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Post by Rebecca on Sept 10, 2008 17:31:19 GMT -5
((Ball to follow.))
*Trumpets sounded brightly as Rebecca made her way through the same cathedral as before, this time outfitted in some heavily-embroidered gown covered in intricate patterns of gold thread, trimmed with rich ermine and pearls. She approached the archbishop and Rudolf, who stood alongside, and knelt to receive the crown upon her head. It was a bit heavier than she'd expected, somehow, but she balanced with it, and rose without wavering after being blessed and formally declared as Empress.
She took her husband's arm as they turned to go out to face the crowds and have the declaration made to them all. She could scarcely believe it just then, and never would have imagined it possible--but she was now their queen. An entire nation would look to her and her husband for guidance and hope.
If she blanched a little, no one noticed.*
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 11, 2008 3:41:16 GMT -5
*Rudolf walked beside her outside, looking quite handsome in his far more formal uniform, someone similar to one his father had once worn. Emperor and Empress were greeted on all sides by cheering and congratulations from the mass of people around the cathedral.
It was encouraging. There was nary a negative look, from what he could see. It made him feel hopeful--that he was right, and they would take to Rebecca and love her as she should be*
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 11, 2008 4:12:21 GMT -5
*Rebecca smiled at the crowd as they pressed in on both sides of their path, then felt something tug at her heavy skirt. Looking down, she saw a small girl of barely three years old reverently stroking the golden leaves and flowers sewn onto her skirt with chubby fingers. The girl's mother broke through the crowd.*
"Forgive me, your Majesty..."
*Becca laughed.*
"They're hard to hold on to at that age, aren't they?"
*She crouched to the little girl's level to smile at her.*
"It's pretty, isn't it?"
*The little girl nodded, her eyes wide as she stuck her thumb in her mouth, her other hand still patting the dress, then poking a bracelet of pearls on Becca's wrist.*
"I like your ribbons," *said Rebecca, touching one finger to the bits of blue bows on the girl's tiny little plaits.* "You could very well be a princess yourself."
*The little girl giggled, grinning around her thumb and nodding at Becca, who glanced up at Rudolf and recalled her place with a flush.*
"I think I have to go now--will you excuse me?" *she said to the child. The girl nodded.*
"Curtsy, Bertha," *hissed the girl's mother, smiling at Becca. The little girl took a fist full of her skirt in either hand and made an awkward little bob. Rebecca returned it flawlessly, her beautiful dress whispering about her as she fell and rose. Bertha beamed and Becca returned the smile, giving the little girl a wave as she turned to keep walking with Rudolf, and the little girl shyly waved back, flapping her little hand long after the Empress had disappeared from her sight.*
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 13, 2008 18:35:55 GMT -5
*Rudolf gave Becca a little nudge as they climbed into the waiting royal carriage*
"You're very sweet, my dear."
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 14, 2008 4:55:19 GMT -5
*Becca's mouth gave a wry twist as she raised an eyebrow at her husband.*
"Having second thoughts? An Empress shouldn't be such a push-over for anything less than three feet tall."
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 15, 2008 12:49:56 GMT -5
"Absolutely not. Especially since that particular three-foot person will likely have a positive memory of you for years to come."
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 15, 2008 13:00:30 GMT -5
"Well it's not as if we need votes to retain our position," *she muttered. Pausing, she bit her lip.*
"Oh dear...that sounded quite revolutionary, almost. Papa might not be pleased with that."
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 15, 2008 18:40:18 GMT -5
*He glanced at her curiously*
"What would he approve of?"
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 15, 2008 19:10:10 GMT -5
"Loyalty to the monarchy, of course," *she murmured as the carriage pulled away to return to the palace.* "I can completely understand...and so long as the monarchy upholds a good and just form of government, I support it, indeed; but...it just seems strange for people to be ruled...by a ruler put in place by, well...an accident of birth, as it were. That is not to say I approve of a violent coup d’état...but when France became a Republic...in the beginning--they were right, I think, and the people did well."
*Her voice had gone quieter, softer. Not uncertain--merely contemplative.*
"They had every right to do as they did...they were only wrong to execute such innocents en masse...whose only crime was wealth or position. Papa did what he could, at the time..."
*She looked up at Rudolf with a shrug and a small sigh.*
"...I do not know how it is possible that I can feel my heart at once on both sides of the republican question, and yet it is so. If a monarchy is corrupt--if a Republic is corrupt--neither deserve a place of power and ought to be brought down by any means possible. No matter the form it takes...I believe a government ought to strive for goodness, no matter the cost."
*Her fingers toyed with her bracelet.*
"What care I for such jewels if there are children in Austria who starve?"
((She's an Empress for less than ten minutes and now she's spouting socialist commentary. WHOO.))
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 16, 2008 12:53:31 GMT -5
((*Splorfle*))
*Rudolf was quiet for a time, the sound the gentle clop-clop of the carriage horses' footsteps*
"Governments at their core are flawed things, mostly as they were created by flawed beings. But you can't give up on it. Because really, the alternate to that is no government, which is something I'd rather not think about."
*He sighed*
"But...I don't think we'll be so bad at it, do you?"
*He was trying to lighten the mood, though it was clear it was still on his mind*
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 16, 2008 13:11:08 GMT -5
*Becca turned to put her arms around him comfortingly.*
"I think that you are the very best of men who ever tried to be good; and you will lead this nation in just such a manner. It will be difficult, but you will prevail, as you have always done."
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 16, 2008 18:01:15 GMT -5
*He embraced her warmly, a smile appearing*
"Ah, my love, you always know what to say to make me feel better."
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 16, 2008 18:18:17 GMT -5
"It's the truth, and beware. There may be times you do not wish me to speak it."
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Post by Rudolf on Sept 16, 2008 18:41:29 GMT -5
*He kissed her cheek*
"Good. Don't let me stubborn and hard-headed about it."
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Post by Rebecca on Sept 16, 2008 18:46:33 GMT -5
"You be as stubborn as you like. I'll still win every argument." *She tousled his hair affectionately.*
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