After a state dinner with Galactic Assembly Representatives on Friday, Matthieu and Theo decided to spend Saturday afternoon with their friends. They invited their six main buddies and their ladies to the Imperial Palace for a pool party in the Western Courtyard, some seven hectares of terraces, swimming pool, free-flowing flower and herb gardens, arboretum, small forest, and even small fish, chicken, game bird, and rabbit hatcheries along the cliff face. He also called Lady Helena to come to the party, while Theo called two ladies to pair with him and Vic.
Two Sentinel lifeguards, two bartenders, and four servants rounded out the party, handing out towels and sun cream. The maillots of the ladies were lovely, with Samuel’s Lady Melanie even sporting a bikini. Matthieu and Theo made sure their ladies had generous applications of sun cream before they requested applications of their own.
Helena looked around. “This Palace seems so huge, even compared to the old Palace.”
“It is. What you can see is about half; the total is perhaps a third bigger than the Stargate Compound.” Matthieu finished applying sun cream to her lower legs as she slouched back in the padded lounge chair with her softee.
“Why is the front so curvy?” she asked.
“Several reasons. First, although it complicated construction, it added stability to the building. Second, it’s more interesting. Third, there are lots of servant passages and hidden passages, which the odd offsets easily provide. Fourth, the long, straight halls of the previous Palace meant that a person could see you 300 meters at the other end and possibly shoot you,” Matthieu explained.
“When the original Palace was built some 400 years ago, they were rather cost-conscious, all told. They used the very finest materials at the time, but the truth is they used such an extraordinary amount of adamantine granite, for strength and beauty, that it was easier to build in straight lines. The most expensive feature of the Compound, now as then, are the walls surrounding the grounds, with those huge force-shield repeaters in the buttresses and the energy plants to power them. It took my Aunt Elizabeth’s husband Gerard eight months to find an off-world company capable of manufacturing them.”
Helena shook her head. “I can understand there needs to be a lot of security features, but it almost sounds obsessive.”
Matthieu laughed so hard he stopped rubbing her feet to slap his thighs. When he finally came out of it, he shook his head. “You have no idea. Let’s just say Grandmother, who has suffered thirty personal assassination attempts, designed it herself. Since she has been Imperial Science Liaison for these, what, forty-six or so years, she knew about all the most secret applications she could possibly incorporate into the building.”
“Thirty attempts? I only know of eight,” she replied, aghast.
“That is by design, I’m sure you realize,” he said smoothly. “How many times would you guess I have been personally targeted?”
Helena gaped. “None that I know of.” She looked him over. “Why is it so secret? Don’t assassins deserve to have their deeds thoroughly punished? Doesn’t Sentinel want to show off their prowess?”
Matthieu shook his head. “You are stunningly naïve about security, my sweet. Sentinel doesn’t want copycats, and they certainly don’t want people to know their capabilities. Paranoia is a Sinclair family trait for good reason.” He handed her the sun cream, sat beside her, and turned his back to her.
She began slicking him up. “What do you think is the best security feature of the Imperial Palace?” At his curious glance over his shoulder, she offered, “I can’t help but hope to visit more often, but I don’t want to trip over anything I shouldn’t.”
Nodding acceptance of that flimsy excuse, he wondered how many news services had sent reporters to bribe her into acquiring and divulging information about the Imperial Palace after having spent only one night with him. “Well, I won’t tell you what the feature is, but I wonder if you noticed we have no obvious six-story walls around the grounds when you were driven through the Golden Gate.”
“Yes, I did notice. All I saw were the forest trees lining the road.”
“Good. Let’s just also say that, if you were to walk or drive along the road, peering around trying to find the security features, you would be noticed and likely dealt with.”
“Dealt with? How?” She stopped smoothing the sun cream.
With a snort, Matthieu turned to say quietly, “Now, that would be telling.” He smoothed back her hair. “All that matters is that when you’re here, you’re safe. Isn’t that enough?”
Helena smiled. “Indeed.”
◊ ◊ ◊
Their parents and grandparents had another state dinner that night, despite the fact that the Ducal Assembly was in its post-Midsummer two-week recess. Theo and Matthieu attended both it and the salon after, which was for dukes and ministers to discuss the ramifications of the Galactic Assembly’s presentation last night, a petition by the Attican Representative for relief from their severe interdiction and reparations settlement.
Since the Attican Empire consisted of ten planets and the Sinclair Demesnes of only four, it seemed ludicrous to one and all that the Atticans were suffering so severely they couldn’t pay for all the damages they had incurred in the bombing of the former Palace and absolute destruction of the massive walls enclosing the grounds. “Given the fact that we paid for the entirety of the repairs, which we accomplished in two years, it’s absurd to think they couldn’t pay us back for them in the same amount of time, much less the fourteen years they’ve had to do so,” Grandfather stated with finality, summing up his presentation.
As the chorus of agreement swelled loud, Father presented the Galactic Assembly’s views. “Although that’s true, the interdiction has severely affected the Attican Empire’s internal economic compass. It is facile to assume ten planets means they have enough resources to pay for the damages many times over, but they also have to feed their people.
“Four of their planets are exclusively mining planets, and those populations must be fed by the strained economies of the other six, with no help from galactic sources. If we had to feed Cordillere and Rendel exclusively from the food produced on Sinclair Demesne and Marabelle, we couldn’t do it.”
Seated in a corner to observe and listen to the discussions, Matthieu noticed Duke Harold Bradley. He nudged Theo with his elbow. “Would you mind terribly if I left? I have some ideas I want to sort.”
“I’m sure Grandfather wouldn’t mind a bit if you were to speak up,” Theo murmured. “You know he values your opinion.”
“Actually, this has nothing to do with the Atticans. Keep track of the arguments for me, if you would, but otherwise I’m going to spend some time working on a project Renee asked of me.”
“Oh? Need any help?” He had piqued Theo’s interest. “Why haven’t you told me of this project?”
“Oh, it’s just rather personal,” Matthieu mentioned reluctantly. “I was just struck by a notion, that’s all.”
He rose and made his way around all the seating to Grandmother and Renee on the other side of the room, and leaned down to whisper to the ladies. “Would we be able to get together tomorrow morning or afternoon? I have some thoughts on those assignments you gave me Thursday night.” They agreed, so Matthieu slipped out the door and headed to his suite.
He had run several datanet searches and compiled twenty pages of articles and notes when a knock came on his door. “Come in,” he called, switching his screen to a generic search page.
His weekend Sentinel detail leader entered with a box. “Your Highness, Lady Helena sent this box of chocolates to you.” He handed Matthieu a note, but not the box. “Here’s the note that accompanied it.”
Matthieu opened it. It was cute and rather quirky, thanking him for the afternoon pool party, with one line expressing that the giving of chocolates shouldn’t be gender-specific. “Thank you, Major Elzy.” He smiled and reached for the box.
“Highness, the chocolates have been laced with an aphrodisiac,” Major Elzy stated. “It’s not an illegal substance, so you have the right to take them if you wish to do so.”
Matthieu stared at him for a moment. “I see. Just put them on the coffee table until I decide what to do with them.”
“Very good.” The major did so and left.
He tried to get his notes in order, but he kept peeking at the chocolates. He finished tomorrow’s presentation well after his usual bedtime. Regardless, he sat for a time on his couch to stare at the box before scooping it up with his handkerchief and putting it in his personal safe.
◊ ◊ ◊
At breakfast, Renee reported, “Everyone will be at Family Night tonight.”
“Good,” Grandmother said cheerily.
“Phillip has already agreed to return,” Father said with a wide grin.
“Good.” Grandfather sported his own merry smile. “I think he’s only visited three times this past year, and never for more than two days.”
Matthieu looked over his sibs; they seemed resigned to their fates. “Grandmother, Renee, when would you like to get together today?”
“We can do so right after breakfast,” Renee replied with a quick glance at Grandmother. “Will it take long?”
“I have no idea. It depends on how much you value my opinion.”
“What is this meeting?” Grandfather asked.
“It’s about those assignments we spoke about Thursday night.”
Domenic spoke up. “Wow, you already know your assignment? What is it?”
“Potential assignment,” Matthieu corrected. “I’m sure none of the other ensigns get to hear about their potential assignments, so I’m rather cheating. So don’t tell anyone.” He gave Domenic a mock-glare.
“I don’t understand why you insist on being treated like the commoners.” As everyone looked at Richard, he exclaimed, “Really, I’m not being snobbish! I really don’t understand.”
Since he did seem thoughtful and attentive, Matthieu explained. “To be able to understand people means you have to see things from their point-of-view. That doesn’t happen unless you put yourself in their shoes. You can do so mentally, but to do so physically, to insist upon it, is the way you really learn how people think.
“Since I’ll be Emperor someday, I want to be the best one possible, and that means learning as much about commoners as it does about dukes, or servants, or Sentinels.”
Desiree giggled. “So, when are you going to do a training cycle in the kitchens?”
As everyone laughed at such a saucy question from the normally-shy youngest daughter, Aimee chimed in. “Yeah, when was the last time you did anyone a service?”
“Last night,” Matthieu replied immediately.
“Oh, yeah? What was it?” Louis wanted to know.
“I put a box of chocolates in my safe.” As their faces registered confusion, he said, “I didn’t want one of you youngsters to enter my suite, see the chocolates, and try one.”
“Some service,” Aimee mocked.
“It was.” Grandfather shocked them as he snapped out that deadly serious acknowledgment. “That box of chocolates was laced with a substance that would be dangerous to you. Thank you for that service, Matthieu,” he said pointedly.
“What? What?” Richard demanded to know, “If they were that dangerous, why didn’t Sentinel destroy them? Why give them to him in the first place?”
“They were laced with an ingredient only adults should ingest,” Renee said forcefully. “For anyone younger than 18 or so, it could do great harm.”
“Like alcohol?” Louis asked.
“Worse than alcohol,” his mother replied. “In truth, healthy adults shouldn’t ingest it, either.”
“So, doesn’t that make it a poison?” Domenic reasoned, “Matthieu is healthy, so any attempt to give him that kind of thing would make him less healthy, right?”
“Alcohol is a poison, too, yet people drink it,” Grandmother replied. “In that respect, it’s a mood-altering drug similar to alcohol, yet much more powerful. If Matthieu hadn’t been informed by his Sentinels about it, he could have taken damage.”
Theo asked, “What are you going to do about it, Matthieu?”
Matthieu slumped a bit. “I’m not sure, yet. On the one hand, the lady who sent it to me surely knew Sentinel would inform me about it. On the other hand, it was a deliberate ploy to manipulate me into trying it, hopefully with her present, so she could see me… in that altered state.
“That kind of manipulation disgusts me and insults me. I already turn myself inside-out to be the best person I can be. I would hope a lady would prefer me as I am. Not… altered.” As the silence lengthened, he added, “I wonder if what other people expect of me actually exceeds what I expect of myself.”
Grandfather and Father began to laugh softly. Matthieu stared at them. Father gave him a warm but wry smile. “Son, you are about as perfect a human being as has ever existed. If that’s not enough for anyone, then they’re living in a fantasy world, to think nobility means we should be more godlike than human.”
Grandfather looked him full in the face. “Matthieu, you and Felice are the only two people I’ve ever known to drive yourselves to discover your utmost potential. I think all people should at least try their best to do so, but to drive yourselves to the absolute limit is a development of intent, of willpower, of purity of purpose, that most people are simply too weak to achieve.”
He cut some ham as he mused, “I wonder what a planet full of such driven people would be like?”
“I think most colonists are like that,” Renee said. “To brave the wilds of a new planet is to pit your every physical, mental, and spiritual resource into the growth of your society and your descendents.” The adults pursued that conversation for some time.
Near the end of breakfast, Louis asked, “Matthieu, if the chocolates are that dangerous and you really don’t want to eat them, why did you put them in your safe instead of having them destroyed?”
“I might need them for evidence against the lady someday,” Matthieu said calmly.
“Oh.” All his younger sibs, even Theo, appeared stricken to realize he had thought through many levels of consequences to have come to that conclusion; all the adults simply nodded.
◊ ◊ ◊
Renee and Grandmother not only approved of his three presentations, they acted upon them immediately. “I have to admit, we had been dreading the search for the governors, since we felt we would have to pick someone related to the Imperial Family in some way.” Grandmother looked over the articles Matthieu had collected on the Bradleys once more.
“If they agree right away, we could have everyone moved in and begin the Academy this week.” She made that statement with notable enthusiasm and relief; Matthieu shared a grin with Renee.
While Renee got on the vidphone to ask Lord Bernard and Lady Rowena Bradley to fly to the Imperial Palace for a personal interview, Grandmother called Uncle Christian to ask if Matthieu’s revised Service courier flight schedule was feasible. He assured her it was, so she asked him to get with the stargate scientists on how they would prefer to see the schedule set before they all came to Family Night that night. They then went over Matthieu’s proposed Imperial Protocol Academy outline for three hours, finishing an hour before lunch.
Since he had always been fascinated by psychology, sociology, politics, diplomacy, and philosophy, he had based his curriculum on them, choosing Consideration, Perspective, Authority, Social Graces, and Ethics to represent those disciplines as the most essential elements of Imperial behavior. He wondered what Lord Bernard and Lady Rowena would think of his notes and the articles he had copied for references.
After one final argument with Grandmother for some five minutes over his use of the word ‘Perspective’, he finally said, “I simply think it’s the most neutral, least threatening term we could possibly have the Bradleys use with the children. It’s difficult enough to get a person to put aside their ego and consider one other person’s point of view. To think they must hold in their mind a wider situation, an entire panorama of attitudes that interact with each other, would be daunting.
“Since this category represents sociology, the children can be trained in a different perspective every day, or even every ten minutes, depending on their focus. Bouncing around the mind-sets of the variety of people they’ll come across in their lives will eventually help build that sociological awareness into them.”
“I believe I agree, Felice,” Renee said. “Just as ‘Consideration’ can mean anything from sympathy to respectful disagreement, its flexibility retains the essence of psychologically saying, ‘I understand you’, without the equivalent of saying, ‘I know how you feel’.”
She turned to Matthieu. “What’s the overall focus of your curriculum?”
Rather sheepishly, he admitted, “Well, I’ve often wondered if there was a way to develop an actual science of leadership. These were, to me, the most pertinent disciplines. Now that we’re actually going to be doing this, and since I came up with the idea for the curriculum last night, I’m sure we can refine it as we go along into something that might actually endure as a discipline.”
Grandmother and Renee looked at each other for a long moment. “If anyone can develop such a science, it is you.” Rising, Grandmother added, “Renee, please cover lunch for me. I’m going to have a quick snack and lie down to rest.”
“Let me see you there.” Renee rose, gathering up the notes. “You did a superb job, Matthieu. It’s been an immense privilege to see intimately how well your mind works.”
“Yes.” Grandmother came to give him a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for your help in this matter. You’ve taken it from an intimidating, harrowing necessity and turned it into a workable plan overnight.”
She blessed him with a precious smile. “I’m actually excited to see how well the Imperial Protocol Academy works.” After kissing him on both cheeks, Grandmother made her way to the door as Renee gave him a wink and thumbs-up.
Matthieu went to lie down on his bed, basking in the sensation of being truly appreciated for his contributions.
◊ ◊ ◊
In his parlor after lunch, when Matthieu called, “Come in,” Vic Bradley entered a bit apprehensively. “Is everything okay, Matthieu?”
“Never better.” He rustled up a softee for his best friend. “How’s it going? I hope I didn’t disturb your plans.”
“No, I was just studying. My Interstellar Economics course is driving me mad. Thanks.” Vic popped open the drink. “What can I do for you?”
“How much studying do you need to do?”
“Not much, all told. Why? What’s up?” Vic asked with concern.
Matthieu relaxed back in his arm chair. “You could do me a real service tonight, if you would.” He explained how the other Imperial children had been having problems getting along, the proposal he and Theo had made to have the older ones live at the Imperial Palace together for training, and that Renee had asked Vic’s aunt and uncle to fly in from Bradley Duchy to consult with everyone tonight.
“I figured you would like to know what’s going on so you can tell your brother Harold about it, and I could really use you at my back when I explain to the youngsters at Family Night what the whole thing is about.”
Vic’s eyes gleamed with unshed tears. “You know, you’re really something. It’s such a privilege to be your friend.” He wiped at his eyes.
“I think that’s why we’ve always gotten along so well together. I’m glad so few people understand what it’s like to lose a parent so young, but it really helps when you have a friend who does. And here you are, taking the most important development of my life to a brand-new level. I love you,” he said with no shame whatsoever.
Matthieu had tears in his own eyes. “Yes, we’ve both been lucky to have had such people taking care of us. Renee, Bernard, Rowena; I feel like they’ve been such a blessing to our lives that I want to share them with my sibs and cousins.” They talked a bit more before a Sentinel notified them the Bradleys had arrived at the Sentinel Air Field.
On the way to the entrance, they met up with Father and Renee, who greeted Vic with a handshake and a hug respectively. “Thank you for coming over, Vic,” Renee made it a point to say. “Although I did mention the possible Imperial appointment in general terms, with you here I’m sure I can convince them how much we need them.”
Indeed, the instant the Bradleys entered the discreet side entrance of the Imperial Palace, they fell upon Vic with smiles, hugs, and tears, for they had had few chances to see him the past two years. Matthieu, who had been Vic’s best friend since they were thirteen, received his share of love, and the two young men stood back as Father and Renee greeted the Bradleys fondly. Father took them all to the Emperor’s apartment for the briefing, where Theo was attending Their Majesties.
After everyone settled in with beverages, Grandmother began her presentation with a general description of the events leading to this point. “Although Renee and I have tried our best to correct the children’s attitudes and misbehaviors, we’re both so very busy with our duties. In particular, since Matthieu’s return from his final training cycle, they seem to be acting out to get anyone’s attention whatsoever.
“We feel it’s time to nip it firmly in the bud, which is why We have decided to ask for your help.” She presented to them the position of Governor and Governess, handed out copies of Matthieu’s notes to everyone, and explained the intent of the program in detail.
Matthieu was gratified when the Bradleys expressed vivid interest in his curriculum. They asked several questions before Rowena laughed. “I certainly wish we’d had such a guide when Bernard succeeded. Since we were newlyweds, it would have helped me tremendously!” She and Renee began chatting about psychologists as the men began speaking about living arrangements, so Matthieu asked if he, Vic, and Theo could be excused.
With two hours before dinner, the young men headed to the billiards room and set up a game. Matthieu told Vic about the chocolates while Vic shook his head repeatedly. “I don’t think I would’ve had so much foresight, to be honest,” he admitted self-consciously. “I would’ve probably called her over right away, eaten half the box, and boffed her all night long!” The Sinclair brothers laughed, and the conversation got rowdy for a while.
Desiree and Louis came storming into the room with another girl and boy. “Matthieu! Theo! Guess who’s here!” Louis yelled, towing the boy and girl by the hands. “Veronica and Andrew and Uncle Phillip and Annette and Roman and Patrick!” he shouted.
“Veronica and Andrew! Why, you must be twelve and ten!” Theo got big hugs from their cousins from Rendel. Matthieu smiled as he and Vic put away the cue sticks, eventually getting his own hugs.
“No, we just turned eleven and nine,” Veronica proudly announced with her vivacious grin. “I’m so glad we’ll be living here. It’s already so nice to have less gravity. I feel like I’m bouncing when I walk!” She gave a pirouette to prove it.
“I’m sure it is,” Matthieu said. “I think it’s going to be hard for me to visit other planets because of all the different gravities. I’m going to have to get some grav-boots.”
“Wow, are you going to take a galactic tour?” Andrew wanted to know, eyes wide.
“No, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have ship duty. I won’t find out for another week, yet,” Matthieu said sunnily. “Come on, everyone, it’s almost time for dinner.” The men herded the youngsters out.
Dinner that night had every Imperial descendent in attendance with the exception of Aunt Catherine on Far Vienna. Renee had everything set up in the State Dining Hall, which could hold up to 200 people but seemed plenty full with 62.
The Imperial Brood sat at the High Table with Grandfather, Grandmother, and the Bradleys, as Matthieu and Theo presided over the Imperial Clan, as the grandchildren were known, at two of the lesser tables. Although the children sat every which way, Matthieu noticed all the aunts sat on one side of the High Table, with Rowena Bradley at the end, while the uncles sat with Bernard Bradley at the other end. Grandmother and Renee sat in the middle of the ladies on either side of the table just as Grandfather and Father did among the men.
Matthieu and Vic sat in a central position at their table with Kayla between them. Lovely black waves of hair falling to her light orange-brown shoulders, with Elizabeth’s wide smile and Gerard’s lush lips and striking brown eyes, she held herself with great poise to flaunt her stunning beauty.
At one point, she pouted about having to attend the Fêtes until next April’s Masquerade Ball. “I don’t want to be presented during the Masquerade,” she commented haughtily. “No one would be able to recognize me if I were wearing a costume.”
When Matthieu and Vic paused their meals to deliberately eye each other over her head, Kayla noticed. “What?”
Matthieu said, “You certainly seem to have a high opinion of yourself. What have you done to deserve it?”
Appalled, Kayla stammered, “D- done? I don’t know what you mean.”
He leaned back and to the side to face her. “I graduated from Northbridge with high honors. I received the top score on eighteen of twenty Service training cycles. Grandfather and Grandmother asked my advice on a situation last Thursday because I showed some expertise they appreciated. I know my value. I’m interested in knowing what you consider your value.”
To her other side, Vic snorted. “Socialites.” As Kayla turned her attention to him, he glanced at Matthieu. “I’m so grateful I’m getting a University education. I’ve met some interesting ladies at the Brighton Sorority House. Would you like to go meet some with me sometime?”
“Sure. When are you planning to go?”
“We could go any night. There are about fifteen ladies there of a summer. Ladies with brains; how awesome is that?”
“Mag. Look at every lady at the High Table.” Matthieu pointed. “Grandmother, of course. All my aunts; although Sophia doesn’t have an official degree, she’s studied a lot about everything. Every single one of my uncles’ wives has a degree. Didn’t you say Rowena had a degree?”
“Yes, in business, which is one of the reasons I’m studying business,” Vic said absently. “My brother Harold has already had me return to the duchy twice this summer to help him with some issues, though I had to sleep in the air car both coming and going so I could get to all my classes on time. Six hours for the trip, so at least it was a significant amount of sleep.”
At that point, all the teenagers were looking at each other in silence. They could even hear the joke Theo was telling the younger kids at the next table.
Matthieu smiled across the table at Desiree. “You know, Desiree, I was impressed by how well you did on that flight sim the other day. I wonder if Father and Renee would let Uncle Brian teach you how to fly an air car. You’re twelve, which is when he started me. Denise says he taught her both ground car and air car.”
Desiree blushed with the praise, and soon all the cousins were wondering if and when they would be taught to drive or fly. Matthieu and Vic finished the meal without further commentary.
In the Crystal Salon, everyone moved around a lot for a good hour before Renee gave Matthieu a nod. He began herding all the Imperial grandchildren to the opposite side of the salon as Renee began asking all the adults to attend to Victor and Felice, who were seated on their grand settee near the bar. As Theo helped get everyone settled, with the youngest children sitting on the floor, Matthieu spoke quietly to Vic with one hand on his shoulder before stepping forward to address the group.
“I’ve had several conversations recently with Grandfather and Father about the needs of the Empire. In particular, Grandfather observed that, although he grew up with the Adamovs as foster-parents, and they excelled at that role, he always had problems knowing who he could trust. That’s one reason why Duke Adamov was his Imperial Steward and his Prime Minister for so long; Grandfather knew how dedicated the duke was to him, as well as to the stability of the Empire.
“In that respect, my father’s had it easy because all his sibs, all your parents, have always known he would need their support. He got to grow up with them and knew them very well because they were so close in ages and had Family Night every week before the old Palace was destroyed.
“One of the rules of the old Family Night was you had to talk to everyone at some point in the evening. Another rule was you had to think about ways to help each other as much as you possibly could.
“Since there was a gap of two years of no Family Night, and a further gap of twelve years of very few Family Nights, it’s been hard for me to get to know everyone but my younger sibs. Now that I’m in the Service, it’ll be even harder.
“Theo is closer to your age, so he knows you all better. He’s been closer than a brother for all these years, so I know I can depend on him for any possible position I’ll need in my future government.
“What all the parents are discussing right now is how to strengthen the ties between all the cousins so we can have the kind of dedication and trust with each other that our parents have. Several of you know my best friend Vic,” he put his hand on Vic’s shoulder, “but most of you probably don’t know what his life has been like. So please listen to his story.”
Vic stepped forward. “My father David was the Heir to Bradley Duchy. When I was five years old, I remember going back to the duchy for the wedding of my Uncle Bernard to Rowena St. Stevens.” He pointed to the Bradleys across the room.
“A couple of days later, when they were on their honeymoon, my father and Grandfather Duke Jonathan Bradley were heading back to the Urban District for the next Ducal Assembly, when their air car’s grav-core stabilizers gave out. They died in the crash.” He looked away from the children and blatantly wiped his eyes with the fingers of one hand.
Lifting his chin once again, Vic continued. “My oldest brother Harold was only twelve; I was the youngest at five years old.
“Uncle Bernard was immediately notified during his honeymoon, and he and Rowena came back right away to assume Grandfather’s ducal responsibilities. He not only supervised our duchy for the next nine years, but he and Rowena ended up raising all five of us, because my mother committed suicide in her grief.” He paused once again, looking at the ground and gritting his teeth; this time Matthieu put an arm around his shoulders for a brief hug.
With a deep breath, Vic concluded. “Not only did they raise me and my sibs to be honorable, worthy men and ladies, Bernard and Rowena decided not to have their own children just so they could dedicate themselves to our needs. And six years ago, Uncle Bernard resigned his appointment as duke and handed it over to Harold.
“When you study history in high school, you’ll see just how rare such honor and dedication truly are. I love them as my parents because they’re the only parents I’ve really known. I hope you’ll love them just as much as my sibs and I do.”
Matthieu stepped forward again. “What Grandmother and Renee would like to do is have all of you come to live here in the Imperial Palace when you turn twelve, and for Lord Bernard to be the governor of the boys and Lady Rowena the governess of the girls.
“You know our grandparents are growing frail; Grandfather is 78 and rarely rides anymore for fear he may be thrown, and Grandmother must take frequent breaks of a day. Father and Renee have assumed most of their duties at this point, which have grown more extensive over the years since the Galactic Assembly came into being. I’ll be off on Service assignments, and Theo hasn’t made up his mind yet whether to pursue the Service or a University degree.
“As appointees to the Imperial Household, the Bradleys will have authority over you as much as if they were your own parents. They are wise, brilliant, loving people who will have only your best interests in their hearts, as well as the future needs of my government. Our aunts and uncles will continue the seminars, but they’ll concentrate on their specialties, so the Bradleys will be concentrating on your social development as Imperial Family members.
“For that reason, we’ll be calling them the directors of the Imperial Protocol Academy, and you will live in the Center Wing together as if you were at boarding school. Otherwise, I don’t know how the Bradleys will arrange for lessons of a day, but I have personally provided them with a list of the types of things I want you to learn, and Renee and Grandmother helped me write the list.”
Gazing at all the mesmerized faces, Matthieu summed up. “There are perhaps 30,000 Royals in the Demesnes, averaging out to 600 per duchy, and only 35 Sinclairs in our generation. When we’re all grown into our responsibilities, I’d like to think the training you’re all given in Imperial protocols will help you realize how important it is that we maintain a strong identity as a family.
“Being raised together during adolescence will help you realize that trust, responsibility to each other, and love for each other will be the most important qualities you can develop in learning how to be Sinclair.”
With his entire soul, Matthieu tried to catch every eye as he proclaimed, “I love you. I need you. I want you all to discover the best in yourselves and in each other, and teach your own children what it means to be Imperial, so the Empire will hold strong for generations.”
After a few moments, Phillip’s son Patrick broke the silence. “Why do you seem so worried about this?”
“Because outsiders, even Royals, try to pick us apart. Assassination attempts, lies, gossip, there are a lot of mean, jealous, and outright evil people out there. To find people you can trust is really hard. I hope we can all grow to trust each other like our parents do.” Matthieu regarded him curiously. “Who do you trust?”
“My parents. Grandmother and Grandfather. Your parents.” Patrick winced a bit at that gaffe, for Renee was the only mother he had ever known for Matthieu.
“You’re right. Our aunts and uncles are the only other people I trust. And my cousins.” He looked around. “I do – did – have a few friends on Rendel, but even then sometimes they were backbiters. I always wondered when they would turn against me,” he said thoughtfully.
Matthieu nodded. As the rest of the children began comparing schoolyard stories of hateful behaviors perpetrated by or upon their friends, Matthieu, Vic, and Theo moved off. Uncle Evan and Leah, Uncle Josef, and Aunt Marie, parents of some of the younger children, had been standing for some time behind the crowd and gave the young men hugs and words of praise. The meeting of the parents with the Bradleys broke up, and Family Night proceeded much as usual, though all discussions revolved around the new Imperial Protocol Academy.
Matthieu and Vic went to the Bradleys. “We’ll be in my suite if you need Vic to give you a ride to the manse,” Matthieu stated. They agreed, and all the parents thanked the young men with many smiles as they left.
“I’m so glad you helped, Vic. Grandmother told me the other day the kids really listen to me, but I’m sure your story had a huge impact upon them.”
He hit the lift button to the third floor. “They don’t know what true loss is like, though they’re pretty considerate of me. And everyone loves Renee; to equate Bernard and Rowena to her in their eyes will make all the difference, I think.”
“Yeah. After hearing Kayla’s self-centeredness at dinner, I felt I had to throw my weight in there, too.” Vic brooded.
“That was really great. I wanted to give you a medal just for that.” Matthieu grinned as they strode from the lift and headed to his suite. “So, tell me who you’ve met at Lady Brighton’s!”