Once only a moderately unusual sight in the halls of the Rivage Palace, the presence of a man dressed in a black cassock had become nearly unheard of following the demise of Prince Stéphane in mid-2016. It wasn't the apathy of Stéphane's replacement that made meetings between bishop and sovereign nearly worthless, but the fact that the church had nothing to offer a princess who didn't want anything from it.
Regardless, there were times that necessitated a visitation, and today was one of those days. Bishop Anthoine Dupont felt compelled to take a chance after hearing of the new laws in Oclusia, and the days that passed without a response from the Sil Dorsettian government were concerning. As was custom, a warden at the entrance to the Chamber of Rule bowed before the bishop as he approached, and swung the knocker on the door three times.
"Enter," a voice behind the door called out. The warden admitted the bishop into the chamber and shut the door, ensuring privacy. In the room, Princess Claidie sat upon her throne in her typical yellow and silver skirt suit, adorned only with a red rose brooch. The Prime Minister accompanied her, sitting off to the side. Princess Alice was not present, handling another engagement.
"Bishop Dupont," Claidie addressed the man, "It's not often we meet. I assume this is for something serious."
"Indeed, Your Highness," Anthoine responded. "I'm sure by now you've been made aware of the new laws in Oclusia persecuting adherents of the Courantist faith, depriving them of their rights and threatening death to those who seek a better life elsewhere."
"I have, and I assume the reason you're here is to question why the government hasn't put out a response to that."
"I had hoped you were not as apathetic as your father."
"I'm not. But, if you want to compare me to my father, let me offer another comparison. I'm more
tactical than my father ever was," Claidie smugly proclaimed. "I understand the plight, and I don't
want to ignore it. If there's something I
can do, I'll offer it. The question is 'What?'"
"You could freeze assets, or even seize them to pressure their leaders," Anthoine suggested.
"Assuming there's even anything
to freeze or seize."
"You could issue a condemnation, urging Yermolayevich to repent. It would be a statement in support of the international community as well, to show solidarity with it."
"I understand your reasoning behind that," Claidie assured the bishop, "but we simply don't have the clout to make a difference there. Nothing we do will ensure the resolution of the conflict in one way or another; it will resolve on its own for better or worse, and if we're not careful, we could simply make ourselves a target for retaliation should things get worse in Oclusia. What I do not want is to use the international community as a shield for us to be reckless in what we say."
"A disappointing decision, Your Highness," Anthoine responded. "None should fear persecution for works done in the name of God."
"And yet I cannot demand that of the seventy percent of the nation that doesn't adhere to your doctrines, Bishop Dupont," Claidie replied. "We will do what we can, but we will be reasonable about it. We already have laws in place to ensure the safety and protection of asylum seekers, and I am quite willing to ask my sister
and the Prime Minister ..." - She paused for a moment, staring at the Prime Minister in attendance - "... to have the situation in Oclusia declared a humanitarian crisis under the law, giving permanent residency for those affected and a path to citizenship. Is that sufficient, bishop?"
"Better than nothing," the bishop thought to himself. To Claidie, he was more direct. "It will do."
"Good. If there's anything else you can suggest that doesn't put the principality at risk of violence, I'm open to hear it."
"Nothing further, Your Highness."
"If that changes, let me know. I wish your flock well."
Seemingly dismissed by the monarch, Bishop Dupont left, disappointed that essentially nothing was gained. To him, the princess didn't appear to be as benevolent as he imagined she would be. He expected action. He expected a statement to be made. Instead, all he could hope for now was that the already existing laws were on his side.
* * *
The next day, the morning meeting with between the princesses, Prime Minister and the cabinet, was about to begin. Alice had returned from her engagement, and she and her sister were discussing the Princess's Storehouse stockpile numbers when the Prime Minister entered the room to start the meeting with a red folder in hand. A red folder was indicative that the documents inside were related to some kind of crisis, domestic or international, and it was not something anyone in the room wanted to see.
"My day's about to go bad, isn't it?" Claidie asked the prime minister.
Madeline, with a hushed and bewildered look upon her face, set the folder down in front of the princess. "It's worse than you and Bishop Dupont thought," she informed the princesses, before starting her presentation to the whole group.
"Your Highnesses, members of the Cabinet... Yesterday, the government was petitioned by the Bishop of Norvalle to take action against the government of the Democratic Republic of Oclusia, specifically President Lyovkin Yermolayevich, for engaging in religiously charged discrimination and persecution. The bishop wanted a statement to be released condemning the Oclusi government and for sanctions to be levied. We initially declined to do so, instead referring the bishop to laws concerning refugees and asylum seekers, ensuring that we would follow those procedures."
While the prime minister was speaking, Claidie was reviewing the contents of the folder, including all the media reports and public statements from around the world.
"The situation is worse than we initially believed," Madeline continued. "Reports show that the Oclusi government is exterminating anyone professing the Courantist faith, including its own citizens and even foreigners in the country. I believe the situation obligates us to issue a statement at a minimum to forbid Sil Dorsettian citizens from traveling to Oclusia, but I think a condemnation just another centimeter forward from that. I do not want the principality to be on the wrong side of history today. I believe we should issue a total condemnation, institute widespread sanctions even if they're only symbolic, and deploy the
Solidarity to assist in refugee rescue and relocation efforts."
The final suggestion caught Claidie's attention the most, and her face went red with worry. The last time the
Solidarity went off into the distance, a diplomatic dispute raged on for months, and it was only for a patrol. Now, the prime minister was advocating a deployment for action. The princess was hesitant, as the recommendation from her prime minister went against everything she told the bishop the day before, but she knew the situation was dire. She looked around at the room and all of the stoic ministers before turning to her sister. Alice simply nodded her head.
"If there's to be only one person in this room that knows what they're doing, it needs to be you," Claidie said to the prime minister. "Make it so."
* * *
The Government of the Principality of Sil Dorsett,
Disturbed by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Oclusia's implementation of discriminatory laws targeting those who do not profess the Orthodox faith,
Confounded by the hindrance of free movement to keep the those who do not profess the Orthodox faith confined to the borders of Oclusia to suffer continuous persecution,
Appalled by the forceful separation of Courantist children from their parents and guardians,
and Disgusted by the systematic extermination of Oclusia's own citizens on the basis of religion,
Hereby condemns the Government of the Democratic Republic of Oclusia.
__________
Their Highnesses The Sister Princesses Claidie and Alice, and the Prime Minister of the Principality of Sil Dorsett hereby command the following:
1. that no citizen of the Principality set foot in Oclusi territory unless directed to by the Armed Forces as part of an international effort to intervene in the crisis,
2. that no corporation or proprietorship conduct business within Oclusi territory or with persons residing within Oclusia,
3. that any and all assets held within the Principality by members of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Oclusia, including President Lyovkin Yermolayevich, members of his Cabinet, and members of the Oclusi Congress, are forfeit to the crown,
4. that all members of the Oclusi ambassadorial staff defect or be expelled from the Principality within 72 hours, and,
5. that Oclusi who seek refuge from persecution be given permanent asylum and residence within the Principality.
It is so decreed.