One Day, My Dad Disappeared - Chapter 21

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 21
Did I hear that right? You just called me insane?
Did my research seem unrealistic? But at the time, I thought it was genuinely groundbreaking.
“Why didn’t you present work like this?”
“I’m sorry?”
“You’re right—Gas Lamps have serious limitations. The nobles who frequent the Theater regularly suffer headaches because of them, and manual ignition is tedious enough.”
“Exactly, Cynthia. This is truly remarkable research.”
The Crown Prince burst out laughing, his pale blue eyes crinkling pleasantly.
“If Electric Lamps were created, countless people would benefit enormously. It’s such a waste that someone this talented didn’t pursue further research. I wish you’d continued into graduate studies.”
“I—I’m honored you say so.”
My ears grew warm at the Crown Prince’s laughter. At the same time, something twisted inside my chest.
I don’t regret becoming a civil servant to be with Father, but still. The truth was, I’d wanted to keep studying and researching.
“Why didn’t you go to graduate school? Judging from the research you’d already done, it seems like you wanted to.”
“Reality had to come first, I suppose.”
The Crown Prince didn’t know the full story, so it was better to leave it at that.
“Hmm. Does graduate school cost a great deal?”
“Not as much in tuition, but you don’t earn income either.”
Aiden answered instead.
The truth was, costs were significant even then. As Academy top graduate, they’d offered me a full scholarship, but even accounting for that, research was essentially a labor of passion.
Hundreds, thousands of papers poured out each year, yet only one or two of them ever saw the light of public recognition.
And even when they did gain recognition, the next hurdle was money. If your research was judged valuable and drew patronage from nobles, perhaps—but if it was deemed innovative yet economically worthless, noble backing would never materialize.
When that happened, even the most successful research simply stopped midway for lack of funds.
Unless a scholar came from genuine wealth, poverty was simply their lot.
“So you became a civil servant for money?”
“If I’m being honest, yes. That’s correct.”
Did that make me mercenary? But it was the truth, so what could I do. And someone of the Crown Prince’s station could probably investigate this immediately once back in the Imperial Capital.
He’d discover what I’d done the moment I took the job—how I’d borrowed heavily.
“What a shame. I have rather good judgment about people, you know.”
He stepped closer and gently took my hand.
“I think you have the potential to become greater than Dr. Helico.”
And something warm and soft touched the back of my hand.
“I—I beg your pardon?!”
I yelped in surprise, all propriety abandoned, the sound embarrassingly shrill.
Did the Crown Prince just kiss the back of my hand?!
“What are you doing?!”
Aiden looked equally startled.
A kiss on the hand was typically either how a noble gentleman courted a noble lady with formal respect, or how a knight swore fealty to his lord.
I fit neither category, so Aiden’s alarm was entirely warranted.
“Your Highness, that jest goes too far.”
“A jest? I was merely expressing gratitude to Miss Cynthia for her excellent research in service to the Empire.”
The Crown Prince remained unmoved by Aiden’s stern expression, simply smiling broadly.
“I’d love to discuss this further, but I’m afraid I must take my leave.”
He tilted his head lightly toward the door.
Right—he’d mentioned he was handling this counterfeit jewel case.
“It was good to see you today. And if you have more ideas like that Electric Lamp, come to me anytime. I’ll provide whatever support you need.”
Full support? Financial support?
My eyes widened.
“Why would Your Highness provide such support?”
“Because the Empire’s advancement is ultimately my own advancement.”
And such genuine conviction behind it.
“Cynthia Violetta is an Imperial Household civil servant and my subordinate. If support is required, the Department of Foreign Affairs can provide it.”
“Isn’t the Department’s budget drawn from the Imperial Household’s coffers anyway?”
Why did it suddenly feel like tension was simmering between the two of them?
Caught between the two men’s sharp gazes, I found myself instinctively reading the room.
A conversation I’d overheard by chance long ago suddenly came back to me.

“Aiden lost to Cynthia again?”

It was the day second-semester grades were posted.

“He loses to the Crown Prince every day, and now that he’s at the Academy, he’s losing to commoners too.”
“The Crown Prince? Aren’t they related?”
“They are. That’s why they were playmates growing up.”

The student who said this laughed derisively as he continued.

“My father told me—they’re the same age and both male, so the ministers made them rivals from birth. They compared everything: who walked first, who spoke first, who was taller, their studies, horseback riding, swordplay—every single thing. They were pretty evenly matched, but the Crown Prince always came out ahead.”
“That’s pathetic. Even here at the Academy, he loses to Cynthia by just a question or two every time.”
“Looks like Aiden Winslow is destined to be second-best forever.”

Right—so the two of them have been rivals since birth, and I’m caught in the middle of their power struggle.
I quietly stepped back behind Aiden. Father always said that siding with your direct superior was the way of the world.
“In any case, my proposal stands. Give it serious thought, Cynthia.”
Adelian swept past the tension with a light laugh, then departed swiftly with his attendants—clearly pressed for time.
“How convenient for you.”
“Sir?”
“Your expression changed the moment he mentioned full support.”
Aiden looked down at me with his arms crossed, his gaze tilted at an accusatory angle.
So he’s spent his entire life being compared to the Crown Prince and losing, and now he doesn’t want to lose credit for his subordinate’s achievements too?
“Me? No, that’s not it.”
Though I’ll admit, my ears did perk up at the mention of financial support.
Was it that obvious?
I wiped my face quickly.
I’d have to figure out how to hide my eagerness about money from now on. Aiden would definitely start lecturing me about how commoners lack dignity, or how I should maintain proper decorum.
“I was just hoping the research I’d done here at the Academy wouldn’t go to waste, that’s all.”
“Fine. I’ll cover all the expenses for that research.”
“Really? Can you use the Department of Foreign Affairs budget for that?”
“Who said anything about the Department of Foreign Affairs budget? What does that have to do with anything?”
I bit my lip at the look in his eyes that said I was being foolish.
“Oh—you’re right, I wasn’t thinking. Since we’re looking for a Core anyway, I could just use the budget allocated under the Special Audit Bureau’s name.”
It was a bureau in name only, really just a Core investigation unit. How had I not thought of that?
“You can’t spend public funds when you don’t even know if it’s a Core or not.”
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering to himself.
“I’ll draw from the Winslow Duchy’s coffers and have a laboratory built for your research—whatever you need, from platinum wire to a glass workshop for creating a vacuum. I’ll mobilize the Empire’s entire supply network if I have to, and I’ll get you the finest materials available.”
His cold green eyes touched the back of my left hand, then slowly withdrew, finally settling on my face.
“Don’t you dare covet Imperial Household funds. This research must be conducted under your name alone, supported entirely by the Winslow family.”
His tone was as cold and curt as always, but hearing him say he’d pour all the family’s resources into my research made my heart race.
“Why are you standing there? Move.”
“Sir?”
“We need to get to the Capital. We’ve got barely three weeks and four days left.”
Aiden turned away, striding toward the carriage with studied coldness.
“We start the research the moment we arrive at the Capital. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“You won’t even have time to sleep once we start the experiments and begin the stabilization phase.”
I’d probably face worse sleep deprivation than during the Academy exams, but somehow my steps felt light.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————