Chapter 46: In Agreement
TWO days after Prince Ehrenfried left, Bertine visited the capitol building on the pretext of discussing the riverboat’s budget. Ignacio met her at reception.
“His Excellency is currently meeting with a guest who had an urgent request.”
He guided her to a waiting room adjoining the office. Upon hearing the door in Cecilio’s office open, she stood up thinking to herself, I believe his guest left. But Bertine heard a woman’s voice from beyond the connecting door when she drew close.
“Ceci, do drop by sometime. I’d welcome you with open arms.”
“I will, soon. I’m sorry, Monica, but my next guest is waiting for me.”
“Oh? Well, that’s disappointing news. I would have loved to chat more. But I suppose it won’t do to keep them waiting. I’ll see you again soon then.”
Bertine found herself inadvertently holding her breath at the clear intimacy in their exchange.
His Excellency is always drowning in work whenever we meet, so I just assumed there wasn’t a woman in his life. But that was silly of me, considering his appearance and his status as the country’s leader. Of course he would have someone he’s close to. Bertine felt overwhelmingly ashamed to realize that only she had thought their closeness was special, even though it was through work.
In the next moment, the door in front of her suddenly opened.
“Oh! So this is where you were hiding, eh?”
Cecilio looked surprised. It hadn’t been her intention at all to eavesdrop, but when she realized that’s exactly how it appeared, her face flamed in embarrassment. Then she felt someone’s stare from her left. Bertine turned her head in that direction and saw the woman Cecilio had been conversing with. She had stopped on her way out of his office to observe.
Possessed of long, lustrous black hair and a bewitching aura, the woman stared at her in amusement. Bertine had automatically lowered herself into a shallow curtsy. Except the woman merely smiled at her before she walked out.
“Your Excellency, pardon me for interrupting your meeting. I would be happy to return another time.” The instant Bertine finished speaking, she realized her words essentially constituted a confession of her eavesdropping. She wanted to cover her mouth in desperation now.
“With her you mean? Don’t concern yourself with that.” She was surprised by his nonchalant tone, then he continued. “Monica’s husband is a good man, but an extremely jealous one. If he learned she and I spoke at length in my office, alone, he would storm in here, wildly brandishing a greatsword at my head.”
“A greatsword… Well, that does indeed sound terrifying,” Bertine said.
“Heh. I certainly wouldn’t want to lose my life in such a way. Monica’s merely a childhood friend, you see.”
In her overwhelming relief at the information, Bertine let her mouth run away from her brain before she could stop it. “I see… I misunderstood the situation because of rumors I heard about you in my homeland, Your Excellency. If I ever get the opportunity to correct the gossip, you can count on me to set the record straight.”
“Ah. Rumors about me being ‘an unparalleled womanizer,’ I take it? Or ones about me being ‘a warmonger who tremendously enjoys the sight of bloodshed’? I personally feel no pain or anything really concerning what others think of me, so I just leave it all alone honestly.”
“Surely, you can’t be serious. How can you let them continue to say such awful things about you?”
Cecilio chuckled softly as he guided Bertine into his office. “Ever since I became the country’s leader, more and more people have come to me offering women and money. That sort of thing still happens even in a country as magnanimous as ours, you see. So sometimes, awful rumors are useful in determining who you can really trust and who you can’t.”
“Oh, really? Hm. I suppose no country exists where all its citizens are virtuous. Right then, time to discuss what I came here to.” With that, Bertine immediately pulled out her calculations on the riverboat construction and explained her plan to him. Cecilio commented after she finished.
“I always wonder about the source of your seemingly limitless drive.”
“Well, at the moment, I’d say there are two feelings spurring me on: I want the people of other nations to know how amazing the Federation is and I want to do everything I can for this country.”
“Bertine, a large-scale operation can be dangerous if it’s rushed through only on a single individual’s momentum. Are you sure you have enough allies for this?”
“Of course. There’s Evance and Franz, not to mention everyone in the Bilva district.” For some reason, she suddenly thought of San Luenne’s queen then. “Your Excellency, I just realized the Luennian queen thought of all her wicked schemes on her own, which is quite incredible in a way…”
“Is that right? Why don’t you tell me concretely what exactly she did?”
So Bertine related to him all the details about how the woman had destroyed her engagement twice. Cecilio sat in his chair and listened quietly, his long legs crossed.
“Fascinating. Taking into account everything the royal family has done to yours, I wonder why your father hasn’t yet rebelled.”
“I believe it’s because he’s considered what would happen after the throne has been overturned. He is in his late fifties, after all. Should he become king of San Luenne upon deposing the current king, he would soon be forced to choose his successor. So I think he’s searching for someone much more suitable than himself.”
Cecilio raised an eyebrow as he gazed at Bertine. “Perhaps he’s considering making you San Luenne’s queen?”
“Absolutely not! Don’t say that even as a jest, please. I’m definitely not a candidate, Your Excellency.”
“You’re right, forgive me. I was indeed jesting, clearly in poor taste though.”
“I know. Besides, there’s a perfectly suitable individual for the king’s throne.”
“…And who would that be?”
“Prince Claudio, the emperor’s second son. He himself said he aspires to the position in his letter to me.”
Cecilio froze for a moment when he heard those words. Then he huffed a laugh, his expression difficult to describe. Bertine didn’t understand why he laughed.
“But His Imperial Highness is still twelve years old,” she said. “There isn’t much anyone can do until he turns fifteen. After he does though, I’m sure my father would counsel him in his capacity as chancellor. Not to mention he would surely have Prince Ehrenfried’s support as well. It would be the ideal solution for His Imperial Majesty as well. By planting his second son on San Luenne’s throne, the Empire would have direct control over the Kingdom and the emperor would be able to snuff out any embers that may spark a war of succession.”
“So you’re telling me the emperor and his brother have consented to this already?”
“It was actually Prince Ehrenfried himself who proposed the idea.”
“Huh. Then how do you think the Luennian citizenry will react?”
“They would welcome the change, and quite effusively at that. After all, the only reason the Kingdom can even survive is because of imperial tourists. An imperial prince becoming their king would strengthen and deepen the country’s bond with the Empire. They would be absolutely delighted. Especially when you take into consideration the people’s disappointment in the current king.”
Cecilio contemplated her words for some time then said something unexpected. “If Prince Claudio becomes San Luenne’s king, the Federation will wholeheartedly lend him its support.”
“That’s…very reassuring, but I’m not sure such an action will benefit you or this country, Your Excellency.”
“You’re wrong.” He stood up, then picked up a green book in one hand, the whole time watching Bertine intently. It was the same book she’d noticed on her last visit. Today, she could read its title clearly: The Constitutional Laws and Bylaws of the Kingdom of San Luenne.
“I knew it! I knew it was that book!”
“The truth is, I actually wanted Prince Claudio to become San Luenne’s king as well. Although my reason is different from the Empire’s,” he said.
“You did? May I ask why?”
“At the end of the war, the Empire paid its share of the reparations immediately, but the Kingdom of San Luenne continued to haggle over its portion of a thousand large gold coins. It was a deliberate and reckless affront to the peace treaty.”
Cecilio took out a sheaf of letters from a drawer and placed it on his desk.
“So I thought to depose the current royal family and have Prince Claudio take the throne as king instead. Which is why I researched the legalities of the proceedings. First, if there were any laws in place I could use to achieve my goal and second, any laws that would be a hindrance after he becomes king. As you can see, Claudio himself has been writing to me frequently as well, wanting my advice on his political future. I think he would make a fine, virtuous ruler based on what I’ve read in his letters.”
He’s relying on another country’s leader for advice instead of his own father, the emperor? Bertine couldn’t help but worry about the boy’s emotional state.
“If I can support a young king passionate about his ideals, then I will extend my hand in aid however often he needs it. San Luenne’s royal family may have done what they did because they gravely underestimated the Federation by thinking of us as a backwards country. But I will not stand idly by and let the lives of my people be treated so lightly, not when they risked their lives to fight for us. Now that we have someone who can be a good king, one whom the people will welcome with open arms, then I would gladly offer my help to him. But…”
Cecilio paused, his eyes still intent on Bertine, before resuming.
“But I too will wait until Claudio’s fifteenth birthday. I actually planned on making my move before the Kingdom repaid its shortfall. On this matter though, I shall match my pace to the Empire’s. After all, I must repay the queen in full for the pain she’s caused you. You are precious to me.”
What did he just say? Bertine stared at him in a dazed shock, but he simply smiled back at her. She tried to keep the conversation going despite her agitation.
“Your Excellency, I believe my father will agree to the plan. May I tell him your thoughts on the matter? I’ve already written to him about Prince Ehrenfried’s views.”
“Your father’s second wife is the queen’s younger sister, yes?”
“Naturally, I would ask him to make sure she learns nothing of this.”
“Then, please, go ahead. I have a strong feeling your father will be on my side. The queen has acted unforgivably toward you not once but twice. And a man as clever as your father certainly wouldn’t let this opportunity pass him by.”