Chapter 60

Cecilio and Berteine's wedding was grandly held, inviting patriarchs from across the country, King Claudius, and the imperial prince and princess of the Centaur Empire.

Following the customs of the United Nations, Berteine wore a pure white floral crown on her head and a splendid dress made of crimson fabric. Cecilio was dressed in a pure white military uniform. The portraits of the two on that day were to be displayed in every home, shop, and meeting place across the United Nations.

After the wedding ceremony, as the two appeared on the balcony of the second floor of the hall, cheers erupted from the gathered crowd. The country's hero and his bride calmly waved in response.

Once the public unveiling was over, a banquet to welcome the patriarchs awaited them.

Among the patriarchs who had never met Berteine, some were critical, saying, "A woman from Sanlouan!" However, those who conversed with Berteine, who was fluent not only in the official language but also in the dialect of the Calisto region, were surprised by her deep love for the United Nations and her extensive knowledge. She could respond immediately to any topic, and she was well-versed in the United Nations' wines and foods.

"Not bad at all. That assertiveness is really good. At this rate, His Excellency might already be under her thumb."

"The secretary with glasses praised her, saying that the lady is bringing unprecedented wealth to this country. She's like a goose that lays golden eggs."

"I heard she's from Sanlouan, but to me, she looks like the daughter of some patriarch."

In the grand hall, Berteine, who was making the rounds at each table, greeting and drinking, was watched with a worried expression by Cecilio.

"Just drink moderately. If you drink everything that's poured, you'll collapse."

"Yes, but perhaps because I'm on edge, I don't get drunk no matter how much I drink."

"I see. But I'll drink half of it."

Saying this, Berteine took a sip from a glass, and Cecilio finished the rest. The patriarchs watching them said,

"Wow, that man who only did his job is being quite stylish."

"His Excellency is getting on in years. He must be very fond of his newly acquired bride."

Dorote was crying with joy backstage.

"Dorote, don't cry. It's a celebration."

"Yes, but Mr. Diego, I thought the lady and His Excellency wouldn't get married. So, I'm just so happy."

"The lady was always out of reach. Lady Carina in the sky must be... so pleased."

Diego couldn't help but press his eyes. Dorote sniffed and then spoke to Diego.

"Mr. Diego, are you going back home?"

"Yes, now that the lady is living with His Excellency, I can rest easy. My daughter got married and had a grandchild while I was away. I plan to return home soon. What about you, Dorote?"

"I intend to serve the lady as long as I can."

"From today, you're the lady of the house."

"Oh, that's right."

At this, tears welled up in Dorote's eyes again, and Diego handed her a handkerchief.

Maxim de Juan, the bride's father, attended the ceremony with his eldest son. His eldest son, Herald, had red eyes looking at his sister in her bridal gown.

The marquis, looking around the venue, spoke to the new King Claudius.

"Your Majesty, I will step down as prime minister at the end of next month, but he will be of great service. He will work for Your Majesty and the country."

"I am deeply grateful for all your help. I cannot thank you enough."

"I am the one who had the privilege of serving in such a fulfilling role. I have no regrets."

After stepping down, the marquis plans to hand over the family leadership to his son and travel around the United Nations. "The United Nations seems to be a place that can excite even an old man like me," he said.

King Claudius, who had been watching the newlyweds, sighed quietly.

"If I had been born a few years earlier, I might have been able to make her my queen. It's really frustrating to think about."

"Your Majesty?"

King Claudius turned to Maxim with a slightly sad smile.

"After seeing a woman so full of vitality, talent, and charm, no other woman seems to measure up."

As a father, Maxim was pleased to hear his daughter praised, but as a prime minister, he was worried.

"Your Majesty will surely find a suitable person one day. You are still young."

While saying this, (If you had been born a few years earlier, you and my daughter might not have met) he thought. Everything is woven together by the warp and weft of fate. If the circumstances had been slightly different, the young king might not have been born, and his daughter might not have become the wife of the United Nations representative.

Afterward, the crimson fabric, Hiri, and various bottled products that Berteine introduced to the world steadily enriched the United Nations. Hiri spread to the neighboring Azdahar Kingdom through the empire and became popular there. The weapon-manufacturing Azdahar Kingdom, using ships, sailed around the coast to the south and made direct contact with the United Nations without going through the empire.

When the people of the United Nations saw the large ships suddenly appear offshore, they were surprised, thinking, "Is it an attack?" But the men who came ashore in small boats shouted, "Hiri! Hiri!" When the people offered Hiri, they gestured and said they wanted to buy it. They were not invaders but enthusiastic merchants.

Cecilio's father, Delio, noticed that the Azdahar Kingdom's ships moved by machine rather than sail. He hurriedly informed Cecilio, who rushed to the scene by river boat and offered to buy the ship and its mechanism.

Berteine, who rushed to the scene with Cecilio, was given a tour of the ship during the negotiations. When she learned that the fuel for the large machine driving the ship was coal, she suggested,

"We have plenty of coal in our country. We should buy not just one or two ships but a large number of these machines. Let's buy in bulk and have them shipped."

Ignacio, who was present, realized that (another golden egg is about to hatch) and instructed the finance department,

"Allocate all the budget. This is a good buy."

Recently, Berteine and Ignacio have been in perfect sync, and Cecilio said with a serious face,

"Ignacio, you're starting to resemble Berteine."

As Luca said, "the next alchemist," Berteine's business instincts have been honed through experience.

"I believe there are people in this country who will be interested in this kind of machine. Ignacio, why don't you train people who can repair them? Otherwise, they won't be able to fix them when they break. We should start by bringing in technicians from the Azdahar Kingdom who can repair them."

"You're right. If they can't be repaired, they'll just be lumps of iron once they break."

They immediately sent people to the Azdahar Kingdom to learn repair and maintenance. The Azdahar Kingdom agreed to provide technical guidance in exchange for Hiri. The newly built schools played a crucial role here. They announced that "students who are interested in repairing and maintaining the machines that power ships and wish to study abroad will be given scholarships," and a few applicants appeared.

"See, I thought there would be some people who are different even in a laid-back country."

Berteine looked pleased.

The applicants were interviewed, and ten of them were selected to learn basic Azdahar language. The country brought in instructors from the chamber of commerce that Evans had worked with. The students, learning the language to a level where they could live comfortably, were sent to study in the Azdahar Kingdom. Berteine spoke to them, saying,

"Don't rush. If the first group of you can learn to repair them in three years, it will be a great success. But more importantly, it's most important that all of you return safely."

The five young men, gathered at the hall and tense about being sent abroad, were relieved to be encouraged by the beautiful representative's wife.

Later, whenever they felt like giving up in a foreign land, they remembered Berteine's words, "It's most important to return safely," and continued their studies.

A few years after their marriage.

Cecilio and Berteine were blessed with three boys, making them a family of five.

The family built a private residence in the capital, Ibit. On the spacious grounds, a regular brick house and a large, oval-shaped, thatched-roof house stood side by side. The unusual house, designed by Evans, had become a must-see attraction for those visiting the capital from the countryside. Evans' name was now known not only in the United Nations but also in the empire and Azdahar.

The engines purchased from the Azdahar Kingdom were installed on river boats one after another. The Saran River, which runs through the country, became a major route for transportation. Currently, many boats of various sizes travel the river at a speed far exceeding that of the sailboat era.

The three children grew up mainly in the thatched-roof house. The tall, active boys, who resembled Cecilio, were, according to Cecilio,

"Much more mischievous than I was as a child. They look like me, but they're almost entirely like Berteine inside."

Berteine and the three children frequently visited the Calisto region, leaving Cecilio, who was busy, to stay in the capital. They traveled by the chartered Carina, delighting Emilio and Delio. The children also loved the blue sea of the Calisto region.

Dorote became the head maid and managed the household.

All the servants were chosen by Dorote. She had no intention of choosing the servants from Cecilio's former official residence, and they also declined, saying, "The lady would allow us to stay, but we don't have the qualifications."

"Madam, today is the day Lady Dalila is visiting."

"Yes, it's nice to see her frequently lately. I wonder which hotel she's staying at this time."

"This time, it's a hotel on the west coast."

"Is it the one that looks like a huge rock?"

"No, it's the one with the three-tiered thatched roof."

"That's popular too."

"Yes, Evans is now a sought-after architect."

"Hehe, I miss the day when we were hungry and our belongings were stolen."

Both of them were reminded of those days when they rose from despair and kept running.

"Lady Berteine, you are always my pride."

"What's this all of a sudden? But thank you. I'm grateful. I'm so lucky to have you. It's because of you that I'm here today."

Berteine's voice trembled slightly, and her eyes and nose turned red.

From outside, the sounds of the three boys playing with Cecilio could be heard. Cecilio, who was surprisingly good with children and played with them, was calm and composed in his parenting.

"I became a father at an older age. I want to enjoy parenting slowly."

Cecilio laughed.

The children's laughter and the husband's call, "This way," made Berteine think, (This is my place).

"Hey, Dorote. I'm really glad I didn't give up on living back then."

Berteine said this with a gentle smile.

Thank you for reading to the end.

I was able to reach this point thanks to your support.

The publication of the next novel may take some time due to circumstances, but I would be grateful if you could visit when it is released.

Until then.

Shu Yu