TVBDS 25

 Chapter 25

The ship set sail again the following day.

Father was perfectly fine, aside from a minor cold, and Mother’s condition had noticeably improved, seeing that Father was finally back by her side.

This incident hadn’t been entirely a loss.

At the time, Father, like the other merchants, was wearing his De Nîmes trousers. People had noticed how durable they were—even soaked in seawater, they remained intact.

Not only the dock workers but ordinary people also began wearing De Nîmes trousers as work clothes.

Thanks to this, even after paying enormous compensation, Father’s wealth actually increased.

On top of that, there was the sale of the preserves patent.

The full-scale sales would begin after the merchants returned, but even so, this would be more than enough to fund future ventures.

“You’re doing well. Keep it up just like this.”

After a lifetime spent wandering the world, Father had returned to Mother’s side.

This was certainly a change that had never occurred in the original timeline or any previous life—and a very positive one at that.

That evening, the family gathered together, and Father made a proposal.

“Would you all like to go to the Invention Exhibition?”

“The Invention Exhibition? What’s that?”

“It’s where people gather to show off the inventions they’ve made.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

“You remember how Antoine showed his drawing to the household last time? It felt good to hear compliments, didn’t it?”

“Yeah! They even bought me new colored pencils and told me to make an even better drawing!”

“It’s the same for adults—they want to show what they’ve made, get praise, and maybe even earn money for new inventions.”

“Adults need compliments too?”

Antoine blinked his big eyes and tilted his head curiously.

It wasn’t just compliments they wanted—unlike whales dancing when praised, adults required a lot more effort.

“Emily is going to enter as the representative of her workshop.”

“Really?”

In any case, the fact that Emily would be participating made the idea irresistible.

“An exhibition… I want to go too.”

“Mother?”

“Eléonore, are you sure it’s okay?”

Since Father had decided to stay in the Loire, Mother’s health had improved noticeably.

However, the doctor still advised avoiding long outings or crowded places.

“I want to meet this Emily person. You and the children have already met her, but I haven’t. From what I’ve heard about the children, she seems interesting.”

Mother’s eyes sparkled with curiosity for the first time in a while. There was no way Father could refuse.

As expected, he gave permission on the condition that they would leave immediately if she felt dizzy or unwell.

“Come to think of it, the first place you and I went on a date was an exhibition, right?”

“Uh? Y-yeah… that’s right.”

Oh? This was news to me.

As nobles of that era, my parents’ marriage had been arranged.

Luckily, they fell in love quickly, and even now, the way they looked at each other practically dripped with sweetness.

“Other suitors only talked about boring things like art exhibitions or the opera, but you suggested the invention exhibition. You were the first man to do that.”

“Oh… that’s…”

“Turns out the date was an excuse; the exhibition was your goal from the start.”

Correction: Mother’s eyes weren’t sweet—they sparkled with bright yellow fire.

“So, what exactly is Emily going to display? A phonograph?”

I quickly changed the topic before Father turned into a loaf of perfectly baked bread.

“She’s going to display the phonograph and the automatons she’s made so far. If she impresses people at the exhibition, there may be other sponsors, and it could also help with her admission to the academy.”

“Ah….”

That meant there would be other talented individuals aiming for academy admission or patrons besides Emily.

‘Heh heh. Better mark my territory first.’

That night, I dreamed of plucking young inventors like fresh sprouts from a field and placing them carefully into a basket.

‘You have to earn money when you can.’

Charles knew well the peers among the nobility who had become complacent, missed opportunities, and fallen behind.

The era had arrived when a title no longer guaranteed silk clothes and abundant feasts.

Those who relied solely on inherited estates and income, living extravagantly as their ancestors had, paid a heavy price.

Those who adapted late, learning about investments and finance, fared somewhat better.

But those who missed even the final opportunity were selling off not just estates but also jewels, paintings, mansions, and even their proud lineage.

Charles considered himself fortunate, both in skill and luck.

He had capital, a like-minded friend, and decisions made with that friend had always succeeded.

Thanks to this, even as old noble families collapsed, he could grow his own house.

Recently, a new stroke of luck had come to him: his beloved daughter, Adelaide.

Serge De Nîmes, fruit preserves, and now a phonograph.

Whenever Adelaide chattered with her small mouth, she revealed ideas and deep thinking that even adults couldn’t conceive.

Was it simply that his daughter was blessed by the goddess of fortune, or did she truly possess a talent even he, her father, couldn’t foresee?

The exhibition was a place of opportunity. Inventors desperately sought investors, and those with money hoped to find items that could bring them huge returns.

By observing what his daughter paid attention to, he would find the answer.

Large and small mechanical devices, their clattering noises, steam, and flashing lights.

Participants enthusiastically explaining their inventions, as if they were their own children.

Spectators applauding, marveling, or jeering in equal measure.

“Wow! Sister! Look over there!”

“Antoine! Don’t run!”

“Sir!”

And children like Antoine, half-blinded with excitement, running everywhere.

“Darling!”

…Children and their guardians alike.

The exhibition was absolute chaos.

‘At this rate, I won’t be able to recruit talent or even see what’s been made properly…!’

One by one, the names on the list of promising inventors I’d planned to approach last night were being crossed out.

Camille and I chased after Antoine, but catching a child so much smaller than me was no easy task.

“Antoine! What if you lose Mom and Dad? Do you want to stay here at the exhibition forever?”

“Yay! So many amazing things here! And fun things too, and…”

This is insane. When will I ever manage to raise this kid into a proper human?

Camille looked just as exasperated as I was.

“Antoine. From now on, don’t let go of your sister’s hand. Grab Camille’s hand with the other. If you let go, no story tonight.”

“…Hiiiing.”

Crying didn’t help.

Then it happened.

A black model steam locomotive sounded its whistle, releasing a massive plume of steam.

In an instant, the dense mist blocked our view, creating chaos.

“Waaah!”

“I can’t see a thing! Honey, where are you?”

“Ah! Someone stepped on my foot! How can such a monstrous thing carry people?”

“Antoine! Camille? Are you there?”

For those seeing a train for the first time, it looked like a terrifying black demon spitting white smoke, and they fled in panic.

When I finally regained my senses, I was alone.