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Journal Entry Eight
17. März 2020 It is closing in on midnight, and the torrential rains have not let up since they began earlier this morning. The severity of the storm, accompanied by the pandemic, has caused one of the lowest voter turn-outs that Dorstenland has seen in decades. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Northcott’s party, the NCD (Neu Christlich Demokratische Partei Dorstenlands), took 58% of the vote. The results cemented Northcott’s reign as prime minister for another three years. Today’s storm was a double-edged sword. The disturbance helped to subdue the possibility of violence at the voting centres, but it did hand Northcott another victory. For all one knows, Northcott’s party would have been…
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Journal Entry Seven
16. März 2020 I am writing tonight’s journal entry in the library of the palace. My family and I were moved into the north wing of the castle by Jonas. The king did this out of concern for our safety due to the political unrest in Eberbach. The protests in Eberbach turned violent over the weekend. Ludwigplatz is almost filled now with demonstrators. The protestor’s demands for the postponement of tomorrow’s elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic increasingly concerns Jonas. Two of the protest leaders pleaded this morning on national TV, to have King Jonas intervene. When Jonas saw the news footage of the middle-aged man and woman pleading for…
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Journal Entry Six
13. März 2020 Prime Minister Northcott announced this afternoon an almost complete shutdown of Dorstenland starting next Wednesday, 18. March. All schools and universities are to be closed on Monday; however, the elections will go on as scheduled on Tuesday. Northcott’s administration stated that all election poll centers would require a 1.5-meter separation between voters. This evening, protesters continued to gather in Eberbach’s city centre, Ludwigplatz. Instead of demanding the resignation of Northcott, they are now insisting on the postponement of Tuesday’s elections. The protesters already view Northcott’s conservative party, the NCD (Neu Christlich Demokratische Partei Dorstenlands), with rigging the upcoming election. After putting my children to bed tonight, Karina…
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Journal Entry Five
12. März 2020 I cannot even express what the last 48 hours have been like. It is almost midnight, and I am still trying to grasp the changes that are happening virtually by the minute. Yesterday, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 is a global pandemic. Italy announced tonight that the virus had killed 1016 people, a 23% increase from yesterday’s numbers. This evening, President Trump announced the suspension of all travel from Europe to the U.S. I do not know how that will affect our embassy staff in Washington D.C., or our consulates in Chicago and Seattle. I have not had the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister…
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Journal Entry Four
10. März 2020 During the past week, I was mostly bedridden. My physician said that I had succumbed to exhaustion due to my extensive workload. Thankfully, I awoke today feeling more like myself. This afternoon, Jonas and Queen Claudia requested my assistance with helping to look for a handmade clock that was a family heirloom. We were in a room on the third floor of the palace that resembled a regular household attic. The room is unfinished and cluttered with furniture, collectibles, and clothing inherited from both sides of the royal family. It was in this room that I found something intriguing. I had pulled open a drawer from a…
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Journal Entry Three
1. März 2020 I awoke this morning to the sound of gunshots echoing around the walls of my bedroom. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but the sounds repeated. Grabbing my sidearm from the nightstand, I quickly made my way to the bedroom window. So many thoughts were running through my head at that moment. I was honestly a bit afraid to look outside. With the attempt on the king’s life still fresh in my mind, I dreaded what I was about to see. Leaning against the wall, I slightly pulled the curtain away from the window and peered outside. I cannot explain in words the feeling of relief…
