Chapter 337 The Course to the Isted Country


    The Imperial Prince and Princess found themselves in private quarters shown to them by Admiral de Richebourg and Captain Waldeck. The room was of utilitarian design, devoid of any gilded embellishments and extravagant decorations they were ustomed to. Bare metal walls painted a neutral hue and functional, yet unornamented furniture made it evident that aesthetics were not a priority in this marine sanctum. It was a stark contrast to the luxurious environments of their imperial upbringing.


    "Your Highnesses, I trust the amodations, though simple, will be to your satisfaction," Admiral de Richebourg said with a deferential bow.


    "We''re not here for luxury, Admiral. This will suit us fine," Francis responded. Daphne nodded in agreement, though her gaze still lingered on the inness of their surroundings.


    "If there is anything that we can do for you, please, don''t hesitate to give us a call using this telephone here," Captain Waldeck said in a respectful tone as he pointed to a sturdy, naval-grade telephone affixed to the wall.


    Francis nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Captain. We''ll be sure to do so. By the way, how many days would it take for us to reach Japanese waters?"


    "Approximately eighteen days, Your Highness, depending on the weather and sea conditions, it could add a day or two." Captain Waldeck answered.


    "I see, that would be all, gentlemen, thank you for your assistance," Francis replied with a nod, signaling the conclusion of the interaction. Both officers bowed, excusing themselves from the room.


    The door clicked shut, and a sudden quietness enveloped the siblings. Daphne''s gaze shifted between the unadorned walls and her brother.


    "Brother, there''s only one bed here," Daphne said.


    "Don''t worry about that, I''ll sleep on the floor," Francis responded, scanning the room for extra bedding materials.


    Daphne protested, "It''s not proper for an Imperial Prince to sleep on the bed, brother."


    "Then would you want to share a bed with your brother?" Francis jested, attempting to lighten the mood, though the formal atmosphere around them made his humor feel out of ce. Daphne, not flustered, gave him a stern yet yful look.


    "Honestly, brother, as long as you don''t do anything weird, I don''t see the issue. We''ve done this before when I was nine years old and we were in Mn.," Daphne reminded him.


    Francis''s brow lifted, slightly amused yet endeared by Daphne''s candor.


    "Alright then," Francis agreed. "But if I wake up to you hogging all the nkets like you used to, we''ll need to revisit this arrangement."


    Daphne chuckled as she walked towards the wall where the telephone was affixed.


    "Where are you going," Francis asked.


    "I''m going to make sure that my personal maids have their own amodation on the ship," Daphne said as she picked up the phone and started dialing the service line.


    Francis nodded and moved to the window, where he stared out at the vast expanse of the ocean.


    "This is going to be a long voyage back home."


    ***


    During the voyage, Francis and Daphne would interact with the crews of the battleships, listening to their stories and their daily life about the sea. They were keen on understanding the lives of those who served under them, a gesture that wasn''t lost on the crew. Respect and a certain level of affection developed naturally over the course of the journey.


    They also toured around the ship, inspecting various sections and understanding the workings of the vessel. The engine room, with its massive turbines and humming machinery, was particrly intriguing to Francis, who had a keen interest in mechanics.


    Daphne, on the other hand, found herself in the ship''s galley, curious about the meals being prepared for the crew. She even tried her hand at cooking a few dishes, much to the amusement of the ship''s cooks.


    Every evening, a small gathering would take ce on the deck where crew members shared their experiences at sea, their families back home, and the ports they had visited. It was during these interactions that Francis and Daphne learned of the diverse backgrounds of the crew, some having served for decades while others were on their maiden voyage.


    In the mornings, the siblings would join the crew in their morning exercises, trying to keep fit despite the confines of the ship. While Daphne struggled initially, she soon got the hang of it and even challenged some of the crew members to friendly races across the deck.


    As the days passed, the initial formal barriers between the royals and the crew began to fade. Francis often found himself deep in discussions about thetest naval strategies, while Daphne, with her charm, often yed mediator during any minor disputes among the crew.


    Neen days into the voyage, the French Pacific Fleet, ording to the calction, would arrive at the Port of Edo tomorrow morning.


    Francis was on the deck, his gaze sweeping at the ships sailing along the gships. Theposition of the French Pacific Fleet is one battleship, one battle cruiser, ten destroyers, two amphibious assault ships, five submarines, and three auxiliary ships.


    Though it was a formidable sight, it doesn''tpare to the French Home Fleet in Europe which dwarfed the numbers of the active ships operating in the Pacific. The reason, it''s simple: a naval arms race.


    The only country that could pose a threat to French domination was the Russians. They were the ones who always reacted first, always adapting what the Frenchmissioned for their Armed Forces. Industrial espionage was rife and even though the French Ministry of Interior managed to arrest hundreds of spies, some were able to return back to St. Petersburg and provide valuable information to their government. This constant tit-for-tat had led to an elerated pace of naval innovations and an increase in the size of the fleets. Not only in their navy but in their army and their fledgling air force as well.


    Francis clicked his tongue in frustration. Sensing that in theing years or decade, a great war would ensue again in the European continent as tension continued to mount.


    "Brother, so you''re just here huh."


    Daphne''s voice cut through Francis''s reverie. He turned to see her approaching,


    "Daphne…what are you doing here?"


    "Brother, I have a question. Why are we going to Japan? Or Tokugawa or whatever the country is called."


    "Ahh…that, well Daphne, you see France has been trying to establish diplomatic ties with Japan. But they always refused and disrespected the envoys that we sent, even to the point of threatening the lives of Frenchmen. That can''t be tolerated, the French Empire is not to be trifled with," Francis exined.


    "I see, so a punitive expedition then?" Daphne''s voice, typically warm and melodious, now carried a chilling edge, her usual cheery demeanor dissolving into an icy, imperious mien.


    "This reminded me, I have read books about the East where they refer to nations from the West as barbarians," she continued, her toneced with a disdain that made the air around them grow thick and heavy.


    "Well, brother," Daphne''s voice dropped lower. "Why don''t we use this opportunity to show these inferior Eastern nations exactly who the real barbarians are?"


    ***


    July 8th, 1821.


    Kaito started his day early, as always. The sky was just beginning to light up, and the waters of Edo Bay were calm. His small fishing boat, along with several others, was already out, hoping for a good catch.


    Hiroshi, a young fisherman on Kaito''s boat, pointed out towards the horizon. "What''s that?" he asked, his tone more curious than rmed.


    Kaito squinted, noticing a distant shadow. At first, he dismissed it, thinking maybe it was just a far-off ind. But Hiroshi persisted.


    "I''ve never seen that before. Look, there''s more of them."


    Now more fishermen began to notice. Several shadows, growing bigger, moved across the horizon. As they approached, the fishermen were able to discern that those weren''t inds but—.


    "It''s a ship!" One of the Japanese fishermen eximed.


    "There''s no way..!" Kaito rubbed his eyes and squinted again, trying to make out the shapes in the distance. The size of the vessels was astonishing; they dwarfed any ship Kaito and his fellow fishermen had ever seen. Panic and awe spread amongst the fishermen as the silhouettes of the ships became clearer.


    "There''s more than one of them," Hiroshi noted.


    The ship that was approaching them was seemingly made of silver steel, it had no mast and its structure was unfamiliar. It was like nothing they had ever seen; it was modern, gigantic, and intimidating. The technology seemed to be far more advanced than anything avable in Japan. The fishermen were in awe but also terrified.


    "There''s more behind it," another fisherman pointed out. Panic started to settle among the group. These were not trading ships; they were warships.


    "This is unbelievable, howe that ship is floating in the sea?"


    "What''s more, how can it sail without sails or oars?" another added.


    "Those aren''t like any ships from our nation, or even from the Chinese. They''repletely different," Kaito remarked.


    "We need to warn the town," Hiroshi said urgently. "These aren''t merchant vessels; they could be here for something else."


    "We must alert the local lord," Kaito added.


    "Wait! Look at the g fluttering in the wind," Hiroshi interrupted, squinting to make out the emblem. Blue, white, and red. After experiencing many visitors from the West, they quickly recognized where those ships belonged to.


    "Furansu…"