End of the Empire: Part 2

January, 1953

‘He’s mad!’

George Stanley, Prime Minister of Felonia, was sat at his desk when Alexander Lloyd - the Chancellor - had confronted him with the letter.

It had been building up since last November. Stanley had been concerned about Felnoy’s health and sanity since that incident at the banquet, but never as much as he was now.

What was especially concerning was the consequences of the old Emperor’s thoughts; he had hidden away in his palace, and shut the doors to any visitors, apparently as a matter of health. Visits of foreign diplomacy had been postponed, which had damaged Felonia’s reputation somewhat.

Then Stanley had received letters from Felnoy, stating policies he wanted introduced. One or two of these were acknowledged, but some were clearly ludicrous; to create a political office for the Emperor was an insane proposition. The Emperor had not had any real control over the happenings of the country for centuries; so much responsibility on the shoulders of a mentally-weak man would only result in bad leadership. The letter seemed to go on forever, and the writing was scrawled; when Stanley consulted a physician, he said it was a weak sign of mental instability. Stanley therefore rejected Felnoy’s proposal.

The Chancellor had just brought him the reply. It was much shorter this time.

Mr Stanley,

I fear I may not have made myself clear. I am leader of Felonia, and hold immense power in my hands. I was not requesting that you put these policies forward; I was demanding so.

They will of course be better for our country and for the people living here. The foundation of an Imperial Office is not an issue; I already hold the power, I just wish it written in stone. Failure to comply is not in your best interest, nor is it in that of your government or your parliament.

Kindly haste with your response. I expect a reply before this afternoon.

It was signed with the traditional Mark of the Emperor, which had been regarded as outdated since the day of the treaty.

He had read the final lines closely. Was it blackmail? Practically. A threat? Definitely. Tolerable? Not at all.

‘I shall not reply to this twaddle,’ Stanley spat, ‘no-one threatens democracy in my country. I shall show this foul letter in parliament this afternoon and show them just how uncontrollable this man is becoming.’ He took the letter from the Chancellor and returned to his preparations for his speech.

Now he had another issue he must raise. Maybe it ought to take priority.

*   *   *

‘Would the Prime Minister like to open the senate?’ the Speaker offered.

All the ministers were sat in the house, impatiently waiting for the speech Stanley had prepared. There had been rumours of a power struggle, but no solid evidence yet. Stanley rose; all were silent.

‘My honourable elected friends, members of the house,’ he began officially, ‘as you are all aware I have received correspondence from our Emperor, Felnoy Corvus. I would not have considered it worth raising but for one key point of which awareness must be brought to your attention. Our Emperor has served us well in the past, and has brought Felonia through many a crisis. As a result his court are still extremely loyal to him; his presence is legendary. But he has made it aware to me that he intends to bring Felonia back to the dark ages; he intends to take complete control of our country.’

There was shocked discussion among the ministers; Stanley let them do so. It must be said that the words he had spoken were not strictly true; Felnoy had merely requested office and more power. However he knew from experience that when a leader demands more power, they are never satisfied with what they get.

The house quietened, and Stanley continued.

‘In the centuries where the senate and Emperor have worked hand in hand, it has never been deemed necessary to curb his unlimited rights and powers. We had been blessed with a successive line of radical but sensible leaders; but it is clear to me that today, we have one with no such qualities. I have a letter-’

He was about to continue when the doors of the house burst open and a dozen armed guards entered the hall.

Felnoy - dressed in the intimidating traditional garb - followed them in.

Stanley was outraged. ‘What is the meaning of this intrusion?!’

The guards strode to where the Prime Minister was stood and grabbed him by the arms. The other ministers rose in protest and began to call out when one of the guards opened fire at the ceiling; all went silent.

‘This man,’ Felnoy spoke calmly, ‘is guilty of high treason; he has spread rumours that seek to stir rebellion against the Emperor. Anyone who protests is also committing treason. We will remove this man from the house; this parliament is dismissed.’ With that, Felnoy strode out of the room. Some of the guards with Stanley followed him out; others stayed to calm down the outcry of furious ministers protesting against the blatantly illegal act. Was this a military coup? Whatever it was, they wouldn’t find out anything until they left the house. After a full ten minutes of protest, the ministers fell silent and nervously left the chamber. Chancellor Lloyd found the courage in him to spit on a guard’s shoe as he left in disgust.

*   *   *

‘You fools,’ Stanley protested as he struggled, ‘You have no right to arrest me like this. No-one in their right mind will support this treacherous act.’

The convoy was just about to enter the palace gates, when Felnoy ordered them to stop. He approached his Prime Minister calmly.

‘You have no right to call your Emperor treacherous,’ he spat.

‘You’re no Emperor, Felnoy. You’re just a mentally weak old man who’s been exposed to the illusion of power.’

Felnoy overlooked this. ‘The people will back their Emperor,’ he spoke confidently.

Stanley laughed. ‘The people will rise against you, Felnoy. You are alone; you have no army. No friends. Just your pathetic guard, who I must say are almost as treasonous as you were it not for the fact you have likely threatened them as you have threatened me.’

Felnoy did not appear to be listening any more. ‘It was my dynasty that brought us this far, Stanley; I will not let go now. You have been a figurehead of Felonia for too long; it was never intended that a man of un-royal blood should have so much power over so many. I am therefore taking back control by force. I will be addressing the army, the government and then the public on the matter; they will celebrate the return of their one true leader.’

Stanley smiled. ‘The press will be ecstatic over this story,’ he muttered. Felnoy heard.

‘Perhaps, but it won’t be long before there is no free press at all. As you point out, they are nothing but trouble to a stable regime.’

‘Oh Felnoy, you’ve just excited them even more. This headline is going to be huge…’

Felnoy ignored this comment in the knowledge that there would be no press to excite before the grand palace gates opened before them. Without a word, and watched by puzzled onlookers powerless to intervene against the armed unit surrounding them, they entered the complex.