Kalistan

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Her Imperial Majesty Empress Mary I Ananto is Engaged
Martin Collins is journalist and former Press Secretary for Princess Margaret
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 17, 5641


Empress is seen here with new Fiancé Martin Collins just down from Cliff House in Kaliburg

Up until this week, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto was considered Kalistan's most eligible bachelorette. Gossip in Kaliburg Society spent an inordinate amount of time conjecturing as to whether Her Imperial Majesty would ever marry. And the Empress herself very famously was "not an item" on the dating scene always citing her schedule or some other reason for remaining single. But all that ended this week when the Empress' Mother, Her Highness Princess Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis-Morrison announced to La Moda that indeed, the Empress had agreed to a proposal of marriage with Mr. Martin Collins, of Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor.

Collins, 33, is a journalist, and has recently published articles in several articles. His main beat was the Ducal Government in Suldanor, where he was introduced to Her Highness, Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis by Her Excellency the Grand Duchess of Kalistan, Duchess Emily Suldanor-Alvarez, and nominated for a position as her new press secretary. He served in that position for no more than a month before he met the Empress and they began seeing one another socially. He has since been reassigned from the Princess' Press room, and has taken a job as a staff editor at The Kalistani Republic, covering sports.

"Mr. Collins seems like a strange fit for the Empress," said Crown Watcher Nadine Black, in Kaliburg. "Collins drives race cars in his spare time in Reynoldia, and she very famously does not drive, but spends her time in nature. Collins is very outgoing, gregarious, very personable, and funny, while the Empress is known for being solitary, almost anti-social, a little dour and perhaps haughty. But from everything we've seen on their few forays into public, as well as reports very close to both the Empress and her sister, there is a genuine affection and attraction there between the two of them, and perhaps opposites attract."

Her Imperial Majesty has rarely dated publicly. "The Empress is notoriously and very vocally annoyed at her family's attempts to set her up with various well placed men," said Black. "She's all but stopped attending the National Theater in Kaliburg, due to several somewhat embarrassing moments between her and some suitor or another who upset her during the date. The Empress' public appearances have, in the year or two since moving back to Kaliburg, been limited to speaking in the National Assembly or holding audiences at the Imperial Seat. So it is a real joy to see her out in society again, and maybe for the first time, enjoying her life a little with a man that she very clearly chose for herself."

When asked about their dating in February, Collins was circumspect. "I don't really have a lot to say about it. Her Imperial Majesty hasn't liked the people others have picked out for her, and I've never really dated an Empress before, so its pretty new to both of us. I think she tolerates me because I may be one of the few people in Terra who doesn't treat her like a little child: She's mentioned that foreign leaders even do that, and it really gets on her nerves. As for me, I am over the moon for her. I don't think I'll say anything more. She's great and I am really enjoying the chance to see her and be with her when I can."

The Empress' own spokesperson, Lady Marian Southern, confirmed the engagement, saying that Collins opted not to buy her a ring, "because she has plenty of rings," according to the Lady. "Mr. Collins however did purchase a rather unorthodox gift for Her Imperial Majesty to acknowledge their engagement. Knowing that she liked to shoot firearms, Mr. Collins purchased a black .350 caliber bolt action rifle for her. The weapon holds 4 rounds in a magazine, has a scope, and a composite stock. It retails for around ₭378 Imperial, and comes with a sling. The Empress was thrilled to receive the gift and immediately took Mr. Collins to her home range south of the Capital to shoot."

According to Princess Monica, the wedding is scheduled for September of this year, after Her Imperial Majesty's 31st birthday. The Princess expects to begin sending out invitations this week.

@LaModa