Chapter 18
Hidden history? A forged portrait? Treasure map?
Was this the newest installment of the National Treasure franchise?
Enzo didn't know quite what to make of it.
"What proof do you have the painting here is a forgery?" Victoria asked the question running through his mind.
"None yet," the professor admitted. "We need a closer look at it, but we have discovered one in Eastern Novigradia that is forged.
We found the original hidden in the archives.
On the back is part of a set of instructions for a treasure hunt.
We suspect at least one portrait in each country holds another piece of information.
We're still working through the information, but this one seems the most likely here.
If it's not, we'll want to look at the other portraits until we find one that is a forgery.
If none are, we'll want to check the backs - very carefully - to see if there's information hidden on them. "
"How long have you had these suspicions?" He needed to know more.
"Not long. We've just started quietly asking around to those we know we can trust implicitly.
" The professor shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, we weren't certain about your former historian.
If he does know about it and absconded with the original, then it seems likely that others know as well.
Just as there seems to have been a conspiracy hundreds of years ago, there may be one now. "
The meeting continued for another ten minutes.
They made a compelling argument, even without direct evidence.
As he went toward his office, they had begun the painstaking process of taking the portrait down and beginning their examination.
He tried to focus on the rest of his schedule, but found it difficult.
What would the implications be if there had been a conspiracy to control Europe several hundred years earlier?
Would it have been possible for the smaller nations have been able to create a power bloc in Europe even if everything went exactly according to plan?
It seemed unlikely, but stranger things had happened. If he recalled history lessons correctly, Dellisole had conquered the other two Commonwealth countries in this time period.
His last meeting included the Prime Minister and Minority Leader of Parliament and the Chairman of the Council. It had nearly ended when he brought up one more topic. "The other day, the Chairman and I discussed seating the queen on the Council. What progress has been made on this matter?"
The Chairman couldn't hide his disdain. "I have mentioned it to other members of the Council. They are in agreement with me. As a subject of the Southern Santierian crown, Victoria is not eligible for a seat on the Council."
Enzo did his best to keep his emotions under control.
Before he could say anything else, the Prime Minister spoke.
"The queen is eligible as long as she has sworn allegiance to the king, just as the rest of us have.
We were all there when she did so, and there is no reason to believe she was not sincere.
I believe the Council Charter addresses this situation, and there are potential consequences if she is not seated in a timely manner. "
"You're correct." The Minority Leader had been on the Council for a short period of time several years earlier. "In fact, the king can invoke Section 37, Subsection D, I believe it is, if the queen is not seated within the specified time frame."
"Section 47, but otherwise correct," the Prime Minister agreed. "The king would be well within his rights to invoke that before this week's Council meeting unless the matter is on the agenda."
"It will be on the agenda." The tone of the Councilman's voice told Enzo he wouldn't create the agenda item in the manner the rest of them would prefer.
His eyes narrowed, but the Prime Minister called him out first. "I would recommend using great care in how you word that agenda item, Mr. Chairman. The king isn't the only one who can invoke the use of the Council Charter if it becomes necessary."
Enzo gave a slight nod toward the Prime Minister, sharing his appreciation for the veiled threat. If the Prime Minister took care of it, he wouldn't have to. Though he would be well within his rights to do so, politically it would be better if Parliament called the Chairman on it.
The Chairman didn't affirm the information, but didn't argue either.
After a moment, the only one left in the office with Enzo was the Prime Minister.
"He won't be allowed to railroad the queen out of her seat, sir. The Minority Leader and I are in agreement on that."
"Thank you." Fighting the Chairman didn't sound like something he particularly wanted to do, though he would if it became necessary. They spoke for another minute before the Prime Minister also left.
Enzo made his way down to the archives and found his wife and Jeanette with the visitors in a dimly lit room.
"It's certain, sir." The professor spoke first. "This is a forgery - a good one, but still a forgery."
"How can you tell?"
"Some of the materials and techniques are far too modern.
The brush strokes aren't quite right and the canvas has been artificially aged.
We can be more specific with further testing, but I suspect it's only about thirty or forty years old.
I could be wrong, but certainly not before World War II at the very earliest."
Enzo nodded like he understood.
"We'll prepare a full report detailing everything, sir.
" Jeanette stood off to the side. "With your permission and Cap's approval, we'd like to bring in an expert on forgeries.
It's possible an expert would be able to identify the individual, but that's not something we're equipped or informed enough to do accurately. "
Part of hiring experts meant trusting them to know what they were talking about - and to know when to bring in assistance. He gave his conditional approval and sent a message to Cap.
"Until we know more, this needs to stay in this room," the professor warned. "If it gets out, we run the risk of the originals disappearing and those involved vanishing before they can be apprehended."
"Agreed." Enzo clasped his hands behind his back and leaned closer to the portrait, trying to see what they did but he was clueless.
"I'll be going to Southern Santiero in the next few days," Nathaniel told them.
"The historian there is an old friend of mine.
She reached out to us a couple of weeks ago and asked for some help with some anomalies she'd found, but wouldn't give me more details than that until we could meet in person. "
Victoria looked like she wanted to say something, but refrained.
The meeting only lasted a few more minutes, during which Enzo learned they didn't know for certain what was on the back of the original portrait.
He wanted to extend the meeting but had no reason to except that once it ended, he'd need to talk to Victoria about her appearance in front of the Council in just a couple of days.
She would meet the challenge head on, but he knew she wouldn't look forward to it any more than he would.
As soon as she accepted her seat on the Council, they would work it out together.
Participating in Council meetings was one thing Victoria's upbringing hadn't prepared her for.
She'd observed a couple from a distance, but never in person.
Her stylist had helped her choose the right outfit, complete with shoes and hairstyle.
She didn't always use a hair and makeup artist, but this time the HMUA spent extra time ensuring fault couldn't be found with her appearance.
The protocol officer had spent a couple of hours with her to ensure she didn't make any preventable faux pas.
It didn't stop the butterflies in her stomach from swarming in all directions at once.
She would enter with Enzo but take a seat along the outer wall with aides and other staff members.
One stationary camera would cover the whole room.
To an extent, it could pan from side to side but could not show the entire chamber at once.
Fortunately, her seat was in one of the blind spots.
Yes, those in the room might be able to notice her discomfort, but it was unlikely the general public would see the evidence.
With no way to be absolutely certain, she would do her best to project calm anyway.
As they entered she kept a pleasant expression on her face.
Once in her seat, she did her best to keep her expression more neutral.
The last thing any of them needed was the media commenting on how bored she looked or how mad or cranky or even how overly excited she looked while the Chairman or one of the others was talking.
The Chairman called the meeting to order.
As soon as he did, one of the others called for a closed session.
It was immediately seconded and most of those gathered stood to leave.
Certain topics were considered sensitive or required security clearances.
Victoria wasn't certain she should stay but she wasn't going to leave until Enzo told her she needed to.
As the king's wife, she should be able to sit in on almost any meetings, even without taking her seat on the Council.
"Victoria is not cleared for this meeting," the Chairman stated. "She is not needed."
The use of her name bothered her far less than the second statement.
It wasn't supposed to happen like this. The Chairman should have just supported her, but instead he'd chosen to be stubborn and obstinate.
His words were ringing in her ears - she wasn't needed.
The same thing she'd felt most of her life. This was no different.