[h1]Kingdom of Zenovia[/h1]

[b]January 1st, 1940, about 8 a.m., Ilezabeta City, Kingdom of Zenovia[/b]

Sir Vali Radmridreu sat in his seat inside the second car, the first passenger car, on the train in which he took every morning. He wore a needlessly tall and large black top hat with a monocle attached to a golden wire, and was dressed in an extravagant morning coat, which he wore over his expensive suit. He walked with a cane, although it was really more of an elegant walking stick, encrusted with gold. In the seat above was his sole bodyguard. Where he was headed was the House of Parliament, where he would meet with the other cabinet members of the government to discuss the state of nation. Radmridreu felt honored to serve in the betterment of his nation in the name of the King of the people and good stable governance. It was only a small part of his job, with the bulk being the management and the administration of the Department of the Interior. 

On the other side of the train sat the seventy-six year old Adrik Milesciu, the chairman and owner of Milesciu Arms Manufacturing, one of the “Big Three of Zenovii arms production,” and he certainly served as the richest. Overseeing a near monopoly on military infantry weapons, Milesciu had become the second richest person in the nation, second only to the owner of National Steel. The two of them, on one hand a ruthless industrialist, and on the other hand a personable and moderate minister, would be considered an odd friendship. Indeed, they were only truly friends due to the close proximity at which they tended to sit. Unlike Radmridreu, Milesciu held a whole pack of bodyguards around him. After sending in mercenaries to quell a strike repeatedly, he found himself unpopular with the proletariat at large. Also unlike Milesciu, he was a Centrist, a member of the pragmatic free-market-based Centrist Democracy Party. None of that was of particular importance to Radmrideru, and the old man leaned in talk to him.

“The news this morning was very dreadful,” the old man said. “I’m sure you’ve seen it, minister, advertised on the cover of that dread tabloid [i]The Radical[/i]. It surely is a disgrace that such behavior is allowed. To show the socialists in a positive light is simply preposterous. First the Radicals advocate establishing relations, as they call it, and recognizing their unlawful usurpations, and now they smile when they see their evil socialism in action. Next they shall advocate socialism itself, or even worse, they shall ask to be annexed. We outlawed the Party of the Left, so why not do the same to these...these borderline anarchists? No party with a seat in parliament, let alone sixty, should be allowed to advocate such obviously incorrect madness!”

“Indeed, they tread on dangerous ground,” Sir Vali Radmridreu said. “To claim that such socialist policies have had any positive effects will have the same effects as if one were to advocate them.”

“Then speak on my behalf, my friend,” Milesciu said. "Your influence is far greater than you realize. Tell the cabinet what I said. And perhaps if you simply tweak the electoral booths a bit, the Radicals will find all their seats lost."

“I cannot voluntarily submit your name in my cabinet observations,” Radmridreu said. “But I will keep your words and your advice in my mind. And I cannot rig the electorate either."

The two of them talked all the way until Radmridreu reached his destination at the House of Parliament, which was indeed not too long after. The Minister of the Interior exited the train as the two men tipped top hats at each other in amiable affability, and walked out of the chugging iron machine with his lone bodyguard at his side. He only had to take a few steps with his gold-encrusted cane before he was in front of the cable car in which he had reserved. The cable car driver gave a welcoming that was full of reverence for the minister, and they were on their way after Radmridreu paid the modest sum. After driving a mere two blocks, they arrived, and the cable car driver gave Radmridreu a goodbye, and Radmridreu gave him as much respect as a father gives a child. From there, he entered the large, posh, House of Parliament. He went left from the main chamber, which lead to the two Houses, and into the passageway that lead to the area in which the ministers of the government met. He took his seat in the office of the cabinet of the government, being the third to enter.

The bespectacled Prime Minister Nikolas Cinsti was actually the first to arrive but was the last to enter, as was the custom since the establishment of the premiership in 1900. All the ministers were of course there. It was said that Cinsti had established “a team of rivals,” and while Radmridreu was unsure what journalist had come up with that nice-sounding phrase, it was what the media called them, and it described them adequately. In preparation for the incoming conflict, Cinsti had chosen the most effective MPs he could without exiting party lines, with no due given to his own personal feelings on that matter. At the table sat a mix of those of both aristocratic and humble origin, and there was a difference of mannerism between them. One side was slouched back and smug, while the other was professional and well-presented. The former were of course the aristocrats, while the latter were the low-born. 

Lord Dragomir Fierfa, Minister of Law, stood up as if to speak and said, turning towards the Prime Minister said, “The Honorable Nikolas Cinsti, if I may, and I think it should be proper that I do, the first order of discussion in which we shall engage in should be this downright insolent reporting from that regrettable tabloid, [i]The Radical[/i].”

Minister of War Adrian Brasab, with a newspaper in his hand, said, “With thanks to the Honorable Cinsti’s chief of staff for providing the effort for the ministers to attain a copy…” and he began to read the newspaper.

[i]From the Zenovii Tribunal

Adrian Funar, writer for the Radical tabloid The Radical, returned after a long journey from the former Kataylabinsk Imperium, after having reported on the election there. He reported that “there were no electoral anomalies, no fraudulent practices” at work in the former Imperium, despite the fact that no strong candidates ran against the extremist leader of the former Imperium, the noted class traitor and former empress, Yekaterina Velikaya. Funar quoted Velikaya, citing her claims that literacy has risen from seventy to ninety percent, every citizen Katalylan citizen has access to free public education and health care,” and that “the average income across all professions has increased by forty percent.” Funar later elaborate that he is not a socialist and does not support a system of market socialism but that, “we should look deeper at the fruits in which the Katalylan system has reaped, and petition the government to create a system of comprehensive welfare, healthcare, and free education.” Upon further questioning by our reporters, Funar denied that he was a raging psychopath who hated his nation, and also denied our suggestion that he was anarchist who wanted to tear apart our society and see our wives and daughters raped by Trolls and Moravs.[/i]

The foreign minister Lord Boris Perigord stood up and said, “The Honorable Nikolas Cinsti, it is imperative that any further action taken upon this time not interfere with the current intricate webbings that circumstances has conspired to employ, and not to take any immediate action concerning the former Imperium, else progress in the region be hampered. In all likelihood, this controversy will simply evaporate, with no harm being done except to that Radical journalist.”

“Lord Perigord,” Lord Fierfa said. “The question is not how this affects our relations in the region, but what the implications are for a Zenovii to publicly praise the extremists of the former Imperium.”

“I am well aware of the question,” Lord Perigord said. “And I am well aware of its limitations, as well as the surrounding, more meaningful questions. To Lord Fierfa, we must consider the long-term affects, and whether or not we are on the verge of passing a law that has already been passed. To the Honorable Nikolas Cinsti, what are your thoughts on the matter?”

“Certainly it cannot be argued that the former Imperium has spiraled into a failed state, devoid of morality and progress,” the Prime Minister said. “Certainly these words of progress are only crude propaganda by the increasingly devious socialists. But my thoughts are with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on this one. I call for a condemnation of these opinions, which are simply un-Zenovii, and I shall hand this journalist's over to the High Court. We shall take it to a vote”

“Is that all?” Lord Alexandru Gheatu, Minister of Finance said.

“Yea,” Prime Minister Nikolas Cinsti said.

“Yea,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lord Boris Perigord.

“Yea,” said Minister of War Adrian Basarab.

“Nea,” said Minister of Finance Lord Alexandru Gheata.

“Nea,” said Minister of Law Lord Dragomir Fierfa.

“Yea,” said Minister of the Interior Sir Vali Radmridreu.

The Ministers continued to discuss the issue, with the Ministers of Law and Finance, well known to be the conservative bloc in the cabinet, trying without success that stronger measures were necessary. Perhaps their greatest problem was their inability to articulate an actual alternative. After a while the issue died down, and the cabinet could focus on a few other issues.

“An even greater threat than the socialists is the Moravians,” the Prime Minister said. “Right above us is an enemy with greater manpower and greater industrial capacity than we do. Ministers, tell me, what is the status of our economy?"

Radmridreu leaned in and said, “Even with the tariffs, and with our protectionism, we do not have the industrial capacity to function as a self-sufficient economy. Fortunately, strikes are at an all-time low, with no small aid due to the strike breakers and spies of our trusts and monopolies. Those very same trusts and monopolies have fallen in line as we line their pockets with lucrative government contracts, and I imagine that is the precise reason why they do in fact fall in line. Although nationalism remains a dirty word, our people are more willing to coalesce in their collective fear of the Moravians. The Moravians remain a problem, as they continue to outpace us industrially and militarily, and we will be unable to fight an effective war alone.”
	
Lord Gheta leaned in and said, “As the Interior Minister touched upon, we depend on a great many exports from outside. We have no oil, no gas. I sincerely hope that our trading partners do not suffer economically, as that would be a devastating development. If our trade partners were to suffer from their own economic hardships, Zenovia's economy would be dragged down as well, eventually into economic depression.”

“Zenovia will endure,” Prime Minister Nikolas Cinsti. “Even in times of the greatest hardship, this great nation has always come on top. If there comes depression, and I hope it does not, we will persevere and triumph.”

“Eloquently pronounced, Prime Minister,” said Lord Perigord. "And it is with my heart in which such words shall be backed by steel and iron."

“Minister Perigord,” Nikolas Cinsti said. “I hardly need to remind you, but we will need strong, dependable military alliances in the coming days. War is only inevitable, and when it comes, this great nation will need reliable allies. As much as the romantics of this nation will wish it, we no longer are a fair match against that nation up north. As Qualia became Moravia, we found ourselves outmatched.”

“You may rest your laurels, Prime Minister,” Lord Perigord said. “Strong, dependable allies will come, even from the most unlikely of places."

[b]January 1st, 1940, about 2 p.m., Ilezabeta City, Kingdom of Zenovia[/b]

Queen Dowager Miruna looked around the gardens of the Royal Palace. She had not been here for many years, since the time of her youth, since she had been arranged to be married to a prince of a certain southern kingdom, and he became her dear Alastor. For many years she lived away from her homeland of Zenovia, and had dwelled in Alastor’s kingdom. Eventually she went from princess to queen, and became well-loved by the people for her good and kind nature. However, such times were now over. A scant three months ago, her beloved Alastor’s had died, which had left her heartbroken, and now her eldest son Barnabas ruled. People were now keen to call her the Queen Dowager, even in native Zenovia. Miruna told her children she needed some time alone, and left Alastor’s kingdom with only a few attendants to return to her homeland. It was something she needed to do in order to recover from her melancholy.

Miruna had given it quite a bit of thought, and thought she was also worried about the state of the world. Moravia had grown to a size larger than ever, and was remarkably close to reaching the size that the 1st Moravian Empire, the greatest civilization in the history of the world, had reached. Miruna had been a princess for many years, and a queen for years after that, and if she learned anything during that time, it was that everyone loves princesses. In fairy tales, the princess is always pure, or at least good. So perhaps, after organizing some peace-loving, good-will events, founding a organization made for extenuating the peace, and meeting with parliaments and senates, maybe she could play some part in edging the world towards a more long-lasting, permanent peace. Perhaps she would even meet with the Caesar. After all, he was married with two children, and who could ever dream of a family man being anything but pleasant?

Miruna had earlier today already organized a meeting with Lord Boris Perigord. Miruna was surprised that Perigord, even all these years, had remained such a prominent figure in the government. For all forty years of her life, that man had been there in parliament. He, the son of a peasant, had even been given a lordship, which was an unprecedented move. It was impressive that there was at least one thing that had remained unchanged, even if it was an MP who had reigned longer than most kings. She had organized to meet with him, as she felt a more familiar face would be more understanding of her goals. 

Lord Boris Perigord entered the royal and gave Queen Dowager Miruna two bows, one as he entered her presence, and a lower one when he approached her. She gave a friendly nod of her head, indicating approval. She had a bright smile on her face as well.

“Your esteemed Majesty, Princess of the Zenovii, I bid you a congenial return to the land of your birth,” Lord Boris Perigord said. “And I read your letter written by your pristine fingers, reading with joy of which I cannot hope to express, having been blessed to be honored to receive your esteemed ideas. I must express my approval of your proposal. Your majesty, I think that with your aid our world shall come closer to a permanent world peace.”

“Wonderful, Lord Perigord,” Miruna said. “And you shall be sure to put forth this idea of mine, and support it?”

“I shall do all I can in order to progress towards the greater peace your majesty,” Lord Boris Perigord said. “I shall make all the arrangements immediately, if that be your majesty's desire.”

“Yes, of course,” Miruna said.

“Then, your majesty,” Lord Boris Perigord said. “I shall make my way."

Lord Perigord bowed to Queen Dowager Miruna, and did not break the bow until he had exited and was out of her sight completely. Miruna felt excitement creeping up on her. She felt that for the first time in three months, she was about to do something meaningful in her life.

Lord Boris Perigord had been surprised to receive the letter from, of all people, the Dowager Queen Miruna, who he not seen in many years. However, her proposal would be of some use. Life had not made her lose any of her naivety. It seemed not even the life among the court of an absolute monarch could damper her spirits and optimism. As far as absolute monarchs go, Alastor had been a good one, but he was not innocent. Of course, Lord Perigord agreed with everything he had done, and in fact thought Alastor could have done far more in his brief life if he had been willing to embrace pragmatism. Still, his wife had remained extremely naïve, but in the end it would work in his favor. Remaining pure, she kept the air of a princess, and would be useful in her own way. War was of no advantage to Zenovia at this time, and Perigord only wished to extend it. She would extend her peaceful hand, and relations would improve with the more isolated nations. He could leave Avalia to her and that heretic that had been sent as an ambassador, and he would deal with the PRK.