[PK] The Death of an Emerald

[DahStalker 3692]

Spoiler

 

The Obituary of Josephine Augusta

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       Josephine Augusta, Princess Imperial and Archchancellor, passed away last month at the age of 62. Her life was cut short in a carriage accident while leaving the imperial palace to face Philip III’s rebellion. Her last orders were to cede the city.

 

       She will be remembered as the Imperial Archchancellor, a deaconess, and a monsignora of the Canonist Church, having been the first woman to serve in each of these roles. Josephine was active in the Society of St. James, using her voice as a Curia official to advocate for the ordination of women. Most notably, she was instrumental in convincing her father Philip II to pass the Rosemoor Bill, thereby allowing noblewomen throughout the Empire to inherit equally with men. It was a right that she never saw for herself, as the Imperial Throne maintained its own male-preference succession.

 

      Among her political accomplishments were the reconstruction of the imperial capital and the appointment of the Empire’s first elven Vice-Chancellor, Minuvas Melphestaus. She was a prolific author, co-writing the second edition of Epochs of the Empire (alongside the ex-Archchancellor Simon Basrid) and publishing several religious works, including On Canondom and The Aegisian See.

 

       In her personal life she was described as kind but occasionally stern, often forgetful, and having a wry wit. She found religion later in life, thanks to the catechesis of her imperial father and her tutor in canon law, Fr. Johan. She enjoyed flower-pressing, smoking tobacco, and foreign cuisine.

 

      The late Archchancellor is survived by her beloved sister Anne Caroline, her husband the Duke of Sunholdt, and many children and grandchildren.

 

       As her passing was unexpected, she left no will and testament. 

 

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“Though the spring flower withers, and the fruit of the tree falls to the ground, My Word lasts into the eve of the world, and the fruit of virtue cannot rot.” (Virtue 1:2)

 

Spoiler

Posted for Viros, written by Viros. 

 

[Harald 2875]

Johan Vuiller, the elderly man would tremble from the news.. his aging legs failing him as he fell to the ground. His student, a close friend, the woman he had had the pleasure of teaching from her early years.. a woman whom had grown to become a prime example of a woman of the Empire. Once more had he seen those he thought would succeed him in life pass before himself. a anger filling him, as his gaze turned to the seven skies tears would start to flow from his elderly eyes.. 

Lord Rev Vuiller would stand in disbelief, his leader for years, the Archchancellor and Princess Imperial.. Josephine Augusta, the Duchess of Crestfall would never be forgotten..

[kuerbis 3802]

Within her humble palace room, Anne Caroline went on a rampage by throwing the flowerpots to the floor. She threw her fist into the mirror, breaking it and finally ended up toppling onto her bed. As her teenage-like rampage finished, the Duchess Auvergne was left with blood-stained gloves and tears in her clenched eyes. Those who were unfortunate to occupy the palace rooms around her could hear the weeps of the aging Princess for hours and throughout the night. Never would she forget her greatest supporter and her idol, her big sister - Josie.

[Pureimp10 5691]

"A good and kind woman, one We even considered a friend. She will be missed," commented the elderly Everard VI somberly from his residence in Providence.

[sergisala 3451]

Sir Charles Galbraith rolled over his shoulders once he read the missive and state:

 

"The unexpected death of Her Imperial Excellency the Duchess of Crestfall, Archchancellor and Princess Imperial were truly terrible news to hear for me, and I think that I also speak for many other Orenians who, just like me, worked with her closely for a very long time upon the Council of State, when I affirm that she was a great person, who worked very hard for her people, for our people, for Oren.

 

I remember all the long meetings in those days of yore during the reigns of Joseph II and John VIII, when she was constantly thinking in how we could all improve our Nation whilst keeping the Emperor's peace. We were a united team. Now, I am ashamed of how division has made us fall apart as a society and I hope that this does not occur ever again.

 

During all those days, there was not a single day when the Duchess of Crestfall not enlightened all of us with her diplomatic skills with regard to negotiating and signing diplomatic treaties with other nations or holding elections to the Imperial Diet.

 

And also, let us remember her Epochs about the Age of Prophecy and her vast collection of books of imperial history that she wrote, which shall not be forgotten or disappear from our libraries.

 

Historians will continue to study those magnum opus of her and they will surely be used for inspiration for future projects, for they are gemstones for mankind.

 

What I am trying to say is, yes, the Princess Imperial has left us, but her legacy has not.

 

May GOD bless the Princess Imperial and the Holy Orenian Empire."

[CharmingCavalier 2189]

Henry Penton slowly lifted his famed quill to write but found it dry of words. As he sat there, he etched only a few words into paper. "Although I said I would write your obituary if you were to pass first, it pains me to know this was your end. And now, amongst this chaos, I have lost my taste for words. It was only the death of Dame Styrne that caused me such internal strife. I will not be poetic, nor will I be false. I have nothing to say, but I am sorry. May you rest easy in the Seven Skies, and may GOD grant me the privilege to meet you there one day."

 

With that, he did as he had done with his mentor all those years ago, walking to the cliffs near the sea and dropping the letter from their heights. The wind swiftly took up the parchment, and as it fluttered away, Henry swore he could hear the sounds of his music and Josephine's voice. Softly he spoke into that wind, "rest easy, friend... Rest easy."

[frankdh 2418]

"A strong woman of great renown," August would murmur, upon hearing of Josephine's passing. "Threads of green are now apart of the Tapestry of Man." 

 

The priest knew he would mourn the historical Archchancellor for some time, and he quietly lit a cigarette of floral herbs, just to better remember the hopes and aspirations him and his relative had shared together.

[Marilyn Monroe 362]

After what seems to be a coded letter sent out by riders from Louise in her coach, the woman would faint upon seeing a missive of Josephine when leaving Providence. 

[Minuvas 3193]

In 60 years of Government work, Minuvas had amassed few friends, at home or abroad. An Elf, in Oren, tends to get a lot of hate. 

 

However, he considered the late Princess Imperial a true friend. They knew eachother in youth, had surmounted multiple challenges and difficulties together - and in many ways Minuvas owed everything he had to his Imperial Patron. 

 

Minuvas was a passionate follower of his Empire, committed to it's cause. On the day of Emperor Philip III's march into the city - he dutifully obeyed as his Archancellor commanded. 

 

When the smoke had cleared from the turbulence, Minuvas felt terribly alone. He inherited a government that was fighting over its identity.

 

He would often sit at the head of the Council table, listening as many new advisors would point fingers using the dreaded B word, "The bureaucracy....did this....didn't do this" and then watch as the old advisors would hollar back "We cannot change it! This is the way it must be done" and he did his best to advocate, and listen. Savoyards shouting at the Council to stay out of their business, missives of the fears of centralization while still others clamored "We shall lose the Empire if we let them live this way". Publicly, he would sit there, and listen and settle the debates of the day.

 

 

His message was clear as Archchancellor, the will of the Emperor shall reign supreme without question, "If we must dismantle the very bricks of the palace at his command, we shall do so"

 

Privately,though, he couldn't help but feel in many ways the criticisms were levied at the Elf and his old mentor, for was it not the old system they maintained?

 

He would rock back in the Archchancellors seat for these hours long debates that ranged on everything from what should the new price of chicken meat be, to how would Savoy and Oren be integrated into one Empire - he would drift sometimes and ask himself how would Josephine handle this? Am I really worthy to do the work of the great Simon Basrid? Who is my Emperor Peter III?

 

He was if nothing else a professional, and a loyalist - and so he entertained his Emperor and the Empress with their demands, trying to sway them to certain opinions if he could.

 

Children...the Elf often thought, having known their much elder relatives long seasoned by Imperial Rule - I shall do my best to get them up to speed and prepare them for the difficult business to rule. Though he knew, Horens children would eventually demand he leave when his utility was done. He would not be offended, it is the way of the world and the Valah. They would call on him again, he supposed, when they needed him - and another grandchild might discard him once more. 

 

These days Minuvas was surrounded not by trusted friends and advisors, but strangers. Good willed, surely but different.  Savoyards whom he was told hated Elves, Imperials who were disenfranchised in the old way and now empowered to sit and the table. He must reconcile them all for his Empire and his Emperor. 

 

Yet the Elf now knew he was now an outsider In his own country, the last vestige of the 8th Empire, and he often longed for his old friend, Princess Josephine Augusta, the lioness of Orenia. 

 

 

 

[d0ntc4r3 104]

Gallo, one time acquaintance to the deceased, mourns upon hearing this. "Too talented a mind taken too soon..."