Chapter 2
Meanwhile, in the town of Zue, in a palatial spread alongside the pleasant sea, the Directrix, his wife, his sister-in-law, and his nephew were enjoying the fortnight and a half honeymoon. They sat on beachchairs, sunning themselves, and discussed matters such as politics, history, and love. Cherie was especially interested in love.
"Natonito, how did you know that you were in love with my sister?" Cherie asked.
"It would be too easy to say that it was only because of your sister's beautiful body or the wonderful ways she had in bed, for those are something all too common in this world, and are not true ways to determine love. I was with your sister a long time before I realized I was in love with her. I listened to and valued her opinion without even thinking about it. I would let her run the harem without my interference because I did not want to offend her. Finally I slept with no one but her, simply because I loved to be with her, to talk with her, to hear her giggle, to rub my hands along her skin, to taste her pores, and just simply to be with her. That is how you know you are in love, in that you are not with someone because of what they have to say, or because of what you do, but because you just like being with them, whether you do anything or not," Natonito said to a rapt audience.
"Thank you, brother. I am glad that you are much nicer than everyone says," Cherie said with a smile.
"You are a cute sister, Cherie. It is a shame I did not get to see you after you were a baby. I would have enjoyed being around such a wonderful girl as you," Bathsheba said.
"I am glad to have met you too, Cherie. I have never met a young lady with the love of life that you have. Every conversation with you is an adventure into love and humor and happiness. I just lose myself in your beautiful brown eyes and your sweet, melodic voice," young Henry Bravia said.
The gently rolling sea-green waves rolled into the yellow quartz
sand beaches in the pleasant evening sun as the breeze blew over the beach
and the foursome. A young man in an SMS (Secfenian Mail Service) was
carrying an urgent message from General Van Larken in New Russville.
Natonito opened the message and read it out to the others:
"Have found treachery in New Russville. Petain, captured rebel chief,
pointed finger at the Longberts. Apprehended the Longberts, who confessed
their crimes and were punished. Cherie is Dutchess Longbert. Otherwise,
construction going fine. Hope to see you in two and a half weeks.
VL"
"I am sorry about your family, dear sister," Natonito said with a shiver.
"Maybe that is why your butterflies pestered my brother so," Cherie said, with a chill in her voice. "After all, those Great Purple Hairstreaks would alight on me, but they pestered my brother."
"There is some mystical connection between butterflies and fate it seems," Natonito said. "In fact, I use those butterflies in interrogations with suspects. If someone is lying, the butterflies will attack them, no matter what they protest. If the suspect is innocent, the butterflies will gently land on them and relax. In this way I can treat suspects fairly and only prosecute the guilty ones."
"That is interesting, uncle. Did you know my father wrote a guide to understanding butterflies and what they mean?" Henry said with a smile.
"No, I did not know that. I shall have to check that out sometime," Natonito said with a wide grin, which showed on occasion. There was a short pause.
"There is something about the sea that I find irresistable," Bathsheba said quietly.
"I have always marveled about the peacefulness and repitition of the waves, relaxing and steady in a hectic and unsteady world," Natonito gently said.
The two couples tried to take solace in life and beauty and held each other close and the sun went down on the pleasant beach before they went inside, cuddled some more and conversed in their separate bedrooms, and then went to sleep. Naturally, Natonito and Bathsheba slept together in a king sized bed in one room, and Cherie and Henry made out before sleeping in their seperate twin beds.
The three weeks were filled with pleasant conversation and went by quickly, as Cherie was adopted by Natonito in fact, if not it name. The young Dutchess, beautiful and bright, hoped for a continuance of the love that she had discovered, as did her young and earnest suitor, while Natonito and Bathsheba reveled in their love that had made this world worth more than any titles or money could bring. As Cherie and the Albrights parted from Henry Bravia, the two young lovers kissed and promised to meet again. Henry's carrier took him to Bravia, where his father, Oen Bravia II, was a Senator for the Empire. The other three were heading back for the dedication of the city of New Russville, now completed and in stark, stone beauty, before heading back to West Fenia and home.
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