It was a strange war, with strange terms of truce. It was a war to annihilation, made of lie and hypocrisy. Violante only had to agree her country to become such as all the others: to recognize the power of money, hypocrisy and uniformity. The queen refused. She had allies, for example, Ghain’s country, though the latter was too far and had too many own problems. Violante showed courage, but with shade of fatalism. She met her enemies regularly, answered “no” to all their terms and tried to stiffen the spirit of her subjects. Ghain was with her. He left his country in order to encourage his wife. There were a few victims in that war. Its most awful effect was universal despondency. The Happy country ceased to be happy. Her citizens became gloomy; their joyful songs weren’t heard any more. Violante and Ghain were the only people who kept their presence of mind. To spite troubles, the queen set to music a cycle of her husband’s poems and sang these songs in the palace and in the Temple of Honor, Faithfulness and Love.

Their beautiful distinct tunes contrasted with the chaos around.

In the morning Violante quickly dressed herself and patiently listened to the news brought by her assistants. That day her enemies sent her a text of truce terms once again.

“I won’t sign it,” said the queen severely.

“But, Violante, you don’t see the situation”.

“I do see it. But I won’t sign”.

“Think about victims!”

“Victims!” cried Violante. “What victims? Don’t you see that we ourselves exist no more? The Happy Country is not only our country,” added she with emotion. “It is the guarantee of stability in the world. And it is the possibility to achieve the ideal. Nobody can be considered its citizen now. Nobody, except Ghain.”

At that time he was nursing the wounded.

Violante went to the other room, sat down to the piano and started singing one of her most joyful new songs.

“Listen, Violante, people are tired,” she was interrupted.

Commonplace as it may seem, the queen had to struggle both with internal and external enemies.

“I know,” she answered, “I know expansion has already begun. But I’ll neither yield nor abdicate. I’m a queen of this country, and I’m responsible for it. I’ll fight to the end”.

Violante showed the talk was over, and went on singing.

Next day she received a short report from her enemies: “We’ll overwhelm you”.

“I’ll survive” she answered.