Azerbaijan’s political circles were noisy with election fever, but the economy was doing as well as a sailboat of a fair wind.

This was because crude oil and gas were being commercially produced in a newly discovered oil field near Baku, which doubled the volume of exports than before.

Recent oil prices had been rising little by little, so the country was making great profits.

Since the money earned from oil and gas was not wasted in the wrong places, but most of it was used only for economic development, the domestic economy improved as well.

Various factories had been built to produce daily necessities that used to depend solely on imports, and the national infrastructure had begun to be overhauled. For example, unpaved roads that turned muddy when it rained or snowed were paved, and winding and narrow roads were straightened and widened.

And as bridges were being built in various places, traveling distances between small villages were shortened.

Electricity was returned to isolated remote mountain villages as well.

Social welfare expanded as unnecessary spending disappeared, and everyone praised the incumbent administration’s policies that supported the development of national infrastructures such as roads and electricity.

It was the result of the new administration after a long dictatorship.

Thanks to this, only candidates on the ruling party’s side were benefiting.

The government was already working on long-cherished projects for the people before the candidates even committed to regional development with election pledges.

In addition, the ruling party’s candidates, who had one or two big development projects in their back pockets, were stepping up their pledges if they felt they were losing ground.

The results of the election were so obvious that Youngho did not have to pay much attention to the general election.

Unless there were any special variables, the ruling party’s landslide victory was natural.

And the Iranian government’s anxiety over the Kazakh royal family’s federal policy was all resolved by Park Jong-il’s visit to Iran as a royal envoy.

The Azerbaijani people living in northern Iran were interacting with their home country through the border without any inconvenience, and they did not want an unnecessary bloody conflict for independence.

In fact, those who claimed independence and instigated locals were exiles who had left Azerbaijan and settled in Iran.

Of course, the Iranian government was partly involved in fear of the advance of the Kazakh royal family, but it was up to a level that could be overlooked.

“Do you think they’re real nationalists? They are so blinded by power that they even take advantage of their compatriots.”

It was Sevan who came to see Youngho. He was upset to hear about the exiles. He continued, “Didn’t I tell you that most exiled politicians are criminals? They violated domestic law and fled the country. Even when they were here, they instigated the people and left when they were at a disadvantage. They left for Iran and Turkey, and now they’re only pretending to be great nationalists because we are now democratized. We should immediately arrest them as criminals in the act, who tried to overthrow the country.”

“Minister, please calm down. Director Park went to Iran to learn more about it. We can use them properly in the election and drop them later. It’ll be better for the future to defeat them by votes rather than by law.”

There was no need to get blood on their hands during the campaign period.

It was a problem of the politicians who wanted to pursue their own success taking advantage of their supporters, but it was also a problem for the Azerbaijani overseas who wanted to control the country’s affairs.

If the ruling party won the election, who would dare to dispute it?

The most desirable way was to win by election to keep unnecessary rumors out.

***

Youngho’s kids loved it as his family stayed in Baku for the long term.

By now, it was time for sand dust to rise in Kazakhstan due to the influence of the westerlies blowing from the Caspian Sea.

The dry Atyrau area always suffered from it in spring.

Although trees had long been planted and cultivated in and around the royal territory, they had not been a fundamental solution.

It was not until summer when the field crops grew that such a problem could be somewhat relieved.

The children, who came to Baku’s royal villa from such a place, were happily enjoying the peaceful weather.

Leon was still young, but Jelyan and Rena, who were already in their mid-teens, had been poking around downtown Baku like children every day.

Although they had to pretend to be calm in Kazakhstan, Baku was a tourist destination and not many people recognized them, so they were more excited.

It was worth it because it was a place full of things to stimulate the girls’ curiosity.

Fatima, who was looking at the whispering children who were already thinking about going somewhere in the morning, smiled and opened her mouth.

“They must be thinking about where else to go.”

“How can you allow that? Tell them that they must study in the morning if they want to stay in Baku, or I’ll bring a tutor to the villa.”

They were at the age where they needed to study hard, but they had been enjoying their break because they were in Baku, so Youngho was thinking of getting a tutor.

“Oh my! Honey, please. Please let them go free for a while. Do you know how hard it is to be a princess? Think of Zeynep. How frustrated she was with her royal life.”

The status of a princess was an intolerable constraint on an active teenager.

For the children who had been living somewhere like no less than a prison without bars, Baku was a heavenly place.

In Kazakhstan, they were followed by bodyguards anywhere they went.

They had bodyguards here as well, but not many people recognized the princesses, so they could go to public places such as movie theaters and cafes with friends like children of their age.

“Is Baku that good? They’re completely distracted when they come to Baku.”

“Just know that it’s good for me as well as for the kids.”

He also said, “I like Baku, but what more words do I need?”

There was nothing to say about Fatima’s counterargument, so he said the wrong thing.

“Whew, then I must defend Baku no matter what.”

Fatima, who did not understand Youngho’s words, blinked her eyes and sat close to him.

“Is there something wrong?” Fast-witted Fatima sensed something wrong and asked back.

She had a tendency to stick to her question until the end, so he was forced to talk about the election atmosphere these days.

“Oh, my word. Are there still people like that? Then, are people who have protected the country in suffering so far fools? They should know why people chose to be a constitutional monarchy in the first place. I hope the ruling party is not at a disadvantage, is it?”

“If that’s the case, would I have had time to sit around and chat with you like this? There was a little problem early in the campaign, but it’s all taken care of. You don’t need to be worried.”

Youngho calmed Fatima down quickly, but she came up with a shocking idea.

“I have to do something… I can’t let the blood wind blow again in this beautiful city of Baku. If anyone’s going to throw Baku into confusion, I’d better step up and stop him.”

“When did the blood wind blow in Baku?”

“The nationalists can use the conflict with Armenia again to stay in power. If we provoke Armenia, it’s a war again, so that’s going to be another bloodshed, and you’ve brought peace and ended dictatorship in Azerbaijan, but what are they trying to achieve by pursuing nationalism?”

“Some people advocate nationalism with the help of ethnic Azerbaijanis abroad, but it’s just a political move. After all, they’re just worn-out politicians.”

“The people of this government are very kind to let them have their way. I can’t believe it’s just watching those people go around.”

“The people all see it the same as you do, so don’t get too upset. It’s like we’ve already won anyway.”

“There are always variables. From now on, I’ll roll up my sleeves and help, too.”

It was no exaggeration to say that Azerbaijan became a federal state under the Kazakh royal family mostly because of the role of Fatima.

Because she visited all regions of Azerbaijan to gain people’s hearts, the royal family could shake the Aliyev regime.

Likewise, if Fatima came forward, the election would be a piece of cake.

Even if the ruling party was in a disadvantageous position, the queen could turn the tide of the election just by going all over the country.

“You don’t mean to help the election openly, do you?”

“Oh, I’m not that ignorant. I know the royal family should remain neutral. I’m just going to travel around the country with my children, so don’t worry.”

Fatima was well aware of the ripple effects of her tour around the country.

Would a wise woman like her directly intervene in the election without being sensible?

“Haha… There are many excuses for traveling.”

He could not help but allow the trip.

It would be nice to leave her with a certain role.

The mere fact that she had her own role would make her motivated too.

The early summer of the Caucasus Mountains boasted a spectacular view which was picturesque.

When Youngho lived in Baku, he used to travel all over the country, but he had not been able to afford such a leisurely trip these days due to the overwhelming workloads.

He wanted to follow his family, but he had no choice but to fall back because it was election season.

The children were all happy about the trip.

“You’re coming with us? Are you?”

Jelyan blinked her pretty eyes and waited for Youngho’s answer, which felt more like a pressure.

“I’m busy with my schedule, so I think I’ll be able to join you by the end of the trip.”

Jelyan welcomed Youngho’s answer by clapping her hands.

He looked at her, wondering why she was so happy.

“I guess you’re coming to Batumi, Georgia, too. We decided to go to the beach there. Mom said I could wear a bikini.”

It would be summer when Fatima and the children would arrive at the Arirang Hotel in Batumi after traveling around Azerbaijan.

She wanted to show off her figure as a teenage girl.

Surprised to hear it, Youngho unwittingly stopped her.

“No? What kind of a princess wears a bikini? All kinds of paparazzi would follow you around. You don’t want to have anything to do with the tabloid papers.”

“Dad, it’s everyone’s swimsuit. What’s wrong with that? Aunt Zeynep is also coming to Batumi.”

It was obvious Zeynep talked them into this.

Then Fatima would also wear a bikini swimsuit, which concerned Youngho.

He wondered how conservative Muslims would react if a picture of a queen in a swimsuit was published in the newspaper.