The Possessor Mistook the Genre for 20 Years

97 – The Emperor Wants a Carriage

The Emperor is also a man.

And if you’re a man, you can’t help but be interested in cars.

That’s how they are designed to be.

How can you resist a hunk of metal with wheels running on the ground?

Feeling proud under that intense gaze, Franz answered.

“It’s a new carriage developed by the Magic Tower.”

“I thought it looked unfamiliar. But, is it still called a carriage even without horses?”

“We call it a carriage because it moves by magic power, not by horses.”

“Oh, that large thing moves purely by magic power…. If you don’t mind, could you explain it in more detail?”

Explaining the carriage wasn’t particularly difficult. After all, he was the one who designed it. He could explain everything, from where and why each part was used.

But he couldn’t easily answer. There was something bothering him. He couldn’t ignore the Princess’s gaze staring at him intently from the side. It was almost as if lasers were about to shoot out.

“Forgive me, but I wonder if Her Highness the Princess might be feeling lonely.”

Franz spoke very carefully.

He was aware that it was not polite to refuse the emperor’s request, but if the princess got upset, that would be an even bigger problem.

“Th-that’s right. Spending time with my daughter comes first.”

The emperor said this while watching the princess’s reaction. It was an action that clearly showed the position of the youngest princess, who was born late. She was truly the real power in the imperial family, to the extent that even the emperor was cautious around her.

It was then.

“I-I’m curious too…!”

The princess said as she approached Franz.

There was no need to ask what she meant. The princess was also curious about the carriage.

‘Unexpected…’

The princess was eleven years old this year. And usually, an eleven-year-old girl would like something cute like a doll.

He didn’t know how she became interested in such a piece of iron, but as the creator of the carriage, he couldn’t help but be pleased.

“Since my daughter says so, let’s go to the carriage.”

The emperor, seizing the opportunity, urged Franz.

He could have asked if it was okay not to consider his daughter’s feelings, but it seemed he was quite curious about the carriage.

So what could he do?

“Yes, then let’s go.”

Franz, with a happy heart, led the two to the carriage.

When they arrived in front of the carriage, Franz began to explain it step by step.

“As I mentioned earlier, this carriage operates purely on magic. The driving force for that is…”

As Franz continued his explanation, the emperor and the princess listened very calmly. But that calmness did not last long. It was only natural, as the structure of the carriage was far removed from that of this era.

“When you press this button, the engine starts.”

When Franz pressed the button, the magical circuits spread throughout the carriage were instantly dyed blue. In modern terms, it could be called ambient light. Of course, the purpose was entirely different.

“Oh, oh…”

“Wow, it’s so pretty.”

The emperor in the passenger seat and the princess in the back seat exclaimed in admiration.

Of course, that wasn’t the end.

When Franz pressed the button to lower the window, there were exclamations. When he pressed the button to operate the air conditioner, there were exclamations. Even when the carriage started to move forward, there were exclamations.

As a result, Franz’s shoulders were rising in real-time. He was worried that they might touch the ceiling of the carriage.

Is this what it feels like when your child is praised? Even though the praise was not directed at him, he was very happy.

It was when they had taken a suitable lap around the imperial castle in the carriage.

“The more I look at it, the more I feel the greatness of this carriage. And I also feel that you, the master of the tower who developed this, are truly amazing.”

“You flatter me.”

“But, is there perhaps another one like this…?”

To interpret what the emperor said, it means:

I would like to have one of these too, but taking yours would be a bit much.

‘Finally, the moment has come.’

Franz had naturally expected the emperor to say that. Honestly, it would be a lie to say that he wasn’t tempted as a man. Even young Marcel wanted to have the carriage so badly that he was willing to offer his sister.

“In fact, making it is not that difficult. It’s just that the materials needed are quite rare. It’s not something that can be obtained just with money…”

“Don’t worry about that. I can support you as much as needed, or rather, I’ll open the imperial treasury for you to take a look.”

At the emperor’s refreshing answer, Franz cheered inwardly. It was already decided that he had to make it, but at least he could now obtain the costs and materials.

At that moment, Franz felt a gaze from behind.

The princess was looking at Franz, her lips slightly parted as if she had something to say.

‘She seems to want it too…’

Unfortunately, it was impossible to prepare one for the princess right away. To be precise, it was possible to prepare it, but he couldn’t give it to her.

Because she was a minor.

Franz had rather strict standards.

“I will present it to Your Highness the Princess as a gift on the day you come of age.”

“Yes…”

The princess’s voice was filled with gloom. She must have been even more disappointed after hearing that her father would receive one.

‘I suppose she could ride together anyway…’

Surely the emperor wouldn’t drive it himself. A retainer would definitely take charge. The princess could ride then.

But seeing her sullen expression and voice made him feel uncomfortable.

‘Should I give her a remote-controlled toy for her birthday this year…?’

The structure is the same anyway. He could just make a new controller to operate it with magic.

Is a remote-controlled car suitable as a birthday gift for an 11-year-old girl…?

Well, she liked the real car so much, so wouldn’t she be happy?

While I was thinking that, it was time for the princess to go for her lessons.

Franz got off the carriage immediately, saw the princess off, and then headed to the office with the emperor.

“Would you like some tea?”

As soon as they arrived at the office, the emperor asked a familiar question.

“I will do it.”

“Didn’t I provide you with a wonderful experience today? Let me handle this much.”

“It was all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace. So please….”

“Then think of it as me enjoying serving tea.”

Anyway, the Emperor was really stubborn.

‘I should get used to it somehow.’

Although he was grateful for the tea, he couldn’t feel at ease. This repeated every time he visited, and if he kept worrying about it, he might go bald at an early age.

Soon, two steaming teacups were placed on the table.

Franz, who immediately took a sip of the tea, carefully put down the teacup and said,

“As always, it’s an indescribably excellent taste.”

It was a polite remark before getting to the main point. The customs of the nobility were truly bothersome. Of course, the tea’s taste was genuinely excellent.

Anyway, it was about time to get to the main point.

“Your Majesty, regarding what you wrote in the letter….”

“Ah, right. I forgot because your carriage was so splendid. So, tell me. What day would be good?”

“Any day is fine with me.”

“Hmm, then let’s do it in three days. Considering the preparation of the banquet hall, that would be the earliest.”

A banquet hall….

It was natural since a new duke was being born in the empire, but it still felt bothersome. Moreover, the protagonist of that day was none other than himself. Surely, various people would cling to him.

Just imagining the events of that day made him feel overwhelmed.

But since he couldn’t show such feelings outwardly, Franz bowed his head.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Thank you? I should take care of you more, but I’m sorry I can’t.”

“Your words are too kind.”

Thus, the matter of the day of the duke’s conferment was settled, but Franz’s business was not over. He had to talk about what happened in the north.

“Your Majesty, actually, about the north….”

Franz began to recount what had happened in the north.

From subduing the dragon of the second ice castle among the seven great evils, to obtaining the sealed weapon, and even being asked a favor by the goddess.

“So, I wanted to ask if you knew anything about it.”

“A sealed weapon and a goddess…. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about that. But if we search through the documents stored in the imperial palace, we might find something. I’ll look into it.”

“Please, I beg of you.”

Although it was a bit disappointing not to find out anything, since the Emperor said he would look into it, it wasn’t a completely lost opportunity.

And I don’t plan to just wait around. Three days until the banquet, that should be enough time to find out something.