?


    Three hourster, the night descended on the city of Paris, nketing it with darkness. Streetmps flickered to life, casting a soft glow on the cobblestone streets below. The bustling sounds of the depot had given way to quiet stillness, interrupted only by the distant hooting of an owl or the asional tter of a passing carriage.


    Napoleon returned to Ci who was at the office, speaking with Henri and other high-ranking officials.


    "Honey, are you done? We should get going now."


    "Oh right," Ci replied, closing the conversation with Henri and turning her attention back to Napoleon. "I was just discussing some logistical matters with Henri and the others. It seems everything is in order for our continuous supply of coal and equipment. So, are you going to show me what Etienne made for you?"


    "In the carriage," Napoleon replied.


    "I see," Ci smiled, turning again to Henri. "I''m afraid that we have to leave now."


    "Safe travels, Madame Bonaparte, and to you as well, General Bonaparte," Henri replied with a respectful nod.


    Napoleon and Ci bid farewell and exited the office and made their way to the awaiting carriage. He opened the door for Ci, and she gracefully stepped inside. He followed suit and settled beside her.


    Closing the door, he knocked on the ceiling with his hand, signaling the coachman to proceed. The carriage jolted forward, and they began their journey back to Chantilly.


    Inside, Napoleon finally revealed to Ci the revolver, and her eyes widened.


    "Is that a revolver?"


    "Oh my, it seems that I came up with the same word as the ones from your history," Napoleon chuckled. "Yeah, I call it the revolver because you know, it revolves as you pull the trigger.


    "You designed it?" Ci looked up to Napoleon with a mixture of surprise and admiration.


    "Yes, my dear," Napoleon replied, his voice filled with pride. "I took inspiration from the repeating bolt-action rifle that we made.  I saw the potential in creating a handheld firearm that could deliver multiple shots without the need for constant reloading like the ones we soldiers do in the musket pistol."


    "You truly are a prodigy, Napoleon. To think that with just a small detail I shared with you, you were able to design a functioning and working prototype..." Ci eximed softly.


    "What can I say, I''m a man of science. And ever since I saw a glimpse of the future from your stories, I feel unstoppable, like I can introduce more devices, like the electric motor or the most ambitious one, the blimps. Speaking of which, I also remembered you mentioning lights powered by electricity. Is it a light bulb?" Napoleon asked.


    "It is, but just as I told you before, you would need to build a device that can generate electricity," Ci said and continued. "Before we proceed, do you know how electricity is generated?"


    Napoleon hummed aloud, deep in thought, as he retraced the knowledge Ci had shared with him. "If I recall correctly," he began, "electricity can be generated through the principle of electromaic induction. When a conductor, such as a wire, moves through a maic field or when there is a change in the maic field passing through a conductor, it induces an electric current."


    "That''s right," Ci confirmed, nodding her head. "We need a device that can create a maic field and a conductor to move within it. That conductor, in turn, will produce the electric current. One way to create a maic field is by using a spinning ma. When a coil of wire is ced near the ma, the changing maic field induces an electric current in the wire. To spin the ma…well since you already made a steam engine we can harness its capabilities to drive a rotating mechanism that will create the necessary maic field."


    "I think I just came up with a design," Napoleon said. "I''ll draw it up once we return home. So we have to build an electric generator first and then we can proceed with the electric motors and light bulbs, is that what you are saying?"


    "Exactly. If you manage to somehow build it, I will not be surprised anymore," Ci said, giggling. <novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Surely I will face some obstacles in the design phase but I''m sure that I''ll be able to get around it," Napoleon smiled.


    ***


    Momentster, they arrived at Chateau de Chantilly. Beaumont weed and escorted them to the dining room, where avish spread awaited them. The long day of discussions and nning had left Napoleon and Ci with hearty appetites, and they eagerly sat down to savor the delicious meal prepared by the Chateau''s skilled chefs.


    "How are our children, Beaumont?" Napoleon asked as he sipped his wine.


    Beaumont, with a warm smile, responded. "They are still sleeping up to this hour, General."


    "Oh my, really?" Ci interjected, a radiant smile spreading across her face.


    "Yes, Madame Bonaparte. Though I am afraid that they might wake up anytime soon," Beaumont continued. "They have been known to be early risers, especially when they sense their parents'' return."


    And just as Beaumont said that they heard a crying from the nursery upstairs. Ci''s smile widened, and she nced at Napoleon.


    "Our little ones have awakened."


    "I''ll finish this up quickly," Napoleon said.


    "If I may, General and Madame Bonaparte," Beaumont interjected. "Please, allow us to take care of the children while you enjoy your dinner. It would be our pleasure."


    Napoleon and Ci exchanged grateful nces, appreciative of Beaumont''s offer. They knew their children would be in good hands with the attentive staff at Chateau de Chantilly.


    "Well, if you can calm them down, I don''t see the reason why not," Napoleon said with a chuckle.


    With that, Beaumont signaled the staff to take care of the crying children. Napoleon and Ci continued their dinner, grateful for the moment of respite.


    After their dinner, they visited the nursery to find their twin children, Francis and Aveline.


    Napoleon scooped up Francis while Ci cradled Aveline in her arms. The children giggled and cooed, their innocentughter filling the air. They stayed there for hours, waiting for them to return to sleep.


    As the night wore on, the children gradually grew drowsy in their parents'' arms. Napoleon carefully ced Francis back in his crib, while Ci gentlyid Aveline down in hers. They tucked them in with soft nkets and kissed their foreheads, whispering sweet lubies to ease them back into slumber. The room was bathed in the soft glow of a nightlight, casting a warm andforting ambiance.


    With the children settled, Napoleon and Ci quietly tiptoed out of the nursery, closing the door behind them.  They exchanged a tender nce.


    "Now that they are asleep, why don''t we enjoy some private time together?" Ci suggested with a mischievous smile.


    "I guess we can do that," Napoleon replied, a yful glimmer in his eyes.