THE return trip took a few days longer, but they finally arrived in Ybit. Bertine headed to the government building that same day. She was, after all, the Special Envoy for the Sale of Local Specialties under Cecilio’s direct supervision. Which meant it was necessary for her to inform him of the results of her venture. She was led to his office immediately upon her arrival by Ignacio himself because he had been aware of her idea.
Diego and Dorothée remained in Ignacio’s office with their jars of roasted bumpfish. Ignacio was apparently from the Callisto district as well, so he had rushed back to his office after taking her to see Cecilio.
“Welcome back, Bertine,” Cecilio said. “I heard you traveled to the region I grew up in. You can’t imagine my surprise when Ignacio told me upon my return from an inspection. And you went by boat, no less. You’re as driven as ever, I see.”
“I just got back today, Your Excellency,” Bertine responded. “The journey by boat was quite pleasant indeed. You’ll be happy to know that your father and grandfather are in good health.”
“I see… It’s been quite some time since I last saw them, so I’m relieved to hear they’re doing well.”
“Exceedingly well, I’d say. They both very much wished to see you as well, Your Excellency. I’ve brought some things for you on their behalf.”
She retrieved several jars from her bag. Roasted bumpfish meat, oil-fried giant clam, pan-fried stickleback, and oysters steamed in oil as well as white wine. There was also an entire jar of stingers.
“Those are stingers!” Cecilio exclaimed. “How nostalgic. I ran out of the supply I brought with me to Ybit a long time ago.”
“I know they’re more delicious freshly made, but I hope you can enjoy these dishes whenever you please.”
“What precious flavors here in Ybit. Once I get home, I’ll heat everything up and enjoy it all leisurely. I think that will be the best way to eat them, considering it’s been so long since I’ve tasted home.”
“Please do.”
Just then, Bertine’s eyes were drawn to the book lying on top of Cecilio’s desk. She couldn’t read the title because of the documents carelessly covering it. But she recognized it nonetheless. The deep green cloth it was bound in. The dark red color of the bookmark ribbon. Its size and thickness. All of the book’s hallmarks were familiar to her.
✦ ✦ ✦
It’s quite improper to inspect a book someone else is reading. Bertine looked away. Except another thought soon followed. But why does His Excellency have it? While she contemplated the situation, Cecilio inquired curiously.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Speaking of your home, Your Excellency, it possesses a relaxed charm different from hinterlands’, hm?”
“There isn’t much there, but I still love it. I’d like to go home at least once while my grandfather remains in good health. Yet there’s so much to do here that I can’t escape. Building schools and hospitals, the aftermath of the flooding, maintaining the road infrastructure. It never ends.”
“Yes, I noticed how busy you and Ignacio always are.”
“I have to create an organization to get anything done, y’see. Someday, things will settle down. I was worried when I heard you were heading to Callisto, so I’m glad you’re safe. You didn’t experience any danger on the ship journey? With all those men abroad?”
“Not a whit. They regaled me with stories about the delicacies I would find in the Callisto district and invited me to join their poker games.”
At the mention of poker, Cecilio gave Bertine a sidelong glance.
“Is something the matter?” she asked innocently.
“This is only a guess, but you bled those men dry of their coin, didn’t you?”
She burst out laughing at his comment. It was like he had been there himself.
“I knew it. I had a feeling you were a betting woman,” he said.
“Don’t worry, I repaid them with alcohol using my winnings. Back to the matter at hand. Your Excellency, I believe we can sell the stingers for a high price. Is it possible to establish a system in the Callisto district to cultivate and ship them?”
“How much do you intend to charge?”
“Hm, that’s a good question… I think five small silver coins for a jar this size would work.”
“Five? Interesting… So much for berries that grow in everyone’s gardens back home. If you say they’ll sell, then I’ll believe you. A man works for my father, helping him govern the Callisto district. He’s the main candidate to take over as the next chief, so I’ll inform him and my father of your plans. Since you still have to oversee your projects with the scarlet fabric and other jarring ventures, they can manage the finer details there.”
Oh, he’s right. If I take on any more work, I won’t be able to do it all myself.
“Stingers grow easily in Callisto, but I noticed they weren’t used in the hinterlands. I imagine that has to do with the soil and climate of Callisto creating such a favorable growing environment that everyone has them in their gardens,” Bertine said. “That being the case, Your Excellency, I have a proposition. We buy dried white stingers for a jar this size at the price of two small silver and five large copper coins, and the black ones for two small silver coins.”
Bertine exhaled softly then.
“I thought so too during the contract negotiations for the wheat, but it infuriates me to think about all the goods the Federation’s people have sent off to the Empire without knowing their true value,” she huffed. “Right on the heels of that thought, I’m reminded of the Kingdom of San Luenne, which has led an affluent existence by dint of cozying up to the Empire…”
“Bertine, don’t be so impatient. Not long has passed since this country awakened to its potential. If you try to rush things in a short amount of time, the outcome will most certainly be disastrous. So let’s take our time while we consider the bigger picture.”
“Disaster, you say?”
Cecilio nodded emphatically. “If you try to mobilize people by prioritizing efficiency, you’ll end up with a military force. And that’s not something I want for our country. Although I must admit it’s difficult to find the right balance considering how carefree our citizens are. I sometimes think they’re too carefree.”
Not long after, Ignacio came back and informed Cecilio that his next visitor had arrived. Bertine took the opportunity to say goodbye and leave his office. She thought back on the book. He must be reading it now since it lay on his desk. That book is about San Luenne’s laws, isn’t it? She could think of only one reason why he was currently reading it. The storm blowing violently over the Empire, the Federation, and San Luenne had not yet abated.