Side Story 4: A Conversation Between Authors |
It was an ordinary summer evening in the Fidektri Kingdom, sometime after the grand royal wedding. While the ceremony itself had lasted but a single day, the joyful atmosphere it created had lingered for weeks, a welcome reprieve in the wake of the recent cataclysm.
In Cold Spring Palace, after a long day of...
"Have you been busy today?"
Queen Hathaway Hersha asked Jenkins as they walked side by side down the corridor. Jenkins could hear the maids trailing behind them stifle their giggles.
"Busy is a relative term," Jenkins replied. "Didn't I make a special trip back to Nolan today to deliver the subterranean A4 Type Arithmetic Auxiliary External Machine to the Church of Creation and Machinery?"
"But that was before breakfast, wasn't it? Beyond that, all you did today was meet with Professor Burns, who was in Bel Diran on business, and give a speech at the university. Your proposed environmental protection act, the formation of the new cabinet, the steam power reforms, and the first-generation steam-pressure oil wells... Jessica handled all of that."
Hathaway reminded him.
A great deal had happened on their wedding day, but married life hadn't changed the family dynamics much. Aside from Dolores now being a permanent resident, the only real difference was Jessica and her counterparts occasionally complaining about how incredibly troublesome the unification of the Fidektri and Hamparvo kingdoms was.
"Actually, I have been quite busy," Jenkins countered. "The prototype for the hand-cranked generator is finished. It required some supernatural assistance, of course, but as the Nineteenth Epoch draws near, I believe the age of electricity is within our grasp. Yes, that's what I've been working on."
"But from what I hear, it's Alexia who has been doing all the work on that."
"Really?"
"Yes. I heard it from Alexia herself last Sunday night, while we were chatting in bed. Oh, that's right, Your Majesty, you were on the other side of the bed, 'working' over by Briny, so you probably didn't overhear our conversation."
The maids' laughter became more pronounced. His Majesty was known for his easygoing nature and wouldn't mind their amusement.
"Of course," Hathaway added with a sly smile, "it's also possible that Julia, who was behind you, might have accidentally... covered your ears."
Hathaway's teasing barb hit its mark. Jenkins flushed and decided not to pursue the topic.
They weren't heading to the royal bedchambers, however. Jenkins had an appointment with a writer he had long wanted to meet: the author of the Detective Knight Biography. She had arrived in Nolan the previous year as part of a delegation from Cheslan, but unfortunately, Jenkins had been preoccupied with saving the world and hadn't found the time to speak with her privately.
Fortunately, the author hadn't returned to Cheslan, which had since descended into civil war, and had instead taken up temporary residence in Bel Diran. That was why, after attending a performance by the Silver Jasmine Opera Troupe at the Royal Opera House this evening, Jenkins had rushed back to Cold Spring Palace to meet with his invited guest.
Anathasia had wanted to come as well; she was also a great fan of the Detective Knight Biography's story.
But Princess Sophia had invited her a week prior to go moon-gazing at an ancient tower outside Bel Diran this very evening. After carefully weighing her options, the silver-haired girl had regretfully taken her leave of Jenkins.
The maids pushed open the grand doors to the room, and a young, bespectacled woman who had been reading by the fireplace immediately rose to her feet.
"Please, no need for formalities. I've never been comfortable with them."
Jenkins said, casually scooping up Chocolate as the cat leaped in through the window. Instead of climbing onto his shoulder, the cat transformed into a lithe young girl who draped herself over him. Jenkins gently set her aside.
The young author watched this magical display, too taken aback to know quite what to say.
"Please, have a seat. Don't be nervous."
Jenkins said as Hathaway motioned for the servants to bring fresh refreshments. The four of them then settled into chairs around the fireplace. Chocolate was present out of sheer boredom, while Hathaway was there as a chaperone, to prevent any unsavory rumors about "the king's private, late-night meeting with a foreign authoress."
The conversation, however, was truly between Jenkins and the writer from another kingdom.
"I've been a great admirer of the Detective Knight Biography for a very long time."
Jenkins began, expressing his delight. In his hand, he held the first volume of the Detective Knight Biography—a copy he had inherited from his body's previous owner.
Though the girls had planned to toss his old belongings from St. George Street into a remote room in Cold Spring Palace like so much rubbish, Jenkins had managed to rescue the book.
"Your Stranger's Story Collection is remarkable as well," the young woman complimented. "And it's not just your writing. During my time in Bel Diran, I've seen the edicts you've issued. While I don't understand all of them, it's clear you are a person of great kindness and great ambition. It's rare to find both qualities in a single individual."
The young woman praised him.
"You're too kind," Jenkins demurred. "To be honest, most of my ideas come from dreams... or perhaps, from another world. I simply interpret them as best I can and put them to paper."
Jenkins was telling the truth, yet he was also twisting it. His particular brand of honesty earned him a sidelong glance from both Hathaway and Chocolate. He was still the same old Jenkins, through and through.
"Is that so?"
The young author's eyes brightened.
"I thought I was the only one who felt that way! I've always believed that artistic and literary creations are revelations, glimpses into other worlds granted through dreams. The stories and images we create... perhaps they are records of events that truly happened somewhere else.
"Take the story I wrote of Shade Suellen Hamilton, for instance—the gentleman who is both detective and knight. I'm certain he has a real story of his own. Unfortunately, I can only rely on my imagination and a few fragments from my dreams to depict his wonderful tale. I can never truly capture the reality of it."
It was a common sentiment among artists to believe their work was inspired by other worlds, so her description wasn't unusual. Yet, hearing her speak the name of the Detective Knight Biography's protagonist aloud sent a jolt through Jenkins. It reminded him of one of the few friends he'd had in his original world.
Besides Li Qian, Shade had been his friend, too. After Li Qian's mysterious disappearance and his own untimely death, Jenkins suspected Shade was probably the one who had arranged both of their funerals.
"Perhaps..."
An answer flashed through the god's mind, and he broke into a knowing smile.
His conversation with the author lasted for over an hour, and it was a pleasant exchange for both of them. As she was leaving, Jenkins cordially invited her to visit again whenever she had the time, an offer the young woman readily accepted.
After seeing their guest off, Jenkins and Hathaway left the room. Chocolate had reverted to her feline form and was now resting comfortably on Jenkins's shoulder.
Hathaway wasn't the least bit upset that Jenkins had invited the author to return. Though Jenkins had many wives, he was fiercely loyal. In the year since they had moved into Cold Spring Palace, he hadn't made a single advance on any of the young maids, let alone on Anathasia or Princess Sophia, who lived right next door.
Hathaway knew full well what was on the minds of those maids, and the fact that Jenkins was a man of his word was something that still moved her at times.
"So, what's next?"
Jenkins asked, stretching languidly, his mood bright. His life had become increasingly peaceful of late, and it was a lifestyle he thoroughly enjoyed.
"I've prepared a few... new outfits."
Hathaway gave him a sidelong glance, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"I imagine Briny and J-Miss are already..."
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
Jenkins quickly interjected.
"I meant, should we go for a walk? Just the two of us..."
"Meow?"
"Just the two of us and Chocolate," he clarified. "We could pay a visit to Mr. Hood. Or see what kind of experiments Magic Miss is up to. Or we could head out of the city and find Anathasia and Princess Sophia. Hopefully, we won't walk in on anything we shouldn't."
He chuckled.
"Just the two of us? Alright. Just like one of our old adventures."
Hathaway replied, her voice filled with excitement.
"However..."
Jenkins leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Those outfits... when we get back, we can give them a try."
The red-haired queen gave Jenkins a light tap on the arm before nodding shyly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."