When Elizabeth Met Augustus

Puellae tantum oblectari volunt

"If my daughters put half as much effort into marrying and bearing children as this did in deciding where to have brunch this Dynasties future would be assured!"

-Katerina Severyn

2024

Konkorde Zwei

Above the sea of Constantine


We were supposed to be in Ultramont, shopping, bottomless brunch and pastries to make a gourmet weep, my sister has never been one to stick to plan though. growing up as the daughters of an emperor should in theory have its perks, but when your father is a drunkard and your mother a cold-blooded asp, well let's just say that the privilage comes with a hefty price. I at least had some parental guidance, my father wasn't always drunk, but Elizabeth had no such good fortune, mother abandoned the family to raise Luther* as her pet project and father died when she was a child, she has grown to womanhood untethered by obligation or boundary and it shows.

"Ultramont, i dont want to go! if i desired to watch you stuffing pastries into your exquisuite maw like starving lioness i would have told you Silvia" Elizabeth said her tone like honey steeped in acid

At 24 she had all the features one would expect from the world's greatest dynasty, our ancestors fine boned face and high cheekbones on full display, two petulant ice blue orbs regarding the world with a mix of expectation and irritance and her hair a lustrous black that she kept long and flowing across her shoulders. she would have been a prize and a beauty, if she didnt possess the personality and emotional depth of an inbred goldfish. Still family is family and for once i actually felt the desire to acquiesce.

"Where then sister?" I asked attempting to sound as diplomatic as possible when dealing with such a trollup

"Sudiavicium, its fashion scene is alive! not like the drab shambles back home! the women wear their hair in curls and walk the marble streets in silk toga! doesnt it sound exciting!" she exclaimed unable to contain herself

The women have worn their hair in those curls for millennia and all the marble and silk in the world cannot conceal the reality, the Imperium is a mans world and always will be, still she wasnt wrong about the elegance and truthfully what harm could one trip produce?

"Suadivicium then...but only for few days, i really don't want to hear mother lecturing us at the next family gathering" i cautioned with a wagging finger

"Why can't you act like your brother? you represent our dynasty!" Elizabeth replied with a malicious grin, her mocking impression of mothers thick Szlavic accent a thing of perfection

Our mother, the so called "White Lioness" of South Ethia, Dowager Empress Katerina Severyn, a bitch by any other name would be just as shrill. The thought of bringing her irritation was too tempting an offer to pass up, if only id known then what our actions would produce.

*Luther I Kaiser of South Ethia

Suavidicum retail district.
2024

Suavudici tabloids were... pushy to say the least. As the princesses from Ethia went about their shopping the Suuavidici press followed their every move. This was, after all the first royal visits since Suavidicum was considered safe to visit. Two long years of massive Imperial investment started to bear fruit, people from all over Auroria were coming to "live like a Patrician." Business moguls and diplomats were one thing, but two Ethian princesses was something else. Every single store the duo went in was flooded with paparazzi, until the store owner showed them the famous cool Suavidici temper and forced them out.

Augustus was in his office with his consuls working to find money for another round of infrastructure repairs when a member of his Familias entered the room.

"My Imperator, my Consuls. Two Ethian princesses are in the commercial district of the capital." The servant said.

"And? As you can see we are busy with actual governance here Hadrian." The leader of the Blue party responded.

"I see, but you may want to see how they are being... crowded your majesty." Hadrian shot back, looking the Consul dead in the eyes.

"Okay, throw on the TV, lets see this." Augustus said, grabbing a cigar from his desk.

How bad could this really be? Augustus thought, The Imperium was finally getting back on the right track. Augustus had been putting in all nighter after all nighter, but change was needed. People's lives were at stake-

"Holy shit." Augustus said, his cigar falling out of his mouth.

The TV showed the luxury store Ornamenti surrounded by paparazzi. Hundreds of them were swarming these two poor girls.

"Your majesty." Consul Lucilla said.

"I think we need to help them, may I suggest sending the Imperial car to go and pick them up?"

"I think that would be a wonderful idea Mr.Lucilla. I don't mean to cut this meeting short gentlemen, but I have to prepare for guests. Send the Legate Praetorium to get them. I want 20 men of the Guard on escort." Augustus said, brushing dust off of his cigar.

"It would be a shame to waste a good one like this, wouldn't it?" The Imperator asked his attendants before they left.

As the Consuls left Augustus' office and moved to the exit of the Imperial a palace.

"That was a slick move Lucilla." Consul Brutus said while lighting his cigarette.

"He needs to find someone, the haram can only keep him company for so long." Lucilla spoke through his pipe.

"Only problem is that they're Severyn's. He likes Red-Heads, but I'm sure a blonde will do." Brutus said as the duo got into their cars.

They had a long night ahead of them, but they were hoping, so would their Imperator.

Reddite Fratri



Graffenberg Imperial Palace

Empire of South Ethia



The emperor of South Ethia glared at the television screen, his teeth were gritted in a snarl incandescent rage. Luther, I had always been considered a calm and analytical soul who was no given over to displays of emotion, the news coming out of Suadivicium had prompted a rare exception to his usual stoicism.

“I want them on the first flight back to New Bergum this evening! This is an outrage!” he growled as he paced across his office like a restless lion

Chancellor Lubeck had regarded her sovereign’s anger with commendable tolerance; the emperor was a man of logic and reason in most circumstances but even he had his moments. The princesses had thrown a spanner in the works, Luther’s carefully curated mind unable to initially deal with the sheer chaos caused by their random choice to visit the Imperium.

“Your Majesty if I may…. this could be turned to our advantage” Lubeck began

Luther stopped mid pace and shot the chancellor a look of cold apprehension, it was a rare sight but that didn’t mean Luther wasn’t capable of it, he had the same cold authoritarian blood as any Severyn, and he was more than able to summon that commanding presence when it was needed. The normally placid and accommodating Luther may as well have been Marten the Elder or Alexander in that moment, his glare spoke of a demand for explanation and she would have to acquiesce.

“Chancellor” Luther began wearily as he lowered himself into his chair and rubbed his temples, trying in vain to banish an oncoming migraine

“Two princesses of the Imperial house have deigned to visit a nation we have utterly tenuous relations with, they have been mobbed by the press, humiliated on the world stage and now rescued by the very ruler that our Scalvian allies consider the greatest threat to peace since Tongxing!* Forgive me if I do not see a positive to this mess” Luther said his tone cold and fatigued

“We can still salvage this Majesty, we need only frame this as a diplomatic exchange, the princesses are already there, why not put them to use” She suggested gently

“They are my sisters chancellor! Not some expendable tools for policy!” Luther snapped angrily

There was something admirable in the emperor’s fraternal concern, but it was terribly naïve despite the nobility of the sentiment. Princesses had always been tools for the great houses of Eras, they had caused enough mess with their impromptu holiday, perhaps now they might serve their country in some capacity other than embarrassment.

“They are also invited to the Imperator's palace, they will need to attend as a matter of courtesy in any case, we can at least use this as an excuse to curry favour with the Imperium” Lubeck offered

“You don’t curry favour with the Imperium, you bargain and accrue debt, they will seek favours and concessions, this will be a transaction for them same as any other” Luther replied grimly

“Then lets soften them up that we might get a better deal” Lubeck replied her face twisting into a wicked smile

*Emperor of Aria during the Fascist Wars

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South Ethian Embassy

Suadivicium, Capital of the Imperium

Ambassador Karl Von Wernheim was used to a great many stressors, dealing with the Imperium tended to have that effect. Much like managing a spoilt child, Wernheim had to deal with the Suadivici government and that meant dealing with their endless tantrums and protestations. Perhaps he had hoped that after the humbling that was the civil war, that the demands and complaints would abate, on the contrary the imperium seemed to bay every louder in its present form.

The Imperium was not without its merits of course, they were justifiably proud of their civilization, their cities were elegantly appointed, their food and drink exquisite and their patriotism was unrivalled. But pride was their greatest sin, they touted their glory even as it slipped away more with each passing year, the title of hegemon had been lost long ago but still they clung to it and acted as if the old imperium still stretched across the archipelago.

In practice this made the Suadivici were arrogant, antiquated and very unpredictable, still they had their moments of magnanimity and there were genuine opportunities for those who could navigate their moods and mores effectively. The arrival of two Ethian princesses wasn’t the breakthrough that Wernheim had hoped for, but the foreign office had now left him no choice but to make the best of it.

“I heard my brothers voice on the phone; he didn’t sound pleased” Princess Sylvia noted nervously

At 28 she was the spitting image of her mother, tall with blonde hair and the same piercing grey eyes that Katerina was famous for. Unfortunately, it appeared the looks were where the similarities began and ended, Sylvia and her sister both more resembled their father in behavior, the summer king’s* recklessness evident in their latest stunt. Wernheim sighed and removed his glasses, setting them on the desk.

“His majesty is famed for being a calm and reasonable soul, the man I just spoke with on the phone was considerably lacking in either quality, you have created quite the quandary”

“It was just a shopping trip!” Elizabeth interjected petulantly

“To a state our closest allies consider a threat to peace and to a country only two years out of a civil war! Your presence was like blood to sharks!” Wernheim snapped with a wagging finger, he looked like a stern grandfather

Hordes of paparazzi had mobbed the princesses and their small entourage all before the imperial security had swooped in and saved the day. It was a twin blow, the South Ethian house looked stupid and divided and worse still, indebted to the imperator. This mess would take a great deal of time to fix.

“Suppose brother wants us on the first flight home?” Sylvia asked in a resigned tone

“Not quite, the Imperator has invited you both to the palace, the diplomatic corps will be accompanying you, you are going to have an opportunity to serve your country!” Wernheim said with a wicked grin

“We could have been sipping wine in Ultramont!” Sylvia snapped with a roll of her eyes

“Oh Please!” Elizabeth snorted derisively

Wernheim made mental note to have his will updated, dining with the imperator could end very badly and he was certain if anyone was going to get him executed it would be the two debutantes in front of him.

*Manfred III was known as the “Summer King” due to his many parties and public festivals