Veronique Aurenbonn sits coldly in her plush chair. Her eyes are fixated on the doors that lead to the balcony overlooking the Residence's courtyard. She can hear the cries of revolution and the thirst for blood in the air. Her aide comes in with the petition for a special election. 50,000 signatures in less than an hour. She shifts in her chair as the news of Anton Casiller's run for the crown is announced by television stations all across Iescech.
She regards her mother's portrait on the far side of the room, staring fiercely into the future, confident in her abilities. Veronique is a mere shadow of her mother's former glory. Had her mother been in the same situation, she would have dealt with it with grace and purpose. But she is not her mother. But to stay Vestiarch, she has to become her mother. She steps out onto the balcony and the deafening cries of "Tyrant!" echo off the Imperial Residence. Her presence makes the crowd surge forward in anger, briefly breaking the line that the Iennic Imperial Guard had made. The protestors who make it through are caught and arrested. Through her podium's microphone, she yells, "Citizens of Iescech! In response to Anton Casiller's candidacy for the crown, I have decided to announce my own campaign to keep my crown!" She is barely audible over the cries of, "Traitor!" at the front of the crowd, but cheers are heard from the back. A large mob has gathered around the Colonnade and has started to scuffle with many of the pro-Casiller demonstrators.
Veronique walks back to her room and considers her options. She decides to call Gettenfeld, Scottian Commonwealth, and Saint Olav to ask if any developments regarding pro-nationalist sentiments in their nations had started yet. Her neighbors will be a good indicator of how her chances for retaining the crown are.