Chapter 391: A Decision to Change the World

Sasha held her hand before the door and took a deep breath before knocking. Nervously waiting, she heard Alfred call out to her to enter. With a deep breath, she let herself in and lowered her head towards her Emperor. "I greet His Majesty." Seeing a head pop up from the sofa, Sasha jumped but quickly lowered her head, "Forgive me. I greet Her Majesty."

Isra waved her hand to forgive her and layed back down. "I called you here for a reason, but first, how are you? I heard you had your first child." Alfred said kindly whilst offering a seat. Sasha bowed again and took a seat, getting Isra’s full attention at the mention of her child.

"Yes, a boy. He will take Marcus’ name, but he is a strong child. Mother is looking after him right now." Sasha said with a sweetness that was rare for her. Sighing, however, she lowered her head, "It’s a shame, but even though I love the child, I still want to follow my dream."

Alfred smiled in understanding and stood up. "I hoped you would, but I can’t let you set sail across the ocean yet." Sasha gritted her teeth in annoyance, making the two chuckle. "Don’t worry, it’s because we don’t have the tools yet to make the journey as safe as possible. I want you to return here after all."

Shasha raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Your Grace? I thought the ships and the succession issue were the only concerns." Sasha suppressed her annoyance. Every time she thought she was ready, another issue arose. If she didn’t know Alfred wanted her to sail the ocean, she would have thought he was purposely sabotaging her dream.

Isra laughed at Sasha’s annoyance. "Sasha." Calling to her softly, she shook her head, "It’s because, as it is now, the voyage wouldn’t be safe. No one doubts your ability on the sea, but sailing in an uncharted ocean is completely different from navigated waters. You should understand this better than anyone."

Sasha nodded, finally understanding. "In the East, past the Great Forest, there is a kingdom, the Traon Kingdom. Whilst it is a shame to admit, their seafaring technology is better than ours. We have the ships needed for a long voyage, but things in the Empire to navigate the sea are subpar compared to them. Go there, and get what we need." Alfred reached into his drawer and pulled out a scroll. "I wish to invite them to the Empire formally. I want you to be the envoy."

Taking the scroll and opening it, she gave it a quick read before pocketing it. Getting up, she bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Leaving the room, Isra looked at Alfred with a strange gaze.

"They don’t have everything you need. Do they?" Seeing Alfred’s surprised face, Isra chuckled, "How long have we been together, Alfred? I can read the slightest changes in your expression."

Alfred chuckled and shook his head. "Navigational tools are fine. Everything we need has been invented already. No, our concerns are internal and foreign. The core territories are stable, but the Livonk lands will require a lot of work. As for our enemies, if the plan in Severia works, we will be free from the Church’s threat for now. But I can’t trust a foreign power indefinitely."

Isra frowned. The two were in deep, though. They both knew that the greatest threat to them was the Church and, by extension, Severia. Whilst the Empire had been built into a power, other nations had to watch carefully, as entering a war would drain the Empire of resources.

"Gunpowder," Isra said softly, making Alfred raise an eyebrow. "You told me that the invention of gunpowder and, by extension, the musket changed warfare forever. If we can become the ones heading its invention, we could force our enemies to stay put, not with plots but overwhelming might."

Alfred sighed and tapped the desk. It had been something on his mind to bring into the world. Previously, he was scared of rapidly changing the world for the worse, but now it was a logistical nightmare. "It is doable, but quite frankly, I know how these things work, but I can’t make them."

"Get others. We have skilled blacksmiths, alchemists and engineers in the Empire."

"It’s not that simple." Alfred sighed, "We have an army of tens of thousands. To equip it all, I don’t think we have the manpower."

"We don’t need to arm the whole army yet." Isra counted, "We just need enough armed. Think about what is needed to make gunpowder. Do we have what we need to make it?"

"Yeah," Alfred said under his breath, making Isra smile.

"Then do it. Forget the worries and just do it, Alfred. You can’t hesitate. We need the world to fear us if you want to expand beyond the seas." Alfred took a deep breath and tapped the table. Charcoal and Nitrate were available. The only issue was sulfur. Whilst he could get it if he traded with Silesia, it was a risk.

"We may need to settle for a weaker type of Gunpowder," Alfred muttered under his breath, making his wife smile wider.

"Whatever you remember about it, write down. The headmaster of the academy can be trusted, and I’m sure some alchemists would love the chance to make something that they haven’t yet." Alfred looked at her and sighed.

"Are you sure you want this. I’ve seen how the world changed with its invention." His voice was dark, telling thousands of stories. Isra hesitated for only a second but nodded and got up.

Walking behind Alfred, she wrapped her arms around his back and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "It will get invented anyway. Maybe in the next ten years or the next hundred, but it will happen. Isn’t it better to be the pioneers instead of falling behind?"

Alffed squeezed her hand and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he remembered everything he could about the production of early gunpowder and muskets. His mind spun, and although he didn’t remember exact ratios and designs, he had a general idea. Opening his eyes, a cold gleam shone in them.

"Fine. We’ll do it." Isra warmly smiled and kissed him again. Walking away, she hummed a small tune.

"I’ll find those we can trust. In the meantime, get everything you know written down." Alfred smiled back at her and grabbed a piece of paper. Writing what he knew, Isra watched for a few seconds and admired him before leaving the room.

Hours passed, and Alfred looked at the numerous designs he had drawn, along with an in-depth explanation of how everything worked. He felt burnt out after writing everything, but happily smiled at his work. It wasn’t perfect, and he knew it should be left to a real craftsman to bring his vision to reality. However, if they couldn’t create what he wanted, even with all the information he provided, then it would never happen in his lifetime.

Getting up, he left the office and walked through the halls of the Palace. The halls were empty, many of the servants having gone to sleep, but Alfred knew Issac would be awake and let himself into his office. With dark bags under his eyes, Isaac looked up and held his finger to his lips, indicating to Johanna, who peacefully slept on the sofa.

Alfred nodded and indicated for him to follow. Picking his wife up, Johanna squirmed slightly but comfortably rested in his arms as Issac took her to the room parallel and set her to bed. Carefully closing the door behind him, he smiled at Alfred.

"I’m surprised you are awake, Your Majesty."

"I’ve been working and I want to show you. Come." The two walked deep into the Palace towards the room where they had created the printing press. The two unyielding guards stood watch but allowed them into the clean, yet desolate, room. Throwing the stacks of paper onto a table, Alfred let Issac read them.

Issac looked over them, his face changing every few seconds. "A new weapon? What is it effective against, Calvery?"

"Everything," Alfred said blankly, confusing Issac. Looking at the designs and explanations again, it went over his head. Alfred took the paper from his hands and put it down. Resting his hand over the large stack, he took a deep breath, "Issac. This is a weapon that will change the world. Something that a man who has trained with it for a week will be able to use. Amrour is meaningless in front of it, and its ammo is cheap and easy to find. Many of the mines in the Flanders territory already produce it."

"Silv... no. Lead?" Alfred nodded, making Issac take a deep breath, "Are you sure about all these claims?" It wasn’t a surprise that Issac was in disbelief. A weapon that made armour obsolete, which used lead, was unheard of.

"I trust you, Issac." Alfred paused and gulped. He could tell Isaac wanted to believe him, just as he had before, but it was too outrageous to accept. "That is why I think you deserve to know the truth." Alfred had been debating for a long time whether to reveal his biggest secret to anyone. But looking at Issac, his most trusted ally, he knew that he needed the man to be able to indulge in his ideas. He needed someone other than Isra who could understand why he was the way he was and how he knew everything he did.

Issac could see Alfred in deep thought about something. His heart raced, wondering what it was. This was the ultimate form of trust, something maybe his father hadn’t been told. He had no idea what Alfred wanted to say, but the tense atmosphere around the Emperor told him it was a guarded secret few, maybe no one, was privy to. He knew the right thing to say was not to worry, but to trust the design. That he didn’t need to know, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it, wishing to know what Alfred would say.

Alfred’s hand shook nervously. Taking a few deep breaths, he closed and opened his eyes, stopping his shaking, and stared deep into Issac’s eyes. "Issac, what I am about to say can never leave this room. Not your wife, not your son or sister. No one can ever know, and if they do, I will know it was you."

Issac deeply nodded, the underlying threat not going unnoticed. "Your father, Alice and Grand Templar Michael know part of it. But I didn’t tell them the whole truth. Only Isra knows that is why she indulges in my dreams, because she knows what I know." Alfred took a deep breath, "The reality is the man who stands before you wasn’t born as Alfred Lindonfall, Prince to the Ammary throne. The boy who was born in this world is gone, replaced by me. I was forced into this world, into this body. You may not understand what this really means, but I am not of this world, but another."

Issac froze and stared blankly at Alfred. It was like he said. He couldn’t understand it. The concepts of another world weren’t completely foreign, as the Khorish religion told of Sol’s first two failed attempts at life before the creation of Gaia, but Isaac knew that what Alfred was talking about was beyond any story told in religion.

"Your Majesty? What... This...." Issac couldn’t find the words, and Alfred sighed.

"My world compared to this one is unrecognisable. We found ways to let people live even when their hearts stop beating, we entered into space and returned, created ways to communicate with people on the other side of the world in seconds." Alfred paused and lowered his head, "And we have fought wars that destroyed millions of lives, created weapons that can kill thousands with the push of a button and made multiple species extinct." Alfred looked into Issac’s eyes again, "The man you have known this entire time wasn’t Prince Alfred but me. So Issac, what will you do?"

Issac gulped and lowered his head, before falling to his knees. Resting his hand on his heart, he looked up at Alfred with unwavering commitment. He had been allowed to hear the truth that only Isra was privy to. He didn’t follow Alfred wholeheartedly because of his name, but because of his actions. Whatever the appearance Alfred had, as long as it was him, he would follow.

"You are the rightful Emperor. You are the one who will change this world, and you are the one I dedicate myself to. That has not changed. I, Issac Flander, swear like I did all those years ago, undying fealty."

"Rise, Issac." The man slowly stood up and stood eye level with Alfred. "Thank you."

"Your secrets, your will, your ambition. I can be trusted with everything, My Liege." Alfred patted his shoulder and firmly gripped it. Even if Issac didn’t understand or believe him entirely, it was enough for him. It was liberating to tell the truth to another. Issac could feel how wet it was from his sweat and suppressed his chuckle.