EVANCE’S lectures with Eckhart began the next day, with Herman serving as interpreter. In between, he also took lessons in the imperial language from Herman. Some time later, he began working in Eckhart’s house as his assistant. It wasn’t an easy life for Evance. As the son of a chief in the Federation, he had grown up with servants tending to him. But he never complained, not even once.
Bertine had given him a great deal of money without thought and sent him here because she believed in his talents. So he could handle anything if it meant living up to her expectations.
“Bertie, just you wait. I’ll definitely help you make your dream come true.”
So his days passed in a busy blur, working and studying architecture.
✦ ✦ ✦
THEN there was Bertine living her life in Ybit, the Federation’s capital. After several months, the necklace she’d been working assiduously to create was finally complete. It consisted of delicate silver parts joined together and incorporated an abundance of small pink sapphires and garnets. The whole time she worked on it, all she could imagine was how the necklace’s glow would complement Diana’s red-gold hair, making her look even more beautiful. Large gems were all the rage amongst imperial aristocracy, but Bertine judged them unsuitable for this necklace’s design.
“It’s done!” she rejoiced.
“Oh, did you finally finish, my lady?” Dorothée asked.
“Yes, after a very long time. Now I would very much like to present this to Lady Dalila so she can give it to Lady Diana.”
She couldn’t just send it by post because of how expensive it was. Which meant she would have to deliver it directly herself. So Bertine immediately wrote a letter addressed to Lady Dalila. In it she mentioned her creation of a one-of-a-kind necklace and how she would love for Lady Diana to wear it. She ended by asking her when it would be most convenient for her to visit. Then she sent it off via express delivery and awaited Lady Dalila’s reply. When it finally came, she read the date Lady Dalila had written as well as how much the older woman looked forward to seeing her again.
“Right, then, I’ll need to pack since I don’t have much time before we meet,” Bertine said. “Once I finish, I’m off to the imperial capital. And the timing couldn’t be better, since I just received a large shipment of jarred goods.”
In the midst of her packing flurry, a messenger came running from the government building.
“I come bearing a letter from His Excellency Cecilio!”
“Thank you very much. I’ll respond to him by writing now, so please wait a bit.”
Bertine hurriedly tore open the envelope and took out the letter to read.
“I propose we meet in the Empire because I’ll be journeying there myself on some business. I would like to become acquainted with Lady Dalila myself, so please allow me to accompany you on your meeting with her.”
“I imagine he doesn’t get many opportunities to visit the Empire now that he’s the leader of the Federation. It might be a bit discourteous to meet Lady Dalila like this, as just another stop in his official schedule, but she doesn’t need to know that,” Bertine decided.
“If anything, I think it’s reassuring to have His Excellency by your side, my lady,” Dorothée said.
“You’re right. I want to meet Lady Diana as well, but I doubt the emperor’s concubine can leave the palace so easily. It will probably be impossible to see Prince Claudio too.”
✦ ✦ ✦
THE next morning, Bertine departed for the imperial capital after leaving her shop in Isabella’s capable hands.
“My lady, we’ve been traveling tremendous distances of late,” Dorothée noted.
“Oh, you’re right. North to the imperial capital, south to the Callisto district. Goodness, what a busy schedule.”
Dorothée chuckled in response to Bertine’s rueful smile. Compared to their time living in the tiny Kingdom of San Luenne, their recent travels might as well measure the distance between the heavens and the earth.
“Regardless, I’ll go wherever I’m in need. Dorothée, I never imagined every day could be such a joy to live. It feels like that awful day I left San Luenne happened decades ago.”
Dorothée nodded vigorously. “I couldn’t agree more. I’m ever so happy to see you bubbly and energetic, my lady. My lady up in God’s garden must surely be delighted as well.”
“I wonder how Father feels about my current circumstances. Maybe I should send him a letter through Luca? No doubt any letters sent directly to him bearing my name would be thrown away before they even reach him.”
The fact that Bertine had to steel her nerves and go to such lengths just to get a letter to her father made Dorothée’s chest ache in sympathy for the younger woman. So she deliberately affected a bright tone when she replied.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. Since Master Luca and my lord presumably exchange correspondence regularly, it shouldn’t raise any suspicions.”
“A word, my lady,” Diego spoke to her nervously. “The marchioness told me to while away two months in the Empire at my leisure, but much more time has passed. With your permission, I’d like to remain in the Federation with you both.”
“A good point. My stepmother must be wondering what delayed your return this long, Diego. I’ll ask Father about this too. I’m sure he’ll think of a good solution.”
“Oh, thank you. I’m relieved to hear that.”
The day she stepped foot in the Southern Federation, Bertine had no prospects for her future. Without her even noticing though, she had built a community for herself. Dorothée wasn’t the only one with her now. Isabella, her shop manager; Cecilio; Ignacio; Chief Bruno, his wife, Cassandra, and his son, Evance; Chief Kurt; Cecilio’s father, Delio; and Luca, her father’s hotel manager. She had a network she could rely on.