v e r e n d u s ;

"Can't you? Or would trying simply require you to see them as human." She shook her head in disgust, "even if you are right, even if the existing revolutionaries are a lost cause, this is a brilliant way to make more of them. How many people in these cells who previously wanted peace and cooperation will feel completely abandoned by the monarchy now? How many innocent people will be vulnerable to revolutionary voices whispering in their ears?"

She stands at her full height, looking down her nose at him (although he stands taller than she). "I believe in many things, but one of them is the rule of law. That people are innocent until proven guilty. That all people, regardless of birth, are equal under the law. It breaks my heart, to see it abandoned to easily."

"i am not sure that russia has proven they're capable of much after that tribunal." sentence bitten through teeth, mendrika lips curl into a sneer. while they can admit their own fault in controlling madagascar's anger, the fact so many of the accused were killed or injured under russia's watch left them cold toward the nation's capabilities. especially with pascal still awaiting justice.

"but norway . . . they may be worth building a relationship with. if they will accept our hand." their eyes close. all of this, a bitter pill to swallow. "my health is stable. there have no bouts as intense as the one lia walked in upon." mendrika shakes their head, taking a stuttering breath. "but my mind is consumed by him being on the brink of death, rafael. he wouldn't have wanted it, but i should've forced him to start building a resistance. maybe --- " they raise their hands in defeat. "it's feeling like every choice i've made since leaving has been the wrong one."

inwardly startled by the chaos; spending most of his time trying to assist the injured in the infirmary to keep his mind occupied in reality; rafael had steeled himself outwardly in hopes that his internal chaos would dissipate. even now, as his listens to mendrika make sense of their thoughts aloud between them, he cannot shake the desire to ask for comfort although he doesn't. instead, he listens, hands crossed in his lap. "to which man do you intend to offer your hand? the regent? or the mad king? it's people and soldiers may have proven themselves worthy of our trust, however, we cannot ignore the inevitable of the latter." lia's name makes something angry and upset twist in his gut. "it is not your fault, mendrika. had you forced such a thing upon him, a unrepairable rift might've torn through your relationship. perhaps, once he is better, he will not look to your actions as madness any longer. perhaps, he will want to partake in it, to keep himself safe from the reckless actions of another." rafael's words are mirrored in mendrika's, through gritted teeth and controlled anger. "you cannot tell the future. every decision that you have made thus far has been made with utmost care for our family and our nation. with new knowledge, we can change paths and make new decisions that will not have you feeling incompetent - speaking of, have we found the culprit? does turkey or persia have any involvement in his poisoning?" he asks, a testament to his unspoken distrust in the banished sultan.

She stood to her full height, tall and proud "I have nothing to hide. My political views are plain for all to see. I have won elections based on my promises. Democracy, peace and stability are all I have ever advocated for."

"I would be careful, your highness, you do not want to prove the revolutionaries and criminals right. They have very little cause to justify their violence, best not to give them one."

it was surprising, to hear a royal have such a positive outlook on the world. on mankind. she found they were often so weighted down by the pressures of their crowns that they spoke with negativity. the minister remained quiet, listening to what he had to say. once he finished, she mulled over the words before she lightly hummed before speaking again. " you speak wise words but hardly words a king can abide by, would you not agree? " she asked, curiously. the debate was fascinating to her. " a king must analyze the world and it's happenings. he must make the right choices not for himself, but for his people. one can only do that by watching and picking apart those around you who pose a threat. "

"i'd rather have much more control of the narrative than a proclamation of innocence," they grumble. still, they plop their chin in their hand, the corner of their mouth lifting. "but for you, i will breathe easy. place faith in your words that we will be fine."

they'll grab that faith tight, if it means their family comes to no harm. extending a hand to rafael, mendrika asks, "have you suffered any slights since we docked?"

in unison they take breaths of the same caliber. rafael understood how it weighed on them, he could see it in the way their shoulders met ears or in the mirror of the same creased nature of their brow; the lack of control; the sheer confusion that had rattled their courtiers; their reputation being attacked once more. despite their nation being the target of such gossip regularly and in spite of some of it holding truth, they did not make a living from hurting others. in fact, rafael supposed that they were more a harm to themselves than outside nations. "your worries are valid, you would not be half the ruler that you are without them." rafael admits, a way not to brush past the king's worries yet one that would keep his heart rate stable; a worry that plagued him of late. "we could request for our military to investigate along with norway and russia. it should help remove their suspicion, build allyship with understanding countries, and allow you some control in the outcome." the offered hand makes him smile. "no more than i have experienced before - how are you? both in mind and in health?"

where: the cells

Nicolette was scheming. Already in her head there was a speech beginning to form. One which condemned every person who thought holding an entire nation at fault for the crimes of a few was warranted. Who treated the noble and common so differently. Drafting and redrafting it over and over in her mind was helping to keep her calm. Stopping her from panicking.

Her eyes were closed, trying to drown out her surroundings, when she spoke aloud. "A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in, yet we give so much power to those who wear them..."

She had not expected a reply, not considering the potential for people to be visiting or listening from the surrounding cells, and jumped when she heard a voice.