Chapter 4 — The Birth of Industry
The rhythmic sound of hammers echoed through the old foundry beneath Windsor's southern courtyard.
Men moved quietly under cover of night, carrying crates, barrels, and rolled blueprints.
Edward Windsor, Crown Prince of Britain, stood at the center of it all — wearing a plain coat and gloves blackened with soot.
[Quest Active: "The Birth of Industry"]
Objective: Establish the first industrial facility.
Progress: 12%
"Keep the furnace fed at a steady pace," Edward ordered. "We can't afford another metal fracture."
"Yes, Your Highness!" the foreman said, bowing quickly before turning back to the smelters.
Charlotte Pembroke stood beside Edward, a notebook in hand. "You realize that if anyone finds out the Crown Prince is running a secret foundry beneath the palace, they'll call it treason."
Edward smirked. "Then let's make sure no one finds out."
Annabelle Hayes arrived moments later, carrying a metal contraption wrapped in cloth.
Her hands were covered in grease again, her brown hair tied back in a hurried braid.
"I made the adjustments you wanted," she said, uncovering the piece to reveal a compact piston assembly. "Smaller, lighter, and more efficient."
Edward took it carefully, eyes gleaming. "Beautiful work."
Annabelle blushed faintly under the soot. "I just followed your sketch… mostly."
Charlotte peeked at the assembly. "So this… thing will weave cloth?"
"Exactly," Edward replied. "Steam pressure drives the shuttle faster than any hand or enchantment could. With this, we can produce fifty bolts a day — maybe a hundred."
Charlotte blinked. "That would ruin every artisan guild in London."
Edward's smile turned sharp. "That's the point."
[System Notification]
Blueprint Completed — Steam-Powered Loom (Tier I)
New Facility Unlocked: Textile Factory (Prototype)
Edward unfolded a large parchment — a layout of the new building, disguised under the name Royal Textile Efficiency Project.
"We'll say it's a modernization effort," he explained. "The King will think it's an experiment to increase national exports. The nobles will think it's for royal uniforms. Only we will know the truth."
Charlotte's brow furrowed. "You plan to industrialize under their noses?"
"Yes," Edward said. "Revolution doesn't start with noise. It starts with quiet progress."
Annabelle looked between them, smiling. "And maybe a little bit of steam."
A Week Later…
On the outskirts of London, hidden behind a cluster of warehouses, the new "Royal Textile Facility" came alive.
Wooden beams supported tall windows. Inside, long rows of mechanical looms gleamed in the candlelight, their brass and iron parts fitted together like clockwork.
Edward stood on the upper walkway, watching as steam hissed from the central boiler.
Charlotte handled the paperwork and trade routes, while Annabelle supervised the engineers.
[Facility Online: Textile Factory (Prototype)]
Production Efficiency: 78%
Output: 42 Bolts per Day
Revenue Stream: +240 Gold/Week (Hidden)
Annabelle tugged Edward's sleeve. "Ready for the test run, Your Highness."
"Let's make history."
She turned a valve. The factory groaned to life.
The looms began to move — slowly at first, then faster, faster — a dozen shuttles clacking and whirring in perfect unison.
Steam hissed, gears spun, threads danced through the air.
It was noisy, alive, unstoppable.
Charlotte covered her mouth in astonishment. "It's… it's beautiful."
Edward smiled, feeling the floor tremble beneath his boots. "That sound — remember it. That's the sound of the future."
[System Alert: Industry Milestone Achieved]
Reward: Blueprint — Steam Locomotion (Tier I)
New Quest: Connect the Empire (Inactive)
Hours later, when the workers were gone, the three of them stood alone in the quiet factory.
Charlotte looked out over the rows of idle looms. "If this expands beyond London, the world will change. The artisans will rebel. The nobles will panic."
Edward nodded. "And when they do, they'll come to me for control. That's when the real revolution begins."
Annabelle leaned against a beam, watching him with admiration. "You sound so certain, Your Highness."
He smiled faintly. "When you've seen a world of machines, certainty becomes easy. It's everything else that's hard."
Charlotte turned to him, her tone softer now. "You carry yourself differently these days. The others still see a prince… but I see something else."
"What do you see?" Edward asked.
She hesitated. "…A man building something bigger than himself."
The air between them grew still — until Annabelle coughed lightly, breaking the moment.
"Forgive me, but we have a problem."
Edward turned. "Problem?"
She pointed toward the far wall. "I found a priest's seal on one of the shipment crates. Someone from the Church of Mana knows we're operating here."
Charlotte's face darkened. "The Church won't like what we're doing."
Edward's eyes gleamed with calm resolve. "Then it's time we prepare for a different kind of battle."
[Quest Completed: "The Birth of Industry"]
Reward: Research Access — Steam Transportation (Tier I)
Next Quest: "Shadows of Power" — Survive Church & Noble Investigation.
That night, as rain fell softly over the city, Edward stood by the window of his study, gazing toward the distant glow of the factory lights.
The gears of progress had begun to turn.
He whispered to himself,
"Let them come.
For every man who prays for divine power, I'll show a hundred who build it with their hands."
The age of faith was ending.
The age of steam had begun.
End of Chapter 4.