Chapter 35
After breakfast with Rene, he invited Fisher to join him in celebrating the festival. The elderly man agreed to enjoy the festivities together but also encouraged him to engage in activities outside the palace, pointing out that the festival lasts an entire month.
‘Wouldn’t that be a waste?’
The old man commented at that moment.
Cielo sighed as he focused on the book in his hands, which described the Empire’s Founding Festival. He had borrowed it from the main palace library.
The month is packed with a wide array of activities, including various competitions, banquets for both commoners and nobles, night markets, musical performances, and theatrical plays. While it may seem overwhelming and excessive, such a variety is to be expected given the festival’s month-long duration.
“It sounds fun…”
He gently commented as he closed the book.
Cielo considered asking the prince of Alistair for a short freedom, even if just for a day, but ultimately decided against it. There was no one to accompany him to guarantee that he wouldn’t reveal his identity, as had happened in the library with the prince’s cousin, which made him think that his request would probably be turned down.
Cielo stood up from his chair and walked over to the table, which was filled with various creations from his own world.
The first item was a walkie-talkie radio. He thought about giving it to the prince, as he had learned that their only methods of communication were through a communication mirror or by sending letters, which take a lot of time to receive.
The Magic and Research Department might be able to improve the walkie-talkie range, and there was even a chance of integrating it with drones to help intercept conversations.
If they were to succeed in their efforts, the drones would certainly become outstanding spies.
‘But I’m not up to date on their progress in their research, so my understanding is limited.’
Cielo was focused on other issues, making their research of little interest to him.
Next was a blueprint he messily drew for a washing machine. Rene had mentioned that the palace’s linens and drapes were changed weekly, a task that was quite labor-intensive due to their considerable weight. These items were not only cumbersome but also plentiful. The research department might be able to develop a more efficient way to manage this task after he submits the blueprint in his name.
‘I’m earning quite a lot.’
He continues to struggle with the ethical concerns of profiting from inventions taken from his previous world, but he reminds himself that the Father of Magic is called “Father” even though he is not the original creator of magic.
‘I’m just following my predecessor’s example.’
Next, he has a collection of cozy white silk pajamas, white shirts, white shorts, and a UV black umbrella. These items were made in the One Exit Room without informing the prince, although it’s likely they are already aware and are merely allowing him for whatever reasons.
The annoying part is that he can only wear these comfortable clothes in the West Wing, as the locals of this world are quite conservative and would look at him strangely if he shows too much skin, as was the case yesterday when Doctor Happy saw him in just a loose shirt, shorts, and slippers. She was intensely blushing and acted as if he were naked. It was a peculiar experience.
The next item is contact lenses, which happen to be his personal favorite among his unauthorized creations.
While the sunglasses were pretty cool, wearing them consistently for the past three months has started to irritate him. They easily slip off his face, and their weight is becoming increasingly bothersome. Additionally, with Doctor Happy nearing the finish of her silver dye, Cielo wants to avoid anything that obscures his face and head.
‘I have a UV umbrella that effectively shields me from the sun’s rays.’
He is still worried about his skin condition, but he plans to gradually try it out.
Cielo stares at the contact lens while sitting in front of the mirror. He chooses a regular mirror instead of a contact mirror, as the latter would automatically answer incoming calls without giving him the option to decline, a feature he finds quite bothersome.
The possibility of an unexpected face appearing on the screen while he is in his private space could lead to considerable anxiety, which is why he prefers to keep such devices away from him.
He considers his choices among the contact lenses.
According to the book he has read, eye colors like gold, red, and green exist in this world, but he rules them out since they are associated with specific abilities. The only eye colors considered ordinary here are black, brown, and blue.
Most of the Empire has black eyes, blue eyes are mainly found in the South, and brown eyes are typical of the East.
Individuals from the Southern regions have tanned skin, while those from the East tend to have darker complexions. This makes it challenging for Cielo, whose skin is quite pale, to use blue and brown eye colors.
‘I am supposed to be a Fidellan by birth.’
Given his pale complexion, people would likely question the presence of blue or brown eyes, particularly since brown is the dominant genetic trait in this world. There has never been a documented case of a pale person with mixed genetic traits.
“I should probably choose the white one.”
Since Cielo couldn’t remember what partially blind eyes looked like, he decided to create a white contact lens, along with black, brown, and blue.
“Maybe a black lens for the left eye and a white one for the right?”
“That would only attract attention to you.”
Came the deep voice next to him.
Used to Newcastle’s surprise visits to his room at night, Cielo remained unperturbed and continued to weigh his choices.
“What do you suggest then?”
When he struggled to make a decision, he turned to Newcastle for advice instead. Given that he lives in this realm, he must have already seen what a blind eye looks like, right?
Newcastle examined his new pajamas with great interest before replying.
“It really depends. Some blind individuals have eyes that don’t visibly show their condition. A shade just a bit lighter than pure black, maybe a mix of black and white, would work. There’s no sure way to tell if someone can see just by looking at their eyes, after all.”
His former instructor shrugged and continued to inspect the pajamas.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Cielo raised an eyebrow, noticing the clear curiosity in Newcastle’s expression as he asked.
“Do they look good?”
“Absolutely. Did you make those? They look very comfortable. Would you be willing to give me a pair of those?"
Cielo still had some pajamas left, but they were all made to fit him. Newcastle, being taller and more muscular, wouldn’t find them suitable.
“I’ll make some for you once the prince allows me to use the One Exit Room again.”
He could only access the room whenever the prince requested prototypes to be made to be sent to the Magic and Research Department. Even with the brooch present, the prince has a way to keep him away from the room.
The man laughed heartily, expressing his joy as he shared his gratitude.
Cielo chose to remain silent as he picked up the brown contact lens, which resembled the former color of his eyes.
How nostalgic.
Just five months ago, this was the color of his eyes, he was not known as Cielo, and he was rotting away in the hospital bed.
Time certainly flies.
“You should give it a try and see if it really works. I still have my doubts.”
Cielo sighed in frustration but went along with Newcastle’s suggestion. To his former’s instructors surprise, it actually worked.
“You all said that no magic could influence these eyes, but this contact lens isn’t magical.”
While it is made from magic, the items he created aren’t classified as magical artifacts, which is why Cielo was confident it would work for his eyes. And indeed, it did.
Newcastle firmly grasped both of his shoulders and spoke with a serious expression.
“Do you not understand the gravity of this situation?”
Throughout the past 5,000 years, significant research has been undertaken to discover ways to conceal these unique eyes, as children with rare eye traits are frequently targeted for abduction and trafficking. This problem has endured for centuries, yet despite many attempts, no miraculous solution has been found to effectively hide these distinctive eyes.
“I mean… if you had shifted your focus away from magic, you might have discovered a solution…”
“You know the reasons why.”
He is indeed aware.
After spending five months in the Empire, Cielo has observed a deep-seated obsession with magic among the Empire’s people.
Although the Empire has not been at the forefront of developing technologies that could create friction with other nations—whether in military advancements or other innovations—it possesses the capability to create practical inventions like contact lenses.
Instead, the Empire has opted to concentrate its research on magic, channeling its resources into mastering magic in a way that fits their goals, as controlling Nature’s Will is quite challenging. The key to achieving this mastery lies in the development of a mana core, which would allow individuals to store mana within their bodies, use it at their discretion, and even pass it down to future generations.
“Still, they could have put in some effort.”
Cielo stated.
In his opinion, the Empire did not do enough to save individuals with unique eyes like his. It felt more like an excuse, likely because they were reluctant to invest resources for the benefit of the general public.
Newcastle took a deep breath and loosened his grip.
“You know I have no power in this situation. However, it would be a serious problem if someone outside of His Imperial Highness’s inner circle were to find out about these lenses. If you don’t plan to send them as prototypes, make sure their existence stays under wraps.”
Cielo paused, remembering a certain person who might be aware of the situation.
“I have a feeling that Fisher might know I am a Traveler and that I’m not genuinely blind. That I’m just concealing my eyes with these glasses.”
The elder hinted at this by mentioning that the prince started displaying odd behavior three years ago, right when he arrived in this realm.
“Fisher?”
At first, he planned to clarify who Fisher was, but seeing the recognition in Newcastle’s eyes, it seemed he was already familiar with the experienced soldier.
“If it is him, then that’s fine.”
Both Alistair and Newcastle appeared to support Fisher. Cielo leaned back in his chair and asked.
“Who exactly is Fisher? I didn’t want to delve into his past because he looked distressed whenever I tried to discuss it. I didn’t want to bring up any painful memories for him.”
Newcastle paused thoughtfully before responding.
“For someone as empathetic as Fisher, witnessing this must be quite troubling.”
However, I did not share that sentiment. The implication of Newcastle’s statement caused him to become uneasy.
“What happened?”
He asked, clearly impatient.
“I can only provide the information I have. Fisher was a general and had previously been the base commander at the front lines. His base was situated on the border between the Gladius Kingdom and the Bertrand Kingdom.”
The Gladius Kingdom is part of the Saoirse Alliance, while the Bertrand Kingdom remains the only vassal that chose to remain neutral and did not align with either faction.
“About sixty years ago, the House of Marquise Albert from the Alvis Kingdom made a significant mistake by taking their entire population hostage in an attempt to breach our defenses, resulting in the capture of over 50,000 innocent people.”
They strategically placed explosives throughout the area to control the population and used coercive tactics. Those who resisted or refused to comply faced deadly consequences. Base commander Fisher devised a tactical plan and mobilized his forces to address the crisis.
“I won’t go into too much detail, but after two months of intense fighting, they successfully rescued the hostages, disarmed the explosives, and took control of the Marquis’s estate. However, since this was the first instance of the Saoirse Alliance taking innocent lives hostage, the three factions of the Empire decided to make an example of the Marquise.”
They ordered the army to annihilate everyone in the Marquise house, no matter if they were innocent or not so long as they worked for the Marquise.
The only survivors were the Marquise’s two children and their nanny. The heir was abducted by an unknown person and managed to escape, while the youngest child and the nanny were presented to the Emperor. They were granted a pardon, with the infant being adopted by the Emperor’s older sister, while the nanny returned to her homeland.
Later, Fisher was hailed as a hero, however, he decided to resign and did not attend the medal ceremony. He disappeared and wandered aimlessly throughout the Empire, avoiding even his family, until the prince stumbled upon him one day while he was fishing in an abandoned well.
Cielo was taken aback by Fisher’s story.
“So that’s the reason…”
Being forced to take innocent lives is an unbearable cruelty, highlighting the harsh realities of war and politics.
‘I’ll be sure not to be nosy anymore.’
He will try to lift the spirits of the elderly gentleman instead.
“That person has a great deal of intelligence. It’s not surprising that he figured it out so quickly.”
Newcastle casually shrugged while crossing his arms, then flashed a smirk in his direction.
“By the way, how is your progress with writing the ancient language while blindfolded?”
“Oh, right. Hold on a moment.”
Cielo retrieved his practice notebook from his bedside table and handed it to Newcastle, who caught it effortlessly.
As Newcastle hummed quietly while inspecting the notebook, Cielo returned to his seat in front of the mirror.
Despite his similar facial features and eye color to his past life, he could not recognize his past self reflected in the mirror. He pondered, “Is it because I have changed?” Perhaps this was the reason he could no longer connect with his former self.
‘Well, it’s not as if I wished to return to my past self.’
He simply wanted to feel the emotions that would arise from seeing his former appearance reflected back at him.
“… .”
His mother would probably feel disappointed in him.
She valued his obedience as a child, appreciating his ability to follow directions and stay calm. However, he is now veering off course, disobeying the prince’s orders and engaging in rebellious actions.
With a deep sigh, he removed the contact lens and returned it to its case.
‘Although I’ve found a way to disguise my eyes and Dr. Happy is working on a silver dye to be released to the public, I still need to figure out how to hide my eyelashes.’
His eyelashes have also turned a silver-white color, and by showing off this unique shade, he risks inspiring others to try dyeing their own eyelashes, which could be quite dangerous.
‘I should talk to Dr. Happy to see if there’s a safe method for dyeing eyelashes in this world before deciding to go out without my sunglasses.’