Groceries (1)

Out of the 30 Venezuelan Junta members, non of them remained alive. They were all already dead at the beginning of Felipe's take over or with most of their feet licked away—they have put salt on the palms of the feet and let many goats lick their feet away as they give up information, not knowing that they will die anyways.

Thanks to the archaic interrogation methods, Felipe could find other 40 informants in the empire helping the Independence of Venezuela. They were formally captured and charged with high treason. And unlike them, they had formal trials where lawyers went head to head trying to point each other's case.

Thirty-four people were found guilty of just treason, different than high treason, as it was the difference between life and death. They did nothing grave, but at the same time, they just let it be.

1 Month has gone since Felipe took charge as a dictator, and he just woke up. He has been staying in the same house the whole time alongside a mother and a daughter.

"… Thank you for the hot chocolate," Felipe said politely as he was going through his typical report; 1 month was enough time to get some new officials that would be able to provide him with enough information to understand what was going on in his domain.

"…" The mother just nodded and didn't dare to speak.

She was allowed to live in the house with her daughter, and with her husband gone, she could only accept her reality.

Felipe didn't care about it and just went off his day as he finished his breakfast. He now has to deal with starting a mining operation on the southern part of the Gran Duchy.

After he left, the housewife sighed, wondering what would be of her future life.

---

1 Month ago.

Maria Lucia Esperanza de Antonietta POV.

It has been three months since my husband has been meeting with his colleagues to make this new republic. I shouldn't have put myself in his business, but it was impossible not to do so. Everyone is talking about it.

As far as I know, Venezuela is now independent. A government has been created; my husband is one of the fathers of the country… or that is how he puts it.

I am just worried that we will not have a king. Won't God punish us for trying to do so? He reassured me that the United States doesn't have a king.

All in all, it is Saturday. I am going with Alice to get enough provisions for the next week on market day. Sergio will remain at home managing his business.

"Pamela, prepare things to go to the market."

"Yes, master."

"And bring Alicia. It is already getting late."

"Yes, master." She quickly left the room as I finished fixing my hair.

If my husband is that important, won't this mean I will be the envy of the whole city? Sigh, I must give my husband a son. I will pray to God tomorrow for a son.

--

"Papa, are you coming with us to the Market?" Alicia asked as they were already at the door, ready to go to the plaza.

"I am afraid no. If I finish my matters ahead, I will join you guys." Sergio said she was fixing his necklace. I wonder what it is… I shouldn't ask.

"What is it?" I can't seem to resist myself. My curiosity about all that is happening pushes me.

"An emergency meeting from the Junta, but nothing serious, normally doesn't take much time. Probably something about money. They always want money." He explained, sighing. I don't understand much of it.

"Um, then, good luck."

"Same." He says as he kisses Alicia on the forehead before he kisses me on the cheek. He is so shameless.

--

As we go through the most distinguished streets, we see that people put their most expensive out for everyone to see. Now that I see the Jimenez has an excellent-looking flower base, I must ask Sergio for a prettier one.

Long before we arrived at the plaza, the ground was bumpy, just like all of them, due to the giant stones used to make it. Why can't they make the floor flatter? It is an annoyance to walk with fancy shoes.

"Mother, there are a lot of people here."

"Yes indeed, normally Pamela is the one that comes to buy the food for the week every day, but you are at an age where you need to know how to be part of your household as a wife. Being able to do this is essential to make a husband happy."

"Really? Then I must learn to make my future husband happy." She is such a good child. Even though the proof that we are descendants of pure Spaniards no longer matters, I wish her future husband also has evidence of being a Spaniard. Hence, my grandchildren are also full-blooded Spaniards.

"My lady, it's an honour to greet us with your presence." The shop owner said that maintaining a reasonable distance is good. I don't want to breathe the same air.

"How much are the eggs" I must finish this faster. I underestimated the smell of horseshit the street has. My dress is getting dirtier by just being here.

PAH!

I look back to where the colossal sound happened.

Everyone is looking at it the same way.

Pah Pah!

It was clear now. The sound is the thunder-sound of bullets.

"Alicia, Pamela, quickly, let's go, let's go."

The shots grew in numbers, and I could only imitate everyone as I panicked. I shouldn't do it. I scared Alicia as well. I had to pull her hard for her to keep walking.

The plaza with only five main entrances with hundreds of people quickly became a stampede. I can see Pamela, but I am gripping Alice with everything I got. I look to the side as we leave our soldier coming this way to the central plaza. The people of the houses around us are just bringing their fancy possessions inside so the mob does not destroy them.

I pulled us to one side, and it worked.

"Moooommmmmm. Sniff sniff… I wanna go home." Good God, that is where we are going.

"Calm down, calm down." Without thinking, my legs are shaking. The people shooting were shooting at the town hall, where Sergio is. Ah! Please, God, protect him at all costs.

All I can do is for us to get an opening to go back home. I wait 10 minutes as Alice is crying nonstop. I could care less. I am my self-calling, as every thunderous bullet I hear is devastating.

"Miss, what are you doing here?"

I snap back to reality as I see a young soldier.

"What is happening," I only want answers as I cling to him. Even though I have been crying all along, the moment I put my arms on the soldier, I start crying even more. "Please tell me what is happening and if my husband is alive."

"…Miss… you should go home now! We don't know what is happening, but some people have taken over the town hall with muskets. I could tell he wanted to keep going, and Alice and I started crying even more. She probably doesn't understand why I am crying, but it is because I am calling.

"Miss, listen. I must go, I need to go if I don't go, I will be in big problems. It would help if you did the same. Go home." He removes me with his superior strength and quickly leaves Alice and me on the floor, crying.

I must get up.

"Come on, let's go." I wipe my tears and pull myself together to walk faster on the bumpy road. Alice follows just because I am hurting her.

It is not before I fall.

"Waaahhhhhh, mommy, I am scared." Alice keeps crying. We are near our house. I shake myself up and keep running at a lower speed than before. I must keep Alice safe.

Finally, after a few minutes, I arrived at our house. I still heard the loud shots being fired in the distant plaza.

I try opening the door, but it is locked.

I start knocking.

"Open the door!" I yell over my daughter's cries. Pamela has the keys to the house. The only option is for her to have been here before me. If not, I must go to the Ramirez and see if they let us in.

The door finally opens. It is Pamela.

"Oh, Master, I was so worried!" She said as we went in and closed the door behind us. I can see that Pamela has also been crying. Who wouldn't? This might be war. This might be God punishing us for trying to throw two kings over.

'Holy father, please forgive our sins and please protect my husband. That is all I ask for.' I properly pray as my worries go up, thinking we didn't get groceries. What if this is war—we will go hungry in just a few days.