Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

TL: Etude

Eileen frowned at her reflection in the mirror and pouted slightly. “Is it still not good enough?”

A woman standing behind her, busy with Eileen’s hair and makeup, responded with a smile, “Almost done, Your Highness.”

The woman chuckled to herself: “She has been traveling for such a long time, yet the temperament of this little princess remains as spirited as ever.”

Once she was finally ready, Eileen cheerfully lifted her skirt and dashed out of the room.

“Slow down, Your Highness!” a court lady waiting by the door called out as she chased after her.

Eileen made her way to the reception room in the sleeping quarters, where several girls her age had already been waiting.

“Your Highness the Princess!”

The girls stood up and respectfully curtsied to Eileen.

Several maids with trays handed out refreshments to each person.

“Nanny,” Eileen turned to the court lady who had followed her and said, “We would like some time to ourselves!” She then gave her most pleading, pitiful look with wide eyes.

The court lady glared sternly at Eileen but ultimately gave in. She sighed and said, “Ladies, you all come from noble families and are no longer children, please remember to always be mindful of your behavior and words.”

After a curtsey, the lady slowly left the reception room.

“Yay!” Once the court lady was out of sight, the girls burst into cheers.

They no longer sat properly in their seats, instead swarming onto the sofa next to Eileen.

These were noble girls who were friends with Eileen in daily life.

“Eileen, Eileen! Continue telling us about Northwest Bay!” exclaimed a petite girl with freckles, tugging at Eileen’s arm.

“Tell us more about that invention of Count Grayman!”

It had been a while since Eileen returned, and her friends knew that she had traveled to the north of the kingdom, but they were unaware that Eileen had sneaked out on her own, thinking that she went out under the strict guard of court guards due to the efficient secrecy.

“This…” Eileen said with some difficulty, “He finished explaining all that, and no matter how ingenious Count Grayman is, he can’t invent something new every day!”

“Ah—” the freckled girl was visibly disappointed.

“Ha ha, Anysia,” teased another girl, “do you have a crush on that count?”

“You stop that nonsense!”

Anysia’s face blushed a deep red as she became flustered, trying to cover the other girl’s mouth. The group laughed as they watched the two chase and frolic around the reception room.

The experiences shared by Eileen captivated everyone. It turned out that the paper which had become popular in Crystal Shine Fortress over the past two years came from Northwest Bay, and the beautiful porcelain that the nobility flocked to was also manufactured there.

It was not the barbaric land of legends, as there were towns and villages where nobles and civilians lived, speaking a dialect of the Ordo language, which differed in accent from the residents of the capital.

Moreover, a distinct lord was making efforts to elevate the education of his subjects, teaching them literacy and reasoning. Oddly enough, didn’t most local lords believe that the more ignorant the populace, the easier they were to govern?

As the group laughed and talked, Eileen instructed a servant to fetch a book. She laid it on the table with pride and a hint of boastfulness, saying, “My trip to Northwest Bay was not just for pleasure. This is the fruit of my labor!”

The girls looked down at the table to see a book titled “Basic Medical and Health Handbook.”

Anysia picked it up and flipped through it as her companions leaned in to look together.

“Wow! How amazing! Eileen, the princess known for her erudition,” the girls exclaimed in admiration after a quick glance through the book.

The book primarily introduced basic health knowledge, such as bathing regularly, washing hands, eating cooked food, drinking boiled water, sterilizing when treating wounds, ventilating the room when sick, and even detailed precautions during childbirth.

As nobles, many of the practices mentioned were habits instilled in them from a young age, but even those familiar practices received fresh explanations in the book.

In places invisible to the eyes, there were countless tiny lifeforms—pathogens or the eggs of parasites. Many illnesses arise from these entities. The various measures listed in the book can effectively prevent these organisms from harming the human body.

They couldn’t help but believe, especially after Eileen had craftsmen build a microscope according to Paul’s principles upon her return, which terrified the girls with its revelations.

The accolades from her playmates made Eileen a tad embarrassed, “Well… it’s not completely my own doing. I co-authored this with a Horn Bay scholar named Ladi, who is much more talented than I am. Moreover, most of the measures listed in the book came from Count Grayman; we merely compiled it!”

“Copy one for us too!” Anysia spoke for the group as they requested Eileen.

The little princess smiled mysteriously, “Copy? That would be too inefficient!”

“How so?” the girls were puzzled.

“Take a look at the text in the book. What’s special about the letters?”

The girls frowned as they examined the pages closely.

One girl had an epiphany, “These letters are so uniform! Especially those that are the same, it’s as if…as if they were made from the same mold.”

“Bingo, that’s exactly right!”

Eileen explained, “They were indeed produced from the same mold. This is printing technology. Northwest Bay has an amazing machine—the printing press—that can mass-produce books without the laborious task of handwriting.”

“Eileen, you said you had explained all of Count Grayman’s inventions! I’ve never heard of this printing machine before.” Anysia pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.

“Uh… well, that was just an idea he had. The completion… Let’s just call it a collective invention.”

After a bit of evasion, Eileen declared, “I’ve already sent people to Northwest Bay to order a printing machine from Count Grayman. Once it arrives, we’ll print this book so that not only you all, but everyone in Crystal Shine Fortress can read it.”

The little princess intended to promote healthy habits such as drinking boiled water throughout Crystal Shine Fortress. As a member of the royal family, she felt it was her duty.

Of course, Eileen’s plans went far beyond that. She also intended to replicate her great achievements in Northwest Bay in Crystal Shine Fortress—such as establishing schools and building signal towers.

“Excuse me, Princess Your Highness!”

While everyone was engaged in a vibrant discussion, a servant entered the reception room.

“What is it?”

“Miss Anysia, someone from your family is here. They said it’s urgent and looking for you.”

“Let them in.”

Soon, another person dressed as a butler hurried into the room.

“Is it you? What’s the matter?” Anysia recognized the family butler.

The butler respectfully stated, “Miss, the young master has returned and requests that you return home quickly for a reunion.”

“Is it my brother?” Anysia’s face lit up with excitement. “He’s back?”

Anysia’s brother had been stationed at Port West with Harrison Abbott for a long time and hadn’t returned home.

“He has, but…” the butler’s expression saddened, “he has to rush back to his post. He returned to the capital just to deliver a message; he’s in a hurry for you to see him.”

Anysia hastily bid farewell to Eileen.

Eileen furrowed her brows and asked the butler, “Anysia’s brother’s troops are stationed at Port West, right? Is the situation there still severe? Is it because of pirates?”

The butler shook his head, “According to the young master, this trouble isn’t due to pirates, but it’s related to the previous pirate invasions.”

“What is it?”

“Goblins. During their occupation of Port West, the pirates covertly released a large number of goblins into the nearby area. These vile creatures were cunning; when the kingdom’s army had just reclaimed Port West, they hid and silently proliferated in the forests. Now… now we have no idea how many there are.”

“Goblins?” Eileen frowned, aware that if they were not eradicated early on, they would become a huge problem.

“Ugh, goblins.”

“How could it be? Why did the pirates bring such disgusting creatures here?”

A few girls in the reception room exclaimed in shock, seeming to have heard of these terrifying creatures.

There were also girls who hadn’t heard of them, but after a quick ‘science lesson’ from their companions, they began to curse the goblins and the pirates responsible.

After saying goodbye to Anysia, Eileen looked towards the direction of the royal palace’s council hall. Her father should be there by now. Since Anysia’s brother had come back with a message, the king must already be aware of the situation.

Moreover, she knew that in the south, the kingdom’s main army was facing a decisive battle with the rebels.

Yet mishaps kept happening in the rear…

Hang in there, elder sister.

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