episode_0025

It had been a while since Theodora entered the bathroom.

“Ugh!”

Stretching out, she organized the documents and papers she needed to review.

It’s not easy, after all.

Even though I’ve been digging through tax-related papers written by professors at the Imperial Academy for a long time, it’s hard to find the paper I want.

No matter how much I grew up in modern South Korea, I need to know that knowledge accurately to make proper use of it.

For example, let’s say I make a car here that is easily seen in modern Earth.

Certainly, just developing a car would be a huge help in the war, so if I can make it, it would be a great help to me.

But reality is not easy.

From the engine that goes into modern cars to the transmission, the device that controls the direction with the steering wheel, and even the parts of the car that I don’t know, I need to know the operating principles and structure.

I also need to know what kind of metal goes into each part and have alchemy at the modern level to implement it somewhat similarly.

But… I don’t know anything about alchemy.

Maybe I can ignore all these things and forcibly put technicians in to make it.

Can that be done in a short period of time?

And will that be faster than words?

Will the car made forcibly explode?

The first appearance of cars in the 18th century was commercially successful in the early 20th century.

After about 200 years of development, a usable car was born.

Moreover, mass production is needed, considering that.

If you believe in superficial knowledge and rule, the fantasy world version of the industrial revolution might start…

The same logic seems to apply to economic theories as well.

Modern economic models and theories optimized for the present seem to fail here, it doesn’t seem to go well.

Moreover… I didn’t study economics or business administration professionally, I only know it at a common sense level…

Therefore… before the wedding, I tried to meet the professors at the academy to get some opinions on economics.

I learned a shocking fact.

“There is no economics here…”

There is not even an institution that organizes statistics.

“It’s doomed, it’s all doomed.”

Thinking like that, I absentmindedly looked at the clock…

It’s already been an hour since Theodora went to wash up, so I knock on the bathroom door, worried about her.

After marriage, men talk to women informally, and women use honorifics to men, that’s the custom here.

Following that, I speak.

“Theodora, are you in there?”

“…Why?”

A voice without energy comes from across the door.

Unlike her usual strong self, my heart feels bitter at the weak voice.

Did she really not want to marry me this much?

Honestly, as a human being, I feel guilty.

I know in my head that this is the best course of action, but that doesn’t stop my emotions from reproaching me.

Sigh… I’m sorry…

“Come out slowly, I’m going to wash up now too.”

-Splash…

A loud sound of water is heard at my words.

And…

“Okay…”

Saying that, after 10 minutes… Theodora comes out with a blank expression, wearing white lingerie.

She must have bathed for a long time… her face is all red.

“I’ll wash up and come out too.”

Saying that, I pass by Theodora and head towards the bathroom.

-Swish…

As I feel the hot bathwater, I organize my thoughts.

“Sigh… washing up and… economic revival…”

Looking at the strange history of technological development here, it’s hard to grasp when the industrial revolution will come.

For example, let’s compare the history of war between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period.

The wars of the Middle Ages and Early Modern period on Earth can be attributed to the development of gunpowder weapons.

But here, something strange is…

While gunpowder exists, guns or cannons have not developed.

The reason is…

Because magicians are in charge of firepower.

Efforts to make weapons using gunpowder were made here in the past, it is said.

However, rather than trying to improve the primitive gunpowder affected by the weather and weak firepower, it is more efficient to improve existing magic to enhance firepower or range, or to use scrolls, as they require less cost and time, causing gunpowder to decline.

Unlike Earth, where magic has developed due to the lack of magicians.

Anyway, the technology here is quite different from the technological order of Earth.

For example, climate control is a challenge with modern Earth technology…

Here, it seems like problems can be solved with spirits or magic.

The variable that magic possesses.

I don’t know how that will work.

If a fantasy industrial revolution comes, will they burn magicians instead of coal? It’s a dizzying thought…

I don’t know how the future of this place will develop.

“Sigh… Calm down…”

He tries to think of something else to calm down the stiffness in his lower body.

“Phew…”

Feeling somewhat calmer, he wipes himself with a towel, changes his clothes, and comes out of the bathroom.

A dark room all around.

The faint moonlight flows in through the glass window.

It seems like Theodora has turned off the lights.

Sitting on the sofa, he looks at the silhouette that seems to be lying on the bed.

– Hwaryuk…

And simply lights a fire with magic.

Magic… It’s basic for high-ranking nobles like me to be able to use simple magic.

Strong mana affinity is almost exclusive to nobles.

Isn’t it natural for people with strong mana through generations to marry each other?

Relying on the softly lit candles, he continues to read the paper.

***

Dawn breaks.

He opens his eyes to the gradually rising light of the sun.

Time locked in a blue light all around.

“Ugh…”

Perhaps because he slept on the sofa, his whole body feels stiff.

– Saegeun… Saegeun…

Hearing the regular breathing in the room, he looks over and sees the most beautiful woman in the world snuggled under the blanket, sleeping.

– Sigh.

Approaching to cover her with the blanket, she shivers.

If she’s cold… cover her with a blanket.

– Ssrr…

With that thought, he pulls the blanket up to her neck.

Then he does some simple stretching to relieve the stiffness.

It’s not even 7 o’clock in the morning yet.

He woke up earlier than usual, but…

There’s a lot to do.

Shall we go to the study?

Quietly, he leaves the room while others are still asleep.

– Click…

“Your… Your Highness? Are you coughing already?”

The guard looks at me with sleepy eyes.

“Yeah, you’ve worked hard.”

“Ah, how was your wedding night?”

Wedding night…

I didn’t have any expectations they had.

I just did what I had to do.

“Well… it wasn’t bad. I have things to do, so I’ll be off.”

“Yes, understood.”

I greet the guard briefly and head to the study.

About an hour passed.

“Sigh… No matter how I look at it, the expenses for buying crops are too high.”

Lost in thought as he looks at the monthly expenses sheet for the middle class.

Since the development of fertilizers in the 20th century, agricultural production has exploded.

Thanks to that, prices have dropped significantly.

But unfortunately, there are no fertilizers here.

Therefore, the biggest worry for the middle class is the food problem.

The middle class, who earn low wages, live in a time where they earn and eat in a day.

If only this part could be solved, it could greatly reduce the burden on the imperial citizens.

It’s a problem that could be solved if there were fertilizers, but the problem is, I don’t know how to make fertilizers.

“Hmm… What should I do… Should I hold an idea contest or something…”

He quickly jots down the idea that came to mind and looks at the clock.

Suddenly, the clock shows that it’s already pointing to 9 o’clock.

“Should I go and greet the officials now?”

Yesterday, I got married, so I plan to pay my respects to my mother-in-law from today.

Although I’m busy, I think it’s a good business to greet the Empress Dowager for about 15 minutes a day and receive her support.

That’s why…

I head towards the residence of the Empress Dowager.

Eurydice Augusta.

According to the information I personally found, she is said to be Valerian’s first love.

However, she loved the Emperor Tiberius Augustus and they got married…

After that, I heard that Valerian was captivated by something mad.

Well, that’s beside the point.

Eurydice, my mother-in-law, was said to be the most beautiful woman in the empire when she was young.

Seeing the appearance of Theodora and Joy, it seems like the rumors about her are true.

While thinking about my mother-in-law like that, I suddenly arrived at the Empress Dowager’s room.

A guard who raised his spear at me.

“Is the Empress Dowager inside?”

“Yes, the Empress Dowager is inside, but… she’s having a meal…”

Oh… I came too early.

Visiting during an unscheduled meal time is not proper etiquette, so as I was about to turn back…

-Is there something else outside?

A gentle voice from inside the room.

“The… the Duke has arrived.”

-Then let him in.

When the guard and I made eye contact, I nodded.

And then…

-Kneel!

The door opened and I entered the room.

A middle-aged lady with gray hair.

She tied her hair elegantly and exuded a noble atmosphere, she must be my mother-in-law.

And next to her was Princess Joy.

“Oh? Brother-in-law?”

The Empress Dowager and Princess Joy looked at me with a puzzled expression as if they didn’t expect me to come.

“Why is such a busy person here?”

I raised my voice and replied.

“I have come to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, the ruler of the empire.”

They looked at each other as if they hadn’t expected my words.

“Ahem… We were about to have breakfast, would the Duke like to join us?”

I replied.

“I am not only the Duke of the empire but also your mother-in-law’s son-in-law. So please speak more respectfully.”

They looked at me with a strange expression.

“That’s true, but…”

Seeing the hesitant Empress Dowager, I bent one knee as if a knight was showing respect to a lord.

“As an elder of the royal family and also my mother-in-law, I will continue to show respect until you feel comfortable speaking freely.”

“D-Duke?”

“B-Brother-in-law?”

Seeing both of them looking flustered, I continued.

“I… I understand that I made a mistake. But I will make sure that it doesn’t harm my mother-in-law, my wife, or my sister-in-law.”

Rather than a hundred empty words, I conveyed my sincerity.

I think if I convey my sincerity rather than a deceitful lie, they might accept it to some extent.

If they don’t accept it… well… I’ll have to visit diligently every day for the remaining time.

“Phew… I understand, you can sit here too.”

As my mother-in-law gave her permission, I stood up from my seat, smiling brightly and sat at the dining table.

With a subtle smile, I also think to myself.

Indeed, a son-in-law’s love is for the mother-in-law…