Chapter 55: Executing the Plan
LUCA and Cecilio were talking within the confines of the Karina, moored on the Saran River near the Federation’s border with the Empire.
“You remember where the reefs are?” Cecilio asked.
“I do. I rode on my father’s ship countless times as a child, so I remember exactly when the rudders turned,” Luca told him.
“Can you draw the route on a nautical chart?”
“I think so, but I memorized the landmarks based on San Luenne’s position in relation to the Empire and the continent. So I’m not sure whether my drawing will be completely accurate in that sense. If you put me on the lead ship, I can signal whenever a turn is coming up. I won’t make any mistakes that way.”
Cecilio mulled things over for a bit. “Do you still have any relatives in San Luenne? There’s a possibility they may be executed as well should our plan go awry.”
“Distant relations. But they cut off all contact with us once my father went bankrupt. Told us we were strangers as far as they’re concerned.”
“I see… Then will you tell me why you’re doing this?”
Luca glanced at Bertine, unsure of how much to reveal to the other man. She nodded encouragingly at him. “My family’s company went bankrupt because of the Luennian queen’s scheming,” he confided. “The shock and despair ruined his health. He never really recovered, eventually passing away. I do this for him and myself, since I’ve never been able to forget what happened to him. So, I want to be a part of this plan to destroy the royal family.”
“Ah. You were the one who was meant to be Bertine’s fiancé,” Cecilio deduced.
“Yes. I’m married to an imperial woman with whom I have young children now. She already knows everything about this, and I have her blessing,” Luca said.
“There’s no way we can test this out with you in advance. Can you do it without fail when the day comes?” Cecilio asked.
“I can. I’m confident I can safely guide everyone to San Luenne’s shores.”
At that point, Cecilio confided everything to him. “The emperor and his brother are involved in this mission as well, so I can guarantee your family’s safety.”
“Wh-What? Truly? Oh, what a godsend.”
“And on the Luennian side, we have Bertine’s father’s participation too.”
“The marquess…?” Luca said.
“Everything depends on you guiding us. We’re counting on you.”
“I won’t disappoint you, Your Excellency. I just have one request. I would like to practice with the ship’s crew until we’re perfectly in sync and they can maintain the speed I was familiar with as a child.”
“Of course. Both the ship and its crew are at your disposal until you deem them ready. Practice as much as you need.”
After a strong handshake with Cecilio, Luca disembarked. Bertine’s chest swelled with emotion as she watched him walk away. She had anticipated the emperor and his brother participating in the plot, but she hadn’t been sure. So she’d been surprised when Cecilio confirmed it for the first time. The enormity of their mission had finally sunk in.
It’s too late now to worry about involving Luca. We’ve reached the stage where we can no longer waver. At that moment, Cecilio placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She felt enveloped in his warmth.
“Don’t worry so much. We’ve prepared as much as we can,” he said.
“You’re right. I know you’re right, but I can’t help my mind flitting to the worst-case scenario.”
Bertine maintained correspondence with her father about this matter just like Cecilio kept in contact with the emperor about it. Claudio gave his father the answers he sought, earning his approval. Everything they did was to replace the royal family without hurting the people of San Luenne.
Soon, Claudio would turn fifteen. He and Bertine no longer went through the Rose Hotel to exchange letters. Instead, Prince Ehrenfried acted as their intermediary. The boy sent her letters once a month, detailing his purpose in living as well as the decline in his mother’s exclusion from imperial society.
“When I realized others’ torment of Mother had stopped, I thought my desire to leave the country would disappear as well. But it didn’t. It seems I want to do more than just simply save her.
I live a fulfilling life every day now. Whether it be my studies or martial training, or even my daily habits, I feel value in everything I do in my pursuit to become a good king. I finally found the path leading to real hope.”
The boy of twelve she had met would soon be a young man of fifteen.
Even though we haven’t seen each other in person since then, the prince must surely have grown tremendously in that time, she thought. I know we decided that Diana shouldn’t be informed about the plan until the day before they depart, but still, I wonder how she’ll feel when she finally learns of it.
“Your Excellency, is there truly a need for you to bear the brunt of all this?” Bertine asked.
“Yes, because I’m the only one who can.”
“Well, then…”
There was no hesitation whatsoever in Cecilio’s reply, so Bertine decided to say nothing more. In the face of his unyielding conviction to do whatever was necessary for his country, she wavered on voicing her own doubts and fears.