D4

Ahhhh~ what a wonderful day to sip a cup of Chai tea with honey and tons of milk. I'm right here, sitting in the gazebo at the center of the garden, sipping tea and enjoying the joyous sun and blue sky. Right now, I'm relishing a worry-free noon as I relived the moments when I told Drew about my plan, and I can't help but laugh.

It's been two days since my tour to the dukedom— especially my tour to the farmer's district as a 'foreigner', and it's also been two days since I instructed Haifa to spread some rumor that can disturb the rebels and their plans. As of now, I'm waiting for Haifa's report regarding my orders to her and I'm also waiting for someone to arrive at my gazebo to enjoy a delicious cup of tea with me. I've been waiting for that person since this morning and now its noon and still not here. Well, what can I say, that person has a pretty tight schedule due to his status.

He's the crown prince after all.

"Good afternoon Frielle. How lovely it is for you to invite me to have tea." He said as he sat down opposite to me, wearing simple clothes but still bears the crown– a symbol that he is a crown prince. This is Uriel Rajah Travensky, the Crown Prince of the Sagareste Kingdom. Being the crown prince— of course— he has such a beautiful face: sky blue eyes, pink glossy lips, rose tanned skin, a nose that complements all his features and a neat hair style. He likes to wear white clothes and always wears the princes' crown. Of course, he also has a personality befitting a crown prince: mature, serious, polite, and extremely soft towards his constituents. He performs his duties and responsibilities very well that everyone in the kingdom agrees that he deserves the throne.

But there is something that only few people knows of: the prince hates formalities to those close to him, he prefers talking casually to them than talking to them as a crown prince; and I'm his cousin also.

"And to you too, your majesty— I mean, cousin Uriel." Muffling a giggle at his attitude, anyone would mistake him as a simple person if he doesn't wear his crown. Knowing him since childhood, Uriel likes mingling with people equally— no status or anything involved— just normal people conversing indifferently. But ever since he became the crown prince, he needed to develop a personality befitting of his title. Well then, enough about him. Let's focus on the task at hand.

"It's really nice of you Uriel to grant my request despite your busy schedule. Oh, have some tea, I recommend this." I poured him a cup as he ate a piece of chocolate mint cake. We enjoyed our tea in silence before going down to our business. Before he came here to visit me, I sent him two letters: one was the invitation and a separate one delivered to him discreetly. It contains information about my plans and the reason I needed it to be delivered in secret was because of the risk that rebels might've infiltrated the palace.

To everyone, especially his attendants, this is just a tea invitation; but to us, it's a plan to solve the issues of the Fortess duchy as fast as possible; and I need his help to do it. And it's preferable to talk about privately— just the two of us.

"It's nothing Frielle, what are cousins for? Anyway, I've read your letter and you're right. The rebels have infiltrated the palace, I saw some staffs wearing the necklace as their symbol and what's with that plan? How were you able to think about it? It's out of this world." Uriel said with astonishment and confusion in his face. He still munches on some chocolate mint cake but he still can't get enough of my idea. True, it's out of this world because that idea was from Earth and I'm also not from this world, I got transported in this body. But, what's the reason behind the rebel's secret invasion to the castle?

"Hahaha! Well, I showed it to Drew at first and his reaction was the same and he said it was a great idea—"

"—yeah, it is—"

"—thank you. However, constructing it would be a not so easy task. The fact that the rebels are taking hold of the architects and engineers is a big problem in itself, but they also have most of the workforce in their side so– it's a pretty big problem. Also, I thought they're only targeting my reign, why would they need to get in in the palace?"

"I could only think of two reasons." He said, finishing the cake in his plate. He really loves chocolate mint cake.

"Shoot." Putting down my cup of tea, I grabbed a piece of strawberry tart and ate it as I listened to him.

"One, it could be that the rebels are trying to evict you of your throne as the duchess through political means. Two, it could be that they're going to make the first reason as their back- up plan." He explained with straightforward wordings. He likes talking casually alright, but he loves being straightforward too. He doesn't like adding flowers to his statements, he would say it to the point.

"Now that you've said that, it does make sense. Unless they have something else in mind. They are rebels after all, they're unpredictable sometimes." I said while pouring another cup of tea with two spoons of milk added. Back at Haifa's house, she told me information about the rebels. They're calling themselves rebels and nothing else, no specificity on who or what they are rebelling on. Just rebels trying to turn the tables to their goals.

"She also said that those necklaces were sold at the capital, however, they only sold it to the members of the rebels and no one else. The leader thought that it wouldn't attract too much attention since it could be mistaken as a trendy accessory. As for their purposes, she only knows that they want to take me down and nothing else. If there's another goal, only the leader and his inner circle knows. They're the officers and she's just one of the pawns." He nodded as I relied the information to him. As a person born from the royal family, he I exceptional at politics while II hate it. I hate politics and just thinking about the rebels makes my head hurt. As if the issues of the duchy isn't enough to wreck my nerves.

"Does she know who's the leader and the inner circle?" he asked as he held his chin. I was really right to talk to him about this matters. "No, she said that messengers rely the order to the pawns and if the leader or one from the inner circle ever visits, they would conceal their identities by wearing a mask, changing their voices or pretending to be someone else. She also said that there's a possibility that there was a personality from the inner circle watching me during my visit to their district."

"Wait, you had a tour? As a duchess? And they didn't even did a thing?"

"No, I went there dressed as a foreigner, completely masking my identity."

"How about your eyes? Only the Fortess family has crystal violet eyes."

"Contact lenses. Drew had a foreigner friend who agreed to help us and he lend me the clothes and other things to disguise myself and it was a miracle that he has contact lenses in hand. I know contact lenses are rare in our kingdom but, his from another country so... there you go." Uriel was having his mind blown by what I did. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were so big from the shock. He knew Frielle as the shy, gentle and calm girl; but, I'm not the real Frielle. I'm just a soul reincarnated in her body.

"O—O—Okay, enough about that. Let's get to the topic. Sure, politics and rebels are one thing I can handle but, I don't think I can help you with your... what's that called again?" Oh, the name of the project was so out of this world that Uriel was having a hard time understanding and remembering it.

The Francis Turbine. It was developed by James B. Francis. It is an inward-flow turbine that uses the flow of water to generate electricity. There are blades that are divided into 2 parts: the lower one is made in the shape of a small bucket that uses the impulse action of water to rotate the turbine; the upper part uses the reaction force of water flowing through it. Using the two forces makes the metal shaft in an electric generator: the motor that generates electricity.

Using this invention, we can build another dam behind the old dam. With the turbine in place, there's enough opening for the water to flow out and with the turbine in place— we would need to build a dam like structure to support it to prevent flash floods and to center the water flow into the turbine. Not only does the Francis Turbine offers me a solution, it also offers me a new product: electricity. The kingdom of Sagareste is similar to the Earth when electricity wasn't invented. With my introduction of electricity to the kingdom; not only can I monopolize it, I could also earn money from it and raise my reputation amongst my people. Also, I'd become popular because of it!

I explained him my plan about the dam and he's interested and at the same time: confused. After all that explanation, he nodded a few times, closed his eyes and was alone with his thoughts for a while. I waited for his response or opinion while sipping another cup of tea and eating another piece of strawberry tart. 'God, this things are so good.'

Finally, he opened his eyes and heaved a deep sigh. He looked at me with serious expression in his face. It bothered me and made me stop taking a bite of my food. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. 'This is making me nervous.' He took his cup and sipped and said this, "Frielle, this... is a very... great idea. But I don't think I'm the one who can help you with this. Sure, politics is one thing but; one, I really can't get my head in this; and two, I might not be able to provide you help in this."

It made me frown, what he said made me sad and confused at the same time. What does he mean by that? What is he talking about? Help? Politics? He can't get my idea? I already gave him a blueprint of the turbine— a visual of what it would be. What does he mean he can't get it?

"Uhm... would you please elaborate what you said please. Uriel, what do you mean you can't give me help? Of course you can, you're the crown prince. Come on, don't make me nervous. And I already showed you a blueprint of the thing..." I laughed quietly before continuing what I'm saying. "I mean, yeah you don't have t—" But Uriel cut me off by raising his both hands like he's being arrested.

"Look, Frielle, I know you're relying on me for help, but, I can't certainly fund this thing. It's so... so surreal, even just the... generator and the blades will cost one third of the kingdom's yearly fund." He said, trying his best to explain his side while simultaneously trying not to crush my ambition and feelings. I laughed at him for that. Laughed at him real hard.

'What is he thinking about?'

It took quite a while for me to stop laughing. I was crying and my stomach hurts from so much laughter, but I managed to stop. And when I looked at Uriel, he was totally lost: a raised brow, slightly open mouth and eyes saying, 'What the hell?'

"Ahehe... hehehehe.... hahaha! I'm sorry, I mean no disrespect Uriel. I'm really sorry. It's just—hahahaha— what you said took me a surprise." I'm trying my best to collect and compose myself as Uriel is still staring at me with the same expression. Once I'm really calm, I composed my words inside my head to explain it to him clearly, very clearly.

"Are you done?" he said with a brow raised. Looks like he doesn't like it. Well, I must be wasting his time because of the laughter. He's time and schedule is very important to him, he doesn't like any disruption to it. "Can you continue now please?"

"Ye— Yes of course. Ehem, okay. I'm sorry for a while ago. But, I think you got the wrong idea. Did you thoroughly read the letter I sent you? The discreetly delivered one?"

"Ahhm... not really?" Now he looked sorry. "I stopped at the part of Francis turbine because I can't get my head in it. I didn't get to finish the letter. Sorry." He, Uriel, is a crown prince who is great in politics and can lead a great kingdom; but he will, and always will, stop at something if he can't understand it— like math. His eyes were in a frown, but his smiling a bit— yep, the sorry face of Uriel when he'd done something that shouldn't be.

I just rolled my eyes at him. This is a side of him that a very few knows of; and I'm one of those few. "Well, let me clarify it for you. I don't need your help to fund this project of mine, I only need your help to sign my project so it would be legal and the rebels won't find anything against me. And also, I need your help to... spread my project among the whole kingdom, especially the nobles."

"Why is that?"

"Well, remember the electricity thing when I explained it to you? I want to introduce it to the kingdom as a supply of energy, I also want to monopolize it and earn money from it." It seemed like Uriel got the hang of it, finally.

"So, you're like, hitting three birds with one stone? Presenting a solution to the dam, creating a new product and earning money from it in which it can fund the whole duchy and bring it to its former glory." Yes! He finally got the hang of it! I clapped inside my head for this joyous thing.

"Yes, that's what I want to happen, if there's no interferences." During my life back on Earth, I know very well that the only predictable in life, is its unpredictability. No matter how you detailed your plan is, no matter how you male back up plans in case of emergencies, there will always be a problem that you never expected. And it's up to you how you will react at it.

"But, how will you fund this?" Uriel asked. True, I don't have the money to fund this project, but I know someone who can. "My dear cousin Uriel—"

"You have something that I won't like when you call me that."

"— I know someone who can, and all I need is for you to introduce me to him, and I'd do the rest." I flashed him a smile that gives the vibe of 'I have a plan in mind'.

"And that would be?" He motioned his left hand to me. "You know him ve~ry well. Marcus Zoldago." His face lit up with shock. Uriel and Marcus are the best of friends, and I happened to meet the latter during my tour— he was in Haifa's house back then.

When he recovered from the shock, we talked about on how Marcus and I would meet and I also explained to him on how I can reel Marcus into investing in my project and so on. After our long talk, he left with a goodbye; and as for me, I headed to Drew's pastry shop. Drew is actually a great baker and a patisserie, and he owns a pastry shop that also supplies pastries to the palace whenever there's an occasion. Not only he is a great patisserie, he's also a very talented at making scale models like an architect, although he's not interested in being one.

I entered his shop and my nose was suddenly attacked by the sweet smell of freshly baked strawberry tart and many other pastries. I took my time into smelling this delicious pasties before I entered his office at the back. The office is spacious and two bookshelves stand opposite to each other, an office desk in the middle and Drew sat there with the scale model of the Francis turbine made from cardboard in front of him. He's still finishing it.

"Hello Drew, how are you doing?" I waved at him, taking his attention away from the model. He looked tired yet fired up at the same time. "No, not yet. This is so new and so interesting that I can't rest until I finish it." His voice shows tiredness and irritation so clear that I thought he had a change of voice. It's so different from his playful tone. A lot of cardboard scrap is scattered on the floor and he has two mugs of... cold brew coffee?

'He's really trying hard to help and support me.'

"You know you can continue that some other time right? I don't need it right away. We still have ti—"

"No, I can't. My curiosity will kill me if I did."

I just raised my hand like I'm being arrested at him to stop him from getting irritated more. "Okay, okay, fine. I get it." I smiled at him sweetly as he faced the model again. I roamed around his office for a while when his reaction from my plan suddenly popped out of my head. I couldn't help but giggle. Drew asked my why but I only replied that it's nothing. He might get irritated if I said so.

And that... I will just keep it to myself.

I bought some strawberry tart before going home with Nikos as my coachman. When I got home, I became just like Drew, I can't rest until I thought of a solid way on how I can make Marcus agree and sign on my contract. I spent my whole night creating a contract that will attract his interest.

And the next day, Uriel sent me a letter that says:

Greetings Duchess Fortess,

I'll be straightforward, you're set. We'll meet at the 'annual hunting' hosted by the royal palace. Get your gear up by then.

Sincerely your cousin,

Uriel

The letter made me smile.

'It's go time.' The annual hunting event hosted by the royal family will commence in two weeks from now. I have plenty of time to prepare and Haifa's report just arrived.

I wonder what's happening to the rebels right now.