CH 33

That night, in order to keep his promise to Rufus, Eugène asked a palace attendant to obtain a well-dried sheet of high-quality parchment.

The only tools Eugène had taken out to copy the nautical chart were an old protractor and compass, that had been used for a long time, a quill pen, and parchment. Though he wasn’t a professional scribe, he had the skills to make at least one copy without any problems. Moreover, he knew that it was much better for him to touch the charts himself, who had knowledge of the nautical charts than to entrust it to illiterate scribes. 

The legend of sailors who struggled to the last hour of their life in the wrong place all because of a nautical chart copied by a sloppy scribe was one of the most common rumors among seamen. However, to them, this story was not simply a ghost story, but a real threat. What Professor Bouthiaux wanted was an elaborate nautical chart that fit the scale accurately, not a work of art with beautiful and delicate handwriting.

He sat upright in front of his desk and began to transcribe delicately from the upper left corner of the chart. With a chart of this scale, even if one line was drawn incorrectly, it could call for a huge error. Acknowledging that fact deep within his bones, he put the focus of his entire mind into the tip of the pen.

It was already past midnight, and the attendant who had been by his side had also left for the next day’s work. The eerie silence of the dead night made it easier for him to concentrate. Eugène was wholly absorbed and continued to move the pen, not knowing how time passed.

Maybe, that’s why. He simply ignored the first portent he had heard. 

It wasn’t that he heard no sound at all. He was aware that he could hear an unfamiliar noise from a distance but didn’t think that he should pay attention to it. When he heard the sound coming from behind, he was too absorbed in the transcription and didn’t care to respond.

Then a similar noise was heard once again from the same place. Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. It sounded like someone was knocking on the door from outside. The problem was that the noise was coming from somewhere inside the room, not outside. There was no one else in the room except him.

Eugène didn’t think it was that strange for a while and suddenly raised his head after realizing the freakishness of the situation. He stood up from his seat and looked around the empty room with a stiff expression. In the dark room with only one candle lit, it was so quiet as if something had just happened.

Was it an auditory hallucination?

Eugène looked around the source of the sound with a hawk’s eye. But again, there was no sign of anything else.

… What was that?

He looked around and furrowed his brows seriously. But just then, a decorative panel by the fireplace suddenly turned sideways, utterly terrifying the tensed man.

Rattle. 

As the panel turned, making an unpleasant noise like a hinge that lacked proper maintenance, a dark space that he didn’t even know existed revealed itself. As soon as the panel was opened, the first thing he noticed was the smell of musty air and old dust unique to closed spaces.

A silhouette of a man stood in that dark and secret space. The man held a hand lantern, made for easy carrying, in one hand, a cage-like thing in the other, and casually walked into the room and faced Eugène.

“… Your Majesty?”

When he first saw the stranger, he instinctively reached out to the empty waistline of his pants. However, when the stranger stepped under the light, he no longer felt the need to find a weapon. The true identity of the suspicious visitor was Ebroin V himself. Eugène looked at the Emperor’s face without hiding his confused expression, but belatedly came to his senses and fell to his knees in a hurry. 

“I see Your Majesty the Emperor, Lord of Ardi, Kleman, and Nervoge-.”

“Skip the cumbersome steps and take this first. Our hands are tired.”

The Emperor, annoyed, interrupted his greeting and held out the cage in one hand. As soon as he came out of the secret hallway, he put the hand lantern down on the nearest table, and now it seemed as if he was trying to hand over even the thing he was holding in his other hand.

Eugène, in a moment of bewilderment, took the cage that had been held out in front of his face. The Emperor, having never carried anything except when he used the object himself, seemed to feel relaxed only after handing it over, rubbed his wrists, and then stepped back comfortably. 

“Lbk vlv Tbeg Zjpfras jii bo j revvfc… Qtja lr atlr?”

Vlcmf tf mbeivc’a mjgfifrris qlmx eq atf lafw atf Swqfgbg tjcvfv bnfg, Seuècf kjr teuulcu atf mjuf klat tlr ybvs yfca jkxkjgvis jcv klvfcfv tlr fsfr lc regqglrf ja atf gfogfrtlcu rmfca atja abemtfv atf alq bo tlr cbrf. Cc lggfrlralyis mjqalnjalcu jcv lcvfrmglyjyif rmfca fwjcjafv ogbw klatlc atf mjuf. Pa rwfiifv ilxf atf wbra ibnfis rmfcar lc atf kbgiv kfgf alfv eq lc atf jlg jcv ibmxfv lc j mjuf.

“It is what the courtiers call Schibur’s Little Bird. It helps clear the mind.”

Eugène heard the Emperor’s answer and looked into the cage. As explained by the Emperor, a model of a sulphur-crested cockatoo with fancy feathers was contained in a delicate cage with gold bars. It looked so sophisticated that he thought it was a real bird at first, but when he looked closely, it was a beautiful wooden figure, of which even the feathers were made in detail. 

Neither the cage nor the figure was that large, but he could tell at a glance that it was an exceedingly expensive item. Although the craftsmanship was neat, the pair of eyes were made of sapphires, and the beak, which looked exactly like the real deal, was carved from the finest ivory.

This cage was simply a rare luxury that could only be used in the court. But this extravagant plaything had nothing to do with such an unsophisticated soldier. Eugène, still unable to understand what was going on, looked at the Emperor with a puzzled expression.

“Then why would Your Majesty hand over such an item… Could it be that Your Majesty is bestowing this on me?”

“Heavens, you are unbelievable. It is not that We wanted a boisterous form of appreciation, but this is still too much. Why do you have that attitude even after receiving the Emperor’s imperial gift?” 

The Emperor was openly dissatisfied with the fact that he was not pleased with the gift, as his attitude was as if he was being given a burdensome nuisance rather than a glorious imperial gift.

Is this really a gift for me? If so, then why on earth should one accept such a pretty plaything? Maybe His Majesty is trying to convey something metaphorically, but I am the only one who cannot comprehend it?

Eugène’s mind was only getting more and more perplexed because he could not figure out the exact situation and lowered his head in embarrassment only after being pointed out by the Emperor.

“No, Your Majesty. Of course, I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace. But I am not sure if I can accept this imperial gift… ?” 

The Emperor moved and headed for the desk, pretending not to understand what Eugène had just said, who had hesitatingly poured out his words and was still puzzled.

In fact, even the Emperor himself did not know why he had given it to Eugène. Eugène was an unfathomable vassal, whose talent he desired, but since he didn’t long for anything, it was difficult to allure him. However, he was still somewhat aware of his tastes, and as far as he knew, Eugène was not the kind of person who would be delighted with such a plaything.

Nevertheless, as soon as the Emperor saw this item, he immediately thought of Eugène. Even what he gave was not a gift that had been passed down from Marquise Lamott. It was hard to put his finger on it, but somehow he felt uneasy to bring the item to Eugène as it was, so he even called in a workshop engineer to build a new cage for him, even though he was busy.

“This is an item given to you because it seems that your feet have not yet settled on the ground. Baron Amieux, you seem to be unaware that you are now a courtier. Since you are essentially a sailor, it must be ingrained within you to behave like a person who would leave after a while, but it would be difficult to seize power while adopting such an attitude. Every time you look at this cage, make yourself aware of where you are. If you do it over and over again, you will get used to the courtly life sooner.” 

However, the Emperor had a unique talent for making others understand even the things he did not know himself. It was not that difficult for him to find a reason to persuade others, having lived his entire life as a seasoned politician.

The Emperor deceived Eugène with quite plausible words, and Eugène, having no particular reason to doubt the Emperor, was easily convinced by his words. He smiled wryly and expressed his gratitude once again, having understood the situation by himself.

Why is it so hard to give you a present you like? Then, as he felt Eugène’s suspicious gaze disappear, the Emperor grumbled inwardly. Though he, too, was quite befuddled, what made him even more upset was Eugène’s reaction, as he was hesitant to accept it even though he only handed him an item.

He knew that they were not close enough to form a trusting relationship with each other yet, but there was a significant difference between knowing that fact in your mind and seeing it with your own eyes. The fact that Eugène, who was already ‘mine’ in the Emperor’s mind, was still wary of him, was undesirable for the Emperor, as he had decided to attract him slowly over time. 

“Is this what that is? The greatest treasure of the Confederation of Five Nations? We heard that Rodom’s Feldiner was pinched on the side when he said he would not trade it over even for the Queen.”

The Emperor bent over the desk, and changed the topic, not wanting to continue it any further. Since he had already sneaked out of bed after the bedtime ceremony, his outfit was really simple. Just like during practice, he was wearing a light shirt and pants, and his chest was completely exposed as he was not wearing a cravat and the placket was not buttoned properly.

“I assume Your Majesty has already heard what happened this evening.”

Eugène was not surprised and calmly answered the Emperor, as he recognized it immediately without any prior explanation. It was now a well-known fact to Eugène that the Emperor had planted spies throughout the court. 

“Since it happened right next to Our office.”

The Emperor replied in a way that he should naturally know everything that takes place near his office. He swept his flowing hair over his shoulder and alternately examined the parchment that Eugène was transcribing and the original nautical chart behind it. The Emperor’s golden eyes shone with curiosity, as it was not mere empty words to say that he was interested in the Alwitz Chart.

“Are you doing the transcription yourself?”

The Emperor asked as he looked down at the portion of the chart Eugène had worked on. Eugène was secretly bothered by the Emperor’s exposed chest that displayed itself whenever he moved, so he deliberately fixed his gaze on the chart and answered calmly. 

“I learned how to draw when I was a trainee officer. It is a necessary skill one must learn to become a high-ranking sailor.”

“Do you mean to say that the transcription of the Alwitz Chart can be done simply by knowing how to draw? We know that it is difficult without accurate knowledge of longitudinal studies?”

The Emperor, having a great deal of attention on the Confederation of Five Nations, also knew about the Alwitz Chart in detail. Longitudinal studies were recently established by the Confederation of Five Nations and were a new culture that has not yet been introduced in the Estina Empire. It is said that altazimuth theodolite, one of the leading new technologies, was based on longitudinal studies.

Perhaps because it was grafted with the latest military technology, the Confederation of Five Nations considered longitudinal studies to be extremely important. Not only did they strictly control the entry and exit of scholars who studied longitudes, but they also completely prohibited the leakage of related books out of the country. 

“I, too, do not have much knowledge of longitudinal studies. But there are a few things that I discovered while analyzing the Alwitz Chart.”

“Is that so? Glad to hear that. What did you discover?”

“There are notes arranged by me, but… Would Your Majesty like to take a look?”

The Emperor was so pleased by the words he had unintentionally brought out, that Eugène felt a bit burdened. However, since it was impossible to take back his words, he reluctantly took out a notebook from the desk drawer and held it out to the Emperor. 

Since Eugène had a habit of keeping a voyage log, he also had the habit of recording whatever he liked. The thin and small notebook, which was leather-bound for easy portability, was a kind of short-term record book where people often jot down brief notes before writing in their journals. The Emperor took the notebook from him and began to read from the part Eugène had shown him.

“You think the basics of longitudinal studies are related to planetary motion?”

The Emperor, hurriedly reading the first few paragraphs, asked questions about the parts he did not understand. Eugène nodded and meekly answered his question.

“Yes. I do.” 

“How exactly?”

“Though I do not know the details, my deduction is that planetary motion was used as a way to determine the exact time when the prime meridian falls at noon. See these numbers under the map? At first, I did not understand the meaning of these numbers, but as time passed, I came to understand what they mean. In astronomy, these numbers are…”

“-The time difference between the satellites of Altamia from the ground. We understand now. What you meant, that is.”

The Emperor, as knowledgeable in astronomy as Eugène, understood at once what he was referring to. He immersed himself in the notebook as if he were sucked into it, having learned the basic concept of longitudinal studies, and Eugène simply watched the Emperor, in a thin shirt, sitting on his desk and losing his soul to a book. 

The light on the desk made the Emperor’s skin look rosy. The smooth body, as if cut from ivory, was reflected through the translucent collar that covered his body. The Emperor, full of the ideal virtues of the human body that the ancients admired, was young, gorgeous, and even charming.

The light that fell over the beautiful nose bridge, which was as beautiful as a sculpture, glided down the contour. If you observe its trajectory quietly, the light passed through the nose bridge, which was as sharp as a blade, and fell onto perfectly shaped peach-colored lips. The lips were so captivating, that they belonged to a woman, they would possibly be praised by prospective suitors for their shape alone.

Anyhow, the Emperor did not seem to know how beautiful he was. Eugène sighed inwardly as she looked at the Emperor who came to the man’s room in the middle of the night in a sloppy outfit that was perfect for being suspected for the wrong reasons if caught by others.

He knew that it was an ill-sorted feeling, but he felt like the father of an imprudent daughter. It was precarious to show such a beautiful body without any awareness. 

Of course, there was no lunatic in the court who would dare to commit unacceptable acts against the Emperor but… if Ebroin V had not been the Emperor, he wouldn’t have lived safely until now with that attitude.

“… Marvelous, Baron Amieux. These are not just a ‘few things’, are they? Why did you not show this notebook to Us this morning? If you had done so, We could have flattened the noses of the needlessly proud professors of the Imperial Academy.”

The Emperor had no idea what Eugène was thinking as he let out a deep exclamation after reading his notebook at once. The smart Emperor’s eyes were shining with transparent joy. Eugène was burdened by his overly excited eyes, so he quietly lowered his eyes and quickly erased the inappropriate thoughts that had been cluttering his head.

“There are still many shortcomings. I have only figured out a few basic concepts.” 

“You are being overly humble. What could be more important than discovering the concepts that form the foundations of the study? The professors at the Imperial Academy have not the slightest clue for years, let alone be able to figure out the basic concepts.”

The Emperor repeatedly praised Eugène in contentment and then stared at him with a perfectly tender gaze. The gaze, which combined the brilliance that was rarely seen with the gentleness of a spring day, was as full of affection as when he looked at his favorite concubine.

“Baron Amieux.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” 

“King Feldiner said that the Alwitz chart was an irreplaceable treasure, even with Queen Gwyneth. But to Us, you are such a treasure.”

The Emperor, who rarely praised others, made Eugène uncomfortable with such praise he believed he was not fit for. Eugène carefully avoided his gaze, as he felt burdened by the tone of the ardent Emperor as if it were a confession of love.

“How unfortunate. If you were a woman, We would have proposed to you right now and made you the Empress.”

Interestingly, when the Emperor spoke those words, he was as serious as if he was speaking the truth from the depths of his heart. Since Eugène had no idea what standards the Emperor had for choosing the Empress, he laughed quietly, thinking that the Emperor’s words were too exaggerated. 

“Then it is quite fortunate that I am a man. Your Majesty almost gained the most unsightly Empress in the world.”

Eugène thought the Emperor’s words were a joke, so he, too, responded with a joke. However, the Emperor did not smile at his answer. Far from being funny, he carefully looked at Eugène, still maintaining a serious attitude.

“… Truly disappointing.”

The Emperor quietly spoke to himself and smacked his lips as if he were displeased. Eugène somehow felt a chill go down his spine, but he did not dare to raise his head to look at the Emperor, and so, stared at the floor instead. 

Though Eugène knew why he said such meaningless words, he didn’t know why his earlobes were turning red. Even if the Emperor was sincere, as long as he was a man, there was absolutely no possibility that such a mishap would happen.