Serenierre
Established Nation
Château de Athéne
Countryside of Champagne Province
Nicolas put the phone down. It had been his mother, Queen Diana, calling to reassure her son and heir about what lay ahead in the next few days. The official visit of the Sarmatian crown prince was important in cementing ties between the Kingdom and the Central European state. Nicolas stood up and walked over to the window, overlooking the inner courtyard garden. He had spoken with officials from the Foreign Office and had read up additionally on the facts and figures but still, just to be sure, he had some dossiers at hand in his briefcase.
As Prince of Montaigne - the Belmontien crown prince - Nicolas, effectively, ruled the Realm of Montaigne with absolute authority, overruled only by his mother. Tradition held that the Principality of Montaigne, the largest realm under the Belmontien crown, be ruled by the Belmontien sovereign's eldest son. From the very beginning, back in 814, the tradition had been maintained.
Nicolas walked back over to his desk. Shutting his mobile phone, he shoved that and several other documents and files into the large drawer. Clearing his table further, he left only the picture of his new wife, Princess Elise, and of his parents on the main desk. Though the meeting would be held in the Blue Drawing Room, he thought it best to be prepared if the other prince wanted to talk in private.
The Athéne was 25 kilometers away from Paris, in the Champagne countryside. Located deep in the south-Champagnian forests, the château had been home to many before him and had seen countless meetings such as the one planned for later in the day. Its facade was more modest than the official residence of the Prince in Mezieres but was still considered ostentatious. Built in the typical style of 1750s, the chateau was a hidden jewel in the crown.
From outside, he heard his bodyguards moving about. After a few minutes, a burly southern man, dressed in the navy blue suits of the Royal Guard entered the study.
"Your Royal Highness, Prince Tadeusz will arrive in a few moments."
"Alright, good." Nicolas paused, "Lets go to greet him."
Countryside of Champagne Province
Nicolas put the phone down. It had been his mother, Queen Diana, calling to reassure her son and heir about what lay ahead in the next few days. The official visit of the Sarmatian crown prince was important in cementing ties between the Kingdom and the Central European state. Nicolas stood up and walked over to the window, overlooking the inner courtyard garden. He had spoken with officials from the Foreign Office and had read up additionally on the facts and figures but still, just to be sure, he had some dossiers at hand in his briefcase.
As Prince of Montaigne - the Belmontien crown prince - Nicolas, effectively, ruled the Realm of Montaigne with absolute authority, overruled only by his mother. Tradition held that the Principality of Montaigne, the largest realm under the Belmontien crown, be ruled by the Belmontien sovereign's eldest son. From the very beginning, back in 814, the tradition had been maintained.
Nicolas walked back over to his desk. Shutting his mobile phone, he shoved that and several other documents and files into the large drawer. Clearing his table further, he left only the picture of his new wife, Princess Elise, and of his parents on the main desk. Though the meeting would be held in the Blue Drawing Room, he thought it best to be prepared if the other prince wanted to talk in private.
The Athéne was 25 kilometers away from Paris, in the Champagne countryside. Located deep in the south-Champagnian forests, the château had been home to many before him and had seen countless meetings such as the one planned for later in the day. Its facade was more modest than the official residence of the Prince in Mezieres but was still considered ostentatious. Built in the typical style of 1750s, the chateau was a hidden jewel in the crown.
From outside, he heard his bodyguards moving about. After a few minutes, a burly southern man, dressed in the navy blue suits of the Royal Guard entered the study.
"Your Royal Highness, Prince Tadeusz will arrive in a few moments."
"Alright, good." Nicolas paused, "Lets go to greet him."