"That was exhausting," Napoleon heaved a long sigh as he leaned back into the soft, velvety chair, feeling the weight of the day's event settle into his bones. Outside, the city of Paris was slowly succumbing to the night, its streets bathed in a warm glow from the gas lamps that dotted the thoroughfares.
Despite the exhaustion that plagued him, Napoleon couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia as he gazed out the window. The sight of the gas lamps brought to mind memories of simpler times, when he and his family would travel to the countryside, far from the bustle and noise of the city. He could almost smell the fresh air and hear the sound of the crickets chirping in the fields.
The dinner in Antoine Lavoisier's residence concluded with him getting an offer. Build a steam engine and then be accepted as a member of the French Academy of Sciences. He never expected that he would find himself building it too early, but what's done is done. He has to work on it and prove his worth to the intellectuals of Paris.
"Master…how are you going to build that steam locomotive you speak of?"
Napoleon shifted his gaze to the side. Sitting beside him was Ciela, who was looking at him expectantly.
"Honestly speaking, I don't know Ciela. Building a functioning steam locomotive is a huge undertaking. I have rough drafts back in the dormitory, if I could get to that, maybe I can plan out how to turn it into life."
"Can you do it?" Ciela asked.
"Maybe…there are still a lot of missing pieces that I have to introduce before we get to build the steam locomotive itself. Let's speak of this tomorrow."
"Understood, Master…" Ciela said softly.
***
Arriving at the dormitory, Napoleon's body sank into the mattress as weariness washed over him. He closed his eyes, desperate for a respite from the tumultuous day. Ciela, his faithful assistant, stood by his side, her gaze filled with concern. To see that her master immediately fell into slumber meant that he was too tired.
She stood there, watching him sleep. His sleeping face was an ethereal quality, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to it. She walked forward and knelt down to level her gaze with his peaceful countenance.
With a gentle touch, Ciela brushed a strand of hair away from Napoleon's forehead, her fingers lingering for a brief moment. "Rest well, Master," she whispered softly, as if her words could reach him in his dreams.
She gazed at his face a bit longer, her fingers still on Napoleon's cheek. She pressed it gently and gasped softly.
"So soft~! Fufufu…" Ciela giggled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She couldn't resist the temptation any longer.
Suddenly, Napoleon purred, and Ciela immediately removed her hand from her cheek. She almost got caught. She looked at him, relieved that he was still asleep, and then sighed softly. It was also time for her to sleep…but there was one problem. Napoleon is sleeping on the bed.
Usually, Ciela is the one who slept on the bed and Napoleon is on the floor with a mattress.
Ciela pondered for a moment, contemplating whether she should wake Napoleon and explain the situation or simply find another place to sleep. In the end, she decided to do something mischievous.
***
Eight hours later, Napoleon's eyes fluttered open, the first rays of morning sunlight streaming through the window and casting a warm glow across the room. As he became aware of his surroundings, a gentle confusion settled upon him. He felt a weight on his chest and noticed a soft, warm touch against his cheek. With a mix of surprise and curiosity, he glanced down to discover Ciela, his personal maid, peacefully nestled beside him.
"What?!"
Napoleon jolted up, his initial confusion giving way to a surge of realization. He carefully shifted his body, trying not to disturb Ciela's slumber, as memories of the previous night flooded his mind. The dinner, the offer to build a steam locomotive, and the weariness that had overtaken him. How had he ended up here, with Ciela by his side?
Seconds later, Ciela stirred from her sleep, her eyes fluttering open to meet Napoleon's gaze. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, before a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Good morning, Master," she greeted him, her voice filled with warmth and a hint of playfulness.
"Good morning, how did we end up sleeping together in the same bed?" Napoleon asked simply.
"Uhm…I didn't want to wake you up and ask you to sleep on the floor, so I decided that
it would be easier for both of us if we shared the bed," Ciela admitted, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "I hope you don't mind."
"I see."
Napoleon gently extricated himself from Ciela's embrace, sitting up fully in the bed and taking a deep breath. He felt a bit awkward about the situation, but he couldn't deny that it had been a comfortable and restful night's sleep.
"Ciela, prepare me my usual breakfast, it's going to be a long day for me," Napoleon ordered as he stood up from the bed and walked over to his desk.
Ciela stood up, stretching her limbs and offering a nod of acknowledgment. "Of course, Master. I'll have your breakfast ready in no time," she replied.
She quickly gathered herself and proceeded to prepare the meal.
As Napoleon settled behind his desk, his mind began to focus on the task at hand—the construction of the steam locomotive. The offer from the French Academy of Sciences was a prestigious one, and he couldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He knew he had to prove himself capable, not only to the intellectuals of Paris but also to himself.
Lost in his thoughts, Napoleon absentmindedly flipped through the rough drafts and blueprints of the steam engine, contemplating the various components and mechanisms involved. It was a complex and ambitious project, one that required careful planning, precision, and expertise. He realized that even if he had the Goddess's blessing, it still wouldn't be an easy task.
"Master," Ciela called out softly, interrupting his thoughts. She approached him with a tray, bearing a steaming cup of coffee and a plate filled with fresh pastries. She set the tray on the desk before him.
"Here is your breakfast, Master. Please nourish yourself before delving into your work."
"Thank you Ciela," Napoleon said, his gaze not shifting from the paper before him.
Curious, Ciela took a peek, and there she saw technical drawings filled with intricate details and annotations. The blueprints showcased Napoleon's drawing skills and attention to detail. The lines were precise, and the labels were neatly written, indicating his thorough understanding of the steam locomotive's inner workings.
Napoleon occasionally sipped his coffee while his quill danced across the paper, adding and refining the designs. Ciela watched him for a moment, observing his intense focus and dedication to his work.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him, his passion and determination making her heart flutter.
After a while, Napoleon put down his quill, his hand cramping slightly from the hours of drawing. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh.
Ciela noticed it and without hesitation, she reached for it and gently massaged his fingers, easing the tension in his hand. Napoleon looked up at her surprised by the sudden action.
"At least let me do this for you, Master, I know that I won't be much of a help in the technical aspects of the steam locomotive, but easing your discomfort is something I can do," Ciela said sincerely.
Napoleon allowed her to do her thing, and while she was at it, he commented. "Your hand is soft, Ciela."
Ciela blushed, a rosy hue spreading across her cheeks as she continued to massage Napoleon's hand. "Thank you, Master. It's important for a maid to have gentle hands," she replied warmly.
Napoleon looked at her expression, seeing lies beneath the mask. Napoleon was sure of it, that Ciela was not a pauper before coming to his dormitory. He still want to learn about her past, and by doing such small comments, he would be able to unfold some
clues about her true identity.
"I have finished adding final touches to the drawings, now we can get to work," Napoleon said. "I have laid a framework for the steam locomotive, do you want to see it?"
"Really master? I'm still learning from you, so I won't be able to give some comments," Ciela asked.
"It's okay, it's best that you have an idea of how we are going to build the steam locomotive," Napoleon said as he grabbed the file with his left hand and handed it to her.
Ciela stopped massaging Napoleon's hands and perused the contents of the file.
"I call it the technological tree of the steam locomotive, in it are parts and technology that we are going to implement," Napoleon explained, watching Ciela's reaction closely.
As Ciela flipped through the pages, her eyes widened in awe. The blueprint showcased not only the overall structure of the steam locomotive but also detailed diagrams of its intricate components. Each part was meticulously labeled and accompanied by notes explaining its function and how it fits into the larger design.
"The Bonaparte converter, a pneumatic device that utilizes high-pressure air to convert pig iron into steel on a large scale, enabling mass production of steel," Ciela read.
"Building a steam locomotive requires a lot of steel, Ciela," Napoleon said. "Bonaparte converter would give us all the steel we need which we will fabricate into mechanical parts and structural components such as the pressure relief valves, steel pipes, flywheel, boiler, piston, and cylinders. It will be the cornerstone of our manufacturing process."
"How about this puddling process?" Ciela asked, her eyes scanning the detailed illustrations of the puddling furnace and the accompanying notes.
"The puddling process is essential for transforming wrought iron into high-quality steel," he explained. "By heating the wrought iron in a reverberatory furnace and stirring it, we can remove impurities and create a stronger, more malleable material suitable for our locomotive's construction."
Ciela nodded, her understanding growing with each explanation. "So, the puddling process will ensure that our locomotive's components, such as the wheels, axles, and other critical parts, possess the necessary strength and resilience."
"Exactly," Napoleon confirmed, his gaze fixed on Ciela. "With the combination of the Bonaparte converter and the puddling process, we will have a reliable and robust supply of steel for our steam locomotive. Now the challenge is, we have to find personnel, specifically blacksmiths or metallurgists. Hire them and have them work on those converters."
"I'll do my best to find you one, Master," Ciela replied, her voice filled with determination.
"That would be a great help since they are the important piece for this project to succeed. Without a steady supply of steel and the skilled hands to shape it, our steam locomotive will never come to fruition," Napoleon said, his tone serious. "Also, I may not be able to look after the project all the time considering that I'm still a student. That's all, I'll work on the budget plan next."
"Understood,"