Daniel knocked then entered Freya's room, he smiled at the sight of her at her sewing machine, presumably working on a new dress or a skirt. She was a good kid, she had just grown too curious lately and it was time to put an end to it. She glanced up from her work and watched her father with wary eyes, normally he only visited to scold her. As far as she knew she had done nothing wrong lately.
"Why don't you take a break?" Daniel suggested as he sat on her bed. "We need to have a chat."
"Yes, sir." Freya said as she stopped the machine.
"You're not in trouble, Freya. But I've been told that you've been asking a lot of questions of your brother and aunt lately." Daniel said as he watched his daughter closely. She bit her lip and nodded.
"What would you like to know?" Daniel asked.
Freya's eyes lit up, normally her questions went unanswered, "Just about what Illéa used to be like. Everyone seems to know but me."
Daniel slowly nodded, she naturally would have questions about the changes that had occurred over the past ten years. "I suppose it is time that we better inform your history," He said as he thought. "Illéa used to be very different, Freya, and not for the better. It used to be a vain, immoral, and depraved place. Women used to dress like sluts and do whatever they pleased. No one worked for the glory of God or obeyed his word, in fact religion was dying a slow and painful death. That's when the Council got their calling from God to bring reform and revolution to our now great country. What we have done we have done for the betterment of society and our people."
Freya nodded, "That sounds like a scary place."
"And it was, particularly for women," Daniel said. "The freedoms they had they wasted on foolish choices, which is why they are now free from making choices. They would work all day and neglect their family, their children. Some would go off and have affairs, sleep with other men, tearing their families apart. Women proved themselves to be incapable of making the right decisions, so naturally their choices got taken away. Do you understand now why things are the way that they are?"
"Yes, sir." Freya said with a nod, absorbing every word her father told her. "May I ask a question?"
"You may."
"Why didn't I get to go to school like Estra?" Freya asked.
"It's not safe for you to go to school, Freya." Daniel said as he stood. "Not all pupils are good seeds, and I couldn't risk you being corrupted. Estra grew up in the old days, by that virtue she was already corrupted, but you are pure and innocent and it is my responsibility to ensure you stay that way."
Freya nodded, "Okay," She said, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
"I expect the questions to cease, Freya," Daniel said sternly.
"They will, sir," Freya said quietly.
"You aren't in trouble, Freya." Daniel reminded her as he approached his daughter. "Did that answer your questions?"
Freya nodded slightly, it sort of did but it didn't at the same time. She wanted specifics, what did the women wear? Why did they have affairs? Why wasn't God's word taken seriously? Though she knew better than to pry further.
"I'm glad, is there anything you'd like from the store?" Daniel asked.
"Some more fabric, please. I'm making a new outfit," Freya said.
Daniel nodded, "Tell your maid what you need, she'll see to it that you get it."
"Thank you, sir," Freya said with a small smile.
"You're very welcome, Freya." Daniel said as he approached his daughter, against his better judgement he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Be a good girl, okay?"
Freya nodded, "I will." She promised with a smile. She had missed getting affection from her father, he used to dote on her then suddenly one day it stopped and she never understood why. He just said that she was no longer a child and that it was no longer appropriate to hug her anymore.
"Very good." Daniel said, then left the room. Freya watched her father leave and close the door behind him, at least he had answered some of her questions, but now she wasn't allowed to ask anymore questions. She didn't truly understand what life was like before the Great Revolution, but at least now she had more insight into it, and that would have to do.
Daniel entered the meeting room, he was the last one there, of course. He had the most important matters to attend to, but Council meetings could never be put off. They were the reason he was in power, afterall. But the conversation with Freya needed to happen, she needed to learn her place.
"I apologize for being late." Daniel said as he took his seat at the head of the table. "I was having a chat with Freya, it seems that she has grown quite curious lately."
"How old is she again, fifteen?" Colonel Gerrard asked. He was an attractive man in his late twenties, and had recently been filling in for his ailing father. He had short blonde hair with light blue eyes and was tall and muscular, as one would expect from a young officer.
"She is," Daniel confirmed.
"That is quite normal for that age," Patrick Ames, the religious leader of Illéa, piped in. "The Enforcers have been running into the problem at the schools, little whispers about what life was really like in old Illéa send the whole school abuzz with rumors. Poor misguided souls, naturally the Enforcers have come to me for my advice on how to squash the matter."
"And what advice have you given them?" Daniel questioned.
"To tell them our truth, of course." Patrick said. "The girls need to hear something or else they will believe the awful rumors that things were better as they once were."
"Soon these rumors will cease, once those who were raised in the dark days age out of school." Colonel Gerrard assured. "But we have a more important issue to discuss. The matter of the spy in Miller's men."
"My son is conducting a full investigation," Daniel said, glancing at the Colonel. Colonel Austin Gerrard had recently taken over internal military affairs, which meant he had a hand in everything from the handling of the rebels to the Enforcers. Daniel didn't quite think he was ready for it, but due to his father's failing health he had inherited the position. Daniel's hands were tied, there was nothing he could do.
"I'm sure he is, but I will be conducting my own investigation as well. I'm afraid this isn't the moment for your son to prove his worth to the cause. I will be interviewing him as well as anyone he may have foolishly told." Austin said as he leaned back in his chair, unintimidated by the president's position, his family had helped Daniel lead this new regime. It came down to a vote amongst the council members and the Salvatores just so happened to win.
"As you wish. He only told his sister, Estra," Daniel said through gritted teeth. He hated dealing with the Gerrards, they always seemed to undermine his authority.
"Then she will be questioned as well, I'll have Enforcer Agnes speak to her in the morning. You'd be surprised at what these women are capable of. We've grown too comfortable in our positions, but I can assure you they are still fleeing the country and I highly doubt it is only men helping them escape." Austin twirled a pen in between his fingers. "However, the number of women escaping has recently declined, I suspect it has something to do with the bombings as they are localized to those areas. I have no doubt that once the rebels regroup the numbers will rise again. To combat this I have outlawed mass gatherings throughout the country, I'm sure I will obtain presidential approval." He slid a piece of paper towards Daniel.
Daniel scowled as he reached for his pen, but he still signed the paper, "I will see to it that it's law as soon as this meeting is over."
"Now, onto our main concern." General Moore, who oversaw external military threats, said as he sat up. "Is Niklaus suited for the presidency?"
"We've already called a Selection, isn't it a bit late to be questioning the boy's capabilities?" Austin asked.
"Colonel Gerrard has a point, why is this only being brought up now?" Daniel asked. Normally he respected General Moore but now he was trying his patience.
"Because our families have invested a great deal into this country, and I can't speak for everyone here but I want to ensure that this new regime lasts." General Moore replied.
Austin smirked, "Even if he isn't capable our regime will always have the Council. If he doesn't have the same...talent for running things as his father then he can be a figure head. We'll only replace him if he does something egregious."
"I can agree to that." Patrick said. "Avery is not present, but is everyone else in agreement?"
General Moore and Daniel nodded their assent.
"Very well then, I see no reason to draw this meeting out any longer." Patrick said as he stood. "Good day, gentlemen."
Daniel stood as everyone filtered out of the room. Before he could leave, Austin approached him. What now? Daniel thought as he glanced at Austin expectantly.
"I wanted to speak to you about your daughter, Freya, the youngest," Austin said.
"What about her?" Daniel asked.
"She is almost of marrying age..." Austin trailed off.
"The Enforcers arrange her marriage." Daniel said curtly. So that's what he wanted.
"And I control the Enforcers, funny how that works out, isn't it?" Austin said cheekily.
"And I'm the one who signs off on her marriage, get it out, already." Daniel said irritably as he rubbed chin.
"I've been watching her for a long time, Daniel. She's very pretty, perfectly naïve and very docile from what I've heard. I intend to marry her," Austin said. "Think of the benefits of the match, she wouldn't lose any of her status despite her transgression with Captain Miller, she would remain one of the most powerful women in our young nation."
Daniel thought for a moment, Austin would make a fine husband for his daughter with his position alone and they were somewhat close in age. Daniel had been hoping for a general, but a colonel could do, "Fine, but we'll have to go through the motions of the arrangement process, for publicity sake."
"Thank you, Mr. President," Austin said with a grin. "I look forward to the day she turns sixteen."
Daniel nodded, then left the room. He sighed, of course Austin would want to marry into his family, he always seemed to grab for more power. But he raised good points, Freya's tryst with Blaise might cost her the generals, and Austin's power was secure, there was no way he could possibly be a rebel, he wouldn't corrupt her. The twenty eight year old was the only one Daniel could trust with his daughter, and at least this way Daniel could ensure she had a good match. He wasn't in love with the idea, but it was the best option for his daughter.