The clock chimed eight times in the King's meeting room at the Aquitaine Palace. Prime Minister Jeanne Hollingsworth glanced at her watch, set fast by five minutes, as she waited for the King to finally arrive. Hollingsworth was not the type to be late, and she wasn't very tolerant of people who were late for meetings. Of course, as Prime Minister of Brettaine, she answered only to the King, so she would have to bite her tongue and wait until the sovereign arrived.
Two minutes later, with his aide de camp by his side, the King entered the room. He was dressed in casual clothing, having played polo with his sons earlier that afternoon. It was the first time the King would be meeting with Hollingsworth's ministry.
The King had dealt with female Prime Ministers in the past. Upon the untimely death of his father in 1986, the King found himself meeting with the strong-willed Margaret Shaw, the first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Brettaine who stayed in that position until 1990. Twenty-one years later, Brettaine elected their second female Prime Minister, one who cold give Shaw a run for her money vis-à-vis determination, willpower, and confidence.
As was customary for the evening meetings, things were handled quite casually. Paul had done away with the formality of evening meetings that persisited until the end of his father's short reign, opting instead for a quick, casual discussion about domestic and international affairs with his ministry before a light supper with his family. The King disliked formality in private settings, and liked the way Hollingsworth's predecessor handled the meeting.
When he arrived in the room, the Ministry stood and Hollingsworth, a shorter woman standing about 160 centimetres high, offered her hand to the King and a short bow. The King knew that Hollingsworth would be more likely to cling to tradition than Dahlgren. It was one of the reasons why he didn't care much for Conservative ministries.
"Your Highness," said Hollingsworth, welcoming the King to the meeting.
"My dear Mrs. Hollingsworth. There is no need to bow in my study for the sake of an evening meeting," said the King. "Please be seated," he said to the other Ministers.
The only familiar face the King saw in the room that evening was Defence Minister Caudyll, whom Hollingsworth had kept on board from the previous Ministry for his voluminous knowledge about the Brettish Armed Forces and his willingness to expand the Defence Budget. Stymied by the Reform ministry of James Dahlgren, Caudyll found an ally in Hollingsworth, and hoped that staying on board would help build up Brettish defences at home and abroad.
"Well, first I would like to welcome you all here. I hope you didn't have much problems at the door," said the King, a witty opening which generated some dry laughter from the Ministers. "Madame Prime Minister, would you please provide the evening report?"
"Your Majesty," she started. "Today, the Senate ratified the treaty for the Northwestern Collective Security Coalition by a vote of 75 to 1, which has formalized our entry into the alliance and will need only Royal Ascent pending your signature," she started.
"I plan to sign the treaty tomorrow morning before a Press event," said the King in response.
"The Premiers of Kenamond and Kent provinces in the east are requesting further assistance in regards to the Aresuran refugee crisis, which has worsened over the past few weeks. The House of Representatives plans to address these concerns tomorrow afternoon. They are requesting more resources to counter increased crime in the region as well as providing for civilian refugees who cannot be fed properly."
The King simply nodded in response.
"Next week, I plan to travel to Villesen to meet with President Renaudière and formally present the Sereniérrese heroes of Flight 239 with the Cross of Valour for their actions," said the Prime Minister.
"No," said the King in response.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty?" asked the Prime Minister, taken aback by his curt response to her proposal.
"You may meet with President Renaudière to discuss security matters as part of your constitutional duties as Prime Minister. But I shall present the CV awards myself. I believe it is the duty of the Sovereign to present such a prestigious award. Therefore I ask you to inform the Sereniérrese that I shall visit Villesen as part of the State Visit myself, with you and your Ministry in attendance." said the King in response.
"Very well, Your Majesty," said Hollingsworth in response.
After discussing domestic concerns, particularly the Parliament's agenda for the next three years, the King dismissed the group and went to supper with his wife and youngest son, Prince Michael.
A new day, a new ministry. It would prove to be a rather eventful one at that, the King could already tell.
(OOC: please excuse typos, I'm writing this on an iPad and touch typing is impossible.)
Two minutes later, with his aide de camp by his side, the King entered the room. He was dressed in casual clothing, having played polo with his sons earlier that afternoon. It was the first time the King would be meeting with Hollingsworth's ministry.
The King had dealt with female Prime Ministers in the past. Upon the untimely death of his father in 1986, the King found himself meeting with the strong-willed Margaret Shaw, the first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Brettaine who stayed in that position until 1990. Twenty-one years later, Brettaine elected their second female Prime Minister, one who cold give Shaw a run for her money vis-à-vis determination, willpower, and confidence.
As was customary for the evening meetings, things were handled quite casually. Paul had done away with the formality of evening meetings that persisited until the end of his father's short reign, opting instead for a quick, casual discussion about domestic and international affairs with his ministry before a light supper with his family. The King disliked formality in private settings, and liked the way Hollingsworth's predecessor handled the meeting.
When he arrived in the room, the Ministry stood and Hollingsworth, a shorter woman standing about 160 centimetres high, offered her hand to the King and a short bow. The King knew that Hollingsworth would be more likely to cling to tradition than Dahlgren. It was one of the reasons why he didn't care much for Conservative ministries.
"Your Highness," said Hollingsworth, welcoming the King to the meeting.
"My dear Mrs. Hollingsworth. There is no need to bow in my study for the sake of an evening meeting," said the King. "Please be seated," he said to the other Ministers.
The only familiar face the King saw in the room that evening was Defence Minister Caudyll, whom Hollingsworth had kept on board from the previous Ministry for his voluminous knowledge about the Brettish Armed Forces and his willingness to expand the Defence Budget. Stymied by the Reform ministry of James Dahlgren, Caudyll found an ally in Hollingsworth, and hoped that staying on board would help build up Brettish defences at home and abroad.
"Well, first I would like to welcome you all here. I hope you didn't have much problems at the door," said the King, a witty opening which generated some dry laughter from the Ministers. "Madame Prime Minister, would you please provide the evening report?"
"Your Majesty," she started. "Today, the Senate ratified the treaty for the Northwestern Collective Security Coalition by a vote of 75 to 1, which has formalized our entry into the alliance and will need only Royal Ascent pending your signature," she started.
"I plan to sign the treaty tomorrow morning before a Press event," said the King in response.
"The Premiers of Kenamond and Kent provinces in the east are requesting further assistance in regards to the Aresuran refugee crisis, which has worsened over the past few weeks. The House of Representatives plans to address these concerns tomorrow afternoon. They are requesting more resources to counter increased crime in the region as well as providing for civilian refugees who cannot be fed properly."
The King simply nodded in response.
"Next week, I plan to travel to Villesen to meet with President Renaudière and formally present the Sereniérrese heroes of Flight 239 with the Cross of Valour for their actions," said the Prime Minister.
"No," said the King in response.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty?" asked the Prime Minister, taken aback by his curt response to her proposal.
"You may meet with President Renaudière to discuss security matters as part of your constitutional duties as Prime Minister. But I shall present the CV awards myself. I believe it is the duty of the Sovereign to present such a prestigious award. Therefore I ask you to inform the Sereniérrese that I shall visit Villesen as part of the State Visit myself, with you and your Ministry in attendance." said the King in response.
"Very well, Your Majesty," said Hollingsworth in response.
After discussing domestic concerns, particularly the Parliament's agenda for the next three years, the King dismissed the group and went to supper with his wife and youngest son, Prince Michael.
A new day, a new ministry. It would prove to be a rather eventful one at that, the King could already tell.
(OOC: please excuse typos, I'm writing this on an iPad and touch typing is impossible.)