Chapter 6

Chapter 6

 

“YOU GOT a minute, Lu?”

At early training that day, Fritz timidly called out to Rishe. She felt her smile freeze on her face. Sven, who was training with them, was off drawing water from the well. None of the other cadets had arrived yet, so it was just Fritz and the cross-dressing Rishe.

Fritz had been acting strange all morning. His sword swings lacked strength, and he seemed out of it, like he was lost in thought. And Rishe had an idea why.

“Er, about yesterday’s training…”

I knew it. He’s been stressing about it this whole time. Fritz had witnessed her talking to Arnold, whom he idolized, the day before. Plus, he saw the prince holding me against the wall and pinching my cheeks…

Rishe’s eyes glazed over as Fritz shot her an awkward look. He earnestly searched for the words to say, haltingly telling her, “If this is an insensitive question, go ahead and just punch me. Yesterday, you and Prince Arnold…”

“Oh, yes. I had something stuck in my eye, and Prince Arnold got it out for me!”

“Huh?”

While Fritz gaped, Rishe smoothly explained, “It was windy yesterday, right? Something got in my eye, and I yelled about it. Prince Arnold came to see what was wrong. You could have talked to him while he was there, but you ran off so fast!”

“Y-your eye? You got something in your eye?” Fritz went quiet, and Rishe tried to not let her nervousness show. Would he buy it?

She gulped at the same time Fritz opened his mouth again.

“Wow, Lu! I can’t believe you got Prince Arnold to help you like that!”

Th-thank goodness! Rishe’s knees almost gave out.

Fritz looked significantly more cheerful, not to mention relieved. “I see, so you had something in your eye. That’s all it was, huh?”

Well, he does look up to Prince Arnold. I’m sure he didn’t want to see his hero holding a random cadet up against the wall like that. When she thought about how Fritz must’ve spent the whole night worrying, she felt truly sorry for her part in his inner turmoil.

“Ahh, I never thought that would be the reason! I’m such an idiot for jumping to conclusions…”

Fritz was beating himself up, so Rishe tried to encourage him. “You’ll have plenty of chances to impress Prince Arnold once you become a real knight. You’ll be fine, Fritz… Whoa, what’s wrong?”

Fritz had sunk down in front of Rishe, hanging his head. “I was going around in circles last night. I’m completely wiped out.” Was there another reason for Fritz’s strange mood? Rishe cocked her head as he quietly told her, “The whole reason I wanted to become a knight was because of Prince Arnold.”

“I remember. Your town was attacked in the war and Prince Arnold saved you, right?”

Fritz nodded, looking glum. “I talked like it was all good memories, right? Well, it wasn’t. I wasn’t being honest. Other things happened back then too…”

I thought that might be the case. Fritz said he’d seen Arnold’s sword, but as an evacuated child, he should have had no opportunity for that. Prince Arnold is always at the front. If Fritz saw that sword, he’d been left behind in the most dangerous part of Ceutena during the battle.

“When Prince Arnold saved me… Everything that happened that day feels unreal, like it was all a dream. But it wasn’t.” As Rishe watched Fritz, he hung his head and continued, “It’s pathetic, isn’t it? With the man I admired right in front of me, I remembered how scared I was then. Last night, I dreamt about that battle. That hasn’t happened in such a long time. I was a knight, and I was in Ceutena. But I wasn’t like Prince Arnold at all. I was so scared; I couldn’t move. You were there too, Lu…and I couldn’t save you.”

Rishe slowly knelt until they were on the same level. “It’s okay to be scared, Fritz.” She rested her elbow on her knee and put her chin in her hand, smiling softly. “War should be scary. It’s only natural to fear violence.”

“But I signed up to be a knight. A knight is worthless if he’s too scared to fight. No matter how much sword training I do, I’ll be nothing but a nuisance on the battlefield.”

She shook her head. “You’re not weak, Fritz. You’re a victim of the battle in Ceutena, and you went through horrible trauma. Yet you held that admiration in your heart and turned it into hope for the future, and you’re working hard to make your dreams come true.” She caught and held Fritz’s eyes—he looked genuinely astonished. “I think experiencing the terror of the battlefield will only make you a better knight, not worse.”

After all, Rishe hadn’t been scared. When the day came to protect her lords, she was prepared to go to her death. She’d risked her life on the battlefield, thinking that was what a knight should aspire to. And that was why she’d died. She didn’t regret her choice. But there was one thing she could say with certainty: “You’ll be strong because you know what it is you should be afraid of.”

Fritz’s almond-shaped eyes opened wide with surprise. He considered Rishe’s words and then laughed. “I feel a lot better now. I’m sorry, Lu.” He still sounded apologetic but less weary. Fritz gave Rishe an impish smile. “If you think I’m strong enough, I don’t have anything to be afraid of.”

Rishe laughed and stood up.

Fritz followed, looking refreshed. “Let’s become knights together, Lu.”

Rishe just smiled. “Looks like Sven’s back. We should go clean up, Fritz.”

“Huh? S-sure…”

Rishe schooled her expression as they walked back together. I’m sorry for lying to you. She had no right to agree with him. In this life, Rishe wasn’t a knight who would fight on the front lines but one of the people who would be sending them off to war. But that’s exactly why I’m going to do everything in my power to prevent it.

 

---

 

Finished with the day’s training, Rishe once again hurried back to the detached wing, bathed, and got ready for the rest of the day. When she was prepared, she and her two guard escorts headed for a VIP room in the main palace. She knocked on the door, promptly receiving a reply from within. She thanked Kamil, one of the knights, as he opened the door, then turned to the other.

“I’m sorry, can you stand guard in the hall, Volker? Kamil will accompany me inside. Walking in with too many guards when I’m meeting with a guest might be rude.”

“Understood, Lady Rishe.” Her knight bowed and took up position in the hallway beside the door.

Rishe gave Kamil an appreciative smile, and the two of them entered together.

“Pardon me, Your Highness.”

Kyle stood, bowing to Rishe at a perfect angle, the little gesture exemplifying his diligent nature. Yesterday, Kyle had spent all day debating capital scholars, and he’d dined with them as well. Rishe hadn’t had a chance to see him since the party. She’d been worried about his condition, but as soon as she saw him, her fretting eased.

“The medicine I gave you appears to be working. I’m relieved.”

“Can you really tell how I’m feeling with a single glance?”

“I’d need to examine you for a more accurate prognosis, but I can tell when there’s been an obvious change in your condition. I’m guessing you’re coughing less in the morning and at night, and you’re able to sleep better because of it?”

“You truly have a divine eye, my lady.”

Rishe wasn’t sure how to feel about his reverent thanks. It was strange to hear from someone who used to scold her with “Clean up the books in your room!” and “You should go to bed earlier no matter how busy you are with your research.”

She smiled to cover up her feelings and sat down on the couch. Kyle sat down as well. Rishe placed the small bottle she’d brought with her on the table between them. “I would ask you to start taking these pills too. Starting today, Your Highness.”

“Very well. Are these different than the liquid medicine you gave me before?”

“Liquid medicine is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream and takes less time to work, but the effect isn’t as potent and doesn’t last as long. I needed to make sure you’d regained your strength with a good night’s sleep before administering these pills.”

Her master had taught her that strong medicine was poison to a weak body. And though Kyle’s illness was characterized by respiratory symptoms, the state of his stomach greatly affected his condition. More restful sleep meant an improved appetite.

“These pills are made from several crushed medicinal herbs and hardened with honey.” The small bottle was filled with tablets the color of sugared milk tea. “Your breathing is sometimes shallow, right? I believe it’s due to your lungs’ exhaustion and your heart palpitations. You also have a habit of closing your lips tightly, lightening their color. I’d say this is because you grind your teeth.”

“I…was not aware. Are you sure?”

“Normally, your top and bottom teeth are not supposed to touch; the top should sit a few millimeters above the bottom. When you relax your jaw, are your top and bottom teeth touching?”

Kyle’s eyes opened wide at her question.

“I saw you touching your forehead several times during the party the other night. You have headaches, don’t you? Those are caused by a body under stress, which is why headache medicine does little to help.”

“You seem to be aware of my every move.”

“My master from Renhua would be able to read even more.”

“An apothecary named Hakurei who once examined me had similarly extraordinary eyes. I’ve heard people call her the most skilled apothecary in the world. To think there would be another person so knowledgeable…”

No, they’re one and the same, actually, Rishe thought to herself, nudging the bottle of pills toward Kyle. “Please take one thirty minutes before your meals. They’ll take effect slowly and last a long time, relieving your symptoms throughout the day. However, the taste is just as bad as the liquid medicine…”

It really was disgusting. The awful taste of the medicinal herbs was only exacerbated by the discordant sweetness of the honey used as a binding agent.

Still, Kyle nodded solemnly. “If it will help me function even the slightest bit better, it’s worth it.”

“Your Highness.” Today was the day. Rishe put her hands in her lap and began quietly, “I happened to overhear you and Prince Arnold at the party the other day.”

Kyle’s eyes went wide before slowly settling back to normal. “You witnessed something awfully embarrassing, then. I know that the courteous thing to do would be to pack up and leave now that Prince Arnold has denied my request, but I just cannot bring myself to give up yet.”

“Were you not aware of the danger? We might not be at war right now, but as the victors of a recent conflict, Galkhein could change that at a moment’s notice. You must know the story of the battle where Prince Arnold beheaded the entire royal family of an enemy nation, Your Highness.”

Kyle shot a glance at Kamil, who stood at a slight remove. Rishe knew what he was worried about. “Don’t worry. Nothing we say here will make it back to Prince Arnold.”

Rishe’s guards were all Arnold’s personal knights, and one of their duties was indeed reporting her movements, but Kamil was the exception. Kamil was originally from the slums. Rishe had put forward a policy for the sake of his neighbors, receiving Kamil’s full endorsement. When Theodore kidnapped her, Kamil had helped her enact her plan. Rishe had thus asked him to stay quiet about her secret talks with Coyolles.

Rishe cast him a glance, and Kamil bowed before turning away from them.

“I’ve seen the policies Prince Arnold has enacted on paper. From what I read, it was clear to me that his policies always put his people first, and I never doubted once that he was a wise ruler… I wonder if his compassion could extend to enemy nations in wartime.”

Kyle had noticed, just as Rishe suspected he might. She was sure of it, but she didn’t interrupt, waiting for him to continue.

“While I am a royal who should be protecting his people, I know nothing of the battlefield. This is all supposition on my part, but I assume movement across the field is more difficult with wounded soldiers than dead ones.”

It was exactly as Kyle said. If your comrades died, all you could do was leave their bodies behind and march on. It was tragic, and it would shred your heart, but it didn’t tank your productivity. With injuries, however, it was a different story. A knight would fight to protect an injured comrade. That meant less strength devoted to winning the battle, leading to the destruction of entire squads.

“Prince Arnold likely massacred his enemies on the battlefield as a matter of strategy. If the enemy soldiers saw their fellows lying dead, they wouldn’t be standing against him to protect their comrades, sapping their will to fight. He doesn’t capture enemy royals; he kills them. This could also be viewed as decisive way to end a conflict, reducing casualties on each side.”

Kyle had no experience with war, but Rishe agreed with his theories. Prince Kyle really is amazing. His close relationships with merchants and scholars are one thing, but to have a good head for strategy too… He has ample ability to analyze and imagine things he has no personal experience with. If he weren’t so feeble and times weren’t so bad, she was sure he’d be known as a wise ruler.

“I feel the same way you do, Your Highness.”

Arnold must have slaughtered his enemies so ruthlessly in the war for a reason. In this way, he could sacrifice the few to save the many.

That’s why Prince Arnold legitimately believes that an invasion he leads will be better for Coyolles than one by his father.

Arnold was kind, and that kindness allowed him to make the merciless choices of war and murder without hesitation. That was why Rishe knew she needed to stop him.

Kyle bowed to Rishe once more. “I apologize for discussing such unpleasant topics with a lady like yourself. Even if Prince Arnold truly is a tyrant, it doesn’t change what I must do.”

“I bet you intend to say, ‘I’ll protect Coyolles even if it costs me my life.’”

Kyle looked at her in surprise. Rishe’s smile was sad.

“I once believed I needed to risk my life out of a desire to protect something too—but I don’t think that’s right anymore. After all, the life you save keeps going long after yours ends.” She could sense Kyle’s breath catching. “People aren’t in peril just once in their lives. After you overcome the initial distress, happiness and danger await you.”

As Rishe spoke, she remembered the royals she’d served as a knight. She had risked her life to protect her prince and his family. Unafraid to die, she stood on the battlefield, wielding her sword with that feeling swelling in her heart. Now Rishe knew how foolish she’d been. Emperor Arnold could have caught up to their fleeing carriage. They may have reached their allied nation only to be betrayed there instead, killed all the same. And if one of their knights had survived, they might have been able to protect them from such dangers.

“Since coming here, I’ve learned that Galkhein’s knights are strong not because they die nobly to protect their charge but because they protect their charge by staying alive no matter what happens. They’re taught to fight and live on even if they lose their limbs or can no longer hold a sword.” And the one who’d instilled those lessons in them was none other than the crown prince.

“Please, Prince Kyle…” Rishe looked Kyle in the eye and addressed him by name, as she had so many times in her past. The people of Coyolles always used this direct address rather than the more formal “Your Highness.” It was an expression of their affection for him. In this life, it might be rude for Rishe to do the same, but she did it anyway. “For the time being, I implore you—form a small alliance with me.”

“An alliance?”

“In order to persuade Prince Arnold. You are a necessary factor in the alliance between Coyolles and Galkhein.” Rishe spread out the papers she’d snuck in with her on the table, having hastily written them up the night before after parting with Arnold on his balcony.

Running his eyes over her plan, Kyle swallowed hard. “Lady Rishe, who exactly are you?”

“I can’t tell you that, unfortunately, but I’m confident that you can pull this plan off.”

“Will this really persuade Prince Arnold? I’m not sure he’ll even bother to listen.”

“He will,” Rishe said matter-of-factly. “I don’t know if Prince Arnold will agree, but I know that if you follow this plan, he’ll at least hear you out.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Well, naturally…” Rishe said, puffing out her chest with a grin, “because I’m Prince Arnold’s future wife.”

 

---

 

Kyle immediately set about following Rishe’s plan that afternoon. To prevent Arnold from growing suspicious, he went along with the tours Galkhein had prepared for his visit, carrying out his part in the operation as smoothly as he could. Rishe only met with him once a day when she provided him with the new medicine she had made. On a night several days after, they began to enact their plan…

“Please check these for me, Lady Rishe.”

Rishe gasped when she saw what he had put on the table between them. “I’m shocked. Frankly, I wasn’t sure we would get it together in time even with you helping me.”

Kyle nodded sincerely. “There was a familiar face on the ship to Galkhein. I managed everything else on your list as well.”

“Thank you very much. The company I use has trouble procuring these sorts of things.”

Rishe’s current strategy required several individuals and items—the latter being outside the Aria Trading Company’s wheelhouse.

Thank goodness Prince Kyle was here. Any other country, and it would’ve been a breeze for me to find the right people myself. This was the one place Rishe hadn’t visited in her past lives. She had at least a passable understanding of the trade situations in other countries, but she was tragically unfamiliar with Galkhein’s market. Luckily, Kyle’s connections extended all the way here.

Since he’s met so many merchants face-to-face for honest dealings, he has connections with Galkhein merchants too. They must consider Prince Kyle an important customer, since they were willing to procure rush orders for him. Merchants valued personal connections highly, and someone like Kyle was an incredible score.

“They told me they had no way to verify the authenticity of this powder, though. Michel might have been able to tell, but…”

“It’s not a problem, Prince Kyle; I can verify its components. And I already told you I’d like to keep this plan a secret from Michel. Is the professor in town again today?”

“Yes. Whenever he’s not experimenting, he likes to immerse himself in books.”

Kyle was assuming that Michel was visiting the library in town, but Rishe was more familiar with his patterns of behavior. If Michel was down in the town, she had a good idea of what he was up to.

“I managed to get Prince Arnold to agree to meet with you one more time. Two days from now, in the evening.”

“Yes. Our party plans to return to Coyolles in four days.”

Kyle’s visit was ostensibly to celebrate Arnold and Rishe’s wedding. His other pretexts were an exchange of information between their respective scholars and some observational tours of the country; the formation of an alliance was not on the books for either prince. If he extended his stay for no reason, Arnold’s father—the emperor—would grow suspicious.

If they find out what we’re doing, one of two things will happen: The emperor will invade Coyolles, or, to prevent that, Prince Arnold will invade Coyolles. Either way, Prince Kyle will be in danger.

Concealing her worries, Rishe spoke up, her voice bright. “It will be fine, Prince Kyle. I was expecting your meeting with Prince Arnold would be tomorrow—now I have another day to prepare.”

“How fortunate. Please tell me if there is anything I can do to help.”

“You’ve done more than enough. Given that I’m marrying into this country, I’ll be very pleased to have you as an ally,” Rishe said.

Kyle’s eyes widened, and he bowed deeply to her.

 

---

 

Rishe returned to her room and dismissed her servants in order to “sleep”—or rather, to quickly prepare the next phase of her plan. After a bit of work, she listened carefully to the adjacent room. Arnold didn’t seem to be there; he must have still been handling his duties. Once she was certain, she went onto her balcony with a rope. Rishe descended from her fourth-floor room to the garden, heading for her field. She approached as silently as she could, catching the expected scent of flowers.

“Hello, Professor.” Just as she thought.

When she addressed him, the blond man looked up from where he stood beside the field, an herbal cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Michel tucked his hair behind his ear and smiled, plucking the cigarette from between his lips.

“Hey, Rishe. Good evening. You ready to take a journey with me?”

Rishe shook her head. “I believe I told you I wouldn’t be taking you up on that offer. I’m only here to speak with you.”

“All right. Let’s talk.”

Facing Michel, Rishe couldn’t help but recall that day in her life as an alchemist where their paths had diverged. A little nervous, she asked, “Professor, do you really intend to give Prince Arnold your gunpowder?”

“I think I will. After all, I expect he’ll make effective, decisive use of it. He’ll change the world.” Michel took a drag on his cigarette, blowing out smoke before going on. “Poison is brought into this world to do harm. If you don’t use that poison to kill, it has no reason to exist, does it?” She’d heard those words in her previous life too. “Gunpowder is the same. It exists to change the world, therefore it must be used to tip order on its head.” Michel was still smiling, the light in his eyes turning them to ice. “All things must fulfill their purpose. I am no exception.”

Rishe knew why he was being so obstinate. “Someone who was born to turn the world upside down must act in accordance with their mission, then?”

“That’s right. You know exactly what I’m trying to say, Rishe.”

Of course she knew; he’d told her before. He had even said it with the same unyielding expression.

“If I cannot achieve this, there is no meaning in my existence. And if gunpowder does not find someone to make use of it, it will suffer the same fate.”

“It must be used even if it will lead to many deaths?”

“Heh heh heh, what a dilemma. I’m sorry, Rishe. I truly don’t mean to upset you.” Michel’s smile faltered, growing lonely. “That much, at least, is true.”

Rishe clenched her fists. “You were always like this, Professor.”

“Hm?”

“You behave more carelessly than anyone I know, but you deprive yourself of true freedom. There are things you want and things you don’t want, but you’re a captive to this ‘role’ you think you must play. You pour your alchemical talent into your experiments, striving to shoulder some burden you’ve arbitrarily decided belongs to you.”

“What are you—”

“There are certainly things in this world that only you can accomplish. But achieving incredible feats is not your purpose.” Rishe stopped to take a breath, staring him down. “People don’t need a purpose to exist in this world.”

Michel’s eyes widened just a little, so quickly and slightly it was hardly an expression. But for just a fraction of a second, he looked surprised. In all the years she’d spent with him, Rishe had never seen that look on his face before.

“You say such strange things.” The surprise was gone, replaced by his usual soft smile. “Nothing comes into this world without meaning. Once it exists, it must strive to fulfill that meaning.”

“Professor, I—”

Michel turned away, but he looked back just once to tell her, “Good night, Rishe. See you tomorrow.”

Rishe was a little relieved that his goodbye hinted at the future. In her third life, they’d parted with the devastating words, “Farewell, my student.”

Shutting her eyes, she inhaled deeply. Exhaled. Then her eyes flew open. I have to hurry…

She only had one day left.

 

---

 

Their appointment with Arnold took place in a palace meeting room. As one of many chambers used by the royal family, its furnishings were first class. The round table in the center of the room would never be found in guest quarters.

Eventually, there was a knock. Oliver, Arnold’s attendant, opened the door and waved the prince in. Kyle, who was already seated, stood and bowed.

“Prince Arnold. I appreciate you taking the time to see me.”

“Let me just say this first.” Arnold glared at Kyle from across the table. “I don’t intend to have a repeat of our conversation from the other night. I still see no value in an alliance with Coyolles.”

“I am aware.”

“However…” His eyes flicked to the corner of the room. “This’ll be worth my while, right, Rishe?”

“Of course, Prince Arnold.” Standing away from the table like a simple maid, Rishe returned Arnold’s gaze with a smile. Don’t be intimidated. This is a business negotiation. A fight.

Arnold’s stare was aggressive, and his belligerence raised the tension in the room. Kyle must have felt it too.

Smirking, Arnold took a seat. “Go on, sit,” he told Kyle. “Let’s get started already.”

“First things first, Prince Arnold.” Rishe went over to the table, standing between Kyle and Arnold. She faced the crown prince and spread her arms wide, smiling at him. “Can you tell what’s different about me today?”

Arnold frowned at the question. He put his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hand. “Your necklace, bracelets, and earrings. I don’t recognize any of them. You haven’t worn them in front of me before, have you?”

She’d expected his scowl but not his guess. He’s got sharp eyes. His mind is quick too. It feels like he sees right through me sometimes.

Rishe nodded and sat down. “It’s just as you say. I purchased these from the Aria Trading Company yesterday. All these pieces were crafted in Coyolles.”

“Allow me to explain Coyolles’s industry,” Kyle cut in. “We mine jewels, but we are also trapped inside for over half the year. These conditions have produced extremely talented artisans.”

People from Coyolles had many strategies for dealing with the long winters. Their custom of men singing women’s praises had developed to maintain harmony within the household while families were stuck inside together. They’d honed their craft to pass the time.

“In Coyolles, artisans can complete their work far faster—and with more precision—than elsewhere. This is one of the treasures we can boast of above the rest of the world.”

Everything Kyle said was true. The ring Arnold had purchased for Rishe in town would have normally taken a month to complete, but the letter from the old woman told Rishe the crafting time would only be a week. That was thanks to the artisans from Coyolles who’d been on the ship with Kyle.

Craftsmen from Coyolles are the best in the world. Living as a merchant taught me that.

Galkhein was Coyolles’s polar opposite. Due to the war, Galkhein’s skilled artisans—jewelers included—were practically nonexistent. Crafting weapons out of metal took a different set of skills than making fine, delicate pieces, and people from Galkhein could pretty much only do the former. None of their artisans could do detailed metalwork.

Still, Arnold’s gaze was cold. “Rishe.”

Rishe shuddered, but she maintained her soft smile. This will work.

She knew Arnold wasn’t interested in jewelers, but this was the nature of business. If presented with one product, a customer had two choices: buy or don’t buy. Choosing the latter could result in a lost business opportunity. However, presenting multiple products changed the customer’s frame of mind. Instead of to buy or not to buy, they asked, “Buy which?” and “Which of these is most valuable?” A sale was easier with an array of choices, rather than just one.

I don’t expect cheap tactics like that to work on Prince Arnold, though. Rishe glanced at Kyle, and her former client quietly nodded. He reached into his jacket pocket, drew something out, and placed it on the table. Arnold’s expression didn’t change.

“This product is familiar to you, isn’t it, Prince Arnold?” Kyle asked, although he already knew the answer.

“It’s mine, so yeah. What about it?” Arnold’s response was indifferent.

Rishe jumped in to explain. “This is—”

“Wait.” Arnold stopped her, glowering. His earlier disinterest looked genuine, but now that was changing.

Sensing why, Rishe was surprised. “I didn’t think you’d even notice this.” Rishe still had her business smile on, but inside she was reeling. Arnold hadn’t said anything, but he’d likely seen through her ploy.

“The watch on the table is not, in fact, yours. This is an exact imitation of the watch you treasured during the war, Prince Arnold.”

Rishe plucked something from a bag at her side. Just like Kyle had, she placed it on the table before her.

“I have your watch right here.”

Two pocket watches sat on the table. They were identical, save for a slightly different metallic sheen. This small difference had tipped Arnold off.

“Prince Kyle’s watch is a replica of the one I borrowed from you.”

Arnold looked quietly at Rishe.

“This was created by an artisan who arrived in Galkhein on the same ship as Prince Kyle. I consulted one of the jewelry sellers on what we needed and borrowed the equipment. Apparently, wheels and springs and such are cast in the same exact way they cast metal for jewelry.”

Artisans made a model of wax, created a mold, and then poured the metal into that mold. The model was the most time-consuming step, but once they had the mold, it could be used again and again in a short amount of time. That was the benefit of casting. Skilled craftsmen could cast items with minute, finicky details. Still, getting it finished in time had been a gamble.

A “skilled artisan from Coyolles” and someone who arrived with Prince Kyle on a royal ship. I thought I knew who it would be, and I’m glad I was right.

Rishe was very familiar with the individual who had invented the pocket watch, and that individual had commissioned the fine components for the watch from an artisan from Coyolles. They’d picked Coyolles precisely because of their jewelry-making techniques. This meant the craftsman who’d come to Galkhein already had molds to craft watch parts. It was always smart to bring successful samples of your work when you intended to market yourself overseas.

If I had the parts, I could assemble a pocket watch easily. After all, Michel taught me so carefully in my past life.

Rishe turned to Arnold, feeling a little dejected. “The pocket watch you treasured during the war was made with the intricate art of metalworking, putting together springs and wheels. Soon, many other products will be fashioned in the same way.” Rishe was sure of that. These metal processing techniques opened so many avenues. It sounded fantastical now, but countless scholars all over the world were conducting research on this very subject. Rishe had seen plenty of their studies in her life as an alchemist.

“Prince Arnold, I think you’ll want this.” He understood the value of this invention; he’d used it in his own machinations. “You can bring this technology to Galkhein!”

Arnold stared at Rishe. She held his gaze, not letting him go as she went full steam ahead.

“You’re well aware of the wonders of the pocket watch. But what if that incredibly rare technology could be widely and cheaply available to the masses? Imagine the other applications such technology could produce!”

The pocket watch they were showing him only took a few days to make. Rishe didn’t need to emphasize the short production time; Arnold would find that obvious.

“Scholars all over the world are looking into applications for springs and gears in modern technology. If they combine their knowledge, they could create all kinds of things! Carriages that move without horses! Ships that sail without wind! These dreams will soon become reality.” Rishe beamed, overflowing with confidence. “But when it comes to the actual production of such technology, you can look all over the world and you’ll only find one place capable of it: Coyolles.”

“Hah!” Arnold put his chin in his hand again, smirking. “You speak like you’ve seen the future yourself.”

He sounded like he’d figured it all out. Arnold couldn’t possibly know her secret—how was he that sharp? The future she spoke of was only something she’d imagined. In her previous lives, Coyolles was destroyed, their already meager national power eroded until Galkhein invaded. She needed to make sure that outcome changed—in any way she could.

I need to convince him right here and now. Rishe clenched her fists.

The smile was gone from Arnold’s face. “So?” His voice chilled the room, and then he turned to the person who’d hardly piqued his interest thus far. “Kyle Morgan Cleverly. What exactly are you after?”

Rishe stiffened at the crown prince’s icy tone. Dark light bloomed in Arnold’s eyes as he looked at Kyle. He was expressionless and his voice was level, but the intensity he exuded made Rishe’s skin tingle. She wasn’t even the one he was looking at, but she couldn’t help her nerves.

Arnold continued cruelly, “I will admit that you possess impressive technology. Something that my country lacks.” His shapely fingers slammed down on the armrest of his chair. The sound echoed throughout the room, screwing the tension tighter. Rishe was sure he knew exactly what he was doing. “Your naiveté disgusts me.”

Rishe gulped. If his anger affected her this severely, she could hardly imagine the pressure Kyle felt.

Indifferent to their reactions, Arnold went on, “You do understand that knowledge, technology, and people can all be brought to other countries? I don’t even need to lure your country’s artisans to Galkhein with money; I can just threaten you. My military means you’ll give me anything I want. Then—when my country has perfected your techniques—I’ll simply kill all survivors of Coyolles. It’s as simple as that.” He spoke of it as though it were nothing. “Did you stop to think for yourself for a moment? Or are you just a figurehead prince doing whatever my wife tells you to?”

“Your Highness! Prince Kyle is—”

“I could say the same to you, Rishe.” He faced her, and Rishe held her tongue. “Did you not imagine what I might do once I have that technology in my hands?”

She knew exactly what he’d do. Or, well, what the original Arnold would do. But she knew something else now. And that’s why…

“Lady Rishe believes in you, Prince Arnold,” Kyle piped up. In the incredibly tense room, he sat tall and locked eyes with Arnold. “I was apprehensive when she suggested using Coyolles’s metal processing technology as a bargaining chip, but Lady Rishe was insistent in her faith.” Kyle’s blue eyes looked like two pools of crystalline water. The light in them was pure and earnest. “She believes in your desire for the power to shape the future into something better.”

It was just as Kyle said. Even if Emperor Arnold Hein would wage war in several years’ time, even if Prince Arnold evoked fear for his wartime cruelty several years ago, Rishe knew exactly what sort of person the Arnold right in front of her was.

“I came to this country because I believed in you too,” Kyle went on. “From your policy records, it was clear to me that you were an excellent ruler who paid respect even to the soldiers of his enemies. Even now, you agree to meet with me.”

“It’s just…faith? You believe I won’t simply invade Coyolles and steal its technology?”

“Precisely.”

“What a fool you are. I see now why you thought you could rely on me.”

“Yes, I was a fool to seek out your protection—but I don’t believe my desire to seek an alliance was misguided,” Kyle said, his voice strong and clear. “I came to Galkhein because of my deep admiration for you as a ruler.” He put a hand to his heart. “When Coyolles loses its gems, it will still retain the knowledge of its scholars and its metalworking techniques. If Galkhein were to lend us its political power, we could work together. I believe we could achieve the future Lady Rishe spoke of.”

“…”

“I will spare no effort to earn your trust. If you would just give me a chance—”

“Pardon me.” Someone entered the room, cutting Kyle off.

Rishe looked to the door, and her eyes widened. Prince Theodore?!

“Good day, Prince Kyle. Terribly sorry for interrupting, Brother. Let me apologize for my rudeness, barging in on your meeting like this.” Theodore bowed his head, rattling off pleasantries he normally would have skipped. He then glanced at Rishe and gave her a signal by blinking a set number of times: Emergency!

Springing to her feet, Rishe addressed Arnold and Kyle. “I’m so sorry. I must take my leave for the time being.”

“L-Lady Rishe, where are you—”

“Please let me know your conclusion once you’ve reached it. I really do apologize, but goodbye for now!” Rishe squeezed out the words and fled the room with Theodore, her two guards scrambling after her.

 

---

 

“They sure left in a hurry,” Arnold muttered. Chin still resting in his hand, he coolly added, “Let me apologize as well. That was awfully rude of my wife and brother.”

“It surprised me, to be sure, but it’s no problem at all. Back to what I was saying before—”

“Oliver. Come in.”

At his order, Arnold’s silver-haired attendant slipped into the room. Kyle’s eyes went round—the man had not come alone.

“Prince Arnold…”

Roughly a dozen knights had entered with him. They walked silently into the room and lined up behind Arnold, standing at attention.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Flanked by his knights, Arnold wordlessly stared Kyle down.