Chapter 40: One Month Later
King:
“This VIP room Ariel made is really nice. I think this seat is more comfortable than any seat I’ve got in the castle.”
Noble 1:
“It’s only natural that the best seats would be given to us!”
Noble 2:
“Say, where’s the prince and princess?”
King:
“They are participating in the tournament.”
Noble 3:
“Hmph. Lucky, my no good son got eliminated early.”
Noble 4:
“I don’t think it’s simply a matter of luck.”
Noble 1:
“With your daughter still being in, I’m convinced it’s luck!”
Noble 5:
“Is my son’s success luck too?”
Noble 1:
“I wouldn’t dare insinuate such a thing. Everyone knows how excellent your esteemed lineage is.”
Noble 3:
“Oh please, lay of the ass-kissing. A decade ago, you hated the Brady family.”
Noble 2:
“You’re just jealous over the loss of your own status, Neil. A decade ago, it was you who held the most influence.”
Neil (Noble 3):
“Hey, the Neil family is still a noble family, and status can be won just as fast as it can be lost!”
Noble 1:
“Certainly, but with no one left in the tournament, your family won’t be the one gaining from this.”
King:
“Esmer, what do you think of all this?”
Esmer:
“The hero selection? I haven’t a clue.”
King:
“You’ve spent so much time with her, surely you must’ve learned something.”
Esmer:
“Something indeed. An early prototype steam engine is nearly complete. In a few more months we might get the start of what she called a train working. It’s really fascinating stuff.”
King:
“Is that really so interesting? You always seem to be captivated by the oddest things. I still remember when I found you rummaging through my underwear drawer; you never did explain why.”
Esmer:
“That’s not really important anymore. What is important is that this steam powered train idea has the potential to greatly impact trade and transportation of goods between cities. The machinery involved may even be usable in ships to enable faster travel between this land and the old land.”
King:
“Hmmm, if it can lower the cost of imports from the old kingdom, that would be very nice.”
Noble 4:
“You’re working on a new form of transportation?”
Esmer:
“Yes, I’m sure you’ll be quite impressed. Just don’t expect to be given total control over it, like you have over the main marketplace.”
Noble 4:
“Oh, you exaggerate. Just because the Talis family runs the merchant guild doesn’t mean we have control over everything.”
Neil (Noble 3):
“Close enough! Between taxes and your fees, we struggle to make any money from our lands and smiths.”
Brady (Noble 5):
“You just need to take better care of your lands and your people.”
Noble 2:
“Not everyone is as blessed with good harvest as your farms are, Brady.”
King:
“Could you be more specific Esmer? How much does this impact trade?”
Esmer:
“Hmmm… Sir Talis? How long does it usually take for a caravan to travel to Gerland from here?”
Talis (Noble 4):
“Almost a month, about four weeks.”
Esmer:
“With a well made track, a train should be able to travel that distance with a load in a day.”
Talis (Noble 4):
“You must be joking.”
Esmer:
“I’m not.”
King:
“I see. That does seem more important than who is chosen to be the hero.”
Noble 1:
“Say, does anyone know what that big thing floating over the field is?”
