"A Declaration of Spades"

Streets of Copra (AI Interpretation)

**"A Declaration of Spades"** is the 3rd episode of the 1st season of **Alternate Void: The Five Pillars**. It occurs in the days following the coronation of Olivia, and begins some of Olivia's primary struggles as monarch.

## Episode Guide

*Olivia's traditional first declaration takes the world by storm, and mixed feelings are the only way to describe it.*

## Sypnosis

In the days following the coronation, Vincent and several palace attendants are on many phone calls from ambassadors around the world. Overwhelmed by the calls and the demands they were making, Vincent proposes a temporary shut down with the other embassies for the remainder of the day. It has been two days since Olivia's coronation as Queen of Analeas, and her controversial decision to remove Analeasian forces from Bastille has already proved to be politically dividing.

On the night of Olivia's coronation, Olivia escapes through a series of secret doors in the castle. Having been bombarded with angry guests and council members, the castle's attempt to get her out of the ballroom was the only thing they could think of. Xander, having followed the routes his sister took, quickly joined up with Olivia, Vincent, and Josephine, who were anxiously wondering what to do next. Xander told Olivia that the crowd was hoping this was all just a "classic Analeasian prank" and that the queen would go out to make things right momentarily. In reality, Olivia doubled down on her statement, saying that this was the right thing to do, and that she was certain of this decision from the moment she was asked to make this decleration. While Vincent couldn't disagree from an ethical standpoint about freeing the people of Bastille, this would cause more problems abroad than anywhere else, and also made Analeas' democracy standard seem depleted, which was never good for foreign affairs and ratings.

In the ballroom, James took the stage and told the crowd that the situation would not only be handled, but that the troops would not be going anywhere. He himself opted to have a conversation with the Queen, and that everything would be alright. Unfortunately, guests began to leave the palace in an effort to return to their embassies in the midst of this news. James would eventually track down the group and let them know about the situation at hand. James pleaded with Olivia to rethink the decision, and mentioned how this could cause issues for the rest of the government as well, and even bring upon the boulders of war. Before Olivia could give him her answer again, he reiterated that he needed to return to Everettia, but expected to have a conversation with Olivia once everything settled down back in his Dukedom. Josephine mentioned how the safest option for now would be to stay around the castle until these shockwaves died down, which Olivia didn't have much of a say in the matter.

In a return to the present day, Olivia would finally be allowed to return to the Royal estate at the base of the castle walls, where her brother had left the day before. News of any potential threats had died down, and she would be alright to at least make it back to the house. Despite the pleas from what seemed like hundreds of nations and ambassadors, Olivia stood her ground, and refused the change. Members of the Clarific Council attempted to demand an emergency meeting to overturn this declaration, but the rules for an emergency session did not meet the criteria, and all was thrown out the window until the following week.

Olivia entered the house to find Xander hard at work, studying with Camus at the table. Camus apologizes for having the session held in the house, but the palace refused to let him anywhere near the entrance, and besides, he was barely clear to enter the house as is. Olivia thanks him for his dedication to helping Xander and offers some snacks from the kitchen, Camus can already tell that Olivia isn't feeling well and decides to ask her if there's anything he can do to help. Olivia only shakes her head and mentions how she jumped right into the deep end of politics. Camus could only laugh seeing as this girl who is no older than he is is already making a career of the same path as his mom. Olivia can't help but laugh back, seeing as though it is crazy how much she is expected of as a young adult. While Xander grows annoyed of these distractions, he opts to keep Camus around for dinner, which he mentions that he should probably get back to the Hatanas for dinner. Before leaving, he mentions to Olivia how his mother is actually in support of her all the way, and despite the nature of the announcement, Camus knows his mother does not simply side with the monarch purely over face value politics, but rather, she sees something in Olivia that is unlike the previous administrations.

In Everettia, James prepares to board another plane en route to Analeasia. He is on the phone with Gunther asking about the status of Olivia's apology to the world, where Gunther can only tell him that she hasn't said a word since the coronation. Frustrated, James tells Gunther to schedule a meeting with Olivia right away, as James would like to talk to her before his meeting with her at the Clarific Council Session. Gunther agress, but mentions how the entire castle has been on a lockdown since this afternoon to combat the calls, where James can't help but mention that the world was turning dark, and that perhaps there was more to this reign than what was originally fortold.

Word of James' arrival in Analeasia reached Olivia just before she wanted to go to bed. Josephine had reached out to her to tell her that James wanted to speak briefly before anything else was to be done. Olivia told Josephine to prep a spot of tea in the waiting room, as she would agree to meet with him briefly. Xander couldn't help but watch as an exhausted Olivia begna to put on her coat and make her way out the door to the palace, where a late night meeting with the Duke would occur. When James arrived and met with Olivia in the meeting hall, his emotion seemed apologetic, but he wasn't too eager to give Olivia credit for anything. He tried to sympathize with Olivia to no avail. Olivia told James that while she understood his concern, if she went back on her word and told everyone that the thing was a lie, she would lose more crediblity as a Queen, and that was worse than her current relationship with the monarchs. While James mentions that he had hoped this declaration wasn't made at all, he tells Olivia that a break might be needed, and he would happilly assist with castle tasks in her place. Olivia aggressively refused, mentioning how she could not take a break only three days into her reign, and the idea made her feel shameful to hear it. James, taken back by her confidence, figured it was a lost cause and held back. The only thing he mentioned to Olivia was a warning. A new era was indeed in the making, but that new era would come with challenges and sorrow. Olivia holds the responsibility to patch that sorrow.

Eventually, Olivia feels uneasy about the decision and her encounter with James, and asks Vincent what she might do without undermining her decision. Vincent informs her that while he has seen the decisions of many different Analeasian rulers, never has there been one clear answer. For Olivia to go back on the declaration, that could smooth things out with the council and the other world leaders, but it also damages Olivia's credibility as a ruler. Olivia decides on what to do and makes her way to her first Clarific Council meeting along with Xander in the seats as well. Olivia comments on the decision and how her full plan is to take the soldiers out, but her decision to do it immediantly will be modified to in the next four weeks for logistic purposes. Outrage ensues in the council room, and the Prime Minister's government wil lcertainly riot as well. In the end of it all, Olivia mentions how she won't be perfect, and she is actually scared to take the reigns as queen, but that it is the new era, and with that, her decision ought to be respected for the title that declared it, and not for the person she is. While several members of the council commended the speech, others used this as an attempt to undermine Olivia's credibility.

After the meeting, Olivia asked Xander if there was anything on his mind after his first meeting. The only thing Xander mentioned was that the meeting made him hungry, and wanted to hit up a drive through for dinner. Olivia shrugged and told him she would grab the keys to the car after they got back home.