Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Twenty-Six: Leaving for War

Pressing a kiss to the top of Mateo's head, Cristiano held his youngest son close hoping that he would be home soon; he didn't want to miss out on his son's life fighting wars all of the time. 

It had barely been a few days since Cristiano had married Camelia and now he was leaving her behind, he had hoped to have more time with his new wife and their sons but the Emperor was insistent. 

There was no one that he trusted more to deal with this rebellion than Cristiano, he was one of his most trusted generals and Emperor Carlo knew that it would be dealt with quickly before it got out of hand. 

Cristiano looked at Camelia, he didn't know when he would be seeing her or the children again but he was entrusting Jorge to look out for them while he was gone. 

Handing his youngest over to the maids, Cristiano moved to say goodbye to Junior who looked so lost right now; he didn't blame him for being confused about all of this. 

It had been so peaceful before the news had come of the rebellion and Cristiano had no choice but to answer the call; he couldn't deny the Emperor that had treated him so well. 

"Be good for your mama," Cristiano whispered hugging Junior, he held him close wanting to offer his son comfort before he had to leave. 

The trip was going to be hard enough and Cristiano didn't want his last memory of his eldest son to be of him crying; it could be months before he was able to come home and see them again. 

Camelia took a deep breath, she couldn't help but wondered when her husband would be coming home to her again; she didn't even want to think of being told that he had been killed in action. 

The thought of that alone terrified her and Camelia didn't know what she would do if something happened to him; she just prayed that it would all work out and she wouldn't be burying her husband.

Cristiano looked to Camelia as he gently pulled away from Junior, he wasn't looking forward to this part but there was little that he could do about it; it wasn't like he could refuse the emperor. 

Standing up Cristiano walked over to Camelia and kissed her, he was going to miss her so much and it would be safer if she and the children remained here; the last thing that he wanted was for something to happen to them. 

Holding his wife close, Cristiano feared what the future might hold for them and he could only hope that it would work out for them; he couldn't imagine spending years apart from Camelia. 

They had been through enough over the last few years and finally things were starting to work out, they just needed to hang on for a moment longer. 

"I love you," Camelia breathed pulling back from Cristiano, she brushed her fingers through his curls and wondered when she would see him again. 

It was a scary thought that this could be the very last time she got to hold Cristiano and Camelia was trying not to dwell on the thought that he could very well return from this war in a coffin. 

Cristiano kissed her again, he wasn't going to say goodbye and he could only hope that they would be reunited soon; he couldn't wait to come home and spend more time with his family. 

"I love you too," Cristiano murmured pulling back, he smiled at Camelia before he prepared to leave; he dreaded this moment and he hoped that it would be over soon. 

Watching as Cristiano walked away, Camelia took a deep breath knowing that she needed to be strong; he was doing his duty and she couldn't hold that against him. 

No one was sure what was going to happen but they could only hope that Cristiano would be back soon; the rebellion would be quickly put down and he would be coming home before they knew it.

***

Walking through the halls of the palace, Cristiano kept his face blank as he followed the man that had come to collect him when he had arrived; it had been a couple of days since he had left his home behind. 

It had been a long trip from Vilamoura to the empire capital of Madrid, Cristiano was just glad that there was very little waiting around to be done; he wanted this over with so he could return. 

They quickly reached the war room where the emperor was consulting with other generals, Cristiano knew that any of them would have happily taken his place. 

"General Ronaldo," the man announced stepping aside to allowing Cristiano to step into the room, everything was busy in this room and no one was sure what could happen from one moment to the next. 

Cristiano bowed down to Emperor Carlo, it had been a while since he had seen the man and he was sure that the last time he had seen him was in the second capital of Lisbon. 

Emperor Carlo smiled turning to greet his old friend, he hated that he had been forced to pull the general from his break but it had been necessary; he would make it up to him at a later date. 

Emperor Carlo knew all about what had been going on in Cristiano's life since he had met the boy, he had been so thrilled to hear that he had finally married the woman that he wanted. 

His own wife, the Empress Mariann, had often told him of her dislike for Catalina; she had even refused to have Cristiano in court because that woman would come with him. 

The royal couple hadn't been surprised when they had learnt that Catalina had been sleeping with Hugo; there were enough whispers about her around court that would have made even a whore faint in shame. 

"You Imperial Highness," Cristiano greeted bowing down to the emperor, he lowered his eyes for a moment knowing that he would have been nothing without the man that was stood before him.

General Ramos and Lord Casillas nodded to Cristiano when he straightened up, they were pleased to see him again and they had heard all the drama that had centred around his life in the last few months. 

They were just relieved that it had all worked out for him, it would have been a mess if Cristiano hadn't listened to reason and had accidentally executed the woman that he loved instead of his brother. 

"It's wonderful to see you again my friend," Emperor Carlo greeted moving over to speak with Cristiano, he was thrilled that the general had been able to join them so quickly. 

The last thing that the empire needed was for people thinking that they could rebel against them and get away with it; the sooner that the rebels were dealt with the better. 

"And I hear congratulations are in order. How is the Lady Camelia?" Emperor Carlo mused with a smile, he was so very happy for Cristiano and he couldn't imagine what Dolores had been thinking when she had picked Catalina for a wife. 

It was so very clear for everyone to see that Cristiano hadn't liked her and now there was nothing to link him to his former wife; not even the child that his own brother had fathered. 

Cristiano smiled softly, he missed Camelia and their sons and he hoped that he would be able to see them soon; they'd been through enough without adding this to the list. 

"She's well," Cristiano replied not wanting to talk too much about his new wife when he was here to work, he wanted to keep Camelia and their sons away from politics.

It was the reason that Cristiano had chosen Vilamoura as his home instead of the two capitals, he didn't want to be dragged into that backstabbing world when things were going so well there. 

Emperor Carlo nodded his head, he was looking forward to finally meeting the woman that he had heard so much about.