Chapter 57

There was a lot to do in preparation for my coronation. Dignitaries had to be invited, catering planned, musicians hired, security arranged, and half a dozen other things, some of which the media had to be let in on. Susie arriving part-way through the preparations hadn't helped all that much, to tell you the truth. While my adopted kid sister was good to have around to lighten the mood, the way she attempted to do so sometimes required a lot of scrambling on the part of the Palace Staff to avoid setting preparations back. I'd heard some of the staff refer to her as 'Princess Whirlwind' because of that.

Still, by the time the day arrived, not even Susie's particular brand of chaotic enthusiasm had managed to throw preparations out of joint with the schedule. Not even after she had managed to contaminate the Palace Kitchens with burnt food particles trying to cook me breakfast which required a full six-hour cycle of the ventilation systems to remove. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Kitchen Staff saw fit to effectively ban Susie from using the stove in the aftermath of the Burnt Pancake Incident.

Regardless, the day of my coronation arrived and though I was able to use my uniform for this, Susie was having a difficult time with her dress. As I figured she might be. After all, she was something of a Tomboy. Regardless, she fidgeted and complained the whole time we were preparing for the festivities and I couldn't help but grin at that.

"I don't get why I have to wear this stupid dress! It's completely impossible to move around in!" Grumbled Susie.

"Because the folks in the Inner Sphere expect a princess to not be wearing a pair of grease-stained technician's coveralls or a pilot jumpsuit to a Royal Coronation." I chuckled.

"Hey, those are comfy! And they don't wear out easy!" Protested Susie.

"That isn't the point." I smirked.

"I know, it's all about keeping up appearances or something, right?" Questioned Susie.

"Exactly right. There are going to be dignitaries and nobility from all over the Inner Sphere at this thing. They expect a certain level of pomp, so we'll show them that." I nodded.

"So why do you get to wear your uniform?" Queried Susie.

"Because it's all part of the show. Minister Simowitz's people have been painting me as a Soldier Prince to the locals." I informed.

"And I'm what? The Proper little Princess? He ought to know better I can't sell that." Asked Susie.

"I think it's more for show than anything else. Just put up with it for one day, then you can go back to your normal clothes." I sighed.

"Promise?" Demanded Susie.

"Promise." I nodded.

And with that, my Adopted Kid Sister was somewhat placated. At least enough to not try and demand she be allowed to change back into her usual clothes. Whether she would behave or not remained to be seen, but at this point, the die was already cast. The show was about to start whether Susie behaved or not and there wasn't much I could do about it if she chose to be Princess Whirlwind the whole day.

Regardless, the day would start with a trip around Reykjavik in an open-topped aircar. The idea was to show myself off to the common citizenry. Fortunately, Minister Simowitz had all the oversights of the planned route through the capital covered with security and agents, all under the direction of Agent Novak, whose desire to not have a repeat attempt on my life by any would-be snipers ensured the security ran smoothly. People thronged the streets to get a look at their new Prince, and security was extremely on the ball. No gunmen leaped out of the crowd to take shots at me, no snipers from a nearby window tried to shoot me, and all I had to do was smile and wave, though getting Susie to do likewise was sometimes difficult. I had to nudge her a couple of times as a reminder.

Regardless, the procession stopped at the Rådssal, where I got out of the Aircar and made my way up the steps and into the Hall of the Riketsråd, where Vévoda Kolowrat was waiting. It was here that I would swear my Oaths to the Principality and be formally crowned in return before moving back to the Prince's Palace to be formally enthroned, after which there would be a ball and dinner. This first part was the most crucial, however. Vévoda Kolowrat had insisted that the Riketsråd be the one to crown the Prince as a symbolic gesture of the commitment of the Prince to serve the Will of the People, manifested in this case in the form of the Riketsråd.

As I entered, Vévoda Kolowrat stood in the middle of the Hall, waiting for me. Dozens of witnesses were present, some of the most powerful Lords of the Riketsråd, along with a bevy of vid cameras and reporters. On a robin's egg blue cushion of crushed velvet sat the Crown of Rasalhague. Gilded Bronze formed the main body, while garnets and topazes of blue, yellow, and white were studded along the metal. It was an ostentatious thing that cost two million C-bills to make, but it was one of the least expensive crowns in the inner sphere. Others were often solid gold or platinum and studded with diamond or other far more expensive gemstones than Garnets and Topazes.

As I nodded at Vévoda Kolowrat, he nodded back to me and gestured for me to kneel on the provided cushion. I did so and the coronation procedure could begin in earnest.

"Ksaize Poniatowski, do you swear to uphold the laws and customs of Rasalhague? To defend the Borders of the Principality from encroachment? To govern with the consent of the People, in the form of the Riketsråd, and to never impose tyranny upon the Populace of the Principality?" Demanded Vévoda Kolowrat.

"I do swear." I affirmed.

"Then as the duly appointed representative of the Riketsråd, by the consent of the People the legislative body of the Principality, I give you the power to conduct diplomacy, to negotiate with foreign entities, and to sign treaties, to command armies and fleets for the betterment of the Principality, to appoint judges and to propose legislation for ratification by the Riketsråd." Intoned Vévoda Kolowrat.

Then, he solemnly took the crown from the cushion and placed it on my head, ensuring it fit right before nodding. As I stood, Vévoda Kolowrat turned to the various Vid Cameras, Lords of the Riketsråd, and Reporters, gesturing to me as he did so. I stepped forth and Vévoda Kolowrat spoke up with an authoritative edge to his voice.

"I give you your Prince, Josef Poniatowski, Prince of Rasalhague, Grand Duke of New Ålborg, Ksaize of Krakau and Predlitz, Commander-in-Chief of the KungsArmé and by the grace of the Riketsråd, Executive Officer of the Government of Rasalhague!" Announced Vévoda Kolowrat.

The next bit went by in a blur. I found myself being ushered back into the Aircar to the Prince's Palace where I finally was formally enthroned in the Painted, Chandelier-lit, Hall of State. More pomp and ceremony ensued before I could plant my ass on the robin's egg blue leather and gilded bronze throne. I had to, it seemed, take the oaths of various generals and admirals here and now, which took another hour or so, given that there were five RCTs Worth of Regiments and six Aerospace Flotillas in the KungsArmé, each with their own Generals and Admirals. Then there were another couple of hours spent on taking the Oaths of the Judiciary and the various Ministers of the Executive Ministries.

By that point, I was practically desperate for the ball to start. There was absolutely no way that Susie would have had the patience to go through all this, so it was a good thing she hadn't been needed for more than the initial, public-facing, stuff. By the time that I was finished with all the oath-taking, we were well past noon, and creeping up on dinner time. It was just as well because the spread I had ensured would be prepared for the buffet at the Ball was something that I desperately was looking forward to.

As I finished with the Hall of State, and finally made my way into the Large Ballroom, spotted several dignitaries from the various nations of the Inner Sphere. My face split into a grin as Katrina Watson came sauntering over to me, a flute of champagne in one hand and a small plate with Frikadeller on it in the other. She was wearing a dress that showed quite a decent amount of cleavage, and the collar-like choker she wore wasn't doing much to distract from the heat rising within me.

"I always knew you'd make something of yourself." She grinned.

"Even during the Exam Night Thirty-Eighteen Incident?" I teased.

"Aren't you always saying that was Schmitty's fault?" Retorted Katrina.

"Aren't you always saying you don't believe me?" I returned.

That caused us both to break into a brief bout of chuckles and giggles, as I gave Katrina a hug. She hugged me back and as we broke apart, she mentioned she was going to be the Lyran Ambassador to Rasalhague. I couldn't help but wonder how she'd swung the ambassadorship.

"Oh, well, you know how it is. They wanted someone who knows you." Shrugged Katrina.

"I'm sure that having Frederick Steiner in position to flank the Archon in the event of any issues would necessitate putting your best foot forward to secure your other flank." I mused.

"That too." Nodded Katrina with a grin.

"God I've missed you." I chuckled.

"Missed you too, you Utter Madman. However, I can't monopolize you all night. Go mingle, we'll catch up later." Insisted Katrina.

I went to do just that. For the first few hours of the ball, I spoke with this dignitary or that. It was as I was conversing with Ambassador Grigori Riota that something unexpected happened. I'd just confirmed my intent to do business with Alliance Defenders Limited and the United Outworlders Corporation when it happened.

"You should be hearing from your people within the week about a finalized deal." I informed.

"Wonderful news! The Alliance Militia has been quite anxious about these new Aerospace Fighters, after all." Beamed Ambassador Riota.

"We're confident they'll fill the Militia's Aerospace needs." I affirmed.

"You know, I have always been fascinated by such deadly things." Came a smoky voice from off to the right and behind me.

I turned to see someone I hadn't thought would be present at this, given the current state of geopolitics in the Sphere. Dressed to the nines in a tight-fitting, green, Chinese-style dress that was cut perhaps a bit too short in terms of the legs, with her hair and makeup flawless, was Romano Liao, the second daughter of Maximilian Liao, Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation. She honestly wasn't doing a whole lot to not be a Dragon Lady Stereotype right now, but then, she probably wasn't here out of goodwill.

"Duchess Liao, I'm surprised to see you here." I mused.

"Why would I not be here? This is the first time a new nation has emerged in the Inner Sphere in a very long time. It's all quite. . .fascinating." Grinned Romano with a sultry smile.

"Your father's allies tried to assassinate me, Duchess Liao. That does rather tend to put a damper on foreign relations." I pointed out.

"The Kurita's actions are hardly representative of my Father's Wishes. I think you'll find the benefits of cooperation with House Liao, at least on some things, to be quite. . .rewarding." Offered Romano.

"Unfortunately, as enthralling as this conversation is, I must speak with Ambassador Hasek-Davion about potential issues with the licensing agreement that Achernar Battlemechs wanted." I nodded, excusing myself.

Romano was bad news, she was widely regarded as unstable, and if she was trying to seduce me, that meant she likely was trying to use me as a pawn in some game that I definitely wanted no part of. I had technically made up the issue with the Achernar Battlemechs Licensing Agreement. Achernar Battlemechs was largely dealing with Swedenborg Heavy Industries instead of Buccaneer Arms as part of the partnership I promised to get Hertig Fraga's Vote. I just needed to get away from Romano because there was no way that was going to end well for anyone.

I had to simply face the facts that the longer I wasn't officially seeing anyone, the more attempts like that I would face. Romano was bad enough, but what if one of the Kuritas got it into their heads to try something similar? I wasn't sure if I could extricate myself from seduction attempts from multiple crazy women at a time without getting stabbed or something. Fortunately, I had already planned to seriously pursue a relationship with Katrina. We would have to be open about it, though, to ward off more of the same.

I would have to speak with her about it after the ball was over. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter. We get to see a bit of how the Government of Rasalhague is going to work going forward, with the Prince as a sort of executive officer, similar to how the President is Chief Executive in the US, and the Riketsråd as the legislature. Theoretically, the Prince's Power is derived from the Riketsråd, which is why it's Vévoda Kolowrat, in his position as Speaker of the Riketsråd that crowns Jozef.

Of course, him being the head of state of an actual Inner Sphere Successor State now has made Jozef the target of a seduction attempt by Romano Liao. Romano, also known as the Child of Mad Max Liao who is closest to her father in temperament, has been known to employ seduction as part of various schemes before. Jozef is going to want to begin officially seeing Katrina in order to head off future attempts at that.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the talk with Katrina about officially being a couple and the wrap-up of the Coronation Festivities.

Stay tuned. . .