RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 48-3: Gaia Shrugged (Part 3)

RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 48-3: Gaia Shrugged (Part 3)

Three weeks after the world has gone insane. Duchy of Indochina.

In a certain Ducal Palace that belongs to the Fesch bloodline, a family meeting of sorts is being held behind closed doors. Lying in the king-sized bed with a thick wool blanket covering everything below his neck is Duke Joseph Fesch. Sitting by the bedside is his wife, Audrey Fesch, while his sons, Manon and Bastien, are standing dutifully behind the mistress of the house.

Joseph has called for a family meeting, mostly with the boys with Audrey being there to support him. With the lasting damage inflicted upon their Indochina colony, Joseph called his sons to delegate them a task. Faking a cough and a deep intake of air, Joseph starts speaking with a mock effort.

"My sons... It has come to my attention that... A recent calamity has befallen our land." His next words grab the attention of both Manon and Bastien. "Houses were swept away, an entire section of a city collapsed... Lives had been lost, and the livelihood of the populace... Is at stake."

A coughing fit interrupted Joseph. The most genuine frightened expressions on his sons' faces proved to the Duke that his acting skill hadn't gone rusty at all. As Audrey starts wiping the spit on her husband's lips, Joseph says. "Thank you, my dear... Now, where was I?"

"You were talking about the citizens under our rule, dear father." His eldest son, Manon, answered clearly, but slowly for his ailing father to hear.

"Ah... Yes. I was talking about that..." Joseph slowly nods. "You see, my sons... Our governorship over Indochina has been stable and long-lasting thus far. Answer me this... Do you know why we could rule over them without being overthrown?"

This time, it's Bastien who responds immediately. "It has been because of our family's effective leadership, father."

"Quite so..." Joseph nodded with a thin smile. "But it's not a full answer, Bastien. Manon, give me your answer."

Hearing that, Audrey says. "It's surely doable for us with your skills. But it's as you have said, the people are an integral factor at play here. With enough preparation, they can rally half of Indochina against us."

"Then it's important that we make sure it doesn't come to that. Angela follows us for a reason. It's high time she gets to learn our way of rule in this corner of the world." Joseph responded.

Audrey raises an eyebrow at that. "You want her to be a prominent figure in such a time?"

Joseph nods. "Under our supervision, yes. She needs to learn about the people, firsthand. She needs to know what we're doing, to understand the eventual confrontation between ideologies. Manon is smitten with communism. Bastien dancing to the strings of the Japanese. Angela will have to pick what she is representing for soon or she will be swept away by the machination of higher powers. We won't be around all the time to protect her. Though if she chooses to side with the Reformists like we are, then it's all the better."

Audrey sighs. "You know I can't say no to you, so I guess the best I can do is to make sure things don't go off the rail. I already failed to educate my sons, I won't fail Angela now."

Joseph smiles, grasping in the hands of Audrey. "Thank you, my love. What would I do without you?"

"You silly man," Audrey giggles. "But I need to go to help Angela prepare. If I recall correctly, we will be traveling by sea, are we not?"

"That's right. I will bring along our elite units and our navy down South. The excuse will be that we're going to need them to rebuild the coastal regions. That way, the boys won't have access to heavy artillery any time soon."

Audrey nods. "A sound plan."