With love, Spain

VIII.

To my misfortune, the visits to the Empire's harem did not manage to be as frequent. I feel that the greatest misfortune was that I was never able to reunite my little brothers with whom they could have shown more love.

My days passed with relative normality, while the new tutors and teachers relieved me in the education of the colonies, I finally had time to promote my leisure.

"Why aren't you in the library?" Insular del Caribe questioned me, carrying a heavy volume of geography in his hands.

"Because what you haven't learned yet, I already know," he replied maliciously. I know, I know, what kind of person glories in putting down a girl? Well, this unscrupulous prince.

In the afternoons, he made my little brothers suspend their classes to invite them to eat in the gardens or ride the horses. Sometimes the boys would challenge me with their wooden sabers while the girls offered me their crudely embroidered handkerchiefs.

I think those days we were happy. Sure, there were yelling, crying, fighting, and swearing, but there were also hugs, jokes, and words of encouragement. When I didn't have to educate them, it was when we best lived together.

He smiled thinking how we spent time in the kitchens, a prince cooking? And on top of being a representation! By that point, the entire population of the castle was immune to the antics of my younger self.

It was the Spanish Empire that instilled in me curiosity, tenacity and love for good cooking. Does it surprise you? Looking back, before "it" he was a good father.

He tried to be for a long time after but I didn't let him. Whether my actions were unfair or not, I leave it to the judgment of others, but I am not interested in knowing his sentences, scolding or comforting words from him.

And yet, no matter how good the weather is for the harvest, the farmer always anticipates drought and storms. Something I failed to anticipate.

It was one Sunday, after going to church and while we were eating some fruit, that a couple of servants appeared escorting a man of distinguished bearing.

Heralds of bad news and the executioner of my quiet days.

The letter was short, imposing and indisputable, not only my father, but also the kings, the court and even the Pope himself demanded my prompt return to Spanish territory. Leaving me two unpleasant options: get on the ship of my own free will or carried by a couple of guards.

Only a month and a few weeks had been enough for me to fall in love with these tropical and varied landscapes. My stay was limited to the center of New Spain, an antonym to my initial intention to explore all the colonized lands, but that alone was enough for me to understand the wonders of the New World.

Time was up and I had to return home in two days.

My little brothers came and went in my room, watching curiously as the servants folded my clothes and wrapped some of my objects.

"Are you leaving?" Chile finally asked me, frowning and arms crossed. The children stopped running to hear my answer.

-Their Highnesses of him, our kings have requested it, and the Spanish Empire, our father, has demanded it that way- I replied, containing the bile that threatened to rise up my throat.

-But...- Nueva Granada pressed her skirt with her fists- She can't leave!

-Do not go!

-No!

Now I had seven children bawling and clinging to my legs, as if that would keep me a soldier in their lives forever. I wish it would have worked. Only Chile seemed aware of the futility of such an act, his small figure remained standing, in the same frowning position.

"Leave me alone with them for a while," I asked the servants, who dropped everything and quickly complied with my order.

I sat on the bed and they followed me. My little sisters were fighting to sit on my lap.

"I'll be back, I promise you that" I blurted out without really being sure of my words, I just wanted to comfort them.

"I don't want you to leave, when you're here, no one hits or punishes us," Peru bellowed.

Those words filled my heart with fear, anger, and grief, but also with regret and guilt. Instead of spending my stay like a libertine, I should have done something to ensure the safety of my little brothers. I was irresponsible.

-Listen carefully- I got up and waited for them to calm down- No one has the right to do anything to you. You are colonies of the Spanish Empire, you are its sons and daughters, you are protected by the crown.

"But... we are bastards, no one respects us," Rio de la Plata rebutted, his little golden eyes injected with rage.

-Yes, they are- it was not worth denying the reality of their origin- You are bastards, spawn of sin, evidence of adultery and consequence of the debauchery of your mothers- the children sank more and more with each word- so what? You know it, it is your cross. Just as people look at me and call me a "brainless and impropriety prince", I continue to hold my head high because I know who I am and I trust myself and God to guide my steps. Know your cross and no one will be able to use it against you.

-My children, you must be strong and remember who you are, you must pray a lot so that Providence protects you. I will try to help you from home, but you must promise me that you will continue learning, growing and that you will not allow anyone to step on your honor.

The girls were a sea of tears as they nodded their heads, while my little brothers became strong and endured theirs. Except for Peru, that kid has never been good at hiding his true feelings.

-I'll learn the alphabet correctly- sobbed Venezuela, clinging to her twin- so I can write to you whenever I please.

-I'll die of old age before that happens- I tried to joke and I failed-. I will wait with you for your letters, my children- I corrected and those words pleased them more.

In those two days I had to do what I had relegated for a month and a half, guarantee the care of the minors. I made the viceroys of New Spain promise that they would maintain the classes for their colony, as well as procure the appropriate care for the nobility. Reluctantly they agreed, on the condition that the viceroy was directly in charge of supervising their education.

I sent letters to the other viceroys and governors of the new world, with similar instructions and warnings. Why did I do it if my brothers were congregated in the same territory? Because I knew it wouldn't be like this for long.

My father as an explorer and regent was excellent, but his strategic level was never relevant, he could advise kings and ministers but rarely paid attention to his military plans. A color fact would be to highlight that my mother used to defeat him with some ease in any chess game, just like me. He knew, therefore, that he would be frustrated, angry, and afraid that his colonies, being educated and regaining their sense of honor, might form a union, so he sent the children back to their original territories. .

As I sailed from the port, the children were put into carriages and other boats, not to be seen again for a long time.

Separate and conquer, a simple but effective strategy. My father had displayed a fleeting glimmer of intelligence that would keep his empire going for centuries.

However, like Cronus trying to avoid the prophecy of Uranus, no matter how hard he ran, my father's days were marked and it would be his children who would put an end to it.