7 Coming Together

"Knowing the future sure is helpful", Roland thought to himself. Since he was now aware that the noble families in Longsong Stronghold were planning on rebelling, he was able to take appropriate precautions. The garrison had been placed on alert and reinforcements were secretly sent.

Facing prepared opposition, the army of the nobles had no chance. Their knights were cut down with the machine gun the garrison was given. This time, the army suffered much fewer casualties than they hand originally. Soon after the attack failed, Roland's men arrested all of the nobles. With their plot now exposed, Roland now had a valid reason to eliminate them. He knew that the nobles would always oppose modernization because they wanted to protect their own power and privileges. With this, there would be no more opposition to him in his lands.

Roland looked up when Nightingale entered his room. "Have you finished questioning the nobles?", asked Roland.

"Yes your highness, here is a list of all the ones who are guilty". Nightingale handed Roland a sheet of paper.

"Good work Nightingale. I know that you can be counted on to do a good job", said Roland. "You are really important to me and it is my good fortune to have you around."

"Thank you", responded Nightingale.

Roland then expected Nightingale to leave, but she remained in the room. "Is there anything you need?", asked Roland.

Nightingale froze for a moment. She looked as though she was unsure of what to do. After a few moments, she gathered up her breath and spoke.

"Roland", she said. "I.... I…" She couldn't seem to be able to finish the sentence.

Roland stood up and went over to Nightingale. He told her, "don't be afraid, what do you want to tell me?" Roland wasn't sure what Nightingale was doing but she looked quite distressed. He held onto her hand to reassure her.

"I love you", blurted out Nightingale. Then she hugged Roland.

Roland's brain short circuited. He definitely hadn't been expecting this and he had no idea what to say. He liked Nightingale, he really did. She was a nice girl. But he also likes Anna. How was he supposed to choose?

Roland didn't know what to do. So, he told her, "Give me some time to think about it". He inwardly cringed at how that sounded.

Nightingale dashed out of the room. "I am a real bastard", Roland thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Nightingale curled up in her bed, afraid of what will happen next.

Next, Roland visited Anna. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. He told her, "Nightingale just confessed her love to me."

Anna's face widened in shock. After freezing for several seconds, she asked, "What did you tell her?"

"I told her that I needed to think about it", answered Roland.

Suddenly, Anna blurted out "I love you too; and I want to be with you".

Now Roland really did not know what to do. He was caught between two girls and he couldn't bear to reject either one of them. Roland covered his face and put his head on the table. Then he let out a cry of anguish.

Anna was afraid of what might happen next. Was Roland going to choose Nightingale? Would she be alone. Then she remembered that kings often took multiple wives. Latching onto this chance, she told him, "It would be alright if you married both of us."

Roland paused. The whole idea of having multiple wives was completely foreign to him. In modern day Earth, society taught that everyone should only have one wife. He turned to Anna and asked, "Are you really alright with that?"

"Yes", she answered.

Roland then took Anna along and went to Nightingale's room. He opened the door and saw Nightingale on her bed. He then spoke, "Nightingale, I have come to a decision."

Nightingale spun around and looked at him with both hope and fear in her eyes.

Roland gathered up his breath and said, "I will marry both of you."

Nightingale jumped up and embraced Roland while crying tears of joy. Anna also joined in with the hug. They stood there in that position for several minutes.

********************************************************

Today, the first gunboat was being launched. Roland, Anna, and Nightingale along with Steven were watching the gunboat be launched. Anna turned to Roland and asked, "What are you going to name the ship? I heard that you promised to name a ship after the best gunner."

"Not this one", answered Roland. "The first gunboat needs a special name. I shall name it the Roland No. 1!"

Suddenly, Steven made a strange gurgling noise and looked as if he was about to choke. After coughing several times, he finally recovered."

Roland looked concerned and asked, "Is there something wrong with the name?"

"It's just that… Whenever I hear that name it gives me the feeling that the ship is just waiting to explode", said Steven.

Roland: …

Everyone gave Steven a strange look. After a few seconds of silence, Roland cleared his throat and said, "I am in charge of naming it and I will name it the Roland."

Suddenly, a messenger came and told Roland, "A group of people just arrived. They say that they are emissaries from the church."

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