[19th of June, Ramnin Estate, North Barline]
“Good Morning Ailbe!” A cheery Hotaru greets Ailbe. “Good Morning to you too.” Ailbe politely greets Hotaru. “Are you doing anything this day?” Hotaru asks Ailbe. “Nothing really-Why?” Ailbe curiously answers back. “Then follow me.” Hotaru fervently insists to Ailbe. Ailbe reluctantly agrees to Hotaru’s request.
Hotaru exits the Manor with Ailbe behind him. As the both of them walk thru the boulevard surrounded by flush green trees and brick paths. In their travelling they stumble upon a park. “Why are we in a park?” Ailbe asks. “Just you wait.” Hotaru assures Ailbe.
As they enter the park. They are greeted by lush trees, shrubbery and oak benches. “This place looks amazing….” Ailbe astonished as she gazes upon a breathtaking sight. “Told you.” Hotaru confidently says to her. In walking around they encounter a bench near a pond. “Do you want sit here for now?” Hotaru asks. “Sure.” Ailbe agrees.
“So, why did you drag me out here?” Ailbe curiously asks. “I just wanted to talk.” Hotaru answers her as he glances into the blue pond populated by ducks and birds.
“We haven’t really talked to each other at length since we first met.” Hotaru voices to Ailbe. “We didn’t really.” Ailbe admits to him. “What have you been doing?” Ailbe asks Hotaru.
“I’ve been going to lectures and the theatres.” Hotaru answers back. “It’s good that you’re understanding the world.” Ailbe honestly replies back to Hotaru. “Speaking of which have you read the news about me? They’ve been putting me as a puppeteer!” A visibly frustrated Hotaru vents out in Ailbe.
“Those bastards at the paper really hate me!” Hotaru furiously complains. “Which papers have said that?” Ailbe asks Hotaru. “Every single one of them-Barline Daily, The Barline Times. All of them have been saying the same rhetoric over and over again.” A slightly calmed Hotaru points out.
“I’ll take care of it.” Ailbe assures Hotaru. “Ailbe have you realized that a month gone by?” Hotaru ponders. “Well I have-it has been a very busy month for me.” Ailbe admits to Hotaru. “What time is it?” Ailbe turns to Hotaru and asks. Hotaru consults his pocket watch “Its quarter to nine-why is it?” A confused Hotaru asks back.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Well Hotaru-have a great day then!” Ailbe hurriedly packs her purse and leaves. “See you later?” Hotaru confusingly farewells Ailbe. “Sheesh what’s the rush?!” A frustrated Hotaru says to himself. Hotaru pulls out a box of cigarettes from his coat and lit it with a match. He looks at the blue morning sky as he smokes his cigarette. “It’s been a month huh? I can get used to this.” Hotaru mumbles to himself as he chuckles.
Later That Day [Barline Palace, Barline]
A man knocks loudly at a pair of large ornate doors. “Come in.” A man calls back. He enters the chambers of the king, in the center of the room the king sits slouched in his large desk full of documents and papers.
“Your Majesty, What are your thoughts about the new Minister for the Economy? He politely asks to the king.
“Well….. He’s a very interesting character.” The king remarks as he exhaustedly hands back documents to him. “And Franz call me by my real name, We’ve known eachother for 5 years already.” The King insists to him.
“Ulrich, The tension within the government has gone to unstable levels.” Franz regrettably professes to the King. “First of all sit down.” The King commands Franz. He obliges and sits down in the chair in front of him.
“Like I don’t know what’s happening in this country.” The King admits to Franz. “The elites are divided into squabbling factions.” The King adds to his argument. “I can very much agree with that Ulrich.” Franz agrees wholeheartedly to King’s statement.
“There’s the conservatives of Halstedt-The reformists of Friedrich-The industrialists of Muller and royalists which is us.” The King further explains. “We really stuck in between a rock and a hard place.” Franz sadly says with a sigh.
“I’ve thought of something that could help us maneuver this predicament.” The King perkily vocalizes. “What if you go to the party to prevent it from devolving to something even worse.” The King assertively proposes to Franz.
“Of course it will be done-Your Majesty.” Franz jokingly says to Ulrich. “If you can excuse me, I have to attend some important matters to attend.” Franz excuses himself as he leaves the King’s chambers.
“And there’s the wild cards in this battle. Amano and Hotaru-These men hold more than more they know themselves.” Ulrich says to himself.
As he stands up he walks to his drinks cabinet and pours himself a glass of Bourbon. He sips his glass and thinks about the future. “I have to do something to prevent from this country from collapsing.” He thinks to himself as he looks outside of the window.