Emerald Repatriation Society: Revelation (Part 30)
13 Sep 2024Vasil Vasilescu
The library in Octavia’s summer villa served no purpose other than as a status symbol. It was a book museum, a place to hold social gatherings and display the frivolous wealth required to amass such a large collection of old, physical books, many of which had required extensive restoration. Vasil knew that somewhere in here was a copy of The Count of Monte Christo, probably several hundred years old and never read. At the moment, he imagined the library as the Chateau D’If, that he and his niece, Katarzyna, were Faria and Edmund, and Octavia the warden of the island prison.
For the past ten minutes Octavia had been verbally bludgeoning Kat. Two of the first ERS settlements on Cemiess were about to be given autonomy as independent cities, and Kat could not give Octavia an estimate of how many of the citizens would choose Octavia as their client.
“How can you not know,” snapped Octavia. “You are the Vice President of Housing and Relocation, Katarzyna. You are supposed to know these things!”
Katarzyna sank into the chair, trying to become lost in the soft leather. Octavia, when upset, had a way of making others feel like a child, and all Kat wanted to do in times like this was to become as small and quiet as possible. Kat glanced to Vasil sitting in another of large, leather chairs. She had no idea how Vasil managed to remain so calm.
“Don’t look at him! He can’t get you out of this!” Octavia pointed angrily at Vasil. “He’s the reason we are not putting a settlement on Cubeo.”
Octavia had cause to be upset about Cubeo. It would have meant major political clout having a settlement on Princess Aisling’s seat of power, but Vasil had been too aggressive in the land negotiations and had killed the project. Though the number of citizens making Octavia their client would help her challenge for a patron’s position, Vasil felt Octavia’s level of anger was disproportional. It would take more than two settlements worth of citizens for her to make a serious play to become a patron.
“Do you even know how many Citizens there are in these two settlements?”
“About a hundred fifty thousand total,” mumbled Kat, unable to look at Octavia.
“And you don’t know if even one will have me as their client. Pathetic.”
“I am sure the odds are much better than one in a hundred fifty thousand,” said Vasil
Octavia glared at Vasil like an auburn-haired Roman goddess about to strike down an impertinent mortal with her burning gaze. “I am not in the mood for your sarcasm, Vasil.”
She never was, but he always managed to get away with it unlike other family members. He often infuriated her with the way he used dry humor to state facts, but she knew it was Vasil’s way of suggesting she calm down without directly challenging her in front of others, and she appreciated that.
“Even if they all pledged to you, it would still not be enough to petition for a patronage,” said Vasil explaining what Octavia already knew. “You’ll probably need another six or seven settlements worth of citizens to have any chance for the petition to succeed. Being upset is not going to change that.”
Whether or not there were enough pledged citizens had not upset Octavia, it was Kat failing to answer her question of how many there might be. Octavia’s slate blue eyes studied Vasil, considering what he'd said, and finding she could not argue against the plain logic. “You’re right,” she said. “The settlements in less densely populated systems will be more effective right now, anyway.”
Kat looked up, her attention bouncing between Octavia and Vasil. He saw the question forming. The impetuousness of youth urged Kat to speak up before Vasil could interrupt her. “You mean more effective for supporting your patronage?”
“Of course,” said Octavia. “Five thousand citizens pledged to me in a system with fifty thousand people offers more local political leverage than half a million pledges in a system with half a billion people.”
Deep down, Kat suspected her aunt was using ERS as a tool to for gaining political influence, but she thought it was only by using the ERS honorary board of directors. Sir Halston and Lady Eleanor being on the honorary board, and in the court of Princess Aisling, meant the “donations” to ERS from those wanting seats on the board had by now run into the billions.
“So, the larger the percentage of the population under your wing, the more willing system authorities are to do what you want, is that it?” Saying it out loud sickened Kat. Octavia was not just gaining influence via the board of directors, but quietly filling the populations of small systems with refugees grateful to her and ERS. And as VP of Housing and Relocation, Kat was helping her do it. “You are not doing this to help refugees, you are doing this to help yourself.”
Octavia rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t be so naive. This is how the system works, you stupid girl.”
Vasil interrupted Kat before she made the mistake of challenging Octavia to be better than that and change the system. Altruism was not something Octavia considered a valid tactic when it came to politics. “Kat, for what it is worth we are helping these people. We are building them cities and giving them a future. ERS has spent more and done more for these people than any other charity,”
“Definitely,” emphasized Octavia. “And the support of those people will ensure this family again enjoys the status and influence it deserves.”
Kat recognized Octavia’s curt tone indicating that her aunt considered the topic closed to further discussion. For Family and Empire was written on the Vasilescu coat of arms, but Kat now wondered how much returning the Vasilescus to prominence was for the family and how much was strictly to elevate Octavia's own status and influence.