Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 344: Homecoming

TL: Etude

Familiar corridors, familiar gardens.

Eileen’s eyes widened as she took in the familiar sights of the palace. It had been over a year and a half since she left home, and there seemed to be little change in the palace.

Accompanied by Leah, she hurried through the corridors, rushing towards the Queen’s bedchamber.

“Princess?” “Eileen?” “Thank God!”…

Along the way, the palace servants they encountered all showed expressions of surprise and joy. The young princess had suddenly disappeared, and the official statement was that she had gone to live with relatives in Gabella. But not returning for over a year led many to guess that something must have happened. Eileen, who was always kind and cordial to the servants, naturally made them hope that nothing bad had happened to her. Seeing her return safely to the palace now, everyone who met her sighed with heartfelt relief.

Eileen responded with a smile to every servant who bowed to her, but she did not slow her pace.

Finally, she arrived at the chamber that haunted her dreams, where a woman’s figure appeared at the doorway.

“Mother!” Eileen cried out, rushing into Queen Phyllis’s embrace.

The Queen hugged the princess tightly, unable to utter a word, her tear-streaked cheeks revealing her inner turmoil. The ladies-in-waiting and servants around them also began to wipe away tears.

Velos had sent messengers to Crystal Shine Fortress immediately after landing, so Queen Phyllis already knew of Eileen’s return. However, to avoid complications, no one had told the Queen about the near encounter with pirates.

“Eileen… my darling… how could you be so heartless…”

“I’m sorry, Mother, I should have come back sooner.”

The mother and daughter embraced and wept for a long time, finally separating under the persuasion of those around them.

Suddenly, the female guard Leah knelt on one knee before the Queen and said solemnly, “Your Majesty, please punish me for my transgressions.”

Queen Phyllis stared at her for a long time, then shook her head, “No, you are not at fault. Leah, Eileen is the master you serve. It was her decision to leave home, not yours — although I wish it hadn’t happened. And you… have faithfully fulfilled the duties of a knight.”

“Your Majesty…” Leah still did not raise her head, her voice slightly choked.

Queen Phyllis helped the female knight to her feet, “Rise, loyal knight, and see who has come to see you.”

Leah looked past the Queen, and two figures came into view.

“Father! Mother!”

She exclaimed in a mixture of shock and joy.

“Leah!” “My daughter!”

The family of three embraced tightly.

…

In a side hall of the palace, King Rodney was discussing the specifics of the Northwest Fleet with the Abbott father and son.

“Your Majesty, the Northwest Fleet is equipped with powerful weapons and has extensive experience in dealing with pirates. When I first arrived at the Northwest Bay, it was also plagued by pirates, but they were wiped out in less than half a year. Ah… Of course, this time we will still rely on the regular army of Your Majesty’s kingdom. Those Northwesterners will surely be awed by Your Majesty’s divine might.”

Hansel spoke confidently, suggesting that with the combined forces, the defeat of the pirates was inevitable.

“Yes, I am also aware of Count Grayman’s experiences in eradicating the pirates.”

The king seemed thoughtful. “Ah, although he’s young, he’s indeed a capable lord. By the way… Hansel, I heard that Count Grayman has invented a weapon that can spit fire, which is highly effective. Do you know about this?”

“Uh… this… Your Majesty, its formal name should be cannons and muskets, one large and one small. It’s just… just…”

Hansel hesitated and then said, “Count Grayman keeps it a strict secret. Unless you’re part of the Alda army, it’s very difficult to know the specifics.”

“Hmm… okay then.” Rodney didn’t press further. Every major noble had their secrets, and there were some things that even a king couldn’t force others to reveal.

At this moment, an attendant hurried over and whispered something into Rodney’s ear.

Hansel distinctly felt the change in the king’s demeanor. The king, who had been full of authority just moments ago, suddenly became unsettled. His facial expression turned excited, mostly happy, but also mixed with… anger? This was somewhat puzzling.

“Cough…”

King Rodney cleared his throat, regaining his previous dignity and composure.

He said to Hansel’s father, “Lord Abbott, let’s leave it here for today. Your son has done well.”

Old Abbott quickly stood up and humbly replied, “You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

The king then turned to Hansel, “Tomorrow, I will give you a written order. Take it to the administrative officer in Port Kiel, who will assist you with the repairs and resupply of the Northwest Fleet.”

“By your command, Your Majesty!” Hansel responded respectfully.

“Then, you may go and rest now.”

The king stood up, ending the audience, and the Abbotts watched as Rodney left the side hall through a side door.

As soon as King Rodney was out of sight of the Abbotts, he quickened his pace, with his guards hurriedly following.

He stopped in front of the Queen’s bedchamber, straightened his attire, and then walked in at a steady pace.

Upon entering the living room of the bedchamber, he finally saw the person he wanted to see — Eileen, nestled beside her mother, sharing heartfelt words.

“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.” The parents of the female knight Leah, noticing the king’s entry, promptly came forward to greet him.

Only then did Eileen notice her father’s entrance. She hurriedly stood up but dared not look directly at Rodney, her demeanor that of a child who had done something wrong — in a sense, she had.

Queen Phyllis quickly walked to her husband’s side, glared at him, and whispered a “warning”: “Don’t scare the child.”

“I know,” the king muttered.

He approached Eileen, looking at his daughter, who was nervously lowering her head. He gently stroked her head, his voice mixed with both reproach and guilt: “You silly child, why did you run off without saying a word? Do you know how worried your mother has been these past days?”

“Father.” The king’s touch eased all of Eileen’s apprehensions, and she rushed into her father’s embrace, the warmth she had missed for so long returning to her.

“I was scared.” Eileen, with tears in her eyes, said hoarsely, “I was really scared at that time.”

“It wasn’t the fear of being punished by you for doing something wrong, but an indescribable kind of fear.”

“I know… I know…” the king repeated slowly, his sense of guilt growing stronger.

“I will never again…” He was about to say this, but he didn’t finish the sentence. When the interests of the nation and his daughter’s happiness were once again weighed on a scale before him, what choice would he ultimately make?

“Father in Heaven! Punish me,” Rodney prayed silently in his heart.

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