Kady's Journey -Freesia-

Chapter 16: The Temperance

"Goodness, I think we should send some of these in advance ahead of our flight back to Maharlika," I said to Denal as we look at our haul after another shopping spree at one of the stores in Laroost.

The boy nodded as he double-checked our purchases to make sure everything all accounted for, "Yeah. I think we might get kick out because of our overweight pieces of baggage."

I looked at the smiling cashier and asked the price, "How much is it, Ms?"

"Krona or Peso?"

Krona is the currency of Riksent and Peso is of Maharlika.

"Peso, please," I answered as I take out my wallet and offered my school-issued black debit card.

"Sure. It's eight thousand four hundred thirty-eight pesos and sixty-five centavos," she said clearly and took my card, "Savings or Current?"

"Savings."

"Got it, just give me a second here," she asked as she swiped my card and processed my payment on her machine, "Here's your card. Transaction complete. Thank you for your purchase."

I glanced at my companion who is still busy checking our things and lowered my voice, "Can you also use my card for the next transaction."

"Oh, right. Of course. Are you two from Maharlika?" she asked as her bagger began to scan Denal's purchases.

I nodded and smiled, "Well, yes. I am Maharlikan but he's from the Empire. Why?"

"Oh, we just seldom get civilian shoppers from other countries. Mostly traders and wholesalers, you know? Are you here for vacation or something?"

"We're students from Gearth Military Academy and we're here for our immersion," I said as she raised her eyebrow in surprise, "But the way we are raiding store after store non-stop the whole morning, it doesn't look like we are doing something curricular, huh?"

She laughed and shook her head, "Well, as you said you are here for immersion and what's the better way to immerse yourself in the Dukedom's culture than shop 'till you drop? If you are going to ask me, a Riksentian, you two are performing admirably well immersing yourself pretty well. Besides, you won't get this great of a deal in other countries."

"Exactly," I answered quickly as my companion walked back to my side, "Everything clear?"

He nodded happily as he began to watch his purchases being processed by a cashier like a kid he is, "Yes. But I do not know if I still have enough money on my card to buy something on the jewelry shop across the street. Mama adores Riksentian pearls and always stop by in front of a gem atelier back at Nordia. It was very expensive there but I heard from a man outside that they are having a flash sale."

I nodded knowingly at the cashier who performed a sleight of hand as she used my card for the transaction but flashed the card of Denal for him to see before sliding my card back at my waiting hand hidden in the plastic bag.

"I'm sure you still have enough money in your card, cute boy," the cashier said happily as she made a show of her receipt machine no longer having a paper so there won't be any evidence that I paid for my classmate's purchase, "What a handsome Scanian you are. I bet your mother is very proud and lucky to have you. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?"

I shook my head and winked at the cashier who beamed at me, "Nothing else. Thank you very much."

"Oh no, thank you for buying this much this early. I already reached my quota for a week because of you two. Keep on shopping, kids, and enjoy your stay in our city!"

We waved her goodbye and went straight to the waiting black sports car of Yosef with our host waiting outside and chatting to a police officer patrolling the area who saluted to him after being dismissed.

"Wow, that's a hoard you got there. You really went all out, aren't you two?" he asked as he helped us loud or purchases at the trunk of his car, "You already raided five stores before lunch. You still have money left?"

"Yes. This is actually the first time I've ever used the money from the subsidy I received from my scholarship funds," I said to Yosef as we waved at Denal who happily crossed the street and head straight for the jewellery shop he is talking about earlier, "We never talked much at school before this and I must say that he really loves his mother a lot. Most of the things he bought are for his mother. How admirable."

He leaned on his car as we waited for my classmate to come back, "That boy's heart is in the right place. I tell you, in the future, that is someone who can lead people magnificently."

"I couldn't agree more. His dedication is something else. He is also one of the brightest in our class. If I take into consideration his age then I must say he is more intelligent than all of us in there," I said matter of factly that made him smile.

"He reminds me so much of Yuro and Yugo when our mother was still living," he said nostalgically as we saw Denal smiling innocently at the employees of the store who is surprised to see him there, "She was their everything. All that they do and all that they can think of is our mother. I want to help him, Kady. I want to help your classmate have the strength to protect the one he values the most because goodness knows I know how powerlessness feels."

I looked at this man before me and it looks to me that Yuro and Yugo are just Yosef split in two, "You really are their brother. Not just looks but also in demeanour. But you seemed to be a man with a lot of time in his hands. Did you take leave from your work to take care of us?"

"Nope, I report directly to the Grand Duke himself. House Freedel is beholden to the whims of the current head of House Hausen."

I blinked and remembered that the Grand Duke is absent when we arrived yesterday, "Is he busy or something? I mean, I know he is not required to meet us but the monarchs of Scania and Kalalita met us in person."

"Busy? Yeah. Busy doing odd things. Please don't take his absence personally. He is mostly absent from being the Grand Duke for almost two decades. It is actually rare for Riksentians to see their reigning monarch once a year on official capacity."

"I doubt other world leaders have the gall to be absent from the public eye for such long periods of time, decades even," I said nonchalantly that made Yosef laugh out loud, "It is like living off the hard work of your citizen without even showing so much as a shadow once in a while to at least thank them for their effort to make your country this prosperous."

He is laughing so hard that passerby is glancing at him with a smile on their face as if he is a regular sight on the streets and didn't mind his loud behaviour at all, "Goodness, this is rich! If only he can hear your words. Oh boy, what would I pay to see his expression."

"I don't mean any disrespect and all. I am saying this strictly on an outsider point of view," I immediately retract my words realizing how dangerous they are, "I'm really sorry. I just have this urge to always say what is on my mind. I didn't know my place beforehand. I apologize."

Yosef is still holding his stomach as he tries to keep himself calm and wiped the tears from his face while looking at me unbelievably, "It's all right, Kady. I know you didn't mean any disrespect. You are just flat out honest. But forgive me for laughing. It's just that I was imagining if by some chance he heard those words, I can only really just imagine how will he react. He usually has this stonefaced expression that he is almost, always wearing that can never betray his emotions."

"I see..."

He suddenly offered his right hand to me and I took it quietly, "Come, Kady, let's get Denal, first before I show you two something."

I nodded and let him escort me across the street and towards Denal who just happily exited the shop with a paper bag safely in his small arms.

"Where are we going?" my classmate asked as Yosef put his arms on his should as he pulled us close to him.

"Wait for a moment," our host said as we walked down a rather cramped alley for a minute or two before emerging at the other side of the block.

"This is..."

I didn't manage to finish what I was about to say when Denal shouted on top of his lungs when we arrived at a terrace overlooking the downtown of Laroost, "This is unbelievable! I've never seen anything like this! Woah!"

The boy ran towards the edge of the promenade made of bricks and marble and let his eyes take in all the grand scenes in front of him.

The streets are very busy and the markets are booming. Trucks and trailers are zooming up and down the streets through numerous intersections and roundabouts.

Every marble houses, great and small seemed to serve two purposes. To house a Riksentian family upstairs and to run their business downstairs.

There are no huge skyscrapers anywhere, the tallest buildings I see is three floors at maximum. Yosef pointed his hands towards the numerous ports bustling with life as ships great and small come and go.

The blue ocean serves as their roads to deliver imported goods and cargoes to the waiting trucks that will deliver it to the businesses across all Laroost and beyond which in turn will provide their local goods that will be brought back to port by the very same trucks that will load it to the waiting empty ships that will leave the port.

If Nordia has it's majestic technologically advanced skyscrapers and Nunat has its towering smokestacks that symbolize its industrial might, Laroost has its bustling ports showcasing its economic powerhouse ability.

"What you two are seeing is the endless cycle of wealth the Dukedom is accumulating through trade and barter," Yosef said proudly behind us as we continue to look at neverending ships under the flag of Riksent bringing prosperity to the continent, "Decades ago, our Grand Duke streamlined, reformulate and subsequently perfected the process to make sure that each and every business and Riksentians, in turn, benefit from it. Look behind you two."

We followed our host's order and turn only to see the colossal Laroost Citadel looking over the ports acting as a symbol to the prosperity the city and country as a whole is enjoying.

"While the Grand Duke's hands-off approach does not sit well in the eyes of outsiders, we owe him the good life we are enjoying right now," Yosef said confidently as he smiled to the two of us, "There are no such things such as taxes, tariffs or government fees here. From education to healthcare, everything is subsidized by the current Grand Duke at the beginning of his rule. His machinations are so great, the wheel of Riksent's opulence keeps on turning perpetually without the need for any more input or adjustments from the outside."

I smiled when I finally get what he is trying to say, "There is no need to fix what is not broken."

"At first I thought the notion of an absence of poverty is absurd and unbelievable at best," Denal confessed as he looked up at the marble citadel, "No wonder this Dukedom called Aristocratic in the first place. All Riksentians are virtually equal to other nobilities of Scania and  Kalalit and the Socialities of Maharlika in terms of wealth and prestige."

Yosef nodded when he looked at the horizon and smiled, "True it also helped that we have a very small population compared to other nations."

"Two million, is that correct? I asked as our host who nodded as I and Denal joined him at gazing at the ocean where flags of the Dukedom are flying above all the ships entering and leaving the ports, "Compared to Maharlika's one hundred million, Scania's seven hundred million, and the Kingdom's more than two billion population, Riksent's is comically small. But I do believe that no matter how big or small your populations are if a leader doesn't know how to distribute wealth equally and efficiently then nothing matters at the end of the day."

Denal smiled as he took a deep breath while looking at the scenery before us, "Mother also said that Riksent never discriminates anyone in its entire existence. Unlike Maharlika who justifiably is biased against Scania and Kalalit while the two at the same time are discriminating against each other perpetually."

"The biggest challenge of this country is its small numbers. If we reject other people based on their nationalities then it will not bode well for our economy," he pointed at the ships and smiled at me, "Believe it or not, all of the vessels in the merchant fleet of Riksent are one hundred percent manned by Overseas Maharlikan Workers."

I was surprised by what I learned, "I know that Riksent taps on the vast workforce pool of the Maharlika for a long time now. But to think that all the sailors manning the ships of the Dukedom are from the Republic, it is amazing."

"There are more than thirty million Overseas Maharlikan Workers in the Dukedom right?" Denal asked curiously as he pointed at several Maharlikan drivers taking a break at a restaurant near us, "I've heard from my Social Studies teacher that Maharlikans outnumber Riksentians ten to one in their own country."

Yosef laughed and shrugged his shoulders as if this is common knowledge and not surprising in any way, "Indeed. You see, the Grand Duke made it known to Maharlikans that they are an integral part of the Dukedom's economy so much that everything will fall apart if we remove them in the equation. With Maharlikan's dedication and Riksentian's shrewdness, the sky is the limit when it comes to earning money."

"That's not counting more than ten million Maharlikans residing at the Empire and Kingdom alike. Only half are staying in our nation, the other half is working overseas and sending money back home. To say that we are a country of expatriates is not an exaggeration. A huge bulk of the Republic's income came from the money being sent home by the Maharlikans working abroad," I said quietly as Denal looked at me curiously.

"So simply speaking, Maharlika and Riksent is practically a single country?" the boy asked that made Yosef laugh.

"It is not farfetched to say that one will crumble when the other does. Our nations have been together for so long, we sometimes don't even think about that."

"One country, two governments. That's how the Empire and Kingdom see the Republic and Dukedom," I said while smiling contentedly, "Maharlikans and Riksentian's behavior and cultures can't be more different from one another, yet they can work together peacefully. Maharlikans value and admire Riksentian's wisdom when it comes to business and economy while Riksentians respects the perseverance and work ethics. I wonder, if the Empire and Scania can be like Maharlika and Riksent, would there be any need for hostilities?"

Yosef suddenly looked worried and sad, "We can only speculate the what-ifs. But what we know for sure is that in these uncertain times, we must strengthen the bond between the nations because if all else went south, well, neither one has the chance to survive alone."

-0-

"Very cute, aren't they?"

I looked at Yosef who is now standing beside me while I am staring at a big family portrait at the centre of the living room where I am staying to finish my pending report that I have to submit the moment I returned to the academy.

I returned my gaze at the picture of Yugo and Yuro when they are around seven or so years ago. They are smiling so innocently and happily that it almost pains me to look any longer.

"They are, even now. No wonder many students sighed and stare at them often whenever they are with me," I said truthfully that made their elder brother smile proudly, "They also exude this strange aura of steadfastness and loyalty. Like when I'm with them, I feel that I am safe and they will always be there to catch me if I struggled and fall."

"That's the trademark of my house, Kady. To be loyal, steadfast and vigilant. We are sworn to defend the House Hausen with everything that we have. You can say that we are the family that produces retainers for the Grand Duke and his family."

Jealousy and envy are the emotions that hit me when I heard those words. 

Sooner than later, the two will move on and defend whoever ascends to the throne as much as I don't want them to.

Maybe they will look after Daryl next seeing he is the successor of the Grand Duke. And I will be left alone all over again. 

Once again...

"Kady?"

I shook my head and forced a smile, "Sorry, I spaced out a bit, Yosef. Is Denal ready to leave?"

"Yes. he is on his way to the garage as we speak. Let's go?"

"Lead the way, please."

He turned his back on me and started walking. I followed him but not before looking back at the portrait of Yuro and Yugo.

I know I don't have the right to feel this way but I can't also deprive myself of thinking this way.

After all, you two have become an irreplaceable part of my life in just a short time. 

But move on if I must.

And I must start doing so as fast as I can to at least numb away the pain of getting left behind once more.

I don't know if I can handle another loss like that...

-0-

"I'm sorry but this is pure madness," I said deliberately that made Yosef look at my direction, "I know Riksent is so wealthy it can buy Maharlika many times over but this? I don't see any point?"

Denal himself can't believe his eyes as he blinked his eyes several times to make sure he is not seeing things, "We travelled hundreds of miles to the south for several hours across the desolate wilderness and through frozen hinterlands only to find this? Why is this here in the first place?"

From where we are standing at the side of the mountain road, we can see a huge city being built in earnest right before our very eyes from the ground up. It is connected to the sea by a large lagoon where numerous ships are delivering construction materials to the harbour full of Maharlikan and Riksentian people who working side by side in this undertaking.

Everything seemed to be going in order and there is definitely a great plan of design being followed. All actions are being done systematically with no energy or time wasted.

A trait of Riksentian people.

With the manpower my country provided, they make the plans of their Riksentian workmates to fruition and execute their orders to the letter without fail.

Even mere construction workers are treated with the utmost respect by their Riksentian supervisors as I can see several of them bowing in front of the Maharlikan workers after explaining what they have to do next.

"Look, I may not understand the reasoning behind all of this but I must say, Maharlika and Riksent really perfected their symbiotic relationship. Everything is going well and I won't be able to say the same if it's just Maharlikans doing everything," I confessed to Yosef who nodded in agreement.

"True. This megacity alone is capable of housing forty million people at maximum capacity, Kady. This is not just a simple project. This will be the monument to the ingenuity of the Dukedom and the skill of the Republic. The Grand Duke spared no expense in planning and constructing this," Yosef said proudly as we saw several cargo planes bearing the livery of the Grand Ducal Airfleet landing on the half-finished airport at the distance and subsequently unloading even more materials needed for the construction, "Twenty kilometres west of here lies another city of same size being built. In time, the plan is to connect these two to the nearby Autonomous Barony of Saturos located just twenty kilometres south of here."

"For what?" I asked frankly that made him shook his head, "You can't possibly lead me to believe that the Grand Duke just wake up one day and decided to build two metropolitan cities capable of housing his entire continent with millions of room to spare."

"I know as much as you do, Kady. The Riksentians know about this thing that occupies the time of our leader for several years but they don't see anything wrong with it. As you said, the Dukedom has enough money to buy the Republic many times over. Building two huge cities in the middle of nowhere are chump change compared to that," he then looked at Denal who is busy spending his time watching the workers do their job and waving at them once in a while, "If you want to explore more then, by all means, feel free until four in the afternoon. I personally vouched for you two so no police officers or soldiers will bother you. Think of it as part of your immersion tasks. Get going."

He dismissed us as he took out his mobile phone and called someone before walking away from where we are standing.

"Kady?"

I looked at Denal and smiled, "You go where you want to go. Just don't enter the city proper. We might get lost. The outskirts are fine. There are a lot of people to talk to. See you later!"

I waved him goodbye and proceed to walk towards a large park being constructed at the edge of the city. Trees are being replanted, gardeners planting seeds and the ground is being paved in earnest.

Because of my experience working on all kinds of jobs, I've met virtually just every kind of employees and workers possible.

Looking at the Maharlikans chatting while doing their job, I can safely say with confidence that they are not just here for the money nor being forced to do hard labour. 

They love working here.

I can see the smile on their faces and their vigour as they continue following the requests of their Riksentian supervisors and bosses with enthusiasm and gusto.

When I saw an empty bench nearby, I decided to take a seat and continue watching my countrymates do their job.

Thankfully, the weather here is not that extreme. A bit cold but not too much. The sun is shining brightly while the cool breeze flow from the sea.

"Is this seat taken, young lady?"

I looked up and saw an old man in one of the Riksentian supervisor's uniforms standing in front of me.

I shook my head and smiled a little, "No, sir. Please take it."

"I thank you. My back is not what it is used to be," he said thankfully as he let out a groan before sitting beside me, "You don't look like a Maharlikan employee. A visitor perhaps?"

"Yes. I and my classmate was brought here by the Head of House Freedel as part of our immersion here at the Dukedom. He ordered us to explore and look around but I decided to just sit here and observe the people work."

The man chuckled and offered his hand to me, "Folks here call me Sir Al. I work as one of the thousands of foreman here. What is your name, young lady?"

"Kady, Sir Al. Kady Groves from Maharlika, a pleasure to meet you."

"No, the pleasure is absolutely mine. What do you think of our job here, Kady?"

I looked around us and smiled, "It is definitely a testament to how much can Riksentians and Maharlikans do when they are together. No, literally, the sky is the limit." I said in amazement as I gazed at several skyscrapers not unlike those in Tayabas are being built right before my very eyes.

"That's true. These cities will be a reminder of how far has the Dukedom and Republic go as partners for centuries," the old foreman said as he glanced at me with a sad look on her face, "Though, judging by your expression, you don't seem to be satisfied by what you see at all. Why is that?"

I unconsciously let out a laugh of disbelief as my mouth got a better of me yet again, "How can I be satisfied when all these resources are being wasted?"

"Wasted?"

"I asked our host what this city in the middle of goodness knows where is doing here and he can't provide me with an answer at all. What is this for, Sir Al? Did your boss told you down here why are you doing this?"

The old man seemed taken aback by my words but he managed to answer kindly, "No. We are just told that this city and its sister is for the future that is yet to come and the Grand Duke was hoping that it won't be put to use at all."

"If he is hoping to not use it at all, why bother making it in the first place?" I asked testily before shaking my head, "No, there might be a reason that my ignorant mind can't comprehend. But for me, this is incomprehensible."

He nodded silently as he looked around us, "I can understand what you are saying but think of it this way, this megaproject is also helping millions of Maharlikans and their families back home. The Empire has its own lack of workforce while the Kingdom reasonably don't want to share their own people. It created jobs for the jobless and shared the wealth of Riksent to Maharlika. I guess judging by that alone, you can say that there is some good benefits from this seemingly pointless endeavour."

"I can't argue with that fact, Sir Al. My country would've already starved itself to oblivion if not for the jobs the Dukedom has created for us. But still..."

Sir Al nodded and smiled at me kindly.

His face is really old, he must be over eight years old already. His hair is silver and thick while his face looks like it has seen sadness and regret to last until his final day. However, what caught my attention is his deep black eyes. Despite his advanced age, it looks full of life and vigour.

"Where are your parents, Kady? Are they working in Maharlika or abroad?"

I shook my head and smiled sadly, "I'm all alone, Sir Al."

"So you're in the same boat as I am," he answered simply as he looked at his wrinkled hands and sighed, "I lost my wife just a year after our only child was born. More than two decades later, it was my child who left me to join his mother. Honestly, I don't know why am I still trying to live when my reason to do so is no longer here with me."

"I used to ask that question too, Sir Al," I said truthfully as I stare at my own frail hands, "Why am I even here? What's the point of even breathing? But I remembered what my father told me and that made realize that there's so much more to do than question my reason for existing.

"Care to share what your father had said to you, Kady?"

I nodded and smiled, "He said that I must continue moving forward and see, experience and live through the things that I haven't experience yet. I will continue marching on, alone if needed, until I can find what I am looking for."

He looked at me in awe as I stood up and bowed my head to him, "I think it's time for me to go. I wouldn't want to waste your precious time. Thank you, Sir Al."

"No, thank you, Kady. Your words resonated to me in many ways that I cannot find words to express it," he said as he reached out for my hand and squeezed it gently, "May you find what you are looking for, Kady and I do hope that we can meet again here, in this very place in the future."

I nodded and smiled expectantly, "I will look forward to it, Sir Al. Until we meet again."

And with that, I turned my back on him and proceed to meet Denal who is waving at me across the empty street.

"How did it go, Denal? What's that you're holding?" I asked curiously as he looked at the brown paper bag he is holding, "Where did you get that?"

"Oh, this? Some workers gave me this. They said it's full of candies and chocolates," he answered happily before opening it and showing me the content, "Go on Kady, get some. There's so many inside, I can't possibly eat them all."

I chuckled and nodded as I took a strawberry candy, unwrapped it and pop it in my mouth, "Riksentian sweets always have this distinct milky texture."

"Oh, you noticed too? I think it's because they have a lot of meadows and alps to herd their cows too. Have you seen the huge cattle farm on the way here? I'm sure there are thousands of cows in there. It's like a whole sea of them moving at the same time at the edge of the hill."

I inclined my head and smiled when I remembered what he is trying to say, "Yes, I saw that one too. No wonder Riksentian milk is of the highest quality. Their cows are really well taken care of and produce more dairy products than what their country consumed. But why the heck are we talking about cows Denal? Do you like them a lot?"

"Actually, I and my mother dream of having a cattle farm someday. We will live nearby and just enjoy taking care of them peacefully. Pretty impossible, huh?"

"Well, who knows? Someday I might have to knock in your door and ask for a bottle of fresh milk?" I asked him seriously that made him a bit hopeful as we saw Yosef waving at us energetically.

I looked back once again to the city and smiled.

Maybe there's really a method behind this madness.