Kady's Journey -Freesia-

Chapter 11: The Wheel of Fortune

I looked at Belle who is smiling at me fondly.

This woman put her future in my hands before. Now I will do the same.

"What do you think, Belle? What do you think of Trevor as a husband?" I asked silently that made her burst in tears.

It was the very same question she asked me last month.

"Kady, how could you do this to me?!" she bawled as I pulled out a handkerchief and tries to wipe her tears, "I... I don't know what to say."

I laughed a little and nodded at her, "Make yourself useful, Belle. Look at him and tell me what do you think."

She slowly turned to Trevor who is looking embarrassed and blushing uncontrollably, "Hey, now. You two are making me sound like an ineligible bachelor."

"It's not that, son. What they are going through now can only be understood by girls who bonded greatly beyond words," Queen Albina said as she nodded at the two of us.

The King looked at his wife lovingly, "Jealous, Albina? You and Dina are practically the same, right? Too bad she is on an overseas assignment."

"Shush, Trianor. Don't make more envious than I already am," she said as she looked at us again, "Now, Belle. Be a doll and pass your judgment for your dear friend."

My close friend nodded and glanced at Trevor quickly before facing me again and crying even more, "You can do worse, Kady. You can do worse than marrying him."

"Your answer, Kady?" Silva asked me and I nodded quickly.

"If my freedom can be guaranteed for the next decade then I, if you still want to have me by that time, be your wife, Trevor," I said to the Royal Crown Prince who looked at me with utmost respect and love, "But if you managed to find someone else before the day we stand side by side, then, by all means, feel free to pursue whoever that may be. It's the least I can do for the generosity you and your family have indulged me and my selfish plans."

To my surprise, he stood up and knelt in front of me and took my right hand kissed it softly, "I will never find someone like you. We, Kalalitans, never go back on our word. No matter what happens, I will wait. Even if fire rains down from the skies or everything that we know suddenly turned upside down, I swear that I will wait for you."

"Well, ominous choice of words aside, then yes, Trevor. If you can wait that long then, by all means, consider our deal closed," I said as I pinched his cute cheeks, "If I can just have one more request. Please let's stay the same way at the academy. I don't want any more unwanted attention than what I am already getting."

He nodded and stood up as he offered his hands to me and Belle, "You have my word. I will try to contain my enthusiasm, Kady. Thank you for trusting me, Belle. I know we barely even talked at the school but you don't know how much this means to me."

"Oh, believe me, Trevor, I know," she said knowingly while smiling at me at the same time, "All too well..."

Silva and his father together with the King and Queen clapped their hands jovially as I gave their Crown Prince a hug of thanks for everything that happened.

I know that this is not very favorable to me but this is the best I can do for now. All I can hope is that he finds someone better than me in ten years. Though being by his side wouldn't be that much of a problem honestly speaking.

"Expect the contract to be sent to the Alricer Province with all the provisions we have discussed today. I do hope that in due time, my son will be able to serve you as well, Kady," Argent said courteously before bowing deeply with Silva.

Trevor's parents looked at me and offered their arms which I accepted without further ado, "I don't know what will happen in the next years, Kady. But I am sure that you will find your way back to our Kingdom to lead it to a much better tomorrow."

I looked at the Queen who is gazing at me hopefully while the King just nodded curtly, "The next years will be full of upheaval and uncertainty but always know that starting today you are part of our family legalities or not."

"I am honored to hear those words. If even after years have past and you will still want me to be part of your family then I will be much obliged," I said respectfully as I stepped back and returned to my friend's side.

"As my son already said, no matter what happens, we will wait in bated breath," the King said as he dismissed everyone except me, "This discussion is over. Argent, prepare the contract and the seal that we have to send to the Ogawara Province. Silva, Trevor, escort Belle back to your classmates. I just want to assure you that we may have disagreements and tensions with the Empire, I will not divulge your secrets. It is a common noble courtesy."

Belle bowed deeply and smiled graciously, "You have my utmost honor, Your Majesty. I will wait for you at our cabin, Kady."

"Sure. See you later, Belle."

"Stay here Kady. We have to talk about another matter entirely," the King said seriously and I returned to my seat as the Queen refilled my cup, "I guess you already know what I'm going to ask, right?"

I heaved a sigh as I thanked the kind Queen and sip my coffee, "Yes, Your Majesty. You want me to sabotage Galion's military application, isn't that right?"

"One of the reasons why I want you for Trevor. You are really quick on the uptake. But, yes. I want you to do anything you can just don't let that application end in the Royal Armed Forces Recruitment Department. I ask you this as your future father-in-law. We will not want one of our brightest and most promising boy to just end up at the frontlines and get killed. He is more needed at the royal castle as an advisor. That damn kid just wouldn't budge."

I shook my head and smiled a little, "I believe I may have to refuse that order, Your Majesty. As the President of the club, Galion is in, I see with my own eyes just how much effort and work he put in his preparation for a military career. How can I, a girl who is driven by her own dreams, crush someone's dream just because someone asked me to do it? I will do the opposite, I will do everything I can to get him in the military or die trying."

"The first request and you already rejected it. Is this deja vu, Albina?" Trevor's father asked his wife who laughed gleefully.

"Deja vu indeed, Trianor. She reminds me so much of my feisty self when I was around that age."

"It will also not do well to have such little trust to him, Your Majesty. Do you think Galion will just die that easily? His determination is too much even death himself will think twice getting near him," I joked that made the King chuckle.

"Very well, Kady. You won this one. But I'm afraid you have to endure your immersion in his province. It is economically the poorest but produced the best and devoted soldiers for the Kingdom. There's not much going on there aside from several age-old cadet schools and military installations," he said as he takes a big bite out of the cookie his wife gave him, "That province is on the verge of collapse if they don't take my advice and make Galion their heir-apparent. His inutile siblings will drag that distinguished dynasty to mud."

I blinked and looked at Queen Albina who smiled sadly at me, "I assume you already know that Galion is the youngest of his siblings?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I know that much."

"Do you also know that he is a son born out of wedlock?" 

I stopped drinking from the cup and put it down quickly, "That I do not know, Queen Albina."

"It should be fine if his elder siblings are dependable. But all of them are boys who are inept and weak to lead," King Trianor said angrily, "Galion's father is a slave to his first wife's wishes and won't heed my advice to elect his youngest as the heir. What his brothers do all the time is squander the finances of their dynasty and let their citizens rot."

"You are the King, right? Can't you enforce something to alleviate the situation?" I asked carefully that made the monarch smirk.

He shook his head and lounged casually on his seat, "Though not as inconsequential as the Empress who is almost reduced to a figurehead outside her capital city. My powers as the King is not as absolute as you may expect it to be. This is a feudal kingdom, in case you are forgetting, Kady. The King can't control the entirety of Gondwana. It is impossible to manage over two billion people by a single man alone. That's where feudalism comes in. By sharing power to the dynasties who are given the task to manage their own provinces, my job gets easier. Mind you I said easier not easy. The Chief and Chieftess of those dynasties have to submit to me in turn. But I can only give advice to their ruling family. I can technically seize control but we have a bad public opinion to deal with. In peacetime, seizing control of a province is tantamount to political suicide."

"So you are saying is that you need war if you want to reorganize your Kingdom properly and efficiently, Your Royal Majesty?" I asked nonchalantly that made him laugh.

"War is a waste of precious resources and manpower, Kady. If not provoked, we will not make the first move. Though it is surprising you can have that insight at that young age. Even Trevor is more worried about his clothes than thinking about politics," the Queen said to me pointedly.

"I think I can understand why he thinks of such trivial things. There is nowhere for him to go other than in the government after graduation so he may be making the most out of his carefree days right now. I can't say I envy him in that regard," I said honestly that made the mother smile.

A guard entered the room to inform that we are nearing the borders of Alricer Province and the King and Queen stand up with me as I prepare to return to my classmates.

"It's up to Galion where you will stay in his province. I will let him decide where you will spend your immersion with the heir of the Yekaterin tsardom. He personally requested it and I happily obliged," the King said quietly as I bowed one last time in front of them.

I was about to get out of their room when the Queen called my attention, "Kady, I hope you and Lexei won't think badly of Galion after this immersion of yours. He is a kind and earnest boy but the circumstances surrounding his birth hardened his heart to other people."

I nodded and closed the door behind me.

As I walked down the hallway, I looked outside the windows again and saw a city coming into view from the horizon.

Not as big or imposing as the capital but seemed to be bustling with life all the same. 

The Alricer Province and home of Galion von Alric, the bastard son of the Alric Dynasty.

-0-

"Wow, there's a lot of people!" Lexei exclaimed as we wade through the swarm of workers hurrying home after their shift.

It's already five in the afternoon when the Royal Airship dropped us off the Alricer Royal Airport before departing as soon as possible to ferry our other classmates to their respective provinces of immersion.

"It's the time when most Alricerans go home and finish the dayshift," Galion answered curtly as we braved through another huge wave of people crossing the main street of the Alricer city, "It is also the same time when the nightshift workers travel to their jobs."

I just looked at the tired people walking past us and nodded at Lexei who is trudging along like me behind our classmate, "The books that I've read was not exaggerating. Kalalit is the country that never sleeps."

"It was said that if our manufacturing capability stopped for even a single night, our economy will collapse literally overnight," Galion said as we crossed the busy intersection where a lot of trucks and cars are moving nonstop, "Two billion people to feed so everyone must continue working or all of us will starve. At least the commoners. Nobilities have it easier than us."

"You speak as if you're not a noble like me," Lexei muttered loudly that made Galion looked over him and smirked, "Noble only by name. You will understand soon enough. Come, let's catch the bus, or we will have to wait for another hour if we miss it."

We started to run after our classmate who sprinted and waved his hands in the middle of the street to stop a black triple-decker bus full of people.

After we rode the ridiculous bus jam-packed with people, we are left standing on the third floor which gave us a perfect view of the city while moving.

"Unbelievable. I've seen a double one, but triple? Insane!" Lexei exclaimed loudly in a surprised voice that made dozens of Alricerans standing or sitting look at our direction amusingly.

Galion forced a smile and waved his left hand away, "Maharlikan tourists!"

They all laughed when they heard from our classmates that we are from the Republic and left us alone.

"Shut your damn mouth for once, won't you Lexei? If Kady wasn't with us, they wouldn't believe me. You look damn too pale for a Maharlikan but they bought it because of her. Your tongue will get us in trouble!" Galion whispered quickly at our classmate's ears that immediately covered his mouth comically.

I just laughed as the bus swayed dangerously while turning, "Us Maharlikans are known for being too noisy when traveling to other countries. But truly, this is unbelievable. How can they even defy the laws of physics with this bus? It shouldn't be even cleared for road. "

"If Kalalitans want something to work, we build our way through it. I guess this bus is a perfect example of that. We need more capacity than what a double-decker bus can provide so we have to make this one work or suffer trying," he said dismissively as the bus conductor squeezed his way to us.

"Are you three together? Where are you getting off?" 

"Yeah, three. Kent Alley," Galion said as he produced his wallet from his pants.

Like Lexei, I was having trouble finding mine.

I am sure I've just put it in my back pocket. 

"Where did I put it? I'm sure it's just in here somewhere," Lexei muttered as he is like me clawing our pockets for non-existent wallets.

"Looks like your companions got their first taste of Kalalitan hospitality, eh?" the conductor laughed as Galion looked at the two of us patronizingly, "Welcome to the Kingdom! Where tourists get pickpocketed before they can lay first in their bed!"

I looked at our classmate who is still looking at us annoyingly, "I think I've lost mine, Galion. I can fish out my stash inside my luggage though..."

"Yeah. I lost all of mine, bummer," Lexei moaned as he looked at me expectantly.

"Don't bother I will pay for you three using your own money," Galion said as he produced mine and Lexei's wallet from his coat that made us drop our jaws, "If I didn't steal it from you two while walking down the streets, you would've lost it for sure. Kalalit Commoner Lesson Number One: Never put your money in your pants."

The conductor grinned together with the other passengers who heard our classmate as he opened our wallets and produced money to pay for our fares, "Be careful next time kids. If not for your friend here, I would've kicked you out of my bus."

We let Galion have our wallets for safekeeping as the conductor chortled his way past us after giving us our tickets, "Kent is just a few blocks away. Better get your butts on the first floor."

The three of us heed his advice and squeezed ourselves through the other passengers until we reach the back door of the bus where we waited until the conductor shouted our stop.

When the bus halted we immediately got off and dragged our luggage with us at the rather oddly deserted street where there are few shops and pubs open but not what I'm expecting.

"Best not tarry here. It's not safe if it gets too dark. Come you two."

We looked at each other before following Galion who walked briskly towards an apartment block near the bus stop. It was a bit dim on the lobby and there's no receptionist behind the desk.

"Elevator's never working, to the stairs we go," said our classmate who helped me carry my backpack so I can drag my wheeled luggage faster.

"What floor?" Lexei quietly asked as we reached the second where there are shouting men at the end of the hallway.

"The third one, far left," Galion answered curtly as we stepped onto another flight of stairs before finally reaching our destination.

Located at the end of the dingy hallway full of broken and boarded windows, our classmate knocked at the battered door hurriedly.

"Who's there?" a voice of a woman asked from the other side of the door asked cautiously as if she is expecting someone dangerous.

"It's me."

We heard several locks being unlocked before the door creaked open to reveal a very beautiful but haggard-looking woman in her early thirties looking stressed and still wearing her factory uniform.

"Galion! I was expecting you earlier, I thought something happened," she said in a very tired face before looking at me and Lexei standing behind our classmate, "Please do come in, come in. It's not safe in the corridors."

She moved aside to let the three of us in a rather rundown apartment that has seen better days.

It is very clean and well kept but it can't hide the fact that it is literally falling apart. I can tell that she really tried her best to keep it as livable as possible but obviously, the room is just on its last legs.

"Let me bring your luggage in the corner," she offered and when we refused because she looks so vulnerable she smiled wryly and pointed the nameplate on her chest that reads "Galene Acis/ Factory Staff/ Alricer Industries, "I am probably stronger than you two as I can lift a car engine easily. Now, give me those so we can get you your dinner."

We relented and let the mother singlehandedly drag our luggage quickly to the corner before running towards the kitchen, "The Beef Mutton Stew is ready! Galion can you bring your friends here? They look dead on their feet."

"Come. Let's eat while the food is hot. It might not be a fancy meal but mom's cooking is the best on the block," Galion said as he pushed our backs slightly so we will start walking towards the kitchen.

The table is small and propped by a rock to stop it from tilting. The utensils on the table are old but very clean as if being used only for rare guests. Like the rest of the room, it is very old and faded but well kept.

"Please, take a seat. This is the first time ever my son brought friends home. I really went all out on this one. I got the best beef downtown just for tonight," Galion's mom said excitedly as she served us with the stew and cold, refreshing water straight from the fridge, "When I heard you will be staying here I cashed in on my leave that I never used so don't worry. I know it's not much but I will make sure you two are taken care of in my home. Now eat, go on. I prattled too much already."

She just sat with us and watch us eat her scrumptious cooking that really tasted very homey. I've tasted all kinds of expensive foods because of my acceptance in the academy and abroad as well but nothing really tastes like home-cooking.

Lexei beside me is just quietly wolfing down his food non-stop that made the mother smile sweetly at him, "Why look at you. You can definitely eat, huh? Don't be shy, dear. I have the whole pot just for you all."

"Thank you."

Galene blinked and was shocked for a second before smiling a little at the Yekaterinian heir, "Why you are welcome."

Lexei's voice was really sincere that even Galion stopped eating when he heard him voice out his gratitude.

"You look like a street-smart girl, what are you doing at the Academy full of uppity kids and stuffy nobles?" the mother asked me as she put more serving on my bowl and suddenly glanced at her son who is staring pointedly at our classmate who is still wolfing down his food nonstop, "Oh, you didn't tell me in advance that he is a noble-born, Galion. I mean I've got my fair share of nobles at work or otherwise and he definitely didn't exude a self-importance aura they commonly have."

Lexei shook his head and waved his hand jovially as he wiped his mouth with the sleeves of his coat, "No worries, Mrs Acis. I get that a lot. They all say I am a disgrace to the Imperial nobility because of my sloppy behavior. Or as my mother puts it bluntly, a disgrace as a person overall."

"It's Ms Acis, dear. I'm not married," she said before winking at us and started to refill our glasses, "Oh I just remembered, where were my manners? I never asked your names. I was so fixated on getting you fed and my son here didn't even bother to introduce you all to me. What's your name sis?"

I chuckled at her very perky question and nodded, "Kady Groves, United Republic of Maharlika. Nice to meet you."

"Lexei von Laevi," my classmate said as he gulped after chewing the beef, "Yekaterin Tsardom, Democratic Empire of Scania. May I ask how old are you, Ms Acis?"

"Normally I will get mad and avoid that question to death but since you really liked my cooking, I will let you take a guess, Lexei. What do you think," she asked playfully.

Our classmate looked at her for a while then shook her head, "I... I think I'd rather not. I rescind my question."

"Oh c'mon, don't be such a killjoy. Don't worry, I won't get offended. Go on, tell me your guess," she goaded Lexei that looked at Galion who just smirked and shook his head as he continued eating.

My classmate looked again at the awfully young-looking woman who can pass as Galion's elder sister.

Haggard looking she may be, she still has this youthful vigour and a rather vibrant attitude of a young adult. 

"Twenty-nine."

"Bingo."

I dropped my spoon in a loud clatter on my glass bowl as I ran the math on my brain. It just won't add up. 

The legal age for marriage or otherwise in the Kingdom is eighteen. If she is twenty-nine now, and Galion is fifteen then...

No...

Maybe she is joking or something. It's impossible it won't add up.

There must be a mistake.

"Congratulations, mom. You managed to break the brain of our academy's prized scholar in a single word,"  Galion said as he laughed wryly before speaking to me, "What you are thinking is correct, Kady. Don't think any other way around it. It's simple math. Your first computation is the right one."

I blinked my eyes as I try to compose myself, "I'm sorry if I acted unbecomingly, Ms Acis. I just can't..."

"No worries. I quite enjoyed your expression. Unlike Lexei here, you can't hide your thoughts well. So cute,"  she said nonchalantly but I know she is not telling something to us, "But yes, I was fourteen when I have this dapper young man here. So handsome don't you think?"

"Yes, I think so too," Lexei answered seriously that made Galion lose his normally tough facade and was obviously taken off-guard by what he heard.

"Wow, to be praised by another handsome boy. I know I'm right. Mothers really knows best," she said happily before standing up and opening an old fridge with its paint chipping off, "I have made this fruit salad last night. Should be properly chilled by now."

She then took out three bowls from her cupboard and starter scooping happily, "I was told by your adviser that I should give you tasks but what does a commoner like me give you? It's not like an undergraduate like me is qualified to even hand out assignments anyways."

"We are just told to immerse ourselves in the culture and people of the country we are in. There are no specifics of how exactly it is done. In the Empire, we just talked to a lot of people and that's it," I said as I thankfully accepted the bowl she handed to me and started digging in with gusto.

Lexei nodded before chowing down his salad, "Yes. Just send us out or talk to us or anything. We are not picky. I think we can run errands for you or something. If you are thinking about me then worry not Ms Acis. I will not be a bother, I assure you that."

"Wow, aren't you just the cutest. If only my son can be more like you other than a stick in the mud," she said snidely that made her son grunt angrily, "You three seemed close. That's great to see."

I raised my eyebrows and glanced at Galion who is looking away, "Close? I was beginning to think that I am the only one trying hard to reach out to him."

"Oh believe his mother, dear. If he didn't like you two at all or trust at the very least, he would have never brought you here regardless of circumstances. He can be pretty thoughtful if you know where to look and dig deep. Maybe several feet."

Galion heaved a sigh and shook his enough, "That is enough, mom."

"All right, fine. Why don't you go and prepare the beds of your friends?" Ms Ancis asked his son who followed right away, "I'm sorry it is not enough but the bedsheets and foams are brand new I assure you."

After his son went out of the kitchen I smiled and shook my head, "No problem at all, Ms Ancis. I slept at chairs, benches, and sacks of flour before. I'm not picky about where I lay down as long as it's safe."

"Kady..."

I looked at Lexei who looked surprised, "What? Surprised a young girl like me will just take a snooze at random places?"

"Just, who are you?" he asked quietly and sadly.

I looked at Galion's mother who is looking at me sympathetically and I can see in her eyes that she knows personally what I am really talking about.

"I am just a random orphan girl who has to work several shifts a day just to keep myself fed, Lexei," I answered quietly as I remembered the things that I've been through before I landed a place in the academy, "If I want to be on time for my next job, I have to sleep somewhere near the workplace. I don't have enough money to book a room in a hotel. Heck, I barely even have enough money to keep a roof over my head back then. Fiver hours at a bakery, five hours at a restaurant, and five hours at a grocery store. No day offs, no breaks."

The Yekaterinian heir just shook his head in disbelief, "For how long? How can you even do that?"

"Almost two years? How did I even manage, huh?" I asked but more to myself than him.

Ms Ancis smiled and nodded at me after she finished the dishes, "Girls gotta do what they gotta do, isn't that right, Kady?"

"Now that you said that, I guess that's the reason I managed to do all of that nonsense," I said before chortling as if trying to make myself feel good when I am on the verge of breaking down just by remembering it, "I was scheduled to have an interview for a dishwasher position at the Gearth Military Academy but I was forced to ride the school bus bringing hopefuls. I don't want to be late so I hitchhike. Was cajoled into taking an exam by promises of an earlier interview with the human resource manager. I was only thinking of passing time when I answered that demented examination. Then they went up and told me I got a perfect score and offered something that I cannot hope to refuse."

"Stability, isn't it?" 

I looked at Galion's mother and we both chuckled, "You can say that but to be honest with you all I am getting tired of sleeping at random hard places. My back can't handle the stiffness anymore."

"Kady..."

I just patted the back of Lexei who is genuinely heartbroken and sympathetic from what he heard as his eyes are teary right now, "That's the short of it, Lexei. But I am not resting on my laurels. This stability is not forever. I have to get ready for the next chapter of my life."

"Trevor is waiting for you, Kady."

We looked at the doorway and saw Galion leaning against the doorway with his arms folded as if he was there the whole time.

I nodded and looked down on my hands, "I know, but my life is so much more than him. I... I still have to find something."

"What is that something?" Lexei asked but it's our hostess who answered for me.

"Now, now boys. Girls have to have their secrets. It is disrespectful and rude to pester a girl like that, you know?" she said dismissively as I give her a thankful smile for saving me, "Now, go take a rest, you three. I'm sure you are close enough to sleep side by side. Galion mentioned once that he was in an overnight activity with your club and he slept in the same bed with two of his friends, a girl and a boy. I presume those were you two."

"Mom!" Galion exclaimed angrily as his face is suddenly flushing.

His mother raised his hands and laughed as if he is enjoying teasing his son, "Fine, fine I give up. I surrender. I won't speak anymore. Go, before I kill my son in embarrassment, please."

Galion went on ahead with Lexei in tow and before I leave the kitchen, I looked back at Ms Ancis and bowed my head, "Thank you."

"No big deal. After all, it takes on to know one, Kady," she said before winking and heading for a door next to the fridge that I guess her bedroom.