Worries
2234 Words
“Sir Julius seems to have found a clue.”
“Yes, it’s a relief. I hope your illness is completely treated this time.”
“As do I.”
The father and son continued to speak.
“But seeing the reaction of Baron Julius, what that child said seems to be right.”
“Yes.”
“It’s a recently discovered illness from the Francoine Republic? How does that child know about this?”
The Emperor muttered as if he was fascinated.
“Father.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why did you hide the fact that the person who spoke about this illness was Lady Catarina?”
“There’s no need to keep on mixing her up in the medical and engineering world since she’s going to be Crown Princess, right? I want to order her to come back from the hospital immediately.”
The Emperor wanted Catarina to be Crown Princess, and not an engineer or even a doctor. ‘Being a doctor or engineer doesn’t fit a child who’s going to be a princess.’ Being an engineer wasn’t bad. No, the Emperor knew it was an admirable profession. But it was the law that a princess cannot become an engineer or a doctor.
“How do you feel?”
“What do you mean?’
“About marriage with Catarina.”
“I only follow your will.”
“Really? You must like or dislike it. Hm?”
But the prince just replied in an indifferent tone.
“I am a part of the Imperial Family. I don’t believe my personal opinion is important.”
Emperor Winchester shook his head. ‘That cold-hearted boy.’ His son Eins von Granzreich was a talented Crown Prince, but he was cold as if his emotions had dried up.
‘What a shame.’
He knew what his son kept buried in his heart. So it was a shame. Will he ever be warm?
Winchester changed the conversation.
“How is it going with the Tauric Expedition?”
“The 2nd Division is marching towards the peninsula. They will arrive in a few days.”
The Crown Prince lowered his voice and answered.
“I have something to report to you about that.”
“What is it?”
“The Francoine Republic has recently entered the Moncell Kingdom.”
“…!”
The Emperor’s face hardened.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. The spies have confirmed it to be true.”
“Huh. So as that child guessed, the Moncell Kingdom may be participating in this war.”
“Yes. After they left, Moncell Kingdom has been secretly moving. I believe they will attack us at a critical moment.”
“Huh…”
The Emperor sighed.
“If I didn’t know this is what would’ve happened…I…no, our empire has been indebted to Catarina.”
He was amazed by her.
Without her advice, the Imperial Army who was entering the peninsula would have been hit in the back of their head helplessly.
No, not just the back of the head. They would have suffered a fatal blow from neck to the waist.
‘She’s great.’
The emperor recalled the last time he met Catarina.
She had a quiet attitude that looked like she had completely abandoned her immature past, kind heart, and wise insights.
She used to be a dear child like his nephew, but that day he was just too greedy.
“I’ll have to beat her and make her the crown princess and make sure she gets out of her work as soon as possible.”
After that, the emperor and the crown prince talked about political stuff.
The emperor buried himself in a chair and said,
“Eins.”
“Yes, father.”
“When is the next secret trip scheduled?”
“I’m thinking of going out soon.”
Secret Trip
It is a secret tradition and duty of those who ruled the empire by hiding their identities through disguises and observing the lives of the citizens.
“Where are you going to look this time?”
“I’m going to visit Sherpzen.”
Sherpzen is a place where the new civil class, bourgeoisie, emerged as the new main axis of the empire, riding on the wind of industrialization after the fall of feudalism, and lived all together.
But the emperor shook his head.
“Why don’t you go to Pierre’s district, not Sherpzen?”
“You mean Pierre District?”
Pierre’s district was a relatively poor community.
“Okay. I will. But is there any special reason?”
“Isn’t Therese Institute of Engineering located there?”
The emperor grinned.
“I haven’t heard from her…Catarina, go and see if she’s doing well.”
…
Meanwhile, on the same day, at the residence of Eisenberg.
“Catarina.”
“Yes, Father?”
“Is it worth staying in the Therese Institute?”
Catarina replied with a smile.
“Yes, it’s fun.”
In fact, she wanted to see the development of the helicopter and try different things, but she doesn’t have a choice right now since she is just an apprentice.
“Really? It is not hard?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Marquis Nix sighed.
‘I didn’t want my daughter to suffer, so I wanted her to give up quickly, but there was no sign of her suffering. Rather, I could see that she is happy every time she goes to the Therese Institute of Engineering.’
“By the way, Theresa Engineering. Those guys.’
He was surprised to learn of Catarina’s life in Therese Engineering secretly.
He left his daughter in the vagrant’s room and left her alone?
Well, it happened when they hid his daughter as an Eisenberg, but he couldn’t hold back his anger.
‘If Catarina hadn’t said anything, I would have cut him off.’
The doctors at Theresa’s Engineering Institute didn’t know.
If it wasn’t for her daughter’s decision, the hospital would have been under fire. Especially that young brat, Michael, is no exception.
‘Letting her do most of the work!’
It’s been 16 days since he went to that place.
Otherwise, the tender child lost more weight.
‘I want you to quit right now, but you like it so much. Ha-ah.”
He felt stuffy.
“Anyways, what are you working on? I believe that it is something marvelous.”
“Well, we’re making a new type of aircraft that can lift off vertically without the use of a runway. It’s progressing faster than I expected so I think you will see it sooner or later.”
Hearing such a project, Marquis Nix gaped.
“A new type of aircraft? Are they similar to biplanes and monoplanes?”
“No, it's completely different. For you to imagine, it will have long rotor b blades on the top that will spin very fast to generate lift. It can land anywhere as long as the ground is flat.”
With the description provided by her daughter, Marquis Nix began imagining the aircraft that they are currently building, scrunching his eyebrows. However, without a gist of concept, it was futile.
“I’m sorry daughter, I wish I could follow you but I can’t.” He said as he let out a forced chuckle.
“Don’t worry father, you will see it soon.”
Yes, very soon. If this was on Earth. Building a helicopter would be an arduous task. The only thing that is keeping the project long is the research and development. But Catarina knew the exact dimensions, engines used, transmission, everything she needed to know about the helicopter, saving them a huge amount of time.
“I would love to see it in the future. Anyway, I also learned that Michael gave you a hard time in tests. Do you want me to fire him?”
“Father!” Catarina pouted, “I’m fine, it’s just a way of him testing the new apprentice. And he is also part of the project we are working on…”
“I see. But if that man bothers you again or gives you a hard time. I won’t let it go in an instant.”
It sounded like a storm would hit the Therese Institute of Engineering if someone bothered her.
With his father’s love, Catarina had no choice but to show an awkward smile.
“Goodnight father.”
Anyway, Catarina left his father’s worries behind and began to go to her bed.
…
At the Therese Institute of Engineering.
Catarina knocked on the door of Michael’s office. Hearing a faint sound of permission, she entered.
“Good morning…Michael?...”
As soon as she entered his office, she found her professor slouched in his office chair. The gentle morning light shines on his face but fails to mask his fatigue.
His current state is reminiscent of an exhausted traveler who returned from a long and arduous journey.
And yet, after all the days she’s been working with him. She noticed just how handsome this young man is.
“...Catarina...you’re here,” Michael said softly as he combed his platinum-blonde hair back.
“Ah...eh...I’m sorry for entering...I didn’t know that you’re resting…”
Michael loosens his tie and sighs. Right now, it serves more as a shackle than anything else.
What made him so exhausted this morning. As she pondered for that, she started looking for clues as if she was a detective.
On his desk was a stack of documents and books. It seems that he’s been reading them all night. Also, there is a blueprint there that is slightly open. Catarina saw a glimpse of it and can tell that those blueprints are the processing machines she made.
‘Did he study those schematics?’
“Uhm...Sir Michael...you don’t look too well. I think it’s better for you to go home.”
“I’m fine.”
‘Really?’
His voice is a bit coarse. It’s not hard to see that he is mustering simply to talk to her.
“Let me pour you a cup of tea…”
“Mm. thanks.”
Catarina heads to the kitchen and prepares Michael a tea. Five minutes later, the aroma of a freshly brewed tea wafts over from the teacup. Then she went back to his office to deliver his tea.
As she returns, Michael has already regained his composure. He is intently reading mathematical books, occasionally writing notes with his pen.
Carefully avoiding the books and blueprints on his desk, Catarina set down the tea near him.
“Ah...thank you.”
Michael set his pen down and paused reading as he lifted the cup of tea and sipped a mouthful.
Suddenly, all of the tiredness he is currently feeling seems to fade away.
“This tea...did you make this?”
“Yes...I noticed that you’re exhausted so I prepared a perfect tea to relieve that stress on you.”
“Mm...It is a perfect tea indeed. I have never tasted a tea as delicious as this. It rejuvenated me. Thank you…”
Catarina slightly blushed, “...Thank you…”
“So...what are you going to do for today?”
“‘The usual...I’m going to supervise the engineers who are currently working in the helicopter while drafting new schematics…”
“Ahh...I must admit Catarina...you’re quite good at this stuff...No genius!”
“Pardon…”
“I said that you're a genius. Maybe more genius than I...so I kind of feel that this professor and apprentice relationship is kind of...you know...meaningless?”
“Why would you say such a thing?...”
“In regards to our knowledge, I finally realized that you’re more genius than I am...so I kind of feel bad that I can’t teach you things.”
“...”
Catarina was speechless. As he said that, she realized that Michael wasn’t teaching her during her work here. Maybe because she’s busy drawing schematics and building the processing machines. She was at fault here.
“I’m sorry...Sir Michael.”
“Don’t be...It’s good enough for me that I have a talented and genius apprentice.” Michael smiled. “But please promise that if you have another invention in mind, please let me know. I want to know and learn it.”
“You’ll be the first person…”
“If you need me at anything, please do let me know,” Michael said.
“Okay.”
Thus, Catarina got to work.
…
- Writer
