A sizeable crowd marched towards the royal palace, shortly after Arnau Faixòn had held his speech. Soon guards stepped into their way.
"We come to see the Emperor. Our monarch. Your monarch. The tyrant cannot stop us."
The guards didn't move in the slightest. Arnau took a deep breath.
"Then so be it. Slaughter law-abiding Hispanians on the whims of a despotic dictator! Kill your families, betray yourselves! For who are you serving? Who pays you? Where lie your loyalties?
Is it Joan? Does he pay you with his own money? Or is it the treasury? Do you enjoy mass executions, or do you truly believe it was the right course of action?
No, I tell you! The Guardia Real has a long and honourable history! Founded to protect
the Emperor! Paid by the royal treasury. You swore an oath to, shall it be necessary, give your life for His Majesty. Can you tell me if He lives? Yourself, not just what the tyrant tells us? Are you truly fulfilling your duty? Or defiling your pledge, on the contrary to your oath protecting a man who is
not our Emperor, for you utterly failed your task? Keeping the people ignorant so that your new master may rule us all as he wishes?
As a child, I admired the brave men of the Guardia Real. What are you now? Mere instruments of a despot? Or faithful servants of your ruler, be it Pere or Ferran? The people demands to see its Emperor! Either step aside, guarantee His safety while allowing us through - or you will have to stop us! What is your oath? What have you pledged?"
His face shows pure determination, as the men behind him cheer.
((So I am appealing to their true loyalty to force my way in. I'm sure a roll for the size of the crowd and the outcome of this face-off can only be interesting for the situation.
))
The crowd gathering before the palace slowly gains in number, but most people who see it scurry off to their homes to avoid the obvious conflict. There are enough people that it cannot escape notice, but forcing their way into the palace would surely lead to bloodshed unless both the Guardia Real and the extra men from the Exercit Valencia stand aside. The men from the Guardia Real listen to the appeal, but ultimately do not stand aside, not permitting anyone to enter the palace. However, they show no signs of forcing the crowd to disperse. Many of them keep looking back at the palace, as though expecting the Emperor to walk out in front of everyone at any moment. The men of the Exercit Valencia who surround the palace watch the crowd with grim determination, showing no signs of surrendering their position or allowing anyone into the palace.
As Field Marshal Dias heard of the mob approaching the Palace, he did the only thing he could do. He made his orders to the Excerit Valencia and the Guardia Real.
"Lock down the city. Lock down the port. NO ONE enters or leaves Valencia until the Regent or myself allow it. Tell the Guardia Real to hold. And tell the Exercit Valencia to send a Brigade supported by a Artillery Regiment to flank the mob. Wait for my signal before they fire."
((Moving Cannons will not be a free instant action. But you can assume that the infantry are already there.))
With many men of the Exercit Valencia already patrolling the city, it is relatively easy to get an infantry brigade into place. The artillery is a more difficult matter, one that takes time. If the crowd were to leave soon, they would get away before the artillery arrived.
Joan is not pleased to hear that his right-hand man has unilaterally commanded
his army and practically implemented martial law without his consent. There will surely be consequences for this overreaching to come later.
((Private))
Maria Luisa took the map and hid it in her dress. "I promise," she said, "This information is dangerous in the wrong hands. We'll only use it if we have to."
She heard a commotion outside and walked over to the window. She saw that a large mob had gathered outside and was currently engaged in a standoff with the guards. Leading them was Faixon, who was calling for the guards to defect.
She turned back to Ferran. "It's no longer safe here," she said, "There is a mob outside, trying to force its way in. They want blood."
"I am not leaving, not yet," said Ferran, "Not until I rein in Joan."
"Then at least speak to the crowd!" she pleaded. "Get them to calm down! As long as they're here they threaten our lives and give Joan more reasons to crack down!"
Ferran nodded to his wife and the two left the room, the guards quickly following behind them. As they neared the front door of the palace, they ran into Joan, who was heading in the same direction.
"We need to talk," Ferran said to Joan.
Joan waved his nephew off as he continued towards the door. "Perhaps when there isn't an angry mob gathering outside the palace. What do these bloody peasants want now?"
The group burst through the doors, stepping out into the open in full view of the crowd. A metal gate and significant contingent of guards stood between them and the mob, but they could still feel the mob's anger palpable in the air. Cries to see the Emperor were made from those amongst the crowd. So many people had come out because of the situation surrounding the Emperor, and the dilemma wearied Ferran. These people would never see their Emperor, and nor could they. He was not here and letting them seeing him in the state he is in would cause as much damage as it would fix.
The crowd quieted a bit as Joan stepped forward. A few boos and hisses were uttered, but they disappeared too under the oppressive gaze of the Regent. He eyed the gathered crowd angrily and then said, "Do you people have no respect for the Emperor?"
More boos and hisses echoed from the crowd, but died down as the Regent started to speak again. "What do you expect of me? Do you think I'll just let you waltz into the palace and visit the Emperor in his chambers? Do you expect me to let the entire population of Valencia into the Emperor's bedchambers so you can gawk at his comatose form like he's some bauble? Or should I get the servants to carry him out here like Christ on the cross so you ogle at him? To do so would be a great disrespect to my beloved brother, and the fact that you want, nay, expect to be admitted into his presence in his current condition is affront to His Imperial Highness. An assassin nearly took his life once before and I am not foolish enough to allow people to parade past his bedside, where any one of them could stab a knife into his heart and end his life then and there. What you ask of me is impossible, for it would not only put His Imperial Highness at risk, but remove all the dignity he has left. Disperse now out of respect for your Emperor. I will not put him on display for your own amusement."
Joan turned around and whispered to one of his loyal commanders, just barely within earshot of Ferran and the Princess Consort. "If any of those rioters somehow breaches the gates and so much as sets foot on the palace ground, I want you to shoot on sight. None of them are allowed near the palace or the Emperor."
As the Regent started back towards the palace, Ferran knew he had to do something. He couldn't let this escalate further. The last thing he wanted was bloodshed. He had to step up yet again. He could never escape his duty no matter how hard he tried. Taking in a deep breath and holding his wife's hand for support, he addressed the crowd.
"People of Valencia, I know this is not easy for you. Times have been hard, and I know many of you have suffered over the past decade. You seek a symbol, someone who can provide stability and restore things to the way they are. Usually the Emperor is there to lead when things fall apart, ready to guide the people as they pick up the pieces. It is a cruel and unfair world where we cannot even receive that little comfort, for the Emperor is in no condition to give that of which we expect of him. You want to see him because you need to know he is still there, that the man chosen by God to guide this Empire is still among us. I can assure you that he still lives, and I do not say that as some lie to appease you. I have seen him with my own eyes, even though it hurts me to see him in such a state. I beg of you, please to not ask me to witness that again and to share that experience with you all."
Ferran took a moment to gather his thoughts again, only then noticing the eerie silence from the crowd as they hung on his every word. They were actually listening to him, or at least appeared to be. He hoped they took his words to heart. Perhaps all they needed was a little hope, and someone who they could trust to provide them with it. He let out a heavy sigh, knowing he had no choice. He had spent his entire life avoiding the task set before him. He knew one day he would be Emperor, but he had avoided it. Now it was time to take the first step towards that destiny.
"Hispania has seen many ups and downs over the past several years. Yet we must persevere and struggle on despite our troubles. Recent clashes between Parliament and the Crown, the representatives of the people and the representative of the Emperor, are only the most recent results of this growing need for stability. We all clamour for someone to guide us, to lead us. I want you to know that I intend to step into that role as best as I can. I intend to work with the Regent to help lead Hispania towards a prosperous future. I know he has taken some actions that have caused you concern, actions he felt necessary to ensure Hispania remained strong and did not descend into chaos. The blow to Parliament was just the most recent, and one that must be rectified. I do not know who is to blame for the circumstances, whether it is men in the government or those who would dare raise up arms against the Crown. What we must accept though is that the people need a voice, they need Parliament. Under my grandfather, Alfons IX, the Crown and Parliament existed in harmony, both focused on the needs of Hispania and its people. Somehow these two have been led askew and lost that vision. It is time we return to those times where we put the Empire first, for the good of all. Now I must make a request of you. Trust in me that I will represent you during the next while, that I will help you see a restored Parliament, that I will restore the harmony between Crown and Parliament. All I need is time. Now please, I ask you to go to your homes. Attempting to force your way into the palace will accomplish nothing and only make things work. It is time to accept that there is another way to see Hispania achieve a brighter future, one that does not necessitate violence. So please, go home, for both our sake."
Murmurs spread throughout the crowd, but Ferran did not wait to see their reaction. He scurried back into the palace, gasping for air as though he had not breathed during the entire speech. Standing up there in front of all those people had not been easy, but he had done it. A smile crossed his face at his accomplishment, but quickly faded as he saw an icy glare directed his way by Joan.
"So we're to restore Parliament, are we?" Joan said between clenched teeth. "I do not believe I was informed of this."
Ferran gulped and fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "It is what I wanted to speak about. I think it is best that we work together. The people are not entirely happy with your rule, and I think some moderation may be needed. Restoring the Assembly would go a long way in regaining some of the people's trust."
For a moment, Ferran felt as though Joan were ready to tear his head off. His gaze relaxed soon after though, although his rigid posture spoke to the fact that he still found the situation quite irritable. "It seems I have no choice now. If I do not restore Parliament in some form, the people will be after my head."
Ferran's body relaxed as relief overtook him. Somehow, he had forced Joan's hand. He could not believe it.
Joan scrutinized Ferran for a moment before continuing. "However, I cannot allow the Assembly to simply be reinstated as it was before. The body proved a breeding ground for treason at its end. A third of its members were implicated in a coup against the Crown, for God's sake! If it is to be restored, certain measures would have to be put in place, ones that ensure those sitting on the body put the Empire first instead of their own personal agendas. I will not tolerate traitors who have the foolish notion in their heads that they are above the Crown."
"I'm certain we can work something out."
The two spent a moment eyeing each other, taking the full measure of the other. Ferran felt the pressure of Joan's gaze and looked away first, making it so he failed to see the smirk spreading across the Regent's face. "Then you have some work to do. Show me an Assembly that won't be filled with traitors and I'll allow it to return. Until then, Parliament stays as is."
Having had the final word, Joan marched off, undoubtedly to confer with his men in the military. There was still a mob outside the palace after all. Ferran could only pray that his actions had prevented a potential crisis from developing. He returned to his quarters to consider how best to proceed.
(( Private ))
Henri had no other choice but to sneak his way to the Crown Prince, since asking the regent for permission was out of the question.
Lucily a plan quickly formed his head.
He grabbed a quill and wrote a letter to his sister, Henriette de Saint-Pierre, asking for a guard uniform as well as a written order that would allow him to get into the locked wing of the palace. He'd never expect that her sneaking into the military and becoming a colonel would give him a chance at this, but he couldn't think of anything better.
The next day he recieved a response, and a uniform roughly his size, hopefully it'd prove enough to fool the guards and allow him to sneak into Crown Prince's quarters and follow his "order" saying to report to him directly and become part of his personal guard.
To lower his chances of being recognized he also decided to shave, as facial hair wasn't very popular amongst soldiers and could easily give him away.
With everything read Henri de Saint-Pierre decided to follow through with his plan, putting all of his hope in the disguse, fake order, and blind luck.
The disguise seemed to work, allowing Henri access to the palace. The timing proved excellent as well. As the crowd gathered outside the palace, the Guardia Real and men from the Exercit Valencia were running all over the place to ensure the palace remained secure. One wayward guard could easily escape notice. However, that was not enough to gain access to the royal quarters. The order lacked the Regent's signature, and Joan had personally ensured every man in that wing of the palace was loyal to him and only those with his permission could enter. Henri was turned away, although he was fortunate enough that they did not detain him, instead directing him to speak to the Regent about gaining access. This seemed an unavoidable roadblock, that is until the Crown Prince left his quarters to address the crowd. For a time, he was outside the royal wing and completely accessible to any member of the guard, or one posing as a guard. As he returned to his quarters, Henri had the chance to confront him before he returned to the royal wing, although risking getting noticed by someone else or raising suspicion amongst the other guards, or he could attempt to join the Crown Prince's escort as a way of gaining access to the royal wing and speak to Ferran more privately once there.
