Janet groaned at the words, then spoke.
“But, Your Highness, weren’t you planning to leave for the north soon?”
At that, Eric clenched his fists tightly.
"Yes, this is correct."
Currently, there are reports of barbarians near the northern border adjacent to the duchy.
That was enough to keep him on his toes.
But…
He tried to get rid of it, but it kept coming back to him.
Her expression looked like she had given up on something.
And that silly dream of her looking at him with eyes full of love.
Meanwhile, another penetrating pain stabbed into his chest.
Then Janet spoke with sparkling eyes.
“My lady seems disturbed.
Perhaps it is due to recent events involving Mr.
Sardin.”
“…”
The blue eyes staring at her were cold, but Janet continued without hesitation.
“While you are gone, I will take care of my lady.”
Normally, she would have expected a cooperative response, but Eric remained silent.
Finally, breaking the silence, a low voice came through.
“Janet, can I really trust you to protect her while I'm gone?”
After swallowing, Janet bowed her head.
“Yes, if you trust me, I will protect my lady with my life.”
At that moment, Eric spoke.
“Okay.
However, if you fail, you will bear responsibility for your words.”
There was sincerity in his steely gaze.
“Failure...”
Her life was originally a life that should have ended.
So Janet was ready to sacrifice even her life for her lifesaver.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
When Janet left the room, Eric covered his eyes with one hand.
[Daddy!]
Even though he didn't know the child's name, he frowned as he saw the child from the dream flash before him.
"Don't show up anymore.
I can't be your father."
Although his expression looked solid, his eyes seemed more sad and pained than angry.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
After Eric left the room, I dreamed of my lover again.
[Damien!]
Even though I pretended to be calm, I was always worried.
Even if you were always by my side, I couldn't hold you, unable to see your invisible form.
But now, seeing you again, a tender and joyful feeling flowed within me.
[I've missed you, my child.]
I closed my eyes with worry and remorse, unable to protect my child, whom I had to abandon like this.
I was afraid.
What if I can't meet you even after death?
Because you will go to heaven, and I was an evil woman who will certainly go to hell.
So when I realized I had traveled through time and was in my womb, I thanked the Governor for the first time.
[Thank you for allowing me to meet you again…]
[Mom, don't cry.]
I couldn't even hug Damien; I could only look.
With a fern-like hand, he caressed my teary cheek.
But I didn't feel the small, warm touch I should have felt.
This was the reason I couldn't touch the baby now.
Yes, I knew it was just a dream from the beginning.
We finally met after a long time, but if I open my eyes, you'll disappear, right?
In a moment of sadness, the child hugged me around my neck and said,
[Mom, we'll see each other soon.
I will always be with you]
I smiled at his words, as if he read my thoughts.
[Yes, we will see each other soon.]
At that moment, the child smiled but looked like he was about to cry as he asked.
[Mama, do you hate daddy?]
For a moment, I couldn't answer.
[Don't hate Daddy so much.]
With those words, the child evaporated like foam, and I awoke from sleep.
After waking up like this, I felt a sense of emptiness overwhelming me, and I couldn't help but start to shed tears of distress.
“Sorry… kid.
I can’t do that.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Several days passed.
Eric was scheduled to leave for the northern border tomorrow.
As the plan approached, I passed my time quietly in this large room, all alone.
“Is this the calm before the storm?”
Even the sarcasm on my lips was short-lived.
Knock-!
Knock-!
“Ma’am, someone from the chemistry workshop has arrived.”
I smiled at the news I was waiting for.
“Yes, let him in.”
Finally, Barakil, dressed modestly, bowed his head as he entered.
“It's been a long time.”
I nodded my formal greeting and offered him a seat.
"Sit."
Once the door was closed, Barakil handed me a beautifully wrapped box.
“Here are the cosmetics you requested.”
“Yes, thanks.”
I opened the box to unwrap and saw glass jars of cosmetics.
As I began to unpack the package, I saw glass bottles containing chemist's reagents instead of cosmetics.
However, since these were essential to my plan, I carefully put them back in the box and sealed them.
“By the way, this is not the main ingredient, is it?”
Barakil adjusted his monocle at my question.
“Of course, I came with the red potion you requested.”
“I suppose you dealt with weakness.”
With that, he excitedly placed a box bag on the desk and smiled.
“Please, look.”
When I opened the box, I actually found the swivel gun that had been used frequently before my retreat.
It was certainly much lighter and smaller than a flintlock pistol.
It also has a very good grip.
But… that's not the most important thing.
She laughed and said, “It was completed faster than I expected.
I thought it would take months, but you did it in just two weeks.
This is amazing.”
Barakil, who had been stumbling moments before, stiffened at this praise.
Hmm, looks like he's not immune to compliments after all.
Cornelia acknowledged his effort.
“I appreciate how hard you worked.
You really put in a great effort.”
Barakil's face reddened and he answered proudly.
“Yes, it is the first time in my life that I have made such an effort.
So, please, keep it carefully.”
“Well, I would like to test its effectiveness, but that might be difficult here.”
At this moment, Barakil smiled wryly.
"Don't worry about the noise.
I've engraved a silent spell on it."
Indeed, a silent spell was present before retreating.
However, the law prohibited engraving spells on weapons after assassinations using a silenced pistol.
“We'll get to that later, but for now...”
“No, I mean the lack of suitable targets.
I don’t want to reveal the existence of this weapon.”
Shooting the decorations in my room seemed like a waste, and damaging the furniture with bullet marks would be a problem.
So, maybe?
Barakil nodded without further objection.
“That definitely makes sense.”
At that moment, Barakil noticed something and lit up.
“Oh, maybe that would work?”
Seeing what he pointed out, a puzzled expression appeared on my face.
"book?"
Although the sheath was leathery and very thick, frankly, I doubted whether it could stop bullets.
But Barakil was confident.
“Yes, because in my experiences, it was harder to penetrate a thick book than a tablet.”
Suddenly, an idea came to my mind while I was listening to him.
“If it was an experiment, was it to check strength?”
“Yes, determining the penetration force is essential.
So, I tried different materials.”
After hearing the expected response, she brightened and asked, “Ah, then you should know which materials can stop bullets.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Nancy, Barracle's assistant and chemistry shop vendor, was yawning with her chin in her hand.
“Why hasn’t he returned yet?
I can’t leave until Master returns.”
Barakil was eccentric in character, but he was a good employer who followed schedules meticulously.
However, despite leaving to meet a guest, Barakil did not return until an hour before closing time.
“I don't care about anything else, but he promised to let me leave early!
This is different!”
As Nancy puffed out her cheeks with an exasperated expression, it happened.
Ding-!
Dong-!
The doorbell rang, and at the same time, a familiar face entered the store.
“Sir, you are back!
What did the guest say...?”
Nancy stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth tightly.
This was because Barakil's complexion was not good when he returned to the workshop.
What's going on?
Why does this man, who only has his face and skill as good qualities, look so gloomy?”
Nancy approached Barracle cautiously and asked, “Sir, could it be that… the contract failed?”
She speculated that perhaps the princess was dissatisfied with the gun and complained, but Barakeel simply shook his head.
“No, the guest was satisfied with the gun I brought.
Moreover, she handed me the remaining payment immediately in the form of a check.”
“Huh?
So what's the problem?
“She's asking for more.”
"What?
What...”
“She wants more development!
This time, you want us to make a shield that can stop bullets!
Isn't that too much?
Nancy laughed dryly.
Although he looked annoyed, Barakiel's eyes were filled with excitement and expectation.
Why does he get angry when he clearly loves it?
If he is to work like this, his overtime pay should increase.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I laughed softly.
I didn't expect Barakil to complete the firearms so quickly.
Thanks to him, preparing for the rebellion will be much easier.
There are about seven years left until the rebellion.
Until then, I planned to lay the foundations to ensure that this damned empire would not fall.
I have also requested the production of protective equipment for defense against firearms.
Even if the enemies get the firearms, we will have the upper hand.
Now that your preparations are more or less ready, it's time to change the most important thing.
“Yes, the next emperor is the foundation of the nation.”