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Esmeralda followed Aziel briefly.
Shrugging off what he had just told her.
The scholar stopped his steps and turned towards a machine-
Too futuristic for its time.
She folded her arms slightly.
"Well then, Lord Aziel, since you have taken such interest in this region," she said, turning back to Aziel, "allow me to introduce, my latest project."
"Milady is such a genius!" the scholar praised.
"Actually, I just proposed the concept but the scholars did all the work."
"...if I may ask, what is it?"
Aziel baffled.
"Ah! Lady Esmeralda called it "the bi-see-call." the scholar exclaimed.
"It's-" she sighed. It was exactly as she said it when she proposed the name of the device, "it's spelled as b-i-c-y-c-l-e."
"Ah! That makes more sense, milady! I wondered if the device was used to see and call people using wheels." the scholar laughed.
A machine was not unfamiliar to this world. But only a few had attempted and succeeded in building one.
"Usually, it would take years of trial and error for such an invention to come to life. But thanks to the lady's suggestions and input, we were able to complete it within just a few months!"
"Oh, stop. You praise me too much," Esmeralda said enjoying the scholar's praises.
Aziel looked amazed.
His gaze did not leave the device.
He studied every corner of it.
"Interesting. It has wheels."
Esmeralda stared at him.
"...Yes."
A pause.
"...That is generally how it works."
Aziel ignored the faint sarcasm in her tone, stepping closer instead. He circled the device slowly, his gaze sharp, observant-nothing escaping him.
"Two wheels," he corrected. "Aligned rather than parallel. That would require balance."
"Correct."
"And no animal to pull it."
"Also correct."
Another pause.
Aziel placed a hand lightly on the handle.
"...And you expect people to ride this?"
"I expect them to learn," Esmeralda replied.
The scholar eagerly stepped forward.
"Milady explained that once the user gains momentum, the structure stabilizes itself!"
Aziel raised a brow.
"...So it relies on motion for balance."
"Yes!" the scholar beamed.
Aziel glanced back at Esmeralda.
"You designed this."
"I proposed it," she corrected. "They executed it."
"That does not answer my question."
Esmeralda tilted her head slightly.
"...Does it matter?"
"It does."
A brief silence passed between them.
Then-
"...You think strangely," Aziel said.
Esmeralda smiled faintly.
"I've been told that."
"You solve problems before they are fully understood."
"I prefer to be ahead of them."
"That is... unusual. I mean, no one would even think of balancing two wheels, let alone ride on it."
She stepped closer to the bicycle, resting her hand lightly on the frame.
"It's efficient," she said simply. "Faster than walking. Less demanding than horses. And more accessible."
"To whom?"
"To those who cannot afford horses," she replied. "Messengers. Workers. Even scholars who trip over chairs."
"Milady-" the scholar protested.
"...An example," she said smoothly.
Aziel watched her.
Longer this time.
"...You are not building for nobles."
"No."
"...Yet this region thrives under your name."
"That is not mutually exclusive."
Another pause.
Then-
"...May I try it?" Aziel asked.
The scholar gasped.
"My lord! It has not been-"
"Tested?" Aziel finished calmly.
"...Extensively."
Esmeralda sighed.
She gestured toward the device.
"Go ahead."
"Milady! What if-"
"If he falls," Esmeralda said lightly, "we will consider it valuable data."
Aziel did not react.
He simply mounted the bicycle.
There was a brief moment-
A shift in balance.
A pause.
Then-
He pushed forward.
The first movement was unsteady.
The second-less so.
By the third-
He was moving.
Smoothly.
Controlled.
Effortlessly.
The scholar's jaw dropped.
"...He understood it immediately."
Esmeralda crossed her arms.
"This is a groundbreaking discovery, my lady," Aziel stood up from the bicycle, "do you feel like taking in investors for it?"
Hm. Investors?
She thought.
Her gaze lingered on the bicycle.
Then shifted-slowly-
Toward the scholars.
Who were all, very clearly, waiting for her next instruction.
...
Ah.
There it was.
Responsibility.
Esmeralda exhaled quietly.
"...That sounds exhausting."
The scholar blinked.
"...Milady?"
"Expansion. Oversight. Negotiations. Production management..." she listed lightly. "All of that sounds like a great deal of work."
A pause.
"...Which I have no desire to personally handle."
The scholars froze.
Esmeralda tapped her finger once against her arm, thinking.
"...However."
Their posture straightened immediately.
"I am not opposed to investors," she continued.
Hope.
Visible.
"Just not random ones."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"I will only accept those I trust."
"Those who will not interfere unnecessarily."
Silence.
Then-
"...In that case," Aziel said, "I would like to offer myself."
The scholar inhaled sharply.
Esmeralda looked at him.
Measured.
Unsurprised.
"...You would?"
"I would."
"Why?"
"The invention is already clever as it is," Aziel said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "And I prefer to invest in fresh ideas."
A pause.
Then-
"...Very well."
The scholar nearly dropped the papers he was holding.
"Milady-?!"
"Conditional," Esmeralda added calmly.
Aziel inclined his head slightly.
"Of course."
"Can you handle the responsibilities?"
Silence.
"...I beg your pardon?" Aziel asked.
Esmeralda smiled faintly.
"Is that not what investors are for?"
Another pause.
Then-
Aziel let out a quiet breath.
Almost amused.
"...I see."
"You wished to be involved," she continued. "Consider this your opportunity."
"And you?"
"I will oversee," she said simply.
"...From a comfortable distance."
The scholar looked like he might faint again.
Aziel studied her for a moment longer.
Then-
"...Very well," he said.
Esmeralda nodded once.
"Good."
Then, under her breath-
"...One less responsibility."
A short pause followed.
Then Aziel glanced toward the door, as if he had recalled something urgent.
"...Unfortunately, I cannot remain," he said.
Esmeralda raised a brow slightly.
"I have prior engagements to attend to."
"Of course."
He stepped back.
"I will arrange the materials and initial distribution."
"You will send word, I assume?"
"I will."
A brief silence lingered.
Then-
"Lady Esmeralda," he inclined his head.
"My lord."
He turned and made his way toward the exit.
Unhurried.
Composed.
As though this had simply been another matter concluded.
The door closed behind him.
The room fell silent.
The scholars slowly turned toward her.
"...Now," Esmeralda said.
Her tone quieter.
Sharper.
"Speak freely."
The scholars exchanged glances.
Then one stepped forward.
"...Milady," he began carefully, "while we have made progress in identifying early indicators... Lilac's Disease remains difficult to predict."
Esmeralda's gaze lowered slightly.
"Walk me through."
"It does not follow a consistent pattern," he continued. "Some cases progress rapidly. Others... remain dormant before worsening suddenly."
"...So early detection is unreliable."
"For now-yes."
Silence.
"We are attempting to isolate a consistent marker," another scholar added. "Something that appears before the physical symptoms-but..."
"But you have not found one."
"...Not yet."
Esmeralda nodded once.
Calm.
Measured.
Controlled.
"Continue your efforts."
"Yes, Milady."
She turned slightly, her gaze drifting toward the window.
Sunlight filtered in.
Soft.
Unbothered.
"...And a cure?" she asked.
Carefully.
Casually.
As if it were an afterthought.
The hesitation came instantly.
"...We are... not yet close," one admitted.
"The disease's nature makes it difficult to counter once it progresses," another added. "If the discoloration appears-"
"I understand," Esmeralda said.
Before they could finish.
Silence followed.
She had already heard it.
From Serena.
From records.
From the story.
Once the purple appeared-
It devoured.
Consumed.
Ended.
"...I see," she murmured.
Her tone did not change.
Her expression did not shift.
But-
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
So it hasn't changed.
"I expect regular updates," she said, turning back to them.
"Yes, Milady."
"And progress."
"We will do everything we can."
"I know."
That was the problem.
She glanced once more at the water system plans.
At the structure.
The control.
The predictability.
"...At least something in this world can be managed," she murmured softly.
But not this.
Not the disease.
Not the story.
Not her fate.
"...Continue your work," she said, already moving toward the exit.
"Yes, Milady."
Outside-
The air felt lighter.
But her thoughts-
Were not.
"...Early detection," she murmured.
"A cure."
"A prophecy."
A pause.
Then-
"...I would prefer at least one of these to cooperate."
She stepped into her carriage.
And for once-
Did not pretend everything was under control.
I need a vacation.