The Emperor sat in front of the fireplace. It was drawing well, the fire put out a good warmth. The Emperor shifted in his seat, his thoughts intense on the situation. The world seemed rather indifferent to the potential loss of millions. In fact, they seemed dismissive. If they were not Franks, would it be different? He wondered what would happen should the Empire be attacked. After all, the weapons were not in control of the most reliable people; he thought. He frowned. Perhaps moving against the Patois was more than a serious mistake. Could it be a fatal error? The Emperor sighed and moved to stir the fire before sitting back down. His eyes glanced to the mural on the ceiling- a Frankish angel holding the Imperial crown in one hand and the Burgundian crown in the other. His eyes stayed there for a few moments. "The weight dragging her down" he thought sourly. A knock and an announcement as Cardinal Camus entered. The Cardinal was a well-respected Cardinal but he was known to be shrewd and in certain instances, ruthless. The Cardinal bowed before approaching and the Emperor stooped to kiss the Cardinal's ring before offering him a chair. The two sat in silence for a moment before the Emperor began. "Your Eminence, it seems as if our diplomatic efforts are landing rather poorly" he said. The Cardinal nodded slowly then exhaled deeply before an ironic smile crossed his face. "Your Majesty, these efforts were never going to work. I doubt the attempts at the Forum will accomplish anything. They are bitter. Embarrassed. Angry. Their failures to intervene, truly intervene, in the Patois incident weighs on them. Of course, we failed to use diplomacy. But, it is two sides of the same coin. it is their pride which draws down upon them. Not ours" said Camus. Ruthlessness was not his most able trait- it was manipulation. "The democracies of the world do not see us as an ally, despite our democratic systems. They see us as an enemy. A bogeyman. A convenient scapegoat. Tarusa is their public bogeyman. But deep down- they see us an example of a slippery slope. They see us not as a success for democracy but a failure of it. This is what threatens them. They see our democratic institutions but they focus on the crown. Your Majesty, no matter what course of action we take- short of destroying the crown; will find them satisfied. They are not going to accept us. Because they failed" Camus said, staring into the fire.
There was several moments of silence while the Emperor pondered this advice. He seemed to agree with some of it. "They chided us because we did not pursue the matter diplomatically. Yet, the Patois would have still been under the Germanic thumb. They made their free and democratic choice. WE offered democracy. True, both sides failed. But diplomacy must continue. For us to achieve our goals and to achieve La Grande Projet, diplomacy is necessary" he said, waving his hand in dismissal. "It will of course fail. The democratic nations will scoff at our complaints. They will sneer at us as being arrogant" he said coldly. "We need to position ourselves as being more amiable. Pure and simple. We cannot openly apologize. More, acknowledge....Still. They will not take this seriously. Any blood spilled, will again be their failure. Their mistake. At least, if their tone stays the same. I truly hope it does" he said, scratching his temple. "Go see du Pont. Tell him we need a new approach to all of this. Tell him we need to hold others to task as well" the Emperor said. The Cardinal had to work hard to hide his smile. Everything for him was falling into place.
"The key problem is that du Pont and his cronies do not understand" the Emperor went on. Despite appointing him to the suddenly vacant First Minister position, the Emperor and du Pont had developed a cold relationship. du Pont, often reluctant to release funds, was slowly becoming more and more reluctant to go along with the Emperor's wishes. "If we fail in this diplomacy, it will not only put myself into question but the entire system" the Emperor said bitterly. "We need this to work. I need this to work" he said, softly. Cardinal Camus turned slowly to face him. "There are some that would say, there is another path" the Cardinal began. The two went on for another hour discussing what road the Empire must take. By the end, the Emperor sat in front of a dying fire and Cardinal Camus left the room with a very smug look on his face.
There was several moments of silence while the Emperor pondered this advice. He seemed to agree with some of it. "They chided us because we did not pursue the matter diplomatically. Yet, the Patois would have still been under the Germanic thumb. They made their free and democratic choice. WE offered democracy. True, both sides failed. But diplomacy must continue. For us to achieve our goals and to achieve La Grande Projet, diplomacy is necessary" he said, waving his hand in dismissal. "It will of course fail. The democratic nations will scoff at our complaints. They will sneer at us as being arrogant" he said coldly. "We need to position ourselves as being more amiable. Pure and simple. We cannot openly apologize. More, acknowledge....Still. They will not take this seriously. Any blood spilled, will again be their failure. Their mistake. At least, if their tone stays the same. I truly hope it does" he said, scratching his temple. "Go see du Pont. Tell him we need a new approach to all of this. Tell him we need to hold others to task as well" the Emperor said. The Cardinal had to work hard to hide his smile. Everything for him was falling into place.
"The key problem is that du Pont and his cronies do not understand" the Emperor went on. Despite appointing him to the suddenly vacant First Minister position, the Emperor and du Pont had developed a cold relationship. du Pont, often reluctant to release funds, was slowly becoming more and more reluctant to go along with the Emperor's wishes. "If we fail in this diplomacy, it will not only put myself into question but the entire system" the Emperor said bitterly. "We need this to work. I need this to work" he said, softly. Cardinal Camus turned slowly to face him. "There are some that would say, there is another path" the Cardinal began. The two went on for another hour discussing what road the Empire must take. By the end, the Emperor sat in front of a dying fire and Cardinal Camus left the room with a very smug look on his face.