"Your Majesty, your deeds are legendary!"
"Everything you have created is praised and lauded, whether in the Southern Empire or the Northern Barbarian Territories!"
"Your prestige among believers is like the rising sun; in shrines large and small, besides the cross of the Father, your statue is also placed!"
The lavish flattery surrounding him brought Todd no pleasure or satisfaction; instead, it aroused a strange sense of disgust.
Here and now, deep in his soul, he felt a longing for the small experimental building behind the church, a place where he yearned for peace and tranquility. Now, the only reason he remained at the banquet was his sense of responsibility as king.
Declining the invitations from the noble ladies to dance, Todd left his seat and, under everyone's gaze, slowly walked towards the farm's garden.
Seeing this, Huggins gestured, and the king's "successor" guards blocked the nobles who wanted to follow while escorting their monarch out.
Viscount Zangner, drinking alone, watched everything unfold in the hall and, seemingly losing interest in staying any longer, led his daughter away from the venue.
The early spring night breeze still carried a hint of chill. The flowers and shrubs in the courtyard had been carefully trimmed, and the air, filled with the scents of plants and the fragrance of earth, was more intoxicating than fine wine.
Todd walked along the corridor for a while, and the beautiful scenery along the way, along with the fading sounds of people, slightly dispelled the gloom in his heart.
A guard approached Huggins and whispered something. The latter frowned, looked ahead, and followed the king a few steps, but ultimately slowed his pace.
Unaware of this, Todd walked deeper into the courtyard and spotted the two women in the distance.
Mary, the former queen of the Silver Ring Kingdom, and her handmaid Cathy.
The king's arrival left the two somewhat bewildered. After regaining their composure, they quickly lifted their skirts and bowed.
Todd waved his hand dismissively, his mind replaying the scene of his first meeting with Mary, where she extorted a pot of "Gospel Flower" from him. He said, "What are you doing here? Aren't you going to the party?"
The half-empty wine cup on the stone table, and the faint tear stains on the woman's face in the moonlight, made Todd instantly realize that he had said something foolish.
Imagine the Silver Ring nobles, who have defected from the kingdom, holding a banquet to curry favor with their new master. As the banished queen, how should she greet them? Should she adopt the airs of a queen and bask in the flattery of her former subjects?
An awkward expression crept onto Todd's face. Seeing the woman shake her head dejectedly, he quickly changed the subject: "Mary, I heard you're currently writing a book, something like... 'The Retrospective Application of the Renaissance'? What exactly is it?"
When talking about her area of expertise, Mary seemed to open up: "Your Majesty, the Renaissance is a concept proposed by a group of scholars who tended to return existing artistic ideas to the ancient Taylor period. My book analyzes the practical applications of art after the Renaissance, such as architecture, painting, and decoration."
"I've also heard that you're looking for sponsors to help publish this book?"
Todd's words made Mary blush. The woman said softly, "Yes, Your Majesty, the cost of publishing a book is more than I imagined."
Queen Mary's past life was one of abundance and wealth. Her current situation touched Todd: "I'm willing to sponsor you. I'm very satisfied with the design and construction of the Musée Cathedral, and the management of the treasury."
Mary shook her head firmly: "Your Majesty, I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your offer. The matters concerning the Cathedral and the Holy Treasury are my duties, and you have paid me a salary accordingly. I cannot use this as leverage to demand funding."
Todd was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and when he looked at the twenty-one-year-old woman in front of him, his eyes revealed three parts appreciation and seven parts approval.
While setting out the fruit platter and pouring the red wine, the maid Cathy nudged Mary with her elbow, but to her disappointment, Mary did not react.
Todd touched the bridge of his nose and thought for a while, then suddenly his eyes lit up: "If you won't accept my funding, then I'd like to make a suggestion."
Mary sat up straight: "Your Majesty, I am all ears."
"I've seen your cathedral design drawings. You have an extremely high level of artistic talent. Why don't you try to apply that talent to products?"
Mary was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, do you mean I should go out and sell my paintings on the street?"
Todd laughed and shook his head, saying, "No, no, what I mean is why you don't start your own brand and design clothes, bags, and shoes?"
"Create your own brand? Design clothes?"
Todd picked up a pear and took a bite: "I've noticed in town that the rich have their own tailors, while the poor mostly sew their own clothes. Both methods are not only time-consuming and laborious, but also expensive. If a textile factory could adopt an assembly line operation, coupled with trendsetting designs, to mass-produce clothes and shoes, it could not only greatly reduce costs, but also guarantee sales."
Mary felt a little dizzy: "A clothing factory? Assembly line? Leading the trend? Your Majesty, setting up a weaving workshop, hiring workers, and purchasing equipment will cost a lot of money; and the new clothes and hats designed will be copied by others in just a few days."
After finishing his pear, Todd wiped his hands with a towel. "The first problem is easy to solve. The venue, personnel, and equipment costs can all be covered by the 'Muxi Mutual Aid Society.' All you need to do is 'invest your technology'—well... I mean, you can use your design expertise to gain a share of the profits. As for the second issue, that is a problem. First, you definitely need to add anti-counterfeiting markings to the products, and second, you need to apply for patents for every design..."
Mary suddenly said, "Patents? I thought only inventions could be patented? Can you apply for a patent for clothing designs too?"
“Of course! Product design is a form of creation.” Todd said, then muttered to himself, “But the fees for design patents can’t be the same as for invention patents. Otherwise, charging 30 bronze stars for a single design would seriously discourage designers.”
Mary fiddled with the hem of her dress, her excitement barely concealed: "Your Majesty, tomorrow! May I come to see you tomorrow?! I've drawn many patterns for clothes in my spare time, and with a few modifications, they can be used directly!"
Todd nodded and said, "I'll be waiting for you at the Knights' headquarters at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Before that, I'll instruct my subordinates to find suitable factories and shops. I'll entrust the purchase of textile machines and other equipment to the Ragrens. Female workers and shop assistants can be hired by posting recruitment notices..."
"His Majesty……"
Huggins's remarks interrupted the King at an inopportune time.
Following the former's gaze, Todd spotted the Silver Ring nobles who were being held back by the guards at the edge of the courtyard, eagerly waiting.
"It seems I've been away from the banquet for too long, and the hosts are starting to complain." Todd stood up with a wry smile and walked back towards the banquet hall.
Huggins followed the king's footsteps, glancing almost imperceptibly back at Mary, who was lost in thought.
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