Kalistan

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Despite Security Questions, Empress in Waiting enjoying Valruzia
She is "making friends and learning a lot"
Nowagard, Valruzia
September 20, 5690


Her Imperial Majesty at home Kowalski home in Nowagard

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress in Waiting Carolina-Katherine Michelle Ananto-Connor is settling in to her studies in the Valruzian capital. She has enrolled in Studies at the University of Nowagard, where she is learning Valruzian, as well as general education studies.

"Her Imperial Majesty is doing very well in her classes," said Lady Ursula Gattlin, personal spokeswoman for Her Highness, Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins. "She was enrolled at the university level, even though in Kalistan she is only a senior in High School because it was agreed between the Valruzian government and the Royal Family that the University would be both the most rewarding experience for Her Imperial Majesty and would also provide the Empress in Waiting with a challenge which would certainly keep her occupied and out of trouble."

Lady Gattlin said that the young Monarch is making friends among her peers who view her as a curiosity, but otherwise pay no attention to Kalistani Protocol. "Her Highness the Princess Regent has ordered Lady Marian Kinzer, who is serving as the Empress in Waiting's chaperone to relax the protocol, especially in regard to Valruzians who are not used to dealing on a day to day basis with foreign monarchs. Her Highness said she wants Her Imperial Majesty to have a full experience and let things happen organically, without a bunch of social rules about who talks to whom, or whatever. Her Imperial Majesty has already got the opportunity to attend a few age appropriate social events with the friends she is making."

There were initial concerns about security for the visiting monarch. "The Royal Family would like to congratulate the city government for getting the security concerns they had worked out. The Princess Regent has said there have been no known security issues, much to her relief, and the Valruzians are doing a lot of work to keep the Sovereign safe and also to remain as transparent and non-intrusive as possible." Lady Gattlin said that the Kowalsi Estate, where Her Imperial Majesty is lodging this semester, is private and secure, and Kalistani security patrols inside the walls.

"The public curiosity around the Empress in Waiting seems to have calmed down as she began going to school," said Lady Gattlin. "When Her Imperial Majesty initially landed, there was significant interest among the people, who turned up when it was discovered that she was out and about. But The Regent allowed her to give some interviews to the both the press and had some public meet and greets in August, and it turns out that Valruzians for the most part got their fill." The Empress in Waiting doesn't exactly have a lot of media training: Many people reported to the press around her public appearances that she was kind of awkward like a lot of kids her age, rather boring and tended to speak too long in broken and slow Valruzian to answer fairly simple questions.

"Many Valruzians said that they felt she was a good kid, but a bit of a nerd. But, let's not forget, she is only 17 years old" said Lady Gattlin, "and has lived a very sheltered life thus far. While that news about Valruzia's early verdict of the Empress in Waiting's personality greatly pleased both the Princess Regent and the Chancellor of the Empire, most of the Valruzians were for the most part disappointed, and eventually stopped trying to see her." The paparazzi feeding frenzy has so far not materialized.

This has freed the Empress in Waiting to actually attend classes with minimal disruption for her fellow students. "Her Imperial Majesty is big news in Kalistan, but its not the person as much as the institution that people in this nation revere. That institution doesn't exist there. Her Imperial Majesty is therefore just another kid in a class whose strength is more her curiosity and inquisitiveness rather than her brilliance. She has enough of the command of the Valruzian language to understand much of what is being taught, and has asked her professors only speak Valruzian in class so she can learn the language, that she feels that she can keep up with the level of instruction, but only just. Some of her classmates are attempting to take her under their wing to help her study, which is quite a different response than was expected, based on student protests this summer."

In the evenings, when the Empress in Waiting is not studying, is getting to experience Valruzian society, including local music, food venues and even political events. "The Empress in Waiting had the opportunity to attend a political debate sponsored by youth leaders from the three leading parties, Sovereign Valruzia, Forward Valruzia and the Communist Party of Valruzia. The event's purpose was to encourage the college students to get active in politics of the Voivodeship and the nation. The Empress in Waiting was impressed by the program of all three speakers and was able to ask the representative of the Communist Party, who graciously indulged her, a lot of questions about the basics of Communism."

Her Imperial Majesty also has an excellent mentor in President Urszula Pawlik, who she has had the opportunity to shadow weekly since she has been in the country." Gattlin added that Her Imperial Majesty is in no danger of becoming a republican or a communist. "She's a curious girl, and it is natural that she is going to want to learn directly from the people who know best."

Overall, The Royal Family and Her Imperial Majesty's government are very pleased with the experience Her Imperial Majesty is having in Valruzia so far. "It is Her Highness, the Princess Regent's hope that, in addition to the Empress in Waiting's getting the opportunity to do this fun and educational thing which she has wanted to do for a while, and worked very hard to get ready to fully take advantage of this trip, she also gains some confidence and skills that will help her deal with all kinds of people when she is finally crowned. But most of all, the Royal Family feels that this trip is building and strengthening a very strong personal affinity for the people and nation of Valruzia in the Empress in Waiting. This partnership will be crucial as the Empress takes the Throne, and is a key alliance in Northern Seleya.

"The Princess Regent is confident that Her Imperial Majesty can improve people's personal impression of her later," said Gattlin. "But right now, what is most important was that Her Imperial Majesty just be herself, so that she can focus in school and enjoy her time in Valruzia and not worry about what people think of her personality. She is not going to have this kind of opportunity ever again, so the Royal Family is certainly hoping that she is able to get the absolute most out of it."

@TheRepublic