Huawanese visit to Kustannuksa

[ikonen]

21:11 Huawanese time, somewhere above the central islands.

It was an imperative visit, the Peony thought as she tried to take a nap after reviewing her notes. The long flight from Lian to Pohjoinen on the diplomatic aircraft was something she had experienced before.

In her private suite, seated in a chair facing the window, she merely wanted to close her eyes and rest, even as the sounds of diplomats’ discussions filled the background.

As a member of the royal line, she wielded significant power within the Peonic Coalition, and as the queen mother of the four nations, she served as their head of state. Her interests extended beyond Huawan to Jäähua as well. The Coalition needed substantial investments, and Kustannuksa was one of the crucial places to provide so.

She had heard that the UPRANian delegation had arrived in Pohjoinen, but she was unsure if they were still present. This wasn’t a concern, as she was close with the Prytanis. The role of the Peony was to symbolize Huawan’s commitment to foreign investment and goodwill; her staff would handle the details.

As she was about to doze off, the phone rang. The Peony answered it from her seat where the phone was attached.

“Yes?”

“My Peony, it’s Lord Sima.”

The Peony nodded, “Send him to my suite.” She turned off the phone, expecting the door to open. Lord Sima’s entry was swift. The man in his fifties bowed to the Peony, nearly half his junior. He was the head delegate from Huawan.

“My Peony,” Lord Sima bowed.

“Yes?” the Peony asked, signaling him to sit.

“I have the reports for our agenda for your approval, along with your schedule in Kustannuksa.”

“Let me see,” said the Peony, accepting the leather binder. She looked through it.

“…The petroleum tendership agenda for Jäähua will be important, and the discussion should also focus on the investment of Huawanese beef,” she said, pausing to read and write. “We should skip the visit to the landmark and instead visit the Huawan International School… Oh, and add the agenda on fruit imports too.”

“Fruit imports, my Peony?” Lord Sima asked, jotting down notes.

“Yes,” the Peony replied. “The Prime Minister called me personally. I assume your team has the details.”

“We are not aware of it yet, no,” said Lord Sima. The Peony nodded.

“Inform Ambassador Tuohisto Xin that another agenda on fruit imports should be added,” said the Peony. “Also, make sure that the revised plans are made.”

“Yes, my Peony,” Lord Sima bowed, accepting the binder now filled with notes.

The Peony nodded once more. “Now go, let me have my nap.”

Lord Sima bowed again before leaving the room courteously. The Peony yawned and dozed off once more.

[Galaxiel]

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˗ˏˋ ★ Kustannuksan Empire, Old Pohjoinen, Imperial Palace ★ ˎˊ˗

˗ˏˋ ★ Third of June, 23:32 Imperial Time ★ ˎˊ˗

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Astrid, empress of the Kustannuksan Empire, sat behind the desk in her office, slowly handling a small mountain of paperwork that had accumulated on the side of her desk, and a long list of emails waiting to be read in her inbox. Analyses from various Ministries, reports from imperial embassies outside the country and outside the continent, invitations to charity events and public appearences… so on and so forth. Most importantly though, the United Provinces’ state visit to the capital to renew past agreements, the recent Parliamentary session that ended no more than two hours previous, the Huawanese Peony’s visit that she’d have to attend to the very next day and the Emeraldian Visit that would be held just few days after were all proving to be quite the stress.

Of course she quite enjoyed the state visits, - after all, she had always had much pride in the Empire’s culture and customs, awe-inducing to most and misguided to some - and fully realized how vital they were to maintain the Empire’s interests and alliances throughout the South Pacific, but the preparations they required were definitely something. Especially when they were three, all back-to-back in a matter of days, and your nation was the host in all three. Regardless, she still managed to find comfort in the more than positive outcome of UPRAN’s visit they hosted just two days earlier, so she hoped that the two next visits would go similarly well.

The Peony’s visit was of particular importance to the Empire. Huawan and Kustannuksa’s shared history went back all the way to the very first 1700s as the Empire first truly opened up to the rest of the world, and during said centuries the two became deeply linked in their economy and interests in the South Pacific. They fought many wars together in some measure, and while they often differed greatly in their ideals and policies, the two nations had always remained close to one another. During the reign of her grandmother and predecessor, Hailee III, a mutual-defense treaty - together with many other economic treaties - had been ratified between the two nations, following the end of the Great War and the beginning of the Cold War, to protect and maintain the interests and agendas of both. Therefore, Huawan had become one of Kustannuksa’s main economic partners, as well as one of its main links to Cordilia, and the maintenance of the treaties between the two was extremely important.

After looking through about half of the paperwork and most of the emails, Astrid closed turned off her computer, cleaned up her desk, and made her way to her family’s living quarters. It was already late anyways, and she quite needed to be well-rested for the visit the following morning. Since the Peony’s jet would be landing at the Valaja Airport in the very early morning, she wouldn’t be there to meet her directly during the arrival, but multiple escorts had already been arranged to greet the delegation in her place and bring them over to their accomodation for the visit.

[ikonen]

7:12 Morning, Kustannuksan Time

“Crew, prepare for landing,” announced the captain over the intercom as the aircraft began its descent. The Peony, already dressed to meet Empress Astrid, fastened her seatbelt and settled into her seat.

“Why is Astrid such a popular name?” she mused, thinking of her Kustannuksan counterpart and the soon-to-be reinstated Izaakian monarch, Astrid Iceborn. Clutching her purse, she glanced at the other delegates, all preparing for the landing with mental notes on the trade deals they had negotiated.

The Peony had learned that the role of a head of state often resembled that of ambassadors and foreign delegates, involving attendance at parties, celebrations, and social events in the interest of the crown. However, she had made it clear to the Prime Minister’s office and the citizens that her reign would not be passive; she was determined to establish a proactive legacy for the benefit of her people.

As the plane landed at Valaja Airport, the Huawanese delegates could see the ceremonial motorcade prepared by the Kustannuksan delegates and the Peonic ambassadors. The plane’s door opened, and the delegates began to disembark. The Peony, accompanied by the head trade delegates, was greeted by a flurry of camera flashes from reporters. Her arrival was broadcast live on television.

She shook hands with the two ambassadors, both of whom bowed in respect. Engaging in small talk, she asked, “How is your wife?” and “I’m glad to see you again,” showing her renowned friendliness, which had earned her a good rapport with many ambassadors and benefited Huawan.

As they entered the motorcade, the tall highrises of Kustannuksa stood as symbols of their robust economy, surrounded by trees and a busy highway leading into the city. The trade delegation, however, remained focused on their agenda, barely noticing the impressive cityscape.

Within hours, the diplomatic discussions would commence.

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Peonic Trade Delegation

The Peony of Huawan and Jäähua, HRE Professor-Doctor Yan

Huawanese Head Delegate, Hon. Lord Sima Yi

Jäähuanese Head Delegate, Hon. Lady Maija Raikkonen