Royal House of Britechester

Hi! I’m Sophie, welcome to my Simblr. This is the home of the Robles-Clement Legacy, we are currently on gen 4. My story is a mix of royal simblr, game play screenies, and the occasional story arch. 

In the days after the reporting of The Outburst members of the palace’s public and international relations teams met round the clock to discuss what the official response from Audrey would be. They often met in Nora’s office - as they did today.

Melanie Hoch, the Queen’s head of PR, opened today’s meeting as usual. “Well, Your Majesty, it has become apparent to us that this is something you will need to publicly address. Britechesterians have continued to express outrage and are largely disappointed in the whole ordeal. Additionally, King Thyone hasn’t made any political moves yet. There is still a chance we could get ahead of anything he intends to do.”

Chord cut in. “He has gone radio silent with Jean-Luc. They’ve never been particularly close, but Thyone has always responded to contact. Even Elara appears to be ignoring us.”

Audrey sat motionless. How long could this go on? Her making monumental errors in judgment. She felt she no longer had the capacity for rational judgement - she felt she could no longer trust herself. She had been thinking hard on the things her children had said to her. Rainier’s insistence that she was a person first, and Inez’s argument for retirement. If nothing else, Audrey knew she had raised intelligent and kind children. 

“Your Majesty?” Nora interrupted the Queen’s thought. 

“My apologies everyone, I appear to have lost myself for a moment. Melanie please draft a public apology to be released later today. This will not be enough for the Lunar King - but it may be keep him at bay until we can make a larger gesture. I would like to meet with my children before we move further on what that larger gesture might be.”

“Of course Your Majesty.” Nora said. “Thank you all for joining us today, meeting adjourned.”

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“AN IDIOT!!??” Thyone roared. “HOW DARE SHE, I AM A KING! I AM ORDAINED BY SPIRITS BEYOND KNOWLEDGE! I RULE A PLANET, and what does she have? A SMALL KINGDOM???”

““I...I’m sorry Your Majesty.”

“I am worthy of my station in life, I deserve my kingdom. I am born into this position. She is only royal by marriage - she is nothing.

“A pathetic TRADE EMBARGO will be the least of her worries by the time I’m DONE!!!!”

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The maids enjoyed a good gossip down in the break room. And what gossip they had today. 

“She called him an idiot! Serene and perfect my ass. And there was the time she yelled at you McKenna, who could ever forget that. That old lady is falling off the rails.”

“Hannah that’s not fair. She has lead our country so well for so long, and she apologized to me on several occasions.” McKenna would never forget the day the Queen yelled at her in front of the advisors and Lord Elliot, but she had well forgiven the Her Majesty by now. 

“You loyalist! Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the end for all of them. Andrase is working on dismantling it’s hierarchy, and there are rumors about Milia’s prince abdicating.”

“What are you two going on about?” Mrs. Hutchinson was the head housekeeper in the palace. She was kind.

“Hannah was just talking about the Milian prince, and what’s been going on in Andrase.”

“Oh my, that’s a troubling topic. I fell especially for those employed by Her Majesty.”

“She has been good to us for many years.” Mrs. Hutchinson continued.

“But is she, or any monarch, good for the country?” Hannah persisted. 

“Nora, what do you think?”

“What do I think about the idea of monarchy? Yeesh, I don’t think this is a topic I quite want to broach.”

“No, but for real. You know the Queen best, with her recent outburst is she even still able to carry the country?”

“Hannah, she is aging but she is kind. She loves this country, she loves these people. Her father passing...it upset her more than I think even she is aware. But Hannah, a person’s grief does not make them weak. It doesn’t make them a bad leader. The Queen is a woman who has gotten upset and expressed herself in the privacy of her home. Her home happens to be a massive palace where she is never actually alone. Of course you are welcome to express your political ideology, but I ask - and I’m sure Mrs. Hutchinson would agree - that you do not let it cloud your judgment of Audrey as a person.”

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Breaking news from the capitol tonight as a livestream produced by young Princess Margaret may have international trade implications. The video shows the princess dancing with Lady Willow in what appears to be a room of the palace. A voice that seems to be Her Majesty the Queen can be heard shouting in the background before the princess disconnects the video. 

Chord held her daughter as she cried about her Simstagram livestream.

“Frankly I can’t believe they’re putting up the stills of the video, Agg and Willow are children, they should be protected by child celebrity laws.” 

“I’m so sorry grandma, we were just trying to dance” Sobbed Aggie

It was taking everything Audrey had to hold back tears. What had been coming over her since her father’s passing? These outbursts were becoming more frequent and they didn’t feel like her. Her granddaughter didn’t deserve this shame, and while she did not agree with the actions taken by the Lunar King, it was her job to stay serene and above the politics of it all.

“Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has requested a meeting for tomorrow. If you don’t think you’ll be up to it, we could hold him off until your Thursday meeting.”

“No Nora...I can meet with him tomorrow. You are welcome to go when you would like.”

“Mrs. Hutchinson has made up a bed for me downstairs, I don’t want to go home tonight. Should I take Willow and Poppy to bed?”

“I think we’ll keep them with us tonight,” Inez responded. “They look unmovable.”

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“AN EMBARGO!?!? WHAT DOES THAT IDIOT CHILD THINK HE’S DOING??? HE NEEDED A REGENT, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET A CHILD BE KING!!!”

“And what of us Nora, what does it mean for one country on the whole of the planet to receive a trade embargo from our primary energy supplier?Truly, I cannot even begin to imagine what is going on in that pathetic little head.”

“-Ma’am”

“Dear God Nora, I’m...so sorry.”

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“So...have you given any consideration to the A word?” Inez asked her mother. It was a beautiful morning and the group had decided it was time for a hike.

“Pardon me, Inez?” her mother responded.

“I’m just wondering if you’ve given any consideration to...abdication. You’ve talked about being tired and wanting a break. Your sister and parents get to be grandparents and great-grandparents, and you have to give speeches and make choices that affect millions. It could be like a royal retirement.”

“There is no precedent for retirement in our lineage.” said Audrey, “Abdications have always been driven by medical need. You girls know that when I married your father I married all of United Britechester, divorce isn’t an option for this family.”

“Even still - Girls! Stay close! - Even still, precedent has never really applied to the royal family in the way it applies to the courts.” replied Inez. “Think about Cordelia the first, she never took the title of Queen even though her mother used that title, she knew her daughter would use that title, and all the surrounding kingdom’s used it for their female consorts.”

“Inez. If we see ourselves as above the courts we lose our tether to the people. Precedent matters for this family the same way it matters for the office of the Prime Minister.” said Chord.

“Okay, sure, madame judge. The Prime Minister isn’t a person though. I mean he is; but like, it’s an office. He isn’t crowned Prime Minister for life, he gets to not run again or step down if he decides he’s done. Don’t we deserve that opportunity?”

“You girls know the stance of the family has been we represent the people as long as they want to be represented. Inez, I did make this choice. When I married your father I knew this would be for life. It would be different if you two or your brother wanted to step down. You had no choice about being born into this.”

“I just think it should always be your choice.” Inez argued. “You signed on to this almost 40 years ago. It’s normal for decisions to change over that amount of time.” 

“Even if I were to step down, Chord and Jean-Luc deserve more time with their children.”

“Mom - Jean-Luc and I were raised for this. Whatever you choose we will support you. As much as I think it’s important to respect precedent, Inez has a point. the choice should be ongoing. If you don’t want to be Queen anymore you shouldn’t have to be.”

“I just really love this country. They’ve given me so much, how can I turn my back?”

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“...and I just didn’t know what came over me - it was scary. Even more so for that poor girl,” Audrey said. 

“Have you checked in with her since it happened?” asked Inez. 

“I have not, but Nora did. She said the young woman was shaken but is doing well.”

“How have you been since? Has it been business as usual or are you slowing down?” Chord asked. 

“Ha! Our mom, slow down?” laughed Inez.

“Inez, not helpful. Aggie? What are you doing up lovebug?” asked Chord. 

“I couldn’t sleep and I spooked myself. I thought I heard something under my bed.”

“All right, let’s get you settled down. Then I think I’m headed to bed.” said Chord as she stood to replace her daughter in her bed.

“Good night my dear.” said Audrey. 

“Mom, is Grandma okay? I heard you talking...”

“Well, Grandma is going through a bit of a hard time, but we’re her family so we’re going to support her. Right now that means listening, reflecting, and getting a good night’s sleep you goof!”

“Hey! But for real, is she gonna be okay?”

“I won’t lie to you, there are some big decisions on the horizon for Grandma. No matter what she decides the love we have in our family will not change. Your dad and I love you and your brothers and your sister. Your grandma loves you. Your grandpa loves you too. Okay?”

“I love you too Mama.”

“Alright lovebug, leg’s tiptoe back in and get you to sleep. We don’t want to wake Willow up.”

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“My girls! Welcome, welcome! How was the trip?” 

Audrey had jumped at the idea to have her daughters come stay for a while. 

“Could have been shorter, but we’re here now!” said Chord

“I’m so glad that you are.”

“Inez! What perfect timing!” Audrey exclaimed upon seeing her second daughter come through the doors.

“Hi Mom!”

“I am just so glad you’re all here. Come, come, let’s get you settled in.”

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Rainier found his mother in his father’s old suite. A bit of an odd place to find her, this room had not been her’s since Rainier was small. 

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Rainier asked his mother.

“I haven’t a clue what came over me. That young woman performs her job exceptionally well. I’ve been meaning to recognize her for her work. And now I’ve gone and done this? This was not the behavior of a leader of a household, let alone a nation.”

Rainier settled in. 

“You might not know this but one night, when I was small, I snuck out of my room. I wanted to come sleep with you after a bad dream. Chord had beat me to it - or maybe the two of you were up late talking? It could have been either. What I remember though was Chord feeling the weight of the crown. She was so scared that she would make a mistake and let down the whole country, that she would never be the leader they deserved. Do you remember what you said?”

“Rainier, please -”

“You said that she was a person first. That you had been a person first. That there was space for all of us to make mistakes and learn and grow. We’re all just people making choices and reacting to the world around us,”

“But Rainier, our family has the privilege to be able to give people the tools to make better choices. It is my duty to model that for my citizens.”

“Ma, you’re still just a person. You still make mistakes. Now we just have to set things right.”

“I love you Ma.”

“I love you too, Rainier.”

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“Do you think she’s gonna have me fired?”

McKenna weeped to Nora.

“No, I don’t think she will. I don’t know what’s been going on with her lately. She’s been all out of sorts, but I think she feels bad about what she said. You do such a good job with Elliot.”

Nora had found McKenna hiding in a storage room near the breakroom. She had run out of the room moments after Audrey berated her in front of the Queen’s entire staff. Audrey had left soon after. After making sure Rainer was going to check on his mother Nora went on the hunt for McKenna. 

“I think it’s time to ask Cordelia and Inez to come talk with their mother. She’ll listen to them.”

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Audrey had been requesting meetings be taken in the family’s private dining room. The arrangement was a bit odd for her team, they had to move their files up and down every single day, but they had been making it work. 

“As we discussed last week, the Chancellor or Arts....”

The other major problem with meetings in the private apartments was that people were living there. Like Elliot, Rainier’s son, who liked to play with his nanny, McKenna. 

“STOP.” Audrey bellowed,  “Young lady your job is specifically to keep this child occupied and away from the business of this palace. What is keeping you from this simple task?”

“Your Majesty?”

“I...I’m so sorry Your Majesty. I didn’t realize” McKenna stuttered.

“It won’t happen again, I promise.”

Audrey didn’t know what had come over her, she wish she could take back her words. 

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“Umm... okay, let me know if you want to see more content from my shack! There are some mystery boxes we could unpack next time! It just might be a little while because my mom and I are going to see my grandma for a few weeks. Okay byeee love you”

Aggie loved her little shack. It was a space away from her siblings where she could have adventures and be imaginative. 

It was a little home just for her. 

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The family gathered in remembrance of Orange. It had been years since they were in a room together, and it was nice to reconnect. However, the reason for the day could not be forgotten. Juno especially enjoyed being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Orange had been her best friend and confidant for so long. She struggled to imagine a life without him. 

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Rest in Peace, Orange Bailey-Moon

The husband of my sweet Juno, Orange was an wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He reached the top of the education career, reaching the master educator level. He achieved his life goal of finishing the Bodybuilder aspiration and achieved the Long-Lived trait. Orange met and fell in love with his wife while they were in boarding school. Together they raised their four children, Oberon (Obie), Audrey, Titus, and Ceres. Orange’s own childhood was fraught and he worked to ensure his children would be poised for success upon entering adulthood. Boy did he achieve that goal. 

Orange is survived by his wife, Juno, his daughter Audrey, and countless grandchildren, great grandchildren, and loved ones. He is preceded in death by his parents and children, Obie, Titus, and Ceres. 

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Elliot and his nanny, Ms McKenna, love to hang out and play together. They especially love playing airplane and dancing together. 

McKenna is new to the palace staff, but by all accounts doing a great job taking care of the little lord. 

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