Lives Worth Saving

[Geneva Wessiri]

M'haeli​

White Lotus Palace​

​

It was an early summer morning. The sun was just rising and the first birds were starting to sing their innocent songs. On a normal day, Geneva would have been making her usual walk around the Crown's Park, but today was not such day. No matter how much she hated skipping her morning walks, she could not have one that day.

Her civil rights advisor was sitting on the balcony with her, both of them drinking a nice cup of coffee and having a small morning snack -- some fruits, berries, biscuits. It was an important meeting for once. It was actually the very first meeting the Queen was having that would really benefit the planet as a whole, and maybe even the whole galaxy.

Josiah, the civil rights advisor, took a sip of the coffee, let the taste sink in, and then swallowed the warm beverage before starting to speak, "Your majesty, I believe you've already heard about the recent discussions in the Parliament, concerning our social policy issues."

The woman nodded, at the same time eating a biscuit. They were amazing this morning -- covered with white and dark chocolate and small red berries, looking much more like tiny cakes than normal biscuits. The pastry chefs had really done well that day.

"I have heard about the discussions, indeed," the Queen spoke, her voice rather cold. She was not really keen on the way the Parliament was trying to push things. People's representatives had a lot of power on the planet, just like they would in a normal democracy, but they still had to abide to the wishes of the Queen. And when the monarch was worried about something, then so needed to be the Parliament's representatives.

"That is nice to hear. Well, I am really worried about what they are discussing there, and I believe you should be, too," the advisor continued. He was wearing a nice floral shirt and skinny black trousers, not looking quite as much of a political figure as he should have been. But that is exactly why the Queen had picked him as the social policy advisor. He was young, only 21 years old, but he was rather clever. And that is what the ruler needed. "I am truly disappointed in the way they want to end cooperation with planets who give refuge to our enemies."

"It is a horrible legislation they are trying to pass, I have to agree with you. But I would still rather much like to see what they can come up with."

She took another sip of the coffee and then reached her hand over to the table near her sofa to pick another biscuit.

 

[Geneva Wessiri]

Geneva turned to look at the landscape. The White Lotus Palace, the former Prime Minister's white marble residence, was situated just outside the capital city of M'haeli, in the middle of the huge Crown's Park, so the view the Queen would get from the main balcony was absolutely stunning. Even so much time after being coronated as the monarch, she couldn't stop admiring the beauty.

She then looked at the boy again. Neither of the two had brought the legislation with them, because they could practically recite it from their hearts after having read it through so many times. It was the only legislation the Queen had ever focused so much on.

"And the refuge thing isn't even what most irks me about the bill. I detest the idea of taking rights from immigrants and those with lower sentience levels," Josiah said. He grinned slightly. "I really hope you are going to veto the legislation."

"I have no wish to pass the bill. But as soon as I veto it, the responsibility of creating a better social policy lies on us. Specifically on you. I am a little bit anxious about how you would manage."

Ever after the coup Geneva started and successfully accomplished, ministries had been dissolved and all power lied on either Geneva and her advisors or on the Parliament. Most of the times, that made it sure nobody would deny the power of the Queen. But sometimes, just like now, the lack of administration made things a lot more difficult.

"You don't need to worry for me, your majesty," Josiah said. "I have drafts made up and I am ready to start working on them after the veto."

Hearing that made the woman feel slightly more hopeful.

 

[Geneva Wessiri]

"I believe we shall see what you have drafted up, then," the Queen spoke before sipping on her coffee again. "Give me an overview."

That came as a surprise to the advisor. Josiah couldn't believe that the Queen would ask him to do something so important. The new social policy was a huge thing, after all, because it was going to have an impact on the whole planet's future.

"I, uh, believe our main priority should be to raise societal norms and standards, as well as grant a better social security for all of our people, including the minorities, low-level sentients, and refugees," Josiah started introducing his ideas.

"Really?" Geneva was surprised. "Because that is what I would like to achieve. When I gave the Parliament the initiative to start making a new social policy, I had something like that in mind. But please elaborate a little bit."

"Hmm, yes. Well, I would like to present a new vision for the planet. Maybe it is time to become a sanctuary of universal social rights," the advisor continued. "That would mean creating a civil rights centre, passing a bill for creating a sanctuary for health and freedom, and rebuilding our infrastructure."

"Do you need to put together a team of people for that? And how much funding do you need?" the monarch responded slyly.

 

[Geneva Wessiri]

Josiah was a little bit surprised by the Queen's reply. He took a moment to gather himself and to think a little bit about the answer. He had not come so far yet to think about the project's budget or team size or anything along the lines.

"Surely it would need some money. I've not done the calculations yet, but I believe I could do them soon," the advisor formed an answer. He couldn't know whether or not it was going to be sufficient enough for the majesty, but he didn't have much better of an answer. "A team about the size of a ministry would be needed, but unfortunately you disassembled all of them, so I am not sure what to do."

"You could gather together a project team, I believe. I can ensure you'll get the funds you need to hire enough people -- and if the Parliament does not wish to comply, then I will veto their decision about the funding."

"Well, thank you, but... Shouldn't we take some time with that? After all, the legislation is still in the works in the Parliament and I am just an advisor of yours, I don't have much experience running a project."

Geneva smiled and brought the cup of coffee to her mouth once again to drink some of it. She had faith in her advisors. That's why she had hired all of them. But especially she had faith in Josiah. He was not a promising ruler by no means whatsoever, but he was quite good of an advisor.

And he seemed to have many good ideas.

"Yes, we have time. Have a biscuit, please," the Queen replied with simplicity to the boy, accompanied with a hand gesture. She herself had eaten many of them already and was feeling rather full. "Dismiss my breakfast, please," she spoke to a waitress standing in the other side of the balcony. "I will be taking a morning walk instead."

 

[Geneva Wessiri]

M'haeli​

Crown's Park​

​

Nearly a week had passed since the last time Geneva met her wonderful civil rights advisor Josiah. She did frequently miss the boy, she couldn't deny that. Thankfully, she would get to meet him every single week at least once, when he came to discuss the planet's affairs with the monarch.

This time, Geneva couldn't find the strength in herself to dismiss the morning walk, so instead of having a breakfast on the balcony, the Queen and Josiah had come outside to walk and talk in the Crown's Park. It was early morning, the time of the day the woman loved the most. What was more, Josiah was a morning person as well. The whole advisory council was made up of such people.

Because Geneva loved to have meetings in the morning. She just couldn't find it in herself to talk politics in the afternoon.

"The Parliament has reached the final reading of the Bill of Social Policy. It's worrisome," the boy talked. It was slightly chillier that day than it had been the last time the two met, so he was wearing a navy blue jacket over the same clothing he'd had on about a week ago, as well as a red ribbon hanging around his left shoulder and falling over his right hand. It was the ribbon of a royal advisor.

"Indeed, I hear they are discussing it later today. And then they put it on a vote," the Queen spoke with a gritty tone. "I will be there, of course, to act on it."

The Queen was not present in every Parliament session, nor was she present every time she was going to veto a decision. But this time was different. The whole advisory council had been invited to the session, hence the red ribbon the boy wore.

"With so many legislations you turn down all the time, don't you think the legislative branch clashes with your politics, your majesty?" Josiah had the courage to ask.

"No. Not yet. Maybe never. I need them to disagree with me. I need them to have differing opinions from time to time. It makes me think about every decision I make. Sadly, they have not been doing the best work they could with all the latest legislations. It truly saddens me."

She sighed.

"Today, I need you to present the new social policy in the Parliament, though. Right after I overthrow the legislation, you will have to be there to show them what really needs to change in our society. And then we'll see what happens."

"Forgive me, your majesty, but that is horrendous. I am not ready. I mean, the project is ready, but..."

The Queen patted the boy's shoulder, looked into his eyes, and said.

"You'll manage."

 

[Geneva Wessiri]

"So how far you've progressed? You say your project is practically ready..."

"Indeed. I've really done a lot of work on it this past week. The bill is finished, the action plan is nearly completed, and the budget's been estimated. Uh, I still really don't know if I am the right one to work on this project, but I've done my best," Josiah gave a brief summary of the project's progress.

He looked the most uncertain she'd ever seen him. It looked like he really was not too much of a leader, more of a follower or an advisor. But that project would be the boy's time to shine and let everybody see how good of a civil rights specialist he really was. And after all, if things were to go downhill, Geneva would be there to help him.

"So what is the main plan? Last time we met, you talked about opening a civil rights centre and turning the planet into a sanctuary world. How have things changed since then, if at all?"

She didn't look at the boy -- her eyes looked ahead over the park as they slowly moved forward on the stone path. The park was coming to an end, meaning they would soon be back at the main entrance of the White Lotus Palace.

After the walk, she'd go for a breakfast. After that, she'd probably have a few hours of free time to unwind before the urgent Parliament session. It didn't make her nervous anymore, but she could feel something inside. Maybe it was excitement. Yeah, that was it. Excitement.

"It's stayed pretty much the same. I am planning on making healthcare more affordable for the minorities, as well as building a better welfare infrastructure for the species with lower sentience levels." Fighting for the rights of semi-sentients was the boy's passion -- they had been discriminated on the planet for far too long and now that he had the chance to change that, he would do everything in his hands.

"Sounds great. I can't wait to hear all about it in the Parliament."