As I made my way over to the Regentskapsråd Meeting for the day, Agent Novak insisted that my security be doubled. Literally, he stuck to me like a shadow but also had a subordinate with him. Agent Laine was a petite, platinum blonde, no-nonsense, Woman with family roots going back to Vipaava. Her appearance contrasted with Agent Novak's dark-haired, muscular, build and visage. The two of them insisted on sticking to me like glue as I went about my day, just in case of another attack from Agents of the Draconis Combine. Mind you, I was fairly certain that they'd shot their shot on that front already and missed.
"You know you two don't need to stick so close." I insisted as we mounted the steps to the Rådssal.
"We do. There could be another attempt on your life." Refused Agent Novak.
"The Combine isn't known for giving up easily." Huffed Agent Laine.
"True, but I'm fairly sure that not even Takashi Kurita would be so blatant as to try something in the actual Rådssal. Not when he's still frantically trying to rebuild the DCMS. Besides, the Combine has shown the ability to be subtle before that attempt, so if they try again, I'm certain it won't be quite so public." I remarked.
"Still, better safe than sorry." Intoned Agent Laine.
"Besides. Having both of us here will help sell your point. Face it, My Lord, you won't be getting rid of us that easily." Pointed out Agent Novak.
"Fair enough." I shrugged.
As we were ushered through the security of the Rådssal, I realized that Agent Novak had a point. A noticeable increase in security like doubling my bodyguard would send the rumor mill turning like nothing else. If there was one thing the nobility loved, it was rumors and innuendo. That could be worked to my advantage. Combined with the security footage I was bringing with me to prove my claims, as well as a public announcement, this could very well wind up cinching me the nomination for Prince of Rasalhague. I would have to play it mysterious for most of the day, however, to make certain that my announcement had the maximum impact and give the noble rumor mill enough grist to churn into intrigue. It was doable.
As I entered the Regentskapsråd Chamber and took my seat, I could already hear the assembled Lords start to whisper. As Vévoda Kolowrat called the session to order and asked for any new Lords to come forth with claims of ancestral holdings, I received a number of intrigued looks. Erik Davidson stepped forth to make his case for Valdherre of Bruben, based on his significant economic holdings on the planet and the fact that the last Noble Family that had previously controlled Bruben had been executed by the Combine for sedition in the twenty-eight-eighties Meanwhile, a Cadet Branch of that family, represented by Hildegard von Badenoff was making the case that her claim should be recognized based on blood ties to the original Hertigs.
As the debate went on, however, I was approached by Hertigin Marita von Heydebreck, a short, brunette, woman with her hair done in a single braid that hung over her right shoulder. She had a look of concern on her face as she approached me, though I was fairly certain it was all a cover for gossip. She nodded at me before glancing at Agents Novak and Laine, then looked back at me.
"Your Grace, is all well? You have double the guards you had yesterday?" She questioned fishing for information. Time to play this mysteriously to really get the rumor mill running.
"All will be revealed in time, Your Grace. All in good time." I intoned.
"I see. Perhaps you will be making a statement later?" Queried Hertigin von Heydebreck.
"Perhaps. When the time is right, I very well may." I nodded.
That, I saw in her eyes, had her intrigued. I knew she would begin spreading rumors, just as I wanted her to. Hertigin von Heydebreck simply nodded at me with a glint in her eyes as if she had been presented with a sumptuous meal to feast on, clearly intending to do just as I had hoped.
"Well, then. I shall not keep you any longer. I hope to hear this statement soon, yes?" She asked, prodding for more.
"As I said, when the time is right." I answered.
Hertigin von Hedebreck shuffled back to her seat, and as I glanced over, I saw her whispering to the nobles next to her, just as planned. The debate over who would take possession of Bruben continued for another twenty minutes, but eventually, Vévoda Kolowrat called for a vote on the matter. I didn't care much either way, but I knew Erik Davidson would fight for Bruben since he'd helped do so in the Ronin War in that other timeline. Plus he had actual holdings on the planet, which gave him a better claim. That was why my vote ultimately wound up going to him over Hildegard von Badenoff. If I recall, the Von Badenoffs lived in Exile in the Federated Suns, anyway, so it wasn't as if they really had many friends in the chamber. It showed in the votes, as Erik Davidson wound up being recognized as Valdherre of Bruben.
Much of the rest of the day was taken up with more or less meaningless votes. A third and final attempt by the Comte de Rochambeau of Feltre to reform the laws around the internal transport of marijuana, which I voted yes on one last time, a vote on regulations for the production of alcohol, including purity, cleanliness of facilities, and those sorts of things, which I voted yes on as well, plus a bunch of other less important things. The most interesting vote was a vote on the banning of certain entertainment imports from the Draconis Combine on the grounds of the potential for Combine Propaganda to be slipped in. I couldn't help but snigger at the proposal being, essentially, an Anime Ban. Regardless, the proposal was defeated thanks to the Comte de Rochefort.
The whole time, various nobles approached me on and off to inquire about the doubling of my bodyguards. I played it mysteriously, refusing to give details, but assuring the inquiring nobles that I would make a statement soon. This made the noble rumor mill turn even faster, and by the time we broke for a short recess for lunch, things were at a fever pitch in the gossip department. I heard everything from rumors of paranoia over trouble in the Periphery to gossip that I was carrying on an illicit romance with Agent Laine and wanted her close to me at all times. That last one caused the no-nonsense bodyguard no small amount of frustration, much to Agent Novak's amusement. Only a few people suggested assassins, but as we'd dealt with them in-house, there had been no news of any attempt, and so very few suggested that.
When the Regentskapsråd reconvened after the recess, I knew that it would be time for me to make my statement. I uploaded the security logs and investigation logs of the attack to the Rådssal intranet. There would not be a better time than when the mystery had been stoked and was still fresh in everyone's minds, after all. As soon as the Regentskapsråd Chamber had filled and Vévoda Kolowrat called for the session to resume, I stood up, waving my arm in the air and calling for the floor. Vévoda Kolowrat banged his gavel down on the Speaker's Podium and pointed it at me with a nod.
"The Chair recognizes Ksiaze Poniatowski." Called out Vévoda Kolowrat.
"Thank you. My Lords, many of you have been wondering about my security! About why, after several days with only a single bodyguard, do I now appear with two? The answer may surprise you, but only if you have not been paying attention! My Lords, My Ladies, last night, I was assaulted by Assassins working for the Draconis Combine!" I began.
The Chamber erupted in shouts of surprise, along with a few jeers from the Comte de Rochefort's section. Vévoda Kolowrat banged his gavel several times, calling for order and attempting to get the chamber back under some semblance of control. It was slow going, as this was some very big news. It was bad enough that a head of state had been attacked by assassins in Reykjavik, but when that head of state was also a member of the Regentskapsråd, that was a big problem. Eventually, however, Vévoda Kolowrat managed to calm the chamber.
"That is a very serious accusation, Ksiaze Poniatowski. I do hope you have proof." Cautioned Vévoda Kolowrat.
"I do. It was a Strike Team of DEST Shinobi! I could not believe it myself that the Combine would be so brazen, but here we are! I have made the security video, logs, and the results of our in-house investigation available during the recess. Simply connect to the Rådssal's Intranet and you should be able to view everything!" I answered.
There was a flurry of activity as everyone did so, going over the footage and checking the logs. Agent Novak had been very thorough. His investigation had turned up positive IDs on two of the assassins. They had been part of the Kirchbach Garrison for the ISF and thus, their records had been on file when the planet had been captured during the war. This sent another shockwave through the Chamber along with a rising chorus of angry voices shouting Anti-Combine sentiments. Armand Rochefort suddenly found he had fewer allies than he thought he did, though he remained completely stone-faced through the ordeal. Vévoda Kolowrat once more had a difficult time corraling the Regentskapsråd back into order, but he managed it, if only barely. When he did, Armand Rochefort stood to present an opposing viewpoint.
"I find this all very convenient. How do we know this was not some false flag operation? That you did not simply fake these records and logs to boost your votes for your candidacy for Prince?" Demanded Armand Rochefort.
"The Bodies can be viewed at the Chamber's leisure. I am certain an independent investigation will be able to Identify the same members we did. They are currently at the Morgue of Reykjavik General Hospital." I informed.
"A likely story." Scoffed Armand Rochefort, however he had no real retorted.
"We will reconvene in two hours, once my own analysts have corroborated these findings or not. It should be a simple matter to match the DNA with the records seized on Kirchbach. You cannot fake that." Intoned Vévoda Kolowrat.
Then he dismissed us once again for recess while the Office of the Speaker of the Regentskapsråd attempted to verify Agent Novak's findings. It was, all things considered, the most anxious two hours I'd had in a while. Agent Novak and Agent Laine insisted on segregating me into a conference room for the duration. Apparently, this would be the Combine's last chance to pull something if they didn't want me to take the throne, according to them, so they insisted. I wasn't so sure that would happen now. It would poison the Regentskapsråd against them even further to try that now. However, if the genie was already out of the bottle, what did they have to lose? That thought was why I agreed to the measure.
Eventually, the Regentskapsråd reconvened as Vévoda Kolowrat's agents returned with their findings. As they presented them, I knew they would match our own. When they did so, the Regentskapsråd was sent into an uproar that took a couple of hours to quell, as various Lords floated potential retaliation, only to have those proposals voted down for feasibility reasons. Vévoda Kolowrat was lucky to channel the outrage into something that had even been that productive. The Regentskapsråd apparently did not appreciate the attempt to meddle in the Internal Affairs of the Principality at all. I took great pleasure in seeing Armand Rochefort be the subject of jeering, for once.
When the time came for voting for Prince once again, Armand Rochefort suddenly found his vote tally looking meager and threadbare at only six votes. Those six votes largely came from the Lords who were too deep into the Combine's pocket to pull out now, the sunk cost fallacy screwing them over hard. My own votes had ballooned in size, well past the ninety I needed to secure the Throne at one-oh-seven. The remaining seven were votes that had gone back to Haakon Magnusson after he had added his tally to Armand Rochefort's the other day.
The will of the Regentskapsråd was clear. I had won the election for the Throne of Rasalhague. Now all that remained was my coronation and to deal with any fallout. And there would definitely be fallout, as Armand Rochefort and his five other Combine Lackeys stormed out of the Rådssal once the votes had been tabulated. Likely, they were off to inform their handlers, who would, in turn, report to Luthien.
Hopefully, whatever storm the Combine sent in response could be weathered. . .
XXXX
AN: The next chapter is already up on my Patreon, so check the link in the threadmarked post if you guys feel like throwing me a couple bucks to get chapters in advance. Everyone who does is super appreciated and I can't thank my patrons enough.
All right, so here we have the next chapter. As expected, the assassination attempt swung the vote massively in Jozef's favor. However, the Combine still has a few supporters who are in too deep and can report back to their handlers and help whatever the Combine's plots are for retaliation in the future. It likely won't be an invasion just yet, the DCMS is still rebuilding after being wrecked. Don't expect them to take this loss lying down, though.
At any rate, the next chapter will be an interlude on Luthien, showing Theodore and Takashi Kurita and their reactions to all this. Then we'll be back with Jozef as he checks back in with his Council on New Ålborg to see how everything is going there.
Stay tuned