A man richly clad in black walks into the Conseil. Those who have known him have trouble recognizing Arnaud de Vilaines, King Philippe’s shieldbearer and aide de camp such is the look of anguish upon his face. Bowing before the Speaker, he hands him a rolled parchment with a hand that is visibly shaking.

The Speaker slowly unrolls the parchment and starts reading it, his face blanching the furthest he reads. Having finished his reading, he lays down the parchment on his desk, grabs the goblet of wine lying on a side table and drinks it in one gulp, bringing colour back to his cheeks. He then stands, awkwardly, his legs seeming to barely sustain him and starts reading.

“From King Philippe, Par la Grâce de Dieu, Roi des Francs,

To his loyal and faithful subjects, either noble or lowly-born,

I am writing this as the light of my life wanes by the minute. Though I lay in bed, I do not suffer for I am not sick… It simply seems that God has judged that my time on this wretched Earth has been spent.

Do not mourn me, my faithful subjects… Though I am sad to leave you and not be able to see most of you a last time before I leave, I rejoice in the idea that I will finally be reunited with my beloved Bertrade and so many of our fine warriors fallen on the field through the years.

As I said, do not mourn me, for I have lived a full life… Full of battles, full of success… I have fulfilled most of my dreams for the Royaume… When I came to the throne, our Royaume was divided, our lands held by English hands.

Now, we have reclaimed those lands and have even brought war to the English Isles, making them our home away from home.

We fought hard, my subjects, but now we can finally rest and marvel at our own accomplishments : our Royaume extends to the confines of Germany, Iberia has been re-conquered from the Moors through our agency…

Still, I would not have been content had I left a kingdom at war for my sons to rule. Hence, these last few months our diplomats on my urgings have appealed to the rulers of our neighboring kingdoms and I am glad that my sons will perhaps be able to finally know peace in their lives.

A ceasefire has been obtained with the Reich. It cost us Granada, which may have been lost to us through the riots and 10000 florins. Through our relationships remain strained with the latest Kaiser, his men-at-arms have almost all left our lands or are about to do so. The German presence in Iberia will serve as a bulwark against further Moorish incursions and will perhaps bring back faith in God for these lost souls. Perhaps have they been forced into this hard-earned truce by the threat of being taken between the Russian anvil and our French hammer ? For we have successfully obtained an alliance with the Csar. Our diplomat came to the Novgorod court with gifts to the amount of 3000 florins. Most of the gold has been smelted for the Russian war effort in their war against Poland. This is a matter my sons will have to consider in the near future.

The Pope has finally been reached by our diplomat and got a better reception by his Holiness than he had by his minions. We’re now allied to the Holy See, though we’ve had to offer alms to St Peter’s cathedrals for 1000 florins. Our leadership of Catholicism cannot now be contested.

As planned, Edinburgh has been surrendered to the Scots, our new found allies, but only after its military capability had been greatly reduced. I have been forced to sail back from the Highlands to Northumbria and it is upon my landing that this unsustainable tiredness fell upon me.
Unaware of my condition, the English have come to Nottingham ( OOC : Frankfurt in fact) with an offer for a ceasefire. They must have sensed that the tide of fortune was clearly against them and wished to retain their last holding on their island. We’ve bled them of 20500 florins and trade rights in exchange for our mercy.

Now, only the Danes and the Moors remain at war with us. Though the Viking will forever remain a threat due to their far-reaching naval invasions, the Moors have been pushed back to the sands Africa, where they belong…

So, for the first time in years I can look upon my Royaume and see it as a Royaume at peace. This is the gift I make to you, Louis my son…

For now, it is my time for me to lay down the burden of the crown and deposit this burden upon your head.

My son, you’ve always served the Royaume as a true knight of France, fighting here and yonder. Now, may well be the time for you to lay down your sword and administer your heritage.

Work with your brothers Henri and Charles and not against them… Do not repeat the errors of Charlemagne’s heirs… Keep the Royaume whole and nothing will stand in your way… Divide it and my ghost will come to haunt you…

Now I will lay down my quill for my forces are leaving me…

Be strong, knights of France… Be proud…

Be…”

The Speaker stops in midsentence.

‘There is no more, mes Seigneurs…” he says, beckoning de Vilaines to step forward.

Arnaud de Vilaines obeys and bows before the assembly.

“Mes Seigneurs, our noble King Philippe died a week ago in Nottingham. He asked me to bring this letter to you as soon as it was finished. It never was… “

Now turning to the empty seat of the Dauphin Louis, Arnaud continues.

“A messenger has been dispatched posthaste to his Royal Highness Louis to bring him the terrible news. In the meantime, let me be the first to say “Le Roi est Mort !! Vive le Roi !! Vive le Roi Louis !!”