a successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her. MAHARANI RASHI SINGHANIA thirty. queen regnant of india.
Astrid had a tendency to quite easily get lost in a book, and completely shut out the outside world. So when someone had come up to talk to the youngest Oldenburg, she had totally missed what they had said. “Oh, I apologize, but I completely missed that. Do you mind saying it again?” She asked, closing her book as she looked up at the other.
“my apologies. i did not mean to distract you from your reading.” she bows her head in the way to reinforce her apology, arms full of books of her own choosing. “i was wondering if you had any recommendations. i don’t usually read anything but books about politics and history, but i’d love to try and branch out.” she smiles, placing her books down on the nearest table and taking a seat on the chaise lounge that faced opposite the other woman.
“Then they shouldn’t be here,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You’d think that they would send better communicators to the peace talks. Not babbling buffoons.” Victor called it like he saw it, and he wasn’t sorry. He’d been told by some advisors that he could come across as tactless with the way he spoke, but the way he saw it, he provided perspective, as well as the naked truth, to those who set these things aside for other priorities like politeness. He wasn’t scared to be abrasive. In his opinion, only those insecure of their positions were. He took a sip from his goblet before answering her question, though his answer probably wasn’t one the woman was expecting. “Bothers – interesting word choice, implies that you’re worried.”
“well — of course it worries me, to a certain extent. the future of my country and the wellbeing of my people all depends on whether we can negotiate peace or not. besides, i don’t want to impose myself on the swiss family for longer than is necessary.” she answers without a moment’s hesitation, the fake smile not leaving her face. in her defense, not all that she’s saying is false. she truly doesn’t want to stay in switzerland past what her obligations require. however, she doesn’t really care much about whether peace agreements are reached or not. “why, your grace? does it not bother you?”
with a small child in her lap, eunha was sitting on one of the benches in the garden. it was a small moment of serenity and happiness. they were both observing colorful butterflies. there was still so much beauty in the world. a beautiful yellow butterfly constantly fluttered around them and the little girl desperately wanted to catch it. however, her hands were far too small for such a hard task. suddenly, her daughter started to cry.’’가영, 울지 마.’’eunha gently said, trying to calm her down. she turned around and noticed another person near them.’’ please forgive me. she’s not usually like this.’’ she added with an apologetic look on her face.
“oh no, there is absolutely no need to ask for forgiveness, your grace.” she reassures, a genuine smile spreading across her face. although she had none of her own and wasn’t planning on having any in the near future, rashi absolutely adores children. there’s just something pure and untainted about them that is quite refreshing, especially considering the fact that she spends most of her days surrounded by two-faced advisors and court officials who will stop at nothing to further their pursuit of power. “they’re more likely to come to you if you hold out your hands and stay still, little one.” she speaks to the girl, holding out her own hand in demonstration. “she really is adorable.”
kathak — just like the rest of her sisters, rashi has been trained in the indian dance form of kathak ever since she was a little girl. although she initially detested spending hours upon hours practicing with her instructor, it is something that she has grown to love.
political prowess — she had attended all the classes that her brother had, mostly due to his insistence and tendency to throw tantrums whenever she wasn’t in the room with it. she had always been more interested in the classes than her brother, which frustrated their tutors to no extent. her particular favourite was when she was taught about politics, both of her own country and of others. to this day, the queen insists on reading any and every book about politics that she can get her hands on.
talwarbaji — it’s basically like swordfighting, but with an indian talwar instead of a conventional sword.
—— ❝ what of your family ?? are they still alive ?? ❞
[ father ] mahraja arjun singhania ( b. 1584 - d. 1635, aged fifty. )
mahraja varun singhania ( b. 1620 - d. 1636, aged sixteen. )
rajkumari tanvi singhania, ( b. 1625, aged twenty five.)
rajkumari indira singhani, ( b. 1627, aged twenty two )
rajkumari apsara singhania ( b. 1631, aged eighteen.)
[ children ] none.
—— ❝ now let’s paint a picture of you. ❞
[ height/weight ] 5′2 / 123 lbs
[ built ] slim
[ hair color ] brown
[ eye color ] also brown, but with flecks of hazel that look green depending on the light
[ accent ] due to years and years of speech training, it is hardly noticeable when she speaks in english. however, words with heavy ‘r’ and ‘th’ sounds are her only weakness and her natural rajasthani accent shines through whenever she attempts to say them.
[ voice ] her voice is naturally very soft, something that annoys her to no extent since people often tend to talk over her.
[ style of speech ]
when discussing official matters, she delibrately makes her voice louder and speaks in a forceful tone that ensures that everyone around knows that she’s in charge and the one who makes the decisions. it wasn’t always like this, but she had to adopt this way of speaking in order to make sure that she was listened to.
when around her sister or those she truly trusts, she speaks in her naturalistic, soft, and somewhat playful voice. she does this in order to differentiate between her role as a monarch and her role as a sister or a friend.
[ scars ] none.
[ abnormalities ] none.
[ clothing ]
usually, she’s dressed in the finest of silk sarees and adorned head to toe in various pieces of gold jewellery. she doesn’t particular mind wearing them, but doesn’t care for them much, either. there’s only a few select pieces that she keeps close to heart, one being the turquoise tikka her brother gave her on her fifteenth birthday.
on days where she’s free to do whatever she pleases, she ditches the heavyset silk sarees and lehengas in favour of the much lighter salwaar kameez. she also forgoes most of the jewelery, just keeping her earrings and nose chain.
—— ❝ tell us, what kind of person are you ?? ❞
[ star sign ] sagittarius
[ alignment ] true neutral
[ enneagram type ] the achiever
[ color personality ] #ff1493, deep pink.
Your dominant hues are red and magenta. You love doing your own thing and going on your own adventures, but there are close friends you know you just can't leave behind. You can influence others on days when you're patient, but most times you just want to go out, have fun, and do your own thing.
Your saturation level is high - you get into life and have a strong personality. Everyone you meet will either love you or hate you - either way, your goal is to get them to change the world with you. You are very hard working and don't have much patience for people without your initiative.
Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.
[ what plant(s) best represent you ]
dandelion:
Scrappy and tough, you’re a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of person. You don’t give up easily and you often thrive in situations that others would find discouraging. You have an instinct to serve others and see yourself as most useful in times or places of crisis, but you may over rely on your toughness and forget how sensitive you really are.
Like you, dandelion holds steady, even in unfriendly environments. It provides gentle liver stimulation and digestive support, aiding your body’s natural detoxification processes.
Called “the little postman” in Persian because of the belief that dandelion brought good news, dandelion has unfortunately acquired a reputation as a pesky weed. Its liver and digestive benefits have been known for centuries, with reference in Arabic texts dating to the 10th century. Dandelion is a bitter herb, a characteristic that contributes to its digestion-supporting properties.* When roasted, dandelion root has a coffee-like flavor that once made it a popular coffee substitute!
echinacea:
A protector. With an amazing blend of optimism, nurturing and goodwill, you lend your strength and energy to those in need. Your seemingly infinite goodwill and boundless supportive energy make you the one people turn to when times are tough. Your greatest strength is, of course, also one of your weaknesses, especially if you neglect to take care of yourself. At times like these, it’s a good idea to take a step back and focus some of that protective energy on yourself.
A bold flower with a tough stalk and tenacious roots, echinacea is as strong as it is beautiful. This pretty, hardy plant brings that same quiet strength to the herbal world, earning it a reputation as a wonderful ally for the immune system. While you’re giving yourself some extra love and attention, echinacea can offer added support.
One of echinacea’s distinguishing characteristics is the presence of alkylamides, which are partly responsible for its capacity to stimulate the immune system. You’ll know that you’ve discovered truly high quality and echinacea when you feel a slight tingling on your tongue after tasting it. Native to the Americas, echinacea was introduced to European settlers by Native Americans, who had used it for centuries, and became popular with American doctors in the early 1900s.
slippery elm:
Let’s just say you’re a vocal person. Sure, that might mean you’re chatty. But it also means you’re the one humming in the hallway, singing in the shower, speaking your mind, standing up and shouting if need be to get yourself heard. You’ve got a voice and you know how to use it. Inclined to speak up for the voiceless, defend the defenseless or simply bring joy to the joyless, you may have a tendency to overuse your voice.
Smooth and silky, slippery elm is balm for the voice and friend to everyone who uses it. Long a champion for tired vocal chords and taxed throats, slippery elm’s slickness make it an ideal companion for those who a prone to use (and sometimes overuse) their voice.
Slippery elm or Ulmus rubra (Latin for “red elm,” so called for its lovely reddish bark) is a beautiful, native North American elm tree Introduced into Western herbal traditions by Native Americans. It’s the inner bark of this tree that is actually called “slippery elm” due to its, yes, slippery, smooth, and slimy-in-a-good-way properties.
[ theme/character song ] divenire by ludovico einaudi
—— ❝ do you have anything more you wish to say ?? ❞
everything i have to say is in this nice lil post here i type too much already ok bye
At some point in any conversation, Victor could always tell whether or not a person was worth talking to. Just this morning, he had been surrounded by useless gnats at court – sometimes amusing if only because they were so laughable, but often a waste of time. Victor had no patience for such things today. Leaning back on his seat with a goblet in hand, his head turned at the sound of footsteps by the entrance of the dining hall. He hadn’t expected anyone to come in at this hour. “Three idiots have tried to make my ears bleed with useless chatter today, so if you have come to join me for a drink, don’t be the fourth.”
“i do not think that is their true intention, really. they probably don’t know how else to start a conversation.” a forced smile spreads across rashi’s face as she moves across the dining hall and towards the ornate dining table. his tone of voice irked her, and under usual circumstances she would not be bothered with holding a proper conversation with him. right now, though, it was in her best interest to be polite, no matter how uncivil he chose to be. “i’m guessing the fact that we’ve barely started upon the peace negotiations bothers you too?” she asks, pouring some wine into an empty goblet for herself. it is merely a formality, of course. she doesn’t actually plan on drinking today.
Phillipa took a deep breath, putting what she hoped was a neutral look on her face. She needed for these negotiations to go well, and wasn’t as prepared as her advisors wanted her to be. But still, here she was. She approached the first person she saw, tapping them lightly on the shoulder. “Excuse me, do you happen to know where the dining areas are?”
“yes. however, i’m afraid you’re quite a bit far off.” she sounds mildly sympathetic, seeing as the other would have to walk almost halfway across the castle in order to get to her intended destination. “i could walk you there myself, if you wanted? it would definitely be easier than giving verbal directions.”
“whole thing is a waste,” anna muttered to herself as she stalked through an empty corridor. she heaved a sigh and ran her hands through herself. the queen of liechtenstein had been in a meeting with her advisors for the last hour, listening to strategies for peace – no one let her get a word in edgewise. always with a wave of their hand, they’d acknowledge her, before the men in the room would return to arguing amongst themselves. “lächerlich.” she pushed her dark hair from her face and let her hand linger on her forehead for a moment, before noticing someone nearby. “forgive my outburst,” she said, albeit a bit hollow. “these men are sometimes unbearable.”
“oh no, i am completely sympathetic to your plight.” a genuine & particularly kind smile spreads across the queen’s face, something that is a rare sight these days. “i know a little of what it’s like, being frustrated by men.” when rashi had first become queen, the advisors ignored every word of advice she had on important manners and all but insisted on ruling in her place. it had taken her years to garner the respect she wanted from her men, during which bad decisions had been made. for some odd reason, these men refused to believe that women could think for themselves and come up with ideas that were actually good and of sound nature. “what i suggest is that you threaten them with execution every time they interrupt you. that way, they are bound to listen. it worked very well for me.”
After about his third cup of wine, Raul was beginning to feel much better about the evening and where it may lead. Having managed to offend at least half of the room, he wandered over to the other side to best his record. As if on cue, once he settled into a new place, another all-important individual engaged him. The small talk was really getting to be rather redundant. Forcing an albeit sloppy grin, the Portuguese prince cocked his head as an equally feigned effort she so graciously offered him to be polite. “This time? Yes,” he drawled, glancing about the sight. “Although, I must say, it doesn’t quite live up to that one ball where they sacrificed goats at the stroke of midnight. Truly wonderous,” he spoke with a somber blink and nod of gravitas.
his unexpected response is enough to elicit genuine laughter from the queen. it is not particularly what he said, per se, but the manner in which he said it that amuses her. most would try to make polite, unobtrusive conversation, so it was quite refreshing to meet someone who didn’t. “i deeply apologize. i didn’t mean to —” she says, bringing a hand up to her mouth in order to stifle her laughter. it takes her a few moments to bring herself back to a more composed and dignified state. “i must admit, the goat sacrifices sound terribly interesting. much more interesting than whatever is currently happening, to be completely honest.”
She did not bother to mask her feelings and he appreciated it. He’s had too many small talks with too many nobilities and royalties, saying things they did not mean. “Well, I’m always one to enjoy a good party, so yes, I’d have to agree.” It was an unfamiliar music, the wine tasted a bit too bland, and the food not at all something his court would serve up in events. But it was all something new, something he’d long since tasted and he actually enjoyed it. New, unfamiliar things –– they excite him. “You don’t sound like you’re enjoying yourself though, Queen Rashi, is it?” His memory caught and grabbed hold of the moment where the royals were all introduced, and he greeted her how a king should a queen.
“i’m afraid that is the case, unfortunately. it happens to be that i’m not particularly fond of shows of pageantry. and the fact of the matter is that we’re here to discuss and resolve issues of utmost importance, not to socialize.” she proclaims, forsaking subtlety in favour of just bluntly stating her true thoughts on the manner. she’s not sure she should be saying all of this and be badmouthing their host country, but she has never been one to beat around the bush to begin with. she’d much rather be negotiating peace than making uncomfortable small talk that leads nowhere. the polite smile doesn’t leave her face as she extends her hand towards him as a form of mannerly greeting. “that would be me. delighted to make your acquaintance, your majesty.”
rashi had never really been fond of royal balls to begin with. they were stuffy, loud and served as a breeding ground for preposterous rumors and gossip that spread like wildfire. nonetheless, she is obligated to be here as an act of politeness and might as well try and engage in conversation to keep herself entertained. “it’s a great ball, don’t you think?” she muses, disinterest dripping off of her every word and making it clear that she rather be anywhere but here at this point. “the swiss family have really outdone themselves this time.”
( sonam kapoor, 30, she/hers ) silence! can you not see his/her majesty, rashi singhania, has arrived? It seems the queen of india is willing to compromise for peace, which is surprising when everyone calls them the the intractable. have you tried approaching them? i heard they can be rather unyielding + overcritical, but their staff say that they’re determined + benevolent. - ( nikki / gmt + 4 / she & hers )
MUN
hello i’m nikki
way too excited to be here tbh
sixteen and in the ib program so i am dts ( down to scream ) 24/7
i like the pittsburgh penguins because im basic
indian af
i have rlly bad social anxiety so it takes me a while to message ppl back pls be patient with me i am a lil bean
anyways here’s rashi, the loml.
PAST
rashi is the oldest of four children, but was never destined for the indian throne to begin with, simply due to the fact that she was born a female.
her younger brother, varun, was born just a year after her and was crowned heir apparent as soon as he was born. he was pampered and spoilt all throughout his childhood, something that made rashi incredibly jealous. after all, she was as good as he was, maybe even better in some aspects. yet she was restricted and denied due to the fact that she was a princess, not a prince.
nonetheless, rashi never let this jealousy turn into outright hatred. she loved her brother dearly, and he loved her back just as much.
in fact, it was because of him that rashi progressed onto higher education, instead of just getting the very basic one that most princesses had. he’d insisted that she accompany him to every one of his classes for moral support, and threw a fit every time she left his side.
her father died when she was fifteen, peacefully and in his sleep. her brother, just fourteen, was crowned the new king with tremendous pomp and show.
was betrothed to the crown prince of a neighbouring country when she was sixteen. it didn’t come as a surprise to her, nor did she mind it very much. marriage was the fastest way to strengthen relationships and build alliances, something that india desperately needed during the times of war.
her wedding plans came to a screeching halt after her brothers unexpected death on foreign soil. the detectives say that it was a hired assassin who did the deed, but they cannot say for certain. the wedding was called off, and the royal officials scrambled to hastily put together a coronation.
she was crowned queen a mere three days after her brothers death, aged sixteen. she was denied the chance to mourn her closest sibling, and thrust into a world of politics and decision making that she didn’t quite understand.
PRESENT
now aged thirty, rashi has ruled over india for close to fourteen years.
she has instated a lot of changes during these fourteen years. she’s tried to fix the religious barriers that had once torn the country apart, and she’s also tried to make the laws more friendly towards people of lower status. she’s also a passionate supported of education for girls, and has built several girls-only schools around india in an attempt to get parents to send their daughters to school.
the country has conflicting views on her and her reign. some view her as a kind and just monarch, who’s reign will bring about true change in a country that desperately needs it. others think that a woman should have never been given such power to begin with, and that she’s too blunt and outspoken to ever be a good queen.
she’s referred to as samraat rashi singhania on a lot of official royal documents and announcements to the public. samraat means ‘king’ and is generally reserved for use by male monarchs. it holds high value in the court and also in the eyes of the general public. therefore, rashi uses it to gain respect and to establish that she is a regnant in her own right, not just a queen consort.
for her, a peacy treaty being reached is preferred but not necessary. she knows that if her people have to fight, they will be willing to fight with courage. she just wishes that her visit to switzerland will be short so she can get back to her regular duties.
although her advisors want her to find a royal spouse as soon as possible, rashi herself is not too keen on the idea. she likes the freedom and independence that being regnant gives her, something that she would not get as queen consort. there’s also the fact that some of the courtiers will inadvertently try and put her husband above her, just so they can get a male back on the indian throne.
PERSONALITY EXPLAINED
unyielding → once rashi has made up her mind on something, it is very difficult to convince her otherwise. this makes it hard for her to look at consider other people’s points of views and make a holistic judgement. in addition, it makes it incredibly troublesome to get back on her good side once you have double crossed her.
overcritical → this aspect comes from her upbringing. as the king’s oldest daughter, she was subjected to a lot of pressure to be perfect from a young age. sure, this pressure didn’t pertain to intelligence or military tactics, but it was pressure nonetheless. as a result, she hates making mistakes, especially those that have an effect on others. she will berate herself for hours just for the smallest mistakes, even if they are not of much significance.
determined → rashi’s stubbornness can also be a positive sometimes. once she has set her mind to a certain task, rashi will work diligently and not stop until her goal has been achieved. this means that she is able undertake even the most strenuous of projects, even those which would have been abandoned under the reign of any other monarch.
benevolent → to her own people, rashi is incredibly kind and considerate. she holds public festivals every second week in order to keep up the spirits of her subjects. she isn’t beyond going to these festivals herself and socializing with the commoners. she also grants reasonable loans to anybody who comes to her with a good reason, wanting her money to be put to good use.
CONNECTIONS I WANT
monarch of the country where her brother had died → fair warning that rashi isn’t likely to be very nice to this person to begin with. she thinks that the monarch may have been involved in her brothers death in some form and maybe even hired the assassin who killed him.
ex-betrothed → although their engagement ended abruptly, it was on good terms. it is very clear that there is nothing romantic happening between them anymore, but they still remain fairly close friends.
i can’t think of any more off the top of my head but pls feel free to shoot me a message if you have an idea !!
Sonam Kapoor attends the “From The Land Of The Moon (Mal De Pierres)” premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 15, 2016 in Cannes, France.
