(Year 231, Spring) The recent scandal involving Empire of Snorthia's national treasure, the painting "Moon Liza" and the front employee at Mazaloom kingdom's royal palace, Miss Patricia Maiden, is still seen as one of the worse controversies ever. Perhaps it needs a bit more explanation, or at least a little info on who the painted woman, Patricia Maiden's mother, was?
Patricia Maiden (50) was very surprised to find that the city of San Myshuno flocked to Gallery Casbah to watch a portrait of her late mother.
- I attended the unique exhibition not really knowing what to expect. I had never seen the painting, and my mother never told me about it. I suspect that not even she knew that she once modelled for a foreign nation's cultural treasure.
And, we can't blame anyone for not knowing, as the painting had never before been outside the Empire of Snorthia. That's why everyone wanted to see it, it was a very rare opportunity. And the Emperor of Snorthia must have been proud of sharing a strictly guarded national masterpiece, touring Mazaloom kingdom. It could even help strengthening the - at the time - rather shaky relation between the two nations. A relation which is now very shaky...
It must have been a shock to everyone involved, when Miss Maiden revealed the truth! The painting was popular not the least because nobody knew the painter nor the model. They thought it was much older than it actually is. The Emperor was furious:
- Kingdom of Mazaloom has trashed one of our national treasures. This is seen as a crime that can never be undone! The rest of the tour is cancelled, the painting must return to its homeland immedeatly!
- Kingdom of Mazaloom has trashed one of our national treasures. This is seen as a crime that can never be undone! The rest of the tour is cancelled, the painting must return to its homeland immedeatly!
So, who was Limia Maiden?
In fact, there are many who should have reckognized the model. Princess Limia was daughter of King Wallago of Sea. This makes her the sister of the current King Salamon of Sea. The reason she might have been ignored - beyond the fact that the painting never toured the Sea kingdom - is the fact that Limia was female - daughters never had much status in neither Sea nor Snorthia. And she was already dead when her brother succeeded to the Throne of Sea. Aaand, Limia left Sea while she was still a teenager, later marrying a commoner in San Myshuno, probably without the blessing from her parents, the King and Queen of Sea.
Between leaving Sea and arriving San Myshino she spent a year in Snoerthia. And this is where the story gets interesting, as her mother, HRH Queen Aurora, was born a Princess of Snorthia! She was the aunt of today's Emperor Orchor! How could their system not know about Limia?
Limia's younger sister, Princess Tuna of Sea, moved to Snorthia when marrying to the empire's only real nobility, the Marquis, Moor of Minges (Rapfelder Family). Miss Maiden is pretty sure that her mother Limia stayed with her sister Tuna when in Snorthia.
- There was a conflict between the Emperor and this Marquis, so I assume Limia could live there quite incognito. And perhaps that is where she was painted, too?
Princess Limia never used her Princess title after moving to San Myshuno. She married and took the Maiden surname, and they got only one child, Patricia.
- Mother never mentioned her stay in Snorthia, or that she had a sister there, who is actually my Aunt! If it wasn't for me now being banned from visiting the empire, I would have visited her right away! I was 10 before my mother mentioned that she was born a Princess. I was too young to understand, and to ask any question, and because mother never wore big gowns, I must have seen her as a not a fullworthy princess, after all.
Limia (Oceanus) Maiden wanted to become an Actress, but the press scared her from ever succeeding.
- She was very nervous, I saw her on stage just once, and she was fine until the spotlight was lit. When she visited Starlight Boulevard she practically freaked out - in a bad way - whenever she noticed a photographer. I think it must have been extremely difficult for her to chase her dream.
One day Limia Maiden saw a large group of photographers, she had a nervous breakdown.
- She fell to the ground, and I think she died when she realized that she was laying on the global star, Judith Ward's fame brick! There was no way to avoid a lot of unwanted attention!
Patricia Maiden was 17 years old when her mother died.
- The only photo I own of my mother is on the wall in my private quarter at the royal palace. If anyone doubt my story, they should have a look at this photo!
- No. His Royal Majesty assured me that I will keep my position as the Royal Chief Attendant at the royal palace. We work together successfully, and I never really concidered any other career. I know there might be some diplomatic initiatives coming up shortly to solve the conflict, but I hope I will not get more involved than I already am.
Will this portrait still be guarded like a national treasure? Will it be thrown away, burnt to ashes? Or will the fact that nobody knows the identity of the Painter, force them to keep the painting in case the story is not yet completed?
Meanwhile, "Moon Liza" has returned to Empire of Snorthia.
The only thing we know for sure is that "Moon Liza" will never again visit Mazaloom kingdom.
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