Bab 79: Red
A servant opened the door for Rafael. As he walked in, the sight almost brought him to tears. Finally... Finally a real bed and a real room. The room was spacious and well-furnished for the time period.
It featured a large bed, a simple window, a wardrobe, and a few other pieces of furniture. "Hahahah..." Rafael laughed in delight and leaped onto his new bed.
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"Thank you, Father." Ella hugged Frederic tightly.
"Perhaps we should visit the church and pray. Who knows if He actually exists?"
"Yes, we should." Ella's sincere smile drew Frederic's attention.
I think I've never seen her smile like that... They grow up so fast...
"I will find out if it's real or just a farce. Don't worry, Dad."
"I trust you, but how will you do that? You know I could try my methods; they always work."
"Please, Father, we've discussed this already. Don't bring up old arguments now. Besides, as you've said, what if he's telling the truth?"
Frederic gazed pensively.
Two days had passed, and Rafael's situation had improved significantly. He now enjoyed the luxuries of noble life: eating whenever he wanted, sleeping on a comfortable bed, and even maintaining daily personal hygiene, which was rare among the nobility.
He had managed to meet with Ella, Frederic's daughter, and they had discussed various topics, including the city, their lives, and the inventions he had shared with her father.
Rafael took the opportunity to ask her a favor, inquiring if she had ever heard of rubber or a tree that secretes a white liquid. When she hadn't, Rafael asked if she could investigate further and see if anyone in the city knew about it. Ella gladly agreed.
For Ella, her days seemed more vibrant and joyful. She had finally spoken with Robert and now had a favor from him. She had tried asking her father about rubber and the specific tree, but he didn't know either. No one she consulted was familiar with it.
In the afternoon, Ella knocked on Rafael's door. After a few moments, it was opened by Rafael himself. "Milady, what brings you here?"
"I wanted to discuss the tree you asked me to research." She was wearing a long red and green dress with a silver tiara. "Oh, did you find anything?"
Rafael, visibly anxious, awaited her response.
"May I come in?" Ella's request jolted Rafael from his nervousness. He quickly stepped aside. "Yes, yes, please come in."
Ella entered, stopping in the middle of the room. She looked around, comparing it to her more opulent quarters.
You don't have unlimited chances, Rafael! This needs to be done right from the start... He closed the door and turned to her. "Milady Ella, you look beautiful today."
Ella, who had been facing away, jumped slightly at the compliment. Without turning to face him, trying to hide her flushed cheeks, she said, "A-about the tree and rubber... I'm sorry, but no one knew what it was or had ever seen it."
Rafael sighed inwardly. Goddamnit! His eye twitched in frustration.
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Frederic sat in his office, reading reports from the north. The war seemed to be dragging on with increased enemy attacks. The letter requested more soldiers, food, and weapons to bolster the defenses.
He dropped the parchment on the table, closed his eyes, and massaged his temples. A headache was beginning to form, compounding his troubles.
*sigh*
*knock knock*
"Come in." The door opened to reveal Merek, one of Frederic's trusted counselors who helped manage the city and its surrounding villages.
"Sir, I have a report to make." Frederic gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
"What is it?"
"I've noticed something unusual lately. Since yesterday, everyone at the church seems restless. I've seen some running around with worried expressions, as if something bad has happened."
"Hmmm..." Frederic pondered the possible reasons for the church's unrest.
"Did you find out why they're acting this way?"
"Yes, sir. This morning, I asked our angel to investigate. He returned just an hour ago and told me it was because of the high priest." They both knew the "angel" was a loyal young man who acted as a spy.
"The high priest? What's the issue?"
"He's been missing for over a week. They fear something may have happened during his journey."
His group was sizable and had enough soldiers for protection. For something to have happened, it would have required a much larger force to cut off all escape routes.
"Let's observe for now and see how the church responds. Anything else?"
"There's good news. Tomorrow, we'll begin paper production, and we expect to start producing liquid stone by the end of the week. The printing press is also nearing completion."
Frederic felt his headache easing at the positive developments.
Ella was alone in her room, her face flushed from earlier. Despite this, a soft smile graced her lips as she remembered the recent encounter.
Not wanting Rafael to see her embarrassment, she had kept her back turned. To her surprise, a hand gently turned her face, accompanied by a soft voice.
Ella, lying on her bed, buried her face in a pillow. "Hahahahahah." Muffled laughter escaped as she reveled in the moment.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone