THEY were currently in a real estate office on the outskirts of the capital.
Bertine had donned an ensemble fit for a lady’s maid in this nation, finished off by a neat white cap unique to the role here. She kept her eyes downcast and walked behind Dorothée as they visited various merchants. The first two realtors didn’t have any properties that met their needs, but the third one showed them a building that met the specifications of the two female clients.
✦ ✦ ✦
NIGHT fell. Bertine and Dorothée were in a small house. It boasted a tiny front yard and a reasonably large backyard. Though old, the building was situated in a sunny location and functioned as both a commercial and residential space. Up until two months ago, an elderly couple had lived there while operating their general store.
“Let’s determine what is in demand here before we decide the trajectory of our business,” Bertine said. “There’s no need to rush either, since we can survive for some time just fine.”
“My lady, I’m sure you’ll make it a raging success.”
“At the end of every war, the first thing people seek is delicious food. After that, comes everything else, such as pretty trinkets and things to soothe the soul. Or so I learned. Our opportunity lies somewhere amongst these options. I know it.”
Dorothée began preparing a simple dinner for the two of them and Bertine helped her. Bertine moved awkwardly, unfamiliar with the process but determined to learn. Once it was ready, they sat down at the table and toasted each other with inexpensive wine. A tipsy Bertine made the following declaration, her face tense.
“Dorothée, listen. You know that saying? ‘The people of San Luenne fall, but something will always get them back on their feet.’ Well, I want you to watch me as I perform it in action.”
“My lady, I must point out that the citizens of other countries say this about us as an insult. Yet for some reason, I find myself looking forward to your interpretation of it. Please make sure to add cooking to your growing repertoire, hm?”
“Thank you, Dorothée.”
And so, the former marquess’s daughter and lady’s maid began their new life together.
✦ ✦ ✦
CECILIO Bonifaccio, the face and de facto leader of the Southern Federation, returned to his estate ten nights after Bertine left it. He flew into a rage upon hearing the particulars of Bertine du Jeanne’s stay and the circumstances that facilitated her flight from Ignacio and the guards.
“Summon all the staff immediately!” he roared.
The servants filed into their lord’s office and formed a line. Faces deathly pale, they stared down at the floor. Cecilio was exhausted from his time in the flooded region, but his anger made him forget his fatigue.
“So long as you lot continue to behave as foolishly as you did with our guest, the Federation will continue to be derided as a country of savages. What will it take to drill that through your thick skulls?! She only traveled to enemy territory at the behest of her country, yet you all had the gall to treat her so abominably. I hope you’re proud of yourselves. And to think such lowly behavior occurred at my estate. Did none of you ever consider that she was just another victim of this damned political situation?”
“Forgive us, my lord!”
The housekeeper and butler were the first to apologize, bowing deeply in penance. The others soon followed.
“I will not give you another chance. Should you decide to act in such a way that stains the Federation’s reputation with filth again, you will be punished accordingly. Remember that. I’ll go see her first thing tomorrow morning and apologize. You’re dismissed. Out of my sight.”
So saying, Cecilio Bonifaccio dragged his fingers through his black, shoulder-length hair. Then he turned his ice-cold, sapphire-colored eyes to Ignacio. Clearly ill at ease, Ignacio bowed his head in response.
“I introduced her to a reputable realtor and also provided her with a letter of introduction, so it should not take long to ascertain her whereabouts,” he said.
“Why didn’t you send her home?” Cecilio asked. “From the young lady’s perspective, she’s surrounded by enemies on all sides.”
“She very firmly refused my offer to do so.”
“Haaa… I see. Fine. What’s done is done. You’re dismissed as well. Wait, one more thing. Bianca is indefinitely forbidden from visiting this manse. I erred in showing her too much lenience just because her father is an influential man. The girl has remarkable audacity in passing herself off as my fiancée. I refuse to believe it was a misunderstanding on her part, either. No, it was deliberate, and I’ll make my grievances known to her father myself.”
✦ ✦ ✦
ALONE once more in his study, the anger continued burning within Cecilio. But he chose to exorcize it after some time by slamming both hands down on his large desk.
Long had he aspired to protect the people of his nation from famine. Elevate the nation’s culture of learning so richly that it would rival even the Empire in this respect. The very same Empire of Centaur that had exploited his people’s ignorance and robbed them of their country’s resources of iron, gold, silver, and grains with despicable bargains. Cecilio had always hated the Empire for treating his country like a colony under its thumb.
Which was why he hadn’t been satisfied succeeding his father as the head of their tribe. Instead, he had parlayed with dozens of other clan leaders and convinced them to unite under the banner of one nation. “Equality with the Empire.” With that goal in mind, Cecilio went to the Empire and studied their philosophy and society, all the while looked down on by its citizens.
Ten years. It had taken ten long years to unify the tribes, battle the Empire, and at the age of thirty-five, finally secure his country’s victory against it. But he couldn’t even control the servants closest to him.
“At first light tomorrow, I’ll go to apologize.”
Cecilio’s quiet promise to himself managed to settle his agitation.
✦ ✦ ✦
THE next day.
“What do you mean she never came here?” Cecilio asked. “Are you sure? An aristocratic young lady bearing Ignacio’s letter of introduction never showed up?”
“Yes, my lord. Such a person has never visited this office.”
The realtor’s words stunned Cecilio into momentary silence. Then he gathered his thoughts quickly. Victory in the war had the entire nation in buoyantly high spirits. He hurriedly ordered a search to be executed for the marquess’s daughter, worried that overly excited hooligans may have gotten carried away and harmed her.
But his people turned up no clues because every realtor they questioned had never met a noblewoman resembling Bertine. She had disappeared without a trace.