✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Translated by: Sienna
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Janet winced at the words, then spoke up.
“But, Your Grace, weren’t you planning to leave for the North soon?”
At that, Erich clenched his fists tightly.
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
Currently, there are reports of barbarians near the northern border adjacent to the Duchy.
It was enough to keep him on his toes.
But…….
<Even if you blame me, even if you dislike me, it doesn’t matter anymore.>
He tried to shake it off, but it kept coming back to him.
Her expression appeared as though she had let go of something.
And that absurd dream of her looking at him with eyes full of love.
Meanwhile, another piercing pain stabbed his chest.
Then Janet spoke with a glint in her eyes.
“It seems Milady is troubled. Perhaps this is due to recent events involving Sir Sardin.”
“…….”
The blue eyes that stared at her without reply were cold, but Janet continued without hesitation.
“While Your Grace is away, I will look after Milady.”
Normally, she expected a compliant response, but Erich remained silent.
Finally, breaking the silence, a low voice flowed out.
“Janet, can I truly trust you to guard her while I’m away?”
After swallowing dryly, Janet bowed her head.
“Yes, if you trust me, I will protect Milady with my life.”
At that moment, Erich spoke up.
“Very well. However, if you fail, you will bear the responsibility for your words.”
There was sincerity in his stern gaze.
‘Failure…….’
Her life was originally one that should have ended. So Janet was prepared to sacrifice even her life for the benefactor of her own life.
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
As Janet left the room, Erich covered his eyes with one hand.
[Papa!]
Even though he didn’t know the child’s name, he grimaced as the child from the dream flickered before him.
‘Don’t show up anymore. I can’t be your father.’
Though his expression seemed stoic, his eyes seemed more sorrowful and painful than angry.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
After Erich left the room, I dreamed of my loved one again.
[Demian!]
Though I pretended to be calm, I was always anxious.
Even though you were always by my side, I couldn’t hold you in my arms, unable to see your unseen form.
But now, seeing you again, a tender and joyful feeling welled up within me.
[I missed you, my child.]
I closed my eyes with worry and regret, unable to protect my child, whom I had to let go of like that.
I was afraid.
What if I couldn’t meet you even after death?
Because you’re going to heaven, and I was a wicked woman who will surely go to hell.
So when I realized I had traveled back in time and you were in my womb,
I thanked God for the first time.
[Thank you for letting me meet you again…]
[Mom, don’t cry.]
I couldn’t even hold Demian; I could only look. With a fern-like hand, he stroked my teary cheek.
But I couldn’t feel the small, warm touch I should have felt.
This was the reason I couldn’t touch the child right now.
‘Yeah, I knew it was just a dream from the beginning.’
We’ve finally met after so long, but if I open my eyes, you’ll disappear, won’t you?
In a moment of sadness, the child embraced me around the neck and said,
[Mom, we’ll see each other again soon. I’ll always be with you.]
I smiled at his words, as if he had read my mind.
[Yes, we’ll see each other soon.]
At that moment, the child smiled but appeared on the verge of tears as he asked.
[Mommy, do you hate Daddy?]
For a moment, I couldn’t answer.
[Don’t hate Daddy too much.]
With those words, the child evaporated like foam, and I woke up from sleep.
After waking up like that, feeling engulfed in emptiness, I couldn’t help but start shedding tears of anguish.
“Sorry… baby. I just can’t do that.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Several days had passed.
Erich was due to leave for the northern border tomorrow.
As the implementation of the plan loomed, I spent my time quietly in this large room, where I was all alone.
‘Is this the calm before the storm?’
Even the sneer that was on my lips was short-lived.
Knock-knock.
“Madam, somebody from the alchemy workshop has arrived.”
I smiled at the news I’d been waiting for.
“Yes, let him in.”
Eventually, Parakel, dressed modestly, bowed his head as he entered.
“It’s been a while.”
I nodded at the formal greeting and offered him a seat.
“Have a seat.”
As soon as the door closed, Parakel handed me a beautifully wrapped box.
“Here are the cosmetics you ordered.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I opened the box to unwrap it and saw glass jars of cosmetics.
As I began to unwrap the package, I saw glass bottles containing alchemist’s reagents instead of cosmetics.
However, because these were essential for my plan, I carefully put them back in the box and sealed it.
“By the way, this isn’t the main item, is it?”
Parakel fixed his monocle at my question.
“Of course, I brought the red potion you ordered.”
“I assume you’ve taken care of the weaknesses.”
At this, he eagerly placed a trunk bag on the desk and smiled.
“Please, take a look.”
When I opened the trunk, I did indeed find the revolver that had been in frequent use prior to my regression.
It was certainly much lighter and smaller than a flintlock. It also has a pretty good grip.
‘But… that’s not the most important thing.’
I chuckled and said,
“It completed faster than I expected. I thought it would take you months, but you did it in just two weeks. That’s amazing.”
Parakel, who had been stumbling moments earlier, stiffened at this praise.
‘Hmm, it seems he’s not immune to compliments after all.’
I acknowledged his effort.
“I appreciate how hard you’ve worked. You’ve really put in a lot of effort.”
Parakel turned bright red and replied smugly.
“Yes, it’s the first time in my life that I’ve made such an effort. So, please treat it with care.”
“Well, I’d like to test its effectiveness, but it might be difficult here.”
At this moment, Parakel smirked.
“Don’t worry about noise. I’ve engraved a silencing spell on it.”
Indeed, a silent spell existed before the regression.
However, the law forbade the engraving of spells on weapons after assassinations using the silent pistol.
‘We’ll get to that later, for now…….’
“No, I meant the lack of suitable targets. I don’t want to give away this weapon’s existence.”
Shooting the decorations in my room seemed wasteful, and damaging the furniture with bullet marks would be problematic.
So, perhaps? Parakel nodded without further objection.
“That certainly makes sense.”
At that moment, Parakel noticed something and brightened up.
“Oh, maybe that would work?”
Seeing what he pointed at, I made a puzzled face.
“A book?”
Although the cover was leather and quite thick, honestly, I doubted whether it could stop bullets.
But Parakel was confident.
“Yes, because in my experiments, it was more difficult to penetrate a thick book than a board.”
Suddenly, a thought struck me as I listened to him.
“If it was an experiment, was it to check the power?”
“Yes, determining the penetrating power is essential. So, I’ve experimented with various materials.”
After hearing the anticipated response, I brightened up and inquired.
“Ah, then you must know materials that can stop bullets.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Nancy, Parakel’s assistant and alchemy workshop salesperson, was yawning with her chin in hand.
‘Why hasn’t he come back yet? I can’t leave until the master returns.’
Parakel was eccentric in character, but he was a good employer who strictly followed schedules.
However, despite leaving to meet a guest, Parakel hadn’t returned even an hour before closing time.
“I don’t care about anything else, but he promised to let me go early! This is different!”
As Nancy puffed up her cheeks with a discontented expression, that was when it happened.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang, and simultaneously, a familiar face entered the shop.
“Master, you’re back! What did the guest say…?”
Nancy stopped mid-sentence and tightly shut her mouth. It was because Parakel’s complexion wasn’t good upon his return to the workshop.
‘What’s going on? Why is this guy, whose only redeeming qualities are his face and skill, looking so gloomy?’
Nancy cautiously approached Parakel and asked.
“Master, could it be… the contract failed?”
She speculated that the princess might have been dissatisfied with the pistol and complained, but Parakel simply shook his head.
“No, the guest was satisfied with the pistol I brought. Moreover, she immediately handed over the remaining payment in the form of a check.”
“Huh? Then what’s the problem?”
“She’s requesting more.”
“What? What…….”
“She wants more development! This time, she wants us to make armor that can stop bullets! Isn’t it too much?”
Nancy chuckled dryly.
Although he seemed irritated, Parakel’s eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation.
‘Why is he throwing a fit when he clearly likes it? If he’s going to act like this, he should raise our overtime pay.’
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
I chuckled softly.
‘I didn’t expect Parakel to complete the firearms so quickly. Thanks to him, preparing for the rebellion will be much easier.’
There’s about seven years left until the rebellion. Until then, I planned to lay the groundwork to ensure this damn empire didn’t fall.
“I’ve also ordered the production of protective gear to defend against firearms. Even if the enemies get their hands on firearms, we’ll have the upper hand.’
Now that the preparations are somewhat in place, it’s time to change the most crucial thing.
‘Yes, the next emperor is the foundation of the nation.’
