I.
ARIADNE
"Here lies the ashes of a kingdom built on the tears and the blood of the weak. Today we stand on a kingdom born out of blood. But not blood of the oppressed to feed the rich. But blood of the commonmen like you and I who fought for the right of our nation to exist. The blood of the martyrs. The heroes! My brothers and sisters. I take not the crown of my ancestors, but the crown of their blood and the tears of their mothers, and all those in grieving–"
The sound of cheers fill the arena.
I switch the TV off much to the annoyance of my co-workers. Many grumble but only Selva actually has the guts to confront me.
" Did little miss Velvet, forget she was not in her penthouse? We were watching that".
I sigh and turn back to my desk.
" I know, but another word of that fascist rhetoric and I swear I will go mad", I complain, frustration and annoyance written all over my face.
Another grumble fills the relatively small office as my co workers mumble their discontent. A small smile forms on my face.
Another reason not to like little miss velvet.
Again, only Selva speaks, " Give the guy a break. He just led his people out of a real fascist regime. He's allowed to talk a little".
I couldn't help but scoff," Yeah right. His country finally free from a 10 year military dictatorship and the first thing he does is to assert himself heir and make himself king. Very heroic".
"Say what you want but I don't see you fighting for your country's freedom", I hear someone at the back murmur. Probably Mark with the floppy hair. He has a huge hard-on for the new Braganzan king.
Deciding not to let that little comment fly, I respond:
"Well my country doesn't have a corrupt monarchy to overthrow, does it Mark?"
He scoffs and retorts louder this time, " Yeah instead we have corporate nepo babies like you". Causing a wave of laughter to fill the office.
He doesn't meet my eyes though. Coward.
So instead of retorting, I just get up from my desk, making sure that my chair drags across the mahogany floors and flash the office a bright smile, before grabbing my 24k heroes bag and car keys, making sure to show the BMW logo.
"Well, Mark. Aren't you lucky, this nepo baby is tired and has decided to clock out for the day"
I watch his jaw clench with glee. It is only past 3 and I have at least two hours of work left, but who is gonna stop me?
Usually, I hated using my privilege, and make it a task to work harder than everyone else to prove my worth, but days like this I loved to play into their stereotypes, if only to provoke fascist limp-haired Markicius.
I make sure to grab my flash drive so I can work at home, and strut out of the relatively small room after giving Selva a small smile, to which she slightly shakes her head.
I'm barely in my car when her text comes in:
[Via: If this is your plan to endear yourself to the team, you are doing a very shitty job]
I roll my eyes and text back.
[Me: Mark is a dick]
The little bubble appear again.
[Via:Perhaps. But you aren't doing yourself any good playing into his stereotypes. I know you worked hard to get this job. Is losing all your credibility worth pissing off Markicius?]
I sigh and reply.
[Me:No...]
[Via: Good girl. Anyways when you left an office memo got passed around. Check it out:
*View atttachment*]
I tap on the attachment and it opens into some letter type memo with a foreign emblem stamped at the bottom. Wait I know this coat of arms.
The attachment⤵️
CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM
Ministério dos Assuntos Externos do Reino de Braganza
Braganzan Foreign Ministry – Directorate of Cultural Affairs
---
TO: Editorial Director, The Novarican Standard
FROM: Office of the Foreign Minister, Kingdom of Braganza
CC: Novarican Ministry of External Affairs, Press & Policy Division
DATE: 23th April 2025
RE: Invitation to Participate – Braganza-Novarica Cultural Delegation
---
Dear Sir/Madam,
Under the auspices of the Braganza-Novarica Cultural Trust Initiative, the Kingdom of Braganza extends a formal invitation to The Novarican Standard to participate in a cross-national delegation scheduled for 25th may - 25th july in the Braganzan capital, Rèal.
This program is designed to strengthen diplomatic ties through strategic cultural engagement and mutual media transparency. We are seeking the inclusion of key editorial voices and civic commentators from Novarica who have demonstrated influence in public discourse and commitment to fair reporting.
The Ministry would be honored by the participation of one or more correspondents from your esteemed organization. Selected delegates will attend private briefings with His Majesty's council, tour historic national sites, and engage in a series of press dialogues aimed at reinforcing international cooperation.
We kindly request a formal response with selected representatives' credentials by 26th April 2025. Full travel and accommodation support will be provided under the Braganzan Royal Cultural Exchange Protocol.
We remain at your disposal for any further clarification and look forward to welcoming your team to Braganza.
With respect,
Hon. Lúcio Teixeira
Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Braganza
(Signature)
Amira D’Souza
Senior Diplomatic Attaché
Novarican Ministry of External Affairs
(on behalf of Minister Celestino Harrow)
(Signature)
---
Attachments: Delegation Briefing Packet, RSVP Credentials Form
Confidentiality Status: INTERNAL – Not for public distribution
Another one of Selva's texts comes in while I'm still mulling over the memo/invite.
[Via: The pay bonus is huge as well, though I doubt that matters to you madame😒😂. However, for the rest of us it seems like a proper payday. Mark is signing up so you'll be away from him for a whilebat least]
My fingers type back on their own accord
[Me: I'm going to sign up]
Selva text come almost immediately.
[Via: what???????? I thought you hated Braganza and its 'fascist regime'. What changed in....10 mins?]
I don't know either, Via.
[Me:I'll talk to you later, when I get home].
[Selva: What?
Miss Vion
Do not leave me on read, madame!!!]
I put my car in gear and pull out of the driveway before she comes after me herself.
During the drive home, I mull over the memo and my rash reply to Selva.
True I hate Braganza and their new regime. But this could be my chance to make a name for myself in international journalism, separate from my last name. And an opportunity to stick it to limp haired Mark while exposing his 'hero' as the fascist I know he is.
I'm going to sign up.
Later that night, I apply on my laptop and almost automatically a rejection letter pops up on my screen.
[THE NOVARICAN STANDARD
Independent Since 1874
Office of Editorial Human Resources
Diplomat City, Novarica
TO: Ariadne A. Vion
FROM: Senior Editor, Int’l Affairs Desk
DATE: 24th April 2025
RE: Application for Braganza Delegation Coverage
---
Dear Ms. Vion,
Thank you for expressing interest in covering the upcoming cultural delegation to the Kingdom of Braganza. We appreciate your initiative in seeking to represent The Novarican Standard abroad.
After careful consideration of internal metrics, departmental priorities, and current staffing allocations, we regret to inform you that your application was not successful. While your portfolio reflects potential, the delegation slots are extremely limited and have been assigned to correspondents with deeper field experience in political diplomacy and international security affairs.
This decision in no way reflects your value to the organization, and we encourage you to continue developing your international desk contributions for future opportunities.
Thank you once again for your interest.
Sincerely,
Marlon Greaves
Senior Editor, International Affairs
The Novarican Standard.
It's so quick I have to text Selva to ask if she got the same message. Once she says no and everyone else she knew that applied got picked though it took a few hours to get a response, I could smell my father all over it.
I have to fight to keep my tears of frustration at bay. He always does this. Messes with my life. But not anymore. I am going on this trip whether his excellency likes it or not.
I guess tomorrow I'm going to pay Minister Ares Vion a visit. Bastard.
AN : So here it is folks. It's the same Bastard king just a reboot with a better plot.
