Quoted By:
You reach out your hand tentatively. Your father brings it closer.
<span class="mu-b">”Wow... so pretty.”</span>
In the Hegemony, jewelry is not worn by common citizens. Even the very traditional practice of wedding rings or tail bands was considered a capitalist perversion in the early days of the Hegemony; and later rulers like Gaftar IV destroyed many of the priceless treasures for their rare earth metals; electronics being more important. Now with asteroid mining and the expansion of the empire, gold and silver could be commonly worn and used, it simply isn't for cultural reasons. Only the Supreme Ruler's medallion, Overseer's necklets, golden bands stitched into the sleeves of a uniform- these are some of the only jewelry around.
<span class="mu-r">”It's not pure gold- there's a bunch of alloys and about nine million electronic components; like a heart rate monitor and AI key. Hey, do you want to know a <span class="mu-i">little secret</span>?”</span>
Before you can even react, your father places it around your neck. It almost seems to pulse with a scary, yet intoxicating sense of importance. You look down as he raises it.
<span class="mu-r">”Do you know why only the Supreme Ruler is allowed to wear the inverted symbol of the Hegemony? This is why. So when you look down, you see that the Hegemony is your body. You are its mind, its eye, and its voice- it is the instrument of your will. This is a secret only known by Supreme Ruler candidates, that feeling of being <span class="mu-i">above</span> the law is-”</span>
“Hwat! Get that off her NOW!”
<span class="mu-r">”...Alright, Cijan. I got carried away. I am sorry.”</span>
