Chapter 48: Eckhart Beck’s Visit
DESPITE knowing that San Luenne’s royal family would eventually be destroyed by the Empire and Federation’s combined machinations, Bertine saw no real changes to her daily life. She kept her ledgers up to date, accepted orders from her customers, placed her own for the specialty products, and shipped them. So the cycle went.
But her heart was in turmoil. I wonder what steps His Excellency plans to take regarding San Luenne. Bertine herself had been tossed into the maelstrom by the royal family and certainly not of her own accord. Still, she couldn’t help thinking about the situation since she was involved as well. She hoped that someday Cecilio would confide in her everything about his plan.
“Yet there’s nothing I can do about it even though I know now what will happen.”
By using this argument to convince herself, she tried her best not to dwell on the matter. But it wasn’t long before her mind wandered back to it anyway. How exactly do Prince Claudio and Prince Ehrenfried plan to defeat the Luennian royal family? Bertine spent her days in a fog of uncertainty and worry.
The stingers sold well, as usual. Sales of the jarred fruit and seafood products were steady too. According to the letter she received from Delio, Cecilio’s father, many of the locals in the Callisto district were sowing stinger seeds to grow more of the plant. The community there decided to save their profits from the stingers’ sale and purchase a larger boat than the one they were using now.
“A larger boat is much more stable than a smaller one. There’s less risk in it capsizing too. The stingers are doing a great job in protecting our lives,” Delio wrote in his letter. Bertine couldn’t be happier to hear how the venture was making their lives better. She pressed the letter to her chest and closed her eyes.
In addition to all the work already done so far, Bertine decided it was time to meet with Evance again in earnest. He sent her no letters, nothing, which made sense in light of his disdain for writing.
Which was why she reached out to the company that employed interpreters in the Empire. The president responded to her query. She learned that instead of attending school, Evance became an apprentice for a renowned architect. He was currently studying under and living with his mentor.
“I don’t understand. Why didn’t he enroll in the school?”
While reading the letter, she learned the answer to her question. Evance had apparently been refused admission by the architecture school.
“Then he should have contacted me straight away. I could have done something to help him. Honestly, that dolt.”
Aggravated by Evance, whom she considered a thoughtless younger brother, Bertine nevertheless wrote a letter to him and sent it to the architect’s address. The company president had kindly included it in his letter.
“I decided on a location for my hotel in your homeland and have arranged for the former manager of an imperial hotel to assist me. Preparations are proceeding smoothly. I now also have enough capital to start construction on the hotel.” She noted this in her letter then sent it off to be delivered via a transport carriage heading to the Empire. While Bertine waited for a response to that letter, she penned a reply to one she had received from Claudio.
In addition to his education in kingcraft, the prince was also studying San Luenne’s history as well as its unique economic structures. He did all this in absolute secrecy. His uncle, Ehrenfried, was the one who hired his tutors and made all other necessary arrangements for Claudio’s learning. He also acquired the emperor’s consent on the matter. Moreover, the emperor agreed to keep everything a secret from the empress and his firstborn son, the crown prince.
“Discussions on the matter are proceeding smoothly in private. My uncle told me your opinion as well, Lady Bertine, about how it would be best if I waited until I was fifteen years old. I agree. I’ll start taking action once I come of age. Thank you for your cool-headed suggestion. My father and uncle were also of the same mind. I shall become stronger in due course, without rushing. I’m also receiving counsel from someone who would make you gasp in surprise.”
The last bit made Bertine realize she must know this someone. Is it my father? Or His Excellency Cecilio? Either is a likely possibility.
Claudio’s letter was steeped in his ambitious eagerness. She knew San Luenne’s future would be bright indeed if he became its king.
The Luennian royal family remained blissfully unaware of this situation, and it almost tempted her to feel sorry for them. But she honestly couldn’t dredge even an ounce of sympathy for them. Even now, the memory of her anger and emptiness when she learned her sacrifice for her country had been unnecessary burned within her.
Though Ehrenfried told her she was the reason for spurring Claudio’s emotions, that hadn’t been her intention at all when she first met the prince. Yet now that things were finally progressing, Claudio’s ascension to San Luenne’s throne felt like the miraculous last piece of a puzzle falling into place.
Bertine had sent a letter to her father asking him what would become of the three members of San Luenne’s current royal family. But his reply had been short and blunt.
“Don’t worry your head about that. Let your dear old man handle it.”