Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 016
Chapter Title: Franz and the Emperor's Metal (3)
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Forty minutes before the gift presentation ceremony was set to begin.
The nobles and ambassadors gathered in the imperial palace's grand ballroom were exchanging information under the guise of casual conversation, engaging in a subtle war of nerves.
"Oh, who do we have here! Count Polignac! It's been far too long."
Thomas Robinson, the ambassador from the Great British Empire, approached the French ambassador, Count Polignac, with overly familiar banter.
"Indeed. It has."
"I've heard that France's recovery has been remarkable lately. Truly, France's potential is formidable."
"France's soil is blessed land. But the momentum that's truly frightening right now... wouldn't it be your own country?"
"Hahaha, to be honest, it's gratifying to see the fruits of unification truly ripening. This is all thanks to the efforts of His Majesty the King, Lord Walpole, and the rest of us."
Polignac responded with a twisted smile in lieu of words.
As the count had implied, France had suffered a decisive defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession ten years prior, while England—now unified with Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain—was aggressively expanding its power.
The man had deliberately sought out French delegates in this vast ballroom just to emphasize what everyone already knew.
Of course, with no intention of playing along, the count smoothly changed the subject.
"By the way, I hear that at this banquet, we'll all witness the birthday gift for Archduchess Therese being presented right before our eyes?"
"Ah... that. Well, perhaps they've procured some extravagant diamond or another?"
"Do you really believe that?"
The count asked with a mocking sneer.
Seasoned diplomats never took opponents' words at face value; skepticism was their baseline.
This occasion was no exception.
"I can't fool you, Count. The gift is just an excuse. In truth, this is a venue to semi-officially announce Franz Stefan as the Habsburg son-in-law."
"As I thought. That's my view as well."
A birthday was merely a convenient pretext.
What did it signify for a man to publicly present a gift to a woman in front of everyone, even if she was young?
"Though it does feel a bit off."
Robinson glanced around the excited ballroom with curiosity and clicked his tongue softly.
"Her position as heir isn't even confirmed yet... It seems awfully rushed."
"Exactly. Unless Emperor Charles VI has some health issue..."
"This isn't a joke, but rumors are circulating that the gift to be unveiled today holds tremendous value."
He wondered how many naive souls in the room would actually believe that.
Diamonds or gold—whatever it was, what in this world couldn't be bought with enough money?
If the Lorraine family had emptied their coffers for it, it might be a massive diamond necklace, as suggested.
Expensive, sure, but not worth all this hype.
Polignac was about to respond when he turned to the side and asked,
"What do you think, Your Electoral Highness?"
Karl Albrecht, Elector of Bavaria—who had been pretending not to listen while eavesdropping—emptied his glass and chuckled.
"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop. The topic simply piqued my interest."
"Even the Elector of Bavaria is concerned, I see."
"Naturally. Technically, I'm not a stranger to the imperial family. Though I'm no son-in-law, of course. Ah, it seems the event is about to start. I'll take my leave."
Even if Franz married Therese, his own position would differ.
Watching the elector's retreating figure exude that subtle aura, the count let out a hollow laugh.
"He's exactly as the rumors say."
"Why else would an elector come here? To savor foreign dignitaries bowing their heads and calling him 'Your Electoral Highness.'"
Though disparaging another nation's system wasn't ideal, the Holy Roman Empire undeniably harbored numerous internal instabilities.
France's true rival was Great Britain, and Great Britain's was France alone.
The two exchanged a knowing glance before heading off to enjoy the impending farce.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The vast ballroom was filled with powerhouses who, without exception, wielded both immense wealth and influence.
They were more than qualified to become my VIP clients.
In this era, jewelry wasn't mere luxury; it was a symbol that starkly displayed one's authority and status.
"Uh... uh... h-how... right now..."
Johann the goldsmith, unprepared for being summoned to such a venue, trembled in a daze.
"Relax. I'll handle all the talking. You just stand there and set the mood."
"Y-yes... yes, sir."
He'd crafted jewelry for noble commissions before, but never unveiled pieces before an emperor, electors, and foreign ambassadors.
His reaction was understandable.
"Hoo... hoo... Right. I'm now the premier goldsmith serving the House of Lorraine..."
"Johann, calm down and hand over the necklace."
"Y-yes! Here... I've kept it safe."
Johann opened the ornate box's lid. The radiant platinum necklace sparkled under the chandelier's light.
Thud.
A signal gong announced it was time.
"Alright. Let's begin."
Johann rose, slapping his shaking legs, and followed me with the two glass vials I'd prepared.
Guided by an usher to the hall's center, we saw Therese receiving thunderous applause from the crowd.
Notably, Friedrich—who'd been chatting moments ago—clapped the hardest.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ To celebrate the birthday of Her Glorious Highness Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina! Franz von Lorraine, the proud son of Duke Lorraine and Duke of Bar, has personally prepared a gift. The usher's resonant voice filled the hall. Despite the bombastic content, its restrained timbre drew all eyes.
Navigating the waves of onlookers lined toward the center, I advanced with unyielding poise.
I deliberately cracked open the box lid, allowing passersby a peek at its contents.
"...What? I thought it was something grand with all this fuss—a silver necklace?"
"Silver? Nah, no way."
"I saw it clearly. It was silver."
Murmurs spread like wildfire.
Platinum could easily be mistaken for silver from afar, so I'd left that ambiguity—and the atmosphere ignited perfectly.
Yes. This would make the reveal's impact all the greater.
"Your Highness Therese."
I smiled calmly before her and continued.
"To celebrate your birthday, I've brought a treasure unlike any in this world."
The box's contents were fully revealed for all to see.
Pure platinum—the first of its kind in this world—gleamed as the necklace draped around Therese's neck.
"...A treasure that doesn't exist? Isn't it just silver?"
"No... look closer. The luster and sheen differ from silver."
"Maybe it's silver with special treatment?"
"Unlikely. Not in a place like this..."
After such fanfare, if it were mere silver, the absurdity would be comical.
Thus, the nobles scrutinized it, soon realizing it wasn't ordinary silver.
I calmly revealed its truth.
"You all know the metal called 'false silver'—deemed useless as it couldn't be refined. Recently, I've discovered how to refine it."
"......"
"And now, I present the result before your eyes. I wish to call this metal 'white gold'—platinum. Not just in name; it is the true precious metal fit for a king."
Someone asked—a noble briefed by the emperor in advance.
"If you've truly refined false silver, it's impressive, but is it that precious?"
"Excellent question. First, false silver—no, platinum—is far rarer than gold. You dismiss it as worthless junk now, but investigation reveals it's vastly scarcer than gold."
In nature, platinum is nearly 20 times rarer than gold.
In the modern era, platinum held less jewelry value than gold, but here and now, it was different.
Unlike gold, platinum resisted melting—a realm of impossibility.
"Impressive, yes. But to rival gold, it must hold comparable value."
Gold symbolized rulers not just for beauty, but immortality.
Unlike easily corroding silver, gold retained its luster eternally.
Thus, it embodied eternity, beloved by tyrants.
I planned to exploit that very trait.
"That's precisely why I call it white gold. Allow me to demonstrate to you all."
At my signal, Johann opened a large glass vial.
I drew silver and platinum fragments from my pocket, holding them high.
"This vial contains nitric acid. If I place a silver piece in it..."
Sizzle.
Oxidation bubbled on the silver's surface, corroding it instantly.
"As you see, it loses its form pitifully. But for platinum..."
Plop.
In the same acid, the platinum showed no reaction.
"Ooh!"
"So that's why it's white gold."
This simple demo enlightened everyone.
An immortal precious metal, uncorroding like gold.
Utterly unlike tarnishing silver.
What could suit "white gold" better?
Especially rarer than gold—its value was unimaginable otherwise.
As I ostentatiously fitted the necklace and bracelet on Therese, a quiet fervor ignited in every eye.
A gaze absent moments before.
Pure avarice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After Therese, I gifted the emperor a platinum ring. He smiled contentedly and delivered the prepared coup de grâce.
"Hoho, pairing this with my gold ring creates such striking contrast—immense satisfaction. An eternal white gold none can infringe. What metal suits an emperor better?"
"Precisely. With such limited production, only one like Your Majesty could dare wear it."
"Indeed. I wondered how you forged pure crystals from a metal that defies even fire."
The crowd stirred restlessly.
How much stock exists?
Plans for formal sales?
Delivery timelines if so?
Unable to interrupt the emperor, the ballroom swelled with silent frenzy.
...And so.
Franz bowed deeply to the emperor, then turned to the assembly.
"...Ooh."
With soft gasps, the nobles' anticipation peaked. Franz spoke in serene contrast.
"The available quantity is extremely limited. Is anyone interested?"
No need to check—every hand shot up in unison.
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