Reborn as a Hated Noble Family, We Start an Industrial Revolution

​The northern sea breeze blew, biting to the bone, carrying the dense scent of salt mixed with the sting of ozone and molten metal.

​At the Northveil Shipyard, there was no time to relax this morning.

​CLANG! BOOM! The resounding thuds of giant steel hammers and the screeching of mechanical cranes echoed, piercing the signature gray sky of Northreach.

​At the center of the massive shipyard, the skeleton of a revolutionary warship had begun to rise. The black steel frame was firmly planted, resembling the ribs of a colossal sea monster. Blinding blue sparks from mana-welding torches flared constantly, fusing the thick hull plates together.

​Duke Hektor stood tall at the edge of the dock. His white mustache fluttered softly in the wind.

​”The foundation’s progress is ahead of the initial schedule,” Hektor reported proudly. ”Almost seventy percent of the materials from the local mines have arrived and are being executed by the engineers immediately.”

​Right beside him, Rianor Sudrath stared straight down at the giant steel skeleton below.

​The genius man wore nothing but a simple gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His right hand rested casually in his trouser pocket. Meanwhile, his left arm was tightly encased in the Arcanotech Bracer.

​Whirrr... clack. Every time the wind struck, the micro-circuits on the prosthetic arm pulsed with a dim blue glow. Rianor had taken a lightning-fast trip via the Lightning Rail from Iron Hearth at the crack of dawn purely for a visual inspection.

​”The remaining crucial materials are still tied up in negotiations with the Emerald Union,” Rianor adjusted his glasses with his right index finger. ”How much time do you need until this monster is ready to touch the water, Hektor?”

​”Two months,” Hektor answered firmly. ”Could be faster if the shipments from Meridoss don’t miss their mark.”

​Rianor gave a slow nod. His brain automatically calculated the timeline.

​Hektor shifted his gaze to Rianor’s side profile. The Duke cleared his throat softly.

​”Hmm, I heard the results of the council meeting yesterday,” Hektor murmured, his voice dropping low. ”Rumina... I heard our princess treasurer personally volunteered herself as a hostage in the Iron Empire.”

​Hearing his sister’s name, there was no drastic change on Rianor’s face. He didn’t look down, nor did he turn away. However...

​Grind. The vein in the architect’s jaw tightened rigidly. A rare physical response of a Rianor desperately suppressing an explosion of emotion inside his head.

​”You have an incredibly brave younger sister, Rianor,” Hektor continued genuinely. ”That girl’s nerve vastly surpasses most of my military officers on the front lines.”

​Rianor kept his gaze fixed on the ship’s hull, which was showered in mana-welding sparks. His gray eyes stared sharply.

​”I know,” Rianor answered quietly.

​Two words laden with profound pride, yet carrying the heavy burden lodged in an older brother’s chest.

​That afternoon, beneath the ceilings of the Iron Hearth Castle.

​In stark contrast to the roar of shipyard machinery, the Royal Treasurer’s Office was filled solely with the aggressive sound of scratching paper.

​Rustle, rustle, rustle! The air felt stuffy with the scent of old parchment and ink. Mountains of leather folders and financial ledgers piled up high, nearly swallowing the entire surface of the massive desk.

​Behind that fortress of paper, Rumina Sudrath sat with a perfectly straight back.

​Her black hair was tied in a practical bun. She wore nothing but a plain gray business dress without a single speck of jewelry. Her eyes glared sharply from behind her square-framed glasses, tracking the rows of numbers as if they were enemies of the state.

​”Bring all these import clause attachments,” Rumina ordered rapidly, handing over a thick bundle of documents.

​Silas—the middle-aged man who had served as her assistant for five years—accepted the documents with both hands.

​”That Madam Vernazza from the Emerald Union is a loan shark masquerading as a socialite,” Rumina warned. Her fingers tapped the desk in a rapid rhythm. Tap-tap-tap. ”The second she realizes I won’t be physically present for the negotiations, she’ll definitely look for a loophole to raise the price margin by fifteen percent. Do not let that leech succeed, Silas. Squeeze the price down!”

​”U-Understood, Lady Rumina,” Silas clutched his clipboard to his chest.

​Yet, Silas made no move to leave. The old man stood paralyzed. Deep lines of worry were clearly etched across his wrinkled face.

​Rumina stopped writing. She let out a sigh. Hah... ”What is it now, Silas? Our schedule is incredibly tight.”

​”Well, My Lady...” Silas swallowed hard, his voice trembling. ”...are you truly certain about this decision? About... handing yourself over as a political hostage?”

​The motion of Rumina’s hand reaching for her pen halted in mid-air.

​The stubborn woman looked down.

​”Certainty has absolutely nothing to do with this urgency, Silas,” Rumina answered quietly, her eyes fixed on the ink bottle. ”I don’t need to feel certain. I just need to... do it.”

​Silas bowed his head deeply. ”This office... and this kingdom... will surely miss your presence terribly, My Lady.”

​Rumina was stunned. The fortress of ice surrounding her heart showed a tiny fracture. She looked up, gazing at Silas with a vastly softer expression.

​”You are the person who understands the inner workings of my brain and this office far better than my own family,” Rumina stated calmly. ”So, I hope you understand one vital fact. I would never willingly hand this duty over to you if I didn’t trust you one hundred percent.”

​Silas looked up. His eyes instantly pooled with tears. He bowed very, very deeply. ”I-I will not let you down, My Lady!”

​Rumina cleared her throat softly, hurriedly pulling a new stack of reports closer to mask her awkwardness. ”Good. Hurry out and get those stamped. Don’t waste seconds crying.”

​”Yes, My Lady!” Silas rushed toward the door.

​However, right before the door clicked shut, the old assistant managed to steal one final glance. From a distance, Silas could clearly see... the corners of the Head Treasurer’s lips—usually as cold as a calculator—were now pulled up into a genuinely sweet smile.

​RIIIIING!!

​The long bell marking the end of school hours buzzed loudly, vibrating the glass windows of the Seruni Academy that afternoon.

​Hundreds of students immediately poured out. The kids from the Basic class ran wildly, while the Advanced class strolled calmly down the stone pathways. The evening breeze blew coolly, carrying the fragrant scent of Snow Seruni flowers blooming along the fences.

​Near the massive, wolf-carved teakwood gates, a man stood leaning his shoulder against a stone pillar.

​Rianor. The man had returned from Northveil and changed into a casual shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His Bracer hummed constantly. Whirrr... This afternoon, his eyes were purely focused on waiting patiently.

​Naturally, his presence became the subject of intense whispers. The mad genius, the founder of the academy, the war hero, and... the Headmistress’s husband. Not a single student dared to greet him; they merely stole respectful, awe-struck glances.

​Until finally, a student in an Advanced uniform walked out the gates.

​”Huh? Brother Rianor?” Raphael stopped in his tracks. His eyebrows shot up.

​The youngest prince scanned his older brother from head to toe. ”It’s awfully rare to see you hanging around the school gates in the afternoon?”

​”Picking up Elara,” Rianor answered flatly, not even bothering to stand up straight.

​A mischievous grin instantly bloomed across Raphael’s face. His obnoxious teenage instincts kicked in.

​”Well, well, well! How incredibly romantic, Mr. Sudrath!” Raphael teased, clapping his hands slowly in dramatic fashion. ”It’s rare to see you willingly sunbathe at the school gates like a lovesick teenager.”

​”My schedule has cleared up,” Rianor excused himself.

​”Really? But you never bothered to pick up your own wife before, did you?”

​Rianor didn’t fire back at the teasing. The older brother merely shot him a fleeting glance, the corner of his lips twitching slightly to hold back a smile.

​At that exact moment, a modified wheelchair emerged from the main corridor.

​Elara sat wrapped in her pale blue gown, a wool blanket draped over her lap. Her bright red hair fell cascading over her shoulders. Madam Sera—the history teacher—was pushing the chair carefully.

​The moment Elara’s gaze collided with the figure leaning against the stone pillar... her purple eyes widened.

​”R-Rianor?!” Elara squeaked loudly.

​A blush exploded brutally, scorching her cheeks all the way to her ears. ”W-Why are you hanging around here?!”

​”Picking you up,” Rianor answered flatly. Stepping casually toward her.

​”B-But... this is in front of the main gates! Right in front of my students!” Elara stammered in a panic, hurriedly covering her face—which was as red as a boiled crab—with both her palms. ”Oh, by the Goddess, my dignity as Headmistress is completely finished...”

​Seeing the interaction, Madam Sera laughed understandingly. She handed the push handles over to Rianor. ”I leave the guardianship of our Headmistress in your far more capable hands, Lord Rianor.”

​”WOOOOO!!”

​Raphael’s high-pitched shout shattered the atmosphere. The youngest prince whistled obnoxiously. ”Brother Rianor is picking up his wife! Man, I’m so jealous!”

​A few students still lingering around the gates couldn’t help but stifle their amused giggles. Elara shrank further into her seat, groaning in embarrassment from behind her palms.

​”Tch, stop bothering me and focus on finishing your report card, Raphael,” Rianor rolled his eyes. He took control of the wheelchair and began pushing Elara away.

​”Hahaha! I’m just setting a good example, Brother!” Raphael yelled back in satisfaction, waving his hand.

​Rianor continued pushing the chair down the shady stone path. Elara was still busy peeking through her fingers, hiding her burning face.

​Hah... ”I bet I won’t be able to look my students in the eye tomorrow morning,” Elara lamented weakly. ”This gossip will definitely be the headline tomorrow.”

​”The human brain is wired to forget information in the short term. They will forget it soon enough,” Rianor responded, using pure logic.

​”They won’t forget it, Rianor! This is high school! Romance gossip spreads a thousand times faster than fire on dry grass!”

​Instead of returning to the castle, Rianor pushed Elara’s wheelchair on a detour that afternoon, heading toward the Iron Hearth City Park.

​The sun sank, transforming the sky’s canvas into a golden-orange hue. Click... click... The mana-lamps automatically flared to life along the stone pathways, casting a warm yellow glow. The grand fountain in the center of the park reflected the twinkling lights like a shower of diamonds.

​The park wasn’t too crowded. Only civilians leisurely unwinding after a day of work.

​Once the panic at the gates subsided, Elara began to relax. She rested her head back, enjoying the cool breeze brushing against her face.

​”I... still feel like this is a dream,” Elara whispered, staring blankly at the path ahead. ”I mean... my pregnancy.”

​Rianor paused his steps for a moment. ”I feel the same way.”

​”Are you feeling scared, Rianor?”

​”A little,” Rianor confessed honestly without hesitation.

​”That’s good, because I’m scared too,” Elara chuckled melodically. ”But to be honest... my enthusiasm and happiness are vastly greater than that fear.”

​Rianor resumed pushing the chair. ”What makes you so enthusiastic?”

​”Because I’m curious,” Elara looked up, gazing upside down at her husband’s face from her position. ”I wonder what our child will grow up to be like? Inheriting their father’s rigid brain? Or stubborn and emotional like their mother?”

​The corner of Rianor’s lips lifted into an amused smile. ”If they inherit both of those terrible traits simultaneously... I believe we will be facing a mini apocalypse inside our house, El.”

​Elara let out a crisp laugh, blending with the trickle of the fountain in the distance.

​”I recently read an ancient legend book from the East,” Elara said once her laughter subsided. ”There was a hero’s name that I found beautiful. Rael... it means ’light that brings hope’.”

​Rianor’s footsteps slowed. He let the name settle on his tongue. ”Rael,” he murmured, spelling it out slowly. ”Rael Sudrath.”

​The man nodded slightly. He liked it.

​”But please remind me to never leak this naming plan in front of Roland,” Rianor added quickly. ”That damn diplomat will definitely use the ’light of hope’ element to mock me for the rest of my life.”

​”Hahaha! Too late, my husband,” Elara smirked mischievously. ”Even without Roland, I already have a thousand rounds of ammunition to tease you with myself later.”

​Amidst the laughter, Rianor’s footsteps abruptly halted.

​From the opposite direction, two familiar figures emerged. Adul and Eva.

​The young man looked fresh in a short-sleeved casual shirt. The bruise on his jaw had faded to a yellowish hue, and his electric Aura wasn’t flaring at all.

​Beside him, Eva walked side-by-side wearing a simple casual dress, her brown hair tied back.

​Adul was pointing enthusiastically toward the pine trees, and Eva was walking along, listening intently.

​However, the moment Adul caught sight of the mechanical-armed man pushing a wheelchair not far from him, the youth instantly jolted in shock.

​”L-L-Lord Rianor!! Madam Headmistress!!” Adul squeaked. He hurriedly bowed at a stiff 90-degree angle.

​Eva, standing beside him, froze awkwardly.

​Rianor stopped the wheelchair right in front of them. ”Relax, Adul. Eva.”

​Elara carved a warm smile, looking intently at the brunette girl. This was the first time they were meeting face-to-face.

​”So, you must be Eva,” Elara greeted softly. ”My husband has told me so much about you. Thank you so much, for being willing to protect and watch over him during those difficult times in Luminara.”

​Eva’s eyes widened slightly. A soft pink blush immediately ambushed her cheeks.

​The girl averted her gaze toward the grass. Hah... ”No need to thank me. That stone-faced guy is actually incredibly stubborn, he doesn’t need protecting.”

​”But the fact remains that you protected him anyway, didn’t you?” Elara teased gently.

​Eva crossed her arms, acting defensive to mask her embarrassment. ”Tch, that’s just because he sometimes acts like an idiot who doesn’t know when to back down.”

​Rianor didn’t object to the ’idiot’ label in the slightest, which only made Elara giggle even more.

​At the same time, Adul—who had been quiet this whole time—was too busy staring at Eva with a look of undisguised awe. Realizing she was being stared at so intensely, Eva immediately glared at him.

​”Tch, what are you looking at, huh?!” she snapped fiercely.

​Adul stammered, scratching the back of his head. ”I-I-I was just... umm, you look really different today, Eva.”

​Eva’s eyebrows knitted in suspicion. ”Different how?”

​”I don’t know for sure...” Adul smiled innocently and genuinely. ”It’s just... you look vastly... more beautiful today in those clothes.”

​Hearing that unfiltered, point-blank compliment, Eva’s body instantly froze as if drenched in ice magic. Her face now truly exploded as red as a tomato. She turned her head away roughly toward the fountain.

​”...You absolute idiot boy,” Eva cursed softly, her voice trembling slightly.

​Watching the adorable interaction, Rianor nodded in farewell. ”We will continue our walk. Enjoy your evening.”

​Adul and Eva hurriedly moved aside, continuing their walk away at a slightly accelerated pace out of pure fluster.

​Elara turned her body, watching the backs of the two youths until they were swallowed by the crowd.

​”That girl... Eva,” Elara murmured. ”From the look in her eyes, I can tell she is an extraordinary fighter. But... she also looked incredibly lonely, Rianor.”

​”In the past, maybe. But now she has Adul to serve as her anchor,” Rianor answered as he resumed pushing the chair.

​”And I think... Adul is also lucky to have her,” Elara’s smile widened.

​They arrived at the edge of the central main fountain of the park.

​The mana-lamps at the base of the pool were fully lit, refracting orange and blue light with every ripple of the water. Twilight had been completely usurped by the night.

​The two of them didn’t speak much anymore. The harmony of the trickling fountain filled an extraordinarily comfortable silence.

​Elara slowly raised her hand. Her soft fingers reached up to trace Rianor’s hand, which was gripping the push handles of the chair tightly.

​”Rael,” Elara whispered into the night air, as if greeting the soul still slumbering in her womb.

​”Rael,” Rianor repeated, absorbing the name.

​Elara looked up, her eyes reflecting the shimmer of the water. ”Rianor... if one day our child is born and can see... do you promise to bring them for a walk here?”

​Rianor released his grip on the handles. He stepped to the side, standing beside his wife to gaze at the majestic architecture of Iron Hearth.

​”I won’t just bring them to this fountain, El,” Rianor stated firmly. ”I will walk them through this park. Take them around this city. Show them every inch of the streets, buildings, rails, and steam engines I have ever built with my own two hands.”

​Elara gently rubbed her stomach, resting her head against the side of Rianor’s waist as he stood tall beside her.

​”They will definitely feel incredibly proud to have a father like you,” Elara praised, deeply moved.

​”I... I feel like I haven’t done anything great enough to be proud of yet, El.”

​”You are wrong,” Elara took Rianor’s palm and kissed the back of his hand. ”To us... you have already done everything.”

​The night slowly descended, blanketing the sky of Iron Hearth.

​The stars emerged one by one. At the edge of the fountain that continuously radiated life, Rianor and Elara remained still. Savoring the moment, absorbing the love, and preparing to face the storm of a new destiny waiting on tomorrow’s horizon.