CHAPTER 112
The story of the new Empress’s gift to the Emperor spread rapidly from the high walls of the capital to the furthest corners of the Empire.
The market merchants, always quick to catch on to rumors, gathered to talk about what had happened in the palace yesterday as if they had been there themselves.
“They say the robe His Majesty wore blocked all the pouring rain.”
“My goodness. Is that really possible?”
“My nephew, who was guarding the outdoor auditorium, saw it with his own eyes. The heavy raindrops bounced right off the robe.”
“Our Tommy and Sam are still suffering from dermatitis after returning from the last battle. They marched for four days in the rain wearing soaked wool uniforms. When they got back, their whole bodies were, oh my… If they make uniforms with waterproof fabric now, it will be a great relief.”
“Not just uniforms. If we make market tents with waterproof fabric, we can do business even when it rains. That would be the best.”
“So, the demand for wool needed to make uniforms will greatly decrease. We had no choice but to buy the expensive wool from Riverlam because it was the most resistant to rain.”
“Of course. Our Empire’s merchants will lead not only the production of waterproof fabric for uniforms but also its distribution and sales for everyday clothing.”
“Oh my, oh my. The profits will be unimaginable, won’t they?”
“Absolutely. And that’s not all. There will be a surge in new jobs.”
As if on cue, the people in the market simultaneously looked toward the palace.
“The new Empress has given the greatest wedding gift to the citizens of the Empire.”
“When I heard the rumors during the Empress selection contest that she could freely speak Agurte, I knew she was remarkable. I suspect she might be the inventor of the century.”
“When I heard she won first place in a rugged race carrying a bundle of cotton, I slapped my knee. Ah, she must have wielded a sword on the battlefield herself. That’s why she understands the hardships of soldiers fighting in wet uniforms.”
“They say His Majesty brought the continent’s greatest strategist as a candidate for Empress. Indeed, no one can match His Majesty’s foresight.”
“Did you hear the continental merchants gossiping over there? They’re only talking about the Empress’s gift. It makes me proud to be a citizen of the Empire. Ha, ha.”
It wasn’t just the commoners. The nobles were also eager, drooling over the potential crumbs that might fall their way.
Each family racked their brains on how to secure the rights to produce and distribute the waterproof fabric.
“Somehow, our family must obtain the rights to produce waterproof fabric. This is the golden goose.”
“His Majesty will surely open a bidding competition for the business rights among the nobles. First, we must bow deeply to His Majesty. Not that we haven’t always done so, but hmm. In any case, we must actively support the new tax policy imposed on the upper nobility.”
“Gaining the favor of the Empress is crucial. Everyone knows about His Majesty’s deep affection for his wife. If the Empress requests it, His Majesty will undoubtedly comply.”
“That’s right. At the Empress’s request, His Majesty released all the hawks and doves kept in the royal aviary. If the Empress speaks well of our family, we will easily secure the business rights.”
“Didn’t your nephew participate in the Empress selection contest? Find out if he has any rapport with the Empress. It would be good to present the pearl jewelry set from Chantel to the Empress. We originally intended to give it to the Dowager Empress, but we must change our course now.”
“Tomorrow, the Empress will have tea time with the ladies of the capital’s noble families. We must seize the opportunity to present our gift then.”
“We should have sent one of our daughters to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the Empress. My daughter refused to bow to a mere country bumpkin. What a mistake. I should never have listened to the Duchess of Lesang.”
While the nobles of the Empire were busy strategizing to secure the business rights yet to be announced, the kingdoms of the continent were deep in meetings about trade negotiation plans with the Empire.
Amid various speculations and opinions, one thing was certain.
No one questioned the qualifications of the new Empress, once from a fallen family and unknown to the world, any longer.
***
On the second day of the wedding period, late in the morning.
Seven or eight nobles gathered in the Emperor’s first office, listening intently to a small voice.
Inventor Otto, responsible for textile development, along with the Empire’s top inventors and scientists, fabric producers, and trade administrators, had hurried to the palace at the Emperor’s call.
Otto, who had spent all night applying the waterproof coating recipe given by Arabelle, demonstrated by applying it to the fabric.
After several layers, he poured water on it, and the water didn’t soak in but rolled off.
“When evenly heated and dried, the waterproof and insulating effects are even stronger.”
Otto handed the thin, dry fabric that hadn’t absorbed water to those gathered.
“Doesn’t it harden when heat is applied? These ingredients would normally harden and stiffen the fabric when dried after applying heat, wouldn’t they?”
A fabric expert, disbelieving, crumpled the flexible fabric and asked.
“Yes, each ingredient alone would harden with heat and be unsuitable for fabric, but…”
Otto finished his answer while looking at Arabelle.
“When these three ingredients are mixed together, it prevents hardening. The Empress taught me this.”
Those who prided themselves as the Empire’s top elite stared blankly at Arabelle for a moment.
But the Emperor’s sharp red eyes, which bounced off the gazes piercing his wife like a sharp blade, made their spines tingle, and they soon lowered their heads.
“How did you come across these three ingredients in the forest… May I ask?”
The head of the National Academy, who had opposed Arabelle due to her lack of education received by high-born ladies, asked.
On the table were beeswax, arachis oil, and turpentine obtained from pine resin, used to make the waterproof coating.
After a moment of thought, Arabelle answered slowly.
“In the forest… you encounter various birds and animals. If you observe them closely with interest, they are kind beings that teach us many things.”
At Arabelle’s answer, everyone unintentionally gaped.
The Empress they had seen since the selection contest was hard to describe but somehow unique.
Their first impression was that she was delicate and innocent to the point of being easily swayed or manipulated by others.
But the more they got to know her, the more they realized their judgments had been premature.
Even now, her answers were flowing in unexpected directions.
“Beeswax not only keeps rainwater out of beehives but is also used by mountain birds and otters to protect their young. When applied to the feathers of baby birds or the fur of baby otters, it protects them from rain and moisture.”
“Then, how did you know about arachis oil and turpentine?”
“When there was a forest fire at my former estate, turpentine dripped from heated pine resin onto the grass. During the recovery work, I noticed that watering the grass where turpentine had dripped was useless. The water droplets couldn’t penetrate the grass and simply bounced off.”
Arabelle earnestly answered the nobles, who looked as if they had just been struck.
“As for Arachis oil… small forest animals that are sensitive to rain and moisture chew on Arachis seeds, create a liquid, and apply it to their fur and their young’s fur. The good thing about arachis oil is that, unlike turpentine, which makes fur very stiff, arachis oil keeps it very soft.”
“So that’s why you thought of mixing the three ingredients?”
“At first, I made the coating with just beeswax, but over time, the fabric became stiff and heavy with dust getting caught in the cracks. Then I remembered turpentine and arachis oil…”
“How did you determine the right proportions?”
“I experimented more than hundreds of times to figure it out. Honestly, I kept failing until the morning before yesterday.”
Arabelle shyly admitted.
How had he not noticed? The Emperor’s throat suddenly felt warm.
The tips of Arabelle’s folded fingers were faintly stained purple.
Ever since the lesson about the Empress’s gift, Arabelle had been working on making the waterproof coating.
Every single day, even before heading to Innis Lake to break the beast’s curse.
Even knowing she wouldn’t stay by the Emperor’s side once the curse was lifted, she had been making the waterproof coating for him, and thinking of this made the Emperor’s heartache.
“Where did you conduct your experiments?”
“In the small storage room in the pavilion, you gifted me, Your Majesty. Since I don’t stay there, the storage room was empty…”
Arabelle glanced at the Emperor with her round eyes.
She had said she was practicing drawing and embroidery and had been coming and going to the pavilion’s garden several times a day.
Mostly, she came to the pavilion to experiment while the Emperor was busy with his duties, hiding her activities from him.
For whatever reason, she had inadvertently lied in order to surprise the Emperor with a gift.
The Emperor’s brow twitched slightly, but he soon returned to a gentle expression.
“On behalf of all the knights and soldiers of the Empire, I thank you, Empress.”
Alex, the commander of the Imperial Guard, and Jacob, the captain of the Royal Guard, bowed deeply in unison.
Their gratitude was genuine. The waterproof coating made by the Empress would protect countless soldiers from diseases and skin conditions.
Not only the commanders but everyone in the office looked at Arabelle with completely different eyes.
The young Empress standing before them was no longer the country bumpkin they had underestimated, hoping she wouldn’t tarnish the Empire’s reputation.
Now, they felt a thrill of expectation that she might indeed be the Empress who would lead the Empire to its greatest prosperity alongside the Emperor.
***
As the sun set over the Empire’s first port, the sea, imbued with golden light, turned red along the peaceful horizon where a ship appeared.
Dozens of flags bearing a roaring black wolf flapped in the wind.
The massive ship, with three towering masts, slowly approached the bustling port.
As the ship, having completed its three-day journey lowered its sails, the first mate shouted,
“Prince Bargen Wiltheim II of the Kingdom of Laikanoor has arrived!”
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