Chapter 31

Now that they were officially engaged, and in line to become consorts to the Mariner throne, Jessica and Emily had to officially give up their modeling careers. Their internet fans found the twin’s web page shut down on the first of May. On that same day their Twitter and Instagram accounts were deleted. Of course almost every photograph from all three accounts quickly reappeared on the numerous Mariner Princess fan pages that seemed to pop up overnight.

Initially Desiree’s people tried an ultimately fruitless effort to make them disappear. But whatever methods they used to decay Jordan and my internet presence proved ill prepared to face the onslaught of the rabid fandom the Bianchi sisters engendered. The hordes of East Asian followers of their exploits tended to be particularly obsessed with finding and posting pictures of the girls, garnered from a multitude of social media platforms.

Fortunately in Mariner there was a dearth of paparazzi. Privacy laws and strict entrance visa requirements kept the parasites away. Of course Mariners in general had little taste for the kinds of sex scandal trash that typically fed the tabloid press, even if most of that was now published online instead of in newsprint. After all, if open relationships and hands on sex education is the norm why would anyone care about who was seen with whom?

As for the fan pages, the twins convinced Desiree that they were both harmless and unstoppable. They seemed amazingly unconcerned with anything I might discover of their exploits.

“I doubt we’ve done anything we need to hide from you,” Jessica told me one night when we were discussing their widespread online presence. “It’s not like you expected us to ride across Europe side saddle before having our hymen’s inspected on our wedding night.”

When I gave her a blank look she said, “In 1382 Princess Anne of Bohemia rode across Europe to marry Richard II of England. She had to ride side saddle to protect the symbol of her virginity.”

“That boat has long sailed,” Emilia smirked.

“Considering the model of my mother I can’t think of anything this side of Catherine the Great level behavior that would even shock me.”

“The stories about Catherine are all propaganda you know,” Jessica said. “The woman had like a dozen lovers in thirty years. By Mariner standards that makes her practically a nun.”

I watched Emily roll her eyes.

“By Mariner standards Theodora of Constantine was a nun,” Emily replied.

Jessica looked shocked. “How do you know about her?”

Emily rolled her eyes again. “You think I never paid attention in history class? You’ve got to stop believing the only things tech geeks read is comic books, Jess. I took the same secondary education classes as you did.”

“Somehow I don’t think Theodora’s exploits were covered in the school curriculum,” Jessica said.

“It was an optional subject,” Emily responded.

“Isn’t Theodora of Constantine a saint?” I asked.

“Maybe there is hope for my sister yet,” Emily teased.

“Bitch.”

“Slut.”

Considering both girls were naked and laughing I did not take the exchange too seriously.

“So now that you’re both unemployed what do you intend to do with your time?”

“Don’t be silly James,” Jessica said. “We’re in training to become princesses of Mariner. Emelia and Desiree are already helping us hire a new administrative assistant, probably two. I have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Giordano at the National Museum.”

“I’m meeting Edoardo Baio to discuss some work Tarabyte Technic is doing with the European Space Agency,” Emily said.

“Technical work?” I asked.

“I suspect Baio is lobbying for some monetary support from the Mariner government. Before now he would probably have discussed this with your mother, but since the Dowager Princess seems to be withdrawing from active politics she suggested I speak with him.”

“Yes she is,” I said. “And spending an awful lot of time with Marshal Cantu.”

Emily again rolled her eyes. “She deserves to James. She spent over twenty years too afraid to let anyone get too close. I’ve heard mother and father speak about it. They love her dearly and have spent many hours in her bed, both together and alone with her. She did not want a consort, preferring the ghost of your father to remain strong in the eyes of the people. Waiting for you to return.”