Chapter 59

The Kingdom of Sanloang became the Kingdom of August. It was no longer a vassal state of the Empire but an independent nation.

Cecilio and Berteine, who had witnessed the end of the former royal family and the birth of the new one, decided to return home, entrusting the future to the Emperor's younger brother, Erenfreet, and Berteine's father, Maxim. On their way back, Cecilio proposed to Berteine on a military ship.

On the deck at night, Berteine was both happy and bewildered when Cecilio said, "I want you to live in this country as my wife."

"Um, may I ask why now? I thought you, Sir, had no interest in marriage."

"Since the day you pressed me in Ursula, asking how much I would have to pay to stay in this country, I thought you had beautiful eyes."

"But?"

"Since then, I've thought you were a charming person. However, I held back until the matter with Sanloang was resolved."

"I see. I don't quite understand why the resolution of Sanloang and the proposal are related. Sir, I'm already twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight."

"I'm already thirty-eight."

"Hehe. What's that supposed to mean? Are you making an excuse?"

Berteine laughed and said, "Yes, I accept your proposal. From now on, I will be 'your Ceci.'"

Cecilio sighed in relief.

"I thought you might refuse because I took too long. When you call me Ceci, it feels, well, rather embarrassing."

"I won't refuse. I had given up on marriage, so I was surprised. The name 'Ceci' has a warm and gentle sound, which I've liked ever since I first heard it in Calisto."

"Thank you. Let me make one thing clear: I have no intention of taking a concubine."

"Of course. If you did, I would pack my bags and leave the same day, saying, 'Please be happy.'"

"Indeed."

After saying that, Cecilio laughed joyfully, and Berteine joined in.

They had known each other for over three years. Cecilio wished he had said, "Please wait until the matter with Sanloang is resolved," but he didn't want to. It was difficult to gauge how the relationship with the Empire would develop until the transition of power in Sanloang was successful. He didn't want to bind Berteine with an engagement until he was certain there would be no war with the Empire. If there was a war, he might die, and the Allied Nations still needed his judgment and leadership on the battlefield. If he died after getting engaged, Berteine would bear another heavy burden. He didn't want to make her give up on marriage three times.

Some time later, Berteine and Cecilio were on the riverboat Carina. Large fish were jumping and splashing in the calm river, as it was their mating season. Under the white awning on the deck, Cecilio and Berteine were playing poker and chatting leisurely.

"If your father had done more groundwork, we wouldn't have needed so many soldiers. Perhaps thirty from the Empire and thirty from the Allied Nations would have been enough."

"That's true, but it was the beginning of a new life for King Claudius. To ensure there was no failure, it was probably for the best. Besides, I think it was more a result of the people of Sanloang having no expectations of the royal family. I fold."

"Huh?"

"Sir, you have a very good hand, don't you? That's why I fold."

"Berte, you're not even trying."

Cecilio put down his hand, which was one card away from a Royal Flush. Berteine laughed. Despite thinking he was good at poker, Cecilio realized she was much better. Berteine won the next round easily.

"Fine. Then this is yours."

On the table, a butter cake baked by Dorothea was pushed forward. It was soaked in plenty of rum and had an excellent taste and aroma. Berteine ate it without hesitation when Diego called out to them.

"Sir, Miss, we're almost there. Please prepare."

"Understood. Thank you. Sir, it's been a while since I've seen your family."

"It's been even longer for me."

Cecilio fed Berteine the last bite of the cake, and she blushed, chewing obediently. Cecilio watched her with a satisfied smile.

"By the way, my mother used to complain to me as a child that my father prepared everything so perfectly that there was no room for her to contribute, even on picnics and trips. Looking back, I think he did the groundwork and preparation until there was no room for others to shine, just like in Sanloang."

"Hmm. I want to be a perfect father like that."

"No, I don't. A perfect father would be annoying to a child. I love my father, but I want you to be a lovable father who is a bit absent-minded."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. My brother, who grew up with that father, became a cautious and obedient student, prioritizing not making mistakes."

Berteine loved her gentle brother but felt sorry for him for always being in the position of a son with a perfect father.

When they arrived in Calisto, the roads were well-maintained, and there were schools and hospitals. Thanks to Hiri, the region's income had increased significantly, and the compensation funds had improved the facilities. They were climbing a gentle hill with Dorothea and Diego.

"Was it right to accept the compensation without interest? We had the right to receive interest."

"New King Claudius said he would build facilities for our country's exchange. It's like receiving interest."

"Will the exchange go well? I think the national characters of Sanloang and the Allied Nations don't match."

"Not necessarily. Sanloang has already received a large number of orders for Hiri and fruit preserves. Of course, the fabric too. Ignacio was pleased."

They soon reached Cecilio's family home on the hill. His father and grandfather were waiting with smiles.

"Welcome back, Ceci."

"It's been a while, Ceci."

"Back, Father, Grandfather."

"It's been a while, Emilio, Delio."

Seeing the happy faces of Cecilio's grandfather Emilio and father Delio, Berteine felt her heart warm.

"Is Berteine with you again? Is Ceci making you work hard?"

Delio asked, and Berteine looked at Cecilio.

"I've decided to marry her."

Delio, who was about to sit down, froze, and Emilio's eyes widened.

"Is that so? This is wonderful, Delio."

"Yes, it's wonderful, but is it okay, Berteine? As you know, Ceci is a rough man who only talks about work."

Cecilio glanced at Berteine, who smiled and nodded.

"I respect his dedication to his work and his love for the country and its people."

"Hehe. I'll finally have a grandchild."

"Grandfather, that's too early."

"I'm strong, so I'll do my best, but it's up to God."

"Miss, you're something else."

Dorothea chuckled.

"Tonight, we'll have a feast," Emilio said, and Cecilio and Berteine were pushed out to walk alone by the sea. Walking on the white, shallow beach, Cecilio remembered the day he vowed to become the country's leader at twelve.

It was the day he learned that his mother wasn't the only one who had been mistreated and injured or killed by the Empire. A fisherman who had sent his daughter to work in the Empire as a maid told him. The daughter was sent back after being beaten and severely injured by her master.

"I will change the situation in this country. I will."

The young Cecilio said, and the fisherman, with red, tearful eyes, bowed and said, "Thank you. I'm counting on you."

Twenty-six years had passed since that day. The long journey was still ongoing, and while they had managed to reach a point of cooperation with the Empire, many challenges remained.

"Sir, I'm here."

"Hmm?"

"Are you thinking about the future of this country? I'll make the path easier for you. I'll take on as much as I can to make the political carriage move smoothly."

"You are a strong and reliable wife."

"Hehe. I'll do my best."

"Not too much. If you collapse, I'll probably be unable to do anything."

"Understood."

Berteine replied and took Cecilio's hand.

"I've always wanted to walk with a man like this."

The new Kingdom of August transitioned to the new government surprisingly smoothly. Maxim continued to serve as the prime minister to the idealistic King Claudius, and Erenfreet, with his Imperial soldiers, stayed to provide aid.

The public reaction was as expected, welcoming the second prince of the Empire as their new king. Most people thought, "It might be difficult to adapt to the unique economic system of this country, but the young King Claudius will surely succeed."

The former royal family was given a territory on the outskirts of the Empire with no subjects. They received a pension and a few servants, but the former queen and crown prince were still not satisfied.

Maxim divorced, and Rose returned to her family. Berteine learned this from her father's letter. Rose, her former stepmother, was to be sent to another noble family as a second wife. Berteine felt sorry for her stepmother, who had never found a place to belong.

One day, while walking in the garden, Cecilio shared a story from his past.

"I lived in the Empire for three years when I was young to learn about their social system."

"Oh, you had such an experience?"

"I wanted to experience what it was like to work as a migrant. I was taken by a broker and worked as a servant in the house of the current duchess, the wife of the Emperor's younger brother. It was a large noble family with nearly a hundred servants."

"Did you and Prince Erenfreet know each other? I never sensed that."

Cecilio picked up a large, white shell and threw it into the bright blue sea.

"When I was working as a servant, Prince Erenfreet, then the second prince, spoke to me. He must have recognized I was from the Allied Nations. Every time he visited, he came to talk to me. When I told him I was the son of a tribal leader and had come to understand the treatment of people from the south, he said, 'Interesting. I feel we will meet again on a grand stage.'"

"Such a mysterious thing to say."

"I don't know if he remembers me or that time. When we met again after twenty years, the cheerful young man had become a cunning fox. He must have lived through many difficult times as the second prince in the palace."

A building with a hemispherical roof appeared on the hill ahead. It was the bottling factory designed by Evans. The roof was covered with soil, and small white and yellow flowers were blooming.

Since then, Evans and Eckart had continued to build more structures. Eckart, who often said, "I don't know when God will call me to His garden," energetically built the houses designed by Evans.

Berteine saw the five familiar faces who had explained the bottling process waving and coming towards them. She waved back, feeling happy to see her friends here.