April 22, 1984
I breathed in the fresh air as I read a book in one of the palace gardens. It was a lovely sunny day, as spring was in full bloom. Cherry blossoms grew and flourished, butterflies and honeybees flew about in the garden giving off a flowery scent that added to the relaxing vibe here.
After the insurgency, I had made more trips out here to get out of the palace. It was difficult eating in the dining room. I think we all had nightmares.
We had our own nightmare that remained. Josephine Junior was paralyzed, and though she had adjusted quickly to using a wheelchair, I don't think I did, nor did Mattéo. It was hard to comprehend that our three-year-old daughter was never going to walk again, nor would she be able to have children of her own. That led me to declare Ham as the official heir to the throne. I even noticed he was different. He was quieter, more resolute and didn't seem interested in being around us. But I let it slide, we had all suffered trauma from that night and we were all handling it differently.
Victoria seemed to be doing the best. After Ali Reza survived, they have become even closer, more romantic. Good for her... she really does deserve that. Mattéo and I were... struggling... but that was normal. We felt incredibly guilty for letting all that happen, we blame ourselves for Junior's paralysis.
As we should. Well, at least I should... I created those enemies... I should have restrained them... kept them at bay.
The cost was even more than we thought. 250 rebels were killed, out of 5000 total. 300 further were executed for treason at my behest. 76 out of the 100 palace guards had been slain, defending the palace, and us, to their death. 14 imperial soldiers were also killed, and 3 brave New York Police Department officers also layed down their lives.
The funerals lasted two weeks.
But despite all that bloodshed, our lives were bloodied and battered. Junior is so sweet... so innocent... she didn't deserve what happened to her.
I sighed and looked out over the garden. I relaxed and pushed away from the horrendous, tormentous thoughts. I was determined to move on and I knew I would. I had moved on after Vittorio and the Canadians, and I knew I would move on past this. It might take time, but it will happen. I just needed to work past my guilt and then I'd continue to live my life.
"Your majesty?" A voice said from behind me.
"Yes?"
"I present to you the Shah of Persia,"
Ali-Reza is here? That's a surprise. Usually, he informs me that he is visiting. Clearly, that means he wants this under wraps.
"Greetings Ali-Reza," I said as he stepped in front of me.
"Greetings majesty, I have come to discuss a matter of great importance,"
"I have assumed that because you have not informed me that you were visiting... sit, please," I replied as I patted the bench next to me.
Ali-Reza sat next to me and was silent for a moment, as we both listened to the birds chirping in some of the fruit trees that had been growing for some years now. He spoke, and when he did I tried to restrain myself.
"Majesty, I wish to propose to Victoria,"
"...Mmm... I see..."
I knew this would happen one day, and judging by how far Victoria and Ali-Reza had come since they met over three years ago.
"Majesty, I love Victoria with every ounce of my heart... I want to be with her... I think I am finally ready to take this leap and propose to her, but, of course, I need your blessing. A blessing that will tell us that you support us..."
I weighed my options for a second.
"I do have some questions for you... how would this wedding work?"
"It wouldn't be very different from your Christian weddings... the only difference would be that the Imam would read from Rumi instead of the Bible and the marriage would be blessed under Allah instead of your God,"
"So she would have to convert to Sunni Islam first?"
"The wedding would act as her conversion... she has considered this whenever she has brought up marriage,"
Victoria has brought up marriage to him? That means that if he were to propose, she would likely accept.
"Would she need to adopt an Islamic name?"
"Only if she were to choose to, Persia is decently westernized so if she were to use her birth name then only the radical clerics would be angry with her,"
"I see..."
I paused to consider the political ramifications of the marriage. Persia would be our ally, a strong one at that to rebuff the Russians and Arabians, support our hold in India and Palestine... it would be beneficial to America as a whole to ally with the Persians in a royal marriage.
But on a personal level... Victoria would be happy. I can see it now, the way she is happy with Ali-Reza. I have always wanted her to be happy.
"Ali-Reza... you have shown me the type of man you are. You are willing to protect my Victoria... and you are willing to sacrifice your life to keep her safe if need be. You make her happy, you make her blush when you talk and I know that that means that she loves you... If Victoria truly wants you... then I will support it and grant you my blessing,"
"Oh thank you majesty!" He exclaimed as he jumped up, "You have no idea how much this means to me! If I may, could I propose tonight?"
"You may stay to do this... but I do not want your wedding next week or something, she does need to finish the school year and at least her grammar school education,"
"Yes, yes of course! Thank you again, your majesty!"
Then he rushed off into the palace, to prepare to propose to Victoria.
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A few hours had passed, and I was still sitting in the garden, reading. That or just listening to the chirping birds, trickling creeks and whistling breeze. It was relaxing, and that is what I needed, the work load of being an absolute monarch combined with the trauma from the coup was... well... it was simply too much.
Westminster and Marburg were right about one thing. The longer my reign continued, the more exhausted about absolute rule I became. But I seemingly had no escape without prompting secession of nobles and provinces and sparking another civil war. I couldn't do that again, not after Canada. So I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Josey?" I looked up and around as I heard Mattéo's voice.
"Mattéo?"
"Oh, there you are, I was wondering where you had run off to," He smiled.
I leaned up and kissed him, smiling into it.
"Hey there you," I said.
My husband sat next to me, "So you've been here for a while?"
"Mm hm... just relaxing... I am stressed lately..."
"I know Josey, I know, I can see it in your eyes,"
He wrapped his arm around my waist and I laid my head on his shoulder.
"You are always so tired, I don't now how you can push through every single day... but I know you are strong enough to,"
"Thank you Mattéo... but god, I hate to admit it but..."
I paused.
"What is it?"
"Those insurgents were right about one thing... I hate ruling absolutely-like it isn't even a mild inconvience, I hate it... it is so hard every single day..."
"Ah, I thought you'd say something like that..."
"I mean it is true, if I ruled over a small kingdom, sure... but it is so hard to competently rule over a massive geographically and multi-ethnic empire, and keep everyone happy, it is exhausting,"
"Well I think you've been doing a great job so far-"
"That isn't the point Mattéo," I snapped as I stood up, "It doesn't matter how good of a job I do, it is how long I can do it... I mean... oh I don't know... there has to be a more efficient way of doing this bloody job,"
I looked up, taking a deep breath, "And oh god Mattéo... I fear being an autocrat,"
"Josey, you are not an autocrat!"
"But I am Mattéo! By the definition of the word, I am!" I exclaimed, "I hold absolute power, and in reality, I don't have to listen to anyone but myself, and I can do whatever I bloody please! I mean, I want to go down as a benevolent ruler... not an autocratic one..."
"I know you had a referendum back in... oh... 1975? About limiting your power, but a majority said no to this,"
"That is right..."
"Hmm... do you know of any other ways to do this? Make your job easier?"
I paused, "Yes, but the nobility will never let it happen,"
Mattéo cocked his head, "What do you mean?"
"I mean... the idea is from the 1880s... it is for an Imperial Federation, a Federation of all of our territories under the flag, each with better structure of reorganization and governance, and a legislative body, not dissimilar to the British Parliament,"
"Hm... and you support this idea?"
"Of course I do! I mean, it is far more practical... and fits with the way society is moving forward... but the Empire would not survive such a process,"
"How?"
"Well, for one, the blasted nobles. Whenever it has been brought up, several nobles have sworn their duchies will secede and challenge me... god Mattéo, you fought in Canada, as did I... I can't do that again!"
"Okay, okay... I get it, yes, I don't think anybody wants to go through that again," Mattéo replied, "However, how successful do you believe their attempts would be?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well even if these nobles succeeded, would the people of their provinces accept their treachery? Would they accept the secession, or would they demand rejoining the Empire?"
"I suppose they wouldn't..."
"Then I do not see a problem... Josey do you believe this Imperial Federation would benefit the people, and ensure that the monarchy remains a well oiled machine?"
I sighed, "I do Mattéo, I really, really, really do,"
He looked at me, "Then push forward with it, I believe these nobles are simply bluffing, they know any rebellion would be crushed, as they always have been, and always will be. If you believe this is the course that America must go, and your people agree... then... well..."
"Well what?"
"...Nobles be damned!"
I smiled and nodded my head, "...Nobles be damned..."
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Supper had been delicious as usual, but it was tense. The atmosphere was tense and was palpable. Mattéo was in on the game, as were the nobles. The only ones who didn't know were Ham and Junior, who I knew from experience could not keep a secret. But again, they were three years old, so of course they couldn't.
Then of course Victoria didn't know. However, she was getting more and more suspicious with each passing minute. When I informed Mattéo, he was concerned about Victoria getting engaged and married when she was fourteen. I had brought more and more concern to it myself, given that was the exact reason I had opposed my parents when I was fourteen.
However, we both agreed this was a different situation. Victoria and Ali had known each other for years, and they were very comfortable around each other, and Victoria was fond of the Shah. This wasn't some random attempt to arrange her in some diplomatic marriage to a stuffy prince from Luxembourg.
Ali-Reza planned to propose as supper came to an end and I could tell he was excited.
"Ali, what is going on?" Victoria asked as she ate, "You are acting strange,"
She knew something was up, but couldn't figure out what.
"Oh, nothing... I have no idea what you mean Victoria,"
"Mom, dad? What is going on? Why does it look like you're plotting something?"
"Do not worry Victoria! Nothing is wrong!" I replied, swallowing a bite of food.
"As your mother said, you are just worrying about nothing,"
"Hmph," Victoria frowned and crossed her arms, her eyes squinting.
"Victoria is right! Mama is hiding something!" Junior piped up from her seat.
"See! Junior knows!" Victoria pointed out, trying to get us to crack.
"Victoria, Junior is three years old," Mattéo snorted.
"Argh!"
Ali-Reza chuckled and I could see him tap his suit pocket nervously. Luckily Victoria didn't see, or the whole plan would be blown to hell.
"Actually Victoria there is something I would like to ask you," He said, standing up.
"Finally!"
Ali-Reza walked towards the ballroom floor, where everyone could see them.
"Ali, what are you doing?"
The shah stopped walking and so did Victoria. She had this peculiar look on her face.
"Victoria... I love you... This is super difficult for me to do, as you know how awkward I am, but I'll try to be smooth and concise,"
She cocked her eyebrow, unsure of what he was doing.
"Victoria Newman Price, I love you, I love you to the end of the world and back. I want us to be together for as long as we are alive and breathing. Together we could conquer the world!"
He better mean metaphorically. I could crush him and Persia to the ground if I wanted to.
"You also make me the happiest man in the entire world... which is why... I would like to ask you this..."
In one smooth, well-practiced motion, Ali-Reza fell to his knees, produced the ring box from his breast pocket, and popped it open. Victoria gasped as her hands covered her mouth.
"Victoria, will you marry me? Will you be my beloved queen?"
She glanced at me, and mouthed words, "Can I?"
I nodded and she exclaimed: "Yes, yes, yes! A million times yes!"
Ali stood up, slid the ring over her finger and the couple kissed romantically. I couldn't believe it... my daughter was getting married...