Chapter 148 - 148 Matching
The Royal Research Institute was in an uproar when the prototype match and the report arrived. The invention of a revolutionary ignition device immediately sparked moves to allocate research funding. Of course, this invention was reported to the King without delay. Then, with a slight delay in timing, the Royal Research Institute also conveyed the information to the generals of the army.
Of course, this was to encourage the allocation of funding.
King William was face-to-face with the Chancellor.
"How many years has humanity been striking fire with flint?"
"I do not know exactly, but it has certainly been for over a thousand years."
"In all those thousand years, no one else thought of another method, did they?"
"There may have been some instances of ignition by mages, but there was no technological innovation."
The history of humanity using fire is long. However, it was almost entirely the history of flint. Aside from that, ignition came from magic and natural phenomena like lightning strikes. Suddenly appearing in that context was the match. The King felt awe and fear at that concept.
And once again, it was Steve. According to the report from the Royal Research Institute, while the mechanism of the match itself could be understood through Cyril's report, reproducing it was impossible with current technology. If the match were to become widespread in that state, it would mean Steve's influence would grow even greater.
"We must make it possible to produce the matches ourselves, no matter what."
"Indeed. A technology monopolized by a single noble is a threat."
"The Royal Research Institute has submitted a request for funding."
"It would be best to allocate funding immediately and have them conduct research."
"On the contrary, we will provide as much funding as needed, so they must produce results quickly."
The Chancellor shared the King's sentiment, and thus the funding was approved promptly. Support from the military was unnecessary.
Rather, the order came from the King's side: provide as much funding as needed, and make it possible to produce it with your own technology as soon as possible. Upon receiving that instruction, the Royal Research Institute froze lower-priority ongoing research and assigned personnel to the development of the match.
They had thought that having plenty of funding would be good, but because the King and Chancellor felt a sense of crisis more than expected, the result was instead suffering.
Information about such matches had also reached Prince Alex. It came up during a secret meeting with Count Cutter.
"Your Highness, it seems Lord Archibalt has invented another revolutionary device. Apparently, even those who cannot use magic can easily ignite fire."
"The military jumped on it. And His Majesty too. Huge funding was decided immediately, and the Royal Research Institute was in a great panic."
"It seems mages of Separation Magic were reassigned to that research, even stopping their current studies."
"Not only that, there is talk of expanding aptitude testing for commoners. It seems alchemists' techniques are insufficient for the separation work. If that happens, I wonder how Archibalt managed to invent it."
"Does it mean he is loved by God?"
Count Cutter pointed to the ceiling.
Alex laughed at that.
"If it were according to the Fries Holy Church's claims. However, he is not that devout a believer, nor does he cooperate with evangelism. I think 'loved by God' is a stretch."
Alex had never believed in the Fries Holy Church's claims from the start. He couldn't even imagine being a reincarnator, but he had a premonition that he had acquired knowledge nonexistent in this world through some method and had made these inventions up to now. That was why he thought if he could grasp that secret, he could turn the tide in the succession struggle.
"Is it the work of Industrial Magic?"
"Likely. I definitely want someone in my faction who can use the same magic. I dislike the church growing fat, but I have no choice but to search for those with magical aptitude using the profits from the Southern region."
Without needing to be told by Count Cutter, Alex suspected it was highly probable that knowledge was being gained through Industrial Magic. That was why he intended to use the profits from the Southern region to discover those with magical aptitude. Of course, he planned to secure funds for bribery of nobles separately.
"By the way."
Count Cutter began.
"It seems Lord Archibalt also invented and sold something called a music box."
"Yes, I heard. Apparently, it is a device that plays music automatically. His Majesty has even commissioned a court composer to write pieces for it, as a gift for his mother."
"Regarding that music box, not everyone like His Majesty or high nobles who employ composers. Lord Archibalt seems to want to accept commissions for composition as well, so he is recruiting composers. We can use this to create a rift in Prince Carter's faction."
"Oh?"
Alex's eyes lit up at Count Cutter's words. Seeing this, Count Cutter continued.
"Count McVee's fifth daughter is moving towards an engagement with the son of Baron Doyle, but it seems that fifth daughter is in love with the second son of Viscount Rice."
"Count McVee, Baron Doyle, Viscount Rice... all are in my brother's faction. An interesting story, but how does that relate to the music box?"
"The second son of Viscount Rice is actually a composer. Since he cannot inherit the family headship, he chose the path of music. If he is hired by Lord Archibalt, he could marry Count McVee's fifth daughter with that track record. Then, Baron Doyle, who had his daughter snatched away, would feel resentment. In some cases, Count McVee might also harbor ill feelings toward the Viscount Rice family."
"And the one who gets hated is Archibalt. If they manage to create a conflict, it's a bonus."
Alex found Count Cutter's plan amusing. If the target missed, there would be no damage. If it succeeded, the hatred would not fall on himself. It was a very profitable strategy.
"Can you arrange a meeting between that second son of Viscount Rice and Archibalt?"
"Preparations to do so are currently complete."
Count Cutter smiled slyly.
"I look forward to good results."
"Leave it to me."
Thus, Count Cutter began moving to have the second son of Viscount Rice employed by Steve.
The second son of Viscount Rice, Desmond Rice, was an unknown composer. He gave up on inheriting the family headship early on and was conducting composition activities under his parents' support. He met Count McVee's fifth daughter, Becky McVee, at his concert.
After the concert, the two talked and hit it off. Since their parents were in the same faction, they could meet without any particular issues.
However, Count McVee intended to use Becky as a tool for a political marriage and decided to marry her to Bartholomew Doyle, the eldest son of Baron Doyle from the same faction. To make the factional connections even stronger.
Becky, having been born into the Count's family since childhood, had thought her marriage would be used as a political tool. However, after meeting Desmond, she began to think she wanted to marry the person she loved.
If Desmond were the heir to the Viscount Rice family, the marriage would have been no problem. But if he could not inherit the family headship, it was easy to imagine that her father, Count McVee, would not agree.
And then came the talk of marriage to the eldest son of Baron Doyle.
It was not yet officially decided, but after being told by her parents, she consulted Desmond, not knowing what to do.
"Desmond-sama, my father seems to have chosen Bartholomew Doyle-sama, the eldest son of Baron Doyle, as my marriage partner."
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
"So, is Becky willing to accept that?"
"Even if I voice my opinion, my father will not listen. Besides, as a noblewoman born, my marriage will be used as a political tool."
"Are you giving up on me!?"
"No. I also wish to be with Desmond-sama. However, this is..."
"Run away together... No, that's impossible."
However, Desmond was a composer who could live only because of his parents' support. It was clear that if they ran away, they would hit a dead end in their livelihood.
If he succeeded as a composer, he might persuade Count McVee. But success was not easy, and it would take time, so it would not be in time for Becky's marriage.
While Desmond was worried about what to do after receiving a consultation from Becky, he heard from a fellow composer that Lord Archibalt was recruiting composers.
"Rice, it seems Lord Archibalt is recruiting composers. Apparently, he made a product that plays music automatically, but he is troubled because he lacks the actual music. He wants a composer who can compose everything from cheerful songs to sad ones. I intend to apply myself, but what about you?"
The moment Desmond heard that, he had a flash of inspiration. This is it.
He had heard that the third son of Marquess Earhart, who had been unsuccessful, and the third son of Viscount Wilkinson, had gained fame instantly by getting involved with the Archibalt family, and were now top researchers at the Royal Research Institute. If that were the case, perhaps he could gain fame by becoming a hired composer for the Archibalt family. And if that were realized, it would be an impeccable track record for marrying Becky.
"How do I apply for that?"
Desmond strongly grabbed the shoulder of the fellow composer and asked.
"It seems you should go to the townhouse of the Lord in the Royal Capital and apply there."
Having asked that, Desmond immediately headed for the Archibalt family's townhouse.
Incidentally, the townhouse belongs to the Archibalt family, not Steve's possession, but Brian's. It is often misunderstood because the son has higher fame.
Seeing Desmond's back, the male fellow composer sighed with relief.
"Count Cutter's instructions have been achieved for now."
This man had been instructed by Count Cutter to convey the news of the composer recruitment to Desmond.
Unaware of such schemes, Steve had come to Aurora's castle to deliver the music box. He was meeting not Aurora, but her husband, Leo.
Leo had ordered Steve to make the music box as a gift for his wife, Aurora.
Leo was with the composer who had composed the music for this music box.
Steve wound the spring in front of them and played the music. It was a serenade composed for Aurora.
When the music ended, the composer gave a passing grade.
"It is exactly as I composed it."
"Lord, thank you. I will pay the fee to the Oclair Trading Company."
Leo showed his gratitude to Steve.
"Lord Leo is quite enthusiastic too. A gift of music to Lord Sowell."
"I may not match the marital harmony of your household."
"Our marriage is a love match. Noble households are mostly political marriages, and honestly, I am anxious whether this business will get on track. Currently, I have received orders from His Majesty and my father-in-law, Marquess Mackintosh."
"Even if it is a political marriage, women are not just that."
Many noble wives in the Kingdom of Cascade were in political marriages, but it did not end with bearing children after marriage; they also desired love from their husbands. And the husbands were struggling to please their wives.
The Sowell family and the Royal Family were no exceptions.
"By the way, it seems your household is recruiting composers for this music box. Have you found good talent yet?"
"We just started recruiting, so it is still early. We are recruiting in the Western region and the Royal Capital, but while there are many bards, composers are hard to find."
"Essentially, it is difficult for the profession of composer to become a livelihood."
"They cannot live unless employed by the country or nobles. Such people will not accept our work."
While having such a conversation, Aurora arrived.
"I heard Lord Archibalt was here."
"Good day to you. Today my task is finished, so I shall take my leave."
"Oh, what task was it?"
"Please ask Lord Leo."
Saying that, Steve decided to leave. To avoid interrupting the couple's time.
Thank you always for reporting typos.