Chapter 1
"Pleased to meet you," Duchess Longbert said, gretting the Directrix and Bathsheba.
"I have heard how elaborate your feasts are," said the Directrix, "and I am looking foreward to finding out if those reports were correct."
"That damn turncoat Bravian has spies everywhere," Eric Longbert whispered to his father.
"Look, the butterflies followed you in," little Cherie giggled at the Directrix and Bathsheba.
"Well, little one, they are my official butterfly, of course they follow me around," the Directrix said, smiling.
"Wait a minute, those fierce blue butterflies are your official butterflies?" Eric Longbert said, taken aback.
"Yes, you heard me correctly," Natonito said sharply.
Silence ensued for the next few minutes, and while Natonito was hounding down the garden salad and chicken, Bathsheba looked around. From somewhere deep in her mind a memory was triggered of a place just like this. Natonito noticed her look and asked the family if they had ever had any other children.
"Why, we had a daughter that got kidnapped some ten years ago," the Duchess said.
"Ten years ago?" Bathsheba asked.
"Why do you look so pale?" the Duke asked.
"Well, the first thing I really remember well is being on the streets of Bravia as a ten year old girl, having just been sold into prostitution. Before then I only have hazy memories of a beautiful house like this, and of a yard like the one outside, but I do not remember who my family is," Bathsheba responded.
"What is your name?" the Duke asked.
"My name is Bathsheba," she responded.
The Duke and Duchess looked at each other in shock, for the beautiful young lady who sat at the side of the second most powerful man in the Empire was their own daughter. It was obvious to them that Natonito did not know who she was, and had picked her for her beauty, and apparently had found her personality worthy of high position. Seeing an opportunity for advancement of their family interests, the Duke and Duchess looked at each other briefly and responded to Bathsheba.
"That is what our daughter was called," the Duke replied.
"That would make me your daughter then, right?" she said, looking puzzled and hopeful.
"Yes, dear," the Duchess said with a tear in her eye.
The Duke and Duchess looked at Natonito, who was quite pleased by this. They did not know the exact reason for this, and could not tell if he was smiling because of the news or because of the food that he was scarfing down. Cherie seemed to be enjoying herself, glad that she now had a big sis. Finally, Natonito spoke, after finishing a large quantity of food.
"That is wonderful news, my love," Natonito replied, "I have told you that if I had known who your father was, I would marry you. Since your father is a duke, you can become my wife instead of being my chief concubine."
"I knew you would be happy for me!" Bathsheba cried in glee.
"Can I be the flower girl?" Cherie asked.
"Of course you can," Natonito responded.
The Duke and Duchess looked at each other relieved. This time at least, they had escaped the wrath of the tempramental Directrix. Eric looked relieved as well. Now instead of lusting after someone else's woman, he could be friendly with his own beautiful sister. Cherie was the happiest of them all, because she was a naturally happy girl. The Directrix smiled and told them to send him some plans for the wedding reception. He would send the news to the palace immediately. An empire of fathers and husbands breathed a sigh of relief since Natonito would no longer be on the prowl at all.
Natonito and Bathsheba walked alone outside of the house and to their small personal carrier. They smiled as the butterflies played with their hair and tickled their faces. Bathsheba knew that her place as a powerful woman would be assured, and that in the eyes of the Imperial Senate and the House of Nobles that she would be a force to be reckoned with on her own right. Natonito was happy for her, as well as himself. Since she was a noble, he now could marry, settle down in that part of his life, and focus on the job of ruling instead of rutting. He would also have a client duke to push his interests in the government, who could be his puppet. Natonito was quite pleased. The sun was setting as the two made their way back to their temporary quarters, where in the morning Natonito would supervise the building of New Russville.
[ Chapter 2 ]
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