The Diet had been dreary the last few months. The Kaiser was absent most of the day, and the business of the Empire was blissfully uneventful in the face of the near war with England. The Emperor spent most of his day speaking with messengers or generals about the war against the forces of the Anticount Ulrich of Wurtemburg in the south. The evenings he spent with clockwork regularity standing on the parapets of Neureichburg. He paced them slowly, methodically, watching the stars come out one by one in contemplative solitude. The Emperor ate his meals alone or with only a few of his closest relations, speaking little. Sometimes, he would go riding in the Bavarian forests, accompanied by a light escort. Though he'd carry a bow and quiver, he never brought back game, nor returned missing an arrow. Othertimes, he rode with minstrals up into the Alpine meadows, where they say he half-listens to their music, consumed with watching the horizon or some new sprouted plant breaking free of the last remnants of winter snow.
This prolongued silence only fueled speculation and rumors, even if discrete ones. Some claimed that the Emperor had a mistress whom he wished to wed but could not due to the scandal. Others thought that perhaps the death of his friend Heinrich and the bloody succession war for his underaged son had stirred anxiety in the Kaiser's heart for his own patrimony. Still others pointed to the renewed conflict in bloody Scandinavia, a foul nest of rebellion that always seemed to spill over into the Empire. "Melancholy..." responded Doctor von Richter cautiously as he conferred with Doctor Gno, a physician from Moscow, and Doctor von Helsing, a theologian from Varna, during a leisurely lunch.
The Singer's Hall was experiencing another doldrum of shuffling and silence when the Emperor of Humanity entered. He was dressed finely yet austerely and his face was impassive. He was followed by a a young man and a young woman who led a boy of no more than three or four years by the hand. The woman wore black and the veil of morning, and the boy skipped gleefully along in some uncomfortably somber clothing.
The Seneschal boomed, "His Most Serene and Pacific Majesty, Augmentor of the Empire, Erich I, Emperor of Humanity, and his cher cousins the Lord Rainmund von Wittelsbach, the Dowager Countess Eleanora von Wurtemburg-Wittelsbach, and her son the Count of Wurtemburg, Frederick von Wurtemburg-Wittelsbach..."
Frederick's mouth gaped open as the staid seneschal's announcement echoed in the hall. He ran on his little legs to catch up with his mother, uncle, and cousin who were progressing with dignity to the dais. The rapid movement caught Marius's eye, who loped over to his 'favorite little Freddy' as Nora liked to say. The great big Russian wolfhound gave Frederick a sloppy lick, causing peals of laughter to issue from the young Count as he grabbed the wolfhound around the neck. A stern glance back from his mother only caused Frederick to smile innocently hanging from Marius' neck. The hound trotted up to the dais and deposited its noble bundle by Nora, who quickly scooped young Frederick up to check him for injury.
A small smile crept over Erich's lips as he watched the exchange. His cousin Rainmund smiled broadly and openly scratching Marius behind the ears as Nora cooed fretfully over Frederick. The family scene was diminished however as the Emperor stepped forward to speak,
"Notable Lords of the Empire, We wish to speak first on the matter of the Anticount of Wurtemburg. Ulrich von Wurtemburg nephew of the late and wise Richter-Kurfurst Heinrich von Wurtemburg not only illegally sought to usurp the patrimony of my beloved godson, but also insulted not only the authority of this august and ancient body but the majesty of Our person. His subsequent leadership in the short-lived rebellion of those few poor soldiers who would listen to his plaintive cries against the Imperium has ended, as has his rebellion and his life.
The remaining forces of Wurtemburg along with the lesser nobility of the hinterland have sent Us a plea for peace and clemency delivered and signed by Dekkeret von Lichtenstein, a general notable both for his skill as his character. We have chosen to extend mercy to the people of Wurtemburg, and wish to make known to you our beloved princes, the terms of this peace. Frederick von Wurtemburg-Wittelsbach shall alone be known as Count of Wurtemburg and Lord of Rumelia. Until his majority, his mother my cousin Nora and myself will serve as regents, guarding over young Frederick's lands. To honor his late father, Frederick shall be elevated to the rank of duke, and given the old title Duke of Swabia.
We wish, however, to make a further announcement. With the lack of a son and the necessity of a clear line of succession in these most trying times, we will Frederick von Wittelsbach as our sole heir and successor. He shall henceforth remain with his mother in Nuremburg to receive the best instruction the Imperium may offer, and shall upon our death ascend to all the powers and responsibilities attached to the title Count Palatine of the Rhine."
Nora puts Frederick down. The young heir scampers into the legs of the Kaiser, who reaches down for his hand. Frederick's eyes widen and he asks happily, "Go with horsy ride, kaisy-wisey?" Erich chuckles, squeezes his hand lightly, and returns him to his mother.
"Secondly, We wish to make it perfectly clear that we dennounce the imprisonment of Our cousin the King of Denmark, and are most pleased to hear of his freedom. We find the Swedish people to be irksomely insolent in their obedience to their rightful and proper lord. However, We do not take kindly to the words being bandied about so casually in this hall.
If, Herr Bendtsen, you wish to bring a case against our brother-in-law Joachim of the Greif please do so through the most civil institutions of the Empire. Namely, the Reichskammergericht. While We are currently Richter-Kurfurst, in our capacity as Pfalzgraf, We will hopefully soon have a suitable and most talented replacement. We also wish to remind you
Herr Zakrzycki, though we much appreciate your colorful metaphors We do not believe they are conducive to a peaceful and orderly parliament. If you would be so kind as to restrain yourself, We would be most pleased.
As the Swedish-Danish issue seems to have been resolved by their respective parties, we see no reason to spend more of our parliaments valuable time on it. We are however very concerned about the future of Danish-Imperial relations. It should be understood by all parties that all the lands of the Empire are fiefdoms of Emperor, given in trust to the princes who govern them. In that vein, an attack upon any of these lands unsanctioned by the Imperium is an attack on the Emperor himself, who among all the princes of the world is second only to the Pontiff in Rome, and is crowned of God. It is for this reason, Your Eminence, Cardinal Moscicki, that legislation such as the Martial Bull is so important for the successful protection of the Empire. An ultimatum will not remove Duke Johann's pronouncement, only this civil court will. If it irks my cher cousin so, let his representative present the letter and its insolences, so that We may reach a wise and complete policy.
Herr Bendsten, if we may end this fiery rhetoric, it is Our desire to see a return to normalcy throughout the northern borders of our Empire. If you could assist us in finding a way in which Imperial and Danish goods could traffic easily across the Sound, we would be most obliged to our cher cousin."
The Kaiser then turned to Herr Dyck and Herr der Leeuwarden,
"Thirdly, gentlemen, We are most displeased at the resolution of this conflict over ICC policy. For this reason, we will make our own suggestion, awaiting your lord's wisdom, before reaching a final decision. We believe that while it is just that a number of the Frisian cities be penalized for their rebellion against their own lord and their greater lord Ourself, we find it unfair that they should be restricted from one trade alliance and not another. To ensure that the Empire is always preserved we wish to free Friesland to engage in any trade with foreign powers it likes so long as any agreement they reach contains a clause establishing the supremacy of Imperial policy should ever Our policy and this agreement come into conflict.
Herr der Leeuwarden, We are glad to see that your nation managed to act honorably, and hope that it will remember its unseverable ties to the Empire when again she calls on your aid. Alliances come and go, but Rome endures eternally."
With that the Kaiser smiles and seats himself.
