Chapter 52: What It Means to Be Royalty
THE hotel was built to be entwined with three huge trees. Each tree supported a room tightly bound to its thick trunk and a number of logs held up the bottom of the rooms like slanting fans from below. Each room was connected to the others by a covered, floating corridor. The roof was entirely covered with bark. A slender staircase wrapped halfway around a large tree, allowing someone to reach the lowest-built room.
Bertine heard a voice calling out to her while she stared up in amazement.
“Bertie!”
It was Evance. Eckhart and Franz were with him as well.
“Evance! You didn’t mention a single thing to me about your progress!” she cried.
“Well, I have a good reason for that. The men of the village were deeply amused by the project, so they came out in full force to build it. Before I knew it, construction was almost finished.”
“That’s an understatement.” Eckhart approached them with a wry smile. “I must tell you how shocked I was. The men here climbed up to the third floor like it was nothing. Without using any sort of footholds, I might add. They said they didn’t need a safety net either, so you can imagine how many years I shaved off my life by merely observing them.”
“No footholds? But how…”
“We’re all excellent climbers in these parts on account of long years spent hunting for the fruits of palms and other trees,” Evance explained, grinning the whole time. “If a tree is too wide for us to wrap our arms around, then we tie ropes around us and climb.”
“Wow!”
Franz told her he had been surprised too at first and added his own commentary. “They slinked so easily up these trees. Once they reached the top, they would drop one end of the rope down and tell the others to tie the next piece of wood on. After the pieces were tied to the rope, a few of the men would work together to pull up the load. Quite speedy and efficient, I say. Like magic.”
The whole process had been wondrous to Eckhart, who spoke again in an excited tone of voice. “If the Federation’s people worked as carpenters and such in the Empire, our projects would finish in the blink of an eye.”
One of the villagers listening nearby said, “We don’t need footholds for something this short,” with a laugh.
“Franz, Eckhart, can I look inside?” Bertine asked.
“Of course, of course. The highest-ranking imperial noble wouldn’t be able to find any fault with what we’ve built.”
Franz and the others guided her to the first floor. When she stepped inside, she found a foyer, sitting room, bathroom, and kitchen. Right above this space on the second floor was a bedroom and terrace.
The radial supports and thick ropes strung beneath each room were no doubt a result of Eckhart’s gift for calculations. How can this be so stable, attached as it is to the trunk? Still, Bertine was impressed as she surveyed the structure.
She spotted thin piping winding its way discreetly from an elevated spot deep in the forest to the first floor. Wondering what it was, she realized spring water must be flowing through it via a wooden channel. Bertine marveled at the ingenuity since it would be quite difficult to carry water all the way here.
“There’s a spacious sunroom on the third floor.”
Climbing up to the space on the third floor, she found a variety of flowers and plants placed in earthenware pots. Vines seemed to have been carefully cultivated to wrap around here and there. She knew when they bloomed, the entire sunroom would be filled with the fragrance of flowers.
Bertine sat down on one of the settees and stretched her legs out. The view outside extended deep into the forest. Since the walls only reached waist-high, she could see clearly in every direction.
“Amazing! This is amazing, Evance!” she exclaimed.
“Heh heh, glad you like it.”
The big young man smiled bashfully. Both Franz and Eckhart extolled his genius.
“The only thing left to do is furnish the place and install the appropriate equipment in the bathroom and kitchen,” Franz said. “Once you do, it will be ready to welcome its first guest. Eckhart’s calculations are meticulous enough that the trees can support the bathtub when it’s full of water and a person.”
“Franz, how about hotel staff?” Bertine asked.
“I recruited the fine folks from the village. I’ll have you know I’ve become great friends with everyone here.”
“Then this means we can open soon, doesn’t it?” she hoped.
“No. I would say not for another year. The staff still have a long way to go in their training. I also need to hire a chef and work out a menu. Food is extremely important, you know. I’ll make sure to find someone who can do justice to the local ingredients.”
“It sounds like you have things well under control, Franz, so I shall take care of the furniture,” Bertine said.
Still impressed by what she saw of the hotel, Bertine made her way to the nearby village. A small school had been built in the Bilva district since her last visit. She learned that the children were taught the fundamental subjects in the country’s official language. It was proof of one of Cecilio’s dreams coming true.
“Bruno, would you like to take a tour of the new riverboat? It’s how we traveled here today. I designed it with the aristocracy in mind.”
“Bertie, are you telling me I can board such a magnificent vessel for sport?” He looked and sounded quite enthused by the prospect. His excitement brought a smile to her lips.
“Of course, and any others who are interested as well. Why don’t we go now?”
“Gladly! Lead the way, young lady!”
“Most people around here have never been on a boat, so I’m sure this will be a delight for everyone,” Cassandra explained the reason for her husband’s elation.
Bruno walked quickly to the bell hanging from a pillar in front of his house. He rang it three times, paused, then another three times. He repeated the pattern until a sizable crowd of people had gathered.
“Chief, what’s the matter?”
“Bertie made a boat to bring hotel customers here. She said anyone can take a tour, so I was wondering who wanted to take her up on her invitation.”
His announcement caused a huge stir. Men and women, boys and girls, people of all ages clamored to go, resulting in a large procession heading toward the river. It would take about an hour on foot. Bertine and her servants were dismayed by the distance, but none of the locals minded.
“We’re built of a different stock than you folks, so don’t worry your head over it,” said an older woman with a laugh.
When their carriage arrived at the pier where the boat was moored, the crew were surprised to see them return so quickly. They had been resting after the long journey. Bertine told them that the residents of the Bilva district would be there soon to take a tour, so they swiftly made the necessary preparations.
Not long after, the large group of people finally appeared.
“Oh ho, a pure white boat, eh?”
“It has two floors!”
“What a lovely ship.”
The villagers stepped aboard as they chattered in a lively fashion. A few of them brought fruits, dried meats, and various alcohols as well, turning the boat’s interior into a festive atmosphere. Bertine asked the staff to bring out the liquor and snacks in the ship’s storage, and so they held an impromptu party. Everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously.
Hours passed and night fell. With their inspection over, Cecilio and Ignacio returned, and they all went to Evance’s home for a lavish dinner. Ignacio wouldn’t stop raving over how much he had been wanting to eat ball rabbit and emu. The more he drank, the more animated he became. Cecilio sat next to Bruno, his face relaxed as he conversed with the chief.
By the feast’s end, their stomachs were pleasantly full with both food and drink. They made their way to the boat after thanking their hosts.
“I had myself a look at the hotel Evance designed. What an incredible feat,” Cecilio said.
“I, too, had no idea it was nearing completion. You can’t imagine my surprise,” Bertine responded.
“Despite its otherworldly structure, it somehow blends into the surrounding forest, doesn’t it?”
“That may be because all the materials were sourced locally.”
Cecilio and Bertine were alone in her carriage while the other three rode in his.
“Bertine, only a year and a half remains until Prince Claudio comes of age.”
“Indeed.”
“It will be the end of the Kingdom of San Luenne.”
She lapsed into a thoughtful silence trying to imagine how she would feel when it became a vassal state of the Empire.
“In its present state, the people of San Luenne are focused only on trying to persuade imperials to spend as much of their coin as possible. That won’t change, even if the country’s name does. Which is unfortunate because clearly, Luennians have forgotten the wish of their king three generations ago that his subjects lead safe, healthy lives.”
But the country that held both happy and sad memories for her would always remain, regardless of what it was called. Its citizens would be the same even if its royal family changed. In the end, only the people they pledged their fealty to would be different after the unloved current royal family disappeared.
“Your Excellency, do you ever wonder what it means to be royalty?”
“I personally think royals are people who are supposed to live for the sake of their country and their people.”
“By your definition then, royals ceased to exist in the Kingdom of San Luenne long ago.”
Bertine looked unbearably sad when she said that as she sat across from him. And without thought, Cecilio leaned forward and cupped her cheek in his right hand.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes. But can we stay like this for a little while longer?”
“Of course. However long you need, I’ll be here.”
“It’s strange for me to become maudlin over a simple name change.”
“Don’t worry. San Luenne will become an even better nation.”
“I hope so, I really do.”
I pray that they never again trade a woman in exchange for money, Bertine thought to herself. Her experience was more than enough.