Chapter 98
Even the Emperor was a man, after all.
And if you were a man, you couldn’t help but be interested in cars.
They were designed that way in the first place.
How could anyone resist a lump of iron with wheels running across the ground?
Feeling proud under that burning gaze, Franz answered.
“It is a newly developed carriage from the Magic Tower.”
“I did think it looked like nothing I’ve ever seen before. However, do you still call it a carriage even though there are no horses?”
“It moves by magic power rather than horses, so we call it a magic carriage.”
“Oho, to think that such a large thing moves purely on magic power… If it’s alright, could you explain it in a bit more detail?”
Explaining the carriage wasn’t a particularly difficult task. He was, after all, the very person who had designed it. He could explain everything, down to where it was, what parts were used, and with what intention.
However, he couldn’t easily give an answer. It was because there was something bothering him. He couldn’t bring himself to ignore the Princess’s gaze as she stared intently at him from the side. To exaggerate a little, it felt like daggers were about to shoot from her eyes.
“Pardon my presumption, but I worry that Her Highness the Princess might feel left out.”
Franz spoke very cautiously.
He was aware that it was impolite to refuse the Emperor’s request, but if the Princess were to sulk, that would be a much bigger problem.
“R-Right. Spending time with my daughter comes first, after all.”
The Emperor said so while checking the Princess’s reaction. It was an action that clearly showed the position of the youngest Princess, who was born late in his life. She was truly the real power of the Imperial Family, someone even the Emperor had to walk on eggshells around.
It was then.
“I-I’m curious too…!”
The Princess said as she strode up to Franz.
He didn’t even need to ask to know what those words meant. The Princess was also curious about the carriage.
'This is unexpected…?'
The Princess was 11 years old this year. And an 11-year-old girl would normally like cute things like dolls, wouldn’t she?
He didn’t know how on earth she had become interested in such a piece of metal, but as the very person who made the carriage, he couldn’t help but be happy.
“Since my daughter says so, let us hurry to the carriage.”
The Emperor urged Franz, as if seizing the opportunity.
He could have asked his daughter if it was really okay to not accommodate her, but it seemed he was quite curious about the carriage himself.
So what else could he do?
“Yes, let us go then.”
Franz gladly led the two of them toward the carriage.
Soon, upon arriving in front of the carriage, Franz began to explain it step by step.
“As I mentioned earlier, this carriage operates purely on magic power. The driving force that makes this possible is…”
Franz continued his explanation, and the Emperor and the Princess listened very calmly. However, that calmness did not last very long. It was only natural, considering the structure of the carriage was far removed from anything in this era.
“Pressing this button starts the magical core.”
When Franz pressed the button, the magic circuits spread throughout the carriage lit up instantly with a blue light. In modern terms, it would be called ambient lighting, though the purpose was completely different, of course.
“Oh, ooh…”
“Wow, it’s so pretty.”
The Emperor in the passenger seat and the Princess in the backseat burst into admiration.
Of course, it didn’t end there.
Exclamations popped out when Franz pressed a button to roll down the windows, when he pressed a button to turn on the cooling enchantment, and even when the carriage rolled forward.
With that, Franz’s shoulders were rising visibly. It was to the point where he worried they might touch the carriage’s ceiling.
Is this what it feels like when your child gets praised? Even though the praise wasn’t directed at him, he was incredibly happy.
After they had taken the carriage for a moderate spin around the Imperial Palace and returned.
“The more I look at it, the more I feel the greatness of this carriage. And I feel that you, the Magic Tower Master who developed this, are truly amazing as well.”
“You flatter me.”
“By the way, do you happen to have another one besides this…?”
The Emperor’s words, when interpreted, went something like this.
I’d like to have one of these too, but it feels a bit wrong to take yours.
'It’s finally here.'
Franz had naturally expected the Emperor to come out like this. Honestly, it would be a lie to say he didn’t covet it as a man. It was so appealing that even young Marcel wanted the carriage, even if it meant offering up his older sister.
“In truth, making it is not that difficult. It’s just that the necessary materials are quite rare, because they aren’t things you can just buy with money…”
“Do not worry about that. I can provide as much support as you need for that - no, I will open the Imperial Palace’s Treasure Vault for you, so take a look inside.”
At the Emperor’s refreshing answer, Franz cheered inwardly. It was already a given that he had to make one anyway, but now he could at least get the costs and materials covered.
Just then, Franz felt a gaze from behind.
The Princess was looking at Franz, her mouth opening and closing as if she had something she wanted to say.
'She definitely seems to want one too…'
Unfortunately, it was impossible to prepare a share for the Princess right away. To be exact, it was possible to prepare one, but it couldn’t be given to her.
because she was a minor
Franz had his own strict standards.
“I will give one to Her Highness the Princess as a gift on the day she comes of age.”
“Okay…”
The Princess’s voice was heavily laced with gloom. Having just heard that her father was getting one, the Princess must have felt even greater disappointment.
'I feel like they could just ride it together anyway…'
Would the Emperor really drive it himself? A vassal would surely take charge of it. The Princess could just ride it then.
However, seeing her sullen expression and hearing her voice made him feel unnecessarily uncomfortable.
'Should I gift her a magic-controlled toy carriage for her birthday this year…'
The structure to make it was the same anyway. He would just need to manufacture a new controller so it could be steered with magic power.
He wondered if a magic-controlled toy carriage was a fitting birthday gift for an 11-year-old girl…
Well, since she liked the real carriage this much, wouldn’t she be happy?
As he was thinking that, it was suddenly time for the Princess to go to her lessons.
Stepping out of the carriage right away, Franz saw the Princess off and then headed to the office with the Emperor.
“Would you like some tea?”
As soon as they arrived at the office, the Emperor threw out a familiar question.
“I will do it.”
“Did you not give me a wonderful experience today? Let me do at least this much.”
“It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace. So please…”
“Then think of it as my doing it because I enjoy brewing tea.”
In any case, the Emperor was truly stubborn.
'I should just get used to it.'
He was grateful to be served tea, but it still didn’t sit well with him. This repeated every time he visited, and if he kept stressing over it, he might go bald at an early age.
Soon, two teacups with steam gently rising from them were placed on the table.
Taking a sip of the tea right away, Franz carefully set the teacup down and spoke.
“As expected, it is a magnificent taste that is hard to put into words.”
It was something he said out of politeness before getting to the main point. The customs of the nobility were truly a bother, after all. Though, of course, the tea really did taste magnificent.
Anyway, it was about time to get to the main point.
“Your Majesty, regarding what you wrote in the letter…”
“Ah, right. Your carriage was so magnificent that I had forgotten. Yes, tell me. What day would be good?”
“Any day is fine with me.”
“Hmm, then let us do it in three days. Considering the preparations for the Banquet Hall, that will be the earliest.”
The Banquet Hall…
It was a given since it was the day a new duke of the Empire was born, but he couldn’t help feeling that it was a hassle. Furthermore, the main character of that day was none other than him. All sorts of people would definitely cling to him.
Just imagining the events of that day already made him feel like his vision was going dark.
However, since he couldn’t show those feelings on the outside, Franz bowed his head.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“No need for thanks. I should be taking better care of you, and I am only sorry that I cannot.”
“Your words are too generous.”
With that, the matter of the day to bestow the ducal title was settled, but Franz’s business did not end there. He needed to discuss what had happened in the North.
“Your Majesty, in the North, actually.”
Franz confessed what had happened in the North.
From subjugating the Dragon of the Ice Castle, the second of the Seven Great Evils, to obtaining the sealed weapon, and even receiving a request from the Goddess.
“So, I wanted to ask if you might happen to know anything about it.”
“A sealed weapon and the Goddess… Unfortunately, I know nothing about that. However, if we search through the documents stored in the Imperial Palace, something might turn up. I will try looking into it.”
“Please do.”
It was a bit of a shame that he couldn’t find anything out, but since the Emperor said he would look into it, it wasn’t like there was absolutely no chance.
And he had no intention of just waiting around. Three days until the banquet - that was enough time to figure something out.