Chapter 13 The Imperial Commision

Marina leaned back in her chair, her hands absentmindedly tracing the edges of the mechanical blueprints spread out in front of her. She had been working on her project—the mechanized cart that could travel without the aid of horses—for weeks now, but something had been gnawing at her lately. Ever since Eric Olegson had arrived at her workshop with the offer, her thoughts had been filled with questions, unanswered and unspoken. The offer was too good to be true, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something about it was... off.

The familiar hum of her tools filled the workshop as she adjusted a few gears on her cart's wheel, her black cat, Cog, curled up lazily on the windowsill nearby. The workshop had always been her haven, a space where she could focus and shut out the outside world. But today, that sense of peace felt distant. She was waiting for Eric to return from his conversation with her father. Eric had made a vague promise that he would return with details, but Marina could hardly contain her curiosity.

It didn't take long before the door creaked open, and Eric stepped back inside the workshop, his demeanor much more serious than before. Behind him, her father, Paulus, followed, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Marina," Eric said, his voice firm but kind, "I trust you've been considering our conversation."

"I've been thinking about it, yes," Marina replied, trying to mask the unease in her tone. "But there's a lot I don't understand. You said this partnership was for the palace... Why would they want me involved?"

Her father, Paulus, set his tools down on the workbench and turned toward her, his expression softened but tinged with concern. "Eric has explained it, Marina. The work you do, your inventions, your ability with machines... It's something the Empire needs. The palace wants your skills to improve their arsenal, their weapons, and the transport for their soldiers."

Marina stood, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she walked to the window, trying to make sense of it all. "I understand that, but why me? And why now?"

Eric placed his hand on the back of one of the chairs, his eyes never leaving her. "It's more than just your inventions, Marina. It's the project you've been working on—the mechanized cart. The one that can move without horses. The palace believes this is the key to transporting weapons and soldiers more efficiently. The Empire has invested heavily 

Marina's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected her dream to become such a point of interest to the palace. She'd always dreamed of creating something that would change the way people lived—something that could push the boundaries of what was considered possible—but this? This felt bigger than anything she had imagined.

"You're asking me to abandon my workshop," Marina said slowly, turning to face Eric. "To work for the palace every day, building weapons and improving their arsenal?"

Eric nodded, his expression unwavering. "That's correct. You'll be working directly with the soldiers to improve the weapons, develop new transport options, and perfect the mechanized cart. It's a top-secret mission, and the work you'll be doing will be classified."

Marina's mind raced as she processed the weight of his words. Top-secret mission? Weapons? This was not the kind of work she had ever envisioned for herself. She had always been an inventor, driven by her desire to create, to make life easier, to push the boundaries of technology. But now... now she was being asked to build things for war.

"But why me?" she asked again, her voice rising slightly. "Surely there are other inventors—other engineers—who could do this."

"None with your skill set," Eric replied firmly. "None with the ability to make something like the cart you've designed. The palace believes your unique talents are needed. And they're willing to compensate you and your father generously for your time and resources. Your father's shop will remain open, and all expenses will be covered during your work for the Empire. You'll have everything you need."

Paulus nodded, looking at Marina with a mixture of pride and concern. "This is a great opportunity, Marina. The work you do here could change everything for the Empire. It's a chance for you to prove yourself on a much larger scale."

Marina's eyes flicked between her father and Eric. She could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her shoulders. Her dream was standing in front of her—an opportunity to work with the Empire, to shape the future of technology. But at what cost?

"You'll be sworn to secrecy," Eric continued, as though reading her mind. "This project is classified. No one outside the palace can know about it. Not your friends, not anyone in the city. No one."

Marina felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought. The secrecy—being kept in the dark, isolated from the very people she'd always trusted—felt like a heavy burden. She wasn't sure she was ready for that.

"I need time to think about it," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of thoughts swirling inside her.

Eric's face softened slightly. "Of course. Take all the time you need. But remember, this is an opportunity few are ever given. The Empire needs you, Marina."

Her father gave a small nod of agreement. "I'll support whatever you decide, Marina. But remember, this could be your chance to make a real difference. To take your inventions beyond this shop."

Marina swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "I know. But the decision... it's not just about my inventions. It's about the kind of person I want to be. The kind of world I want to help build."

Eric's voice grew more serious. "I understand that, Marina. But the truth is, the world you want to build is changing. The Empire needs new ideas, new inventions, and you have the ability to shape that future. You don't have to do this forever, but for now, this is the path you must walk."

She turned back toward the window, staring out at the bustling streets below. She thought of her mother, who had passed away when she was a baby. She thought of her father, who had worked tirelessly to raise her and teach her everything he knew. She thought of the machines she had created, the ideas that had come to her in the quiet moments when she was tinkering in the workshop. All of it—everything—had led her here. To this moment of choice.

The silence in the room was thick with expectation. Eric and her father waited for her response, and though the decision weighed heavily on her, Marina knew she couldn't delay it any longer.

"I'll do it," she said, the words coming out more firmly than she had anticipated. "I'll work with the palace. I'll help them with their weapons and the cart. But I need to know everything. I need to understand what I'm getting into. If I'm going to be a part of something this big, I can't be left in the dark."

Eric smiled, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. "That's the spirit, Marina. We'll meet again tomorrow, and I'll take you to the palace. From there, you'll begin your work. The clock is ticking."

Her father stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Marina. You've always had the potential to do great things. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Marina nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The future was uncertain, but she knew this was her chance to make a difference. A chance to prove that even someone like her—a simple inventor from a small shop—could change the world.

As Eric left the workshop, leaving her with her thoughts, Marina returned to her desk. The plans for the mechanized cart were already laid out before her, but now they seemed like something more. They were no longer just a dream. They were part of something far bigger. Something that could shape the future of the Empire, for better or worse.

And as the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over her workshop, Marina Eldheim began to prepare for the next chapter of her life.

The next day, as the early morning light crept through the window, Marina found herself standing at the entrance to the palace. Her heart raced as she looked up at the towering walls, feeling both awe and trepidation. She had always imagined the palace to be a place of beauty and grandeur, but now, it felt like a fortress—a place where the fate of the Empire rested on the shoulders of those who worked within.

Her father had kissed her on the cheek before she left, telling her to be brave, and she had promised him she would. But as she stepped forward, the weight of the decision settled firmly on her shoulders.

The future of her inventions—and perhaps the future of the entire Empire—was now in her hands.