Chapter 317: I Brought Him Here

"Ethan?"

Simon didn’t think the man was crazy, but to someone like Joan, who lived in this era, the man definitely seemed like a lunatic.

He turned to Thomas and said. "Go to the Oxford Academy and find out if there’s really a student named Ethan."

"Yes, My Lord."

Thomas left, and Joan continued. "This man even said that once he gets his scholarship, he’ll pay us for making his cloth bag. He spoke so seriously. My Lord, could he really be a student from the Oxford Academy?"

"Who knows? Scholars these days can come up with anything. Let’s wait for Thomas to return."

From the words ’cloth bag’ and ’fly into the sky,’ Simon easily guessed what this was about; it had to be a hot air balloon.

The world’s first hot air balloon was created in 1782 by the Montgolfier brothers, who were French papermakers. Their first balloon only floated up to the roof, but later they built one with a ten-meter diameter using linen and paper, powered by burning damp straw and bits of wool to create hot smoke. The French king, Louis XVI, and the Academy of France invited them to demonstrate at the Castle of Versailles.

They hung a cage beneath the balloon, placing a chicken, duck, and sheep inside.

The balloon rose to about 450 meters and floated for eight minutes before landing in the Vaucresson forest, about three kilometers away.

Now that history had changed, Simon wasn’t sure if hot air balloons already existed in the West, but clearly, someone in the Oxford Academy wanted to try it.

---

Thomas returned quickly and reported. "My Lord, he really does exist!"

Joan covered her mouth, laughing. She seemed delighted by the strange news.

Thomas chuckled as well. "My Lord, I brought him with me."

Simon gave Thomas a look of approval. After spending so much time together, Thomas had come to understand him well.

He had known Simon would definitely want to meet Ethan.

A moment later, Thomas brought the man in.

"I greet Your Highness."

Simon set down his pen and stood up, circling Ethan once.

In chemistry, he had James. But when it came to physics, such an important field, no one had yet dared to try what was written in the textbooks.

Ethan was the first.

"I heard you asked for a large cloth bag," Simon said. "Why didn’t you tell me directly?"

"Your Highness handles state affairs every day. How could I bother you with such a small matter?" Ethan answered calmly.

Simon chuckled. This man wasn’t just a bookworm; his eyes were sharp and alert.

"You’re trying to build a hot air balloon, aren’t you?"

Ethan froze, then smiled bitterly. "I couldn’t hide it from you, Your Highness. Yes, it’s a hot air balloon."

"You’ve got guts. Aren’t you afraid of falling?" Simon asked with amusement.

Ethan said seriously. "James is not afraid of explosions, so I won’t be afraid of falling. We’re both from the Oxford Academy. I don’t want to lose to him. If I did, it would shame all scholars."

Everyone knew James had started out illiterate. But he studied hard and was now one of the top students.

Many scholars at the academy looked down on James. Now that he was proving them wrong, they couldn’t accept it.

Ethan was one of those scholars, the first to step up, risking his life just to save face.

"Not bad. You’ve got backbone." Simon said. He turned to Joan. "Sew them a balloon, ten meters in diameter. Let them conduct their test."

Then he looked back at Ethan. "If you need any materials, just tell me."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Ethan replied with excitement.

After a short discussion, Simon allowed him to leave. But before he went, Simon reminded him to stay safe during the experiment.

"You can tether the balloon to the ground so it doesn’t float away. That way you can practice handling it."

Ethan promised again and again, then left the hall beaming with joy.

---

Joan hesitated. "My Lord, that hot air balloon sounds dangerous. Are you really going to let them test it?"

"Isn’t war more dangerous?" Simon said, his tone serious. "I’ve taught them everything I can. What they need now is the chance to turn their studies into reality. Otherwise, no matter how much they learn, it’s all theory. Worthless."

Last time, James had taken the initiative to extract phosphorus himself, just to better understand it. That had solidified Simon’s resolve.

His duty was to pass knowledge to the students of the Oxford Academy. How they used that knowledge was their own responsibility.

He wasn’t going to hold their hands forever. If he had to act as both father and mother to these people, what good were they?

Joan nodded slowly. She finally understood.

---

These days, she could tell that Prince Simon had changed.

Before, he had always done everything himself. But now he was starting to let go, giving orders and leaving the rest to others.

Unless the problem was especially difficult, the prince no longer took matters into his own hands.

Even with the recent leather flintlock covers, all he did was draw the design and hand it to her.

But she thought this was a good change. It meant Simon had more free time.

She looked at him with a complicated expression, clearly holding something back.

From the moment she entered the hall, Simon had noticed something was off.

"What is it, Joan? You’ve got something to say, don’t you?"

Her palms were sweating, but she gathered her courage and asked. "My Lord, Desmond told me... Is it true that my brother is locked up in the Brambleford prison?"

Simon sighed. So Desmond had spilled the beans. That guy really couldn’t keep a secret.

Still, it wasn’t his fault. He had just returned from sea and didn’t know Simon’s decision regarding Dustin.

"It’s true. Your brother is under suspicion for collaborating with the enemy. The investigation isn’t complete yet, so I’ve kept him in prison; for now, he’s being treated well. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry."

Joan’s face went pale. Her lips trembled, and she looked like she was about to cry.

Simon sighed again. This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid.

She was his personal maid. He didn’t want to see her sad or distracted because of this.

But it was too late now.

"If you want to see your brother, I won’t stop you. Maybe seeing you will get him to tell the truth. Do you want to go?"

Joan’s face suddenly turned firm. She said quietly. "My Lord, I want to ask him face to face. If he really betrayed the country, then I beg you, please execute him."

"You don’t have to jump to conclusions. He risked his life to bring us a warning about the Latin pirates’ plan to attack Ashenford. If that turns out to be true, then maybe he’s not completely beyond redemption."

Joan bit her lip and nodded. She bowed and quietly left the hall.

---

Right after she left, Ysabeau walked in. She glanced at Joan’s tearful eyes and asked with a grin. "Did Your Highness bully Joan again?"

"I’m not in the mood for that today," Simon replied, shaking his head.

Ysabeau gave a sly smile. "Oh, really? Anyway, there’s someone outside who wants to see you. He says his name is Magnus Fletcher."