Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Commissioning the Machine
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I sat blankly in a chair set up in one corner of Miss Heini's laboratory, gazing out the window.
The happiness of not being bothered by people.
The quiet where no noisy sounds reached me.
The security of knowing no one was tailing me.
How long had it been since I'd enjoyed the leisure to gaze at the blue sky...
"Phew..."
I let out a deep breath and leaned back against the chair.
It had only been thirty minutes since I entered Miss Heini's laboratory, but peace and happiness were already settling into my heart.
People really do need a space where they can be alone.
"You seem much better than the first time."
As I lounged in the chair, finding some mental tranquility, Miss Heini approached with a smile and spoke to me.
"Yes, the quiet atmosphere makes my mind ease right away."
"I'm glad. When we first met, your face was as pale as a corpse—it was a bit frightening."
"I'm not really the type who enjoys meeting people, so all this attention is a little overwhelming."
"Hehe, I can relate. I had a similar experience when I first entered the Magic Tower."
"Haha..."
Not quite on the level of an honor knight, but magicians were still rare sights.
Everyone around must have made a huge fuss.
In my case, it had been excessively so.
I gave a wry smile and glanced up at the ceiling when Miss Heini asked cautiously,
"If you're feeling better now, may I ask one question?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"What command did His Majesty the Emperor give to Sir William that brought you to me?"
"Ah, right."
Her question jolted me upright in the chair, my body snapping to attention.
In the peaceful atmosphere, I'd completely forgotten the most important matter.
"Do you remember the hooks and loops I asked you to make before?"
"Ah, yes. I rushed to make them when you said you'd show them to the Royal Envoy."
"I used them in the outfit I presented to His Majesty the Emperor and the Royal Envoy, and both were quite satisfied."
"Yes."
Anticipation began to fill Miss Heini's eyes.
"His Majesty the Emperor and the Royal Envoy have ordered a plan for stable supply of those hooks and loops."
"Stable supply!"
Miss Heini's lips curved up sharply.
Beaming from ear to ear, she clenched her fist and asked in an excited voice,
"How many do you need?"
"Roughly 4,000 hooks and 500 loops per year."
"Hmm..."
The smile faded from Miss Heini's face, her brow furrowing.
She pouted her lips and muttered softly,
"That's... a bit tricky."
"Tricky?"
"Yes."
"Could you explain in detail?"
I tilted my head, puzzled, and she held up two fingers.
"There are two ways to produce hooks and loops: hiring a mage or using a machine."
"Yes."
"But both have fatal flaws."
Miss Heini folded one finger and continued,
"With a mage, no special equipment is needed, but stable production is difficult. Making hooks and loops requires precise manipulation, so you'd need a mid-level mage or higher. Such mages won't take on menial tasks—they all have their own personal research."
"I see."
I'd seen her make them before, so I wasn't holding out much hope for this option.
A novice mage might have been worth considering, but hiring advanced talent?
It was even less appealing.
"Is it impossible without a mage?"
"It's possible, but it would require a skilled blacksmith, and neither the speed nor the price would be satisfactory."
"Hm... I see."
I neatly abandoned the idea of using human labor.
Supply speed mattered more than cost.
"What about a machine, then?"
"Machines for making similar items already exist, and they're fast—if materials are plentiful, they could produce hundreds per week."
"Oh..."
"The problem is the price. Modifying and building one to produce exactly what you want will cost a pretty penny."
"How much do you estimate?"
"At least 10 gold."
"Ten?"
It was expensive, but about the price of a decently adorned dress.
Not a level that screamed 'problem'.
"Isn't that a reasonable amount?"
"That's where the issue lies—it's tied to the state. The machine would run for a few weeks and then sit idle for months. Whether the officials would approve that..."
"Ah... good point."
The cost was indeed hard to overlook.
And this involved spending state funds.
No one would rubber-stamp building a machine that would idle after a short run.
"Hm..."
I stroked my chin, mulling over His Majesty the Emperor's exact words.
[The matter of underwear production shall be handled and supplied by the young lord who knows it best.]
His Majesty had only ordered me to resolve the underwear production issue—no specifics on method.
As long as I supplied properly, it was fine.
So, what if I didn't use state money?
I could open my own underwear shop and produce them.
That would solve a lot of problems.
Low demand? Idle machine?
The Empire had tens of millions of residents.
Secure even a fraction as customers, and no idling.
If demand fell short, I could just think of it as a donation to the nation.
With my own money, who cares if it idles?
I could gain His Majesty the Emperor's favor just by closing my eyes and handing over 10 gold.
Not a bad deal.
"Miss Heini, is it possible to make the machine produce hooks and loops in various sizes?"
"Yes, though the price would go up a bit."
"Aha."
My lips curved upward.
Adjustable loops in different sizes would give underwear designs more freedom.
Meaning I could experiment to create new demand.
No more reason to hesitate.
"Miss Heini, please make the machine—one that can produce hooks and loops in various sizes."
Miss Heini jumped in surprise, her eyes widening.
"Pardon? You're really going to do it? What about the money?"
"I'll fund it myself first."
"No..."
She started to say something but met my gaze, clamped her mouth shut, and rolled her eyes in thought.
A moment later, she nodded reluctantly and spoke.
"Um... alright."
"How long to complete it?"
"About two months."
"Please do so. Here's the advance right now."
I pulled five gold coins from the pouch at my waist and held them out to Miss Heini.
"Wow..."
She let out a soft gasp at the gold in my hand, her lips parting as she stared at me blankly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With the commission to Miss Heini for the machine secured, I now had the invincible excuse of 'fulfilling His Majesty the Emperor's command,' so I left the Magic Tower without hiding anymore.
I ignored anyone who tried to talk to me midway or approached pretending to know me, heading straight back to the townhouse.
"Young Master...!"
The moment I entered the townhouse, Emily greeted me, her face tear-streaked and arms full of a thick bundle of letters.
I could guess what had happened without asking, but I approached her and inquired anyway.
"What's wrong? Why the long face?"
"While you were away, new letters arrived, and two guests came by."
"Who?"
"The third lady of Count Elgin and Viscount Rubet."
"Hm~ I see."
Since they hadn't left much impression, they probably weren't from particularly important families.
A polite refusal letter would do.
"Put all the letters that have come so far in my room, and reject any future letters or visitors."
"Pardon?"
"Just say, 'William Henry Howard is currently fulfilling His Majesty the Emperor's command, so please don't disturb him and leave.' Got it?"
"Is that alright?"
"What can they do about it? If they're upset, tell them to complain to His Majesty the Emperor."
"Haa......"
Emily stared at me in disbelief and let out a deep sigh.
I took the bundle of letters from her arms regardless and headed to my room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back in my room, I wrote individual rejection letters to all the piled-up correspondence and visitors who'd sought me out, sealed them in envelopes one by one, placed them in a basket, and handed it to Emily.
"Emily, take care of it."
"Yes."
Leaving the delivery to Emily and the servants, I began pondering how to supply the underwear.
I'd decided to open a shop and supply the Royal Knights directly, but a shop didn't spring up overnight.
For starters, since I couldn't sew every day myself, I'd need to hire sewers in my stead.
And people to operate the machines.
Where to set up the shop, how to secure materials, how to drum up new demand—the headaches were endless.
If I had to handle every detail myself, my head would explode, and I wouldn't even attempt it, but I had the Mother card to play.
She'd mentioned a boutique, but a boutique or a lingerie shop was much the same.
I trusted she'd understand the minor difference.
I took out a sheet of fine stationery and carefully penned my words.
A simple greeting, light praise for Mother, and a bit of wheedling for help.