Chapter 1
The group had now checked into the Willard Hotel in Bravia, a five star hotel, with a spacious lobby, large pools, palatial rooms, and service that was more than just perfunctory. Of course, all of these things cost a good deal of money. Of course, Natonito owned the hotel. Such things were to be expected.
�It�s such a beautiful building inside,� Cherie said.
�Indeed it is,� Natonito said. �This is where we will be staying for the wedding.�
�It looks so beautiful,� Delia said.
�It is the greatest luxury hotel in all of Secfenia,� Natonito said. �And it costs a lot of money to stay here. It is a good thing that there are enough people with enough money to stay here, as this place stays quite profitable.�
�You must have money to make money,� Daniel said.
�It is easier to make money that way. The hardest thing is reaching the first billion, after that it is ridiculously easy,� Natonito said.
�I can imagine,� Daniel said. �Still, this is a most beautiful place, and I am glad you have hosted us in such high style. Thank you very much.�
�You are most welcome,� Natonito said.
�Let us go inside our rooms. The night is late,� Bathsheba said. �We just hear you tell war tales. Tomorrow is the rehearsal, so we should be rested up.�
�I agree,� Natonito said. �Let us retire now.�
As they took all of their bags to the penthouse suite, Cherie said. �Is this what life will be like, an endless series of spacious rooms and affluence?�
�Yes,� Natonito said. �That is the life for the Bravias and the Albrights.�
�The babies seem at peace with their life,� Daniel said. �Is it a blessing or a curse?�
�Everything in life is a little bit of both,� Delia said. �Everything we do is a risk-reward proposition. There is no act free of consequences we cannot fathom until long afterward.�
�Every choice is a new opportunity or a new danger,� Daniel said. �Still, that is the way life must be. Let us sleep so we can enjoy tomorrow.�
�Alright,� Natonito said as the elevator stopped at the penthouse suite. There are four rooms here. My sister and brother-in-law are already in one room. One room is for Henry and Cherie and little Oen, one room is for Bathsheba, little Natonito, and I, and the other room is for Daniel and Delia.� He handed the keys to Henry and Daniel. �Enjoy the night, and don�t do anything stupid.�
�We won�t,� Daniel and Delia said. They went into their room together after waving farewell.
�We�ve already learned our lesson,� Cherie, holding baby Oen, said.
�Waaah,� the baby cried in assent to that statement as Cherie gently held him. Cherie and Henry walked into their room after waving goodnight.
�Alright, just the three of us,� Natonito smiled, pinching his son gently on the cheeks as the baby giggled.
�You�re so silly,� Bathsheba said. �Let�s hope our son has your sense of humor.�
�And let�s hope he�s as sweet as you are,� Natonito said as they went into their suite.
�Are you in a melancholy mood tonight?� Delia asked Daniel.
�Yes, my dear, I am,� Daniel said.
�Why?� Delia asked.
�I am just asking myself �who am I, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far� right now. I do not know how to handle being in social occasions of high society, for I am only a commoner, the son of a dairy farmer,� Daniel replied.
�I will give you whatever advice and help you need,� Delia said. �I am used to this sort of thing, and I think everyone else is as well. You just need to feel comfortable. In the clothes for the wedding, and your dress for the corps of engineers, no one will be able to tell that you are a peasant boy. The people might ask what noble house you come from, but they will judge your nobility by your carriage and by your manners, for that is what people use to tell gentle society.�
�I wish I knew how to act in gentle society,� Daniel said, somewhat worried. �It is something strange and unfamiliar to me. I have always wanted to rise beyond my humble upbringing, but I do not know how to feel comfortable around those for whom all of this wealth is an entitlement, and who spend more money on amusements than I have ever had pass through my hands in my entire life.�
�You act as if money is a big deal,� Delia said.
�It is a big deal. For some are blessed with a good name and no money, and so they use their family name to garner themselves a fortune when their ancestors have failed them. Others are blessed with money and no name, and so they use their money to buy titles and position so that they may pass on an honorable name to their descendents. But I was born with neither name nor money, and so I must earn both a living and a good reputation without anything to fall back on.�
Delia put her hands on Daniel�s shoulder. �I will help you. Just follow the lead of Henry and Natonito and treat people with an easy politeness and no one will be able to tell who you are,� Delia said. �A commoner with manners, intelligence, and fancy clothes is just a noble who has yet to receive his title.�
�Thank you for the kind advice,� Daniel said.
�You are most welcome,� Delia said. They soon went to sleep.
�This has been a long day,� Henry said.
�Yes it has, my dear,� Cherie said, putting their little baby boy to sleep gently in the crib so kindly provided by the hotel.
�I am troubled tonight,� Henry said. �Just like Daniel, but for a different reason.�
�Why are you troubled?� Cherie asked.
�I am troubled because my family had a chance to really help out Daniel with his social status, to give thanks to his family for all the help they did, and we did nothing. We rebuilt our mansion and made more millions off of our estates and Daniel�s family, who saved our lives and risked their own were left as paupers, mere peasants,� Henry said.
�You can give thanks to them now and get your father to compensate them,� Cherie said. �And make a belated payment for what they did for you. I do not think Daniel is one to hold a grudge.�
�No, but it would embarrass him to receive so large a favor. People like him who try to rise out of poverty are often rather humiliated by the favors that they need in order to make it,� Henry said. �But that is not all.�
�What else is there?� Cherie asked.
�I am troubled because of what Natonito told us about my father�s business dealings and his personal dealings,� Henry said.
�You mean his hiring of the men who kidnapped my sister?� Cherie asked. �You are not responsible for that. That sin falls on Ve Lue and your father alone. Sons should not bear the sins of their fathers.�
�The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children�s teeth are set on edge,� Henry said.
�The soul who sins shall die,� Cherie replied. �For why should you die? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, therefore turn and live.�
�You speak wisely, my love,� Henry said.
�You do not have to fall into the same trap that your father did. You can be noble in character, avoid the traps of booze and arrogance, and be a loyal husband to me,� Cherie said. �You do not have to suffer because of your father. You are only responsible for your own thoughts, words, and actions.�
�Let us sleep on that thought,� Henry said.
�Sounds good to me. Before long we will be man and wife,� Cherie said.
�And I eagerly await that moment,� Henry said with a smile as he kissed her with an open mouth.
�What an interesting night we had,� Bathsheba said. �Thank you for telling the story to the kids. They really needed all the pieces to fit together.� She put the baby to sleep in the spacious crib.
�I feel bad for Henry and Cherie,� Natonito said. �The story is going to be the hardest on them both, just like it was for you. They are going to have a long conversation sometime with Oen, just as you should.�
�You mean, to bury the hatchet on my side and let him know of his wrongs?� Batsheba said. �I have forgiven him, but I want him to know what he did.�
�Yes,� Natonito said. �You forgave him because you are such a sweet person. That is why I love you so much, because you are such an angel. Your sister is an angel too. If more members of your family had been so angelic perhaps there would be more than two survivors of the Longbert clan.�
�Yes, but nothing can be done now,� Bathsheba said.
�And you are my love,� Natonito said. �I never want you to forget that, and I never want to take for granted that you love me, freckles and all.�
�Of course I love your and your freckles,� Bathsheba winked, getting the point. After all, most people say warts and all, but Bravians, being a light-skinned and oft freckled people, use the word freckles in the place of warts, for Bravians have few warts and many freckles.
�Going to that restaurant was a little painful for me,� Bathsheba said. �For it brought back memories of being a prostitute. But yet I was not completely sad, because I met you there and you saved me from that life. For that I will be eternally thankful. God has given me a wonderful gift in you.�
�And God has given me a wonderful gift in you as well,� Natonito said. He then kissed her sweetly on her lips. They soon went to sleep.
[ My Time In The Rebellion, Part III, Chapter 6 ] [ Chapter 2 ]
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