North America / Kingdom of Yorkania: May 18th, 1519.
It was an ugly morning for the world.
Not because the roads were bleeding.
Not because rome had returned.
No.
It was ugly because one year, three months and twenty seven days had passed since the war of the bleeding roads, and mankind had already begun pretending scars were the same thing as healing.
Yorkania had changed.
The northern roads were rebuilt and watched by crown wardens, signal towers and bells. Burned storehouses returned in stone. Grain reserves filled beneath crown seal. Shield maidens trained beneath Isabella de' bronx, while boys and girls studied together inside crown schools that had spread across the kingdom.
Brooklyn remained beneath crown administration.
Lancelot remained alive beneath Manhattan Castle.
Unfortunately for him.
His docks, warehouses and trade routes now served the same kingdom he had attempted to starve.
The treasury had stabilized. War widows received compensation. Gia'anne de' roosevelt and jonas miller entered crown schooling. Michael Bailey remained alive despite his continued dedication toward making his wife regret marriage.
Outside yorkania, things were less peaceful.
Rome denied everything.
Jersey denied more.
England became suspiciously respectful.
France watched.
And charles of habsburg continued sending letters across the sea while his unanswered marriage offer remained exactly where he had left it.
At morgan's eye level.
Across markets, villages, military camps and foreign courts, another thing had survived the war.
A name.
Morgan the unmoved.
One year had passed since yorkania learned how to bow.
Now the world was beginning to wonder what it would do now.
But that is a story for another time, for now let us take a look at what is happening inside of the le Fay court.
(Morgan's POV)
"Drop your pants." I said calmly while staring down at the five men from the throne.
The grand hall was completely silent.
No one uttered a single word.
One of the five men stepped forward, a chubby one who adjusted his throat and suddenly said with sweat trailing down his face "You're majesty, don't you think that is a bit to inapprop…"
"Not if your queen mother is trying to determine the size of your masculinity and whether you five are able to reach certain goals inside of the womb. I do not, now drop the pants." I said while putting a lit tobacco pipe into my mouth and inhaled and exhaling a cloud of smoke from my nose.
The grand hall was completely silent, the five men stiff.
Merlin stepped forward slightly with a closed eyed smile on his face, asserting his presence.
The five men were still for a moment but started undressing themselves.
The grand hall was completely silent.
the ton whispering back and forth on the topic of the queen mother's marriage.
The five distinguished men gritted there teeth with veins appearing on their foreheads.
"I get your confusion. I really do but unofficially I don't give a fuck." I said calmly while placing the lit tobacco pipe on the tray of a servant woman next to me.
I pointed my long nail at the five men and said calmly "Do not look offended. Your pride will recover faster than my patience if one of you gives me the pox. I have no intention of waking beside a man whose greatest military campaign is occurring beneath his trousers, that is why merlin will inspect everything. Consider it border security for my womb."
The grand hall erupted into laughter.
"GAHAHA…IF MERLIN FINDS ANYTHING GROWING WHERE ONLY ARROGANCE SHOULD BE, YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED." Said a chunky nobleman loudly in the crowd of ton.
Another laughter followed and a deep voice said loudly "HAHAHA, MERLIN WILL INSPECT EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE FOREIGNERS. CONSIDER IT BORDER SECURITY FOR HER MAJESTYS WOMB."
I raised my right hand.
The grand hall quickly quieted down, occasional coughs.
"If your cocks has experienced more foreign invasions than uorkania, merlin will discover it. I shouldn't have to sing sorrows and prayers for any of you." I said calmly while looking at the bird chest of the third distinguished man.
Merlin was silent and waited patiently for the five distinguished men to undress.
*BOOM*
Percival entered the grand hall quickly and made his way towards me.
Two heavily armored guards closed the double doors.
*Boom*
Percival hopped up the steps and leaned in by my ear and said with a whisper as he handed me a sealed letter "Your majesty, a letter from the pope."
The grand hall was completely silent.
I grabbed the letter from his hand and opened it and start reading over it.
Letter:
To her majesty, morgan I de' queen, queen mother of yorkania,
By the authority of the holy see and in consideration of the growing disputes, alliances, trade interests and questions of sovereignty now moving between the crowns of europe and those beyond its shores, I hereby invite your majesty to attend a sovereignty neeting to be held beneath papal protection in rome.
This gathering shall not be a council of religion, nor shall attendance constitute submission to the holy see.
It shall be a meeting of sovereigns.
Kings, emperors and rulers shall sit beneath one roof to discuss matters concerning diplomacy, trade, territorial recognition, military disputes, foreign access, succession interests and the preservation of peace between independent realms.
Those presently invited include:
His majesty henry vIII, king of england.
His majesty charles v of habsburg, king of spain and sovereign of his growing dominions.
His majesty manuel I, king of portugal.
His majesty francis I, king of france.
Each attending sovereign shall be permitted advisers, guards and diplomatic representatives appropriate to their station. No sovereign shall be detained, compelled into religious observance or required to surrender weapons belonging to their personal guard beyond those conditions agreed equally by all attending crowns.
The events of recent years have demonstrated what occurs when kingdoms speak through soldiers before speaking through rulers.
Perhaps mankind may attempt the more difficult method for once.
Should your majesty wish to attend, sign your name beneath this invitation and return it beneath royal seal.
Should you refuse, no refusal shall be interpreted as surrender of sovereignty, claim or position.
May wisdom prove less expensive than war.
Leo x.
Bishop of rome.
Supreme pontiff of the catholic church.
Attendance.
I, ________________________________________, accept the invitation to attend the sovereignty meeting under the terms stated above.
Royal Seal: ______________________________
I stared down at rhe letter for a moment.
My eyes squinted.
"Quil pen." I said calmly with my left hand out.
A servant quickly came over with a glass bottle of ink and a quil pen inside of it.
"Are you signing it your majesty." Asked percival with a whisper and adjustment of his throat.
I nodded slightly and said calmly while signing my name and grabbing the yorkanian seal off a tray and stamping the letter "I see no reason not to, my worries have been quilled for now."
Letter:
To yer majesty, morgan I de' queen, queen mother of yorkania,
By the authority of the holy see and in consideration of the growing disputes, alliances, trade interests and questions of sovereignty now moving between the crowns of europe and those beyond its shores, I hereby invite your majesty to attend a sovereignty neeting to be held beneath papal protection in rome.
This gathering shall not be a council of religion, nor shall attendance constitute submission to the holy see.
It shall be a meeting of sovereigns.
Kings, emperors and rulers shall sit beneath one roof to discuss matters concerning diplomacy, trade, territorial recognition, military disputes, foreign access, succession interests and the preservation of peace between independent realms.
Those presently invited include:
His majesty henry vIII, king of england.
His majesty charles v of habsburg, king of spain and sovereign of his growing dominions.
His majesty manuel I, king of portugal.
His majesty francis I, king of france.
Each attending sovereign shall be permitted advisers, guards and diplomatic representatives appropriate to their station. No sovereign shall be detained, compelled into religious observance or required to surrender weapons belonging to their personal guard beyond those conditions agreed equally by all attending crowns.
The events of recent years have demonstrated what occurs when kingdoms speak through soldiers before speaking through rulers.
Perhaps mankind may attempt the more difficult method for once.
Should your majesty wish to attend, sign your name beneath this invitation and return it beneath royal seal.
Should you refuse, no refusal shall be interpreted as surrender of sovereignty, claim or position.
May wisdom prove less expensive than war.
Leo x.
Bishop of rome.
Supreme pontiff of the catholic church.
Attendance.
I, morgan I de' queen, accept the invitation to attend the sovereignty meeting under the terms stated above.
Royal Seal: Morgan I — Royal seal of yorkania.
I handed the signed letter back to percival.
"Send it before rome discovers another version of the truth." I said calmly.
Percival bowed and took his leave.
*BOOM*
The doors closed.
I looked back at the five half dressed men.
Ah.
Marriage.
Merlin finished his inspection and stepped beside me and said calmly with a whisper "All five are healthy enough for marriage, your majesty but…rather small."
"How unfortunate." I said with a sigh.
The grand hall became silent.
I pointed toward the first man and said calmly "Henri de' bourbon."
The tall frenchman straightened proudly.
"You have mentioned your house, your lands and your father's military achievements seventeen times since arriving. I am beginning to suspect your personality is as small as your cock, dismissed." I said calmly with a wave of my hand for him to see himself out.
The ton burst into laughter.
Henri's face reddened.
I pointed toward the second and said calmly while leaning forward "Alfonso d'este."
The italian nobleman smiled confidently.
"You have looked at every beautiful woman in this hall except me, get a life you pathetic thing, see yourself out." I said calmly with a shooing motion.
His smile disappeared.
"I admire beauty, your majesty." Said alfonso carefully.
I looked at both servants next to myself and behind myself and asked calmly while blinking a few times in comfy "Did I stutter."
"No, your majesty has an unparalleled voice." Said a servant woman calmly.
Alfonso started to sweat and turned to leave with his pants in his arms, his hairy ass cheeks on full exhibit for the court to see.
Laughter erupted.
I pointed toward the third and said with a sigh "Federico gonzaga."
He bowed.
"Merlin tells me you are perfectly healthy." I said calmly.
Federico smiled.
"Unfortunately, conversation with you has convinced me your greatest physical achievement is surviving yourself. I will not insult you but honor your request, you may leave with your pants and dignity." I said calmly with a wave of my hand.
Bagdemagus exploded somewhere among the nobles "GYAHAHAHAHA."
Federico's ignored the laughter and said with a smile "I am grateful and in your debt, your majesty."
"His preference is men. I can see why" I thought while glancing at the very tiny penis.
I moved toward the fourth and said calmly "Philippe d'albret."
He stood proudly.
"You asked percival how much gold exists inside my treasury before asking whether I enjoyed you being in my face, get the hell out of my court you weasel scumbag." I said calmly, pointing at fhe double doors.
Philippe stiffened.
"I was merely interested in yorkania's prosperity." Said philippe quickly.
I had a very disinterested look in eyes and said calmly "You are interested in marrying my treasury. Unfortunately, the treasury has very high standards."
The hall erupted again.
Finally, I looked toward the fifth man and was silent for a moment and said calmly "Wilhelm of nassau."
He had remained quiet throughout everything.
Competent looking.
Healthy.
Calm.
Annoyingly decent.
"Anything you wish to say before I become disappointed." I asked calmly.
Wilhelm bowed slightly and said "Only that marriage to your majesty would strengthen my house, strengthen yours and perhaps produce children capable of inheriting both our better qualities."
The hall went silent.
I stared at him.
"Finally. Honesty." I said calmly.
Wilhelm's eyes sharpened.
"Unfortunately, your to girly. Get out." I said while standing up from the throne.
His beautiful face froze.
The grand hall fucking exploded.
I raised my hand.
Silence returned.
I looked over all five men and said calmly "Bourbon, you are a family tree with legs. Gonzaga, your confidence has exceeded all available evidence. Albret, marry a bank and nassau…"
"You almost survived. I have state matters to attend to." I said calmly, the image of state concerns flashing through my mind.
My bed.
A few nobles laughed.
I sat back down against the throne and grabbed my tobacco pipe and said calmly "All five are dismissed."
The men stared.
"Your majesty." Said henri with disbelief.
I inhaled the pipe and exhaled smoke slowly through my nose while saying "I am choosing a husband, not adopting europe's leftovers."
The grand hall erupted.
I waved my hand toward the doors and said calmly "Return yourselves to your respective bloodlines before I begin charging sorrow and prayer fees."
*BOOM*
The doors opened.
The five men left beneath hundreds of laughing eyes.
I watched them disappear.
Then looked down at the invitation to rome.
Charles v.
Henry vIII.
Francis I.
Manuel I.
My eyes narrowed.
Apparently the better candidates were waiting in europe.
…
THE END…