F**k, Henry

Henry boarded Henry's Galley as they started a trip from the now Capital back to the old Capital of the Kingdom.

There are two ways they could get there, one by land and the other by sea. Nevertheless, the trip from the new Capital Port-Au Prince, to the old one needed to be more remote, and there was a need to climb over mountain ranges which, even with maintenance, would be dangerous.

Felipe could understand the logistics of maintaining a connective system of roads in a country where it is mostly mountain ranges; after all, The Colombian Empire was in the same boat. As a matter of fact, the Colombian Empire was even more isolated as most of its population lived within the valleys of the mountain ranges.

So it was only natural for them to trans-navigate outside the island to get faster to the island's north side.

"One decade, huh," Felipe said as he looked at the stats of the Haitian Government, especially the stats of literalism and other factors of the economy, which were plastered in pages for Felipe to read, all that while the vast galley was moving side to side due to the somewhat large waves; they were basically trailing the coastline as not to deviate from the island too much.

Nonetheless, the new Haitian Kingdom has improved their literacy by a considerable margin, especially in the basis of teaching French. The transition from Haitian Creole to French was smoother than predicted. The French have yet to be through the revolution; they are not eager to help Haiti or any other nation to spread the French Language.

But, they were motivated by racism. Wanting to expel most of the country's blacks, they helped Haiti get actual French Instructors, the majority black.

All in all, the literacy rate has created a newspaper in the Kingdom. There was a foundation for a printing economy. The books mostly hailed from France. Though there was not enough economy to support a wide import of books, the necessity for cheap textbooks created a piracy printing book for the Kingdom.

"The number of people that learnt how to use numbers simplistically increased a lot, though it mainly was known by the young generation; over one decade, the young have become adults, and their somewhat advanced skills have begun creating an actual economy.

The island's food security was met. From there, everything was just fair game, selling to France, UK and Germany more than anything.

A Haitian university was created though it has only been 3 years since it started. All in all, both kings really paid attention to his advice.

"The south has just been conquered, the country is in a state of progress… the south is relentlessly trying to grip upon the Haitian Creole, that is why we moved the Capital, that is also why all the buildings look new… it's because they are new."

Felipe didn't say anything as he began to think about it; after all, Caracas, the Capital of the Great Duchy of Venezuela, could have fallen to a similar fate. But fortunately for him, they could easily take over the rebel city. Luck and timing.

"The people in the Capital are mostly from the North; that's why everyone knows you. You know you are kind of it; some say the Haitian Kingdom should join the Colombian Empire." Henry said, looking at every movement on Felipe's face.

Despite the bonding over dinner and everything else, Henry could not remain entirely with his guard down. After all, he was now on a ship in the middle of the ocean, profoundly outnumbered in the middle of the sea; his insecurity couldn't help but spring out.

"That would be a negative for me; not only would I have to take care of a country, I have no direct control or interest in administrating. I am not interested in it; I can give you my word. Moreover, even though my mouth is full, I still have half of my continent to take over. My last interest is Haiti." Felipe really could care.

Both were young rulers; even though both were constitutional monarchs, each country's Government worked because it worked for them rather than the other way around it. Though Felipe is not really yet a monarch, Felipe practically does or influences all the decisions.

Felipe chuckled as he realized what was happening through the young's king head. All the façade he puts, yet still immature in the very core.

The splashes of the waves could be heard as the ship continued, as if nothing was happening.

"Thank you for reassuring me," Henry said as he felt awkward.

"Anyways, let's begin talking about how we will start colonizing Africa and from where," Felipe said while spreading the papers.

"…" Henry became serious, came close to Felipe, and looked at the paper Felipe had drafted. "How old is this?"

"2 Weeks," Felipe said without any shame.

"…"

"What? The alternative would be you rejecting this agreement." Felipe chuckled, "Might as well save us time."

"Gold, Silver, Precious Metals, Steel, Salt, Wood…" Henry kept reading as he went down to the last part of the page, having read 88 Classification of resources. Then there was the partitioning of land and much more.

"Your general Bolivar, isn't he also a king?" Henry asked, a bit curious.

"Yup, he is represented within the Empire. If he were to know my plans for the Colonization of Africa, he would really beat me up. So I rather not tell him, but he, on a personal level, will be represented as well as you are being represented, or rather, his royal house. As for the Kingdom of Bolivia, they are represented within the Empire's interests; after all, they are just a country in name. The crown in only in name."

There was silence.

"You say here you will be the biggest investor… yet… last I heard about your ventures was the fact collapsing in the USA." Henry said as he questioned him, "Will you start selling your cure for Malaria?" Henry asked as he chuckled.

"Heh, no. Of course not. You can trust I will have the money."

"…"

"Please, keep this draft… of course, the moment you sign it, we will be in business, though you said you are having problems within your borders; we are not so different."

"… The senate would have to vote on this, though."

"No, this will not. You would have to consider it yourself; after all, you are the commander in chief and responsible for waging conquer, which we will do."

"…"

The galley moved side to side, making a pencil move side to side as it was hitting the walls of the table; an office in a ship is made, knowing there will be a lot of movement. There was also a tiny window which illuminated the entire office.

"How about you let me have this to read more in detail? Especially how we will fend against the European Countries that outgun us in every possible way." Henry chuckled.

"That is only temporary," Felipe said as he was annoyed at the very little faith in him. The fact that Felipe knew the future of how steel fortresses could take on wooden ships like they were nothing already makes Felipe a powerhouse.

Felipe could try and make all those advances. Yet, the industrial complex of the other powers would crush the Colombian Empire in no time, with their industrial complexes able to out-produce the newly built Empire.

As long as the Colombian Empire can consistently outgun the British Empire, Felipe is confident enough to truly become a superpower able to ask for whatever amount of land of Africa in the Scramble for Africa.

"Let me think about it overnight."

"…" Felipe, at that moment, really wanted to wallop Henry. It was yes, then maybe, then back again at yes. Indeed having such type of partner will not create any trouble in the future.

--

It didn't take much for Felipe and Henry be able to arrive at the very first Capital of the Haitian Kingdom. Overall, the crowd was impressive; in a way, Felipe was made a saint there. There were figures of him being held up, though they didn't look like him, they just looked like a white guy, and that's it.

Felipe just smiled as he waved his hand alongside Henry. Felipe could only sympathize with Henry; after all, with such fame in his own country, he could try a coup d'etat.

Nevertheless, they had to push the people aside because they were too cramped. Felipe was a bit overwhelmed as even after going through the central city, they were still being followed up to the mountain range where the former king resided.

Felipe could not remember his past experiences due to the number of people following them. Felipe didn't have such a goodbye event in Bogota or Caracas. Even though he was able to increase the living standards in the region of Venezuela, he was still, nonetheless, a conqueror, a crusher of republicanism.

In contrast, he was kin to God in Haiti.

After arriving at the second Capital of the Haitian Empire, he saw another procession of people trying to get a glimpse of him or trying to touch him.

"My popularity here is nothing more than terrifying," Felipe said, chuckling and looking at Henry.

"Aye, that time in the mountain jungle really changed us… even in the popularity of the monarchy," Henry said, a bit bittersweet; after all, his popularity has spilled over him, making governing easier.

Felipe arrived at the vast mansion, and finally, the royal guards and the fences were able to give them peace.

The moment they entered, Felipe saw Henry the first. He has gotten older and visibly weaker. The son looked a bit ashamed, as if he had secondhand shame. Felipe just smiled and shooked his hand. "It has been a while, huh," Felipe said. He has been constantly in contact with Henry the 1st for a while, so in a way, he knew more about the man in front of him than the one beside him.

"It has been a while indeed. Please, please. Enter; you are in your house."

Felipe only nodded.

He just got inside, and the doors closed, making the outside noise disappear. Though, the noise was so significant that after a second of no noise, they could hear a faint noise coming from outside.

Felipe has done nothing to receive such kind of admiration. Still, people get fooled even in the 21st century almost as quickly.