“Thank you for coming, Braag-dono. Now, come this way. Today I’ve also invited ladies who have shown interest in the excellence of your watches. I’m delighted to have such a lively gathering.”
I called out to Braag-san and invited him to a corner furnished with sofas and a table.
“Your Majesty, I am truly honored beyond measure to be granted an audience this time.”
He’s genuinely quite formal. This kind of thing is exhausting.
“No, no, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I’ve summoned Braag-dono, who is renowned as a master watchmaker of our age.”
I responded with a smiling face. A straight face would put tremendous pressure on him. While I’m at it, I should introduce the “ladies who have shown interest” too. They might become his clients as well.
“This is Braune-dono, daughter of Marquis Froisburg.”
I started introducing from Braune-san on my right. Already Braag-san’s eyes are widening. Technicians who manufacture high-end watches like his have many noble customers. It wouldn’t be strange for him to know the Froisburg name.
“And this is Zofie-dono, daughter of Duke Gaillou.”
Braag-san can’t hide his expression that says “whoa.” His round dark eyes look like they might roll back. There’s no one in Santeneri who doesn’t know the Gaillou name. Because if you compare it to Japan, it’s like “Hokkaido.” I get it. It’s quite overwhelming to suddenly encounter such famous people.
“Furthermore, standing behind me is Mary-dono, daughter of Count Barois.”
It’s not that she’s standing due to difference in status. Dressed in the semi-formal uniform of the Guard, she holds a position as a military officer unlike the other two. And she’s also my bodyguard.
This positioning was quite scary. The three of them exchanged glances and remained silent for a while. Even though we’d been harmonious until then.
“Now then, Braag-dono, let’s talk about watches. Please, have a seat.”
I sat down while offering him the chair across from me. Everyone else sat down at the same time. Mary-san stepped out from behind the chair and moved to beside us.
I’ve seen this scene somewhere before.
Ah—it’s like when a flashy IT company president comes to a boutique accompanied by up-and-coming models or aspiring actresses.
He asks the girls, “Which one looks good on me? What do you think, ○○-chan?” And responses like “Hmm, for △△-san, I’d say this one” echo throughout the store.
Meanwhile, ignoring that scene, the shop owner and I endlessly engage in enthusiast talk. Two old men observing the mechanical movement with a loupe, saying things like “This Côtes de Genève finishing is nicely shallow. Is this hand-finished? As expected of a haute horlogerie brand.”
Never did I think I’d be doing the “which one looks good on me?” thing in another world. And the ones beside me aren’t models or aspiring actresses. They’re the beloved daughters of the type of brutal power holders whose subordinates would have their heads immediately separated from their bodies if they showed disrespect. Plus, they’re all actress-level beauties, not “aspiring.”
But I’ve decided. This is absolutely not a place to flash black cards and Lamborghini keys while engaging in wealthy bragging talk. Sorry, but I’m going to do this my way.
“Braag-dono, I’m very fond of the watch you made. The dial engraving is extremely delicate. And the beauty of the blued hands. The yield must be poor, no?”
“Yield… you say?”
“Ah, I mean, you must often fail when trying to make beautiful hands?”
His face brightened instantly. I understand. Enthusiasts connect. Even in Santeneri.
“Your Majesty’s keen insight truly impresses me. Exactly as you say, these hands are made by tempering iron, but if the temperature control is even slightly off, the color becomes murky.”
“You make the hands yourself as well?”
“Indeed.”
“That is good. The shape of the hands determines the impression of the watch. …Is the dial plate brass?”
“Absolutely not. This is for Your Majesty’s use. I applied plating to pure gold.”
“I see, since it’s silver-white, I thought it wasn’t gold. Did you also make this from scratch?”
“No, this dial is from the Empire…”
Braag-san’s eloquence suddenly braked hard and his eyes began darting around wildly. What happened?
“Braag-dono, His Majesty is a wise person who distinguishes between politics and technology. You need not worry.”
When Mary-san said that, I finally realized. Ah, I used to detest the Empire, now that I think about it. Everyone in the court knows that’s not the case with me now, but that information probably hasn’t trickled down to the common people yet.
“Yes… truly…”
“Braag-dono, as Barois-jōsama says, I hold no prejudice against Imperial technology. Good is good. That’s a fact. You want to make the best things, don’t you? Then you should use the best parts.”
Braag-san, you should wipe your sweat soon. You look like you just jogged under the blazing sun.
“Ah, by the way, Braag-dono, did you bring any samples today?”
There are no ready-made watches for royalty and nobility. Everything is custom-made. You customize while looking at basic sample models. Of course, it’s possible to create a completely new design from scratch, but when amateurs do “the ultimate watch I conceptualized,” it usually results in a disappointing finish.
“I have them prepared here! However, since I thought it was only for Your Majesty, unfortunately I don’t have anything for ladies…”
“Ah, of course that’s fine. May I see them?”
Braag-san busily takes a box out of his bag. Mary-san stares intently at his hands. Mary-san is working… I mean, this old man might suddenly pull out a pistol from his bag.
But I think his luggage was probably inspected before he came to this room. Just in case, I suppose.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
Five pocket watches are lined up on the table. I picked up one of them and was about to enter observation mode. Then I felt a gaze. When I turned right, my eyes met Braune-san’s. Look at the watch, not at me. I know you’re not interested. I know, but there might be something you’d like.
“Braune-dono, look at this. This small window section on the dial.”
I don’t need to be considerate since I didn’t force her to come, but it would be pitiful to let her be bored the whole time. I leaned my body toward her to explain the highlights of the watch in my hand…
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Look at this! There’s a face drawn on the moon on the dial!”
Suddenly my arm is grabbed and I’m pulled back. Zofie-san has quite a bit of strength. Strength in both the literal sense of physical power, and in terms of authority. Normally, suddenly grabbing the king’s arm could become quite a serious matter. But she’s a princess of Gaillou. That much is forgiven. Nobles are scary.
And from the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Braune-san’s sharp gaze. Nicely sharp. Though she’s smiling. Scary.
“Ah, Zofie-dono. That’s a mechanism showing the moon phase. Isn’t that right, Braag-dono?”
“Yes. Exactly as you say.”
“Braune-dono and Mary-dono should look too. This moon face has a somewhat silly expression that’s quite interesting.”
At times like this, you call everyone. Call them, get them involved, and share the experience. That’s the only way.
Next time I meet with Braag-shi, I’m definitely going alone. I swore that in my heart.
This is tough after all. Everyone is (probably) kind-hearted young ladies, but those expressionless faces they show at certain moments. That, you know.
Company presidents and kings are quite similar. But there are also clear differences, and this is exactly that problem. Monogamy is a great invention, I truly think so as a man.
In my case, the principal consort is already decided mainly for diplomatic reasons. But on this central continent, there’s a system of secondary consorts. It’s a system that grates down men’s spirits like a daikon radish. However, it’s also thanks to this that dynasties have such long lifespans. Even our Lerois family, though it once flowed to a branch line during Queen Marguerite’s time, has continued in direct lineage for over seven hundred years since then. This is probably thanks to the secondary consort system.
Should I go back to my old self and pretend to be an ardent believer in the Orthodox faith that promotes monogamy? I actually seriously considered it a little. But no good. That would cause a panic. Because it’s precisely because of who I am now that we reached the peace treaty with Estvilg. The moment everyone feels I’ve returned to my old self, extreme tension would run through Santeneri’s upper echelons. Suspicion would fill the air.
In the end, even buying a single watch is political. Can’t be helped. Because I’m a king.
Ah, by the way, I ordered two. One is a pocket watch. With the back of the case glass-backed, with a lid that can open and close on top. With this, I can observe the mechanical movement to my heart’s content whenever I feel like it. Mission accomplished.
And the other one… I’ll utilize here the only modern knowledge usable in Santeneri. It won’t contribute to the nation’s development at all. It’s mainly for myself.
Ah, all the young ladies also ordered the same pocket watches as me.
I have various things I want to say. This isn’t matching outfits! Watches aren’t little props for feeling connected or anything like that. I’m not doing this for fun!
Of course I couldn’t say such things, so I smiled and said, “This makes me happy. We’ve created another bond together.” I’m looking forward to delivery.
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