As March 24th arrived, many in Keymon and Hutori sat in anticipation of the news, coming out of Bekenial. As the clocks in both Hutori and Keymon struck 12 PM and as the news cameras continued rolling, the newly married couple, flanked by security personnel and wedding guests, poured out of St. John’s Cathedral and entered there motorcade. Whilst they where merely in the public eye for a dozen seconds, the celebrations and worry across both nations was justified, as Queen Éva, Queen of Keymon, married King Henry II, King of Hutori.
Whilst this marriage has just now occurred, the relationship between King Henry and Queen Éva began nearly a decade ago, as the Keymon Civil War began. Initially, the Queen had come to the then Queen of Hutori, Sarah VI, to request immediate military aid from the country. However, after being rebuffed by Queen Sarah, Queen Éva began to discuss the issue directly with King (then Prince) Henry. It was with King Henry’s help that Queen Éva was eventually able to convince Hutori to join the war on her side.
However, the relationship did not end after the civil war, according to royal experts from both nations. The pair had allegedly gone out on several dates in the immediate aftermath of the civil war, to discuss not only political matters, but also personal ones as well. The pair had apparently begun dating around 4774, during which time the couple had seemingly bonded over a shared love for both the military and the arts of there respective countries.
However, as King Henry took the throne of Hutori following the death of not only of Queen Sarah, but also of his brother, Crown Prince Charles, during the Davostani War, the relationship had become strained, due to the vast amount of work both Queen Éva and King Henry had to do for there nations following the devastating wars in each respective nation. But, as Keymon eventually began to rebuild and recover (with financial and military assistance from Lourenne, Hutori, and Dorvik) & Macon began to stabilize with the deposition of the radical Davostani government, both the Queen and the King reportedly began to discuss marriage openly at state dinners.
Whilst many had assumed that this was merely playful talk between a star struck couple, the King finally decided to propose to Queen Éva at one of these state dinners, held in Bekenial, in December of 4778. The Queen was quick to accept the proposal and the pair began to plan the small, traditional wedding in St. John’s Cathedral, that we saw today.
This marriage between the previous single monarchs of Keymon & Hutori has been pointed to as a major mile marker for the relationship between Keymon and Hutori. Whilst questions on the succession of the throne, if the couple has children, of both nations is currently being debated, no word has come forward on the line of succession.
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As the countries economy and infrastructure began to match pre-civil war conditions, many have asked important questions surrounding the refugees of the civil war, many of whom live in areas such as Pirland, Hutori, or live in the still prevalent refugee camps in Keymon herself. Many have also emigrated during the civil war, to further flung nations such as Lourenne and Dorvik. Whilst many of these immigrants have planted themselves firmly in there locals communities, many have also wished to return home, to there now rebuilt nation. The Bureau of Immigration has, in response to these pleas, begun to issue new ‘Welcome Home’ Visas, which will give Keymonites from abroad the ability to stay in Keymon for up 5 years without being a citizen.
The Bureau of Immigration made the announcement, following several demonstrations outside the Bureau’s office by families who had been separated by the civil war. The Head of the Bureau of Immigration, Marilena Raineri, stated that:
The Welcome Home Visas are a program designed specifically to encourage refugees of the civil war living in other countries to come back to there home country. It will only be give me to individuals who can provide documented evidence that either they, a parent, or a grandparent had lived in Keymon prior to 4760. We are firmly committed to reuniting families that where torn apart by the senseless violence present throughout the Keymon civil war.
Many have questioned the true motives behind this decision, as the government has always held a rather neutral stance on immigration form foreign countries. Perhaps now that Keymon’s economy is starting to focus on industries that require more Human Resources, this may require the government to import more workers.
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As Keymonites across the nation began to celebrate Hallowtide, by attending church and opening gifts, the Queen began to speak to the National Council on the future of Keymon. She spoke for nearly two hours concerning the economic, political, and military predicaments facing Keymon, which she called “dire“ and “of need of immediate addressing”. By the end of her speech, she would announce territorial claims on sovereign territory belonging to Likatonia.
The Queen began her speech by discussing the financial and economic situation, noting that the government has begun to rack up far more debt than there credit ranking would conceivably allow them to pay off in a timely manner. She then addressed the rapidly growing arms manufacturing industry, which had begun to see a major positive impact in the cities most prevalent touched by arms manufacturing, which is mostly Leighstown. She then addressed controversy surrounding the construction of the new capital of Pacivila, which had reportedly seen issues surrounding potential socialist activities. The Queen vowed to fire and prosecute anyone who held socialist leanings (in accordance to the
Radicalization Act of 4775) that was a member of the construction teams. She also elaborated on potential economic opportunities involving the tech industry in Jamestown, which she stated would begin to collaborate with the Imperial Armed Forces on military works.
Next, she addressed numerous military concerns, including the increasing outdated-ness of the AR-70. She promised that, in collaboration with the developing Andria Firearms, a new rifle for the Imperial Army would begin to be put into primary service by 4785. She also addressed the crippled Imperial Navy, which she promised to rebuild by potentially purchasing naval vessels from both Kazulia and Lourenne, both of whom are beginning to shrink there own respective navies. She then finally addressed the international arms trade, which she called “A beautiful thing”. The Queen began to discuss potentially hosting a major arms sale convention, which would allow the countries of the world to look at military equipment freely and in the open.
Finally, the Queen addressed the place of the monarchy in the political system of Keymon. She insisted that, regardless of the economic, military, or diplomatic situation Keymon finds itself in, the monarch should always be the executive authority for the government. She mentioned possibly dissolving the office of Prime Minister, which has been a primarily ceremonial role ever since Queen Éva legally took executive power. However, something the Queen claimed has stuck out to international and domestic onlookers. The Queen announced, as the final part of her speech, that she was the Empress of the Mad Dog Empire and that Keymon had to pursue the territory of Pirland, currently owned by Likatonia, as its own sovereign territory. The Queen made it clear that, as empress, she would actively (via diplomatic means) attempt to get the Likatonian government to hand over the province of Pirland to Keymon.
The Queen then pivoted her speech into a discussion on forgiveness. She demanded that “all Keymonites stop using labels such as Royalist or Carluist, and instead start using labels such as patriot and Hosian”. As she continued to attempt to hammer home her message of unity she, in front of live cameras, officially have amnesty to all soldiers, generals, or civilians that had collaborated with the Carluist regime. She then proceeded to request nothing more from these men and women, besides an oath of loyalty to the Queen.
As the Queen began to end her unity speech, she then invited a guest to speak to the National Congress regarding policy on Malivia. As Mrs. Filumena Serra, who husband was murdered by Malivian government & who had barely herself escaped Malian authorities, took to the podium and began to describe her escape from Malivia and the horrible conditions for Hosians there, the Queen could be seen staring off into the distance…lost in thought.
Whilst a majority of her speech was ignored by international pundits, many have questioned the need or the justification for Keymon to claim Likatonia as part of it’s core territory. However, many have also questioned why the Queen is so eager to rebuild her military, despite Keymon’s terrible credit ranking and lack of access to loans.
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