Chapter 43

Holding his father's letter of recommendation, Franz Adler arrived at Bertine's house with his wife. Franz, a former manager of the Rose Hotel, had a good posture and a gentle smile. Bertine, upon seeing him, thought, "I want to entrust the management of the entire hotel to this person."

"It's a great help, Mr. Franz. I didn't expect you to come so soon."

Franz and his wife Elise shook their heads simultaneously, saying, "Not at all."

"We were raising our granddaughter in place of our daughter, but her deceased husband remarried. The granddaughter was taken by her new stepmother. After considering the future, we decided it would be better for her to live with her father rather than with us, the elderly couple. We handed her over with understanding, but both my wife and I felt a bit lost. So, we were grateful for the Marquis's invitation."

If they came to this country to change their mood after parting with their granddaughter, I want them to enjoy the country and heal their sadness.

The Adlers said, "Even if the hotel construction is still some time away, we want to move to the United Nations and work hard with Bertine to establish the hotel."

Seeing the many trunks, Bertine was a bit flustered.

"I'll arrange accommodation for you right away."

"We came suddenly, so we'll find a suitable place to stay. Rather, have you decided on the location for the hotel?"

This matter had already been approved by the tribal leader Bruno.

"Yes. It's in the deep green area called the Bilba district."

"Have you obtained permission from the local residents?"

"I have the leader's permission. He said he would discuss it with the residents and provide a location where an old village once stood."

"I'd like to see the site as soon as possible."

"Understood. I'll arrange for us to go there as soon as possible."

Mrs. Elise apologized with a troubled smile, "I'm sorry, Franz is a bit impatient. He's very excited to work on a hotel again after a long time."

Considering their fatigue from the journey from the empire, Bertine decided to let them rest for a few days and introduced them to Ignacio at the municipal building. Ignacio said, "I can arrange for the Marquis to see you for half an hour," and led Bertine and the Adlers to the reception room.

When Cecilio entered the reception room, he greeted them, "I am Cecilio Bonifacio, the representative of the Southern United Nations. Our country still has old customs, but it is also undergoing a transformation. I hope the hotel will introduce the charm of our country to the people of the empire."

"One of those charms, the Hiri that Bertine found, is expensive, so I've only tasted it once, but it's excellent. I hope it will be more affordable when I come to this country."

Bertine replied with a confident smile, "Yes, you can enjoy it as much as you like."

"Oh, Franz, we have more to look forward to."

"Sure, it was a good decision to come, Elise."

Bertine smiled, feeling a bit of pain in her heart. As someone who had given up on marriage, she thought, "My future won't include such a cozy old age, raising children, or doting on grandchildren."

Even though she wasn't moved much by passionate lovers, why did her heart ache when she saw a happy couple?

After returning to Bertine's house from the municipal building, she invited them, "Mr. Franz, Mrs. Elise, would you like to enjoy the cuisine of this country at my house tonight? We have both white and black Hiri, fruit syrup, and canned seafood. Of course, fresh vegetables and meat will also be prepared."

Dorote modestly added, "I've become quite skilled at cooking the local cuisine."

Bertine proudly added, "Dorote's cooking is delicious."

That night, they used both white and black Hiri generously, served clams cooked in oil, canned cob meat, and roasted pork from the market to entertain the couple. Franz commented, "Ah, everything is delicious. Hiri enhances the flavor of everything. Especially the combination of clams and white Hiri is the best."

Elise was pleased, "Even sweet dishes are delicious with white Hiri. The flavor is so refreshing."

Later that night, the carriage Bertine called arrived. Franz, who was in high spirits from the star fruit wine, and Elise, who was smiling, along with their many trunks, left for the hotel.

"Dorote, my fantasies are starting to become reality. With the former manager of a luxury hotel here, there's no turning back. I can't afford to fail, as their lives are involved."

"Everything will be fine. Many people are here to help you, and I will do my best to support you."

That's right, Dorote is here. Whether in despair or in joy, Dorote has always been quietly by her side, believing in and supporting her.

"That's true. You're always there for me. Because of you, I can try anything, no matter how many times, no matter what."

"Oh, Miss, what a rare thing to say. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just want to be a source of pride for you."

Bertine started cleaning the kitchen. Dorote quickly joined in, wiping away her happy tears as she worked.

---

At the imperial palace.

Claudio, the second prince, was reading through the materials he had brought back from the library. Since his meeting with Bertine, a certain thought had been growing in his mind: the desire to abandon his status and leave the empire.

Since he was old enough to understand, he and his mother had lived in fear of being noticed by the people on the empress's side. However, as he started studying and training in swordsmanship, he realized that the more he worked hard, the more his mother was hated. He only realized this causal relationship years later, when he noticed that his mother's eyes would be red from crying a few days after he received praise.

He knew that the empress disliked his mother.

At first, he was puzzled as to why his achievements were known to the empress's side, even though he never saw the first prince, who had a different class schedule. He wondered if the teachers were reporting to the empress.

As he grew older, he realized that some of the maids serving his mother were on the empress's side. There were three maids who made his mother slightly tense.

One day, a maid who had come with his mother from her family told him, "Those three maids report everything about Lady Diana and the prince to the empress." She added, with tears in her eyes, "When Lady Diana and the empress or her maids meet outside the palace, they are mocked openly and frequently."

"Mother, what have they done to you? What have they said?"

No matter how many times he asked, his mother wouldn't answer. When he asked why she didn't complain to the empress, she only said, "If I react, it means I'm on the same level as them. The best response is to pretend not to notice."

Why did his father allow his mother to be treated this way? He wanted to vent his frustration at his father, but his mother said, "Please don't do that." So, he bit his lip and tried not to stand out, to avoid provoking their anger.

But Bertine, who had been sent to the United Nations with no acquaintances and had carved out her own path, achieving great things one after another, made him feel ashamed of his own timid life. Her bright smile made him feel even more ashamed.

Since that day, he couldn't forget Bertine's words, "There is surely a path to hope." Perhaps that path meant leaving this country with his mother and going to a place where his father and the empress had no power.

His mother, who loved his father, might not go with him. If that happened, he would leave alone. If his mother was being shunned and bullied because of him, it would be better for him to leave the country. The boy came to this conclusion.

He was a bit anxious about going to another country alone without a guard, but Bertine had survived and thrived on her own. He decided that living with hope was better than living in pain and fear.

The twelve-year-old boy was determined to find a way to leave the country.