I Want to Be an Engineer and Impossible Bet
2384 Words
As she said that, Catarina continued speaking.
“I’ve thought about a lot of things lately. I am a silly little girl, and the thought of me becoming an empress, the mother of the empire...I’ve thought about it countless times and my conclusion is that I have no “Right” to become an empress. Of course, it would be a great honor for me. It would bring me both honor and happiness but…! The partner of the prince will be the future first lady of the empire. If someone as unfit as I become empress, it will bring humiliation and insult to our great empire’s reputation and pride.” Catarina paused for a second and continued. “If I become engaged to the prince, and later become empress, I fear that I will not be able to carry out my duties and will cause the fall of the empire.”
‘Becoming an engineer who loves to craft things is just right for someone like me.’ She thought to herself.
“The girl has asked for something she should not have wanted. Please punish me as you see fit. I became greedy and wanted a crown that I have no right to bear. And as such, I have tarnished the throne and your great generosity. I am ready to accept any punishment.”
As she finished her words, the atmosphere turned heavy and silent. This is what she’s afraid of. This is over, the Emperor will be mad at her. But that’s okay since she’ll be able to save her family.
A soft voice breaks through the silence.
“Lady Catarina, you may lift your head.”
Catarina obeyed the Emperor's orders. Her eyes widened, instead of an angry and disappointed look, it was a calm and happy one, brimming with a radiant smile.
“Your words are not completely wrong. I did once worry about whether you would be able to carry out your duties as my son’s partner.”
There was no anger. Rather, he had a satisfied expression. Catarina bowed her head again.
“That’s completely reasonable. I am so very lacking to be the Crown Princess.”
She was relieved the Emperor agreed with her, but the Emperor wasn’t actually agreeing with her.
“But I don’t think I need to worry about that anymore after today.”
“…Hm?”
“Seeing your appearance now, I think you’ll do an outstanding job in the Crown Princess position.”
“….!!”
Catarina’s face darkened. Something wasn’t right.
“Th-That’s not true. I’m still nothing close to being the prince’s bride. I am selfish and bad-tempered…!”
Catarina’s face darkened. Something wasn’t right.
“N, No. I really am not fitting of the position. I only know myself, and my personality is…!”
She spoke of all her weaknesses that she could speak of. But the Emperor cut her off.
“Enough. I understand what you’re trying to say.”
“Your Majesty….”
And he continued to speak in a greatly satisfied voice.
“I was awed by you multiple times today. It must have been difficult to put down your desire after introspection. I’m proud of you, and even prouder!”
“….”
“How old are you this year?”
“….16 years old.”
The Emperor turned his gaze to the garden. There were roses in various colors.
“16. A beautiful young age. Just like this flower.”
Of those, he looked at a budding rose. The bud had a vibrant red color, and it was clear it would be a beautiful flower after it fully bloomed.
“I understand your concerns. The responsibility of being the Crown Princess must be scary. But who doesn’t have any flaws? The most important thing is how one overcomes them. If you always have the same mindset I’m seeing today, you’ll be an amazing Crown Princess and future Emperor.”
“…!!”
No! That’s not it! She felt like she was going to explode from frustration.
Like he was blinded to her flaws, he was looking at her with endless affection.
‘What should I do? I must cancel the engagement today.’
If she quit today, she didn’t know when she would meet the Emperor again. After the engagement was announced, there was nothing she could do.
‘What should I say? Should I say I don’t like the Crown Prince anymore?’
She bit her lip. She frantically thought of ways to escape this situation.
And a method popped up!
“Your Majesty. There’s another reason why I want to cancel this engagement.”
“What is it?”
She paused for a moment. She was worried about his reaction, but she just spits it out.
“Actually…there’s something I want to do.”
She paused for a moment. She was worried about his reaction, but she just spits it out.
“Actually…there’s something I want to do.”
“What is it?”
“I want to be an engineer.”
…
Another silence descended upon the garden. She had lost count of how many times the garden went silent today. However, if it was because of shock earlier, now, it was because of disbelief.
“….Catarina, an engineer?”
Her father fumbled over his words. He thought it was a joke, but Catarina simply nodded her head.
“Yes, father, I want to be an engineer.”
“What is this sudden nonsense…”
The Marquis’s head started to ache at her sudden decision. He thought she was being well-behaved these days, but to cause this incident in front of the Emperor!
“Catarina, is that true? You want to be an engineer?”
“Yes, I really do.”
“Even if I like you, I can’t forgive you if you lie.”
The Emperor looked directly at her. It was a gaze that pierced you and read all your thoughts. Catarina accepted his gaze unwaveringly.
‘It’s something that I bought up, but I really want to live the life of an engineer.’
She thought of her life on Earth, the cold pen, messy blueprints, the 90% feasibility rate of her product in a computer simulation, and the happiness of bringing your imagination to life.
She wanted to feel that feeling again.
“Huh. Huh. An engineer huh?”
Seeing that she was being honest, the Emperor chuckled and looked to his prime minister.
“Marquis, did you know she had these dreams?”
“….I wasn’t aware at all.”
“An engineer. Yes, that’s nice. It’s a meaningful job, but do you know exactly what it entails?”
“Yes, I am aware.”
Catarina nodded her head.
Would there be anyone in the empire who knew better than her what being an engineer meant?
“It’s a much harder and arduous job than what you think.”
“Yes, I am aware. But…I think it’s that much more meaningful.”
The Emperor sighed.
“It seems you’re not joking. But this is surprising since you also knew about medicine as well…”
Catarina let out a forced smile as the Emperor thought of the medical knowledge she had shown earlier.
“Do you think a Lady of the Marquis can become an engineer?”
“I apologize….but I was under the impression that there wasn’t a law that stated women can’t be an engineer. And there has been a case when a woman of the Raone Viscount family became an engineer.”
“That’s true. But let me ask you this. Do you think you can be an engineer?”
“…!”
Catarina realized what the Emperor meant. Being an engineer was one of the greatest professions in the Empire, amongst chemists, doctors, lawyers, and administrators. So, to be an engineer meant that you had to put more effort than was necessary on Earth. Less than 200 years ago, the Empire was a mess, there was no indoor plumbing, sewage systems, and sanitation that caused a lot of deaths. That was the time where a critical thinker like an engineer comes. It’s been advancing ever since and the Empire supported the engineering profession as well. So a lot of nobles became engineers, and you had to be at least in a bourgeoisie class to be a engineer
‘He’s asking if I can beat all that competition and be a real engineer.’
The Emperor repeated his question.
“To be acknowledged as an engineer in this empire, you need to pass the test. Even if you’re an upper noble, you can’t receive any exceptions.”
He was asking if Catarina would be able to do it. A mere young noble lady.
But Catarina firmly nodded her head.
“Yes, I can do it.”
“…..!”
The Emperor wordlessly tapped the table with his finger. It was his habit when he was thinking hard about something.
“This is tough. I really wanted to accept you like the Crown Princess. But you suddenly want to be a engineer. And you don’t seem to be joking….”
Catarina couldn’t say anything and just hung her head.
“Why did you suddenly want to become an engineer?”
She thought of her past on Earth. The reason why she wanted to be an engineer was simple.
“I want to build things!”
After her first life, she wanted to have a meaningful life, and that resulted in her choosing this profession. And after she became an engineer, she became addicted to it.
“Huh huh, build things.”
The Emperor had a speechless face.
“…I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty.”
“What do you mean, apologize. It’s a noble job. Huh huh.”
The Emperor continued to laugh in disbelief. If it was another lady of another noble family, it would’ve looked on proudly. But…this is Lady Catarina, who was thinking of marrying the Crown Prince. Eventually, the Emperor spoke.
“Lady.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You know that you have to follow my orders if I command you to marry the Crown Prince, right?”
“….Yes, Your Majesty.”
“But I don’t want to force you to do anything. Do you know why?”
“…….”
Catarina knew why, but she couldn’t say it.
“It’s because I truly think of you as my niece. Because I sincerely treasure you, I wanted to accept you as my family, and also, I don’t want to force you into anything.”
“….!”
At his warm voice, Catarina felt choked up with gratitude. He was like this in her past life, too. He always looked at her with affection despite her flaws. Like he was treating his niece, no…his daughter.
“So let’s do this.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s make a bet.”
A bet?
“It might be a bit unfair to you.”
At Catarina’s strange expression, the Emperor smiled. And he said completely unexpected words. It wasn’t just ‘a a bit’ unfair.
“I’ll give you some time to prove your usefulness as an engineer. To be precise, if you show that your worth as an engineer exceeds your worthiness as Emperor, I’ll let you go.”
“….!!”
Catarina looked at the Emperor in surprise. The Emperor had a mischievous face.
“But if you can’t, we’re gonna do what I want. How’s that?”
“Is there a time limit?”
“When you reach adulthood. I can’t wait longer than that, considering the law.”
She understood what the Emperor was trying to do. She only had about 6 months until her adult ceremony.
‘Show my worth as an engineer in 6 months.’
It was impossible. The bet was impossible.
‘He’s hoping I give up and become the Crown Princess.’
To be honest, his offer wasn’t a bet, but to organize her thoughts and to return with the mind to become a princess.
Also, he spoke about her ‘worth as an engineer.’ Not her potential. It was an expression of many different meanings, but didn’t she have to become an engineer first? Becoming an engineer in 6 months. Under normal conditions, she would’ve lost without a chance. It was a completely unfair bet. She could feel the Emperor’s strong will to make her Crown Princess.
“It’s too much, right?”
However, It was only unfair under normal conditions. Catarina steadily replied.
“I may be lacking, but I will do my best. Thank you for your generosity.”
“…?!”
At her immediate response, the Emperor widened his eyes. He thought Catarina had just agreed because she didn’t know about the process of becoming an engineer. There was only one way to become an engineer of the empire. They needed to work as an apprentice in the Ministry of Engineering and Development, and after they were acknowledged by the professors, they could take the nationally administered test. There wasn’t an easy part about it.
Would a sheltered lady be able to endure this job?
‘It’s hard for even a man to endure it. She’ll soon give up.’
He looked at Catarina’s doll-like face. A face that looked like it hadn’t touched tools, no, not even a bar of metal in her entire lifetime. There was no way she would endure it. He had set a time limit of 6 months, but he probably didn’t even need to wait that long.
‘But wanting to build things, I agree that engineers performed many miracles. It was a precious thought.’
He wasn’t disappointed in Catarina. Rather, he was extremely proud of her. The lady of the empire needed to have that mindset.
‘If it wasn’t for the marriage with the Crown Prince, I would’ve cheered her on.’
The Emperor had already decided on her as the Crown Princess. He decided to wait for her to organize her thoughts and give up on being an engineer.
‘It’s not something a sheltered noble lady can do easily anyway.’
And so the bet between Catarina and the Emperor was made. To anyone who knew about it, it seemed to be obvious that Catarina would lose. It seemed.
- Writer
