May the gods bless your wedding and your nation.
Sincerely, with deep respect and gratitude.
His Majesty, Olav I of the Crown Realm and the Fylkir of Ulvriktru.
