Chapter 304: Two Days Extra

"Flush toilet? What is that?"

Carl stared in confusion at the craftsmen installing ceramic pipes inside the restaurant.

Simon was inwardly pleased. He had started building an underground drainage system to completely improve Brambleford’s public hygiene.

Back in Europe, it took the Black Death for them to realize the importance of urban sanitation.

Plagues were terrifying. Preventing them began with sanitation, and this was also part of transforming Brambleford’s urban landscape.

He didn’t want to step outside and see filth in the streets.

After laying sewage pipes, his next step was to introduce flush toilets.

Though the Eldorian Empire had no plastic, ceramic pipes were sturdier and more durable, even better in some ways. Modern systems used plastic simply because it was cheaper.

So for Simon, creating a modern flush toilet system was not a challenge.

Now that lathes were in use, even metal valves could be produced.

And toilets were traditionally made of ceramic anyway.

"Would you be willing to stay another day or two?" Simon asked instead of answering directly.

Carl, intrigued by what he had seen in Brambleford, replied. "To see something new like this, I’d gladly stay a couple more days."

"Perfect. The first flush toilet will be ready in about two days. You can see it before leaving." Simon said.

If the Emperor really moved the capital, Carl’s visit would give Simon a clear edge in bidding for the construction project.

Carl smiled, curious to see how many tricks this Prince of Brambleford had up his sleeve.

After arranging accommodations for Carl, Simon sent word to the ceramics workshop.

When the roadworks began, he had already given them the toilet design blueprints.

The house servant soon returned with news:

The first ceramic toilet was being fired now and would be ready in two days.

Simon nodded.

While designing the toilet, he had also specified standardized pipe diameters, based on modern plumbing industry standards.

That way, the toilets could be mass-produced and easily installed without worrying about misfitting pipes in different buildings.

A day later, the workshop delivered a pure white ceramic toilet to the Goldwynd Family Restaurant.

It looked nearly identical to modern toilets, though made entirely of ceramic and copper, giving it a luxurious feel.

Simon directed the craftsmen to install it in a guest room on the restaurant’s first floor.

Each room had already been renovated to include a raised ceramic pipe opening.

The toilet base was aligned and set firmly in place.

Then the inlet pipe behind the toilet was connected to a vertical pipe running through the building.

Once installed, Simon said. "Sir Carl, this is the flush toilet."

As soon as the pipe was connected, water began trickling into the bowl. It was fully functional.

Carl stared in disbelief. He had never seen such a strange thing.

"How do you use it?" He asked.

Simon chuckled. The toilet had two buttons; pressing either would flush the waste down.

He stepped forward and pressed one. Water surged from the tank into the bowl.

"Fascinating!" Carl exclaimed.

"Would you like to try it out?" Simon offered.

Carl nodded eagerly.

Simon and his men left the room.

Soon after, the sound of flushing echoed from inside.

Carl emerged with a bright smile on his face.

"Your Highness, in all of the Empire, I admire no one but you!" Carl said, giving a thumbs-up.

"You flatter me, Sir Carl. This is just a small gadget." Simon replied modestly.

"No, Your Highness is too humble. With talent like this, there’s no way you won’t be involved in building the new capital." Carl said sincerely.

"But where does the toilet water come from?"

In modern times, flush toilets are powered by running water. But in the Eldorian Empire, that wasn’t so easy.

"Of course, one can always flush manually. But since I want the Goldwynd Family Restaurant to be the most comfortable in the empire, I came up with something better. Did you notice the tower next to the restaurant?"

Carl recalled seeing a new structure that resembled a sealed watchtower on the way in, like a big box.

He nodded.

"That tower holds water. Each day, the restaurant workers carry buckets up and fill the tank. A ceramic pipe leads down to the rooftop’s main vertical pipe, and gravity brings the water down to flush the toilets. This setup will have many more uses later, but sadly, you must leave soon." Simon said with a smirk.

Carl’s heart itched.

Simon had hooked him completely.

Carl loved cleanliness, and this toilet system was exactly his kind of thing.

He sighed. The system only worked with matching plumbing and a water tower.

"Sigh, Your Highness. After seeing all this, how am I supposed to return to regular life?"

There was even toilet paper next to the bowl. In the castle, they used silk, but this was excellent, especially for a regular restaurant.

Seeing his expression, Simon laughed heartily.

If someone like Carl, a man used to luxury, was impressed, the average customer would love it even more.

On the way back to the castle, Carl chatted nonstop about sewage pipes, still full of excitement.

But duty called, and he eventually had to return to report back to the Emperor, full of both regret and admiration.

"Your Highness, the restaurant has toilets now. When will our castle get some too?"

Ysabeau and Joan, who had followed the whole time, were excited after seeing the flush toilet for themselves.

"Don’t worry. The pipes under the castle aren’t ready yet. That setup was just for Sir Carl’s experience. Once everything’s in place, the castle will have them too." Simon said with a smile.

"Yes! And when Your Highness marries, if the pipes are ready, your princess will be as amazed as Sir Carl!" Joan giggled.

"Of course! Honestly, besides having more people, Eldora isn’t even better than Brambleford anymore." Ysabeau added proudly.

Without realizing it, they had begun to see Brambleford as their true home.

Simon shook his head gently.

Urban development had only just begun. Brambleford would only grow more comfortable from here.