Standing on a balcony perched on a fancy hotel in which the nonfreesonian delegation stood a single woman. The slowly Setting Sun illuminated her olive skin and her dark curly hair. The sunlight glistened off her silk bathrobe that was wrapped tightly around her forum. The calming silence filling the area was only ended when the wrinkles of a fresh cigarette being slowly pulled out of some wrinkled wrapping then having the end struck repeatedly to pack the tobacco. The woman slowly brought the cigarette up to her lips before igniting it with torch lighter and taking in a large huff. Abigail sky didn't want to be here. She never asked to become the spouse of the leader of our nation. This was never in her plan. Her silent moment of self-reflection came to a sudden end as a voice came echoing out from the hotel room she was sharing with her fiance
“ ow dammit” the inescapable voice of her fiance Patrick vexa called out
“Sir if you would just let me…” a third much deeper voice tough and rough with age replied calmly
“ Smith I don't need help shaving I'm not 13 anymore” griffin replied annoyed
“ very right sir… but you will be representing our nation and your father's Legacy. Perhaps you should just let a professional do it” the gruff voice of Griffins butler Smith replied at the sound of Steel against the leather wrong out through the room as a more professional shave was applied to the new chairman.
Abigail sighed once again taking another long huff of her cigarette waiting for her finance to emerge.
When he finally did, rubbing his hand against his face feeling just how smooth the professional shave could get it. She sighed “ did he wipe your ass to?” flicking the butt of her cigarette off the balcony and into the streets below.
Griffin gave her a disapproving look “ don't do that. This isn't like back home, they take that shit very seriously, it's not just a disapproving look from your neighbors”
“ oh I'm so sorry. Is that not how the wife of the chairman is supposed to act? Or you just going to introduce me as Professor Sky, someone you just had to bring along to meet the empress and a bunch of other foreign dignitaries so she could make a fool out of her shy ass!” she replied angrily walking into their shared bedroom and slamming the balcony door
“ look I know you don't want to be here but this is essential to get diplomatic relations going smoothly.” he sad walking over and trying to offer her a hug. Once she flatly refused by pushing her away
“ it's not about the ball Griffin. God damnit it's it's not about the stupid ball. It's about everything else. It's about the plans we made before this all went to hell. Whatever happened to us taking up positions at the University like we were offered? Being professors? Having fun? Then starting a family in a few years?! Staying the hell out of the crazy world that your parents inhabited!? What the hell happened to all those plans that we had ?! “ she replied starting to break down tears causing her makeup to stream.
Griffin offered her another hug this one she accepted as the two embraced “ shhh shh... you know I couldn't say no to the board of directors. No one can. I didn't plan on this either. I never wanted to succeed my father. “ he replied softly feeling her head down into his shoulders
“ i know….i know” she choked out “ it's just I'm scared. What happened to your parents…. How long until it happens to us? People feared your mother, people loved your father, yet look how they both ended up. Your mother was in charge of the Liquidators. Your father was the chairman for god sakes. And both of them had…. accidents” the tears began to slow down slightly “ oh God Griffin how are we going to survive? We're trying to step into the shoes of giants”
Griffin held her. It was true he was scared. If someone could take down his father what hope did he have? But he couldn't think about that right now. Or at least not show how scared he was. He kept his calm composure letting her cry it out “ don't worry I have a plan. If we can just get through this night and get a free trade agreement into the works” he said sounded so confident. Even if he was lying to her she couldn't tell it all.
“...o...ok” she said sniffling one last time “ ill...go get changed” she said walking into the bathroom slipping out of her bathrobe before she went in.
Griffin looked down at the bed at his own outfit for tonight. A black tuxedo tailored to a micrometer. The only distinguishing feature on its clean Sleek design was the flag of his Nation in the form of a pin on his lapel.
The sound of the door opening behind him caused him to turn around and a smile to crawl across his face as he viewed his fiance and her dress. Black evening dress with intricate spider webbing patterns following it threw out. It was surrounded by a red lacing. And the dress had a slit in it so that one leg could be exposed. It's cutting allowed it to look elegant while the same time giving its wearer a sexy figure “... am I supposed to look as pretty as the empress? “ Abigail replied sarcastically
“ no… you're supposed to outshine her.” He said reaching into his bag and pulling out heavy golden necklace with an incredibly intricate pattern of diamonds rubies and sapphires in the pattern of a heart on the front flanked by other precious gems
Her eyes lit up, the history major in her already knew what it was but her amazement still lit up across her face “ that's the heart of nonfreesonia…” she said is statically. This ancient artifact had been assumed lost in their Civil War. It was always worn by the sitting Queen and on one occasion the lover of a particular King who had a vindictive Vendetta against his wife.
Patrick walked around her smiling slowly placing the heavy gold chain on her neck. “ my dad kept a few pieces of the Imperial treasury after the war. Not all of it had to go into rebuilding the nation” Griffin said quietly before kissing her cheek, before having smith help him get on his tuxedo.
Soon after a loud knock came from the door. Smith was quick to answer it and outside their door stood two women in their late sixties. The first one dressed in a very highly decorative Naval Admirals dress unifrom. The second one wore an elegant white dress. Both seem too much more in their element and more prepared to go.
“ auntie Victoria “ Griffin said happily pinning on his lapel
“ the motorcade is ready I suggest you….” she had a brief pause at the site of what had been the National Treasure of the royal government before shaking herself back to reality “...come with us”
The two nodded following her to the elevator and down to their motorcade. The drive over to the Palace was silent as the two elderly women were extremely excited to finally be going to a royal ball for the first time since the fall of the empire. Far too excited to talk only staring happily into each other's eyes. And of course the two former professors now the first family of a Nation we're too nervous to speak only staring out the window at the impressive complex that they were driving up on
Griffin looked out the widow at the approaching manner. He heard the heavy brakes slamming against the wheels bring the car to a stop. The door was open for him at all for his guests walked out. They were escorted to the back where they came face-to-face with the empress.
The Chairman extended his hand showing that they were equals “ your highness its so good to see you” he said smiling