A Battle Unseen

[Doc]

Cliff House, South Western Kaliburg,
7:45pm local time

"A really very good dinner, Carolina," said Nicolette as she finished her pasta. "You've really come a long way with your cooking. I am very impressed."

"Well that's very kind of you to say, Nicki," said Carolina. "I cook pasta well, but if you ask me to do something like meatloaf, or something like this, I really am not much help."

"Well, then its a good thing we like pasta in our family," said Nicolette.

"So, now that dinner is out of the way, how can I help you tonight, Aunt?" Nicolette knew exactly what she meant, but feigned shock.

"Can't I come see my favorite niece without needing something?"

"Sure, you could. You know you are always welcomed. But I think we both know that there is something on your mind. You've been hinting at it all evening."

Nicolette snuck a look over at Carolina's husband, Elliot, who was half-listening to the conversation, apparently oblivious to the the fact that the conversation had moved on from how dinner tasted. Elliot was cleaning the table off while the two women spoke. But Carolina followed the line of her aunt's eye as it flicked up and then back to the table, and she knew that her aunt wanted to speak to her without her husband here, and without the potential that the children would interrupt the conversation.

"Really?" she asked Nicolette, and Nicolette widened her eyes as to say 'please be more discrete, but yes.' So Carolina stood up and walked to the sink. "Sweetheart, my aunt requires me for a moment. Would it be better for you if we went to the office and talked, or, can you finish this in a few minutes?" The Prince Consort, who was by now a veteran at being dismissed from his own kitchen smiled and said, "My Love, if you would like me to go and take the kids with me, then perhaps you might like to finish the dishes?"

The Empress said "Oooh you drive a hard bargain. But its a deal, we'll only need a few moments." Elliot smiled, put the dishes back into the sink and said "As you wish, my love." He then left, locking the door behind him so the kids were not able to burst in until Carolina was ready for them. Over the years, he learned that there was a lot that he neither wanted to know about, nor really needed to know about, and it was just better to give his wife her space.

Carolina returned to the table. "Alright, spill it."

Nicolette took a deep breath. "Well, Erica came to see me last week." The statement was met with a huge eye roll from Carolina. "Now, just wait a minute. She was just giving me information, that's all."

"Nicki, her very presence is a statement, you ought to know that by now," said Carolina. "I do affirm, if I could rid myself of that thorn in my side I would sleep far easier at night."

"Are you sleeping alright?" asked Nicolette. "Sometimes I worry about you."

"Well don't," said Carolina. "I can handle this. I am tired of everyone trying to tell me what they should do and telling me this and that and this other thing, and I have to be nice to these people, and I have to coddle these people, and voters matter, and people want more choices... Everyone wants something from me, every washed up old hasbeen wants me to do something for them. Nobody understands this pressure: the whole world is going to hell and I just want to go back to Athosia and just stay there. I don't need that from you too."

Nicolette sat silently for a moment. Then she spoke. "Are you done?"

Carolina narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?" she said coolly.

"Are you done?" Carolina repeated.

"Done with what?" asked Carolina.

"Woman, you are 37 years old. You are a mother and an Empress, and you are acting like a spoiled brat. Grow up," said Nicolette, in an uncharacteristically stern tone. "I'm tired of hearing you bitch and complain about how hard your life is, like I don't know anything about it myself. I was your regent for 10 years. I know something about what you're experiencing, and I don't want or need anything from you. I got out, remember?"

Nicolette had a way of cutting through the drama sometimes. It gave Carolina a moment to pause, and she realized that her heart was racing. She sat back, and more in control of her attitude, she said "Well, then what did Lady Donahue want?"

"She wanted me to pass on to you where the Nationalists were on your proposals."

"They should just accept them, I am the Empress."

"They said Miller is not acceptable," continued Nicolette, sidestepping Carolina's bitterness.

"Of course, Miller is not acceptable. He's too interested in continuing Reg's policies. What about Craft?"

Nicolette reached into her pants pocket and produced a paper. It was her hand written notes from her brief meeting with the elder stateswoman who was still very much a behind the scenes player in Nationalist politics, despite being forced into retirement about a dozen years ago. "Craft no. Broussard, no, Consuelo no, Milano-Carbrerra no, Sir Tom is a definite no. So is the Socialist."

"God damn it," said Carolina. "Did they say yes to anyone I sent them?"

"They said yes to Melanie." said Nicolette, seriously.

Carolina tossed down a fork she had been fidgeting with. "And who else?"

"Nobody else. Just Melanie."

"Well," said Carolina. "No, not Melanie. There's got to be someone else."

"Carolina, just Melanie. She is the best you are going to get."

"Well, no, not Melanie. I just put her on the list to give me an even ten."

Nicolette laid the notepaper on the table, "Well, Madame, looks like they called your bluff. She's it, or they are going to name their own slate, and you can dissolve the Assembly again, and then Sir Thomas will resign while the Nationalists will never work with you again."

Carolina stood up and walked over to her tea pot. She poured the still hot water over new tea leaves, and let it steep. "Do you want a cup, Nicki?"

"Coffee, if you have it."

"I can make coffee," she said as she pulled her infuser out of the water, let it drip and then helped herself to a small silver teaspoon full of powdered opium, which she mixed into her tea. She prepared her aunt's coffee, but did not include any opium, because she didn't want to ruin the coffee. As she returned to the table, she set her aunt's coffee in front of her and mentally prepared to finish the conversation, letting the opium wash over her and temper her nerves.

"Melanie is unacceptable," said the Empress. "She makes Lady Erica look like a liberal."

"Carolina, you have to put someone in there. Erica told me personally that she could ensure you the votes in the Assembly if its Melanie. If you name anyone else, they will sink it and put forward a whole slate, and Melanie will probably get it anyway."

"The Nationalists would never name Melanie," said Carolina. "She's too extreme. She will nationalize property," said Carolina. "She'll alienate the entire world against us."

"Well, you're right about one thing," said Nicolette, after sipping her brew. "They weren't going to nominate her themselves until you suggested her yourself."

"I was definitely not serious about Melanie," answered Carolina. "I wanted to give them ten names. I never thought they would go for that."

Nicolette smiled. "You're a smart woman, Carolina. But you can be pretty naieve sometimes. You want to see the best in these people and assume they will just act like you would act if you were in the same situation. But this is revenge, my dear. Erica made that very clear. And I fear they have you, at least for a few years. But who knows--Maybe Melanie will make a absolute mess of everything and then you can get rid of her and say I told you so as you put in the person you want."

Carolina closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "Sometimes I envy my father and mother..." she said flippantly.

Nicolette stiffened and stood up. "Carolina, do not say such a thing. Don't ever say that, not with me around here. Unless you never want to see me again. Don't ever say that. Please, you can't really mean that."

Carolina opened her eyes and looked at her aunt, who had tears in her own eyes. "I am sorry, Nicki. I don't mean it." Nicolette sat back down, but grabbed a hankerchief to wipe her eyes and her now running nose. Carolina barely remembered her parents anymore, but she also knew that Her father was her aunt's brother, both he and Her mom were Nicolette's best friends, and the loss hit her Aunt far harder than anyone else, even Carolina. "Nicki, that was a cruel and thoughtless thing to say, and I really am very sorry."

Nicolette wiped a new tear from her eye. "Well, Carolina, I am merely relaying a message. You made your bed by even talking about Melanie, and now you have to lay in it. I've delivered Lady Donahue's message to you, I've done my job."

Carolina realized how briefly and curtly the conversation had ended. "Are you going back to Luxon tonight?"

"Yes, I can catch the train..." said Nicolette.

"You don't want to stay here tonight?" asked Carolina.

"Not tonight. Please give my love to Elliot and the kids, I have to go."

Carolina realized that her aunt was very angry at her, but she had too much class to say it outright. "Are you sure? We'd like to have you."

Nicolette, stone faced said "Not this time, Carolina. I'll tell Lady Erica to have Sir Michael call you to get your final nomination. Don't do anything stupid at least, please." said Nicolette as she grabbed her coat.

"Aunt Nicolette," started Carolina, but she was cut of.

"Take your medicine, Carolina, like an adult. Don't cause yourself any more problems-- You can't afford to lose the Nationalists." And with that, she unlocked the door to the floor, and walked down stairs and out of the house.