Republic Reborn: Against the Stars and Stripes
Chapter 134: Power

Chapter 134: Power

Alicia tensed up when she saw Don Suarez ascend the stairs with me.

She had just come out of Isabela’s room, where she had stayed since her first day in the Casa Real. Isabela had quickly taken a liking to her, and the two had grown closer over the past week—sharing meals, secrets, and even brushing each other’s hair at night like sisters.

Their friendship had blossomed, but that day, Alicia seemed reminded that her place in my household wasn’t entirely secure. As her only blood relative, law and tradition would side with Don Suarez if he ever demanded her return.

For a moment, the two stared at each other. Don Suarez stood amused, a smirk at the corner of his lips. Alicia looked startled, as if she had seen a ghost.

"Alicia... wait for me..." Isabela emerged from the door, and then smiled when she saw the girl was still there. Then she saw me and Don Suarez, and grew curious.

"Papa..." she muttered, glancing at the gobernadorcillo of Santa Cruz, whom she had not met before. "Who is our guest here?"

"Your daughter, Gobernador?" Don Suarez asked, the smirk turning into a polite smile.

"Yes... Isabela Lardizabal, the apple of my eye," I nodded. "Hija... this is Don Eugenio Suarez, gobernador of Santa Cruz."

Isabela curtly bowed and gave her signature warm, bright smile that summoned dimples on her cheeks. "A pleasure to meet you, Don Suarez."

Don Suarez returned the gesture. "Likewise, Señorita Lardizabal. Your fame precedes you. I was told our gobernador had a pretty daughter, and I thought they were just kissing your father’s boots. Now I know no lie had been told."

Isabela chuckled softly and unfurled her fan in front of her lips, more out of etiquette than shyness. If she had earned a peso for every compliment she received, she’d already rival a haciendero’s income

"Now... could you girls help the maids downstairs? We have a lot of guests in the conference room," I smiled, sensing that the awkwardness was only growing for Alicia.

"We were on our way, Papa..." she responded, then bowed at Don Suarez again before excitedly pulling the girl with her toward the stairs.

I heard the thudding of their footsteps fade as they descended, along with the sound of Isabela’s gentle laughter. The encounter had gone more smoothly than I had anticipated. But I knew I wasn’t off the hook just yet. If Suarez had wanted to make trouble, he could. But I was banking on the possibility that, given his coldness toward Alicia in the past, he wouldn’t care enough to contest her place under my roof.

I took the couch facing the stairs while I motioned Don Suarez to the opposite seat. I realized I had forgotten to ask Isabela to bring us coffee and snacks.

"Now... Don Suarez, what is it you wanted to talk to me about in private?" I asked. We had just come from the conference room, where much of the province’s elite had gathered—landowners, municipal officials, even church figures—and he had pulled me aside, insisting on a more discreet setting.

"I want to be one of your officers," he answered bluntly, resting his hands along the back of the sofa. Since that incident with Sadiwa, gone was his overt politeness, and he talked casually with me. It was a small price to pay for that mishap—and frankly, flattery and bootlicking were things I could go without.

I curved my lips. "What brought this on?"

He heaved a sigh and scanned the place before returning his eyes to me. "I just hate to be helpless, Gobernador. I could take a physical beating, but Sadiwa had sorely hurt my pride, and it is still to heal."

"So, you want to be an officer... because of..."

"Power..." he supplied for me. "Actual power. I am gobernadorcillo of Santa Cruz, but in truth, I am just a puppet for the old principales. I think I’ll have more power if I had soldiers at my beck and call."

I chuckled. "Well, with Gabriel Sadiwa gone... there’s no Capitan in Santa Cruz."

He shook his head. "Capitan is the rank you’d give my brother. I think he’s proven himself loyal enough to deserve that promotion. I want a higher rank."

I raised my eyebrows. He had gone casual with me, but this was just another level of daring. "I am trying to build a proper army here, Don Suarez. I don’t hand out ranks like they’re rice cakes."

"Of course, Heneral. I won’t be asking this for free. I am willing to give you my permission to adopt Alicia."

"I’m not sure you understand the weight of what y—"

"And I will help you out with Romblon," he interrupted. "You mentioned that your Distrito Militar involved Mindoro and Romblon. And I think you don’t have enough time to be dealing with all three provinces."

"It just so happens that my mother hails from Romblon. After her death, I took the effort to search for my maternal relatives. I found out that one of my aunts is married to the brother of the current provincial governor there."

I shifted in my seat. Now, my interest was piqued. "And you think that’s enough to qualify you to be my military deputy to the province?"

"Unless you know someone more qualified," he shrugged. "I’ve been visiting Romblon for quite a while now, and I’ve shared a table with the provincial governor more than a couple of times. Don Molo is a pleasant guy and easy to talk to."

I sank into the couch as I contemplated the offer. "And you’ll need a senior rank to take care of an entire province."

"Yes, obviously."

Don Suarez sat at the edge of his seat. Beads of sweat had formed on his brow, and I saw him nervously swallow.

He wanted it bad.

And what he said was true. I did not have the time to be dealing with all three provinces.

Caloocan had fallen to the Americans last February in their first offensive out of Manila. They continued their push northward, and last week, they had captured Malolos.

The war was not over. Aguinaldo and his cabinet were able to evacuate before the Americans arrived. The capital had moved to Nueva Ecija, and Heneral Luna and the army were making defenses around Calumpit.

But I knew I did not have much time left. The Filipino forces had yet to taste their first victory. If they were not totally destroyed by American firepower, they might get demoralized enough to surrender.

"I think the rank of Major will suffice," I said.

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