Chapter 68: Filled With Wonder
"Although Simon is known for his lack of discipline, the things he’s come up with this time are quite interesting. Nowadays, I use soap every day to bathe, and it leaves me feeling refreshed." Alaric said. Now, if he didn’t use soap, he felt uncomfortable, as if he hadn’t washed properly.
"Your Majesty, indeed! We now use soap every day to wash our hands and bathe, and with the perfume, we feel so much more comfortable." One of the concubines chimed in.
Alaric chuckled and gently stroked the concubine’s cheek. "My dear consort, your skin feels so much smoother today. Hahaha..."
"Your Majesty..." The concubine seized the opportunity to act coy.
Empress Gretchen’s face flushed slightly. Alaric had always been fond of women, but lately, he had become even more unrestrained. He didn’t hold back even in front of so many concubines. However, she didn’t dare to say anything. These days, it was rare to see Alaric in such a good mood.
Holding the perfume in his left hand and the soap in his right, Alaric thought to himself that these two items would certainly enhance his intimate moments with his concubines. Feeling pleased, he said. "Prince Simon has finally done something to make me happy. I think I’ll have the remaining eight hundred thousand caps of silver sent to him soon."
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty on behalf of Prince Simon!" Lady Isolde was overjoyed.
Alaric looked at Lady Isolde and nodded with satisfaction. "I’ve heard that the mung bean cakes here at Lady Isolde’s palace are quite delicious. I’d like to try them and see what they taste like."
The other concubines couldn’t help but feel envious. Alaric’s words implied that he would be staying the night at Lady Isolde’s palace.
Empress Gretchen’s expression shifted. She wasn’t sure whether to feel happy or not. In the past, Alaric had doted on Lady Isolde above all others. However, after Simon repeatedly caused trouble in Eldora, Alaric had grown distant from Lady Isolde out of frustration with Simon.
Now, whether intentionally or not, the prince seemed to have genuinely pleased Alaric.
She was happy because the prince was regaining favour. If he could support the Crown Prince, that would be good. On the other hand, as a woman, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
The concubines tactfully excused themselves, each leaving behind a stack of silver notes.
Alaric remarked. "Prince Simon has even brought his business into the palace."
Lady Isolde explained. "Your Majesty, the prince had no choice. Now that he has turned over a new leaf and is diligently managing his domain, he lacks both funds and talent. He had to resort to such measures."
Alaric frowned. "Nowadays, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince are locked in a life-and-death struggle in Eldora, undermining each other in court. It truly infuriates me. None of these unfilial sons can comfort me like Prince Simon. Ah!"
Lady Isolde said. "Your Majesty, the princes are just brothers squabbling. It’s normal for them to argue. Your Majesty must take care of your health."
Alaric sighed. "It’s only here with you that I feel at ease. Unlike Lady Ma, every time I visit her, she either asks for official positions or pleads for the Fourth Prince. You, on the other hand, didn’t say a word when I sent Prince Simon to Brambleford."
"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs day and night. How could I dare to speak out of turn? Your Majesty must have had your reasons for granting Brambleford to Prince Simon." Lady Isolde replied.
Alaric nodded slightly. Although Lady Isolde wasn’t from a noble family, she was well-educated and deeply understood his heart. He spoke. "Prince Simon may be a scoundrel and lack discipline, but he is still my son, a member of the royal family. I sent him to Brambleford because he had no means to protect himself in the struggle for the throne. With Prince Gerad nearby to look after him, he can live out his life as a prince."
Alaric furrowed his brow and continued. "But now he seems to be making progress. This pleases me. If he can manage his domain well, he can help hold back the reavers’ southern advance and serve as a royal prince that the non-royal princes will fear. The former emperor once said that it’s better to have many royal princes, even if they cause chaos, because the empire will still belong to the Ashbourne family. If the non-royal princes gain the upper hand, that would be a disgrace to the Ashbourne family."
"Emperor Leopold was indeed wise and mighty. It’s precisely because of this that the non-royal princes and the royal princes are wary of each other." Lady Isolde said.
"Exactly. That’s why I’ve turned a blind eye to Prince Gerad smuggling horses and have secretly supported him." Alaric said. "However, if Prince Simon can maintain his progress, I will also support him. But it depends on his performance. After all, the entire court is watching. It’s clear which princes have achievements and which do not. If he can make contributions, I will have a legitimate reason to reward him."
Lady Isolde smiled, feeling reassured. Her greatest worry had been the strained relationship between Simon and Alaric. Now, it seemed that Simon had acknowledged his mistakes and was reforming, while Alaric still remembered their past affection. She spoke. "Your Majesty, Simon has recently accomplished something noteworthy."
"Oh?" Alaric picked up a mung bean cake brought by a palace maid and asked. "Tell me about it."
Lady Isolde smiled and brought over a blueprint. "Your Majesty, this was sent along with the perfume and soap by Prince Simon."
Alaric unfolded the blueprint. It depicted an ox turning a wooden rod, with the words ’Ox-Powered Waterwheel’ written beside it.
"Your Majesty, in his letter, Prince Simon said that this ox-powered waterwheel can draw water more than ten times faster than the waterwheels currently used in the Eldorian Empire. If it is implemented across the empire, it will greatly boost agricultural productivity." Lady Isolde explained.
"Is that so?" Alaric said.
"Your Majesty, Prince Simon said that the waterwheel will be delivered soon. Once it arrives, Your Majesty will see for yourself." Lady Isolde said.
Alaric nodded. "Interesting, interesting. I’d like to see what else he has come up with."
Three days later, a ship from the Chandlier family arrived in Eldora carrying the components of the ox-powered waterwheel, along with craftsmen to assemble it. The components only needed to be put together in Eldora to form a complete waterwheel.
When Alaric learned of this, he took his court officials to the imperial estate outside Eldora, where the ox-powered waterwheel had been delivered.
After witnessing the waterwheel’s ability to draw water, the officials were utterly amazed.
"Your Majesty, this ox-powered waterwheel is truly a marvel of engineering. I wonder which craftsman came up with it." Minister of Works Vincent Timber praised.
The other ministers also smiled approvingly.
The Third Prince quickly said. "Father, if this ox-powered waterwheel is promoted across the empire, it will greatly benefit agriculture."
Standing beside the Third Prince was a man in his thirties, dressed in a yellow brocade robe. He had intended to speak, but was a step too slow. This was the Crown Prince, Godfrey Ashebourne.
The Fourth Prince sneered at the Crown Prince and spoke. "Father, the craftsman who invented this should be heavily rewarded."
Alaric laughed heartily. "This was not invented by some craftsman, but by your twelfth brother, Simon."
The expressions of the Third and Fourth Princes immediately stiffened. The Crown Prince said. "Father, in that case, Prince Simon should be richly rewarded."
Alaric nodded. The ox-powered waterwheel had seemed impressive on paper, but seeing it in person, he could truly appreciate its ingenuity.
