Episode 29
“Miss Cynthia Violeta?”
The moderator called my name once more. Although I felt confident in my research results, I didn’t know why my legs were shaking so much.
“Phew.”
After letting out a trembling breath, I stepped onto the platform. Hundreds of gazes turned toward me all at once. Among them were those who recognized me and whispered among themselves.
It’s fine; let’s not be nervous.
When I stole a glance behind me, calm green eyes were looking at me. At the unwavering gaze that seemed to tell me not to worry at all, I unfurled my hunched shoulders and straightened my back.
“Hello, I am Cynthia Violeta.”
My heart, which had been pounding, grew calm upon spitting out the first words instead.
“The paper I have drafted is research material regarding the fabrication and long-duration illumination of a vacuum glass electric lamp.”
I explained in order the principles of the filament I had researched, the reason I selected bamboo as the carbonization material, and the process of creating a vacuum inside the glass sphere to prevent oxidation. Subsequently, I revealed without hiding anything even the lighting duration obtained through repeated experiments and the failed cases.
“Inside the glass sphere, air was removed as much as possible. In that process, a mercury pump was created.”
Finishing all the prepared explanations, I closed the presentation materials held in my hand and looked forward.
“If you have no questions, I shall conclude my presentation with this.”
I slowly bowed my head.
Because I had practiced expected questions together with Aidan, I felt confident, but strangely it was quiet. It was far too quiet. Far from questions, as if not even applause nor the sound of breathing could be heard, the stillness continued.
‘…What’s this?’
Did I perhaps make some mistake? Wondering if there was something I omitted from the paper materials, I hastily examined the presentation materials held in my hand, but there was nothing I had left out.
Then could it be that because I am a commoner, they cannot even give applause?
By all means, this was more likely. Because the people here, excluding reporters, were mostly nobles, after all.
I put strength into my hands. With a rustling sound, the materials I was holding crumpled.
Whatever, fine. Still, Dr. Helico will recognize my research results.
It was right at the moment I was about to leave like that.
Clap.
At that moment, the sound of applause was heard from behind.
Clap, clap.
At that, applause was heard from the front as well.
Clap-clap-clap—
The applause spread in an instant. A thunderous roar of cheers echoed. Never in my life having received this many cheers, stunned out of my wits, I looked around here and there, then looked behind me. Behind me was Aidan. Bearing a faint smile, he was clapping his hands longer than anyone.
Abashed, even after coming down from the platform, I couldn’t look straight at Aidan. Of course, Aidan too didn’t seem to mind my side very much.
After that, other people’s presentations and Q&A sessions began as well. Whenever that happened, Aidan was the first to clap for them. Not just for me, but for everyone.
It was only natural, yet the feeling was strange. Still, we are on the same team; shouldn’t he cheer for me?
“Let’s sit for a bit.”
After all presentations concluded, while scores were being aggregated by the judges, it was free time.
“Shall we? Because I too was continuously nervous, my legs…”
Looking around for a place to sit, suddenly people crowded over.
“H-Huh?”
Nobles approaching me was something as unfamiliar and strange as snow falling in summer.
“Miss Cynthia Violeta?”
“By any chance, do you have any intention of selling the patent rights for this electric lamp?”
“I shall buy it at a price far higher than the author!”
“How about registering the patent rights under your name and using our merchant guild for the merchant guild that sells that item!”
Surrounded by nobles stating their own names and family names here and there, the one who rescued a troubled me was, in a way naturally, Aidan.
“I am sorry, but the patent rights for that electric lamp are already under contract with us.”
“What did you say? Where does a young brat like you butt in when adults are talking?”
The potbellied man in front of my face shouted while spitting saliva.
“Wait, isn’t that Young Lord Winslow?”
Fortunately, the mustache-bearing man next to him seemed to recognize who he was.
“What? Don’t tell me… Th-Then again, looking at that burning red hair down to those vivid green eyes…!”
Having recognized Aidan late, they hesitated and retreated little by little.
“No wonder; I thought it was a splendid study, but it was Young Lord’s idea, was it? As expected, there’s no way a commoner could have come up with such a notion.”
“The future of the Winslow family is bright indeed, having a successor with such a good business proposal.”
“I heard you’ve been busy with Special Audit Department work lately, yet showing even this kind of composure. Remarkable.”
Suddenly, all praise directed at me went to Aidan, but thanks to that, I was able to catch my breath. Should I just slip out of here during this gap?
“What nonsense.”
At that moment, a large hand wrapped around my shoulder, then pulled me right toward his side.
Losing my balance at the sudden force, in an instant I ended up standing pressed close by Aidan’s side.
“From start to finish, it was this kid’s idea. I merely thought that if it succeeded, it would certainly be a runaway hit product, and I knew that if it were Cynthia Violeta, she would succeed unconditionally.”
He looked at me with a gaze softly uncharacteristic of him.
“During my time attending the academy, I never beat this kid even once, you see. So to speak precisely, I am riding on Cynthia Violeta’s back.”
He even corrected the words spoken earlier.
“This electric lamp will bring a new revolution to our society, just like when the telephone first came out.”
“How many can we order?”
“Me too! I want to order too. I’m hosting a banquet soon, and I want to install electric lamps instead of gas lamps at that venue, though?”
“Young Lord, please do business with us too!”
While Aidan spoke of business matters, I was barely able to sit in a seat.
By the way, it’s taking longer than expected. Is there a lot to discuss?
How long had passed since I began waiting anxiously? The moderator we had been waiting for so much revealed his appearance.
“Everyone, you have waited long! Finally, the final results are out.”
Gulp, dry saliva was swallowed down. It felt like I was trembling more than before presenting earlier.
“As you all know, a fountain pen, Dr. Helico’s cherished item, goes out as a special supplementary prize for this academic conference. Therefore, Dr. Helico himself! Will make the announcement.”
Slowly, Dr. Helico revealed his appearance atop the platform. Atop his wrinkled hands, a small wooden box was held.
Although it was a crude box without any patterns, the wood itself seemed to be top-grade, as a slick luster flowed over it.
“The winner of the Paper Award for the 50th Comprehensive Academic Conference is…”
Slowly, his voice flowed out, and the noisy venue grew quiet in an instant.
“Miss Cynthia Violeta, who invented the electric lamp.”
My heart pounded like mad.
“Yes, congratulations. As you all know, to the academic conference winner…”
At my side, the moderator was explaining about the prize money and benefits to be granted to me in the future, but none of it was heard by my ears.
I simply stared at the wooden box held by Dr. Helico.
“Congratulations. It was a truly splendid paper.”
“T-Thank you!”
The doctor handed over the box with a smile.
“I am looking forward to what kind of research you will continue in the future. I hope this gift I give accompanies that path of learning.”
Knowing it was impolite, I opened the box right away. The fountain pen barrel made of oak was cracked just as explained by the Crown Prince back then.
And at the starting point of that crack, a single blue mineral was embedded.
“This is, precisely…”
Placing it on the floor and turning it this way and that, through the naked eye it was completely indistinguishable from an ordinary gem. Even when shining light on it, even when tapping it with a fingernail, there was nothing special.
As expected, it can never be determined by outward appearance alone.
Fiddling with the fountain pen this way and that here for no reason would merely be impolite to the doctor. Swallowing my disappointment, I carefully closed the box again.
“How is it, Cynthia?”
Aidan, who had approached my side before I realized it, asked in a low voice.
I answered small enough to be heard only by his ears so that others couldn’t hear.
“Looking at it like this, I can’t be certain.”
Aidan’s green pupils narrowed.
“Then we just have to verify it, then.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go quickly.”
Leaving people’s congratulatory greetings behind, we hurried our steps.
