During 300 years, Montemor had always been worried about its frontiers,
its army and its achievements.
The iron ore extraction ensured the achievements and the weapons.
The farming and the cattle breeding guaranteed the abundance.
And so, in the last few years, the only preoccupation of everyone was that there were wine in the table and music in the ballrooms.
The population lacked nothing.
Nothing was enough to the nobles.
However, Montemor never had worried about the one thing that would be its most precious commodity:
the water.
Rain became more and more rare.
The river Jordes withered
and soon it was needed to negotiate the water supply with the nearest kingdom:
Artena, in exchange of our ore. This situation was never comfortable to Montemor.
A definitive solution needed to be found.
That was when the construction of the big aqueduct began.
And then, a new era was being announced.
An era of a new beginning and hope.
An era everyone waited for anxiously.
An era that begins today.
An era that begins now.
Kingdom of Montemor
Montemor's citizens, it's with much pride that we’re here for the
inauguration of one of the most fantastic buildings of our kingdom.
And look how ironic is life, a work so complex that will bring something so simple to our homes:
water.
Years of work passed, tens of miles, hundreds of workers,
thousands of unexpected obstacles, but that's the measure of our dream.
Therefore, behold and pride ourselves of the Big Aqueduct of Montemor.
Hooray!
Hooray! Hooray!
My grandson, please.
We know very well about the restrictions and sacrifices everyone has been through in the last few years,
since our river withered and dried.
That's why we are so proud to deliver such a grandiose construction, fruit of the mind of our best builders.
The aqueduct will bring pure and crystalline water directly from lake Télido,
guaranteeing the uninterrupted supplying for the next years.
Let the water come!
Your majesty... The lake...
Lake Télido...
Has dried up.
This is not possible! How come it dried?
I don't understand, Grandmother.
How shameful, Afonso....
How shameful.
Rodolfo!
Wake up! You need to go, now!
Come on, come on! Get up! Get up! Get up!
Look, the night was wonderful, I loved getting to know you, I promise tomorrow I will write to you, Joanna.
My name is Tatiana.
Tatiana, of course. Look, you just need to follow here and you will end up outside the castle already.
I'm forgetting something.
Rodolfo!
Grandmother.
Could you explain to me why you weren't at the Aqueduct's inauguration?
I didn't go because I wasn't feeling very well, I-- I almost couldn't get up of the bed, I was feeling very bad already---
Can I know who are you?
I'm sorry, my dear, I asked out of habit. I--
I'm sorry, my dear, I asked out of habit.
Because you don't interest me in the slightest, and by the way, you don't interest to him either, be warned of that.
Grandmother! There’s no need to talk like this to Joanna!
It's Georgia!
Georgia, of course. Look, the night was wonderful, I loved getting to know you, I promise, I promise tomorrow I will write to you.
He won't write.
Grandmother!
Of course I--- I-- It's better if you go.
Grandmother, forgive me, I really slept a little-- a little too much and---
Well, but I’m sure the aqueduct's inauguration was a huge success
and I say more, Montemor will be forever grateful to you for this magnificent construction.,
the aqueduct will be remembered for centuries, centuries and centuries and I say more, Grandmother!
I always knew this would be you greatest legacy, congratulation, congratulations.
Rodolfo, the aqueduct was a debacle,
a tumultuous debacle,
an enormous fiasco,
a majestic vexation,
a monumental catastrophe.
It was the worst shame I had ever passed in my life and I have lived a lot.
Between you and me, I didn't want to say anything before but I did think the construction of the aqueduct could go wrong.
Your brother and I are waiting for you at the throne’s room. Please don't be late.
Yes, yes, Grandmother, I'm going. I'm going. I'm on my way. I'm on my way....
Rodolfo.
Joanna?
Very well, years of work and much money went to the trash.
And the people who can't stand going through having to count water drops.
Precisely, and why all this? Because you never listen to my advises.
Rodolfo, once and for all, understand it, attacking Artena is out of question.
My grandson, understand something, for 50 years we have lived in peace with Artena and this must be maintained.
And until we find a new source of water, we will honor our deal, their water in exchange of our iron ore.
Well, if you don't mind having to keep economizing water during hot baths.
Rodolfo!
Frankly! Is it all you think about? In your hot baths?
Did you know that in this city, the most underprivileged sometimes don't have water to cook?
That's what I don't understand, Grandmother.
The people complain about not having what to eat
and when the water is lacking, they complain they don't have how to cook!
Let's be honest, this doesn't make sense.
Anyway, I will write a letter to Artena, reiterating our wish to keep our deal, I'm sure that the King…
King Augusto.
... King Augusto... will keep his word
and will keep supplying us with water.
And as for me, Grandmother, I will organize an expedition to the Cumbres' Hills. I believe there could still have water.
Excellent, do it as fast as possible. Well, now I have to
rest a little. Tell your mother that I want to talk with her.
Grandmother, our mother has been dead for 20 years.
She knows, Rodolfo,
it's just that today was a tiresome day.
Of course, it's weariness.
It's just the weariness....
My daughter... Imagine...
How could I forget...
Kingdom of Artena
Good morning!
Good morning, Amália!
Good morning!
Good morning, Amália!
Mrs. Aurora.
What’s today’s soup?
Pumpkin with radish and pork bits.
Great. It’s my favorite.
The big one or the small one?
I want both. I want everything. I want the whole stand, especially its owner.
Amália,
look at me, my love.
I want everything. I’d buy everything.
I’d put someone here to work in your place, you’d keep managing the business and you’d have more time for...
For you?
For us, Amália. For us.
Virgílio, not this talk again, okay?
This is my work, it’s what I like doing and, most importantly, it’s how I help my parents.
But nothing will change!
Of course it will! I have my job because I don’t want to have a boss.
But I won’t be your boss. I will be your husband.
And, for you, what’s the difference exactly?
It’s completely different.
Are you sure?
Absolutely, Amália.
Why do you complicate things so much, huh?
On the contrary, I’m trying to uncomplicate them. You remain with
your fabric shop, earning your own money, and I earn mine, that’s it.
But at one point, when we get married…
Exactly! When we get married, we’ll think about that. Alright? Now let me work, okay?
I’m sorry. It’s just that my parents have been fighting again and I’m hotheaded.
It’s alright. If you need me, I’ll be at the shop.
Amália....
Sing do the nightingales in your presence, in effulgent harmony, as if being conducted by a maestro; however,
no melody is sweeter than your name, Catarina.
It’s of my own authorship.
I suspected as much.
Your Highness, Your Highness!
In fact, this is the first of a series of poems I intend to make in your honor.
Please, Marquis, you leave me embarrassed like this.
And that only makes you even more charming.
Your Highness. Your father has requested to speak with you, my lady.
Forgive me.
Please.
We shall continue it later.
Certainly.
Frankly, I couldn’t stand anymore that foolishness. What a annoying man!
Did you call for me, Father?
My daughter…
So, how is the Marquis?
The Marquis… is a lovely man.
A true poet. I confess I had never before met such…
such a… cultured man.
I’m glad to know. I hold Istvan in high esteem, his father was a very honorable and cult man…
Excuse me. Your Majesty, Your Highness. I bring news of Montemor’s aqueduct.
Oh, the aqueduct. And then, has it finally been unveiled?
Actually, it was a disgrace, your Majesty.
During the long construction period, the lake Télido dried up.
Therefore, the aqueduct has become a useless structure.
What a shame.
It’s terrible.
On the other hand, this is the chance we needed to revise our agreement with Montemor.
Since their need for our water remains, this is the perfect moment to demand a larger quantity of iron.
Father, this agreement needs to be more advantageous towards Artena.
Catarina. In another moment, we might in fact revise the conditions of our agreement.
But certainly it won’t be during Montemor’s time of fragility.
That was not what I meant.
Well, that’s exactly what it seemed.
I would like you to understand, my daughter, that I have no interest whatsoever in taking advantage of this situation.
Crisélida is an honorable queen and our agreement stands precisely upon that, on honor.
Of course. You, sir, is right. Ignore what I’ve said; it was foolish. Excuse me.
It’s like the saying goes, Demétrio, if you want to make God laugh, make plans.
I would add "if you’d like to make Him roar with laughter", make plans for your children.
I guess I don’t need to explain how serious the situation is.
And let’s be perfectly clear, I will not tolerate any kind of failure.
That being said, the first thing we need to decide is:
how many guests are we having for the party?
'Cause, last time, the food wasn’t enough. I myself ate so little I didn’t even feel bad the day after.
But, your Highness, that last party went on for 3 days when you had said it'd be a tea among friends.
That’s true. But that’s a mere detail.
And who needs to worry about details here are the two of you. Not me.
Exactly because of that, we now prefer to have too much instead of too little.
Therefore, we decided to request:
15 goats, 12 pigs, 30 chickens, 20 pheasants, 80 liters of wine, 220 liters of beer,
98 liters of hydromel, 25 ducks, 4 boars, 30 rabbits, 700 quails, 20-
Yeahh…. That seems adequate. But it’s better to double it.
Double it? Double it?
Yes, double it! All of these quantities.
For precaution.
Rodolfo, my brother, I need to have a talk with you.
Can this wait a little Afonso? I'm solving a matter of utmost urgency.
In private.
So... What's the big emergency?
Doctor Lupercio just examined our grandmother, and the situation is worrying.
Why worry? Because of one or another oblivion?
Frankly, Afonso, don't you think you're overreacting a little bit?
The problem, your Highness, is that these forgetfulness,
from what I've seen are getting more and more frequent.
Majesty, if I may, I need to ask a question.
What is the most remote memory you have of your childhood?
Oh I remember,
I should have been three or four years old,
I would try to climb on the throne that was too tall and I couldn't...
Of course I couldn't, and I would fall.
Fall and cry.
So, King Leopoldo, my grandfather
He used to help me and say:
"Rising to the throne will always be a challenge for us, my dear,
but the hardest part is staying in it"
I remember,
I remember the cautious words
and the pious look of my grandfather.
I have great admiration for your grandfather, your Majesty.
Thanks to Leopoldo, The Peacemaker,
Montemor has entered an era of peace and prosperity.
Leopoldo?
Who is Leopoldo?
So why don’t you start treatment now?
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this disease
In fact, we don't even know for sure this evil's origin.
Well, I think you're worrying too much.
All right, Alfonso, our grandmother is not well in the head, but make this whole fuss...
Awesome Rodolfo, how would you rather close your eyes to the problems, wash your hands and pretend it's not with you.
Who is washing hands is he, who is a doctor and just said that there is nothing to do.
My brother, there is no medicine or treatment, what our grandmother needs now, more than ever, is support, care and company...
This can really help a lot.
Support, care and company.
Isn't that what the servants are for?
On second thought, brother, I don't think you can help our grandmother,
because what she needs most now is something you cannot give.
Anyway, I wish this information would not to leave this room.
The Queen's health, beyond a family matter, it concerns the security of the kingdom.
You can rest easy, my brother.
Because if anything leaves this room, I'LL certainly not be the one responsible.
My Lady, the Marquis has asked me if he will have the privilege of your company during supper.
For God's sake, only if I wanted to have an indigestion.
Tell him I'm indisposed...
Indisposed for the next six months.
After all, that's when he will go away.
Will your Highness allow me a comment?
Of course, Luciola, you can speak.
Your Highness doesn't think the king, by chance,
maybe it's just an impression, but at the same time...
Say it already!
Your Highness does not think the King intends to give your hand in marriage to the Marquis?
What?!
Not even in my worst nightmare!
Impossible!
The Marquis is... only a marquis, if he were at least a Duke.
My father would never let me marry a man with so few lands and so little political influence.
It’s impossible, Luciola!
It’s impossible!
Am I disturbing, grandson?
Never. Grandmother. I was just reviewing the route of the expedition.
That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.
Afonso, I know I don't have much time left...
Grandmother...
Please, listen, listen..
From now on, the lucid moments will be more and more rare.
It is exactly now,
at this moment of greater lucidity, that I wanted to make clear my desire.
You must rise to the throne of Montemor as soon as you return from the expedition.
And then... I'll retire.
I know it's a tough decision,
but you know it's right... And what's best for our people.
Grandmother, if that is your wish, I will do so.
Daughter.
Father.
Didn't Virgílio come with you? He's not coming home for dinner tonight?
No, we didn't plan anything.
Well, there's still time, you want me to ask your brother to call him?
No, she doesn't want to.
It started...
No, who started it was you, Martinho, started again with the flattery.
What flattery, Constância? I just try to be polite to the boy, even to make up for his rudeness.
Dad you doesn't have to get...
This has nothing to do with politeness. What you want to is to push your daughter up an altar, no matter it costs.
Because I care and I know what's best for her.
A moment my father, I am also not a child...
And since when is marriage better for someone? For me for example never was.
My mother, you doesn't have to...
Sure, sure, you think you're too good to be married to a guy like me, don't you?
Look, Constância, I don't know how we're married just with each other.
Lack of option and also because my father insisted and pressured me. I didn't have...
Let me guess, they're fighting again?
Bull's eye.
Look, I don't know what else to do with those two.
Even they don't know what to do with each other.
Honestly, can you imagine our parents years ago, starting to date, in love, being kind and caring?
Exchanging love vows?
Why not?
So what happened to them getting to that point?
A strange thing happened, very little studied, called marriage.
Yes, but not every wedding one day turns this hell.
Well, you're more optimistic than I am.
It's not a question of optimism, but if you find the right person, maybe...
Right, if meeting the right person is already difficult, imagine when you choose the wrong person.
That's not to say, of course, that the person needs to find a prince to be happy.
With all due respect, sir,
but does your Majesty really think that a marriage of Catarina and the Marquis of Córdona will be fruitful for our kingdom?
Choosing a husband for Catarina is not an easy task, Demetrio,
But the truth is it's time for her to get married, but I wouldn't want my daughter to marry a simple marquis.
My intention was always that one day she would marry a prince, or at least with a Duke.
On the other hand, the Marquis is exactly what I've looked for for years:
an honorable man, virtuous and, above all,
someone who understands that peace needs to be preserved at any cost between Calia's realms.
Anyway, a good soul, and that's exactly what Catarina needs the most.
Maybe this way one day she... Not that my daughter is a bad person, of course, but she has a difficult temper.
In this she is like her mother...
Catarina needs to learn to be a little more forgiving... A little more generous.
Does your Majesty really believe that these virtues can be taught?
Considering that the princess is no longer a child.
I need to believe that yes, Demetrio,
a life next to the Marquis can make her stay on the path of honor and righteousness, don't you think?
Your Highness?
The men are ready to leave.
Grandmother, wish me you good luck.
Alfonso, don't you think you'd better take more men with you?
No, there's no need, it's just an expedition in search of water.
Stay calm, I don't believe in bad omens.
Me neither.
I only believe in my heart.
And he's telling me now that...
Oh, nonsense...
It's just an old heart that insists on beating.
God go with you, my grandson.
And bring you back with health,
because very soon you will have to serve your people.
15 Days Later.
Cássio.
The valley of Mulsia shall be our last resort,
if we don’t find water there I’ll declare our expedition as closed and we’ll return to Montemor.
Your Highness!
Chicken bones, found next to an extinguished campire, not very far from here..
Robbers?
It’s possible, they usually act around these woods.
Anything wrong, Your Highness?
No...
I think not...
Go, go, go...
Prince Afonso?
Your Highness?
Prince Afonso?
Sir!
We need to find the Prince.
We better go back to Montemor and ask for help, Sir.
You requested my presence, father?
My daughter, upon much pondering I— it wasn’t an easy decision,
but I’m certain it will be the best for you and Artena.
I don’t understand.
The Marquis of Córdona, he asked me for your hand in marriage, and I conceded.
You both shall wed soon.
You must take the throne of Montemor as soon as you’re back from your expedition.
This time I’ll give you the easy part, I’ll be in charge of the oranges and you take the basil and the radish.
And you think I know how to select radish better than oranges?
I will see you later.
Hey..
Hey!