THREE months after the proposal, Bertine and Cecilio boarded the Karina. Schools of large fish jumped merrily out of the river’s tranquil surface. The spawning season for fish had arrived.
Bertine and Cecilio relaxed under the white awning on the boat deck, chatting and playing poker.
“If I’d known how much support your father had already garnered in the country, I wouldn’t have mobilized such a large number of soldiers or ships,” Cecilio said. “I think thirty soldiers each from the Federation and the Empire would have been more than enough.”
“You have a point, but we mustn’t forget that day marked the beginning of Claudio’s new life. Better we played it safe with such a great host in case something had gone wrong. Moreover, I believe it had less to do with my father’s maneuvering and more with the fact that the Luennian people had lost all faith in the royal family. I fold, by the way,” Bertine said.
“Come now, don’t say that.”
“Your Excellency, I’m almost positive you have a winning hand. So. I fold.”
“Bertie, I won’t let you go easy on me.”
Cecilio had needed just one more card for a royal straight flush, but now he tossed his hand onto the table. Bertine couldn’t stop laughing. She had assumed he’d be good at poker. Except it turned out she was the much stronger player and she proved it when she won their next round handily.
“Fine, fine, I graciously accept my defeat. This belongs to you then.” He plunked Dorothée’s butter cake onto the table. Soaked in loads of rum, it tasted and smelled sublime. While Bertine devoured her prize, Diego called out to them.
“Your Excellency, my lady, we’ll be making port soon, so please be ready.”
“Will do, thank you, Diego. It’s been so long since I saw your family, Cecilio.”
“Even longer for me, hm?”
She held up the last piece of cake and fed it to him when he opened his mouth. Soon after, his cheeks flushed as he realized his automatic obedience. Still, Cecilio enjoyed the flavor and Bertine looked pleased as she watched him chew.
“I just remembered something,” Bertine said. “When my mother was alive, she used to complain to me all the time about how my father was so perfect in his preparations, she had nothing to do on picnics or vacations. Which in hindsight, is precisely what happened with San Luenne. He laid the groundwork so well, there was hardly anything for the rest of us to do when the day finally arrived.”
“Hm. I believe I’d like to become a perfect father like yours too.”
“No. I forbid it. I love my father, but as his child, I can tell you it is extremely vexing to have such a perfect parent. Therefore, please become a charmingly absent-minded father instead.”
“So that’s how it is, eh?”
“That is indeed how it is. My brother grew up watching such a father, and it made him a cautious man whose highest priority was not making mistakes.”
Proper roads had been built in the Callisto district since her last visit, along with a school and hospital. Thanks to the stingers, the entire district’s income had increased significantly, and the reparations also allowed them to improve their facilities.
They climbed up a gently sloping hill, with Dorothée and Diego in tow.
“Are you certain that amount of reparations was enough? You were well within your rights to demand interest, you know,” Bertine said.
“As the new king, Claudio promised to build a facility promoting exchange between our countries. I count that as interest,” Cecilio replied.
“I wonder about that because I’m not sure the peoples of San Luenne and the Federation can get along.”
“I think we have good reason to be optimistic actually. I have it on good authority that Luennians have already placed massive orders for stingers, jams, and marmalades. Oh, and your special fabric too. Ignacio couldn’t have been happier,” Cecilio said.
They finally arrived at Cecilio’s childhood home situated on top of the hill. His father and grandfather stood there, waiting for them with beaming smiles.
“Welcome home, Ceci.”
“Been a dang long time, boy.”
“It’s nice to see you too, Pa, Grandpa.”
“I’m glad to see you again after so long, Emilio, Delio.”
Emotion swelled in Bertine’s chest when she saw the joy on Emilio and Delio’s faces at finally seeing Cecilio again.
“What brings you here with Ceci today, Bertine? He workin’ you hard again?”
At Delio’s question, Bertine glanced pointedly at Cecilio.
“We’re getting married, Pa,” he replied.
Just as he was about to sit down, Delio froze in mid-air while his grandfather, Emilio, stared wide-eyed in surprise.
“Oh ho, ain’t this some grand news, Delio?”
“I-It sure is. Congratulations to you both, but I have to ask, Bertine. You sure about this? You know my son’s a rough man with only work on his mind and nothing clever to come from his mouth.”
Bertine peeked at Cecilio, who smiled wryly. Reassured, she nodded with a smile of her own. “You’ll be happy to know I hold a deep amount of respect for his work because it’s born out of a sincere love for his country and people.”
“Hahaha! Then this means I can finally hold my great-grandbabies, eh?”
“Grandpa, you’re getting ahead of yourself,” Cecilio chided.
“Lucky for us, I have a very sturdy constitution,” Bertine boasted. “Children are up to God’s will, but I’ll happily do my best.”
“My lady, decorum,” Dorothée said with a rueful chuckle.
Then Emilio forced Bertine and Cecilio out of the house. He had decided to host a celebratory feast tonight and they needed to prepare for it. So the two of them walked along the beach together. As their feet pressed into the white sand, Cecilio recalled the day he made a promise to himself at the age of twelve. I will lead this country, the boy had thought.
The day when he learned his mother wasn’t the only victim of the Empire’s thoughtless treatment of his people. That there had been many more injured and killed. A local fisherman had been the one who told him. The man had sent his daughter to the Empire so she could earn a living as a maidservant. But she had been beaten violently by her employer. Her injuries ended up being so severe she could no longer work and was thus forced to return to the Federation.
“I will change things here. If it’s the last thing I do,” so the boy he’d been said to the fisherman.
“Thank you. I put my faith in you,” Bowing his head, the man replied with eyes red from crying.
Twenty-six years had passed since that day. Cecilio was still only partway through the long journey. Somehow, he’d managed to build a tentatively cooperative relationship with the Empire, but a mountain of challenges yet remained.
“Your Excellency, I’m here for you,” Bertine said.
“Hm?”
“You were thinking about this country’s future, weren’t you? I will make the path you tread easier to go down. I’ve decided it will be my job to build a road that will easily carry the beast of burden known as politics.”
“How lucky I am to have such a heartening and dependable wife.”
“Heh. I’ll do my best.”
“Just make sure you don’t overdo it. I doubt I’ll get anything done if you collapse from exhaustion.”
“Yes, sir.” She slipped her hand into Cecilio’s. “I’ve always wanted to walk with a man while holding hands, you know.”